CuriousJungleGeorge

Dr. Armani doesn't "do" strip? That's stunning to me, as most surgeons in this field with whom I've consulted have advised the benefits of strip still make it (for most people) the best option available. F.U.E. tends to cost twice as much, and offer a lower yield of follicles from the donor region. Anyway, as you say, what's done is done, and there's nothing to feel bad about if everything is working out all right. Again, to me, your hairline looks good, but (also again), how you feel is more important than how anyone else does. Could you post a shot of yourself pre-op., so we can form an idea as to what's really going on with the results? At short of four months, I think you really need to wait that much longer before you settle on how you feel about anything. It's possible some units are just taking longer to start growing than are others. I understand the trepidation (many in this forum will): just try -- with all your might -- to go on living without checking your head four times a day with three mirrors -- . *What per-unit rate did Doctor Armani charge (if you don't mind my asking)?

I think it's important for us to note, for the most part, we never "know" whether or not a celebrity has had a transplant. Sure, "doll's hair" is a giveaway, but I think no one even does that sort of work nowadays. What we think tips us off is, "Five years ago, he (it appears) had less than he has now." Well, it might be combed differently. He might be wearing a piece. He might have been going through something, five years ago, that caused some, which has now been reversed. He might be using concealer. Hell, it could just be lighting/photography. Sure, with Salman Khan, you do know something is different, and with Sylvester Stallone it's obvious his sides are filled in now in spaces that were empty in "Rocky V." But most cases aren't quite so clear, and when a person swears Pacino or Tom Cruise or he or he has been through a H.T., I think it's usually just water-cooler gossip based on nothing sound.

Thank you.

As I understand it (which is not very well), the problem with getting "vellus" to grow into "real hair" is, indeed, of direction. But, if actual follicular units can be multiplied, the problem seems much less potent. Competent hair-transplant surgeons, nowadays, do seem able to position follicles so they grow very naturally and pleasingly. Give them a rich (i.e., unbounded) supply of units to transplant, and, bingo.

Dr. Beehner (and others), Is it necessary to use any substance at all on the recipient sites? I've heard one shouldn't apply anything to them, but just wash them (very gently: no rubbing, only soft patting) once a day after the day of the procedure.

Is there are preferred drug to control post-procedure pain? Vicodin? Oxycontin? Methadone? ...Heroin? (Yes, kidding about the last one.) Thank you, all.

Hi, Balboa. A few questions: 1. What made you decide to pursue F.U.E. instead of strip-harvesting? 2. Is the acne visible in your picture (supposedly) a result of your procedure? 3. It's been about five months now, is that correct? To answer your concern, I think your hairline looks fine. Of course, we are talking about cosmetic surgery, and, mostly, it comes down to what you think. We "fix" these things because they bother us, not because they bug others. If you're very unhappy, I'm sure a few grafts could bring down your "high" end; else, you could consider having a bit of the other side extracted (or, just shave it slightly).

The refrain to which I'm used is, "It must be maybe a decade away."

The cost of 1mg finasteride is ridiculously high in the U.S., as is the cost of almost any prescription drug...

Bill, so, there's no visible shaved region in the donor area with F.U.T.? Is the entire shaved portion taken as the strip?

Drs. True and Dorin and Dr. Epstein are also located in New York; all are coalition members. I'd like to disagree with this notion that travel should not be at all taken into consideration. Unless money and time are no object in your life, you should try to find a good doctor who's not too far from where you typically reside. Now, if the options are Dr. Crap ten minutes away or Dr. Marvelous who's located thirty miles from you, by all means, get a bus ticket. But, if you have a few choices, and some are closer to you than others, I think it's sensible to pay extra mind to them. If something concerns you, wouldn't you like to be able to see your physician without taking a day or two off from work just to get to him? Also, if the person's across the country, I imagine you'll meet with him just once: on the day of the procedure; again, unless you have unlimited cash.

Of course, another option might be skipping one day a week. Skipping just a day (when slicing up 5mg tablets) would help prevent an excess of medication in the body (as levels even out when dosage is skipped) while ensuring there's a reasonably even supply of the drug present at all times. Also, no two people are alike: different tolerances, body-weights, internal chemistry, etc. Based on what I've read (on Web sites and in other fora), many people, on the advice of physicians, save their wallets by purchasing 5mg doses that are taken on non-daily schedules.

