michaeljames

Hello big willy, Minoxidil is know for some drawbacks as you described in some instances. Do you have any contraindications for finesteride (Propecia) have you talked to your HT doctor about it. Regarding percentage of grafts that survive and thrive after surgery it is of course particular to the patients well being and the skill of the HT surgeon and their team. As a rule our threshold is maximum 10% which would in most patient's not be noticeble. We typically give extra grafts if available from the donor hair once our numbers are met. Check again with your HT physcian and discuss why minoxidil and the effects longer term for you. All the Best, Michael

Hey Fitness Junkie, Hope all is good Mate. First great on having a well thought plan for your hair restoration. Based on the photos you can really have a very strong Masculine Military type look. This of course is you own discretion. I really thing that framing the face and gettin a strong mature natural hairline should lead the way. That may be some more grafts in the temples to bring the foreward more but not to the level of a juvenile hairline. This would work well with SMP to. My best estimation, I would like to see a minimum of 250 in the temples, with follow up SMP to create more density. Then fill the crown with the balance as best you can...it looks like you can get some real good coverage there, and then reinforrce with SMP later. I hope you will keep us updated on what you opt for and all the follow up progress...anticipating and holding up thoughts of Awesome results for you. All the Best, Michael.

Helo RVJon, Somone from those firms will have to help you on their system. Our firm is also ramping up because wwe are finding an intinsic value for certain uses of SMP. I had an opportunity to video Dr. Mohebi recently and hope to have that available online in the near future. I am certain you will be able to take advantage of SMP soon with the highly skilled surgeons on HTN. All the Best, Michael

Hello 18 & Balding; Man, I sure understand your distress; but I would really hope you get actual facts and not worry yourself so much. You are welcome to call our office and get an online evaluation just to see if you even have MPB. This is very hard to tell from the photo you place. If you did finesterid might just work well for you. I repeat this often on the forum but there is just no substitution for a proper medical evaluation, call us or another HTN recommended surgeon who offers thoruough online evals. All the Best, Michael

Hi - Concurring with many members above; HTN offers well recommended surgeons throughout the world. Go where there is not doubt in your mind. Keep us updated we actually really do care about the patient and the professional reputation of the top HT surgeons and the medical speciality of hair restoration. All the Best, Michael

Hello Rich, The comments on this thread have been thought provoking and Dr. Mohebi himself has given a thorough response. I would like to just again note that this young man is enjoying great results and progress according to him, his physcians and family. S

Hello Bald@21; You had some concerns over the holidays and as we enter this New Year, just wanted to follow up and see how your attitude is towards your hair loss and what professional advice and steps you might have taken. All the Best, Michael.

Hi Crizwold; You got some great advice from many others here. Hope you won't leave us in the dark and give us a follow up on your course during this great new year. All the Best, Michael

Hi Steve; What % solution of Minoxidil did you use? Recent studies show that 5% solution had signicant advantages over 2% Solution. See: A randomized clinical trial of 5% topical minoxidil versus 2% topical minoxidil and placebo in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia in men. Olsen EA, Dunlap FE, Funicella T, Koperski JA, Swinehart JM, Tschen EH, Trancik RJ. Source Duke Dermatopharmacology Study Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.

Cheers Shane; the results in your portfolio are good to see. Wishing all the best on this changes in your HT. All the Best, Michael

Hi David, Being very much into holistic and naturopathic options I have found your thread interesting. However to date I can find no clinical research to give merit to the benefit of black or green tea on hair loss. Please advise if you have links to such credible source. All the best, Michael.

Hi, Just a quick note to commend you on the very detailed imaging record you are keeping on your HT process. I am intrigued to see where you are 4 months out. All the Best, Michael

Hello Hotel76, Appreciate the vote of confidence from cousins across the pond. There are a lot of good surgeons recommended on HTN. If you have found one your confident in then that is awesome. The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgeons recently established a special commitee on FUE with a distinguished group of international physcians on board. You might contact them: Hair replacement transplant | Hair restoration surgery | Hair loss doctors and get further information if you are still seeking it. All the Best, Michael

Hello Abhi, Shedding can take place from 4 - 8 weeks on average; so you have not passed the window yet. So, fret not, If you are really stressed over this issue call your surgeon and express your concern. All the Best, Michael

Hi Mikey, I am also curious to why you recommend hair systems with such a passion. Over the long term a person using hair system will spend far more than the cost of the best HT available. I think the reality is that each individual has different needs and really depends on some medical issues, personal preference as well as budgt. That being said it is hard to argue that the natural, proven and permanent results of good HT is inferior to a hair system. As a patient advocate I would like to hear your reasoning. Hope to hear from you. All the Best, Michael.

