bcruz1973

WOW... I guess Propecia and all those other stuff effects people differently. I took Propecia for like 6 months only, but did not have those side effects and I'm 36. But at least use the Rogain foam. It will help the speed of growth in the front hairline. It did for me. And from what I read that shouldn't affect your libido since it's an external application. And I feel ya too about the combing over the patch! But, yeah, be patient about when the results will start to show. Plus, you'll see even more results at about the 10 to 11 month stage and then at about the 18 month stage should be when if anything that's going to grow out, will have grown out by then. Which will let you know if you need to get another procedure done or not. As for me, I this Saturday will be my 1 yr anniversary of my procedure and I can already tell that I'm going to need another procedure done.

ejl7, I totally understand what you are going through. I'm coming up on a year now since my procedure. I have substantial hair growth throughout the back regions and some in the front. Just to let you know, even though they may state that after 4-6 months you should see hair growth, I personally didn't see any substantial hair growth until about 8 months. Especially in the hairline region. However, when I started taking Propecia and using Rogain in the hairline region, this is when I noticed the hair growth speed up and coming out more. So, perhaps this is something you'd should consider if you want to see your hair grow in faster. Also, FYI, I was one of those unlucky few who got a lot of pimples on the crown of my head when the hair started to grow in. If you experience this, I found out how to get rid of the pimples extremely quickly. When I went to Cabo for vacation, I had all these pimples on the top of my head. I spent one day in the ocean swimming and snorkeling and such for about 5 hours. The next day, I discovered that all the pimples had gone away. I suspected that it was the sea salt that caused the healing. To confirm my suspension, when I got the pimples again, about a week later, I went and bought sea salt from the store and when taking a shower, I would place and good handful of wet and soggy sea salt on the crown of my head where the pimples were and sure enough 2 days later the pimples went away. So my advise is, if you get the pimples, use the sea salt daily and you'll see them go away very quickly. Good luck with your results. B.

Peter, I agree with you. I had my procedure done with Dr. Chao last year July 2010 as well. And I too, had a great experience with him.

KLD2246, First off, I'm not being compensated nor have any benefit for what I'm about to say.... And that is, Dr. Ron Chao, is legit. I had my procedure done with him last year July 2010. One of the main things that I could comment about is that of his professionalism and hospitality of his staff. They even treat their patients to a free lunch due to that the procedure takes so long. I had the Norwood 4-6 done. I have no complaints about my experience except that I wasn't informed as to what my actual graft counts was when my procedure was completed. I'm not sure why they did not respond to me, but in any case... I have no complaints about how my results came out. Dr. Ron Chao did exactly like I asked and spread it around the top of my head in the spots that I requested. However, I now found out that this was my wrong doing due to that the implantations didn't give me the density that others have gotten from their one procedure. In any case, to answer your question... Dr. Ron Chao is legitiment and I don't think you would be in any better place for your procedure to be performed than with Dr. Ron Chao. Like I said, his professionalism, hospitality, friendliness, and his staff's ability to make one feel so comfortable is well worth the price being paid. In fact, I now believe that all those other Dr.'s out there are really overpricing their procedures. When it comes to a Dr. that knows what he's doing and is that experienced and trained, but still that Dr. only charges like $0.60/ per graft??? That just tells me all those other Dr.'s out there are just taking advantage of their customers. There really shouldn't be any reason why one should be charged anywhere from $3.80 - $6.00 / graft. It's just highway robbery! Bottomline, I assure you, you have nothing to worry about when it comes to going to Dr. Chao for your procedure.