Thanks, guys. The somewhat intimidating thing about H.T. is the idea of odd-patterned baldness if one decides, later, not to keep up with procedures. Of course, if follicle-multiplication ever shows up, I guess almost all of us will have the option of walking around like perpetual teen-agers (albeit we'll likely need a hell of a bank-account to fund the privilege).

First, I believe, if hair-transplantation is something that seriously interests you, you ought to set up a consultation with a surgeon. Of course, informally asking for advice in this forum is fine, but there's only so much anyone can say based on a couple of .jpeg files and no medical degree. Anyway, it looks as if you have plenty of hair in the "donor region" (the part of the scalp that typically "never goes bald," from which follicles are taken), which can be moved to the top and front of your head. Of course, as you look to be far along on the Norwood scale (i.e., you've lost the hairline and much of the vertex), you shouldn't expect a head of hair like you probably had in your teens, but you'll likely get something significant out of the procedure. Do you have any goals in mind?

Would it look odd to see a man in his old age (say, sixties, seventies, etc.) to have a "full" head of hair? I guess the topic must be considered when thinking of H.T.s.

Would it look odd to see a man in his old age (say, sixties, seventies, etc.) to have a "full" head of hair? I guess the topic must be considered when thinking of H.T.s.

I think that's a bit unfair: probably, it's more accurate to say, some of the world's best doctors are located in New York, but you can find great ones outside the region, too.

Another pair of coalition docs. in the City are Drs. True and Dorin. I've heard positive comments regarding Dr. Bernstein, but he charges, I believe, $200.00 just for a consultation. Some might say that's not bad, as the fee is applied toward a scheduled procedure, but if you're not certain you'll go through with one (many people are not; they just want some information and a bit of guidance), $200.00 (of course, non-refundable) might be a hint much just to talk.

*The effect of this appears to be no different from that achieved by taking 1mg daily.

It's not uncommon for people to take 1.25mg finasteride every other day (or on some comparable "skipping" regimen) rather than 1mg daily. It seems some insurances cover only 5mg tablets (which can be split up), not 1mg.

Where'd you hear Salman Khan was worked on by Dr. Armani? It's clear he's either had work done or moved on to a piece, but to name the physician... Any source?

Is the scar-line from an F.U.T. "raised" or flat? How noticeable is it for fewer than 2000 grafts? Thanks.

I think, like any cosmetic procedure, hair transplantation is more about the patient's mentality than about the world's awareness of him. A confident person with a shiny dome is a confident person, and is treated accordingly; it doesn't seem people make fun of a guy "just for being bald," but might pick on one who's obviously uncomfortable with something about himself. Someone with a teen-ager's hairline, on the other hand, might be terribly uneasy about another aspect of himself, and be childishly mocked from there. As much as a person might like to tell himself otherwise, I think, at the end of the day, he doesn't get his hair moved around because he's sure doing so will make him look better, help him get that promotion; if anything, he hopes it will let him walk with the confidence he needs to pursue the promotion.

It sounds like a very nice idea, and I hope it comes through, but waiting with baited breath for an unlimited donor-supply seems unwise. It looks as if talk of this concept has been floating around for at least a decade (all right, maybe a little less than), and the "verdict" has consistently been, "It's probably at least ten years away." Even if Intercytex's method works out, I imagine it will be at least four or five years before a person can ask a hair-transplant surgeon to get some follicles cloned, and at that stage, doing so will likely be unaffordable for most persons (I suppose the charge to make one hundred follicles will be in the several-thousand-dollar range, plus the cost of surgery). How bad does that "line" on the back of the head end up, anyway? Is it a raised scar, or a flat line? Is there anyway to minimize its occurrence? Thanks.

Thank you. Could someone post a picture of his (healed) scar area, preferably with a closely-shaven scalp? Also, once all is said and done, is the donor region affected by less dense hair, as some has been removed? Is that area of the scalp "tighter," since a piece of it is missing? Thanks again.