NoTakeBacks

Never a dull moment on the ol' forums! Stopped on and ran face first into a bunch of this guy's threads...surreal. Hope he finds peace of mind in the end.

Look at that handsome devil in the post-op pics.

This is nothing short of amazing. It literally LOOKS like natural density, and that's the name of the game. Even wet it's excellent. Might have been a long road, but you definitely made it now!

Thanks guys appreciate it!

Not sure why you're not 100% satisfied yet -every hairline has some 'imperfections'. That's what makes us human!

Oh boy, this is going to be a bit rambling and long....So here's the thing about competing with yourself: it sucks. After the first procedure, I loved and owned the hairline design as my own. Dr. Feller knocked it out of the park. If it wasn't over 5 fingers high, I wouldn't have considered a second operation. At all. Not his fault, that's mine. Genetics and hair greed. Always had a high-forehead so it put me at a higher risk of looking really "highbrow" () with any recession. I didn't want to go aggressive the first op; wanted to see how well my hair stabilized and how everything worked out. So I waited to address that with the second op. What I'm really comparing is my/Dr, Feller's hairline 18 month post op from the first procedure, to my current result.

I openly admitted to Dr. Feller that I'm extremely tough, but (at least I feel) fair. The thing is... as of right now I think it's just a bit too "perfect" for my taste. Too ordered and slightly lacking density in the center. The first one had a bit more macro-irregularities. Warranted I do have 4-8 more months to let it mature, that's why I said not yet, Maybe after full maturation with the hairs being silkier and hopefully some more hairs going from vellus to something more robust, the density and look will meet my exacting standards.

The trouble is Dr. Feller let it slip with the first procedure, and I know what he's capable of. Anytime someone shows me their potential, I hold them to it. As I said, I want to keep it real, and it'd be a disservice if I didn't express my feelings for anyone else to see whom is preparing to go through a HT. Hopefully they can learn about expectations. Especially for those that are even MORE OCD and perfectionist than myself.

so glad that has finally come good, I think the shedding may have coincidence with the none use of minoxidol, I think more to do with the cycle of the new transplants, but looks fantastic

Could very well have been the perfect storm of hair cycle, seasonal, stress and medicinal shed. As long as it continues on the upswing I'm happy.

Hey all, It's that time again! I said I probably wouldn't post an update for 2 months didn't I?

Well, today marks my 10 month anniversary, and boy what a difference two months make.

First, let me tell you: shedding is no joke. I had to stop Minoxidil for roughly 3 weeks to rule out any contraindications for a blood test, and boy did I shed. So much that I was scared witless. Actually, I could think of a few choicer terms and words, but I'll keep it civil. Either way, everything turned out fine and I was able to resume Minoxidil application. So unless I'm held at gunpoint (or a doctors chart), that is not happening again.

Now on to the stuff people really care about. Because of my shedding scare, and my concerns with the hairline being a lazy laggard, I stopped by Dr. Feller and Bloxham to have everything checked. The good news is my frontal third recovered/is recovering and...well I'll let the pics tell the reset for now:

Just a reminder of where I came from. This is a pre-op from my FIRST procedure.

Things I Learned:

1) I seriously need to trim my "beard."

2) No. Seriously. What the hell is going on there?

3) Hair looks a lot better than it did.

4) I do have tons more vellus hairs popping in! So there's still hope for it to soften a bit.

I'm not gonna lie, while I'm not 100% satisfied with the hairline just yet (mostly the forelock and design), I do feel a lot more relieved. I can at least style it a bit and look pretty decent, which is a lot more than I could say circa 2.5 years ago. For that, Dr. Feller has my sincere thanks. Just gotta keep it real and see what it's like in another 4 months. Then I'll decide what, if at all, I'll do with that pesky forelock. :cool:

I'll keep y'all updated with my usual type pictures in the coming months.

Ha! I like the cut of this gentleman's jib. Work looked real clean, like the design and subtle temple closure. I agree with Spanker and that's why I like the design. It's a deceivingly conservative end result, with the best part of it being how well it frames his face without going overly aggressive. Also the naturalness of the forelock area and subtle macro irregularities are great. It's not overly dense but looks totally natural. It's tough when you have to recreate everything from scratch with us "A" pattern diffuse patients. I'm one of them, I know!

