Hairtoday54

25 minutes ago, Dillpickle123 said:

I know that @Gatsby had beard grafts placed into his scars so he would be able to answer that 

Thanks - I'll ask him, also.!

49 minutes ago, parsia said:

You're very welcome. I was thinking the same about the beard grafts , But I figured these days many doctors including Dr.Shapiro using that with great result , I haven't deeply research about beard graft . Melvin who posted on your thread did that on his last transplant , You can ask him as well.

I'll do that!

On 2/15/2023 at 10:20 AM, Melvin- Moderator said:

Dr. Konior will tell you stick with Ron. You’re already in great hands, no need to change docs.

Hello Melvin. It was stated that you had beard hair transplanted into your scalp… I've always thought that beard hair would grow in stiffer and would not be as manageable as regular hair. What is your experience?

Thanks!

3 hours ago, parsia said:

Thank you for your pics , I have never seen any case of flap before this , Just as a friendly note , Nowadays , DR.Shapiro is fully booked for one year which wasn't the case before Covid , I know you like to have it on 2025 but you may want to consider the waiting time in order to schedule your consultation.

Best of Luck. 

Good advice! We have a pretty good relationship, and I could probably just FaceTime with him for the consultation. He seen me two or three different times. So he knows what he's working with. Thanks!

4 hours ago, Dillpickle123 said:

You should look into getting your fut and flap scars covered with beard grafts 

Thanks for the advice. But I actually never wear my hair short enough that they're noticeable. However, how do beard grafts grow in? I always imagine them being stiffer and less easy to groom  than regular hair

4 hours ago, Rafael Manelli said:

Wow. As far as flaps so, you got a homerun. That's fascinating. Will be a great case study if you choose to share with HD pics and video. 

Rafael, I'm over 1 1/2 years away from having my (hopefully) final procedure (waiting to be retired!), but I would be glad to do video & pics.

4 hours ago, Archan said:

Thnks for the pics....you have chosen a good doctor ....excited to follow your journey ...never seen flap situation cases earlier....so whats the date of your surgery ? And best of luck...

Archan, probably not until January of 2025. A ways off!

My plan ultimately is to visit Dr. Shapiro and have my head shaved (I have never done this before) and allow him to do FUE. What I haven't said before is, 25 years ago I had two hair flaps done in California. It was "the state of the art" then – but certainly not perfect. That said, I probably got as "perfect" of a result as one could have hoped for. I have one photo of my hairline when I was about 31… And my hair had not fully receded… It got worse by the time I had my first flap in 1997. The picture is from about December 1991. I will also add several photos of my hairline after the flaps. Dr. Shapiro did some work on me - a couple of FUT's…2016, I think. He was working on the crown  then. 4400 total graphs I think. Between two procedures. I have one photo of the crown before he started, and then one after – but at  about five months only. Hope this adds clarity. I don't plan to see him until I completely retire from my job. Which will probably be in about a year and a half. The FUTs, and flaps left some not so pleasant scars. I don't want to have to go anywhere I can't wear a hat, for about 3 - 6 months after the procedure! Oh - one thing that is unique about my situation is, he will not only be able to draw gtafts from the back of my head - but from both of the flaps on top of my head! That will about double my potential!

You will love him - and his entire staff! He is one of the most congenial, patient, down to earth doctors I have met. And very skilled.

Thank you! I love Dr. Shapiro - he did a great job, as I said. I only considered Dr. K because of many comments regarding his excellent crown work (all I need now to complete my journey). 
I plan to continue with Ron - thanks to input from you, and others. 
Thanks again!

Melvin - Thank You!

I have had work done by Dr. Shapiro - love him! But, I need more work in my crown and back of head. I have a lot of donor area left. Can anyone offer an informed opinion of who would be best for crown work? And cost per grafts charged by each doctor now?

Thanks!

JUST returned yesterday to my home state after a FANTASTIC experience with the Shapiro Medical Group! I am posting, as I found them, and ultimately chose them to do my work thanks to their stellar reputation on this and one or two other blog sites.

