john2008

I know that my post is very out of date, and I have not logged on in quite a while. I am looking to have my third transplant. I am sorry to hear that you had such an experience. I can say that both of my prior transplants were done through this clinic and can give some clarity to the last post. My first was in May or June of 1998 with Dr. Riggs, and my second in March of 2009. Firstly, the author is correct in saying that John is a sales rep at the end of the day's but in neither procedure did he remove my scalp strip. He was in the room for both (granted, I don't quite know why), but he has never touched my head during the surgeries. They did provide me lunch in both instances -i can't recall what it was in '98, but it was some kind of wrap or sandwich in '09. I have not had a bad experience in either situation. My head was numbed the whole time and both doctors told me to let them know if there was pain,a d the would renumb the area (I assume all other Dr's do the same). That being said, I will admit that when you talk to John you are going to usually hear about the latest and greatest like lasers and PRP and all that jazz, and you usually have to redirect the conversation back to hair transplants. At the end of the day Dr. Markou did a great job on my 2nd transplant, I am considering him for my 3rd. But since I live in Tampa Bay and we have ht doctors on every corner, I am shopping around. But I would not have a problem referring someone to Dr. Markou.

Good Day, I have a couple questions about hair systems. I just signed a contract with Hair Club yesterday (still have 2 days to cancel for a refund. I have had 2 transfers and have been on Rogaine and Propecia since 1998, and I am seeing a large amount of hair loss. I am 34 now, and I would like to get off Propecia as it is a constant cost along with Rogaine. I know that there is $100 every 4-8 weeks with HCM but I think it is an offset in costs regarding Propecia and Rogaine. I see a lot of good and bad posts out there for Hair Club for the Bio Matrix. Can you please give me some true information on being a member? Pros, Cons, what to expect? Are there other valid and affordable competitors? Thanks so much!

Yeah, I don't really see any research on them. At least - not independent. Most of them usually sell on the idea of lasers "and LED's". To the best of my research, there has never been any significant on LED's growing hair at all. Believe it or not, I am a very skeptical person, and I was did a good amount of research. I have had two hair transplants for the hair and scalp clinic in Clearwater, Florida - Dr Markou - manager John Santino (I can give you their Web site on a PM is you would like, I know they are getting kind of strict about Web sites here). I asked them about it and it happens that they did there own study as well which showed good results. They provide laser therapy with the big machines for those who don't want to go through under the knife and tested this as an at home alternative. I have seen some people's opinions of my posts regarding the lasercomb and their feelings are understandable, but I can only say that it works for me. Again, this is not something that I would even imply is a replacement for Rogaine or Propecia, after having 2 transplants and being on these drugs for 10 years I feel that would be insane. However, it helps make my hair strands fuller and it has reduced my itching and irritation. I hope this helps, but let me know if I can answer any other questions for you. John

Here is a link to an independent study: http://www.hairtransplantmagaz...Clinical-Studies.php

I would say not to purchase a third party. Most importantly, as with most things, do some research and see how much money the company spends on research and the outcome of the research. I think that alone will speak volumes.

Here are some links to studies regarding this product: http://www.hairtransplantmagaz...Clinical-Studies.php and http://www.promoweb-us.com/previewmmc/home/study.htm

I know that we all want to get the most hair possible, I can tell everyone that in my 11 years on the drug I went a few years (3 or 4) using Proscar cut into four (1.25 mg), honestly - I don't think it worked any better than the 1 mg pill - Just Cheaper. I went back to the 1 mg pill because I didn't want to risk my wife coming in contact with the cut pills or dander from it. I really would stay away from upping the dosage without a Doctor giving you approval. Remember that this is a hormone adjusting pill. If your DHT is being blocked, then it is being blocked and I would certainly wait until Dr. Rassman publishes a finalized study and then still get your own doctor's approval. John

I was reading a few more of the posts here. In my many years on the drug, I can honestly say that although I did not have any side effects, I am aware of some people who have had side effects. Everyone needs to understand that they are serious and that they are REAL. Luckily, those who I knew with side effects, went back to normal shortly after ceasing the drug. At first I did have some effects that could be considered psychological, because I was 21 and REALLY stressed about becoming impotent and I was better after I got it out of my head. So, it was mental for me, but for the two friends that I had, it was not mental. I just think that it is important that we keep in mind that these side effects are a reality for some people, however for centurian's situation -I AM NOT A DOCTOR - but I think that you would have noticed something within a year. Don't be afraid to speak with you doctor and pharmacists as they are have access to most studies on the drugs. John