3rd! Love it. Hell this made me laugh more than some of those click-baity "comedy" sites.

Since no one has replied yet: Yes, liquid Rogaine uses propylene glycol as a delivery agent. I would definitely check with your dermatologist or physician about it's use with psoriasis. While you're at it, you can look into the foam version which is usually far less irritating and lacks the propylene glycol. Ask their opinion on that as well.

I don't have psoriasis, but even for me the liquid does dry me up a bit. After applying I immediately wash my hands and forehead/face. It's messy, but is cheap and gets the job done.

An in person consultation can't be beat. If you are serious about going through with a transplant at any point in the future it'd be best to do it. Even if it requires you to go in late, leave early, or take the day off from work, it'll be worth it. We're talking about planning a future for your body. The one you have to live with the rest of your life. Blowing PTO or taking a single day off on something that important shouldn't be a big deal (especially if you are truly serious). I personally spent a year doing online research and driving hours to have multiple in person consultations before making a decision.

As for the docs, this is my opinion so take it for what it's worth (not much lol). Konior is great, and I've also seen some solid work from Panine and Keller. Any would be great for a consultation, though I'd check to see if they offer free consultations before pulling the trigger. The consensus is that Konior seems to be a stand-up guy who is super passionate about his art and would probably give you a great game plan. I don't know enough about either of the other docs regarding their personality, but multiple perspectives can't hurt!

If you're not willing to drive out somewhere to have an in person consult at this stage, I'd simply do some more research on the forums and at the very least get an online consult. You can then go to your GP to get some basic advice and an Rx for Propecia. As for topicals, you can buy 5% Minoxidil/Rogaine OTC/online for your regimen. Stay on a strict regimen for 6 months to 1 year and reevaluate your situation. At that point you should know if you are ready to get serious about a HT.

Best!

Agreed. This is a killer result. He's a lucky guy to have such excellent hair characteristics.

Looks like a pretty dense result, so that's good! The only thing I would question is the hairline design regarding the regularity and symmetry of the macro "irregularities".

Agreed, this is nothing short of amazing. Enjoy that result and keep up with the topical meds, you'll want to hold onto a result this great:D

Wow, very well planned and presented. Love the hairline result and he has killer natural temple points. Is he also on Minoxidil? Might help, especially in the crown area.

NTB I believe you're coming up on 10 months now, have you come to any conclusions as to how to proceed from here ? And who you will go to, to repair this ?

I received poor results as well, and have to wear my hair down as you've had to do, to hide the bad work. I can definitely relate to your position. The time, money, preparation all for naught. Only to have to pay again to repair it.

 

There are very few doctors who can achieve a convincing hairline. I do hope you choose wisely. Good luck !!

I know this feeling also. Its very exhausting on both the body and finances, especially when the clinic that's recommended tells you its gonna cost you more money to fix the poor results.

Thanks guys, I'm keeping it together (for the most part). Torn, today would be my 9 month anniversary. I'm pretty deep, but not 10 months out. I have yet to make any final decision, and committed myself to wait till winter. I want to have my hair fully stabilized to best make an informed decision. I'll also have Dr. F take a look at it then. I've waited this long, I can last 3 more months give or take. Do I want to wait more? Of course not! But it's for the best.

I wouldn't let these guys get to you notakebacks. These are the same guys who are raving about this hairline in the case in the link which looks excellent. Your's isn't any different except he's at a year growth and you are still growing.

 

http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.co...r-beehner.html

Don't worry Joe, I'm a big boy and can handle what others say. However, I'm going to hold my tongue and say let's wait another 3 months to compare apples to apples.

A HT is such a delicate balancing act up front. See those hairs on the right side. Thin and lighter. Thats how your real hair would be if you had a perfect natural hairline. This is a glitch in the whole idea of a HT in my opinion. If that font hairline is even a bit unnatural looking or contains thick donor hair (even singles), A normal person might feel something is "not quite right". They might not know its a HT but might get a sense of something being a bit "off".

 

I wonder if your hairline seems super straight because you lost hair behind it? Or maybe its just not a home run hairline. Totally fixable I think but more procedures etc.

