simplycomplicated

Hey Kaykay, Even before you posted this...I had gone through all your posts before... Around 4 months before, I was in the process of selecting a surgeon for my first H.T. and I consulted only the two doctors which you have mentioned. However, on this forum, you were the only person, whose posts gave me a good picture about Ravindra Reddy...as in..Your 6 months result looked quite good.... Anywayz, after researching a lot and putting lot of thought into it...I decided to go with Dr. Madhu...Thats a different story all together.. Coming to your this post, I now understand that Finax and Minoxidil played a major role in your too good results at 6 months mark and as you stopped it, whatever you had gained through those medicines disappeared gradually... Medicines and Transplanted hairs are anyways mutually exclusive to each other...I mean, they are not related to each other....So at this stage, without medicines, I am sorry to say, but it is just the quality of the transplant, which you can blame on.. You can definately go for 2nd Transplant, but as you have already have one transplant, I would suggest to be over cautious with your 2nd H.T. and not go to any non-reputed doctor and risk your H.T. again and consider only Dr. Madhu in India, who is quite reputable and consistent with his results. I beleive you are from U.S., so if you are some how not convinced in India....You can always consult other top doctors over there and see what they have to say on it.. Meanwhile, as Dr. Madhu suggested, I would also strongly suggest to start Finax & Minoxidil to save whatever non-transplanted hairs you now have or for even re-growth to some extent if you are lucky... Regards...

Since the native hairs at the recipient site were shaved during H.T., i cant figure out the exact position of those native hairs right now. Some of them are growing for sure, but not sure about 100%....(I can say around 75-80% of the pre transplant native hairs have grown/are in growin stage...Doubtful about the remaing 20-25%) Also, the native hears at the recipient site before H.T., was not that great in my opinion....and few of them were anyways as a result of Minox/Finax... The improvement as a result of Minox can also be not figured out at this stage as the hairs are quite short...

Hello Guys, It is Monday again today and its exactly 15 Weeks since I had my Transplant... The Journey so far has been Okay...Things are going as they are supposed to I guess... The growth..I wont call it growth as such...but ya, few tiny tiny hair sprouts were visible at around 3 month mark....I can see around few more small hair sprouts being visible now...but only if you see very carefully...and they are looking exactly of same size since last 15 days...so I guess...growth will take time...However, all this tiny hairs which I am talking about, are not visible in Photos for some reason... Went to my Transplant Doctor at 3 month mark for general follow up...He looked at it and said that its going smooth....When asked about when will growth be visible....He has always said that dont bother much till 8 month mark....You will see appreciable results only at 8 months... I am quite regular on my medications...which includes 5% Minox - Twice a day, 1 mg Finax on daily basis & a Multi-Vitamin for Hair & Nail around 4-5 days a week.... Shock loss is the same as it was in initial stages...did not increase further..i.e. in small areas around the donar area...and also, I feel that there is some shockloss just behind receipt area as well..However, it could just be my misconception and I must have less hair in that region earlier also, which I am noticing only now and which might require another transplant after few years.... Donar Scar is not an issue at all at this stage...Its quite well covered since beginning...Though, I cant see it...My Dad and one other person whom I show it, has said that the scar is thinning and redness is almost gone... Well I hope and pray that my waiting period is over and things should get much better from now on... Will post the Pics at 6th Month mark... Thanks a lot buddy....I hope the result looks equally great...!!!

No Issues Buddy....Congratulations and All the best for your H.T....Hope all goes well for you....!!!I guess you are having your transplant now and I might also come to Dr. Madhus today or tomorrow for my almost 3 month follow up.... Anywayz...all de best and do share your experience...

Hello All, I don't know how many of you have heard about this festival "Diwali" as its an Indian festival... However, as its Diwali today and as its the most celebrated and important festival for me and my family, I just wanted to wish everyone a very happy and prosperous Diwali.... May this Diwali brings happiness in everyone's life and may our wishes come true soon...specially regarding the Hair... Regards..

No issues bro...I am glad that my experience helped people...anywayz....I dont think you have to worry much as everything sounds pretty normal with you...so just chill...You have done your part....no let the after effects begin...

@CD: Thanks for the input buddy....I am keeping my fingers crossed......

