harryforreal

Top Result. It's rare you will hear me say that.

I agree with Ryan Daniel. I have thick, coarse hairs (many doubles) planted at the front of my hairline that I never understood the aesthetic goal. Over a decade later and still plucking hairs. I have bags of transplanted hairs I have plucked over the years for comparison to see if they might "soften" with time. I went in principally to see about a thinning spot at the front, left with the suggestion to lower the hairline 1/2 cm. So much frustration over the years for a 1/2 cm. In retrospect should have tried finasteride first to see if the thinning spot would thicken. The thing is this, Adam, for people such as yourself (and myself) with overall great hair, our expectation I believe is a bit different than persons with much greater hair loss. We want a bit of a touch up, nothing too much; so seems like it shouldn't be too involved - relatively easy and quick. But it is a lot of risk for relatively small gains. And whereas someone with significant hair loss might be happy with "thick hairs at the hairline" and not see a danger in moving forward with surgery, I can tell you that "touch up" procedures carry high expectations. Above all I would suggest you actually look at some hair transplants IN REAL LIFE, not just pictures or video. There are so many small details I see in my bathroom mirror that I simply cannot capture with a camera. For example, Ryan doesn't mention the texture of the skin following a transplant. I have spent +$4000.00 on micro needling and radio frequency micro needling (Genius RF) to improve the resulting bumpy skin texture of the skin around the transplanted hairs. Think carefully, and try and see someone in person who has had a hair transplant. Oh, yes, also 2 laser treatments to get rid of redness that persisted OVER 2 YEARS.

I would at least consult with some top doctors like Bisanga, or Feriduni, or maybe Konior (though Konior would be farther for you to travel). You have very good photos, and they should be able to give you feedback via internet. I tried to have someone who was highly rated in electrolysis "zap" undesirable hairs in my hairline, but she cautioned against it, and even warned that in the wrong hands electrolysis can do damage to the skin. So be careful about who you choose if you go this route. " I thought it was only an extraction and implantation process without art🤦🏻‍♂️ .. many double multiple thick hairs implanted in the temple and hairline this made me very depressed " I feel you! I tried to research but there wasn't a lot of info when I got my HT. I was shocked when my hairs at the front came in so thick and dark. Still lurking around the forum for the best option to make it look better.

I disagree. The initial outcome doesn't look soft or natural. Sometimes I think some people are so pro-HT that as long as something grows "it's a good outcome," regardless of aesthetic quality. The temple points and hairline are not feathered in, the color doesn't even match. You can't take thick, darker hairs and plug them in in groups of 2's, 3's, or 4's at the front of lighter colored hairs and expect it to match and look natural. 99%? Absurd. No disrespect intended, Melvin, but that non-scientific number guestimate is just not even close to accurate in my opinion.

Why against it and based on what evidence? I wouldn't suggest doing a micro-needle treatment immediately after a hair transplant, but there have been no adverse results for me - and that's after regular micro needling AND Genius Radio Frequency micro needling. The only regrets I have are the hair transplant itself. But micro-needling and Genius? Definitely improves skin texture and collagen and firmness. No more turkey neck after only 1 session of Genius.

To clarify, these micro-needling treatments are for the face and/or neck to aid in a "youthful appearance", but in each case it was understood that I was purchasing these treatments in part to address the scarring at the hairline from the H.T. The micro-needling can be ~ $400 per session? The Genius Radio Frequency micro needling can be $2k - $3k for 3 sessions? Also depends on if you are doing full face or lower face, etc. (obviously for addressing hair transplant scarring lower face is not what you want). I honestly don't recall the prices. The doctor regularly has promotions, with the greatest discounts occurring at a fall event in which food and drinks are provided and prizes awarded (pre-covid); since Covid it's been an online event in the fall. Hopefully the in-person event will resume as it was quite the shindig. I should say after the first RF procedure a "turkey neck" I was developing disappeared. This alone was worth the cost; the improvement to scalp was a double win. Honestly, improvement to my skin texture has been superb. The only thing remaining that I don't like is the hair transplant itself which continues to look...off....especially under close inspection. But at 52, no one expects my hair to look full and thin or soft anyway. The gray hairs and wiry hairs and thin spots at the front look somewhat natural for a 52 year old hairline, even if it's not what I expected when I purchased the HT at age 40. So at least if the scalp skin looks natural, people are not looking at my hair like I had a transplant; they just think, "52 year old hair". Below is information on the procedure: https://www.aesthetispa.com/services/skin-rejuvenation/genius-rf/

I did micro-needling and also Genuis RF needling. It has helped much with the bumpy texture. Very glad I did it, but it is not cheap.

Interesting question. I have no experience with electrolysis. I do not know what the underlying factor for the electrolysis redness that you are describing might be; but it's definitely worth speaking with an experienced V-Beam practitioner about if it is a relevant concern for you.

