Jholcollege11

So much for not begrudging me for past mistakes huh buddy? Also, your respect holds no value to me. I do have respect for the moderator on bald truth who was strong enough to admit she was wrong, and did it in a professional manner via email. She was very mature. You have pm'd a member of this forum who is researching smp, and twice you told him "dont have this done. You'll be sorry." Then when asked to elaborate you did not respond. So if anyones motives and character need to be examined, it is yours and Im not afraid to say it. Your power lies in a button you can press from you keyboard that will deny me access to this forum, and I know you will do that so you can "win". That is sad in my book. Especially when you know you are wrong and that I am not a shill. I love to help people, especially those who share my common affliction. I have not been partial to GLI, and have been very objective, even after going to them. My only purpose for remaining on this forum is to try and share my experience, and learn more about this myself, b/c smp is not a one-and-done deal, in my opinion, but requires maintenance and touchups over the years.I want to know more about NHI and HIS also. If you have time to call me out on this forum, then you should have time to do your research sir. I am most likely going to wash my hands of this, and that is a shame b/c I am a legit guy with good intentions, who has REAL experience to share and not just OPINIONS like you. My career path is Nursing, and I can assure you that I'll be making a REAL difference in this life. I will be of service to people physically, spiritually, and mentally. Encouragement is the spiritual gift my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ has gifted me with, and I will continue to share it with the world! I do not need your platform in order to share Christ's love. Im sorry that you are not at a level of maturity to admit your mistakes, and that you must judge me 100 percent based on one of mine (from a different forum). Im going to get back to studying and focusing on what matters; I have no time for guys like you.

Bill I want to email you from my personal email and straighten out this bull crap.

What a huge freaking joke that is. Give me your email address along with the steps I must take to prove myself. So sketchy and weird!!! I have lost all respect for mods!!!

Lol r u kidding me! I'm a nursing student!!! I have no affiliation witjh gli and if u took the time to do your investigation with bald truth Properly, u would've seen my reason for the dual accounts and realized that I talked to the moderator and gave all of my info! I am really disappointed and am questioning your sources and motives. Where have I promoted gli this is ridiculous sir!!!!

It looks like you are getting to the core of this matter TTDS, and from my experience, that is not an easy thing to do. I think you may be on to something with the insertion depth and its relation to the longevity of the results. GLI is very confident that their results last longer and only require one session (but it can take up to eight hours) with an additional follow-up the next day in which you and the technician can decide collectively to add more ink. All other providers require more sessions so it makes sense that maybe GLI goes deeper. I wonder if the type of ink factors into the equation as much as it is made out to. My guess would be no- I believe all of these providers have pretty much the same blends that are mineral-based and that contain no metalics that would have color change. I originally thought that since the insertion depth was so shallow- just barely into the dermis,that the providers all must produce similar results. But there must be some significance in the difference of insertion depth, no matter how slightly each provider's differs. Seems like maybe this could be the x-factor here, but I have recently been learning on a different forum that different individuals, as well as different parts of the scalp, absorb pigments more than others, and quicker than others. That throws a whole new variable into this equation, and adds to its difficulty.

Will help you feel better about yourself, and that's all we really want, to have better self image. I believe HIS, GLI and NHI can do this right for u, whichever one u feel right about. I'll make sure I get ur email address via private message and I'll send u before and after pics in about a week after I've healed. Man we can even talk over the phone sometime if u want and I'll give u every bit of info I have on this. I think all of us bald guys got a stick together and keep helping each other

