Jaymanji

I'm 22 days in and have noticed about a 50% shed. Check out my photo blog. I'm not really concerned, as this is exactly what was predicted. Short term setbacks for long term gains.

I did quite a bit of research before making my decision to pursue FUE with SMG. I had approximately 15 different consultations with different clinics, including all the ones mentioned above. I had 1,501 FUE grafts from Dr. Ron Shapiro 22 days ago. I am extremely pleased with my procedure. Check out Shapiro Medical - they are awesome.

Okay buddy, I just viewed your photo and I believe the best solution is actually using clippers to even out your leg hair. Before shaving or even trying laser hair removal, get yourself a beard trimmer or body hair trimmer ($15 Walmart). Trim your leg hair. Your leg hair is not as 'patchy' as you might honestly suggest and IMHO you should not be getting a transplant without exhausting all options. I would simply trim back your upper leg hair to even it out with your lower leg hair...you'll be surprised how with a bit of 'manscaping' things will improve. A lot of guys have uneven chest hair and by simply hitting it with clipper #1 or 2 it evens it out and the visual is drastically improved.

I'm glad you are pursuing Laser Hair Removal first. I think you should also consider shaving it just as the most cost effective alternative. Have you at least tried this? Your legs are honestly not as much a focal point as you might think and probably will look great without hair. People's view of legs tends to focus on them as a muscle group and so without hair, you will be highlighting your physique. I think you are making a wise choice by considering all your options before deciding on transplant. -Just like many of the members of this forum we pursue all alternatives and continue to approach hair loss with all the tools the industry has to offer.

Yep. It was like I was extreme couponing. Even funnier...I found $20 in mail in rebates inside the packaging. Ha!

Stranger, Might I suggest a simpler and most cost effective option...Laser AWAY all your leg hair. Many guys get rid of their body hair and smooth legs are quite common. Tons of athletes and gym rats do it all the time. In fact, many guys trim down their leg hair with body trimmers. You could simply get the much more affordable and predictable "Laser Hair Removal" and take away all your leg hair. It would look uniform, be significantly cheaper and put you through a lot less stress. As a trial you could shave all your leg hair first, if you like it...you could try a more permanent option.

Oh, BTW. I went to Walmart to buy 5% Rogaine Foam (which we don't have in Canada). I had gone on the Rogaine website and downloaded a $10 coupon. I had it photocopied 10x. Walmart had it on sale from $28.99 to $14.00 - $10 (coupon) = $4.00! Win! I bought a year's supply.

Wow! What an awesome experience! I'm going to post my journey in long form so that anyone who is considering using Shapiro will benefit. To say I'm delighted would be an understatement. From start to finish everything about this trip and procedure has been nothing short of fantastic! I brought my wife with me from Toronto. Our flights were easy and very affordable. We stayed at The Country Inns West. I booked through their website in advance and got a rate of $59.99 each night. The hotel is comparable to a Holiday Inn Express with a comfortable room, a hot breakfast bar with plenty of options, free wifi, a pool & hot-tub (the wife loved that), nice gym, cookies, tea & coffee 24/7. The attached restaurant and bar 5120 & Onyx Bar is a great dinner option. Most importantly the staff there are incredible! With every request we made they were so accommodating. They shuttled us everywhere - Shapiro, Mall of America, a pharmacy. Stored ice gel packs in their freezer. Extra pillows. etc. etc. Etc. Their staff are awesome! On to my experience from Shapiro. From the moment I stepped in their office and was greeted by Dal, every member of their team were kind caring and expressed genuine interest in my procedure. Dr. Ron has assembled a wonderful team of people who approach everything as a united effort. The majority of my procedure was completed with great expertise by Tom, who worked in conjunction with Shelly & Song. Dr. Ron was absolutely meticulous in the development of my hairline, returning over and over to create the incisions and determine placement. Tom extracted my hair using the Harris tool. Matt and Janna checked in several times a day. One of the best pieces of news I got was that my donor site was almost all 2s,3s & 4s – even some 5s. Only 35-40 1s were taken from my donor site. Meaning I'll have lots of options for the future and my scarring will be minimal from this procedure. I ended up getting 1,501 FUE grafts. Exactly as I had assumed and right in the center of Matt's estimation. 1 hair grafts = 586 2 hair grafts = 693 3 hair grafts = 222 1501 total grafts, which came out to 2638 hairs! I've created a photo journal and website. Hair Restoration Site for jaymanji The first few days after my procedure I had extensive swelling which gradually worked it's way down my face. Within 4 days it had disappeared and I had no problem attending family functions on Christmas Day. My extended family only commented on my new 'buzz-cut' and no one knew I had the procedure done. What can I say! SMG is the way to go! Thanks Dr. Ron, Tom, Matt, Janna and everyone at Shapiro Medical.