If you review my previous posts, I had previously had two flaps done by Dr. Toby Mayer ('97 & '98) - and was VERY pleased with the results! However, I had recession behind the flaps (WISH I there had been propecia then, or at least that I had known about it!). At any rate, after 16 years I was in need of more work - and of course the flaps created some interesting problems.

Based on reviews on this site, I personally visited Dr. Robert True in New York, consulted telephonically with Dr. Robert Frechet in Switzerland, and Dr. Mark DiStefano in MA, and finally, visited Ron Shapiro in Minnesota. Quite frankly, I was impressed with ALL of them - and believe all would probably done great work. However, I just really seemed to click with Dr. Ron - he was very down to earth, very honest, and offered ideas other doctors had not thought about. His staff is OUTSTANDING! Put me at ease, all had great sense of humor, and were very solicitous of my needs. Probably however, my decision was cinched in part due to the pricing structure Shapiro offers: discount for out of town patients, reduction in price per graft after 2000, and just very competitive pricing on their base rates (let's fact it, money matters - even though I would pay more for a better result, I was very comfortable that I would get great results at Shapiro!)

At any rate, when I first met with Dr. Ron, he was not sure if he could get more than 1500 grafts (I really only needed the crown, though I was was very interested in softening my frontal hairline, and a small area in one part between my two flaps). However, I spent 6 weeks doing the scalp stretching exercises he suggested, as well as opting for an injection of a drug that actually increased scalp laxity. The end result: 2,356 grafts!! He was able to soften the front (actually came up with the idea of punching out some along the hairline as well, then re-positioning those), filled in the gap between the flaps, then pretty much completely covered my crown! It looks like it will be pretty dense (cosmetically), especially when the dense hair from my flaps blend in. He (and Tom) were able to actually take some flap hair, and from some other areas do some FUE (donor area was covered by existing hair) and sort of recreate a whirl in the crown.

I am praying ALL the grafts take (I am doing EVERYTHING they told me to do!), and that it will look great in a year! IF I need further work, they said I still have a good amount of donor hair available (especially from my very dense flaps). I know it has only been two days, but I am VERY thrilled so far! Because the small hairs have not yet fallen out, I can get an idea of what it will look like once it finally begins growing again.

So far, I cannot recommend the Shapiro Medical Group strongly enough!! They took a good number of photos, pre- and post op, so I am going to email them and see if they would email me copies. Perhaps I can post some of those (if someone can advise me as to how to blur my face).

SHAPIRO MEDICAL GROUP ROCKS!!

I have hear many good things about both Dr. Robert True and Dr. Ron Shapiro; can anyone offer any insights as to pros and cons between the two? They both seem extremely skilled; does one or the other have specific strengths that would lead one to choose between them? I do think Dr. Shapiro has better pricing; is there any reason I should pay more and see Dr. True? Also, between Ron and Paul, is there any reason to choose one over the other?

Thank you!!!

I'm not sure if you are the fellow that I recently communicated with or not, but you are on the right path. The Shapiros are top notch and worthy of visit as much as I am. Dr. Kabaker out in California is talented too with hard cases like this. He and my fellowship director were close back in the mid 90s so I KNOW that he can sew and reconstruct well on complex problems.

 

You have a hard problem which may or may not have a reasonable treatment option.

 

Dr. Lindsey McLean VA

Thank you Dr. Lindsey- it was indeed me with whom you spoke! I vacillate back and forth - Shapiro actually said I might consider Frechet; if anyone could get me what I am looking for, it would be him...IF it were possible. The thing is, until Frechet looked at it himself, I won't know! However, if he COULD do his procedure, the costs would ultimately be about the same - with much quicker results - than a series of FUT/FUE procedures.

I have some things going on in the next few months, so not sure when I can get any appointments scheduled for consultations...

Sexier works,too, Nick - I'd love to be sexier for my beautiful bride! I am very excited an anxious to get something going. Matt Zupan promised me I'd look just like Brad Pitt! Okay, I am kidding! I haven't talked to Matt yet - I am having a phone consultation on Friday, however. If I do look like Pitt, it'll probably be his character early in the The Curious Case of Benjamin Button! :-)

I shall keep everyone posted...