I understand everything you said. All of that was taken into consideration before I got my first HT. I did plenty of research and I've seen plenty of hair transplant results in my time that I would be perfectly happy with. From many different doctors, to all kinds of patients with different hair characteristics: finer, thicker, straighter, curlier, darker, etc. I know a HT will never give me what nature did, but the whole point of going to a reputable and talented surgeon is to mitigate the shortcomings and make it look as natural as possible. What I want (and what I would deem acceptable) is currently possible with current HT procedures.

I know it's fixable, but that's more time, grafts and money gone from my life. :\ Not sure how losing hair in the midscalp would make the actual placement of the hairline look more straight, but definitely can understand it will impact perceived density if there is nothing to back it up. I should also note, that I don't have any native hair in the hairline. I diffusely thinned and had none to speak of really. Thanks!

Also, your hair characteristic seems quite thick, which can make it harder to look 100% natural on the hairline, but great for density, while finer hair has the opposite effect.

 

Wearing your hair to the side, down or any thing other than brushed back would alleviate any slight unnaturalness/lack of density, from the hair line. Cosmetically giving you a excellent head of hair.

It might be worth considering a change in hair style until you get fixed up. If you wear the hair down curtaining your temples / forehead somewhat the sparse hairline will not be on show as much.

 

I would not entertain another FUT to try fix it due to the scar issues but go to a reputable FUE practitioner to get fixed. All the best.

I've seen gents with hair transplants that have much thicker hair than myself with great hairlines, and I don't think my caliber is that thick. More that I have high density in my DHT resistant zones. Also, I never leave the house with my hair styled like that. I've been wearing it completely down or down and swept to hide the hairline entirely. Kind of defeats the purpose of a hairline transplant, right? I personally feel I look the best with the hairline exposed. All I want to do is to wear it similar to my pre-ops, or Shatner in the 60's forward and to the side. I do not want to wear my hair like Doohan (if I'm gonna keep the Trek references going) which I currently am...it looks terrible on a person with a higher forehead.

Also Bogger, I'm not quite sure I'm ready for FUE unless I'm stripped out and going to FUE into the strip scar. It really depends on what the prognosis is for repair. Of course it's deemed the best option and the procedure is too small to warrant opening the strip. I've already gone FUT, have good laxity (possible reason for the scar) and want to preserve my options for the future. I may be on meds, with no familial NW7 or cases of Vertex loss, but that means jack all and I'm way too young to gamble. Better safe than sorry and save the rest of my donor for maximum yield. Thanks for the input though guys!

Looking real sharp! I think your hair characteristics and color compliment your skin tone. What product(s) do you use to style it?

@Patriot34:

I appreciate the detailed post! However, I do have to mention that my "natural hairline" is about halfway to my Vertex by now (if you could even call it a hairline). The hairline you see in the pre-ops are after my first HT with Dr. Feller. So I think that speaks volumes! The first procedure can be found in my profile photo album.

Both the Doc and myself agreed the first HT turned out great, but the hairline was a bit high. It was bound to happen as I have a long face and a high forehead. Even with this second HT, I still have a high forehead, but I would NEVER want to go lower. I'm in this for the long haul and preparing for the worst. However, I want the hairline done, finished and forgotten about. Also, the density is quite a bit of an illusion, and it's only gotten weaker since the second procedure. I guess going off Minox for the procedure, the shock of the transplant, and going back on Minox took it's toll. I'll have to see how strong (if at all) any of the native hairs in my midscalp and frontal third will grow back after a year. I should also mention I've been on Minoxidil and Propecia for 2 years now. As for the twos...yeah I've noticed some, especially around the pimple in the last set of pics. I will have to disagree with the lighting however. Yes, one set is always under harsh lighting, but the second set in each update is always in more natural softer light. I will admit I am tough, but in my opinion fair. I tend to go with the thought process of a transplant is only as good when viewed at it's worst. I haven't even taken direct sunlight pics yet. The scar I'll live with for now, but it's visible when my hair is wet and I can't get clipped past a #7-6 fade.

@Stig:

There may be some validity in the amount of grafts needed! But I would (and will) say the hairline and frontal third turned out great after my first HT with Dr. Feller...other than it being high.

@Joesocks202:

Thanks for the support. The camera is over two feet away from my head; maybe more. They're just cropped pro DSLR shots. In day to day life I work and pass by people closer than I hold the camera. The transplant has to hold up in close proximity, I will not accept anything less.

you just proved my point more doctor trashing this seems deliberate and only focusing on one doctor by the way the only doctor who participated with true facts maybe you don't like his approach but now you are making your opinion seem like facts.

