Since21

Just 2 months out myself, I remember that feeling well. I was still taking Advil quite a bit for the first few weeks. My scalp still feels a little tight but it's getting better and there's still some numbness in areas. But I noticed an improvement in feeling in the past couple of days. It's a journey. PM me if you hit a rough patch or have any questions.

It would, but…I don't think the cure will happen in someone's garage. Like cancer, it would take billions of dollars in research money. Is the cure in the form of a drug? A pill you take one time (that's not going to happen, big Pharma won't let it) or, like Propecia, for the rest of your life? Let's say a drug better than Propecia was developed - it still has a long way to go in clinical trials and FDA approval before it makes it to the marketplace. It takes years and billions of dollars to get a drug to consumers. Not to mention the side effects. I just read an article where more and more lawsuits are being filed against Merck from users of Propecia. So what would it take to find a 'cure?' I believe the answer is in genetic engineering - the manipulation of our genome using biotechnology.

Hey Scott, how are you feeling?

According to Merck's quarterly report for the period ended June 30, 2012, Propecia sales totaled $100 million. You have your answer right there.

I've been taking Fin since 1997 and in the last several years it has lost some of its effectiveness on me. I realized this while on a job and someone took a picture of me from behind - I couldn't believe how much my crown had thinned out. Not only that, I have quite a wide 'horseshoe' but I noticed a thinning streak from the rear of my crown down into where I see a lot of well-regarded surgeons take grafts with FUE. It doesn't take a genius to guess the outcome of that.

What were the patient's hair characteristics and donor density like?

Agreed. I was speaking more in context of FUT vs FUE as we age and what those defined patterns of hair loss might be and how they might affect future results (and donor areas). Although I do believe entering into hair restoration with a more established and predictable pattern of hair loss is beneficial for both patient and doctor.

If you're making a case for FUE over FUT (and I'm not saying you are), I see a lot of FUE surgeons - some of the best actually - take hair well outside of the very narrowly defined 'safe zone.' As these patients age into their 50s and 60s, I imagine a lot of them will lose a noticeable amount of transplanted hairs. That said, who knows what advancements there will be in the next 20 - 30 years, so it may be a non-issue. This is why I believe it's always best to wait until your MPB is fairly predictable to have any kind of hair restoration work done.

You're not referring to transplanted hairs that never shed and continued to grow?

I can see why he's smiling. Looking good.

You're going to continue to shed hairs for up to 2 months. I did most of my shedding between 4 - 6 weeks. Then you'll enter the dormant 'ugly duckling' stage where nothing seems to be happening before actual growth begins. That can take anywhere from 4 - 6 months, sometimes longer. You look right where you're supposed to be right now.

I think the height looks good, Yaz. You'll want to save those grafts for future work in the mid-scalp and crown, if you need it, and to possibly add density to your hairline down the road. Mine is 7 cm from the mid-brow to the lowest point. Here's a good discussion about hairline heights: http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/149969-hairline-height.html

Looks normal to me. However, I would not be using medicated shampoo on the recipient area, and most likely not in the donor area for 2 weeks, but I base that on my surgeon's post-op instructions. He recommends shampooing the recipient area in a very light and gentle massaging motion after the first week. Some recommend 2 weeks. The scabs will fall off over a period of days. I was scab-free by day 12.

Nice documentation. It looks like you are exactly where you should be at this stage. I am 2 months out from my HT and I can relate to the sensations you've described in your recipient area. Mine isn't tender and warm to the touch, but it is still pretty numb and every now and then I'll get a dull prick of pain that quickly comes and goes. I'll also get a pimple or two that feel tender, but I apply warm compresses and they go away in a few days. I also wake up in the morning and the area is pretty oily. I figure all of it is a sign of activity. Good luck and grow well.

It's interesting how so many people want to address the crown first. You will find that most (if not all) surgeons recommend you take care of the frontal third/hairline first because it frames your face and that is what people notice first. Also, you have limited donor supply (everyone does), so you don't want to exhaust grafts on something most people don't notice right away. The meds should help stabilize the hair loss in the crown area and thicken it up a bit. I'd try that for 12 months and in the meantime research hair restoration and learn everything you can about it. You'll have a different perspective then and go into it well-informed.

Back to the topic at hand, and I'm sure Matt will have his own opinion, but aren't we talking about something subjective here? You could show me a thousand results and say there wasn't a single unhappy patient. That doesn't mean that every case was a home run or that of the patients that weren't unhappy that I believe their results were consistent with what I think is great work. It's all subjective.

Very natural result. Out of the park.

I didn't go digging for that case. Coincidentally, I was reading about it when you commented here. I got through both of his threads and to be honest I was relieved for the guy when I saw his latest pics. That said, I was astonished at his blind faith in the doctor and his unquestioning acceptance of his explanation. I think anyone else would have most likely been unhappy or dissatisfied with the first surgery's results. I don't want to turn this into a discussion about the doctor's work because I'm not overly familiar with it. I was responding to your comment specifically because I just happened to be reading about that case at the time you posted.

http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/171146-6-months-result-dr-bhatti-2151-fue.html This is a pretty interesting case without the doctor providing much of an explanation as to why grafts didn't grow, other than 'maybe it was flaking,' which I find unacceptable. I would have asked much tougher questions.

It's the weekend. I'm sure a lot of people are watching the playoffs so the boards might be a little dead. Also, looks like you got some feedback on the first thread you posted. Hang in there. The meds are strong. I was out of it for a few days. I went in twice following my surgery and I'd ask the doc a question and he'd look at me quizzically and say, 'You already asked me that.' Heal well.

Looks like nice, clean work. Dr. Lindsey sure likes to show the stark reality of FUT with pictures of those strips. Good luck and heal well.

Those must be some strong meds you're on. This is like the third thread you've started.

Absolutely! Please look at the names people have listed in the first several posts in this thread. They are generally considered the top surgeons in hair restoration - and for good reason. They consistently deliver great results and have excellent reputations. Travel and money should not be the primary considerations when it comes to HT. First and foremost, take the time to do your research and find the best doctor for your (husband's) goals and situation. The surgeon I was sure I was going to at the beginning of my research didn't even make my top 3 by the time I made my final decision.

I would agree for the most part with this. However, I'd have to give an edge to Ron Shapiro over Paul Shapiro and Hasson an edge over Wong. Also, from what I can surmise, Hakan, Erdogan and Mwamba do not have the breadth of results as Bisanga, Lorenzo and Feriduni. Doesn't mean they haven't posted some impressive results, I just haven't seen as many as the aforementioned. And it doesn't mean they don't belong on a list of the top surgeons, I'd just be more inclined to factor in numbers and time.

I think most people retain and grow some of the original transplanted grafts through the shedding phase. Itchiness is normal. Get ready for all sorts of funny sensations in your scalp in the coming weeks.