SogeKing100

I cannot definitively say there was new growth, but I think it was a combination of new growth and improvement of hair that was already there. The areas near the edges of my hairline are definitely thicker now than they were at the 6 or 9 month mark. This is definitely the result of hair that was already there coming in thicker, but I think that perhaps some hair that hadn't sprouted yet were also growing in. I'm sorry if this doesn't answer your question. It is a little difficult to give a clear, definitive answer.

I am not sure about "sprouts," but I think, particularly at the edge of my hairline, I noticed a lot more growth at the 6 or 9 month mark.Those hairs are rather fine and seemed to take a bit longer to grow out.

Greetings, No. I don't think I have any other photos. I didn't go too crazy with my photo documentation of my progress. I will see if I can find any though, perhaps out in "daily" life, but I think what I posted already is essentially all I have. Sorry!

Hi, everyone! Long time no post! It has been a little over a year and a half since getting my procedure and I just got my hair cut today, so I thought I would take some pictures and post an update to my "hairowing" adventure, in case anyone out there might be curious to see my results. I imagine I can't expect to see much change going forward, but maybe I will make another post at the two year mark. Anyway, I took pictures in both bright lights (my bathroom) and in the "dark" (my living room) to show what my hair looks like "under scrutiny" and what it perhaps looks like "normally." Under the light, the hairline area seems a little thin, but I imagine this is perhaps by design, to give it a more natural look. In the "dark" photos (under "normal" lighting), it appears much thicker. Just a small trick of the light, I suppose. I am absolutely over the moon with my results, of course. I couldn't have asked for better results, and I want to thank Dr. Alexander, and his staff again for their great work. And I would like to thank Spex as well for helping me out before my procedure. Oddly enough, nobody has said anything to me about my transformation, though. Only one of my co-workers has asked me "Are you doing something different with your hair?" and that was maybe 9-12 months ago. If anyone has any questions, I would be happy to answer them. I also want to thank the wonderful community here. I had been lurking on the forum for quite a while before getting my procedure, and all of the friendly people and helpful advice was what helped me make what I consider one of the best decisions of my life. So thank you all! If anyone else is lurking and in the same boat I was in, I am confident that as long as you do proper research (very important!) before getting your procedure, you will definitely be glad you did it.

Yes, this forum was helpful to me too in making my HT decisions. Great community! I don't know what the definition of a 'mega-session' is, but nearly five-thousand seems quite "mega" to me. How long did that take? Also, it looks like your pretty much left your crown alone. Did you graft any hair there? Or are you planning to later? And your strip scar is pretty prominent, too. Maybe because the pictures were taken not too long after your surgery? Keep us updated.

Great write up. Keep us posted.

Thanks, Gastho! I appreciate it. I'm living abroad and haven't seen any of my family or stateside friends basically since getting my procedure. I sent these recent photos to my dad and he was quite surprised. He told me that he was initially quite skeptical about the idea, but is now "over the moon" with how it has turned out. I haven't sent my mother any pictures, though, because I think it would be more fun to surprise her in person when I go back home in July. I'm curious to know what my friends will think/say, as well. I wonder if they'll even notice...

Hello, everyone. I've actually had a few people comment on my hair recently (first time that has happened in a while!) and I was feeling pretty good. Thought I'd take a few more photos and update everyone on my progress thus far.

Wasn't Propecia essentially discovered in the same way, sort of by accident? I wonder what the differences are.

I wouldn't worry about the redness too much. Like I said, mine stayed a bit longer than was anticipated, but as the hairs grow out, the redness becomes less and less noticeable and is essentially covered up by the new hair. In the early stages, if you can find a foundation that matches your skin tone, the redness becomes a non-issue, as long as you don't mind applying foundation. I was doing it for about a month or so before I felt I no longer needed to.

I had redness after my transplant for three or four months. I used foundation (the makeup that girls use) for a while to cover it up.

Thanks. I am definitely happy with my results. And since I am only nine months post-op, I know I can look forward to more growth. I was just curious as to why it wasn't growing out the same as the other grafts. I'll be sure to post more pictures in July at my one-year mark.

Hey, everyone. Yes, I suppose most of you are right. I think it would be better not to say anything. It is possible that he is perfectly okay with his hair loss. If I see him making some kind of big deal out of his hair, or we somehow get onto the topic of hair I can easily segue into hair transplants.

That is interesting information. Thanks for sharing. When I meet with my doctor, I will ask him about that (whether smaller hairs were used, or not). I definitely don't want an unnatural looking hairline. I just mentioned shaving the hairs in the front as a possible option. I'll be sure to keep the thread updated with pictures periodically.

