hair1978

Dr Diep didn't exactly used the word "perfection" to me, I'm just paraphrasing. What I should had said is "better coverage". For the pictures, I'll try to take some photos without flash, under normal lighting, and a reasonable distance. Perhaps I'll do this over the weekend if I remember. I'm sure Dr Diep mistyped my Norwood scale, as he does so many procedures every year. Bill's response to my scale answered this correctly.

Wow.., I became an instant celebrity in this thread. Allow me the address some issues. To correct Dr. Diep’s email response to Bill, I’m more of a Norwood 4/5, not 6/7. So I would need about 4,000-5,000 grafts for good coverage. So 2,000 FUE grafts in my front is just enough to give me “okay” coverage, which is what I was expecting. Let me also add that Dr Diep did tell me ahead of time that I would probably need a second procedure if I wanted “perfection”, so I was aware about this before I elected to do this procedure. I did not want to go with the strip procedure, which would have given me more grafts. You’re all aware of my everyday photos that I have documented in my blog and account. Since Day 1, I’ve taken photos using macro-mode, flash, and shooting the same distance between my head and the camera. It’s difficult to take head photos (without my face) on my own. So even when I started to grow more hair, I decide to keep these photos consistent day after day. It does look magnified, which also enhance the scalp and makes it look less dense. I suppose my photos are uniquely different and truthful. For the extraction outside my safe zone, I wasn’t exactly aware of this topic until after my procedure. But base on my family history, none of my family’s hair loss goes beyond this safe zone. Regardless, I’m not too concern about this. As far as am I satisfied with my results? For the amount of grafts that I received, it’s met my expectation, but certainly not surpassed it. Dr Diep focused most of the grafts on my hairline and frontal region, so the back end (balding hairline area) is a little less dense. I have said this many times in my blog that if you see me face-to-face under normal lighting, my hair coverage appears normal. I certainly no longer have that “bald” look, but rather that “normal” look, which is what I have achieved. I could comb my hair back to give it that denser look, but this is not the hair style that I am used to. Let me add that I have not even cut my new hair yet, simply because (for my amusement) I wanted to document with photos of what it’s like to let the hair grow out for a year. At some point, I will cut/trim it at the end of the year. If and when I decide to plan a second procedure, I do expect better coverage and denser look. And the ultimate question is would I recommend Dr Diep to others? I will be a little bias and say “yes”. But for those who are expecting "perfect" hair transplant, you’ll have to wait until I decide to do my 2nd procedure. Someone here mentioned that Dr Diep may emphasis too much on FUE. That’s not true. Dr Diep recommends that extremely balding patients or those on a budget should elect the strip procedure. But ultimately, he addresses both methods, and do what the patients ask for. Bill – Let me know if there is something else you would like me to add. Thanks for addressing my case. I hope other patients from Dr Diep can chime on in.

I don't understand the bashing on Dr Diep about the bleeding and his techniques. I can't speak for his work in 2008, but I had no problem when I did FUE with Dr Diep about a year ago. The procedure itself went better than I expected. I had no pain nor any trauma in my donor region. My donor healed up nicely in about a week. And even when I cut my hair very short, there is no visible scars. But like 1978Matt says, it's all about the results at the end of the day.