fakeplstctrees

Medical expenses are deductible if the annual total is more than 7.5% of you adjusted gross income. Elective surgeries are not usually considered eligible as they are not medically necessary. But that is open to great interpretation. A model, or actor can do it, as their income is derived from their appearance. So a procedure to enhance their appearance is eligible. There are many other loopholes I am assuming. Aaron1234, just because insurance doesn't cover a procedure, or other medical expense does not exclude it from being tax deductible. I have many doctors that I see that are not in my insurance comapnies network, so I have to pay out of pocket to see them. You can bet your ass that I am deducting those costs on my tax return. My main question is, has anyone actually done this, or knows of someone who has done this? I think I am eligible to do it, as I am pursuing an acting career, and my appearance is of paramount importance. I need to maintain a youthful appearance to get many roles, and being bald is not a youthful appearance.

Is there any way of doing this, without negative repercussions. I mean the receipt is not remotely specific as to the procedure. It just has the name of the 'Dermatology practice" on it.

Hello my glossy headed friends, I have a question. I think I already know the answer, and am kind of embarrassed for asking; but can I deduct the cost of my HT surgery when I file my tax return in 2012? With the general increase in the cost of healthcare, for example my new HSA through my employer having a $3,000 deductible and $6,000 out of pocket max, it would be nice to catch a break. Does anyone know the answer to this? I hope all are well as Thanksgiving is approaching. -Trees

Spex, I am looking at surgeons to do my second surgery, as I am not happy with the results of the first one. My unhappiness stems from inflated expectations I came to as a result of poor communication with my first surgeon. I am meeting with him in December to fully assess my progress, and discuss my level of satisfaction. I feel very strongly that I was misled to believe that I would achieve the results I was looking for from my first procedure, and my doctor has already agreed to work with me and stand behind his work, but to what extent? We will find out in December. I have never mentioned my surgeons name at all, especially not to "malign" him. Don't you think that a Surgeon should stand behind their work, and if they don't, then an honest, and greatly disappointed patient not only has the right, but duty to make their situation known in this community? I uinderstand that there are those out there with less than honorable intentions, that can be said about both doctors and patients though. I am counting on my surgeon to make good on his work, and provide me with the results I had requested, and was led to expect. I think that is only fair. And in the name of fairness, that surgeons name will be revealed for doing a top notch job and standing behind his work, or revealed for providing misinformed expectations, and not following through on them afterward. I don't see that as an attempt to "malign" a surgeon, and many other network members would agree with me, both patients and surgeons. That having been said, I might be in the market for a new surgeon if my primary doesn't follow through. I have heard absolutely wonderful things about Dr. Feller, and would certainly consider him to work on my dome. Spex, I know that you have a close professional relationship with Dr. Feller. Have you seen poor work on his part, or just people speaking poorly of him? The first negative information I have read on Feller was this post above. Please let me know what people are saying about him, whether it be positive or negative. PM me if you must. But I want it to be perfectly clear that I do not intend to harm my primary surgeons reputation, I just want what we had discussed, and I was expecting after my first procedure. You surely know the heart ache felt by a HT patient, whose expectations have not been met. Sincerely, Trees

Best of luck on your journey, I have heard wonderful things about both surgeons. Before exhausting your donor supply in 4 years, make sure cloning isn't only a few years away; that would be a shame.

My shedding is significant, and I am three months on Finasteride. Is significant shedding normal at this stage, and how long until the Shedded hair grows back? I mean if it is just jumpstarting the cycle.

OK, I wrote a whole post the other night, but guess I never clicked post quick reply before leaving the forum. I will go into as much detail as I possibly can, without revealing anything I am uncomfortable with; I don't want to violate Dr. Wesley's trust. I arrived in the morning, just as any HT patient would, and had a benzo to relax. We went into detail as to what was going to happen, and I was fine. We were only doing a very small procedure for the clinical trial, so only enough donor area to provide FU's for the trial and some grafts to fill in a weak area of mine was removed. I liked what I saw, and that was a lot; Dr. Wesley let's you be involved as much as you want as long as it isn't interferring with his work. This will prove to be very promising, and I have no reason to believe that it will not be. This is nothing crazy, or way out there. Other people have described it as a new approach to existing technology, and improving upon it. I wish I could say more, but I can't, it is super exciting though. Dr. Wesley is also super excited to reveal his new technology, but can't just yet. He has intellectual property to protect, but give him a little time; all questions will be answered. Remember, in addition to all of his research, he is running a successful practice. I received 154 grafts for my participation in the trial, and that may seem like a very small amount, they will add a good density to an area I needed them most. I have an unusually dense donor area, with many 3 and 4 hair groupings, so each graft counts. This is promising for future procedures, well a future procedure, I hope I only have to go through this one more time, I am 3 days post op, and still in a bit of discomfort. I had to go back to work yesterday, and had a funeral to attend this morning, but I plan on taking it easy for the rest of the weekend. I plan on having another 1500 graft procedure in Februrary or so, and I think I will then be happy with my results, all I want is a DENSE FRONTAL THIRD, is that too much to ask? lol. Anyway, Wesley is legit my friends, this is something that will offer a real alternative to the tried and true FUT procedure, much more so than a FUE. All will be revealed soon. Please keep the well wishes coming, I certainly appreciate them. You can ask me more questions, and I will try to answer them as tactfully as possible. Goodbye for now my friends. -Trees.