I'm not exactly sure how to take your post, or if it's even being directed at me...so apologies if it's not. But I want to make it clear my intention was not "doctor trashing" and I certainly don't try to pass things off as facts. I was simply driving home that it's a motorized tool that vibrates when the motor is active. It was also my understanding that Dr. Feller no longer uses a motorized punch, and I thought Dr. Bhatti also did not. If Dr. Feller still uses motorized punches, anyone is welcome to correct me as they did with Dr. Bhatti. No harm, no foul. I'll just say never mind my ramblings just as I did when I was mistaken before. But just in case, I added a disclaimer with the rest of my OP intact so no one confuses my layman understanding and opinion with facts.

This thread really has emotions flying all over the place, huh?

Dr. Bhatti uses motorized punches.

Huh, didn't know that! Nor about Rahal. Never mind then!

Can't hear the sound as I'm on a train, but that fue scoring video is of a motorised device, no? The shakes appear to be down to the fact it's rotating, probably not helped by the distance from incision point at which its held. But I can't see how those things can ever work with the degree of accuracy that's needed to get near 100% undamaged grafts removed.

NOTE: The following is personal opinion and conjecture; not to be confused with medical fact

Yup, it's motorized hence the vibration. From my understanding, the factors you stated are some of the reasons most dedicated HT Surgeons eventually agreed that manual extraction is the best option for FUE and have since passed on motorized punches (including Dr. Feller and Bhatti). In addition, I believe there are some quotes either in this thread or another discussing when a manual punch is used, it's much easier to "feel" the proper depth and tactile feedback of a good score.

If I were to personally get FUE, I'd make sure it was some form of manual extraction.

Hmmm...I'm going to throw in my $.02 and try in a completely different direction. What has me wondering are the marked transplant areas. The actual FUs transplanted on the left descend PAST the areas marked off. Possibly a result of additional grafts available in the strip? Whereas on the right you can see there is an area marked further back into the native hair that was not touched. Also, there is a shaved/bald area towards said native hair where no FUs seem to have been implanted. Is it possible the remainder of the procedure had to wait or be stopped? Or rather it needed to be split into two sittings/procedures?

FUT left, FUE right.

(Also part of me wants to say FUE to both, just to be contrary and that it was a trick question all along!)

@Sean:

Thank you! I've lurked your thread(s) in the past and know you've been through quite a bit, so I hope you eventually reach your goal as well. Also thank you for your service.

@Stagger and Swooping:

I'm living with the results, so I get where the comments are coming from. The only thing I would like to differentiate is the term "plugginess" that is thrown around. To me a pluggy hairline would be one that consists of multi-follicular units or larger. IE: Big plugs of hair. I know it's dicing semantics and me being a pedant, but I'd say with me it's more the spacing/density of yield and the uniformity of placement that gives it an odd look. They are single FUs, it just looks like they run along a singular plane with very little to no macro irregularities, or not enough micro-deviation. I think my left side doesn't look as noticeably "man-made" so maybe it's the yield/density throwing the planned design off. I'm obviously not a HT Surgeon, so maybe I'm way off on the terminology and theory of said design.

Regardless of the cause (and if I may so eloquently put it): Somethin' ain't right.

Thanks all.

I'm just trying to make it through the next few months to have a solid idea of what the end results will look like. Depending on the progress or lack of progress I might skip a month or two worth of updates until it's worth posting.

The waiting and anticipation is the worst. As is not being able to enjoy the very thing the procedure sought to create: a hairline.

Wow...I don't know how I missed this. This is an incredibly natural and dense result! I hope you're loving it Squatch.

This thread also interests me. First procedure I scarred well and could cut to #4 guard or even a #-3-4 fade. This second, I can barely make a #7, and it's also visible when my hair is wet. Even if I forego clippers and have it tightly scissored, when wet it blatantly stands out as it's a completely hairless band. The latter is what makes me the most sad...

With that said (and if you don't mind me jumping on the bandwagon of questions) Dr. Lindsey, do you recall the graft count used for the FUE repair pictured in the second video? Or rather, what would you say the graft count range most of the repairs you've done fall into? Even just a ballpark; I won't hold you to any specifics!

Thanks!