pkipling

Ohhh exciting times! Best of luck tomorrow. I remember the anticipation/excitement/nerves the day before the procedure, so it's always fun re-experiencing that when someone is about to dive in. Looking forward to your progress. (And yes, as Gasthoerer said - remember that the hardest part is the several months post-op when you're waiting on the results to begin... So stay patient!)

Really great work! Happy to hear that his hair loss has stabilized thus far and that he's not in need for that probable 2nd procedure just yet. I'm in the same boat, and am very grateful that my hair loss has stabilized enough that I don't need a second one in the foreseeable future... Over 8 years since my hair transplant.

Seems totally normal to me as well. You're likely to start experiencing a fair amount of shedding in the days to come, so remember that even after the first 72 hours, the grafts are mostly anchored/secure and don't stress yourself out as that process begins to happen. As a general rule, if a graft were to come dislodged, there would be pain and bleeding - and at this stage, it's almost impossible for that to happen. Hope that helps give you peace of mind!

This hair transplant made him looks years younger! Night and day difference honestly, and I can't imagine how he could be any happier with the outcome.

At 4 weeks post-op, you're able to proceed as normal with your hair routine... Haircuts and all! Just be gentle with it so as not to irritate it. I imagine all the scabs are gone, but if not, soak them in warm shampoo suds to help remove them as well. How frequently are you washing your hair? And what temperature water are you using? Washing less frequently with cooler water could help - but also it's normal for the scalp to be dry for a considerable amount of time after the HT. Aloe vera could possibly help with the dryness if you want a natural/gentle way to treat it. I know a lot of guys have mentioned that being helpful around here. As for the pimples, technically you're not supposed to pop them yourself... But I've honestly never had a pimple i was able to leave alone. If you're close to your surgeon, you could see if they could do it for you. (That's what Dr. Mohebi always suggests/offers for his patients.) If you have pics of your scalp, that would help us guide you a bit better. Hope that helps a bit for now!

Holy crap! It's remarkable how the hair transplant seems to have given your appearance a complete transformation. Night and day difference, honestly. And the detailed review/report is so appreciated. So happy for you!

Not only are you good to go to hot yoga, but at 6 months you're free to resume all your normal activities with zero risks.

Immediately following the transplant, you just wanna make sure you're using something very gentle - so a baby shampoo would be great. There's no need to break the bank buying a gimmicky shampoo. (And no shampoo is going to "regrow your hair", fyi. Many of us learn that the hard and expensive way. Lol) That's not to say that all expensive shampoos are bad/dishonest, but they're definitely not a necessity. Keeping it simple and using a gentle while your scalp heals post-op is the most important part.

While there are unfortunately a lot of unethical surgeons out there wreaking havoc on uneducated patients eager to treat their hair loss, there are also a lot of highly qualified surgeons out there who provide very consistent results. If you use the list of recommended surgeons on this forum as your starting off point, and also use this forum as a primary resource to learn about hair loss, hair transplants, expectations, etc., then the chances of you choosing a surgeon who is unethical and unapologetically scamming people is extremely slim. The more you familiarize yourself with the hair transplant industry as a whole, the more you'll be able to differentiate the skilled surgeons from the con artists.

Echoing that it's a great idea to see if they offer a wait list for when last minute cancellations happen. That's how I got my appointment so fast way back when. As long as your schedule is flexible and you're able to jump in with little notice, that's a great way to go. Otherwise, don't be deterred by a long wait time should it come to that. Time always goes by faster than we anticipate, and whenever you book an appointment, it'll be here before you know it.

I don't think you have anything to worry about. It's mostly a precautionary measure on the super off-chance that you have a condition that would make it unsafe for you. If you're in good health, you're likely fine. (I totally relate to being nervous before any sort of bloodwork/tests though!)

I recommend reaching out to your doctor as well. None of us can give medical advice, so don't panic - but the dark color of the scabs is definitely worth your doctor's input. For typical scabs, we always recommend that by Day 5, you start letting the shampoo suds sit on your scalp for 10 minutes or so to help loosen them up so they wash away easier. (Every surgeon has different protocol for how to handle scabs, so also feel free to get your doctor's input on this.)

