olmert

Well, my goal is the give my hair as much volume as possible. If using no conditioner will give the most volume, then I will use no conditioner. If using a conditioner will do this, then I want to know which brand gives the most volume.

I've heard people make both claims. Does anyone have any informed beliefs? Also, if conditioner gives volume instead of taking it away, which conditioner gives the most volume?

What shampoo gives the most volume? I've really noticed a difference between different brands of voluminizing shampoos. Also, which shampoo will medically grow the most hair? (This is obviously a different issue.)

Here are some pics. Aren't there people who think you can get just as much from the donor area with FUE? Isn't it a debatable issue? The prices of the doctors recommended on this site, living in the third world, are much cheaper than the first world doctors. Dr. Humayen is 70 cents FUT, and $2.33 FUE Dr. Radha Palakurthi is $1 FUT, and $2 FUE Dr. Pathomvanich $2.76 FUE Dr. Madhu is $1 FUT

I am leaning toward going to Dr. Humayen in Pakistan. He is recommended here and charges 70 cents per graft FUT, and $2.20 per graft FUE. The flight/hotel will cost an additional $2,000 . I can't decide which one to get. I am 40. I am Norwood IV, but the doctors who have seen me say within 5 to 10 years, I will be Norwood VI, and they are treating me such. (The hair that makes me a Norwood IV instead of VI is very thin and looks like it is about to go.) Also, I have very dark black hair and very pale skin, so balding shows worse. I have slightly below average donor density at 75 grafts per square centimeter, and 8,000 donor hairs. I have never had a transplant. A couple of doctors I have consulted with believe I will be bald enough to eventually make use of all 8,000 donors. I have average laxity. One doctor proposed doing a 2,500 FUT, and then another 2,500 FUT in a year or two. And possibly a third one in a few years more. One doctor (recommended on this site) believed that with a good surgeon, if I got three FUT's, there will be a 10% chance of the scar somewhat showing after the third surgery. Another doctor proposed doing a 4,000 FUT graft, and then leaving it alone for a few years and deciding later. With Dr. Humayen, the extra cost for FUE is not so much. A 2,500 FUE transplant with flight will cost $7,500. A 2,500 FUT transplant with flight will cost $3,750 . (The price difference is $3,750, though if I do it three surgeries in my life, the difference is $11,250. ) If I could get away with doing two FUT's of 4000 grafts each, instead of three FUT's, then I will save an extra $2,000 for flight/hotel . (I know I will get yelled at for talking price, but I am pretty sure I am going to Dr. Humayen whether FUT or FUE. The analysis may be whether the linear scar is better than the lifetime savings of $11,250 to $13,250. I am not poor, though. I can afford the extra money, so maybe the analysis is over how bad the FUT scar might be.) Even if I get FUE, I will most likely wear my hair long enough to cover any typical FUT scar. I have heard claims both ways on whether FUE with a good surgeon gives a yield that is very much lower. I am not working, so do not mind down time or "ugly duckling" time. I am so confused and tired about this decision. I've been struggling with it.

I am going to have a transplant. So I wanted to do everything that would help. I have been told I have "average laxity." Every doctor I have asked has told me that laxity exercises before your first transplant probably won't do anything. Should I do laxity exercises before the transplant? If so, how much before, and for how long per day? Should I do laxity exercises after the transplant? If so, how long after, and for how long per day? If you have any citation to research on laxity exercises, please give a link.

^^^ I can't really make much sense out the criteria for the coalition. Say a doctor is recommended here, but not part of the coalition. Does that mean such a doctor probably will make larger incisions with more scarring, with a more plug-like look for the transplanted hair, and less densely packed transplanted hair? Is this term "Ultra Refined Follicular Unit Hair Transplantation," a well known term, such at FUE or FUT? I have tried to get a better understanding what it means, but to no avail. Google searches don't yield anything. I am very confused.

OK, first of all what does it mean to be part of this coalition? Second how big of a deal is it, if the surgeon is recommended here, but not part of this coalition?

I've been to a bunch of doc's, mostly who only do FUT. They have recommended that I get anywhere from 1800 to 4000 grafts. They all say I am between a Norwood 3 and 4. How many grafts do most people get when they are similarly between Norwood 3 and 4 ?

I was looking to get a bunch of consults in the my area, which is San Francisco. I called Dr. Kang (Link removed by moderator) They said the doctors does not actually do the the hair transplant. They said a bunch of technicians fly in from the east coast for one week a month, and they do everything. He supervises them. What is the deal? Are hair transplants really done by technicians and not by the doctors? The website says Dr. Kang did a residency in general surgery but not plastic surgery.

^^^ How can you consult with a bunch of doctors recommended by this site? In any given city, you won't find very many. You mean in person consults? Or do you expect a patient to travel from city to city for consults?