Hello, I had my HT done about 9 months ago and am very happy with my results so far. I have a co-worker whose hair loss has progressed quite a bit and I want to bring up the idea of getting a HT to him. It is hard to say if he has thought about it himself or not, because I feel like most people don't even know that hair transplants are a real thing. However, I can see a few problems with this. This co-worker is not really my "friend," so it may be a little awkward bringing it up. "Hey, I noticed you are bald. Did you ever think about..." Also, I feel like I would have to tell him that I got a HT myself. Nobody but my family knows I had a procedure, and I really don't want anyone to find out. I feel like if I told this co-worker of mine, he would bring it up to his wife (who also works at the same place I do) and she would definitely mention it to other people, and we all know how gossip can spread. So, i was wondering if you ever recommend getting a procedure to other people. Friends or even strangers. Anyone have any interesting stories or strategies?

Hi, Gastohoerer. Thanks. Yeah, I think the shorter hair has a more natural look to it, as well. I find myself paying much more attention to people's hairlines these days and I have noticed that even young people with a nice head of hair have basically the same baby hair going on. I find this to be especially true for the ladies. But perhaps that's because they often pull their hair back and you can actually see their hairlines. Anyway, I am still hoping these hairs grow out, despite perhaps having a more "natural look." I could always shave them if I wanted to, I suppose. As far as the diameter of the hair goes, I don't know. All of the hair was taken from the same donor area and I would imagine that each hair was roughly the same size. It's still only been nine months. I'm looking forward to the one year mark. We'll see how things are looking then!

I mentioned in a previous post that I was a little concerned about my "baby hair" that makes up my hairline. I have taken a couple pictures that highlight the area so you guys can see it more clearly. I also included some pictures of my hair wet. I am not sure how a full head of hair is "supposed" to look fresh out of the shower, but when my hair is wet it looks completely different than when it is dry. It seems quite full when it is dry, but when it's wet... not so much. I'd be curious to know what you guys think when you look at these photos. Thanks!

Hey, guys! Thanks for the feedback. I appreciate it. I am glad to see that my baby hairs will grow out more. I'll be sure to update when I hit the one year mark.

Hello, everyone. I never got around to posting my six month progress pictures. So, I figured, now that I am at about the nine month mark that I would post my current progress (along with my six month progress pictures). Seem to be making good progress. But I had one worry about the hair that makes up my hairline. It is obviously much shorter than the surrounding hair, and basically resembles 'baby hair.' Will this hair eventually be able to grow out to the same length as all of my other hair? Thanks for reading!

Thanks. I'm not really quite sure what one should expect at the three-month mark, but I am confident I will start to see the results of the operation relatively soon. Yes, actually, he did suggest grafting a bit on top. Though, I can't say if it would be "mid scalp" or not. I originally just went in to "fix" my hairline, and during the consultation, he also suggested I get some grafts done on the top (perhaps the crown area), which I did. After these grafts set and start growing, maybe I will go back and get some more done. To prevent further loss, though, like I said, I am taking Propecia and using Rogaine.

Hi everyone, Just dropping by to update with my three-month post-op pictures. The redness seems to be going away, slowly but surely (emphasis on slowly). I am curious as to how long it will take for my skin to go back to normal. I was told a couple of months, but it's been three and the redness is still very much visible. I am still applying Rogaine and taking Propecia. Looking forward to starting some growth in the next couple of months. On the upside, nobody has mentioned anything about my hair. I'm sure some people have noticed, but don't ask simply to avoid being rude. But for the most part, my life is going about the same as before the procedure. I'll add some more pictures after another two or three months. In the meantime, though, I'd be happy to answer any questions anyone may have.