Hi James, Your answer is partly true if a person loses more hair and there is not enough available donor hair. Happily, things have changed dramatically in HT from 20 years ago. The level of microscopic evaluation done by today's top hair transplant surgeons provides greater accuracy in predicting future hair loss. Also the advent of FDA approved medications is reducing hair loss for some patients who without medication would suffer a greater amount of hair loss as the grow older. The advancements in the actual of FUT surgeries [strip & FUE] provide surgeons an opportunity to really to design a hairline and map out a long term hair restoration program for the patient. Like yourself people who had earlier surgeries before the medical advancement in hair restoration may find a hair system the best alternative. All the Best, Michael

Hi Flow; You were right about the answer being simple in many instances. The individual simply does not have enough donor hair. In other circumstances the baldness is not androgenic and therefore making an individual not a good candidate for HT. My last offering, is that some people really dislike the idea of surgery, needles et al. Hope this helps, Michael

Hello 21years; Let's make it clear protein powder don't increase testoterone and that it is not their purpose. Protein breaksdown hopefully to bio-available amino acids for use in cellular construction or easier said growth and body repair at a micro-level. That is the primary purpose of how protein is used by the body. An ancedotal connection is sometimes made because athletes of all types use perfomance enhancing drugs with supplementation of protein drinks. The use of anabolic hormones can be a contributor in these cases; but it is not the protein be it Whey, soy, fish or steak. Hope this helps. All the Best,Michael.

Hello Crizwold, I don't know how this facility is counting the grafts; but that is not in line with the top hair Los Angeles Hair Transplant surgeons that I am familiar with. I support a leading clinic's centers throughout Southern Calfifornia...and that fee is nearly double what is typical here. I doubt that this is a surgeon who is an HT expert and is probably using a robotic system. Research the great recommended surgeons here and go with a specialist mate. I don't recommend this path for you at all. I hope this helps. All the Best, Michael

Hello Shane, This seems to be an inordinatly large session for FUE surgery, this type of procedure is far more tedious and time consuming when done properly and I cannot see the practicality of taking that option or finding very many reputable surgeons who would attempt it in a single procedure. These type of "Gigosessions" which our office performs a good deal of are more suited for "Strip Method" procedures because the process supports more efficient harvesting of donor hair and a team of HT Medical techicians to support the surgeon. On average a top level technician can support the surgeon in placing at about 500 grafts per person. This gives you an idea of how it all works. In FUE this level of assistance is not possible. All the Best, Michael

Hello Azazelgs; All the very best at entering the new year with a great new look! Happy that you have great support in your decision. Michael

Great Post! On first perusal of the photos he looks like a Class III. But then one notes he wears the longer and comeback with I bet 'a little dab will do ya' Brillcream so popular to that generation. So he could have enought thinning on top to be a Class IV. But he looks good and distingushed and your tax dollars...better said your parents...hmmm...maybe grandparents paid a stylist a pretty penny to sport the distinguished locks he had until he left this world. All the Best, Michael

Hello GNX!; The nature of the internet is that information accurate, inaccurate, malicious or false can go viral. This information seems to remain on the internet ad infinitum. This is why solid consumer forums like HTN are so valuable. Of course as long as there are doctors who lack skill some patients will have a bad hair transplant no matter the procedure chosen. Like you though I am interested in hearing more facts about the types of devices use in FUE for extraction and whether it was done manually or with a robotic device. Until more of this data is available and of course first hand photo blogs these types of erroneous claims witll be generalized and be out their on the internet. Good surgeons don't usually have this issue. At US Hair Restoration FUE surgeries are still performed with a manual device as a preference. Fortunately the ISHRS has established a FUE Research Committee at their last annual conference. The committe has a solid membership of distinguished hair transplant doctors. I anticipate as others who have spoken to me that as their work progresses more reliable information regarding FUE will be available to the public. All the Best, Michael

General Information Hair loss class: III Hair color: Black Skin tone: Olive Hair character: Curly Hair thickness: Average Donor density: 2.5 Scalp laxity: Average Donor scar: Closure: Deep: - Superficial: Staples Donor closure tension (Minimal- Average- Severe): A Undermining (None- Upper- Lower- Both): N Trichophytic (None- Upper- Lower- Both): B Recipient graft / site numbers (estimate): Hairline: 200 Front: 1126 Top: 0 Crown: 0 Temples: 0 Total: 1326 Initial treatment plan: - 1st procedure with 1300+ follicular units to restore the hairline and fill in the temple areas - A medical therapy with finasteride to stabilize or prevent further hair loss Performed procedure (Decber, 2011): A Follicular Unit Strip Transplantation with 44573FU: * 219 single hair FU * 956 double hair FU * 151 double hair FU

Hello Everyone, I am finding this thread interesting on FUE scarring. However I think an important factor is missing to better the understanding in regards to scarring from FUE; that is the method of extraction of the follicular units. Is a mechanical system being used? Or perhaps a robotic system versus a manual system is being implemented in the cases posted here. A systematic clarification with organized photo array would be more helpful. Could someone offer a comparison between types of FUE extraction and the scarring post surgery. The details of how long post surgery and perhaps mapping in contrasting colours the points of controversy would be or useful. Looking forward to more input from others. All the Best, Michael