This is exactly my experience. We tend to overestimate how much people care about whether any of us got a hair transplant or not. I have never met one single person who didn’t think it was either cool in some way, fascinated by it and wanted to know more about it for themselves or a friend, OR they just simply didn’t care or give it a second thought. It seems a lot of guys around here are afraid of looking “weak/insecure” for getting a hair transplant… But the irony is that whether or not you get a hair transplant isn’t indicative of confidence. What’s confident is owning your choice and not caring what other people think. If you have hair loss and didn’t like and took steps to resolve it by getting a hair transplant, be in ownership of that decision… And then confidently tell people or don’t… Whatever *you* want feel is right for yourself.

You wanna use a gentle shampoo for at least the first week after the procedure, but after that, I don’t see a reason why one wouldn’t be able to use Nizoral. Every surgeon is going to have their own guidelines/opinion on it, but I know Dr. Mohebi clears people for Rogaine/other topical use after 7 days, so imagine Nizoral would fall into that.

It's a shampoo that can help treat dandruff/dermatitis/etc. - which is caused by fungus/fungal infection. Sometimes, when the scalp is unhealthy or breaking out, it can cause hair loss - not in the MPB sense, but in the sense that the the scalp isn't healthy enough shape to be optimal for healthy hair/growth.

Wow!!!! This looks amazing. You have soooo much coverage.

Honestly, I would mostly leave this up to the surgeon. Definitely make sure that you have a good idea of how you'd ideally like your hairline to look, but then trust the surgeon's expertise to guide you in the right direction. If you're choosing a surgeon you trust and have good rapport with, then they'll be able to give you the best hairline education you could ask for. And if you want a more mature hairline, I don't think any surgeon would fight you on that. In fact, I'm sure if anything, they mostly have to talk people into being more conservative. I went through this exact thing with @Parsa Mohebi, MD when I had my consultation with him. I had an idea of what I wanted, but it was his professional guidance and input on what he thought would be best for me that allowed me to let go of what I thought was best and work with him to create a hairline that we both would sign off on.

I agree with BaldV... Try upping the Nizoral usage and see if that helps clear things up. Also, are you by chance using a different styling product now that didn't use before? I've been prone to dandruff my entire life, and there are certain products that irritate my scalp more than others. Another trick I've found useful over the years when I've had dandruff outbreaks was putting Apple Cider Vinegar on my scalp in the shower and letting it sit for a few minutes. It stings a little bit, but it works like magic when I need it to. Technically, you're supposed to dilute it with warm water, but I would always apply it directly to my scalp because I kind of enjoyed the sting... Lol. 😬

Maybe it's because I live in Los Angeles, but in my experience, nobody cares if any of us have hair transplants. I don't know where a lot of people get this notion that it's frowned upon or deemed unattractive or embarrassing. (And while I'm sure there are some people who would judge you for it, those are likely the exact types of people you don't want to date anyway, if I'm being honest.) I understand being apprehensive at first about how upfront to be about it. I was the same way when I got my procedure. But I can assure you that almost all of those fears are unfounded, and if anything, people are intrigued by it more than anything. These days, I nonchalantly mention it anytime the conversation presents itself... Twice, actually, in the past month alone in front of a small group of people... And both times, the response consisted of shock and enthusiastic disbelief, followed by sooo many questions, intrigue, and lots of compliments on how good it looks. Lol. So unless I live in an alternate universe, I promise you nobody will think negatively of you for getting one... Especially not a significant other.

