Patriot34

The density looks good. I'd be anxious to see a top view to see how the front third blends in with the previous hair and if there is a noticeable difference. The scar appears fine. Still very visible with your hair that short though.

Thanks for your feedback.

Take it for what it's worth. In my case I started with brand name Propecia and I didn't notice hair falling out like I do now while I am on the generic version. Perhaps I just didn't notice it before or maybe the drug lost it's effectiveness. I will continue to research this debate. I have been told by doctors that there is absolutely no difference other than the name and legal issues. The chemical make up of the drug is the exact same, so they say.

You are moving hair to the front, but you also seem to be losing in the crown. What is your plan for that? Will you have enough donor hair? Make no mistake about it that you will continue to lose hair throughout life. I'm not saying that you should aim to do anything about the crown now or even ever, but it is something you may not be considering in hopes of a fuller front. Given your case and the docs plan I'd be very hesitant. The misconception that people see you from the front is just based on the fact you see yourself in the mirror. Believe me, we all look at each others sides, top, and backs of heads. A full front with a great hairline and thin or bald crown screams HT. Plan for your future. Just saying.

I had a HT over a year ago and the results were poor. I was lied to so many times by my clinic that I don't even know where to begin. I started on Fin approximately 18 months ago. I couldn't tell if I had any success or not, but I didn't suffer from any side effects so I figure it's best to stay on it since I have now read that coming off of it can result in drastic, unreversible hair loss. I also use Minoxidal foam. Now I am noticing that every time I run my fingers through my hair I have multiple hairs falling out. It's much more then I have ever noticed at any point in my life. Do these hairs just shed naturally and grow back or is this a sign that I am in the "Joe Rogan" category and have to shave my head and deal with the scar on the back of my head? If I keep losing hair at this rate I can't imagine having much more then the transplanted hair in a couple years. Should I consider some other products to use? I do notice that my scalp is very itchy and I have dandruff. I have used good quality shampoo and some Head and Shoulders occasionally but it doesn't seem to help. I am considering another HT with a credible doctor in hopes of fixing a lot of issues, but if I'm just delaying the inevitable then I would rather just save my money and move on. Do you have any advice on products or experience on this issue? I am wondering if Fin lost it's effectiveness and I should consider Duo?

Thanks for your feedback.

I paid for 1500 grafts and was told I received 1600. Thanks for your confirmation that they are in fact "doubles". So until I can get this fixed is it okay to pluck the ones that draw attention? As far as my previous condition I was probably a NW 3.

I will be doing another at some point. I can't do it for quite some time so I am trying to think of a more temporary fix. Plucking a couple of them that stick out in my mind feels like a good approach, but I don't want to be drastic. I didn't put the clinic's name in the post because the rules on the forums suggest that I confront the doctor with concerns first. I have, and they have been trying to fix the issue along with a poor scar. They are very hesitant to say that there are doubles in the hairline even though we both know the truth. I don't have any time off that I can use to do the surgery so basically I am just waiting. Even though the clinic would do a fix for free I am reluctant to go back after such poor communication that resulted in doubles in a hairline in the first place. But that's besides the point here - I just want to know how to temporarily roll with the situation.

My clinic said they would not use doubles in the hairline. They claim there are no doubles in my hairline. These pics show what I would consider doubles in the hairline. I don't think it looks good and catches my eye. What are your thoughts? Is plucking the "doubles" too drastic? I have heard of people doing this occasionally. This is not my hair style, just trying to get a close up of the follicles.

Anyone who proudly did work on an 18 year old needs to have their medical license revoked. That is just sad. There is no reason to justify that.

American Crew Thickening Lotion. Do your research online and I'm sure you'll find that it is a highly rated product. It is fairly expensive, but it's worth it's price tag. If you try it shoot me a PM and let me know what you think. I have only been using it for a couple of weeks and I like it. At your time frame you still have some hair that needs to grow so make sure you check with your doctor to see if you should be using a product like this first so that it doesn't effect your hair growth.

