KD2020

Hi Dr. Cooley, I had a FUT with you back in April, and at that time, I said I wanted to get as much as I could as I hoped it would be the last one I would do (because I really don't know how much more could be done, given the two 500 graft procedures I had back in the 1990's). If at some point in the future I wanted one more procedure, would you recommend FUE or FUT for my situation?

You're welcome! He did a good job explaining it, I found it helpful as well.

I could not really tell on you, but I feel like I'm experiencing a bit of it too. I searched the forum for the topic and found that Dr. Lindsey recently posted a good video explaining shock loss. Check it out here - http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/175354-dr-lindsey-what-shockloss-video.html Hang in there!

Very informative, helpful thread. Thanks Dr. Lindsey!

I started looking in December 2013, and in Jan / Feb 2014 I visited a couple of the doctors. By the end of Feb 2014 I had made my decision and scheduled the appointment with Dr. Cooley's office. So I'd say a few months.

Let us know what your doctor says. Thanks, and good luck!

Thanks for sharing your story. Given the issues you've brought up, have you ever considered using Avodart in lieu of Propecia?

Unfortunately, everyone's needs can be different, and I am not a doctor. The recommended option I could offer would be for you to research the doctors on this forum and find the one that you best relate with, and follow their advice. Some may even give you a prescription for one or the other at your initial visit. Good luck!

John, The progression video is a really cool idea! Well done. Looks like you're well on your way!

That's one of primary ingredients in the Help Hair shake. While you may not need extra protein normally, it could be helpful to consider whey protein after having a hair transplant. I'm not a doctor and I don't represent Help Hair (you can google it), I'm just a patient who just had mine a month ago and have been investigating these things to try to maximize the chance of success my HT will have. So yes, I have been adding Help Hair to my morning smoothies every day since I had mine last month. Good luck -

Avodart is another option to Propecia (Finasteride is the same thing as Propecia but in cheaper generic form) you may consider, but it depends on your situation. Your doctor should be able to tell you which would be best. I am using Avodart. This is what I have been told: "The difference between Propecia (finasteride) and Avodart (dutasteride)… We all have three 5alpha reductase enzymes which recognize testosterone, bind to it and convert it to DHT. DHT is the hormone that causes baldness. Propecia blocks number 2 5alpha reductase at about 68%. Avodart blocks numbers 1 and 2 at about 93%. The controversy is the ? life of Avodart is weeks vs ? life of Propecia is hours… We don’t usually encourage young guys who plan to have kids to take the Avodart. There is a small study that it might decrease sperm mobility. Patients that have been on Propecia for years usually do well switching over to Avodart. After 5 years Propecia or finasteride is known to reach its peak effect. The dosing usually depends on the patient. Because of the half life, you may take the Avodart 2 times a week. That will be 8 pills a month, so one Rx would last you 3 and a half months." Hope this helps.

Thanks! Glad to get them out. I had my hair cut the week prior to the surgery, knowing that I usually wait about 4 months before getting it cut again, so I can wait a while for that. Owen Wilson - he's a riot, funny you mentioned him. I remember the 80's days of Motley Crue, and I still listen to them and others on XM Satellite. Really glad to hear how well your donor scar has turned out, and I do believe ACell has helped in that as well (that's in addition to Dr. Cooley's skills). While I don't wear a buzz cut and you can't see the two scars from my 500 ea HT back in the 1990's, you can see the lines that are there when my hair is moved as shown in the image below. It's impressive how much better Dr. Cooley's work is, even though I had a good surgeon before. It's night and day better. Keep your posts coming, as I mentioned, I enjoy reading them and seeing what's ahead.

Awesome. I was wondering how it was going for you. Yesterday marked one month post op for me as well. It's interesting to follow your posts since you're ahead of me by that. I'm sure your results are going to be awesome - keep us posted, and have a great weekend -

curiousge0rge, I had to be there at 7am, but that time was spent with Brandi first, going over what to expect and answering questions. Then, Dr. Cooley came in and we talked for a while, asked me about my goals and objectives, and drew what he suggested as a hairline based on that. They gave me a cup with a couple of pills (one was a valium, I believe). Then we went back to the room for the procedure, but I spent time picking out movies and selecting what I wanted for lunch. So we did not start that early. No, I was not upright. You start out face down in a prone position, with your face in the horsecollar looking ring so they can prepare and remove the strip. Piece of cake, as I was basically out the entire time it was done. In the photo I attached, you can see the adjustable bed that you lay in (maybe its a type of gurney? I don't know the proper medical term, as I don't believe it had wheels). In the photo, you can also see the chairs for the team of technicians that, under microscope, dissect the strip into the grafts. He had a whole team of people doing that, there are more on my right in the photo that are not visible. Once the strip has been removed and the sutures are in place, you turn over, and are laying on your back. In the second photo, I took a picture of the TV (the hand in the TV is from a scene in the movie Gladiator, which is the first one I chose to watch). Dr. Cooley has a 3 ring binder with a very large selection of movies to choose from! The last thing I selected to watch was the TV show Two and Half Men for laughs. It was a great distraction. As for the number of grafts, I had paid for 3,000, but asked that if at all possible, get 3,500 instead. I paid for the extra 500 I asked for, but he actually was able to get 3,840, which I was extremely happy about! I detailed the issue I faced in figuring out how many grafts in my post here: http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/174893-3-000-fut-my-visit-thursday-april-17-dr-cooley.html Yesterday marked one month post op. Time flies! Go for it, and before you know it, you'll be one month post op and happy to have had it done. Best of luck!!!!