I often feel like I'm on an island by myself around here, buuuut I haven't taken finasteride in years. I experienced (very mild) side effects, but they were enough for me to take my chances and stop taking it. I weighed the pros and cons, and decided that it was more important for me to make sure that my sexual equipment stayed in tip-top shape - and my hair loss wasn't so advanced that I felt my sexual health was worth sacrificing. My hair loss has been stable since my hair transplant 8 years ago, and so I'm aware the decision I made was a luxury many guys don't have. If I ever notice my hair loss start to advance, I'll seriously consider hopping back on medication to get ahead of any further hair loss - and hope that I respond better to it! All of that said, I would like to point out that: A) the majority of men take finasteride without any side effects. B) Hair loss is progressive, and going without medication comes with it's own set of risks C) Even though I don't take it personally, I always recommend giving medication a try to see if it works for you. The science supports that it can really save you from losing a lot of hair. D) Be very diligent when it comes to evaluating if you're experiencing side effects or not. We often "experience" things that aren't really happening simply because we're thinking about them or afraid of them happening. I gave myself a few solid tries with the medication to see if the sides I was experiencing were real, and I ultimately felt like they were. Personally, I'd say give it a shot and see how your body responds.

While your hair isn't likely going to go from completely straight to perm-level curls, it is possible for the texture of your hair to change over time. My hair used to have a very light wave and is actually almost completely straight now that I'm in my late 30s. My hairdresser said that we get "brand new hair" about every 7 years, so it isn't uncommon for our hair to change as we go through different stages. When it comes to curly hair, it needs to be a certain length for the hair to actually curl. So... If your donor hairs naturally had a slight wave to them already, but you always kept that area cut pretty short, then you would never know how curly they would naturally be... So if those hairs are now in your recipient area and you're growing that hair out longer, any natural curl or wave is going to be much more apparent. (I'm just guessing here since I don't know your hair history or how you've kept the length - but hopefully you get the idea! Lol) I do think it's possible for transplanted hair to be a bit wiry for a while after the procedure, but that usually resolves itself within the first year - so that may be what you're experiencing? Post some pics if you'd like and we can give more input.

As some others stated, there are so many factors at play here that I don't think you're going to reach a consensus. Not only that, but each surgeon is going to have their own personal philosophy about how to best approach your hair loss. What does the top of your hair look like, what's your projected hair loss based on personal and family history, how low are you wanting your hairline, etc.? And while virtual consultations are great, you have to keep in mind that many surgeons test the miniaturization levels of your hair in person, and whatever they find when they see you in person could influence their estimate. Given that you're in your mid-20s, I personally think it's best to be slightly more conservative - but again, we don't know the full story here. And 2,200-2,500 also doesn't seem that low to me, but I also don't know what your expectations are. If I were you, I would focus on deciding which surgeon you trust the most and have the best feeling about, and then letting them lead the way. They're the experts for a reason. Before my procedure with Dr. Mohebi, I had my own idea of what I wanted and how I wanted my hairline to look... And then I ultimately trusted his opinion and expertise on the matter and let him guide me. And while the ultimate decision was mine to sign off on, his guidance is really what made me feel comfortable about our final game plan.

I'd say you definitely have an idea of how you'll much you'll be paying. You're given a quote based on an estimated number of grafts, and I would imagine that every surgeon would discuss the possibility of potentially needing a bit more or a bit less than that number. I can't imagine it would ever be such a huge increase that it would throw someone's budget completely off - and I also suppose if a patient needed the grafts to be capped at a certain number of grafts, they would be able to communicate that with the surgeon so that they don't go over that number - even if they think it's best.

I'd avoid it as much as possible so as not to risk any damage, but there's also no reason I can see why you can't wear a hat at this stage. (Other than your doctor said so, and it's always a good idea to take that into account... ) However - your grafts are very secure even after Day 5, and wearing a loose fitting hat when your in transit outdoors is way safer than sun exposure. In fact, many of us wear hats the day after the procedure. As long as you're mindful and get a loose fitting, high brimmed snapback that you can easily place on your head and take off without it rubbing the grafts in the recipient area, I don't see any risks involved.

I don't think there'd be any risk with this. The grafts are completely anchored and secure after the first two weeks at the latest, and I don't think any sort of treatment would harm them. Hopefully you got a definitive answer from your doc, but I can't see why it'd be an issue.