I agree, there are a lot of "lines" used in this industry over and over. I also agree that doctors don't like to use nape hair. I wonder if they are concerned it is too delicate to survive transplant or they are concerned about long term resistance to hair loss. Dr. Konior, however, once replied to me that he will use nape hair.

You do not have to shave your head for micro-needling or Genius RF. You do have to shave your head in the area of the V-Beam treatment for redness. Some pics I posted after V-Beam:

This is very interesting. I have had many such hairs in my hairline, and often wondered if they grew this way because they were damaged in the original hair transplant. I actually plucked many of these hairs and stored them labeled by month in ziplock bags so I could compare them later since so many people always said, "Oh, it will soften will time". No, that's a lie. I also consulted with Dr. Cooley about a repair years ago; however, it just seemed too involved, and I did not want FUT. Plus, since a principle concern was that any transplanted hair to the front of the hairline would be darker and thicker than the native hairs, I didn't see how a repeat of the same results could be avoided. When I went and did my first transplant, I honestly was expecting soft, flowing hair along my hairline. HA! What a crock of shit. You can't take pubic hair, transplant it to the front of the hairline, and expect it to "soften". Same with hair from the back of the head in my opinion.

I do not know anything about a derma roller, other than what people have posted in this forum. But, honestly, fuck it. Why spend months and years rolling your own head, and does it really improve scaring? Just get the micro-needling or Genuis RF. The micro-needling is less involved. The Genius is more intense, and may not be age appropriate for you, as my treatment practitioner tends to reserve it for older clients who need more intense treatment. https://www.aesthetispa.com/services/skin-rejuvenation/micro-needling/ https://www.aesthetispa.com/services/skin-rejuvenation/infini-rf/ I have not put up any recent photos. I haven't even logged in very often in recent years. The fix for the redness and improvement to the scaring has left me pretty willing to accept the outcome of my transplant - though not totally as I'm still logging in to find someone with "perfect" results who may finally give me the hairline I originally wanted. XD But I am 52 now, and the many gray hairs I have now and quirky look of the transplant look more natural for someone in their 50's with hair loss. That's not to say it looks good. I just think when people look at me now, they think, oh, yeah, man in his 50's with some hair loss, gray hairs, coarse wild hairs, etc..... It's not the worse hairline. Many people would be happy with what I have. But I'm very similar to you. My hair was similar to yours in color and texture, and not a significant amount of hair loss, but always a high hairline.

If you go with electrolysis, make sure it's someone who is the best; I understand electrolysis can leave scaring as well.

Ah, ok. But they grew normally? Or did they look really bizarre the way they grew before Dr.Cooley zapped them?

Hi, HairNTear, To clarify: You believe some grafts IN YOUR TRANSPLANT were not growing, so Dr. Cooley used electrolysis on damaged grafts that were not growing? This is the first I have heard such a thing.

This is indeed as good as it gets I think. I find wet hair or gelled hair makes everything look much better, though. Regarding the redness, my redness lasted over 2 years. Eventually a trusted doctor (not a hair doctor) recommended a V-Beam laser for the redness; she did not do V-Beam treatments so there was no financial incentive for her. I was recommended 3 V Beam treatments by the dermatologist who did the procedure; I only did 2 and the redness for all practical purposes is gone. Sometimes I think about going back for a 3rd V-Beam, but one must shave one's head at the area where the V-Beam is applied. I also have done 2 micro-needling and 3 Genius RF treatments for scaring and bumpy texture. This has also greatly improved the appearance of my transplant area. This micro-needling and Genius RF are actually face treatments, but I purchased these with the understanding that the treatments would be extended to the hair transplant area to reduce scaring and bumpy texture. The result has been great. Regarding the darker hairs, I do not think they will lighten up over time, they will remain darker and thicker than hairs native to that area. This is based on my transplant from over 10 years ago. I have spent many years plucking these darker hairs in hopes they might become more fine, but with mixed results. Maybe it has helped somewhat, but there are plenty dark, thicker hairs. I once had beautiful soft hairs at the front of my hairline, and now I have these coarse, Einstein hairs that I can't stand, but since I am now in my 50's they at least look somewhat age appropriate as many are going gray.

Yes, the V Beam laser made a huge difference. I am really quite surprised it is not mentioned more often in these threads. I was advised 3 treatments, but in only 2 treatments it removed most all redness. I also have had a couple micro-needling sessions to reduce scaring and even 3 Genius RF sessions, which give a very nice lift to the face (it's for face, but I purchased the micro-needling and Genius RF with the understanding that it would include my hairline. I still think the hair transplant is a shit job, but at least I don't have redness and scarred, bumpy textures to draw attention to it. At this point my hair is graying a lot, and at least now the transplant looks typical of a man in his 50's with graying hair and some thinning of the hair line. But it still looks like shit, people just think I'm an old man now and don't pay much attention to it. I would not do the transplant again, and stand by this statement after years of trying to mitigate it and combing over my hair to hide such a shit job.