Hello my glossy headed brethren. I am going to take part in the advancement of hair loss treatment in the morning, and am very excited about it. I will be getting a small amount of grafts for my time, discomfort, and participation, but I am very proud to be part of something that will help many others down the road. I have complete faith in Dr. Wesley's ground breaking method. Wish me good luck, and I will keep you all posted.

Hey guys, thanks for the feedback. Sorry it took so long to respond, I've been pretty busy. I am certainly glad to hear that this increase in shedding is merely temporary, and that it is indicative of a favorable response to the finasteride. I can't wait for it to come back, as I appear much thinner now, and the transplanted hair isn't dense enough to mask it. I really had my hoped up that the finasteride would reverse the effects of the DHT on the miniaturized follicles. At least I can find find comfort in knowing that I will have assistance in retaining the hair I have! Yes, I am cutting my 5mg Proscar in quarters. It is a brilliant way to avoid paying the ridiculously high price of Propecia. Are you sure my follicle miniaturization won't reverse?

I began using Proscar (Finasteride) about two months ago, and have noticed a marked increase in hair loss. Is this normal? Does it mean that it is working? And will it reverse the miniaturization of my thinning follicles? Thanks guys.

I just saw a procedure in another thread, where Dr. Rahal did over 7,000 grafts. He averaged 278 hairs per sq cm, that seems really high. I have consulted with several other doctors regarding my second procedure, and they all said that too many in one area will only yield about 70% or so. I know Dr. Rahal is a superstar and all, but how is it possible to put that many in one area?

That seems high, the graft survival rate is seriously compromised by cramming too many grafts in a small area. 278 hairs per sq cm? What type of yield does Dr. Rahal expect from that? I have met with several other doctors for my next procedure, and the general concensus is that too many hairs in one area, will not give a high enough yield.

I know how difficult it can be right at the beginning, not knowing how delicate you need to be with your scalp. I am not a doctor, but I am going to blatantly state that you are shedding as to be expected. 9 days in? Those grafts are pretty secure at this point. So stop worrying, you'll lose more hair from that, j/k. You are really fine though, that is nothing to be concerned with. Best of luck, and keep us updated. -Trees

Enough said, I feel a little upset. It's almost as if we are picking on this guy. I am guilty of participating myself, so don't think I am condescending, and lecturing everyone. Let's just get off this guys case, even if he is bringing it all on himself with ridiculous posts. So Montreal, please do yourself a favor, and don't post unless you have something useful to say. No one will "pick on you", and you clearly aren't ready for the dedication it takes to go through a procedure like this. So please refrain from making grammatically incorrect posts, that quite frankly waste peoples time. Get back to us when and if you are serious. Fair enough? -Trees

Corvettester, You want to think about this carefully, perhaps my personal experience will be all the information you need. I was 19 when I noticed my hairline receding, and it wasn't until I was 22 that I did anything about it. I started using Rogaine when i was 22 in 2004. I began shedding after a month or so, and I read up on it, and determined that the shedding was an indication that it was beginning to work, and I was going to get results from the Rogaine. I was right, 6 months later I had a ful THICK head of hair, just slight receding in the hairline. I can't begin to tell you how happy I was with the results, or even less explainable; why I stopped using it. I was a dumb kid, and the monthly cost of $50 was too much for me to swing back then. God, I was a complete fool. Had I kept using the Rogaine, I would NOT be in the situation I am in now. After I stopped use for a year or so, all the fullness I had obtained, had fallen out, plus some. I unknowingly through my hair loss into overdrive. If I kept using the Rogaine from back then, I would only have minor loss in the hairline. Rogaine, for some, is a wonder drug. I experienced no adverse side effects while initially using it. I now use it to maintain what I have now, I also take Finasteride. Crorvettester, you need to decide if you are willing to commit to the daily use of a topical solution or foam on your scalp. And be prepared to shed a little at first, but real thickness should be soon to follow. But mark my words, if you stop using it a year from now, you are welcoming a level of hairloss at a rate you can't even imagine. I wish I never stopped using it, I wouldn't need restoration in that case. I do think you will benefit from using Rogaine though, that is my honest opinion. It's a commitment though, there is no half assing this. You are either going to do it, or you won't. I say go for it. Oh, there might be slight acne at first, but that will clear up in no time, and you can use some salicylic acid to clean your forehead in the mean time. All the best, -Trees.