I looked at your profile photos, and it looks like you've made quite a journey from where you started. Great results thus far, you have no reason to worry with concealers! I'd say let 'em go for good. Best of luck -

Who did your surgery? Best of luck!!

Today marks another short milestone. Dr. Cooley said I should wait three weeks before taking the stitches out, and I'm 20 days post op so I had them taken out today (my family Dr.'s nurse was not available tomorrow but was today). The nurse said it was the best stitch work she's seen in her 40 years of being a nurse, and commented how great everything is healing which made me feel good / hopeful there won't be much of a scar noticeable. My family Dr. also came in and took a look and then commented how you can't even tell I had any surgery (he's thinking about having a HT plant this fall, so he has personal interest in what's happening). The first photo has them removed, the second has half in half out. The next to last photo is my current hairline, and the last photo shows the amount of work that was being done April 17 (3 weeks ago).

You're welcome. I have received tremendous benefit from this forum, so I'm glad my post has helped someone else, even if just a little. Dr. Cooley recommended the sutures stay in for 3 weeks. I'm having them removed by my local Dr.'s nurse this Wednesday (not making the 5.5 hour drive back to Dr. Cooley's office as I can have that done locally), which will be one day short of 3 weeks. I was told to have breakfast first and be at Dr. Cooley's office by 7am, which I did. We then went over my goals and objectives, and Dr. Cooley drew a hairline and explained the approach he recommended to meet my goals. While we were doing that, there was a cup with a Valium and one other pill in it which I took. Then we went back to the room for the surgery, and I thumbed through a 3 ring binder of movies, picking out what I wanted to watch. I got a shot in the arm of something which basically had me drift off to sleep, and before I knew it the strip was out and they were just about finished sewing the strip area up. You then get a few minor numbing shots in the graft area, which were nothing. Another forum member has documented his experience with Dr. Cooley as well, you might find it of interest too to ease your concern. Here's what he said: "I have a pretty high threshold for pain, but the idea of having a chunk of your scalp cut out is going to give anyone the willies. However, I literally felt nothing; absolutely nothing." You can find his post here: http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/174448-2-800-grafts-dr-cooley.html It's entirely worth it. I'm extremely happy with the everything before, during, and after the surgery, and I have expectations that I will be equally happy with the results, but it's going to be many months before I'll know for sure. I wish you the best of luck with whomever you choose, and I hope your visit to the US is great! PS -I don't represent any Dr., I simply share my experience in hopes that someone else will benefit as much as I have from others here.

My first surgery was actually two, 500 grafts each time, which was considered a lot back then. I was happy with it as it allowed me to get rid of the baseball cap ever since. However, it wasn't that many grafts, and I have lost other remaining hair since then, you can see the results in my profile photos. I also documented my visit here: http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/174893-3-000-fut-my-visit-thursday-april-17-dr-cooley-new-post.html As for the "whole experience with the surgery" last week, it went GREAT! I detailed it in the link above, but you have nothing to worry about. It was really painless. And with Dr. Cooley's office, I was able to pick out movies to watch, which was a good distraction. As I mentioned in the link above, I received 3,840 grafts this time and Dr. Cooley was there working the entire time (we didn't finish until 9:30pm). I can't say enough about the experience, it was that good. Another forum member documented his visit that might help you as well, here's a quote from what he said about it: "I have a pretty high threshold for pain, but the idea of having a chunk of your scalp cut out is going to give anyone the willies. However, I literally felt nothing; absolutely nothing. I sort of drifted in and out of sleep and it was over before I knew it." Check it out here: http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/174448-2-800-grafts-dr-cooley.html Good luck!

Thanks, that's very interesting. My wife just had a brown spot removed from her arm, and they told her to use. Vaseline or Polysporin, but not Neosporin. I also wonder about the science of why - what would cause that issue.

David, Thank you, i have never seen that post. I wonder if there are similar concerns with Polysporin?

Dr. Lindsay, Trying to understand your comment here. Are you saying that Neosporin use on the scar area while it is healing adversely impacts the results (scar)?

Yesterday was my last weekday off from work, I start back on Monday. Before the surgery, I was concerned as to how noticeable the work would be. When I had it done back in the 1990's, I had scabs for many days post op, and it took a very long time for them to come off. They were also very irritating. I'm happy to say that I have NO RESERVATIONS about going in on Monday and anybody noticing anything. It's truly amazing what today's technology can do in the right hands. I took some photos this morning of both my hairline and my incision to show others who may have similar concerns. Also, my wife and I had friends over last night for pizza night, and I did not wear a hat, and no one noticed I had any work done! Here's a few photos of the pizzas as well for fun - I enjoy making gourmet pizzas.

I agree with Rootz - to compare apples to apples, if you pull the hair back in the first photo, do the same in the second. That would help.

I went through my first HT at 33 back in 1996, and wished then that I could have done it sooner. Wearing a baseball cap to hide losing your hair sucks! So I'll start by saying you're off to a great start having found this forum. It helped me make my decision immensely. I would suggest reviewing as many results as you can find on this forum, you'll learn a ton from the senior members here. Then make a list of doctors you think sound good to you from the list you find herein. And here's the next important point - talk with more than one. When you do, you'll find the one that feels right. I did, and just had my surgery last week. Very happy with what was done, but it wouldn't have been possible had I not found the forum. Best of luck!