Nick153452

Thank you! I really wanted to leave a detailed response for Shaprio because frankly, they deserve every praise that I have seen given to them. They treated me like royalty, everyone was nice to me, and they also seemed to be such a tight knit family there. Truly a remarkable experience for me from step one. I look forward to updating you with pictures along the way. Most of my friends and family have absolutely no idea that I have had a hair transplant, so when I come back to the USA in September, I should look significantly different than before I went.

Thank you. I was really looking forward to hearing your reply, as you are a very active member of the forum whose opinions I tend to learn quite a bit from. I started to tear up last night when I looked in the mirror because, no matter what, even if the hairline isn't my dream hairline, I was given a new life yesterday.

Yeah, that's something I talked about with both Dr Ron and Dr Paul. If I can maintain healthy growth in my crown/vertex, they said they would have no problem coming back and lowering it. The good thing about this though is that I will be able to actually grow hair in front now, and find a style to make the forehead look smaller. Soo, that's what I'm going to plan to do.

Yes I do have pre-op photos, but they aren't as clear as these.

For all of those who have followed me throughout my experience, I have created a new thread, in detail and with post op pictures https://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/showthread.php?p=2349668#post2349668

Unfortunately, I worked a double shift yesterday from 6:30 AM-midnight and I am the type that needs to unwind before falling asleep; so I didn't go to bed until nearly 2:30 AM. I woke up in sort of a panic, because originally planned on waking up at 5:30 AM but I must have turned off my alarm clock. Thankfully, for such an occasion, I decided to set multiple alarm clocks, so I officially woke up at 6 AM. Also, thankfully, I did most of my morning things the night before; got my shirt and pants ready, got my financial stuff in order, etc... So I wake up, wash my hair, eat my recommended breakfast, and left for Shapiro Medical Group at 6:30 AM (I live about 45 minutes from them.) However, 45 minutes during rush hour means almost 2 hours. Lukely I arrived 10 minutes prior to my appointment where I was greeted kindly by a man whose name I forget who asked me what I would like to eat for lunch. I choose General Tso's Chicken with pork Fried Rice. It was delicious. Following that, I was very nicely welcomed by Dr. Paul Shapiro where we talked about what I expected with the procedure. I explained that I would like to strengthen my hairline (obviously) and to look as though I am not balding. He proceeded by taking measurements of my density (which told me what his brother had previously told me -- I have an average/below average donor density and I have an extimated 6000-7000 grafts via FUT, if I choose to proceed further in the future). However, today I used rougly 3,300 of those grafts, however, that leaves a significant amount that I can use for the future, not including FUE and BHT. Instead of explaining how we used the grafts, I will upload pictures. Unfortunately, despite my dreams, we decided, mutually, to be conservative on my hairline for many reason, much of which you guys probably already know about for such a young patient such as myself (24 years old) Following the consultation, Dr Paul excorted m to the oportation room, where I took my pre-op medications. Additionally, I was greeted EXTREMELY WARMLY by everybody there with a smiling face.. If you haven't been to an opporating room for something that such as this, you wouldn't begin to understand the pressure and nerves that are built within you. We exchanged laughs about certain things and proceeded to the point of no return. Then came the anesthetics. I'm not one that enjoys being pricked all over the head with needles, but let me tell you, they were very very very very concerned about my pain threshold and made sure that I felt as little pain as possible. To be quite honest, I didn't feel much pain at all, throughout the whole procedure When it came to taking the strip, Dr. Paul informed me that it actually looked at though I had a greater density than was previously thought (80 grafts/cm in the middle and 60-70 in the outsides). That gave me a sigh of relief, as I frankly need as much as I can possibly get! It was incredibly interesting watching everybody work so diligently and so professionally. I wanted to ask so many people so many questions, but I didn't want to interupt them while they were dissecting my grafts -- heaven forbid I lose my already low density!)):eek: Although, I couldn't help asking some of them how my grafts looked as far as 1,2,3,4 hair grafts. They were actually surprised at how many 3 hair grafts that I had compared to the average Joe. So hopefully that effects my overall results! Finally, the placements. They worked very extremely efficiently and were extremely nice (duh, it's Shapiro Medical Group) They had a nice TV with selections of movies and even YOUTUBE!! I was flabbergasted at how awesome it was. Dr. Paul kept checking in on us to see how things were going and make sure that everything was being placed perfectly. Matt Zupan and Dr Ron even came to pay me a visit. Surgery was completed by 6 PM (Wow the Valium really make the time fly by!) Before I left, post op pictures were taken and I thanked the remaining staff from the bottom of my heart for giving me a new live, a new opportunity to live. Now, I wait, and give you guys some pictures Before I post the pictures, my family was a little confused as to why my hairline wasn't as low as they were expecting it to be. Even to me, it is a little higher than my dream hairline would have been, but that's something I will have to address in a future hair transplant, provided I can maintain what I currently have. (I am not complaining at all, as I agreed with Dr Paul that this was probably the best approach for my case as of this point) Now, for pictures!

