Jerry Markowitz

Okay.. well, since you asked, here's the scoop. :-) I'm a single guy, and also a stage performer. I meet, jeez, something like 10,000 new people a year. This isn't an exageration. Shaking their hands, looking in their eyes, etc, etc. Here's what's changed (and this is no lie): Before my surgery, people would talk with me about the performance, or chit-chatting about the weather, or whatever. Then, ever-so-slowly, while talking with me, their eyes would look UP, scan my lack-of-hairness, and I'd "lose" 'em. I mean, it was like they were off in the distance looking at the baldness. I'm 95% sure this is the same "effect" women talk about when men glare at women's exposed cleavage. I mean, it's just THERE and shiny.. of COURSE we're going to look. And, well, I don't blame men OR women for wanting to look at my (original) shinyness. Well, that's all over now. This is a bone-fide fact. When I'm talking with someone -- men or women, they look at ME, not my baldness, and *THIS* has been the single most important improvement to my life (personally and professionally.) Now, I was about 90% of the way to CANCELLING my second surgery. I was *VERY HAPPY* with what I got with my first surgery. So, why did I spend the time, money, pain, etc, for a second surgery? Three situations: on-stage, in elevators and in restaurants. In each of these situations, I have DIRECT BRIGHT LIGHTS SHINING ON MY HEAD. This was still a problem for me. I wasn't feeling "my best" in these situations and wanted it cleared up. One day, I would be FINE with it, other days, I'd be unhappy. So, I'm 33, I figure .. better to have the second one NOW than WAIT and WISH I did it. So, pain now, gain forever. Hope that insight is helpful into understanding my psyche ever-so-slightly. PS: Happy I did it, but, this time I have staples in my head (not sutures) and, holy crap, they are uncomfortable. I have like 10 days to go before removal... and then, I'll really feel like I'm over the "pain" part of the operation and can ENJOY the new stuff growing on top.

Hi Guys.. I've been gone a while. Here's the quick rundown of my story: 1. I had my first surgery with Dr. Shapiro in May 2004. 2500 Grafts. 2. 18 months later, I just had my second "fill in surgery".. last Thursday. In short... once again, very impressed by Matt @ Shapiro, the Doctor himself and also the gals working in both the hair placement, anestesia and cutting. Just a wonderful operation. The biggest issue was ME. I couldn't stop fidgiting the whole time. And, afterward, I was *REALLY REALLY* nauseaus. The doctor gave me an anti-nausia pill and that really worked. But, now I'm 5 days post op, and, well, I'm feeling awesome already. Some feliculitis already, which I think is a little wierd... but okay. Pictures up are: 1. The BEGINNING (no surgery) 2. 18 months after surgery #1 (2500 grafts) and 3. one-day-post-op surgery #2 (2400 grafts) all posted in the Pictures gallery. Direct link here.. http://hair-restoration-info.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f...6060861/m/7961080291 Comments welcome !

Hi guys.. it's been a while since I've been here. It's been 18 months since my first surgery, and just had my second to "fill in" where I think I needed a little help. Here are my pictures.

Okay... I thought I was going crazy for a while, but I don't think so anymore. I had 2000+ grafts with Shapiro in May, and now it's October. I was seeing steadying thickness each month... But now... this month.. I'm quite sure I'm losing some of the thickness. I can see my scalp again, where, over the summer, it was hard to -- even with the sunroof open. I'm not sure what's going on, but I feel like my transplanted area is losing / shedding the hair I got. Can anyone tell me if a) this is normal or b) this has happened to them and is abnormal. I stopped using the Rogaine on the transplanted grafts about two months ago. Is this what I get for stopping? Thanks in advance.

Okay... I thought I was going crazy for a while, but I don't think so anymore. I had 2000+ grafts with Shapiro in May, and now it's October. I was seeing steadying thickness each month... But now... this month.. I'm quite sure I'm losing some of the thickness. I can see my scalp again, where, over the summer, it was hard to -- even with the sunroof open. I'm not sure what's going on, but I feel like my transplanted area is losing / shedding the hair I got. Can anyone tell me if a) this is normal or b) this has happened to them and is abnormal. I stopped using the Rogaine on the transplanted grafts about two months ago. Is this what I get for stopping? Thanks in advance.

I'm looking for opinions on how much and how often you do your Rogaine treatments on your new grafts. Here's my story: I started out with 2%, twice a day. But I started to get lots flaking and dandruffy. So, I figured I would switch to the 5% -- but only once a day. Actually, my flaking stopped, and now I've got all this 2% and 5% hanging around. So, I've gone to 2% -- in the AM and 5% -- in the PM before bed The 2% isn't noticibaly thick... while I wouldn't want to walk around with 5% on during the day.. I would look like I had a sticky head. So.. just wondering.. am I overdoing the Roganie on the new grafts, or is this okay? And, what is your regiment? Thanks!

I'm looking for opinions on how much and how often you do your Rogaine treatments on your new grafts. Here's my story: I started out with 2%, twice a day. But I started to get lots flaking and dandruffy. So, I figured I would switch to the 5% -- but only once a day. Actually, my flaking stopped, and now I've got all this 2% and 5% hanging around. So, I've gone to 2% -- in the AM and 5% -- in the PM before bed The 2% isn't noticibaly thick... while I wouldn't want to walk around with 5% on during the day.. I would look like I had a sticky head. So.. just wondering.. am I overdoing the Roganie on the new grafts, or is this okay? And, what is your regiment? Thanks!

So, this is the shedding, eh?

Okay.. I'm about 18 days out now. And, here's what I think is happening: it feels like my transplanted hair is "breaking off" ... like a dry branch. Is this something I should expect? What is supposed to be happening at this point? Should the hair be growing normally? Falling out? Breaking off? I want to know what's normal at this stage.. It's very strange.. some days I feel I look "fuller" than others. What should I be expecting should happen to the transplanted hairs at this point? Thanks in advance.

Okay.. I'm about 18 days out now. And, here's what I think is happening: it feels like my transplanted hair is "breaking off" ... like a dry branch. Is this something I should expect? What is supposed to be happening at this point? Should the hair be growing normally? Falling out? Breaking off? I want to know what's normal at this stage.. It's very strange.. some days I feel I look "fuller" than others. What should I be expecting should happen to the transplanted hairs at this point? Thanks in advance.

I just banged the crap out of my head trying to get in the car (it was on the visor, which was half down.) It *REALLY* hurt... Of course, RIGHT on the grafted area. Like a diagonal line across the newly grafted area. Now, I'm worried I did some damage. Obviously, you can't feel my pain, but can anyone tell me if, by Day 8 (today) I should have anything to worry about or not? Or, are these grafts mine and they'll stick with me -- even with a little blunt trauma. I'm prepared for the answer either way... Thanks. Painfully yours, -Jerry

I just banged the crap out of my head trying to get in the car (it was on the visor, which was half down.) It *REALLY* hurt... Of course, RIGHT on the grafted area. Like a diagonal line across the newly grafted area. Now, I'm worried I did some damage. Obviously, you can't feel my pain, but can anyone tell me if, by Day 8 (today) I should have anything to worry about or not? Or, are these grafts mine and they'll stick with me -- even with a little blunt trauma. I'm prepared for the answer either way... Thanks. Painfully yours, -Jerry

Yes... we talked about it. He thinks I might be able to get away with no more surgeries... but, perhaps I'll need another one. I think I'll likely end up going for another one... What I'm not showing is the back / crown too well... which still needs some work. Thanks for the feedback.

From my 2300 session with Dr. Shapiro May, 2004

From my 2300 session with Dr. Shapiro May, 2004