I am not sure but I guess I got a almost similar looking scar line..I am almost 2.5 months my H.T. and if this is very a bad and wide scar, than `m really very scared regarding my Scar...though `m not much bothered about it as it is covered...but still, if this is not world class...than its a concern... I will post my pics at 3 month mark...but can anyone please comment on the scar of Vinny.... @ Vinny - When did the growth start?

Congrats Dear...You really had a remarkable transformation... Now that you are done through your HT phase, Just wanted an expert opinion of yours, about whether Post H.T., I could do something for an early and good growth. I see that lot of patients of Dr. Rahal show great results and that too very early. I would be 27 years in 4 months and had a 3400 grafts H.T. in India, with one of the recommended doctors of the Forum. I am currently 2 months and 10 days post my H.T., `m applying Minoxidil 5% twice a day and taking generic Finasteride 1 mg on a daily basis now (was taking 3 days a week for some days) and also taking a multi-vitamin tablet for Hair and Nails which include 2500 mcg of Biotin... Apart from this, based on your experience, would you suggest me to do something else for an early and good growth??? Would really appreciate your reply on this...

I was advised to trim my hair around 3-4 days after staples removal, which was on the 7th day of the H.T., so basically I trimmed my Hair on the 12th day of my H.T. I have no clue about your second question as I have never used any concealers nor had heard of it anywhere outside this forum....

Hey Dude.. Ya, I am sure that many people do fall in the trap of improper/fake medications or Doctors...I could see that whenever I went to any Doctor during those days...I could see a good number of patients coming to those doctors....so it was not only me... However, Coming to your point...regarding HT at this stage....I probably just think of one negative to it as of now...that why did I not do it little earlier...say just few months before....but in any case, everything has its own time and I guess, its okay and I would be happy even if this thing works now... Today, I have completed 10 weeks since my H.T. and to be very frank, I feel pretty restless right now....Just want these hairs to grow soon....I very well know that it takes a long long time (12 months -18 months) for complete result..but you know, even after choosing the best doctor within available options, taking all medications regularly, there is a little bit of risk involved...as in..I personally would be mad until few people start complimenting me about my Hair...Ultimately, I guess, Luck would also play a factor in it. I know its pretty early to be bothered about but I cant help being restless....Just want another 3-4 months to just fly away... Pretty strange that how do most of the patients of Dr. Rahal show such an awesome transformation as early as 4-5 months....I wonder whats the secret behind it..

Thanks for the appreciation bro...Will surely post the pics, once it has some value in it....As of now, the Pics do not signify anything...Adversely, its probably looking worse to me than what I was before my HT....As earlier, due to the use of medications, I had lot of weak hair in the front half of my head...which used to give a not bald look to a certain extent.... Now since while having a transplant, the front half was shaved, that part is also gone....Some of it mite grow back though...but will take time.. And regarding your transplant, Take your time buddy...Decide whats best for you...Listen to everyone but do what your heart says..and once you are very sure abt getting the HT done and about the doctor...only then you go for it... and mumbai is not that far yaar....Just a 14 hour Journey from Volvo/Train or a 1 hour flight.... Do online consultation first and then when you feel like, come for a weekend and do a proper consultation... Regards

Hey Buddy, I guess at 15th day from surgery...you shud be fine... As in, as per what I have read and understood....at 15th day....if there was no bleeding, than that hair will grow back any way...so dont worry much.. But still, if you have a concern, do talk to the Doctor as I am talking only from the research what I have done... Hope that helps..

Hey JKR, Yes, I forgot to mention about the Donar Scar...Probably because that is not bothering me much..Its fully covered with the hair at the back...there is no pain also...just a little bit of shockloss around it...which shud get well soon... Regarding that hair loss, I spoke to the staff of Dr. Madhus about it...they said that its nothing to worry about...mite be shockloss or may be general fall of hair of 50-100 strands of hair, which occurs to every human being...they just asked me to continue with my medications... Thanks for the Wishes...

Don't worry buddy..Everything is normal with you... Take care..

