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Follicular Slippage

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  1. Not sure this should be posted in this section, but I just came across this article on a tattoo that looks like a buzz cut: Would you pay ?2,000 for a head tattoo? Celebrity stylist launches new technique to disguise men's hair loss | Mail Online Clever idea.
  2. Guys - This post is 3 1/2 years old and evidently MeHairBeGrowin's last post was February 29, 2004! Me thinks MeHair is MIA . . .
  3. Excellent points but I don't think there is one correct answer. While the future looks bright it's impossible to predict when that future will arrive. As such, you should make a decision based on the information that you have now and how you feel about your hair loss. For years, I watched my hairline slowly recede, hoping all the while that either: a) it would stop receding or b) some miracle cure would discretely restore my hairline. I finally got tired of waiting for scenarios a or b to materialize and took the plunge in November 2004 at the age of 41 and got an HT with 1,650 grafts. With one HT under my belt, I realize that I need another to add volume and shape the hairline. But I'm pleased with things for now and will probably wait a while longer to see what the technology brings down the road. It's like buying a laptop - the current model is never as fast or as powerful or as cheap or as sleek as the model that's going to replace it. If you follow that logic, then you'd probably never buy a laptop because something better will be coming down the road. The best advice for buying a laptop (or an HT for that matter), is to decide if you need it at that point in time. Once you've answered that question, then the solution is clear. Good luck.
  4. Voxo - It will be 1 year next month since I had my HT. Though the numbness has decreased substantially, there is still some numbness at the back of my head from above the donor scar to the top of the crown. In spite of this, I consider this to be a minor concern and plan to have a second HT at some point in the future.
  5. Bill - I saw practically the same scenario at the mall here about 3 months ago - buzz cut, grafts, fresh scar. Certainly had a lot of respect for the guy; he was out with some buddies and obviously wasn't concerned about hiding his HT. Is this a trend?
  6. I'm glad that this post was resurrected. It shows that in the case of this profession, certificates, professional memberships and even the number of HTs performed are all irrelevant!Ultimately, what counts is the results of the HT. I think this is what makes this profession so demanding - a doctor's work is judged constantly and they can't rest on their laurels. The technology changes and they must change with it to maintain professional quality and standards. Given such demanding professional challenges, it's no wonder that a number of doctors simply are not up to the task. FS
  7. Invisible - I think the anxiety, doubts and second thoughts that you're experiencing is completely understandable. I believe it's something that many of us have experienced because of the intense emotions that we feel about our hair loss. As you mentioned in your post, you became very self-conscience about your hair loss at the age of 17. You've had to live with this condition for the past 4 years and I completely understand your frustration and angst about your receding hairline. I also understand your desire to try to remedy your hairloss problem. Now that you've committed to a specific course of action (i.e., a hair transplant and Propecia), I would give this solution a chance to work. I understand that you feel strange about having a hair transplant and you feel as if you're being secretive. I think this is a natural reaction to hairloss. For years, I watched my hairline slowly recede. I kept hoping that eventually my receding hairline would "stabilize" and in the meantime, I tried several techniques to help disguise my hairloss (different haircut lengths and styles). It bothered me that I simply couldn't accept the fact that I would eventually be bald. I felt like I was between a rock and a hard place: I hated the way I looked but I also worried about what "others" would think of me if they realized I had had a HT. Rather than decide on what to do, I ignored the problem and continued to hope that my hairline would stop receding. When it became evident that the styling gel that I was using for my "hair" was styling my forehead rather than my hair, I realized at the age of 40, that I could no longer ignore this issue. It dawned on me that this was something that I needed to do for myself and I couldn't be bothered about what "others" might think. Last November, I got 1,600 grafts transplanted and began taking Propecia. It's been almost 10 months and I'm glad that I got my HT. Does it look perfect? It's OK - the hairline needs work and I could use more density. But it's far better than before and I can finally finish up that bottle of styling gel that was gathering dust for a year! Psychologically, I find that I am not as fixated about my hairloss as before; this is one of the greatest benefits of my HT. I was also surprised to find that with the exception of my father, no one has commented on my hair. I think it's a case where most people simply don't realize that I had it done - which I still find surprising. As I said before, give this solution a chance to work. This is an adjustment period for you both psychologically and physically, and it's understandable to start second-guessing your decision. However, do not do anything that might undermine the success of your HT - that would not be a good idea and might even cause some unwanted results. Please give yourself some time before you make any rash decisions about the HT. Regarding the Propecia - it doesn't work on the hairline but on your crown. Basically, the Propecia will slow down your hair loss and essentially buy you time. Perhaps it might keep you from having to have a second HT in the foreseeable future. Hopefully when that time finally comes you'll be older and there will be additional options available to treat hairloss. All the best - FS
