ash1983

Update:

After posting on this thread, my concerns were acknowledged by both Dr. Shapiro and Matt Zupan. Since then, I have taken the following steps:

1. I started using Theradome (laser helmet). It didn't bring back transplanted hair, but it did make my existing hair look fuller. I saw some growth between the 7 month period (when I posted on this thread) and 15 month period (right now), but bald patches still remained for which I had to schedule a revision surgery.

2. I had a revision surgery last week (4/3/15). 1500 grafts were transplanted, and I am in the recovery stage now. Once I start seeing growth I will take pictures and the forum users can compare those to my original pictures to judge the amount of growth after ~4000 grafts (2500 grafts the first time and 1500 grafts the second time).

Both Dr. Shapiro and Matt Zupan have been extremely accommodating for the revision surgery. I want to thank everyone who contributed to this thread. Please feel free to ask me any questions, I will do my best to answer all queries.

I mentioned this already, I don't have any pre op pictures...

Here are pictures for a 10 month post op update... and I am still not experiencing any hair growth... These pictures were taken with an inch and a half long hair on my head, so please adjust for that...

Given that I still have the same bald patches as those in post op pictures taken after 6 months, not sure what my options are...

I spoke with Dr. Paul Shapiro, and he acknowledged that the hair growth after transplant is not even close to uniform (contrary to claims made earlier by Matt Zupan) and that further treatment/transplant is required.

I will keep updating this thread with my future treatment expenses/progress. If anyone out there can benefit from my case, please share your experiences.

Matt,

I don't want to argue, as the pictures speak louder than words. There is no uniform growth, whether the hairline or the top. I can live with a failed procedure, but what irritated me was that you weren't willing to consider any points that I was raising, and you wanted to convince me, the patient who is actually seeing his scalp unchanged, that my native hair has suddenly starting falling from the operated area, so much so that the entire area still looks bald.

I am open to any further dialogue, but please, admit to your mistakes and acknowledge the facts I am raising.

Just received a voicemail from Matt Zupan... He is still harping that one possible reason the hair transplant didn't work is because of my native hair falling off. Despite the fact that I told him, and the team at Shapiro Medical Group, that I have been on Dutasteride for 4 years and that my hair loss stopped during this time, he still insists that the hair transplant didn't work due to my native hair falling off. They aren't making this any easy for me...

My gauge for judging hair growth has been two fold:

First, my hairline was lowered by 1cm. As you can see in pictures 1,3,4, there is little, if any, hair growth in this region

Second, I had a bald pattern that is shown in picture 1. Even after 2500 grafts, the bald pattern is still there, which creates my frustration.

83.ashish@gmail.com

Questionmark:

My gauge for measuring hair growth has been the lowered hairline, since there was no hair below my prior hairline before the surgery, and now there is a patchy growth, at best. Pictures 1, 3 and 4 show the irregular patches below my hairline. By counting the number of follicles transplanted vs what is growing as my new hairline, I can calculate how much hair is growing post surgery.

SADbutTrue:

I don't have pre op pictures, but looking at my top view, I can still see the same bald pattern that was present prior to the surgery. With 2500 grafts put in, I don't see any improvement, which creates my frustration.

Had surgery with Shapiro Medical Group on 12/19/13. In 7 months, I have seen fuzzy/patchy hair growth, at best, and I am deeply disappointed. Given that 7 months have gone by, can anyone suggest ideas to stimulate some hair growth? I am already on Avodart (0.5mg), and Minoxidil - 5%.

Male, 30 years old, had hair transplant procedure with Dr. Paul Shapiro on 12/19/13. Its been seven months and I am not seeing any hair growth. As the pictures posted on my profile illustrate, the hair growth has been patchy, and less than 33% of the hair transplanted has started growing.

Needless to say, when I called the Shapiro clinic yesterday for my post op appointment, I was frustrated with the progress so far. Instead of listening to my concerns, their representative Matt Zupan does the following:

1. Matt starts off the call by telling me how fantastic my hair growth has been so far. It is obvious he hasn't seen my pictures, since most people can look at my pictures and conclude that the growth is far from "fantastic"

2. Then, once I ask if I should use Minoxidil (Rogaine) to stimulate hair growth, he starts blaming me for not using Minoxidil from right after the surgery, and Matt mentions that the handout/videos state that using Minoxidil is mandatory.

3. He then proceeds to create a theory that the transplanted hair is growing well, and the reason I still look bald is that my native hair is falling. I then have to remind Matt to look at my file, since I clearly mentioned before my surgery that I have been on Avodart (Dutasteride - 0.5mg) since 2010.

4. At this stage, I am incredibly frustrated, since Matt has not looked at my medical records, or looked closely at my pictures, and he is trying to pin the lack of hair growth on me. Before the call ends, Matt again asks me to email him the medications I am on, something I already told the Shapiro group the day of my surgery.

I am ok with spending $10000, and living my life with a big scar on my scalp. What I am not ok with, is the utter lack of professionalism displayed by Matt Zupan. At this stage, I have no other option but to pray and hope for hair growth, or be back under the knife.