Hey guys, "can't we all just get along?"... :-) Seriously, I appreciate all of the remarks, advice, and opinions related to my original post. I have about narrowed it down to one of the Shapiros or Dr. Lindsey. I shall probably meet with both, and whichever one says they can make me look 20 again, gets my business! :-).

Thanks Nick, Arrie, and great job for you insights. I have pretty much narrowed it down to one of the Shapiros or Lindsey. The Shapiros do seem to have the best pricing - especially after 2000 grafts! If that a cumulative total? I.e., does the price drop after 2000 grafts, even if it takes 2 or more surgeries to hit that mark?

Anyway, I guess I could flip a coin and get a good doc either way!

Oh - one other thing: when it comes to FUE, would any of the docs (Shapiros or Lindsey) be as good as the other?? Greatjob, did you have work by Lindsey?

Thanks again!

Well, in the short time I have been signed up, I have learned a great deal. I have an unusual situation in that I have had 2 flap surgeries previously, with which I am very happy (photos posted on a couple of my previous posts). However, I have lost hair behind the flaps, and now need more work. The previous procedures create some obstacles, but not insurmountable.

I am not worried about scars, as I have enough already from previous surgeries! Not ever gonna wear my hair shorter than an inch long! SO, FUT is my first consideration, then probably followed by FUE (as I can actually harvest from my dense flaps).

My question is this: If you had to choose a surgeon, for FUT, or FUE (or both), would you select one of the Shapiros in MN (and which one)?, Dr. True (or Dr. Dorin?), Dr. Wolf in Cincinnati, or Dr. Lindsey in VA?

I have seen all reviewed well and all are competent, I am sure. I will say this: I don't want to go broke! (some are $10 a graft!), but I want a good result. I am thinking Dr. Wolf for FUT, as he is close, but I have heard great things about the Shapiro result and their pricing.

I was considering seeing Frechet, but am having reservations about that....

Suggestions? Who does the best work at the best price??

THANKS FOR ALL RESPONSES!

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That sounds great! Are they as awesome as the reviews seem to indicate?

May I ask what the Shapiros charge per graft?

A local doctor said he felt he could probably get 1500 grafts with FUT - he doesn't do FUE. But he said I could then harvest other areas - including my flaps - with FUE...

Yes Blake, that would be the ideal outcome (which is why Dr. Frechet intrigued me). If not possible, then obviously as much as possible.

I was able to post photos of my crown, in another thread; I shall attempt the same here. As you can see, I have a fairly large area. One advantage of the flaps is that I have enough density to provide good cover up!

Will FUE/FUT still be able to give me the coverage I desire?

Thank you Gambler for your comments. I will say that I have more bald area than my photos reveal: that is one advantage of the density of my flaps - I can conceal that area quite well! I am going to try to post some photos of my crown if I can - I have had difficulty so far. 50% regeneration here in the states is pretty impressive: is this anecdotal info, or hard facts?

Thanks for your response, xtatic5 - although I am not sure there is a case that it is unethical to perform older - even more invasive - techniques, if they work. I have met numerous flap patients (one locally, when I was looking for "live" examples, and several while actually at Dr. Mayer's offices, just awaiting consultations, or procedures). ALL of those I have personally seen looked great!

One big advantage, if one is willing to undergo the more "invasive" procedures, is the instant hair gain - i went from very little hair up front and on top to a full head instantly. In fact, a "disadvantage" was I had to deal with people's remarks about such an obvious (overnight) transition. Many thought I had bought a wig. However, I have only on rare occasions noticed anyone that didn't know me prior to my surgeries giving me "that" look (i.e. at my hairline, noticing a procedure) - and those were people with hair loss who were probably "tuned in" to notice.

That said, had the state of the industry 16 years ago been what it is now, I most likely would have opted for FUE or FUT. But neither of those procedures would give you the density I now enjoy in front and on top. I am now just looking for the "biggest bang" for my bucks to finish the crown and back, with the best results. I am not sure how this works, but if you can somehow search for my posts using my name, you'll see my photos. I have only posted on two threads that I started...