wildflowerwildflower

Anyone find any more research on this question - about best way to pay from US to Canada? Please help a brother out...thanks!

Did you guys solve the issue about using a credit card and getting an international service fee (for US folks paying in Canada)? I'd like to know what financing options you guys are using, if you don't mind my asking. Anyone find a credit card that offers 2 yrs w/ no interest? I know those used to exist. Let me know as I'm at that stage of my planning. Thanks!

Thanks Spanker for the honest feedback. I understand why everyone says "go with your gut", but it sure is nice to have someone just give their honest opinion. That said, do you have any more to add why you rank Rahal above Wong? Thanks again.

Oh, I also wanted to respond to someone's post about meds and placebo effect. It might be true that Drs see a connection between those who are wary of the meds beforehand being the ones with the side effects after taking them. But that doesn't discount the fact that these medications alter your hormonal balance, which basically means it effects brain chemistry which regulates your entire body. If you research medical history, you will find long, long lists of drugs that are no longer used now due to the long-term, serious side effects they caused - many after being deemed safe and used for many years. So I just feel that Drs or even folks on here that use the placebo effect to minimize the potential risks are being disingenuous. I completely respect folks that choose to take the meds despite the risks. I just don't think it's fair to act like there are no risks involved and if someone reports having side effects, they are grouped in as being paranoid, overly-sensitive, frantic, psychosomatic, etc. I prefer honest debates.

Since I'm currently in the process of making a decision on a HT surgeon, and because I share similar views to some of you on here that are reluctant to rely on meds for hair loss, it has been one of my top questions posed to all the hair docs I've interviewed. I've interviewed about 7-8 so far, top docs highly discussed on this board. I thought you might be interested in what they've said. All have basically said the same thing (some with more or less varying degrees of intensity on their opinion): it is NOT required or needed to take propecia/fin with the HTs, and if you experience any serious side effects definitely stop taking, but it's worth a try to see how it works for your system. When pressed, they all agreed they don't require their patients to take it. Most seemed to generally respect my concerns - and like any good Dr. still suggested their proposed treatment plan, with the assurance that I was in control over my own health care choices. I've studied pharmaceuticals and herbs for many years now. I've lived in Asia and Europe where herbs and other remedies are used much more extensively and alongside western meds. I'm sure there is good research out there about herbal approaches to hair loss that just haven't been validated in this country. I wish I was more interested in this when I lived abroad, but it'd be worthwhile to explore - especially China and India - for their medical approaches to hair loss. I know many folks on this forum discount the herbal approaches that are pushed commercially in the U.S, and probably for good reason - but what I'm saying is that there most likely are less-invasive approaches to treat hair loss medically. Based on my research most pharmaceutical meds have side effects, many quite serious (just watch a viagra commercial - and yet I totally get why people risk taking this med). When you're altering the body's chemistry, there is bound to be side effects in other regions of the body. It's a very serious subject in my mind. That's why it's been one of my top questions to Drs. I think it'd be great to hear from more guys who have had HTs without the use of meds and hear their observations. I guess I'll probably be one soon unless I cave and decide to try Propecia again, which is doubtful at this point.

I appreciate what you're saying, I'm in a similar place. I think people under-estimate how crazy it is financially, because we're so desperate. For me, I've had to work through a process to come to accept this (my wife took longer!). But it's important to me. Of course it's part of self-esteem (which means it is psychological) and that's OK too. I like to wear nice clothes, shave, etc., all part of looking good which helps me feel good about myself. I don't at all buy into the waiting concept for future technologies to come out. I had a friend back in the late 90s who kept investing in "green" energy companies because of the oil crisis, and all the companies failed. There are so many technologies out there, but there's also so much complexity involved, nothing is a sure thing that isn't present now. What is available now with HTs is not perfect, but it's damn good - it's evolved a lot in the past 10-20 years. A lot! I've been debating for several years about this, working through my own issues, negotiating with my wife, figuring out how to make it work financially, etc., and I've finally reached a place that I'm going for it, despite my concerns and hang-ups. I see all these people on here that feel so much better about themselves, feel positive about their HTs, despite the scar, huge amount of money and time, etc. That's very rewarding and inspiring. Also, as you are, I'm a non-meds guy. I have tried Propecia and had horrible side-effects, but I'm also wary of disrupting my hormones long-term for a non-health issue. I'm somewhat torn about getting a HT knowing that my native hair won't be helped by the drugs, but it is what it is. It's a choice I'm making. I think what it comes down to is each his own. And lastly, I don't think anyone was passing judgment on you. We ALL have "deeper" problems and it's possible you were exposing some of yours (insecurities, fears, hang-ups...whatever) and guys were responding with support in various ways. I think it's OK also for folks to challenge you as a way of supporting you -- and that's what I saw. So keep on posting!