Thank you all for your kind words. I just got off of a 17 hours shift (Yeah I probably shouldn't have done that before a huge surgery like this, but they needed my help) When I wake up, it will be the starting of a new life for me. I will take pictures and update you as soon as I can/am physically able to

Thanks guys! It's reassuring to know that I'm not just being a hypochondriac! I am well aware that I am in some of the best hands in the world (which is not common for someone like me), and I am not doubting, nor have I ever doubted their abilities. My initial panic was sort of, "Omg, 3 days until the knife, no turning back, I really hope I can accomplish what I wanted to accomplish with only 3,500 grafts". But I am feeling optimistic about it today.

It wouldn't hurt to talk to a Dr recommended on this site. You could potentially have good results if your balding halts with treatments and you use concealers. However, as others have noted, your donor does look thin.

Looks wonderful! Congrats

Soo, I have my first hair transplant with Dr. Paul Shapiro this Wednesday, and am scheduled for around 3000-3,500 grafts into the frontal portion of my head. I am extremely excited, yet at the same time nervous! What if 3,500 isn't enough to get my to where I want? What if I don't react well or have side effects to the finasteride that I am going on post-op to maintain and thicken the crown? Did anyone else have pre-op jitters?

It could all be in your head; you'd be surprised how medically powerful the human mind truly is.

You have a solid hairline like they're already said. There are many hairstyles that will be able to mask and "balding" that you have. I would wait if I were you, but if it's something that it really bothering you and you want fixed, go for it. I wouldn't think you would need any more than 1500 to get results that you wanted.

I am just goign to stick with the basics, minoxidil and finasteride. All of the other things are probably insignificant.

Yet again, a stunning result from Shapiro Medical Group! If only the Minnesota Vikings could take a lesson or two from you guys on how to get things done properly . You guys rock!

You'd be surprised how much younger hair makes someone look. Don't lose hope if future treatments become available.

Yes, yes, and yes! He does some wonderful work, (I even see a guy who has almost identical balding pattern and similar density and I have who has had WONDERFUL results).

I was actually wondering this too. Maybe if that is the case, beard hair would be the best to harvest due to it's seemingly endless growth phase.

He's in great hands! I can't wait to see the end result!

Wonderful. That guy had an unusually large amount of 3s.

Fantastic! It's great to see you able to post again! I haven't seen much work from Rahal (mostly because I'm semi-new), so it's great to see these wonderful results!

Incredible results!!

Hmmmm, I would think the grafts would be okay. But then again, I'm not a doctor.

Letting price be a factor isn't a problem if you choose the right surgeon. If you choose the right surgeon, the scar will be minimal and the results will be fantastic! There is nothing wrong with FUT.... When people say, "don't let price decide..." they mean, "don't let price decide your surgeon. And of the surgeons on this site will be great choices! I really can't speak from experience, yet, because my FUT surgery is in exactly 1 week with Dr Paul Shapiro. I am not overly worried about the scar though. If anything, I get to tell a great story about how I got it!

To avoid some swelling, try sleeping at an angle for the first few nights so that the blood can more easily drain. Also, use an icepack for about 15-20 minutes every 3 hours on your forehead (not where your grafts are, but more in the eyebrow area).