I have been taking propecia since 1998 and I was 21 at the time. I got married in 2000 and I have not have any side effects that I am aware of. Now, I started young and I do realize that I started taking it the year after it was approved for baldness, so there is not a "true" long-term (20-30 years) study of side effects. I was off it for about a year to save money. During this time the only difference that I noticed was losing more hair. After another transplant and taking Propecia again, I have more hair. Unfortunately, you never know for sure what can happen when being on a medication for several years. Remember that women on birth control can have strokes and heart attacks. So, each person has to way the possible benefits and risks, I can only say that I have not had side affects for 11 years, minus the one that I was off of the drug. john

Its all good Caveolae. Well that was the gist of my original question. I guess I have always had a fear of the generics. Not because of any real "true" reason - just the whole taboo thing that the mainstream stay away from them. If you are personally seeing great results with generics please let me know the name and the pharmacy, because I would like to start if they are a good product. Thanks again

Thank you everyone. Caveolae, I followed up that I made a mistake. It was 5mg. I would not feel comfortable saying that a DO who has done close to 1,000 HT's a fool. He should me a medical article where he read this. I do not know how it could possibly be illegal for Merck to place the active ingredient randomly throughout a pill, as long as they are providing the full active ingredient in each individual product. I have only taken a few law classes, but I would have to say that would be pretty safe from a lawsuit as those who need the pill in the 5mg for prostate and take it how it was intended and written on all Proscar documentation are getting what is expected. It would be a legitimate way to mitigate our use of the cheaper pill when using it in the manner that 'they' did not intend us to. But either way thank you to everyone. I have been on Proscar and Propecia since 1998 and after 2 HT's this is starting to get quite expensive. I have just always been afraid of the online generic ordering with the whole taboo view of it in the US. It is comforting to see that so many of you are using them with success. Thanks again, John

Hello dontwantbald, I have never heard of them and I have been doing the balding thing since 1998 when I was 20. I've used just about everything. I looked at the site and it looks like 5% Minox. (same as Rogaine) and some extra stuff. My question would be, does it have propylene glycol in it? I can really only use the Foam version of Rogaine because the propylene glycol in the regular and generic irritate my scalp horribly. John

Hello Under Construction, I do not think that it was foolish start them with a HT, It may have helped a bit to be on this 2-4 weeks earlier, but it still helps. You should have maybe waited a couple of weeks after your HT for Rogaine to keep it out of the scabs, but it seems to have worked for you. The shedding you explained sounds normal. I would recommend speaking to the Dr again because the majority of Dr's (as well as the medication producers) recommend taking 1 propecia (or 1/4 proscar) everyday and Rogaine twice a day. This is at first (about the first year or so) before moving to every other day. John

I think that is very good advice mmhce. John

I know that at times (at least I know that I do) we can see the hair shedding and freak out and assume it as a worst case scenario, however keep in mind that even on meds and after having a HT, the hair strands still go through their typical life cycles, so this could just be normal growth shedding and would likely come back. Now that it has been a few months - How is it how? Also, are you using the original or foam Rogaine? John

Hey Everyone, Just curious, on average how long is the donor line tender after a HT? Thanks, John

Hey Everyone, Just curious, on average how long is the donor line tender after a HT? Thanks, John