  8. Probably the most bizarre combover I've ever seen was in a college English class. The instructor had combedover the hair from the back and sides of his head - I have to say it looked pretty decent from the front. But as soon as he turned around to write something on the blackboard, his head looked like the rearend of a Yorkshire terrier! No photos (unfortunately) but after 20+ years, that image of the English instructor is indelibly stamped in my mind. Needless to say, when hairloss became an issue for me, the "Yorkie combover" was never an option! FS
  9. I think Robert may have answered the "dry grass" question. Or perhaps, the guy used too much hair gel. In my own HT experience, my transplanted hair, which formerly resided on the sides and back of my head, is no different in color or texture from the rest of my hair. I supsect that if someone had this texture to begin with before the HT then they would continue to have that texture after the HT. As for looking natural, I would agree with Ashley that that is one of the biggest challenges with a HT. Of course this is also a problem with a lot of surgical treatments; HTs, breast implants, nose jobs, hip replacements - the solution can come close but it's usually not as good as the original. Yet in spite of this, I would still have opted for the HT. I plan to do an additional HT at some point to work on my hairline by adding more grafts and making the hairline a bit less straight. Finally, I'd encourage those of you who are ready to trade-in your bald heads for beer bellies to carefully reconsider your options. For many people, being bald or being overweight are equally undesirable - it's silly to suggest that one sucks less than the other. Let's face it: they both suck. All the best - FS
  10. Ashley - Thanks for the fresh perspective. Fortunately, my wife feels the same about my (formerly) bald head as you do. Interestingly, the weight problem that she's had in recent years as a result of childbirth doesn't bother me at all - but it does bother her. When I went in for my HT consultation, the doctor made several admiring comments about my height - I'm 6'2". He was about 5'8" and I soon realized that his height probably bothered him about as much as my receding hairline bothered me. I of course couldn't help but notice the thick head of hair that he had. It made me realize that we all have our own crosses to bear and these crosses really help shape our perceptions of ourselves and the world around us. Thanks for the insights. FS
  11. tkotko - Your "unthawed" comment made me realize that the numbness is similar to the sensation that you get when you put something frozen against your skin. I've been trying to describe the sensation to my wife and numbness wasn't really the right word. Besides, how many of us want to admit to having a "numb skull"?!? Sorry - it's late . . . Excellent word - thanks. FS
  12. Thanks for the replies - I know that I'm not the only one who has experienced this and it's always helpful to compare notes. Gill - my strip was also "ear-to-ear" so I'll just continue to wait and see what happens. Thank you all again. FS
  13. I had my HT last November (1,650 grafts - NW 6) and am just shy of 7 months. Based on my experience, by 3 1/2 months, I had a sufficient amount of hair grow back that I felt comfortable enough to walk around without a hat. Between 4 1/2 and 5 months, I started to re-use a bottle of hair gel that had been gathering dust for some time (for some reason, that was a HUGE benchmark for me!). All this is to say, I think you're on the cusp of having that "holy cow" experience. Since you had a few more grafts than me and went to Dr. Cooley, I'm sure your results will be quite dramatic. All the best - FS
  14. I just wanted to check in with everyone and find out how long their scalps were numb after their HT. In early June it will be 7 months since I had my HT and I have slowly regained sensation in my scalp. However, the back of my head from the scar up to crown is still feeling numb. Interestingly, their is less numbness along the sides of my head. I mentioned this to my doc at our 6 month appointment and he said that though it was uncommon, sometimes it just took longer for the severed nerves to reconnect. I was curious if any of you had had a similar problem and if so, when did you finally regain full sensation in your scalp. Thanks - FS
  15. I just wanted to check in with everyone and find out how long their scalps were numb after their HT. In early June it will be 7 months since I had my HT and I have slowly regained sensation in my scalp. However, the back of my head from the scar up to crown is still feeling numb. Interestingly, their is less numbness along the sides of my head. I mentioned this to my doc at our 6 month appointment and he said that though it was uncommon, sometimes it just took longer for the severed nerves to reconnect. I was curious if any of you had had a similar problem and if so, when did you finally regain full sensation in your scalp. Thanks - FS
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