Hariri, I've seen you praise Dr. Alexander in previous posts. Did you have work done with him? How would you compare him to Dr. Rahal? I'm aiming for density of frontal/mid scalp mostly, not so much hairline or crown work needed. One of my issues that I'm using to differentiate between the 3 is I am on the west coast so Wong and Alexander would be much easier than getting to Ottawa. Also, it seems that Alexander will work out a bit cheaper due to the Canadian tax. Still trying to work this out....

Thanks guys. Anyone else? I need to make my decision by early next week so I can get time off and start planning. I'd love more feedback!!!

Hi there, I'm a first-timer (HT), and thanks to this awesome site/forum, I feel comfortable with the research I've done and have now narrowed my 3 choices for surgeons down to Dr. Wong, Dr. Rahal and Dr. Alexander. Now I need your help!!! I'm super-indecisive and feel good about all 3. I know everyone has different opinions based on who they went with, etc., but I'd love any feedback on how to decide here. I understand that when you're dealing with such high-caliber surgeons so much comes down to feel, but really, I've felt good with all 3 thus far. I'm looking for someone's words of wisdom to push me in one decisive direction. Thanks you guys!

Thanks for the pics and update Fritz. Looks awesome already! I'm in the final stages of choosing between Dr. Alexander and Hasson/Wong for my 1st HT. I'm extremely nervous even trying to make the final decision. I was going to post a thread asking for advice on this decision -- but you seem to be very pleased with Dr. Alexander, do you have any advice about my decision? Thanks!

Can anyone post pictures of what it looks like after 2 weeks, and preferably also 1 month after being shaved in the recipient area? It'd be helpful to get a sense of how strange it will look for me from wearing my hair long to all of a sudden going bald and returning to work that way. Thanks!

Yes, I completely understand not to make a decision based on price - what I'm trying to figure out is how to make this work for me in the financial situation I'm in. Since many folks on here must have been in a similar financial situation, I'm looking for any suggestions on how to do this. A few folks have mentioned negotiating - do these top clinics/surgeons really negotiate? How does this work exactly? Someone also mentioned that with the economy problems some clinics were becoming more competitive with their costs to lure patients in -- is there anywhere on here that shows a price comparison for the recommended surgeons? Any help/advice is appreciated.

Thanks Aaron. I was hoping that if I did have to get another HT, it wouldn't be for a decade or more - is that being naive? I've been looking at H&W because they do the largest graft counts and I figure if I'm going to find a way to spend $10k+, I might as well get the biggest bang for my buck (as well as go for one of the tops in the biz). It looks like you've had 3 procedures in only 3 years -- is that normal? I haven't seen that much around, but maybe I'm wrong?

I have the same concerns. I actually had an allergic reaction to propecia last summer (rhinitis) which is still bothering me. I've been hesitant to try again despite the prescribing Dr tell me that the reaction wasn't due to propecia, even though it started right after I took it. I wonder if anyone has thoughts on if it makes sense to even do a HT without taking meds? Or will it just mean that I'll have to go in for multiple ones throughout the years?

Hi, I'm new as a poster on here (lurked for a bit, always sounds creepy to write that) -- and I'm seriously considering getting a HT for my first time (I'm nearly 40 and have Norwood IVa best I can tell). I'm in the process of doing consultations with all the top Drs rated on this forum. Thanks for all your informative and honest opinions. I'm really nervous about this whole process. I know that everyone on here keeps referring to the fact that you shouldn't worry about money during this type of procedure, that you should go with the best and who feels best to you. I totally respect that. However, I am also financially struggling, have a large family to support, work 3 jobs and and still only make around $40,000/yr. So thinking about dropping $10-15k on this procedure is just crazy, and keeps me up at night. So at the risk of hearing the same response, I'd love some honest feedback on who is a top-rated surgeon that might also be the most reasonable cost, or at the very least, who has the best financial plan to pay off the procedure? I'm on the west coast so travel is also an issue for me. I've gone to a few out here that seem relatively reasonable financially (Wasserbauer, Panagotacos, etc.) but not much on this forum about them. Can anyone help with thoughts/opinions? I'd appreciate any feedback you might have.