I'm very excited. I fly down on Sunday and my procedure will be Monday & Tuesday. This forum has been absolutely amazing. Because of it I dodged a few bullets with some sketchy doctors and I've been able to do an exhaustive search for the right surgeon. I pursued most of the recommended names in these chatboards and determined SMG was the way to go for me. Honestly, I would have preferred to have my surgery here in Canada and I'm frankly shocked that our two best surgeons are in Ottawa and Vancouver and that Toronto offers so few comparable options. Not that Ottawa & Vancouver aren't deserving...just that I would have assumed more would come from our largest city. Our tax here was a big determining factor in my decision. With our dollar at parity, doctors here are charging the same rates as doctors in the US. BUT...our tax rate here is 13%! A significant difference when compared with surgeons south of the border. I'll have Janna or Matt post my photos (or I will when I get back to the hotel). With so many step by step testimonials on here, I owe you all a big thanks. I am going in excited and not nervous. I know what to expect during my surgery, weeks, months and even years after. I remain in gratitude to the posters and moderators of this forum.

Hello Everyone, I am a Canadian and I'm traveling to the US for a Hair Transplant. I'm getting my procedure done with SMG...and I'm so excited. I only have one dilemma. Here in Canada we have socialized (Free) healthcare - but only while in Canada. Normally, I buy Emergency Travel Insurance when leaving the country as I'm doing for this trip. BUT! This Emergency Travel Insurance will not cover extenuating circumstances from the transplant. :confused: If I were to have any complications while undergoing my procedure I would have no medical insurance coverage. I certainly don't expect one to happen and I know I'm in the best hands...but I'm loathe to not have any coverage. Many of the posters on this site have traveled out of their native country and I'm wondering if you know of Insurance Companies that offer coverage during cosmetic procedures.

After seeing the drastic effects on my body in less than two weeks I've decided I can't risk the negative impact. It's the second time I've tried to use the product and it is so clear that it is not psychosomatic. It actually scared the crap out of me. As a 33 year old male, I should have no sexual difficulty getting or maintaining an erection - it's like the drug turned the lights off. In spite of HT doctors insisting I try it again, I'll have to continue to seek other methods like Saw Palmetto & Nizoral.

I'm concerned. Two years ago I begun to take it but noticed I was losing my 'morning wood'. I stopped immediately and everything returned to normal. I've been on it for a week (proscar 1/4) and am starting to notice the side effects again. Is this just a stage I'm going through that will pass? Should I give it a longer chance? Try MWF? Or just cut my losses stick to Nizoral?

Hi everyone, In the list of surgeons I'm considering, two doctors are offering Acell & PRP. They are claiming PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) injections will stimulate plasma and thrombin and it will improve healing during transplantation. They are claiming Acell will stimulate (and "they've seen") regrowth in donor extraction sites. ACell, Inc. offers the next generation of regenerative medicine technology They have yet to show any photos or research to demonstrate improved healing or that these claims have proof. For one doctor it is an additional $1,000 to the cost of the procedure. Dr. Cooley (I have yet to receive my response from them) includes it in his price. I'm wondering if anyone on here has had ACTUAL experience with either of these products and can say with confidence that the claims being made have any merit.

Thanks. Just sent a request to Shapiro. I know Hasson & Wong don't do FUE, but they are masters in their craft and if they could convince me otherwise that their techniques could work for me...then I would consider FUT from them. Your procedure looks fantastic!

Hello everyone, First of all, I can't tell you how much I appreciate this website. I live in Toronto and my hair is beginning to recede. I am searching for a doctor to perform FUE. I began by making the rounds to offices locally. After doing a search of the doctors I was visiting, I am happy to say this website steered me clear of what might have been a less than satisfactory experience. I've dodged 3 bullets so far. I appreciate the website and the posters immensely. The reason I'm focused on FUE, is that occasionally my line of work requires me to shave my head or go down to clipper 1 or 2. I haven't see an FUT scar that wouldn't be revealed at that level. I've begun online consultations with Hasson & Wong, Dr. Feller, Dr. Cooley & Dr. Bisinga. I had a face to face consult with a rep from Dr. Rahal. I've also setup a consult with Dr. Cole (Cole Clinic - Windsor). Knowing that travel is not a huge determining factor...is there anyone else I should give real consideration to? On a side note, I started using Proscar - fin- (1/4) last year for about 2 months. I began to lose my morning wood and stopped immediately. I had a doctor suggest Avodart -du. Anyone have any positive or negative experience with it and or advice about it? Thanks for your advice and also thanks for offering such an incredible website and devoted community.