Yes, the V-Beam is a laser that targets specifically color in the blood vessels, so it does not affect hair follicles as they are a different color.

Hi, I haven't logged in for awhile! Yes, I had horrible lingering redness for well over two years. I was advised by another doctor to try the V-Beam for the redness. She does not use a V-Beam in her practice, so there was no financial incentive for her suggesting me to try it. The V-Beam specialist suggested 3 treatments, but after 2 treatments the discoloration is for all practical purposes gone. I am so thankful for the V-Beam. As for you, I definitely see the skin discoloration in your transplanted hairline. You have a different skin tone from me (I'm fair skin caucasian), and I'm no doctor, so I can't say exactly what the discoloration in your hairline is from. But here are my thoughts POSSIBLY. 1) When I had discoloration it was explained to me that there are tiny blood vessels very close to the skin that were "ruptured" or damaged from the hair transplant and that these blood vessels were now visible through the skin causing the discoloration. The V-Beam laser targeted the color in the blood flowing through these blood vessels and effectively "cauterized" these blood vessels, at which point they then "dry up" and get reabsorbed into the body. Once dried up, there is no more blood flowing through them, so no more discoloration. After more than two years of redness following my hair transplant, the two V-beam treatments I then had definitely significantly improved the skin discoloration following my treatments. It's pretty much all gone now. This definitely changed my life for the better. I seriously thought my skin along my forehead would remain red for the rest of my life and I would have to combover my hair for the rest of my life just to hide the redness. 2) Sometimes I look around the base of a transplanted hair follicle and still see it's a little dark, and I wonder if I'm actually seeing the darkness of the hair shaft under the skin? Or maybe it's still just a tiny bit of the blood vessels still left that could be treated with a third V-Beam treatment (to be fair, I was advised 3 V-Beam treatments, but after 2 V-Beam treatments it looked so much improved I really didn't see a need to go back). One thing I've realized is that the hairs that were transplanted at the front of my hairline are thicker and darker than the native hairs that were there - too thick and dark in my opinion to look natural. You can transplant pubic hairs, for example (or hair from anywhere else on the body) and it will grow, but it doesn't mean it will look "soft" and natural. In any case, it MAY be that the native thinner hairs that are normally along the front of the hairline are so thin and light that we don't see them through the skin? So when you transplant thicker hairs to the front, you can see the hairs through the skin at a place in the hairline where one doesn't normally see this so it stands out. But I think looking at your pictures again that the discoloration is more likely the result of the blood vessels that are there now. So I would definitely try a couple V-Beam treatments first. The discoloration looks like more than just a hair follicle under the skin. With your darker skin tone compared to mine, I could definitely see how the discoloration you are experiencing is a result of tiny blood vessels that have appeared since your transplant operation, even though the color isn't "red" like my discoloration was - but then my skin is very fair and "pink" to begin with. I hope this helps! I would be careful about "removing" the hair - I think it could create more scaring possibly. First try the V-beam for the discoloration. Then decide after that if it looks acceptable once the discoloration is gone!

Thanks for keeping us updated, skinnyshaft.

Kinematica, Calm down. Most people on this forum have felt the type of anger you are experiencing at the moment; but honestly I don't think your work looks "bad". I do agree it doesn't look highly dense, but that's a relatively easy thing to improve upon if so. In any case it can be hard to tell from photos, especially with a cheaper phone camera. Even if the surgeon implanted the agreed upon # of grafts, most patients on this forum go back for more density and touch up - including JeanLDD who had one of the better results as he documented in his own posts. There's nothing to do now but sit back and wait and see how you like the results. For example, being honest, I'm very impressed with JeanLDD's density results from his first transplant, but when it comes to hairline designs I prefer Konior to Erdogan. This is my preference; but JeanLDD is quite happy with Erdogan's approach, and in the end that's all that matters. I would like to have seen JeanLDD go to Konior for his 2nd procedure to see if Dr. Konior could have "softened" the hairline, and I believe Dr. Konior could have. But....in the end all that matters is that JeanLDD is happy. And overall I give JeanLDD's first HT a 9 on a 10 score. It was a very impressive result. In any event, provided that your grafts grow - and the work looks good - you can go to a top doc for refinement (IF you want that - and almost every guy on here does!), and though it will have been more time and money, you will have saved considerably a large sum of money by having your first HT at an inexpensive clinic. Best wishes, and please keep us updated!

Looks great. Looking forward to seeing the final result. Your photo with your hair pulled back is not as clear as the others with regards to the resolution; could you retake that photo again, pretty please!

Have you tried finasteride/propecia? https://www.bernsteinmedical.com/medical-treatment/patient-photos/

Looking forward to seeing Dr. K's final results.

Yes, this has been a major aesthetic concern of my own H.T.