southbeacharchi

Thanks so much rich91403 for all the detailed information. It will all be used and is greatly appreciated. Sorry I did not reply sooner, but it was finals week at grad school. Best of luck to you as well.

You have no idea how much I appreciate your post. It makes me feel a lot better. There is no way I was going to be able to take off even a month completely, let alone what some doctors say out there....3, 6...etc. I decided to go ahead and cut out the possibility of my half-marathon this fall, but glad I can get back to running/lifting a lot sooner than i thought. I just don't want to stretch the scare. I like to think of myself as fairly intelligent with good common sense....I think i am going to be safe and wait at least 10 days before anything, but maybe biking towards the end of that period. But, planned on resuming running/lifting gradually as I have read many places and using common sense that if I can feel strain or anything in the donor area...stop. Thanks again so much. Have a great 5k, and please keep me posted on your donor scar healing, etc. Best of luck.

Thanks for the replies, yeah, that seems to be what the information says out there,...at least for minimal wait time. I'm afraid of losing what I've attained so far, but the hair is more important. Basically just wanted to hear other's stories, how long they waited, and if it stretched their scar or not? Thanks and good luck with you too.

This is something I have been doing research on all day. There seems to be many conflicting views on this. It is such a conundrum....you work so hard to achieve a certain level of fitness, muscle, running endurance....and taking a month or even as some suggest 3 months, would set you back so much...3 months would be like starting over. But, then you also want to minimize the scarring on this procedure that will hopefully change your life..... what to do. I would like to hear more feedback on this.....anyone?

Thank-you. Yes, everything I've seen from him has been great. Then I got a call from a former patient of his that verified everything I already thought and actually made me really excited. Thanks for the Welcome!

Btw, keep reading more threads. I am pretty sure that I have read of several people from the U.S. going to Europe for HT because of doctor's they researched and found that they felt were excellent.

Hey, Good luck to you as well. Isn't it fairly inexpensive to fly to U.S. from Europe these days? From what I've read, there are great doctors all over the world, and as I'm sure you've also read, they say that cost for travel should not be a factor in deciding on a doctor. And some doctors will help pay for some of your travel. I think Dr. Shapiro, who is listed on here, in WI, maybe does that? You would have to look into it. But, I bet he would have about the same wait time. But...I know very little compared to most on here. Best of luck.

I've been reading posts on here for hours day after day. This website is a true blessing. It helped confirm my initial findings on some of the top doctors in the Chicago area. I know you aren't supposed to go by proximity to where you live.....but, I figure I live in one of the larger cities in the United States, there has to be some good ones, right? I scheduled three consultations, and went to two them and already decided. I know I probably should have gone to all three but I am a firm believer in "gut" response, but of course that is not solely what I went on. I have decided to go with Dr. Keller, who is a recommended doctor on this site. Although I know Dr. Konior seems to be the most talked about, and I am sure he is at the top of his field, I also believe that there can be just as good, "less-known" doctors out there - not to insinuate that Dr. Keller is not known. But there seems to be a lack of posts by his patients on here and many outcries for some. Well, this site helped me, and I believe in helping for the greater good of all. So, I will try my best to tell my story, update, and give an actual patient account of my experience with Dr. Keller. I will write more at another time, just about my initial phone conversations, emails, and consultation with Dr. Keller and his office. So far, great experience. Very nervous, excited, scared, hopeful. I've been wanting this for 15 years! Stay tuned......