They must have either done a 180 with their sales approach, gotten more business and eased up a bit, or just didn't care if I chose them lol- BC I can honestly tell you they have called me twice throughout this process and both times were just to return my calls. I was starting to worry BC they didn't push it at all and I thought maybe they were thinking they couldn't meet my expectations but after today I see that isn't the case. It is probably a combination of a shift in sales method + increase in business. Basically they just give u a list of do's and don'ts for five days before u have it done- --dont sunburn your head, don't go in swimming pools or hot tubs, don't use toupee adhesives or any bonding agents, protect your head as best you can- mostly donts. Then tomorrow they'll shave me down to a zero clipper, but I'll probably do it myself at hotel. My biggest concern with this place was that they do it in a day as opposed to multiple sessions but he said it is more sessions for ht scars. The guy I met today who was having it done is obgyn so I would imagine he did his homework. Its just a tough decision ttds- not whether or not to do it, but where. If u didn't like GLI then maybe check out NHI, I find those guys rassman and pak pretty darn impressive, but price was just a little too high for me, but it may be worth the extra dough. Just don't let one bad experience keep you from doing something for yourself that w

Yea man I agree. The general consensus from people who have had it done is that worst case scenario- - it fades and u need touch up. Most places offer enhancements for about 200-300 bucks. I finally saw it first hand today and I'm a believer. I really thought this might be a scam, but based on the operation being run at the place I saw, there are people lining up to get this done. I didn't believe that was true before today. It sucks that the only way to know it is for real is to fly to a clinic and see first hand, but I'm happy I did

Thanks TTDS, I'll keep u posted and thanks for taking the initiative to get that info. Very helpful. I will check out that web site. So I'm here in Minneapolis and just came back from my day before procedure consultation and I was impressed. These people are legit, they have got a lot going on in their office, lots of cosultants , techs, clerical. They had a session going on while I was there and I got to look in and watch the tech administering the pigments and it looked amazing. Also my consultant is a young guy in his 20s that had it done over a year ago i believe, and it looks great. I looked at it with magnifying glass and was even more impressed. I see what u mean about the hairline- this guy's looked real BC the dots were spaced enough to look like separate follicles. After seeing their finished result I'm pretty excited. I will admit that part of me is still a bit concerned with 10-15 years from now what it will look like, but I have a bit more peace of mind after talking with them, and with Your info from Dr Tranquina.

Azazelgs, hey man, yea I can do that. Im flying out tomorrow morning to get the procedure done, and will be back home in Louisiana on Wednesday. I'll try to keep a journal of my entire experience. My only reservation about posting details about the company im using on the thread, is that many forum members tend to believe that when a person does this that they are shilling for that particular company and not an actual unbiased client. I accused a guy who was talking of his- HIS MHT experience- just yesterday of being a shill, and after a couple more posts, I dont believe he is a shill but just a happy satisfied customer. But my point is, I still dont know how to give detailed accounts of this procedure without coming across as an "undercover rep" of the company. Either way, I can message both you and TTDS to let Yall know what my experience is. I can also email Yall before and after photos of my head so yall can see if you feel it is worth the money and risk to have this procedure done. At this point Im still a bit skeptical, but I wear a hat everywhere, so Im ready to take a chance.

Thanks man, I appreciate it!

Jon B., I am sorry that I was offensive with the Donald Trump remark. Also, I have a first cousin who is Autistic- he is 28 just two years younger than me and although I know about having a family member with Autism, I wont pretend to be able to empathize with the difficulty of raising children. I do however understand what you mean when you say that you are passionate about out-of-the-box procedures for hairloss. I feel the same way. I am 30 and have struggled with hairloss since age 21-22. Boohoo right? Some people have it much worse, I have a buddy who had a wreck back in September that left him paralyzed from waist down. I feel guilty complaining about hairloss when so many people out there have so much worse to deal with. But plain and simple, I know what it is to feel like my life has been shortened do to hairloss and when I discovered this I was so happy and excited. I went on all these forums asking many questions and trying to learn what I could, but for the most part I was criticized and called an idiot for wanting to do this b/c many of these forum members believe that smp or mht is not a solution- I disagree. If you want beautiful flowing locks like fabio, then no this isnt your solution. But if you like the shaved head look, and simply want a coverage of the appearance of stubble, this is your answer. And that is where Im at. I suppose I did not consider the fact that some people are just happy with what a particular company did for them, and they want to send business that company's way, and help others who have had the same struggle find peace and happiness. I think that is great. I actually have a procedure scheduled for Tuesday morning with a different provider, believe it or not. I am pretty excited about it. Maybe after I have mine done I can help other people in my situation too. Again, I am sorry about the Trump joke, you just have a very similar accent as he does, but Y'all are both from New York area so duh, right? Anyway, I jump to conclusions often, and I appologize for doing that in this case, and thank you for reminding me that not all people are self-motivated. I need to be reminded of that from time to time. Take care my friend, and God Bless!