Hello Everyone... I am exactly 2 months out of my Hair Transplant Surgery today..Seems like a big achievement to me...Although no growth has happened till now....but still...counting days everyday...so in this hard phase of just waiting & hoping for things....Completion of 2 months gives a sigh of relief to me, atleast to some extent...with a hope of better days to come... Everything is going as expected as of now...as in....no growth happening... Little bit of shock loss around Donar Area... Top of the head looking worse than what it was before...may be because I trimmed my hair too short...or may be because `m clicking too many pictures and noticing things now, which I never did earlier... But I have stopped wearing hat at public places now and no one has ever commented that how strange `m looking..... Either all of them are so ignorant or `m just over cautious.... One thing which I was very much concerned about last week was when I was seeing around 15-30 strands of hair on my pillow every morning...I noticed this for 3-4 days... I don't know if it was shock loss or hair falling because of me reducing the dosage of finasteride from daily to 3 days a week. However, I was so damn scared that I started to take finasteride daily since then. Though its just been 3 days now....but I have noticed less no. of hairs on my pillow in these 2-3 mornings. May be its just my misconception...But I have decided to use Finasteride daily now for quite some time and then if need arises, I will reduce the dosage. Would be glad if any one could comment or give suggestion on this? I do take pictures from my Cell Phone regularly and see a drastic change in the snaps taken with flash and without flash. However, I guess, with flash gives a more bald look and more realistic image. I somehow don't get a good feeling on seeing the images of bald looking head and may be that is the reason I have not updated any snaps post the initial pictures. I feel that once some growth kicks in and pictures start looking bit bitter...I will post all of them. Anywayz, keeping emotions aside, I will create my Hairloss Website soon on this site and upload pictures over there. Given that its two months now, how soon can I expect some hairs to start growing? Also, around 20% of the Transplanted Hairs did not shed at all....what about them?Will they grow directly or will it fall eventually and new hairs will start growing after that? And ya, I have bought Nizoral but have'nt started using it....Should I start using it now or wait for the growth and then start?? Any other tips or suggestions at this point of time would surely help...!!

Thanks for the Wishes...

Record or No Record...This for sure is gonna be one of the best transformations in few months from now... 7151 grafts done by Dr. Rahal...man...you are gonna rock soon... Happy Growing...

Hello Buddy... Thanks a lot for giving feedback on my transplant and wishing for good results...I also appreciate the fact that you have gone through every post of mine and learned something from it..However, even I am quite new to this forum and got to learn a lot... Though I would say that I have seen a lot and have learned from my experience... Coming to your questions: 1. As you have been loosing hair since the age of 20 right, from then are you into any medication or sumthing till now? - You know, Its been so long that I have actually forgotten about what all I have done...I did not even think about it in my recent past as it was not that good part of my life..Anywayz, now that you have come up with this question, I have scrutinized my past and checked my old photos and documents. I hate to say this but I started losing my hair as early as when I was 18 years old…The treatments & medications I took in itself is a long story…. It stated with a local un-branded oil which was sold in an exhibition as a good product for stopping hairloss and promoting hair growth.. I was lucky enough to not to use it much because of the bad smell… After that, went to couple of Homeopathic Doctors whom we knew and used their medications for couple of months and stopped it when I did not see anything happening… Then went to fraud clinic which used to give frequent advertisements in news papers with before & after photos…his treatment was quite costly..Mentally painfull and useless….did that for 3-4 months… I remember, he used to give some stupid oil made in his clinic, which I had to mix with Olive Oil and apply it in the night..re-apply in the morning without washing…then shampoo after 1.5-2 hrs… It used to smell so bad that I could not afford to go outside without washing it..I had to go to classes at 6-6:30 A.M., and just because of this stupid oil, I used to wake up at 4 in the morning, re-apply oil and then sleep or wait for 1.5 hrs, then shampoo it and then go outside… During that time…there was one famous Yoga Guru..he is still present though….even used an ayurvedic and herbal oil given by them…which was again worthless… Then came the great Dr. Batras, it’s a chain of clinics in India engaged in fooling people and exploiting them…It was also a homeopathic thing with a kind of laser treatment, once a month..It was my last hope at that point of time.. Did that also for around 1.5 years without anything happening.. All this was around 2004-mid 2006 i.e. when I was 19-21.5 years old… I was so naive and concerned about my hair at that time that I used to do everything I could to stop hair fall and see some hair growth…Whatever good suggestion I used to get…I was like…Lets do it… I had done it all….from applying eggs on head…applying curd…applying branded ayurvedic cream…drinking amla juice…eating amla pills…to even applying a bottle of beer on my head.. However, by mid 2006, i.e. when I was 21.5 years old…some sense prevailed in me and I realized that everything is just BULLSHIT…I decided that I will never ever go to any doctor for any kind of hair treatment and won’t take any medicines for my hair…Will just not bother about my Hair no matter what happens… I did listen to my heart and did not take any medications for around 4.5 years apart from Finasteride for couple of months, only to blindly stop it on hearing of side effects.. However, I did go to a good doctor in December, 2010, when someone known to me recommended him very positively…after a lot of thinking and analysis, started with the medications prescribed by him, which included Minoxidil 10%, Finasteride daily, and a multivitamin tablet including Biotin…Used it for around 7 months and so good results.. After that, as you know now, that I had my transplant last month…currently I `m using minoxidil 5%, finasteride (M-W-F) and a multi-vitamin tablet Well, it amazes me to realize that I have done so much for my hair..)… No regrets on anything though…all this was a part and parcel of learning…but I wish, I would have come to this forum much earlier…anyway, whatever has happened has happened and the only way to go from here is forward… All I hope is that this transplant, combined with the correct medications and care gives me a decent look..) 2. Is it necessary to be in finesteride or minox? - If you want to save your existing hair from falling, YES!! However, if you experience some side effects..you can always reduce the dosage and get back to normal..But I would advice any one to learn from whatever mistakes I have done and people do in general and not fall prey to this bad industry and start taking wrong medications... 3. Did dr madhu suggested you to be in this drug before or even after surgery. because m too loosing my hair from very young age of 20, and am not in any medication because of its side effect but i was in minoxidil for 1 year, but discontinued that too, i plan to have a hair transplant in future. - When I met Dr. Madhu, I was already using this for 7 months...After the surgery....he has suggested to use this to save my existing hair...but has left the decision upto me...and I have decided to use it... Hope that helps..

