pkipling

Just a thought, but I wouldn't rule the hat idea out completely. Technically, we can't wear hats at my job either, but Dr. Mohebi wrote me a note saying that I needed to keep my scalp covered due to surgery - and if it's dictated by a physician, I don't think they can object. Fortunately, I didn't even have to cross that bridge of what to do if they had said no, as my employers didn't even ask to see the note (I had it as more of a backup plan).... I simply explained to them that I had a minor operation and would need to keep my scalp covered for at least a month. They were more concerned about my wellbeing and health to really question it, not to mention it's generally in bad taste to push for more information when dealing with personal things of that nature. Sooooo..... I was able to get a nice, professional, hat (that my bosses and the owners of the company actually thought looked great and approved of), and I wore it until the redness went down (about 4 weeks). So it's worth a shot. I anticipated at least a little bit of push back, and got none... So you could be surprised. Ya never know until you ask.

Woah! That looks awesome man. Congratulations indeed.

I tried the makeup solution myself and it didn't look right. Granted, it may have been user error, but it simply wasn't effective for me. In order to cover the redness, I had to use a lot of makeup... And when I used a lot, the makeup was noticeable. So I washed it out and opted for a hat instead. I wore the hat for a month before I felt comfortable going out without it. Even then it was still a bit red, but not alarmingly so. I found that even the few people who knew I had the transplant just felt that it looked like I was a bit sunburnt. Even now, almost 14 weeks post-op, the redness isn't completely gone but it's hardly noticeable anymore as the hair has started growing in (little by little).... Is wearing a hat an option for you?

Good to see you're doing your research. I wanna reiterate what has already been said about not being afraid to travel. You want to make sure you choose a doctor that you feel comfortable with and trust to do the job right, first and foremost. I lucked out with the doctor I chose being local for me, so it was quite convenient, but many doctors will help compensate you for any travel/hotel expenses so that you don't have a ton of extra costs on top of an already somewhat pricey procedure. And just a thought - Given you're a NW2, did the doctor mention that you could possibly fix the problem with medication? Granted, this would require you even considering going on Finasteride, which is an entirely different subject altogether. But it's my understanding that some doctors won't even consider operating on a NW2. (Can any of you long-timers verify if this is true?)

For sure dude. Anytime.

Mine has started coming in pretty much just like normal hair, though at first it did seem a little bit finer than the rest.... But that seemed to be because they were coming in so little at a time (and a few of the grafts had never completely fallen out from the surgery). I definitely wouldn't call it peach fuzz though.

Just a thought, but it may be beneficial to start taking the Finasteride before your actual surgery so that it starts working beforehand. Check with your doctor and get his opinion of course, but it's my understanding that it's better to let your body/hair get a head start with the drug. Good luck! Check back in with us after your surgery. (Or beforehand if you need to get feedback/support for any potential pre-op jitters...

Hey bud. So as not to leave you high and dry without an answer, maybe you can post this as a new thread to see if any Rogaine users run across it. I never went that route, so I don't know much about it at this point, but I know there are some guys on here who will know if what you're describing seems promising or not. Good luck!

Thanks Lorenzo. I'm definitely looking forward to the next several months and watching my hairline start to change. I'm also glad to know about the importance of the photos, especially when dealing with higher NW levels. I didn't realize how easy it would be for people to manipulate the photos (sometimes inadvertently) with something as simple as a flash. I swear, the more I learn about this industry and hair transplants in general, the more fascinated I become.

Hey Kamal... The standard going rates with Dr. Mohebi are $8/graft for FUE and $4/graft for strip (and $2/graft for anything over 2,500 FUT, I believe). I opted for FUE in exchange for slightly higher monthly payments.... I keep my hair a bit shorter on the sides and didn't want to risk the strip scar being too noticeable. Now I'm just ready for this hair to really start growing in. I'm just about tired of this buzzcut.

Wow. This is all very interesting to me. Being relatively new to the boards and the entire HT world, I had no idea the amount of details/specifics that go into taking the photos. Fortunately, it appears that Dr. Mohebi didn't use flash in the photos he took of me at his office (based on how the photos look and also on me having no recollection of a flash ever going off). I'm going to research now how to best take my own personal photos so that they provide the best representation of my results/progress - and I assume I can find quite a bit about the subject by using you as a resource, Joe. I've just recently hit the 3 month mark, so it's perfect timing to learn how to start properly documenting my results. Ultimately, I am in complete agreement that we stand together as a community to get this done right across the board. Thanks for spearheading this. PK