And good luck in your career with HIS. I notice you did not deny being a shill.And yes, I am absolutely distrustful of a guy who posts on every hairloss forum the exact same message (paraphrase)-" I used HIS and It changed my life." I am pro smp, mht, cthr, and whatever other terms there are, but I am EXTREMELY ANTI- dishonest shilling. This type of business practice is immoral and gives the smp industry, which is in its infant years, a bad name. It also makes people who are unsure about this decision very skeptical, and rightfully so. If you would just be honest and say that you work for a company, and express the pros and cons, people would be much more inclined to listen to you. You are obviously an intelligent, well spoken man who could offer alot to potential clients, so why not be a consultant rather than lowering yourself to shameless shilling? Or is that the way HIS operates? I dont know, Im just asking...they actually seem like they have their act together but when I see things like this I must speak up. I think your results look good and Im glad you are happy. Take care!

Jon B, I watched your YouTube video-JB from New York. Three qestions-- 1) Are you a big Donald Trump fan? 2) How long have you been employed by HIS? 3) Does shilling for HIS pay well?

The guy who posted pros and cons was Azazelgs. Check it out on page 5 of this thread. I agree with you about this being a gamble either way. I guess the safest way to discover your immediate results is to visit the clinics themselves, but immediate results carry little importance- It is the mid-longterm effects that we are interested in. I think this process will catch on, but I also think it will evolve in the next 10-15 years with the introduction of better pigment/inks/, better tools/needles, and a better understanding of the best possible process-(how many sessions needed, time in between sessions, depth of insertion etc.). Unfortunately for me, this evolution will only be made possible by trial and error and 10-15 years of successes and failures. I only hope that when the superior method is developed I will be able to still benefit from it. The place I am going to claims a one and done method, but they back it up with a flawless BBB rating, so I am banking on that. I, however, do believe that this is a process just like HT's and many other cosmetic procedures. I think it probably takes more than one session to get it just right, so I will probably have to fly back up there in the next 3-6 months, but hopefully not. TTDS- check out the HIS website. They have a forum for former clients and prospective clients alike, and even though I am not using that clinic, I have been able to ask alot of relevant questions that have helped me have a better understanding of this process and living with it. That is the only forum I am aware of that is strictly for SMP guys. I will say, if you have the money and time to do it, NHI in LA with dr rassman and dr pak would be worth visiting. Of the providers, they are the only ones with hair restoration experience. Their price was just a little too steep for me, but I cant deny the amazing reputation they have.

Hey TTDS, have you heard anything back from Dr. Tranquina yet? I am actually having my smp done this Tuesday, flying out early monday morning. Still Kind of skeptical but ready for a change. I think of the four leading companies available at US locations -NHI, GLI, HIS, AC- they are for the most part the same. I dont think that there is a huge difference in the tool or inks used, but more difference maybe in the actual process or administration of the pigments. Based on the online research I have done, it seems that AC in Florida is the weakest and I have heard from two different providers that AC's results will fade quickly- maybe a good thing depending on what you want but for $3,000 I want a permanent fix. I am still concerned about the long term effects of this procedure- in an email response from a Shapiro Medical staff member named Matt, he said that he does not believe that even the providers themselves know the long term effects of smp, which I agree with. How could they know anything beyond predictions based on science and anatomy if there are no examples 20 or more years old? But if you look on Shapiro Medical Hair Restoration website, they actually show before and afters of clients who have had FUE + SMP, and they refer clients with scars to GLI in Minneapolis, so that does not add up to me. I can deal with the fading, but I dont know what to do if it blurs into one big shade of bluish black like the man on a Youtube video that Dr Diep narrorates. If you just type in "bad scalp micropigmentation" on youtube it should be the first video to pop up. I can only hope that the man in that video went to a local tattoo shop or non reputal provider.