I had my procedure done July 9, 2010 with Dr. Chao. I'd have to agree that Dr. Chao's professionalism is great and his staff were a pleasure to be around. His staff and I joked and laughed through the procedure. They were great. Plus, since the procedure took 9 hours to complete, they treated me to a free lunch, which I definitely did not expect, but gratefully appreciated. As for the procedure itself, I have mixed feelings about it. First, from what I found out later from another Dr. friend of mine, there is a ointment out in the market that Dr.'s can use to numb the injection sites prior to injecting the anesthesia. Well, of course, Dr. Chao did not use this numbing ointment first. And the pain from the needles being stuck in my head was something that I wasn't prepared for, but of course, I got through it. Secondly, I paid for the Norwood 4-6 ($5000) procedure and the results I got coming up a year later, seems to me to be less than what I paid for. Maybe, it's just my misperception, but judging by all these posts from others who had like 2500 to 3500 grafts done, their pictures shows more hair growth and density on their heads than what has grown on mine. Also, although I paid for 2500-3500 grafts, I don't know what my total grafts were. I tried to inquire with Rob Angleino (Founder & Director) of Hairlab, as well as with Dr. Chao as to what my total count was, but did not get any response. So I'm left in the dark as to what my count is and hence makes it difficult for me to determine if I received what I paid for. Although I'm content with what has grown in, I just thought that there should have been more density on my head and more areas filled in. Like what others have gotten from their single procedures. So it looks like I'll have to get a second procedure done in order to get the results that others on this site have received with just one procedure. So would I return to Dr. Chao to have the second procedure???? Well, to be honest, I don't know. With his pricing, professionalism, very friendly staff, hospitality... all these factors would definitely make me want to go back to him. With the results I got.... probably not. However, when it comes to the bottom dollar and we all want a good deal.... I'd probably go back to him due to that other doctors out there seem to be charging higher prices than what should be charging, but this time I'd make sure to get all the details of the count of how many grafts. Hopes this didn't make it more difficult to decide.

Hi, I was reading your blog and wanted to respond to you. I understand your concern. I once went through the same concern, but now I keep the pimples (spots) under control by using a sea salt bath. You can get this at any beauty shop or cosmetic store. For some reason, the salt from the sea heals the spots and makes the scars go away. I discovered this during a vacation trip in Mexico when I went swimming in the ocean. So I would recommend using the sea salt bath twice a day and with in just a few days you will see the spots go away. But of course, this stuff doesn't prevent them from coming back, but that's only due to the the pimples are caused from in-grown hairs from the transplants. BTW... I'm 5 months POST-OP from my procedure. The hairs in the back are growing significantly as well as in the front, but the front only started growing out once I started using Rogaine. So if you are not seeing the hairs growing out significantly, then try using Rogaine and this might help stimulate the hair growth. I know it is said that Rogaine only works in the back, but I found out that there are a small percentage out there that Rogaine also works in the front and when I started using it in the front, the transplants started growing out. I suspect that the Rogaine was helping to stop the DHT in the front area allowing the transplants to grow out easier without trying to over come the DHT attack in the front area. (Just my thought of why Rogaine worked in the front)

Oh... question... besides the pimples... have you experienced any of your original hairs which were there prior to the procedure, to have fallen out as well? I was told that this could happen. That the hairs which were near the implanted areas could fall out due to shock, but that they should regrow back once the rest period was over. Are you experiencing this same thing?

Hi... I read your posting... I'm experiencing the same circumstances. It's coming close to 3 months now for me and I've been getting pimples on the back of my head and some in the front as well. I've been treating them with OXY pimple cream (which has helped), but not as well as what I've discovered while on vacation in Mexico. When I went snorkeling for hours on end, 3 days in a row, all the pimples went away. Once I stopped going into the ocean, the pimples came back within 4 days. So I've been treating my pimples by soaking my head in water with Sea Salt and this has helped a little, but not as well as when I was snorkeling in the ocean. I suspect that I just need to soak my head longer in the salt water. In any case, I would suggest trying to soak your head in sea salt water to sub-due the pimples. Also, I too am seeing little sprouts of hair in the back as well, but the front seems to be taking longer than the back and has not yet sprouted. So... I feel your anixety and am wishing to end up with the results as others have, as well. So I hope the best for you as well. Keep us posted. B.