HairToday72

Sorry its been a while since I last updated. I returned to Dr Umar last may (2012) for another 3000 grafts to add density and build up the front. At just over 7 months post surgery, really happy with progress and results. Have attached some new pics to my profile if anyone is interested. Best wishes all. Thanks for all the kind messages and support over the last couple of years on this long journey.

Thanks b. Feel pretty good about how it's turned out. I know some maybe younger guys wouldn't be happy but being 40 and having been totally bald for nearly 20 yrs before its been a life changer for the better!

Not been on for a while but just posted some 18 month pics. Thanks for everyone's support, best wishes and comments throughout my journey - this community really helped me through. Planning on going back next month for a second pass focussing on hairline and front. Will probably journal my progress if guys are interested.

Hariri, Exercising my right to reply I don't agree with you that dr Umar messed up my case and that was not the consensus of comments and messages I received. I see you chose to link to my 6 month result rather than full year. In actual fact he took my totally bald nw7+ scalp (a toupee wearer) and gave me back a life. It's a dusting of hair rather than a thick lush head of hear but I am happy and think its an improvement from where I came from.

Hi lisco, haven't been on the forum much lately but got a mail to say you'd updated. Your result looks great so far especially for only 6 months, I'm really pleased for u and u deserve it after the tirade u got when u first posted. Bonkers... guess u won't be saying told me so after all! Lol

Speaking as a recent patient I would definitely vote for Dr Umar. Aaron, in terms of selection criteria for bht, if you don't include the use of beard hair in that category (considering many fue doctors are using it successfully to a greater/lesser extent as donor of last resort) then I can say the doctor did not accept me as a patient for the use of bht (chest, legs, arms etc). He advised it was unsuitable in my case and there was no need to use it anyway considering I had sufficient scalp and beard hair to use. I am going back for a second pass next year and again he is not willing to use that hair in my case.

Yes I would say at least 80% now the hair has grown in and matured. It looks like many top fue surgeons (some recommended on htn) are now doing beard grafts to a greater or lesser extent. Sooner or later beard has to be considered a donor source, even if it be of last resort. Obviously I can speak for ppl who had a bad experience, there seems plenty of those for all types of surgery and doctor, I can honestly say my quality of life has improved since my ht, which is after all why we're all here isn't it.

Hey Mac, I just read ur follow up email. Best of luck with it, I think the important thing is that u chart ur progress here so other guys can see how ur dispute was resolved. I hope u and dave81 follow this through and keep us all posted. The good thing is that these days people know their rights and won't stand for bad service. There are great hair replacement (toupee) companies out there. If u know what ur buying and ur comfortable with it then go for it, I don't get why there has to be such mystery when u buy a system.

Thanks guys. The plan is to add density to top, front and hairline. There isn't anything left to take from the sides of my scalp but I think there is still some left at the back which has grown back and recovered well. I am going to go for 3500+ grafts if I can get away with it. Still quite a lot of beard donor to use. I hear you about smp, i haven't ruled it out but it's gonna be another 12 months after the next surgery before I can decide if to go that route. Aaron, how's ur progress m8? Your last set of pics looked great.

Finally at the 12 month post op mark, just posted my pics. Planning on a second procedure in Jan to add some more density to hairline and parts that didnt grow so well.

Hey Ryan hope all is well mate, drop me a mail sometime let me know how ur getting on. I would try hdc in Hendon, nice independent salon they do a good job there and won't rip u off. At least in my experience.

Well I wasn't wearing the same wig for 20 years!. Over the years I used all of the top salons in London, I stayed in touch with new developments and tried every type of system. I agree with you wideparting that there is much you can do to prevent getting busted including constant clever styling. I also agree with they guy posted earlier who said that there are too many life situations that crop up along the way - windy days lifting the front or sides up and everyone seeing the line (and all the hair on the system lifts, not just a few hairs unless you use tons of product), those intimate moments when they get too close to touching your hair.. My family, friends and work colleagues are all very forthright and yet nobody said a word. I think it's the fact 'they know' 'they know you know' 'they think you know they know'. You can't honestly tell me you havent been in a situation where someone makes a seemingly random hair joke.. Hey I'm not down on systems, as a cosmetic solution i think anyone that has or wants one should go for it if they think it will help them (i wouldn't leave the house without mine on) but I just think people need to be realistic about what it is, it's limitations and not to be delusional about how it looks to others or live in denial that they are not bald because they have a system glued the their head. I don't mind being proven wrong mate, why not post some pics so we can see how good your hair looks?

Having been a wearer for nearly 20 years in my opinion the only person who believes the hair system is undetectable is the wearer. You convince yourself nobody knows, you even forget you've got it on - but believe me nobody else does. The only reason others don't say anything is because most people don't, not to your face anyway. I thought I got away with it more in my early 20s, probably because it was hard to believe someone that young would be wearing a wig. As I got older I became an object of ridicule, despite the fact nobody would ever say it to my face.

Agree with Aaron that skeptical optimism is needed, hard not to get excited as odds are one of the upcoming regenerative treatments will work. Having said that it is a shame these guys have never grown a single hair on a human head yet. He called it a cellular hair transplant (hair replication/cloning/multiplication), which is more alike the Farjo/intercytex work than histogen which is a medical formula. Some interesting questions, if they can regenerate pre-existing hair how will they stop it miniaturizing again - they don't know. If they can grow new hair what direction will it grow. I guess we'll eventually find out!

I totally get the idea they replicate Dht resistant hair cells and inject them on a bald spot to regrow a new hair. I don't think it's a new concept, Dr Farjo was doing similar research back in 2009 with intercytex which came to an end with unanswered questions. The Replica site lost me when they said the injection would somehow also regrow pre-existing minaturised hair. As soon as it started to cycle surely it would be attacked again by dht and fail to mature?