Hello, I went in for an HT with Dr. Alexander about one month ago, and thought I'd share my experience with those of you who might be thinking of choosing the good doctor for your procedure. I had been thinking about getting a transplant for a couple years before actually making the decision to do so. I was living outside of the U.S., and didn't really have any good options for doctors where I was located. Anyway, it certainly gave me a lot of time to think about it and do my research. After looking through possible options and reading through the threads on this board, discovering Dr. Alexander wasn't too hard. His reputation here is top-notch, and I had even exchanged a few e-mails with Spex regarding some questions and concerns I had. Plus, the fact that his office is just a little less than an hour's drive away from my home helped make the decision even easier. I had my FUT procedure done on July 11th. Spex and Dr. Alexander, after having seen photos I had sent them via e-mail, both thought I would need a little over 2,000 grafts to get a nice result. As you can see from the photos I attached, my hair-loss wasn't that extensive (at least, I like to think so, anyway...). Anyway, on the day of my procedure I was greeted warmly by the doctor and the staff. I actually had my consultation with the good doctor the day of my surgery, since I had been out of the country up until that point, coming in beforehand for a consultation was impossible. Like he had told me before, he concluded that 2,100 grafts would be about right. He drew the lines to show me where they would be grafting the new hair (see 'JRPREOP' pictures) and a shortly thereafter, we began. I certainly won't bore you with the details of the procedure, as I imagine everything is pretty standard. The doctor numbed the back of my head and removed the strip of my scalp with little to no discomfort at all. The most 'painful' part was the injections he gave me to numb my scalp! After the strip had been removed and the doctor sewed me back up (I couldn't say with accuracy how long this part of the procedure took) and three or four technicians extracted the individual hairs, the grafting process began. This part of the procedure was relatively comfortable as well. During the grafting process, however, I felt a dull ache/pain in my upper-neck area. I simply thought my neck was stiff from not having moved for some time, but it was the numbing solution that was beginning to wear off from wear the strip had been removed. I mentioned this to the doctor, and he hit me again with a couple more injections, and I was good to go. I believe we officially began the procedure around 8 AM and were finished (after having taken a break for lunch) by around 4:30. While I wouldn't say the time flew by, I would definitely say that I was comfortable throughout the procedure, and when I wasn't chatting with the doctor or the technicians, I just passed the time watching movies (of which there are many to choose). After the procedure (see pics JRIMMEDPOSTOP), I was given a packet of papers that told me what I could expect and how to properly care for my scalp over the following week. I was prescribed antibiotics and some pain pills. The first couple of nights after the procedure, I would wake up because of the pain from where the strip had been cut, but the pain pills that were prescribed to me dealt with that quickly enough, and after a few days, I started having 'wake-free nights.' I went in to see Dr. Alexander yesterday for a follow-up. He said everything looks great, and answered a few more questions that I had. I was mostly concerned with the bit of redness that remained. I will be going back to work abroad shortly, and was hoping the evidence of having gotten a procedure would be gone before I started working again. Dr. Alexander is confident that my scalp should look "normal," by then, so I was happy to hear that. I have also included my 1-month post-op photos (see JR1MONTHPOSTOP). There is minimal hair growth so far (naturally), but it shows how the redness has faded from the grafted area. Overall, I had a total of 2368 grafts (635 Single, 1433 Double, and 300 Triple follicular units). The doctor originally estimated I would need 2,100, so that's all he charged me for. I had a great experience and would recommend Dr. Alexander and his staff to anyone looking to get an HT procedure done. I will keep this thread updated with updated pictures. If anyone has any questions, I'd be happy to answer them. -SogeKing

Hello, I was wondering if anyone out there, after having gone through a procedure, later regretted it. (and I don't mean because of a botched procedure, of course. I mean, regretted it even after having gotten the expected results) I am 31 years old and I am seriously considering getting a transplant done this coming summer (doctor recommends about 2000 grafts via FUT). After reading various articles on different websites, it seems that getting a hair transplant, for the most part, is great. But it's hard to read 'real' information about what life is like after getting a procedure. It seems that it can take up to 18 months for the surgery to take a turn for the 'natural looking,' and extensive care and treatment is also involved post-surgery. Also, I have read that after getting FUT, exercise should be avoided. I'm a regular gym-goer and do other sports. I don't know if I would be comfortable with not being able to lift for such a long time (perhaps one can begin exercise after a month or so without any negative effects?). Also, as most people who get a transplant are aware of, typically one is not enough. Has anyone found this to have ruined their 'hair-transplant experience?' I mean, if you choose not to get any kind of follow-up work, I imagine that one would look funny or 'unnatural.' So, it's kind of like, once you do the first one, you're pretty much in it for the rest of your life. Anyway, just curious as to how other people feel. Thanks for any advice/replies/comments/thoughts/opinions

I was wondering what your guys' thoughts were on buying Finasteride/Propecia online.

Almost two and a half years ago I made a post asking if I was a good candidate for HTS. I never got the surgery, but instead opted to just use Rogaine and try to stave off any further hair loss. I've attached some current pictures that show my hair loss status as of today, and here is a link to my original post from April 2014, in case anyone was interested to see how the Rogaine worked (or didn't work, depending on how you look at it lol) Original thread: http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/174961-am-i-good-candidate-hair-transplant-surgery-pics.html As you can see, my hair loss has most definitely progressed, but perhaps thanks to the Rogaine it was slowed down. When I compare my "dry hair" pictures, though, it doesn't seem like my scalp has had too much folicular havoc wreaked upon it over the past two and a half years. The "wet" pictures, on the other hand, make the loss stand out quite a bit. Though, I think the original pictures I took showed my wet hair in a good light, as opposed to my current ones, which were taken before I even attempted to dry my hair. Anyway, I digress... Now I am seriously considering getting a transplant. But I am still not quite sure what would be best for me (FUE or FUT). I plan on perhaps using Dr. Alexander (since I am originally from Phoenix), but can't possibly go in for a consultation any time soon, as I am currently living overseas. I wouldn't even be able to guess how many grafts I would need, but one thing I'm concerned about is recovery-time. I am a teacher, and I plan on going back home for a little over two months (summer vacation), and was planning on maybe doing the surgery then. From what I understand, the recovery time for FUE is a lot quicker, but the results from FUT are generally better (perhaps I'm wrong). I would, of course, rather go for the "better" results, but one thing I am kind of concerned about is "being found out" by my students. I wouldn't want to have to teach class with a completely shaven head, or sport some monstrous scar. Though, I'm sure I could persuade my boss to allow me to wear a hat, or beanie, or something. I'd welcome any thoughts, opinions, ideas from the more knowledgeable members. Thanks! Soge