I don't see why a hat would effect anything. Couldn't wear a hat immediately after procedure if that's what your asking.

A reputable clinic would recommend at least one year of Fin before moving on. However, you'll find that this is uncommon in the industry and many places will gladly give a HT before attempting to treat hair loss with a long term perspective. If you are unable to use Fin because you suffer from the side effects or simply can't afford it then a HT is not something I would recommend. Otherwise you are just placing hairs that won't fall out in an area where the other hairs will fall out, leave you to only turn back in hopes to fill the thin area with a limited amount of donor hair to spread. I received my HT at a young age as well and I deeply wish this was something that was told to me in an honest and open discussion. Instead I was told that I would have a scar the width of the edge of paper and the clinic didn't even say anything about medical treatments till I asked for it. They were more concerned with getting a down payment and a schedule date for the procedure. My advice = Go to your doctor and ask about fin now and see how you react to it. No point in doing a hairline touch up at this point because you don't know where the rest of your hair is going to end up yet at your age.

Don't feel bad. This is a common sales tactic in the field and many of us have been burned on this false statement. We all believed it because we wanted to believe it so badly. Either way, we may have still proceeded knowing the real size of the scar, but we weren't able to make an informed decision and therefore will have a lot of pissed off feelings towards the clinic. What goes around comes around and people who have to lie to others to get a sale will likely get what's coming to them in due time since they will fall flat on their face in the business and their name and reputation will be permanently attached to their lies. Luckily there are a lot of honest docs out there that will give you the full story and let you decide for yourself with all the facts.

And what does your scar look like now? I would agree with the rest of the posters and advise you to wait at least 3 months to do any intense weight lifting. Keep things pretty mild and allow the wound to heal properly. Every one is different though so there is no set amount. But "7 days post op" is pretty irresponsible to be telling a patient in my experience.

Pretty good cover up. I bet as he ages and if he would grow hair out just a tad bit more then you wouldn't be able to see this scar at all.

One of the biggest complaints that I see on the forums is that people feel their HT is too thin. I feel that the amount of hair used in my HT was far too low and other docs agreed after seeking other opinions. Is this some sort of tactic that clinics use in hope that you will quickly return to get more hair? That seems absurd and risky for business. It seems to happen so much I just thought that maybe this was something patients should consider. Perhaps it is just hindsight after a finished result. I know during my consultation the representative constantly said stuff such as "and if you decide to do more down the road" ect. The whole time I was thinking...."why can't we just get it right the first time?" What do you think?

I struggled with the decision to get a HT because of this exact issue. In the end I feel like if shaving my head was a good option I would have done it. However, with moles, weird shaped head, and an overall super pale head I just didn't see it as a good look.

Every case is different. But to answer your question honestly....yes, I do find myself wearing a hat significantly more after my hair transplant. I mostly do this because my results were thin and by wearing a hat it mashes my hair down and then when I take it off it doesn't look as bad. As far as swimming goes it could reveal a scar, but I keep my hair longer now so it is unlikely. Swimming makes my frontal area look pretty bad though depending on how my hair lays after I get it wet. With someone who had great results and everything went right I don't think hats and swimming ect are really much of a concern.

I've been a long time lurker on this site and finally decided to create an account to contribute my opinion and experience. The mistake I made with my hairline was letting the clinic draw too straight of a line and not asking for a more age appropriate hairline for my later years. The temptation of the lower, perfectly straight hairline is very tempting, but you got to know the limitations of the surgery. We all wish we could have that amazing hairline we see on other men, but I wouldn't go for it unless you want a thin fake looking hairline. If you fall into this category then you will be stuck with one hair style for the rest of your life or until you can find time and money to get it corrected. Think about what you want to look like when you are older and don't be short sighted. Nothing wrong with critiquing a design even if it is done by a top professional.