john86334

Hi, I was quite surprised to see some of the comments on this thread. I have previously posted my patient story at http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/showthread.php?p=2377596 (admittedly the version on HLE is more detailed and up to date). I can only echo king0564 comments on how professional Dr Ball and the Hammersmith setup is, and how pleased I was the outcome I have had. BaldingBogger - Perhaps you could take a look at my result and hopefully change your mind on a lack of good results you have seen? J To the OP, I have answered your original question on HLE if that is any help. Good luck!

9 months in and to be honest, it’s gone pretty quick. Nothing majorly new to report – it looks likes it’s thickening up nicely now, to the point where I can start to style it with a bit of wax – something I would have always previously avoided. I am interested to see how much difference there will be between 9 and 12 months because I am more than happy with the results as they stand, even if it stopped improving today. Anyway, a few pics below. Thanks guys!

8 months in yesterday and it is still growing/thickening. I must admit it is making me smile, not only when I look in the mirror but FINALLY it showing up well on photos. I have even had a few people notice from recent pics – one comments was “where has all that hair come from!” Good old quiff. I think it’s just a case of trying to find the ideal length for a haircut . I would have thought that the vast majority of new hair has sprouted now and it is just going to thicken up over the next few months or so? On a side note, I am quite looking forward to the second surgery for the crown in a year or so, though that has improved from the early days (due to the Propeica)

Hi, Firstly I am also a member of HairLossExperiences and have been posting my progress on there but I recently came across you guys whilst searching for patient results pics to compare and I thought I would post my story here in case it helps anyone. I have just copied and pasted the best bits: All future updates to both sites. Hi all, I first noticed my hair receding in the template area in my early 20s and now after just turning 30 it has followed with a thinning in the frontal region and crown (which though looks worse, doesn’t bother me anywhere near as much as I don’t ever really see it). After meeting with Ziering patient advocate Andrew Baylis in Manchester and then Dr Ball in Hammersmith I decided to go for FUT with 2,500 grafts to thicken up the hairline and frontal third along with immediately beginning Propecia to hopefully retain the existing hair present and thicken the crown. I arrived at the Hammersmith surgery at 7.15am and what a great experience I had; every member of the team was great, friendly and seemed to really know their stuff. I can honestly say no pain was felt at any point in the day and I just sat back and watched a few Batman films (even falling asleep towards the end of the second and missing the ending) whilst the team did their magic. The total breakdown of the 2299 grafts were: 1’s - 762 2’s - 1291 3/4’s – 246 I’m now on day 5 post op, have followed all instructions and tablets to the letter and most of the redness has gone, though I still have some lingering swelling around my eyes which noticeably peaked on day 3, I think I was towards the pronounced end of the swelling scale as opposed to mild. I haven’t noticed many scabs coming off as yet, nor any bleeding or oozing from the donor area. As someone else has previously posted, the sutures are more of an annoyance than pain and I haven’t had any pain medication since day 2 (and even then it was more to help me sleep as upright is not really my style). Tomorrow will be the first day where I can wash my hair properly, and as such the first time I’ve actually touched the grafts so that will be interesting. Sutures are due to be taken out in 6 days, though they are well hidden as they are (hair is currently a grade 6/7 length). The main requirement of this surgery as I explained to the team was that it was to be secret and no one would be able to tell it had been done. Well I think that has been achieved, the sutures were not even visible the day after surgery and although I’m not due back to work for at least another 2 weeks, I honestly feel I could return in the next few days and no one would be the wiser. I am hoping that the HT along with the Propecia and Regaine are going to combine well and give me a great result. Thanks for listening to my story and pictures to follow: 2 weeks update - surprisingly pain free stitches removal. Certainly sleeping was easier last night as the stitches at each end of the scar were becoming an annoyance. Next steps now are for the remaining scabs to fall off, then the new hair to shed and then time for some serious growth! 1 month update - The last of the scabs fell off around the 14 day mark and I think the last of the new hairs have very recently left. I also feel I have suffered slightly with shock loss as I have shed more longer hairs recently as it does SEEM thinner but I'm not 100% sure it isn't just being used to the new hair. No issues with the donor area, I have been applying bio oil daily and carrying out the suggested massaging. Just a waiting game now, but fortunately no one has even noticed I had any procedure which is fantastic. Roll on the next update! Pic attached. 2 month update - Nothing major to report, had a bit of a scare when I started to shed a few hairs (about 20 or so) each time I washed the hair due to the Propecia (I first started taking this the day after surgery). Spoke to Dr Ball and he reassured me nothing to worry about. This has reduced to about 5 now. Still in the waiting phase but I am extremely giddy about the potential result! 3 month update - can't believe how quick the 3 months has gone. I'll be up to 12/15 months in no time. Nothing major to report really, the Propecia shed has reduced a lot (still one or two after a hair wash). Even though there is no new hair coming through as yet, I FEEL more confident already as I just think "it's a matter of time" rather than "it's only going to get worse". Couple of hair and scar progress pics attached. 4 month update - Nothing major to report really, still taking the Propecia daily with the 2 a day Regaine applications. I can't believe it has been over 4 months already, it has gone so quick, I have my follow up 5 month appointment with Dr Ball next month so looking forward to getting his view on it all. Any way, pics attached. There is a noticeable difference between these and the preop (post 3) but it is likely to be more down to my shoddy camera and lighting. 5 month update I would say these past weeks progress is starting to be noticeable (to me anyway, nobody else has said anything). I had the 5 month review with Dr Ball who is happy with the progress, especially the effects of the Propecia in the crown area. I am more excited than ever for the next few months to see how it all turns out, amazing how much confidence I have taken from it already. I took a look at the day before images recently and was surprised at the difference already. Roll on next year! 6 month update - Well this time exactly 6 months ago, I was just leaving the surgery heading back to the hotel. I would say the last month has seen considerable growth, it really feels like each morning is a noticeable improvement on the last. Long may it continue, I'm really excited to see what the final result will be as I now have no preconceived ideas in mind, 7 month update - Again some nice progress over the month, starting to get really happy with the results now. There are still some thinner areas just above the temples in harsh lights (a.k.a everywhere in my work, grrr), but much, much better than they were. If the next few months can take care of those I'll be a happy man. These pics are just following a hair cut as well and it still looks quite thick, still no one has twigged!