Are you planning on taking Finasteride? This should help considerably with any potential shock loss. I don't think I experienced any loss of my regular hairs and even managed to maintain some of the transplanted ones after surgery. By 4 weeks, I was already going back to work without a hat, my head completely buzzed, and no one noticed a thing. The main concern for me was the redness of my scalp in the front (and it's still just a tad bit red now even at 12 weeks), but even my peers who knew I had the transplant said the redness wasn't noticeable/alarming. If anything, it just looked like my scalp was a little sunburnt. It's my opinion that you'll most likely be completely fine by week 6, especially if you're taking the Finasteride. Congrats on being proactive and getting it done! Keep us posted on your progress. Btw... My profile picture was taken at the 4 week mark, just to give you an idea of my healing process. And if you're planning on keeping your hair longer on top, you may even be able to hide any potential problems in the recipient area if there are any. PK

It is my understanding that after the 4th day after the procedure, the grafts are there to stay. So at this point you shouldn't have to worry about doing any damage to the recipient area. Even if you pulled the grafts out themselves (not that anyone would do this - haha) the new hair should still grow back in just fine.

I would go ahead and give the Finasteride a shot. Only way to know if you have side effects is to give it a go. I know for me personally, I haven't experienced any of the side effects and it seems to have helped prevent some shock loss as well after my transplant. So if you're a NW3 and willing to give the meds a shot, I don't see why you couldn't get a transplant. What was your doctors opinion on doing the transplant without the propecia?

I think using this forum and looking at the Doctors supported here, their results, and patient feedback, you should be able to ease your concerns about getting a botched transplant quite considerably. I understand the nerves surrounding it all as it is a huge decision, but I wouldn't rule it out based on some horror stories you've heard. This forum is a fantastic tool to help navigate the giant world of hair transplants so that you can make a decision you are comfortable and confident with. And of course, once you consult with some trusted physicians, they will be able to guide you in the right direction to get you results that you'll be quite happy with. So in short and as a general rule, I say yes... A hair transplant with the right doctor is definitely worth it.

Wow. That's impressive work.

Looks great man. Our cases look pretty similar, though I had quite a few more grafts than you did (2,000). I tried to leave my hair long on top as well, but was too skeptical about styling it around the transplanted area - so after a week, out came the clippers.... Looking forward to seeing your progress. Oh. And I particularly liked the scuba diver visual as they injected your scalp. Haha. To this day, I'm certain thoss initial needles in the scalp were the worst part of the entire process. So much OW.

If that is indeed a HT, the results are spectacular. It's amazing to me how a hairline can completely alter your appearance.

Full disclosure here.... I cried like a baby. Haha. I promise I generally have a pretty high threshold for pain, so I attribute it to whatever it was they gave me to make me pass out before they started. I remember being super loopy before they even did injections so my inhibitions were down... When they gave me the first couple of shots, my eyes started watering and I vaguely remember looking up at them like a little boy and telling them it hurt. What followed was a combination of more tears and embarrassed laughter and apologies for crying.... *sigh* Being drugged is the best part of any surgery, so enjoy it. Anywayyyy.... The shots were over before I knew it and the rest of the time I barely remember feeling anything at thing at all - at most a little bit of pressure. I slept for most of the morning while they cut on my scalp, and the later part of the morning and the rest of the afternoon, I was awake and chatting away as if I didn't have thousand of tiny holes in my head. There was one time in the afternoon where I started feeling a bit more pressure than normal, so they gave me gave me a couple more shots to numb it again and we were back in business. Your doctor will constantly monitor you to make sure you're comfortable and not in pain - so don't worry. And the shots really aren't that bad, in spite of what my very masculine tears might indicate.

Atta boy.

Hey Blake. Most of Dr. Mohebi's work as of late has been through manual extraction, which is the method he used on me. He personally feels it gives him more flexibility and control than using the motorized methods. Per Dr. Mohebi, here are the details of my operation: Punch Device: Cole Auto/Manual: Manual Diameter (mm): 0.9 Depth (mm): 2.75 Ex-In Angle (degree): 0 Transection (%): 5 Capping (%): 2 Tethering (%): 10

I had my surgery done almost 3 months ago and am really looking forward to seeing the hair start to grow. This is where it's at right now. Hard to tell exactly what progress has been made since I didn't have the buzz cut pre-op, but I'm definitely happy with where things are right now - especially with the redness being almost completely gone from my scalp.

Yep. Totally normal. I had some bigger ones pop up around the 2 month mark as well. Even just this week one appeared on the side of my scalp - but much less painful and considerably smaller than before, and this is around week 10. Try to leave them alone as much as possible... It always takes a hell of a lot of self control for me to not want to pop them and get rid of 'em. I tend to get obsessive with those things. In the meantime, let's just keep waiting on that magic that's right around the corner....

Looking good man! I'm a couple months behind you, so it's nice to see what I have to look forward to.

I'm still being prescribed to take 1.25 mg/daily, but the prescription is written for 30 of the 5mg tablets and I'm instructed to take 1/4 tablet. :cool: