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HairPhnatic

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  1. HairPhnatic
    Hello there,

     

    I wanted to create a blog to allow people like myself who have went bald at an early age so it could be a lesson learned. The challenge with these blogs/forums overall is that they would show their early results but very few show the end result. Whatever it was because they were so happy, they stop showing up in the forums or they were ashamed of the wasted dollars they spent, my promise to document as much as possible my whole journey.

     

    As a recap of my hair loss story:

    I started losing hair by 21-22 but started to keep my hair short so I really didn't notice. Family had no hair loss history so it was baffling but by age 30, I was going NW5-6.

    I have been keeping my sides much shorter and letting the top grow out a bit but by 31, it was too obviously and then my mission to find solutions went on overdrive.

    I have consulted in person: Diep, Wasserbauer, Paik (ETA September when I get SMP)

    I have consulted online: Shapiro, Bisanga, Bhatti, Umar, Hasson & Wong.

    What I have been concluded is that I have a poor donor through the online consultation. I could develop into a NW7 and have some retrograde alcopecia as well.

    At this stage, what I would like to do is keep a buzzed look as people in person, forum members, and doctors agree I can carry the look quite well. At the same time, as my hair progresses keeping that look would be still challenging.

    As a result, here is my strategy:

    - Get SMP to increase a look of density (Sept 2013)

    - Get FUE (3000+) to start out and spread it everywhere throughout the diffuses sections.

    - If possible, consider BHT but I don't have much beard hair but have decent amount of stomach, leg, and thigh hair.

    - Use medication unless I get any side effects.

     

    Any other advice is appreciated as I continue my journey to fight this battle of hair loss. I hope my blog and future ones will be informative for those facing the same issue as I do.

     

    Good luck!
  2. HairPhnatic
    So I wanted to highlight the day of my procedure.



    So I arrived in Los Angeles around 8:30AM and got there around 9:00AM. I had a chance to fill out some paperwork including if I wanted sedatives and/or anesthesia. I opted for both as this was the first procedure and I assuming the longest.



    I wanted to chat with Dr. Pak to have a in-person hair transplant consultation. I would like to say he was very personal and upfront which I appreciated. He told me I would eventually get the horseshoe NW6/7. And like most people of an Asian background, my density was in range of my ethnicity but lower than Caucasians. I have about 150 hairs per square cm while Caucasians average about 175-200. Asians tend to average 1-2 hairs versus 3-4. So pretty much what I have been told through online consultations and expected. He mention my max was 6,000-7,000 grafts which I was a bit surprised but I figure it makes sense since other doctors have suggest 3,000 to start and maybe another 3-4,000 in the future. However, in my case, I'm looking at 7,000-10,000 to have that fullness so I have to very strategic in what I want to prioritize in restoring my hair.



    By 9:45AM, I was in the room and getting my sedatives and anesthesia. I would like to note than Dr. Pak does the hairline but not for the entire procedure. I had Christine do my hair who also assists him in hair transplant. She was great and very personal the whole time.



    Dr. Pak prefers a conservative look which aligned with my thinking as I want a hairline that I have a "chance" to fill using FUE in the future. Christine basically concentrated on my crown, vertex, and lower my temples a bit.



    By noon, we stopped for lunch. I would say it was a very friendly and "relaxed" atmosphere. When I say relaxed, I'm not saying they were unprofessional but because this is not an invasive procedure like most, so there wasn't monitors everywhere. Even Dr. Rassman came in once to greet me. Throughout the whole time, Christine asked me how I was doing including the staff and Dr. Pak checking on me time to time. In terms of pain, I'm glad I had the chance to take both.



    Overall, the rather painless process allowed me a chance to catch up on "Breaking Bad".



    By 4PM, we were done with the 1st session. I think that was definitely needed as Christine was working real hard throughout the day and she definitely "deserved" the break.



    Attached are some pictures immediate after the procedure. I want to note I'm diffusing throughout so I do have some fuzz but I do need to fill it out more in the next session.



    I flew back that very same day with no issues. The only thing was some redness and my head overall was a bit sore. I had a very busy weekend and the only precaution was to not shampoo my head for 3-4 days until Monday.



    Please let me know if you have any questions.
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