The first doctor I went to only does FUT. He said I needed 1200 to 1600 in the front, and 800 to 1000 in the back. He said to get FUT 2000 to 2500 grafts. He said with 2500 grafts the scar would be bigger than with 2000 grafts. He said I am pretty thin in the donor hair area. Next I went to a second doctor. He does FUT and FUE. He told me I am between norwood 3 and 4, and eventually I will be norwood 5. He said to do 1500 to 2000 in the front and 1000 to 2000 in the back. He said I have 8,000 to 12,000 donor grafts and am not thin in the donor area. He said if I were doing FUT, I should do 4000. I asked him if the scar would be bigger with 4000 grafts than with 2000 grafts. He said barely any bigger. He said, if you do more grafts than 4000, then there starts to get a big difference in scar size. If I do FUE, he can only do 2000 to 2500 in one session, and then he can do another session in 8 months. But I might be satisfied with one session, or might put off a second session for 10 years. What do I do? See another doc? I am very confused.

and the foam completely fixes it? seems to completely fix it with me. so odd that the rogaine owners don't advertise the foam as stopping the dandruff. they don't even charge more for the foam. I don't get it.

Is it just me or does regular Rogaine cause five times the dandruff as the Rogaine foam? I used to use the original Rogaine, and my hair would be all snow flakes.

Some people believe the FDA’s ruling constitutes a finding that the lasercomb is only safe. Some people believe the FDA’s ruling is a finding that the lasercomb is effective. It is a complicated question, but if you are prepared to get a headache, see Is the Laser Comb Approved by FDA? | Laser Comb Info and http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/154198-lexington-hairmax-lasercomb-did-fda-really-approve-endorse.html

Yes. Doctors still are. And the clinical study was double blind. See HairMax LaserComb Featured on the Rachael Ray Show Not even Dr. Feller suggests that the researchers had any way of knowing which was the placebo and which was the laser comb. And Dr. Feller will be the first one to concede that a clinical study is generally more reliable than anecdotal evidence or attempts to use logic to figure out efficacy. Indeed, Dr. Feller's video essentially says that that when you spread a light over a larger area the light is weaker at any given point. That is certainly true, but little evidence of medical efficacy. Clinical studies are generally accepted as the more scientific piece of evidence. It seems that the advocates for LLLT are relying upon studies. Dr. Humayen posts a study above. Hairmax posts a double blind study. Meanwhile the detractors for LLLT have cited no studies, but instead cite anecdotal evidence and logic. The FDA appears to have sided with the studies.

This thread again resurfaces because I am new here. 1. Does the clinical study on the Hairmax website constitute any evidence that laser combs work? See HairMax LaserComb Featured on the Rachael Ray Show 2. The Hairmax site says "The results of the key clinical study performed with the HairMax LaserComb which led to FDA clearance to market was published in the May 2009 Issue of Clinical Drug Investigation." Key Clinical Study | HairMax.com Why did the FDA approve the laser comb, if there is no evidence it works?

Wow. I bought a copy in French. I could not read it so used it for 36 weeks straight. I only use 1/6 of a vial each time. That is enuf to get everywhere.

Studies say people vastly overestimate how good self judges they are. I do not believe any attempt to self judge will be accurate. I haven't looked for or noticed a change from Aminexil. Can you give a link to the L'Oreal instructions that say to use it only every 6 months? I couldn't find it. The vials they give have 6 mg. You would really have to douse your head to use all 6 mg. So I have been using only 1 mg, the same amount you use for rogaine.

Where does it say to only use it twice a year? I have been using it every day for 6 months straight. The amount they say to put on your hair (6 mg I think) would completely douse my hair. I have been using the same amount as rogaine (1 mg), and it seems to cover everywhere.

Are there any studies that say Horny Goat Weed works?

I was breaking the 5 mg pill into four pieces and then knocking a little off each one, so that I would have 1 mg. I guess I can try lowering my dose and taking it only 3 times a week. The problem is that it really destroyed my sex drive. I mean it took it down to zero. So I am a bit nervous a small dose will still have a big effect.

1. I understand the argument not to get a cheap transplant, but who is the cheapest good surgeon? 2. As for the advice to save travel costs with a local surgeon, a flight to India is only $1,200. 3. As for the advice to "start your research in cheap areas such as brazil, tyrkey, thailand and india," how do I start my research? Do you have any surgeon's name? 4. As for the advice that there are doctors who charge only $3 to $4 per graft, is this for FUE or FUT? Which of the good doctors charge the cheapest price?

Then who is the cheapest one with an established record or the cheapest one recommended here?

I'm on a low budget. I don't need the best doctor. I am sure I should avoid the worst doctor. So when money is a big factor, who is the cheapest FUE doctor (with only the decent doctors included)? I am willing to travel to any country at all. In theory I can do the cheaper FUT because I am only getting 2500 grafts. I am just scared of the scar.