Hey...Congratulations...It seems that the result is going to turn out too good... Must say that you got great density...as in...your 3020 grafts yielded 7358 hairs...whereas my 3400 grafts yielded just 6660 hairs... Your transplant looks awesome as of now...both the recipient as well as donar area...!! Grow well!!

Ya...I have an idea about him...in fact I visited him first for consultation and after that went to Dr. Madhu.. There is an other thread of mine which is titled "Query regarding Hair Transplantation in Hyderabad", where I first posted an enquired about him.. I have heard good things about him....had also met a patient who was 5 months post-op... But some how, I did not get that confidence in him...Plus, he never discloses no. of grafts....he told me that I would require 4000 hairs and he will do it in one sitting...I was'nt sure whether he was talking about grafts or number of hairs...I mailed him regarding this but it was unanswered... And also, since he does not give the number of grafts he does not charge that way...He gives a lump-sum aggregate amount, which would take care of your medications for one year and that's actually much cheaper... But you are never sure...how many no. of grafts have been planted and `m also not sure whether he practices earlier method of pluggy grafts or ultra-refined ones.. In either case, I somehow was not confident about him and could not risk my transplant just because he was charging less..If unfortunately, the transplant would have gone wrong, it actually would have been much more costly in the long run with going for repairs....wasted donar supply...un-natural look...less density of transplanted area and what not... Please not that I am not saying that Dr. Ravindra Reddy is good or bad...I am just saying that I was not confident after researching a lot... Plus on the other hand, there was Dr. Madhu, who is recommended by this forum...plus he is more transparent as well...plus, you see a lot of patient feedback on this website and also his website... What I would suggest you is...I have not found anything bad about Dr. Ravindra Reddy yet...apart from his not disclosing the no. of grafts...regardless of that, he must be a wonderful surgeon....So, please do a lot of research before going with any doctor for that matter... Also, there is just one patient (Kaykay) of Dr. Reddy on this website who has also posted pictures on his thread...please do go through that.. Hope that helps...

Oh Thanks...I just got worried whether I did something wrong....

Is putting a head directly under shower after three weeks of transplant fine? I am asking this because I did that after 3 weeks of transplant for 5 days...

Hello Bay1, How are you doing?? I have also completed 5 weeks mark from the same doctor and I must say our heads look quite same... Hoping for the best in future...please do update your latest pics...as that will give me some idea as to what will I look like few weeks from now..

Thanks...Ya...read those posts...quite informative that is....after reading all that..I have decided that I can start with light cardio now and increase the intensity as the time goes by....will touch weights and do crunches and abs and other floor exercises, only at the 3 month mark though to be safe..