Awesome, ttds, thanks for emailing Dr Traquina. I hope he responds, that could be very helpful. My latest worry is that the pigments will have a blue tint - not down the road but immediately. I was on a Toppix forum last nite and a guy who claims to have used GLI says that if he cuts his hair below a 2 guard that the blueish tint is very noticeable. Not sure if the guy is legit but it concerns me greatly BC I'm all in now- plane ticket, hotel, and deposit.

With my fair complexion and dark hair, my beard stubble actually has a bluish tint to it in certain lighting, and thats my actual hair. If you guys check out this link Hair Loss Help Forums - Scar Camouflage Tattoo (The truth) it says some pretty revealing stuff about AC, and if you go to page 15 of that forum it sounds like ac has had some dissatisfied customers. Make sure you see page 13 on that link- a guy posted before and after pics of his HIS experience, and it looks really good to me. check it out

TTDS- yea man I agree with you 150% that we should be able to find at least one person from the 90s who had this done who is willing to show his bad or good results. Also, even with my pro-smp sermons, I still have fearof that helmet look down the road. Hopefully there is some evidence out there that shows smp to be either legit, or bullsh**.

One last thing then I'll shut up- I think the biggest reason that alot of people are 100% against SMP is due to EXPECTATIONS. There are alot of us out there who are very hopeful that Histogen or Replicel will give us back our hair we had in our teens, and as we wait for this like the second coming, we have visions of having the hair we had in our teens- we could style it with gel, cut it, grow it out- whatever we choose- complete freedom. So we wait.... then smp emerges on the scene several years back and falls way short of our Expectations. Not only that, but it basically forces us to either shave our heads or keep it no longer than a 3 guard, and for some this is far worse than having longer obvious balding hair cuts. So disapointment creeps in and turns to anger,and many speak out against it. Is the anger due to the fact that the critics don't think they can pull of the "buzzed" look, or simply don't want to commit to it for life? - Probably so, but I think we must all keep in mind that there are alot of critics out there who really don't want smp to do well, simply b/c they are angry that this solution is not for them bc they dont like the cropped look. They may even believe that SMP hinders or slows the process of a biotech solution- I read on one post a guy said "SMP is huge steps backwards in finding hair loss solutions." Main point- these people are speaking out against something that could help others achieve a look they like, simply b/c they have different expectations of what a solution should be. My EXPECTATIONS- I shave my head with a one guard and am happy except for my bald/fleshy spots, so I would like something that will fill in these spots and give me consistent/clean coverage. That's it. I dont want beautiful, flowing locks or hair I can style with gel anymore b/c I have accepted the fact that this is not possible, and refuse to wait 20 or more years for this possibility while life passes me by. Acceptance can help in life. Scar 5- you made an earlier statement that the honest smp companies say it is not for everyone in response to their tats turning blue/green. I disagree with you. I think when they say it is not for everyone, I believe they mean that if you are a person who does not like the way you look with shaved or buzzed hair styles, and are not willing to maintain this for life, this is not your solution. I am still quite skeptical of this SMP myself, but I do question others skepticism b/c they seem to be motivated by other things- and I dont question anyone on this thread, please understand that. You guys have been really helpful in your ideas and perspectives- Im referring to the skeptics ive encountered on other forums who have said things like " you are an idiot if you have this done" and "only a fool tattoos their head."