Here is what I got off of Wikipedia. It looks like it is used to break narcotic addictions. I am not sure that I would say that this would be the most necessary thing after an HT though - but that's just me lol: Methadone maintenance treatment MMT (Methadone Maintenance Treatment) reduces and/or eliminates the use of heroin, and criminality associated with heroin use, and allows patients to improve their health and social productivity.[21] In addition, enrollment in methadone maintenance has the potential to reduce the transmission of infectious diseases associated with heroin injection, such as hepatitis and HIV.[21] The principal effects of methadone maintenance are to relieve narcotic craving, suppress the abstinence syndrome, and block the euphoric effects associated with heroin. Methadone maintenance has been found to be medically safe and non-sedating.[21] It is also indicated for pregnant women addicted to heroin.[21] In Russia, methadone treatment is illegal. Health officials are not convinced of the treatment's efficacy. Instead, doctors encourage immediate abstinence from drug use, rather than the gradual process that methadone substitution therapy entails. Patients are often given sedatives and painkillers to cope with withdrawal symptoms.[22] [edit] Effect Methadone maintenance treatment significantly decreases the rate of HIV infection for those patients participating in MMT programs (Firshein, 1998). At proper dosing, methadone usually reduces the appetite for and need to take heroin, and also provide cross-tolerance and block the euphoric effects of other opioids such as heroin, fentanyl, hydrocodone, oxycodone, hydromorphone, and morphine or codeine, thus greatly reducing the motivation of patients to use them. Methadone offers patients the freedom from active addiction and use of mind-altering drug use and in turn allows them to seek concurrent psychological, psychiatric and self-help based therapies for both the disease of addiction and any comorbid illnesses they have, freedom they would not have when experiencing severe ongoing withdrawal and/or cravings. In addition, and perhaps most importantly, methadone allows addicts to become productive members of society; freed from the need to obtain money through often illicit means, opiate addicts can return to their normal lives, or develop skills, further their education, and (re)join the workforce. A proper dose used in methadone maintenance therapy will block or greatly reduce cravings for illicit opioids, while not inducing any euphoric feelings or other subjective sense of being high, and if dose is high enough, will actively prevent the patient from experiencing any high if they do use other opioids. Methadone-based treatment is significantly more effective clinically and more cost effective than no-drug treatment modalities for opiate-dependent patients.[23] [edit] Dosage A majority of patients require 80-120 mg/d of methadone, or more, to achieve these effects and require treatment for an indefinite period of time, since methadone maintenance is a corrective but not a curative treatment for opiate addiction.[21] Lower doses are sometimes not as effective, or do not provide an equivalent blockade effect as higher dosages can. Some patients will be prescribed as much as 500 mg of methadone a day, though a person without a methadone tolerance may get sick from a dose as low as 20 mg. In the United States clinics typically start patients at a low dose, generally only starting patients on methadone when they are in withdrawal and providing a small test dose, after which the patients are observed for possible adverse effects. Assuming there are no complications, the remaining portion of the first day's dose is then given. After this the doses are titrated until they reach either a clinically sufficient level that prevents withdrawal, cravings and possible continued use of illicit opioids, or until they reach a maximum dose set by clinic policy. For example, a clinic may start patients at 30 mg and raise the dosage 5 mg a day until the patient feels at a comfortable level, or will stop at 80 mg and allowing the patient to move up by 5 mg or 10 mg every 2 or 3 days, free from withdrawal symptoms and intense cravings. Once stabilized patients may require occasional dose adjustments as their clinical or subjective tolerance changes. The most common and traditional dosing regimens, however, tend to fall far short of providing optimum or even sufficient results for a number of patients. This is due to the ceilings many clinics place on dose levels.[24][25] Until recently a 100-mg/d dose was regarded as a 'glass ceiling,' rarely to be penetrated. In practice much lower thresholds were maintained even though the optimal dose varies greatly between patients, often quite higher than this and with no inherent threshold in the possible dose, as the toxic dose for patients with very high tolerance can exceed this ten-fold or more. The blood concentrations of patients on an equivalent dose (when adjusted for body weight) can vary as much as 17-fold, or up to 41-fold when influenced by other medications, leading to a vast range of potentially required doses.[26][27] In the United States, federal law was changed in 2001 to eliminate some restrictions imposed on patients dosed on more than 100 mg per day.

Hello Judge Holden, I know is sounds like a canned answer, but I would really recommend talking to Dr. Armani or another HT doctor. I say this because it affecting you enough to ask, and he may have several different options that may not require surgery. I just had my 2nd HT on 03/18, and part of it was refilling my temples. I receded over 2 inches in the 10 years after my 1st HT so my Dr and I thought that it would be the best option. I would not be too scared of a Blagojevich hairline (if that was an HT job, the doc should have his license revoked -jk-) The HT doctor will not go that far. Its funny that CJG mentioned him because when my dr recommended doing the front line, I said "I don't want to look like Blago." He did measurements on my head and said it is important that I look like my assumed age after the procedure. They may have meds, lasers, and other things that can help until you need a full HT.

No, I would think that no side effects would be a good thing. John

Hey there baldboy123, I felt the same way when I started in 1998, I was 20 then. It really takes about 5-7 months to start seeing the results. I would recommend to use Rogaine Foam as well. Together, they two seem very successful. John

Thank you

I have had two HT's and both times the doc prescribed Vicoden. But to be honest, I am not 100% sure that I really needed it past the first night. John

Hey Everyone, I just got my stitches out today and most of the crust was loose, so my Dr had me go home and was my hair which almost all of the crust off. Of course I saw our good friend shock loss, but I noticed that the recipient sites are a little soar now. The little hairs are still there so I think everything is okay. Have you guys also gone through this soreness and is it just that the crusts are no detached and it is just back to fresh skin? Thanks, John

Hey its752 Yeah, I was wondering if I would lose non-transplanted hair. I know with the strong permanent stuff there will be damage and loss, but I was wondering if something like just for men would do the same. Thanks and sorry for the confusion in the first post. John