thomasc

I had some flakeyness two weeks after surgery. I'm in the northeast though and it was January - very dry cold. Not unusual. It only lasted 10 days. I use nizoral about once every two weeks. It's totally under control though the area where the transplants went in still have some redness - not noticeable unless you really look but if you do look, you see it. It will be 4 months for me in one week and I'd love to see something poking up there. Before your growth started, did it bubble or give you some indication that it was coming in?

I was told that mild psoriasis shouldn't make a difference. I had FUT with 1300 grafts nearly 4 months ago but i have not seen one hair grow in. Not one. So, like yourself, I'm nervous. I don't have much flakeyness now (i used to but controlled it with nizoril shampoo as well). Many have told me to sit tight and be patient - i heard from one person that saw no growth until the 6th month and eventually got solid results - like yourself, i try and be patient but it is difficult.

For FUT or FUE, do the transplants start growing around the same time for everyone or is there a range? I've heard that it starts to grow as wispy hairs between 3-6 months? Does everyone fall in this range?

I have taken minoxidil (rogaine and then CVS brand) for the past 15 years and propecia for the past 5 years. Comparing pictures from 10 years ago, i have only lost a little bit, the regimen that helped me maintain what i have. The minoxidil, however, does make my scalp itchy and flakey so i stopped using it for one month. The itching stopped and my hair looks as healthy as it can. I continue to take procpecia. Will discontinuing minoxidil cause further loss? Does rogaine foam cause less itching?

1. If you look closely, can you tell the difference between a natural graft and a transplanted graft? (i have very fine hair) 2. Do transplanted grafts style in the exact same way as natural grafts? 3. How many grafts per sq cm did you get at the hairline? Any input you could offer would be a huge help.

The question of the appropriate # of grafts per sq cm on the hairline seems important - yet i have gotten significant differences of opinion. I have heard a range of 25 - 65 grafts per sq cm. I understand that hair characteristics and other factors can play a role but it still seems like such a big range. If you get 30 single hair grafts at the hairline, can it look natural can it look natural if the hair is very fine?

Spex, MattJ, and Jotronic, thanks for your helpful responses. Makes sesne.

TommyLucchese, your response seems the most honest and i appreciate that. Can i ask who your Doc was? Do you have any before and after picts you could share? The decision to move fwd is agonizing! my email is rossc@verizon.net if you can send anything. Thanks, thomasc

I am seriously considering a HT but so many people have told me to do the research, investigate, etc. I read somewhere that surgeons post the top 5% of their results and what you see is not necessarily indicative of what you will get. Does anyone have any thought on this? Obviously, a lot has to do with what you start with (I am a norwood 2 or 3 and just looking for hairline restoration). I am amazed by the results but wonder, can it really look that good for most of the paitents?

The one part that i have the most reservations about is the post surgery appearance. I'm considering 1500-2000 grafts in the hairline/top area. I'm told my head will probably be shaved down on top. My guess is that i'll leave it a little longer in the back to cover the scar. How long before it looks reasonably acceptable and are not being looked at every time you step into public or turn the corner at work. Is it possible that it's red and flakey even after 3-4 weeks?

Just curious. Do you get a better result when they shave your head? Practically speaking it sounds hard. All the docs say you can return to work the next day after surgery - maybe but who wants to go to work in an office when it looks like your head was blugeoned? I have heard different from perspectives from different docs.

thanks MagnumPI, i appreciate your comment on patience - i need that! Have you considered any particular doctor?

I started losing my hair when I was 25. I am 43 now and I have used minoxidil for the past 17 years. I also started using propecia 5 years ago and have stuck with them faithfully. I think both meds have helped me maintain what I have but 17 years is a long time and I guess that my hairline has receded just under a centimeter. I don’t ever expect to get my early 20s hairline back but I would like to reinforce what I have and make sure that it doesn’t get worse. I may dye my hair as well because it’s really starting to turn greyish-white. I live in Massachusetts and have considered speaking with the following Doctors: Dr. Leonard (RI) and Drs. Bernstein and Feller (both in NY). My questions are as follows: 1. Is reinforcing what I have a good strategy? Or, does it look silly in a few years when it recedes further with a thick line (the transplants) in the very front. I understand I will have to go back sometime for more transplants. I think I have a strong donor area, no problems in back but ultimately, can transplants on top and at the hairline be dense enough where it looks natural? 2. I have a good donor area but my hair is very fine. Does this present a problem when trying to have it be dense enough? 3. How natural can it look? Can you tell if you look really closely? 4. I just want to reinforce what I have, maybe a little more. How many grafts would I need? 5. I understand that the doctor makes the holes and techs place the grafts. How important is the skill of the techs? Is there any way to ensure that you get good techs? Seems like they play an important part. 6. Does anyone know of a surgery that went very wrong (in the past 5 years) with Feller, Leonard or Bernstein? I am pretty nervous about the whole thing.