Ttds- yea u are right, there have been a lot of Hoaxes and gimmicks on national marketing campaigns. Any way u slice it, this is a tough decision. Any treatment that has not yet passed the test of time is a gamble, but I'm willing to take the risk at this point. I guess my point is that these same ht docs that preach smp gloom and doom, have risks involved in their own procedures that to me, outweigh risks of smp. How many people do u know who have had ht's that are fully satisfied and all their hair loss problems now distant memory. This forum would be empty.

I think we are neglecting one really important fact--the place in which all of the negative feedback and horror stories is coming from- HAIR TRANSPLANT DOCTORS!!! LOL. Of course these HT docs and clinics are going to speak out against SMP, if smp actually works these ht places stand to lose ALOT of $$$$. They do not want anyone going that route. I think the mere fact that DR. Rassman's NHI HT clinic ( which apparently is a very well respected clinic in the HT world) is now offering SMP shows that he realizes that hair loss solutions are evolving and that smp actually can do the job as far as adding the appearance of density. It looks like Rassman got on board before he gets left behind. Listen guys, If I had been a candidate for FUE, I wouldve done it years ago, but honestly when I see videos and HONEST pics of before and after, the weak results do not seem worth having holes in the back of your head, or in Strip surgery's case, a big strip scar. In my opinion, the permenant non-reversable effects of a HT are far greater than the risks of SMP. Because SMP is in the early stages, these HT docs have plenty of amunition to unload all of their-"just wait ten years and your head will be one big blue mess" and " you will be so sorry in about 15 years b/c you will not be able to do anything to fix this." My guess is in about 10-15 years if the general consensus is that smp does in fact work with no "blue/green dots or bleeding", these same exact HT docs that bashed smp will be offering it as a hybrid method along with their FUEs and other HT options. Also, the fact that a couple of the major SMP companies are going to the media and advertising their method on big stages such as Good Morning America shows that they are really confident in their method (and of course they wana make money), but who is going to go on national tv and advertise something that will enventually be a crock of SH**? It would make them look like an ass in their community when it didnt pan out, and who is going to put themselves in that predicament? I just refuse to sit by idly and not take an action that could potentially help me feel better about myself and let me get on with my life. Risky?- it is more risky for me to do nothing

Good advice and perspective Scar, thanks! Yea I agree that the one-and-done deal may not be the worst thing. I know they are not going to give away any secrets or details about the pigments or needles, so they have to rely on selling the final outcome (results) for their sales pitch. After having my consult with Darren at GLI, my confidence in them was sky high. The guy is just really impressive to me and he did give me an answer to most of my questions, and was very up front and blunt about the 2 questions he was not able to answer. It is tough to not be skeptical as the date approaches. My mind just keeps going over all of the similarities and differences they have with other providers. I even started doing the HIS hair forum to learn some about their results. Then you go on alot of these forums and people tell you "you are gonna regret this, I promise you..just wait youll see...this is the worst idea ever"- and when you ask them what they are basing these opinions on they tell you about all of the body tattoos they have, LOL- but it still gets in my head. One of the biggest selling points for me is their(GLI) desire to really get their name out there on big national platforms, and to me this shows a great deal of confidence in the service they provide. I even called the BBB in their area just to double check that there have been no complaints, and there havent been any. They responded to me today about the touch ups or enhancements as they call it- right now touch ups are just under $200, and they cant guarantee that this price will remain the same but they said they would imagine that if anything, the price will go down but idk. They really stress that the client shouldnt go into this thinking they will need enhancements, which is pretty bold.

Hey has anyone seen the movie- In Time (2011)- starring Justin Timberlake? If you see the way he has his hair buzzed in that movie, that is exactly the look Im trying to achieve with smp. Also his hairline is not too straight but much more natural looking. I wouldnt mind at all having that look the rest of my life, the ladies seem to like him pretty good with buzz cut.

Yes Timetodosmthng , good idea about credit card. Yea I suppose I kind of rushed into this whole thing. Still it has always been difficult for me to turn back once I set my mind on doing something which has been as much of a weakness as strength for me