Bardlebee

I'll try to get before and after pictures up tomorrow. Updated the original post and I'll put pictures there too. 3500 FUT and I would do it again if I felt I needed to, but I don't at all. Even with my fine hair it looks great! Only time you can really tell is if I style it weird or if my hair is wet or sweaty.

I was 29 a year and one month ago when I first got a hair cut and realized I had lost so much hair that I felt I looked much worse then I thought possible. I was balding quite a bit in the front I guess on the chart of Norwood I was 3, approaching 3A. I honestly felt like there was no hope and that nature had played a cruel trick on me. I thought that hairloss surgery was some bogus thing that would get me in a serious screwed up situation, but I dug and dug. I needed something! It's all I thought about! I researched a lot, scoured for nights all these forums and other forums for doctors in Texas. I finally decided to go with Dr. Arocha. What is most striking is something the doctor had said before my surgery "People don't seem to review much when they are happy. They have normal lives and their busy. They don't notice they are happy with the results." I have to agree with that. I've been so happy with these results, its been a little over a year, but already at about 6 months things felt like they were turning around so quickly. I was all prepared too, to take pictures every month and do these things to share with the community because you guys helped me find Dr. Arocha. I can share with you my before and after pictures, but anything in between, I'm sorry I didn't get. It all happened so fast, like it was yesterday. I have fine hair, but even with fine hair Arocha made it look great. I don't look like I'm a Norwood 3 anymore and I look like I have a full head of hair. Since my hair is fine I can't spike it like I used to when I was younger, but I can style it. I went in Feb - 2015 and saw results at the average time. Anyway, if people want to see pictures I can provide them. I just wanted to let those out there know that Arocha does fantastic work and its at the point where I literally just forgot that it even happened. And I think honestly all of us want that type of mentality with our hairloss, like it never even happened. Whoops, been so long since I've been on here, let me tell you some details: FUT 3500 grafts, as far as I know none of them were damaged. I did a strange thing for the first week or so. I tied my arms down on some posts while I slept on the couch. Yes, odd but I wasn't going to take any chances and scratch grafts out. So it was a strip procedure and all the hairs seem they took well. Arocha commented that it seemed a lot of them were multi hair units so that was great to hear. I will try to remember to post before and after shots on this post here tomorrow. Its already very late, but wanted to get this out there before I yet again forget about the brilliant Dr. Arocha His staff is awesome too. Their entire staff were very attentive and honestly any time I even squeaked they stopped what they were doing and made sure I was okay. They were awesome!

Thanks for the reassurance guys. My first and hopefully last transplant needed. If I respond well to finasteride. I plan to post pics up here in a little bit so I can give my doctor props on the great work. Since I posted this all scabs are off and I have had no bleeding or any signs of lost grafts so I think I am all safe and its now the waiting game.

So I am day 8 post op and I took my first shower where I actually gently shampooed the recipient area. Before this day I was literally spraying my hair with a shampoo and water mist setting out of paranoia of dislodging grafts. After my showers I have a full head of very noticeable and loose feeling white scabs, in them little hairs. Now my doctor said not to pick at any scabs, but if I just lightly caress them, many of them fall off. I know this is normal, but its causing this urge to constantly do it. I haven't noticed any bleeding at all from doing it thus far and I try to stop myself. I just worry that maybe some grafts are not anchored by day 8 yet and my caressing the scabs will affect them. Think of it like barely touching type of caressing, I am not using my nails or anything. Does this count as picking? Should I stop doing this?

I tie my hands down. No lie. I sit on my reclining chair which is quite comfortable and tie my hands down to the side table next to my couch. I give enough slack to be comfortable but not enough to be able to reach my scalp without leaning my whole body forward. Its worked well for me. If I've lost grafts, I can't tell because they all seem to still be in there.. I am on day 5-6 Also, I use one of those airline pillows around my neck so I don't roll my head too much.

I literally just got a hair transplant from him about 6 hours ago. It was my first procedure of any medical kind in my life. Their staff were very knowledgeable with decades of experience. They took their time and answered any questions I had. They were very careful with me due to my nerves of doing this the first time. Always listening to whether or not I felt pain and I felt my comfort was their number one priority. I can't tell you how the hair will turn out. But so far my experience with the clinic has been top notch. I will update in four months to share results and then 8 etc... Go see him. His team are very caring and professional.

So how did your procedure go?

I am equally as excited to get started with a transplant as I am cautious. Not a good combo, I think. I have a feeling if I like Dr. Arocha's team I will be going with him. Since price point isn't a big concern for me, he seems like a really good doctor to get this work done. I guess the last question I had, since this topic has clearly changed to more my situation, is how much time should I spend safely researching this? If I have spent a month just marathon researching on the internet, is that enough? I know there is no well defined number, but I see some people saying do your research for at least a year or two years! I think that is a little insane, I know it is a surgery, but time is not my friend if you know what I mean. Like in my case, I am finding it hard not to go with Arocha just based on research alone, if I don't like what I see when I consult with him that is different, but why bother continue to consult with 5-10 doctors if I've consulted with 2-3 and one seems good out of them? Maybe I think I am asking questions I can only answer here... as personal preference and safety.

Thank you PupDaddy/Blake/scar5, You've really helped me put all these pieces together for the start of my journey, it is a shame that Limmer in San Antonio isn't currently around for consultation from what I hear as well for this. While I am sure his successor is more then capable, I am not willing to risk it for my first go around and hopefully last transplant if I react well to fin+minox. I do look forward to seeing Dr. Krejci's work on this forum though when that happens. PupDaddy, thank you for that explanation, I have read time and time again FUT had generally been better for yield, but its never been explained in the detail you laid out. This has helped me a great deal. Blake, thank you for your confidence in Dr. Arocha as a choice. This is a very scary time for me as I am sure you well know for anyone first transplant. I have not consulted with anyone just yet, Dr. Arocha so far is the only person I have chosen to consult with. Looking at his work and listening to you guys he sounds like a great choice. Although, I don't think I would be willing to travel to consult with other doctors across state lines for this. I may consult with Limmer's team as well too, but I worry I am not consulting with enough doctors. I have done tons of research on this topic, with only what I feel being small gaps in my knowledge. I feel like I wouldn't go wrong going with Dr. Arocha so maybe I shouldn't need to consult with 5 other doctors.

Okay, I think this really puts it together for me. You mention yield, I am under the impression that FUT yield, as in the hair that goes into your scalp implanted, has a better success rate of "sticking" then FUE, is this the case? So where as if I transplant say 2000 follicles with FUT vs FUE, FUE would have fewer follicles come out as permanently grafted and may not transplant as well as FUT? I think this is the only gap (I hope) in my marathon like research I have been doing the past month. I am really excited to do this, to be honest. I really feel like with the combination of this implant and a regimen of Minox+fin is going to help me for many years. I am not yet on finasteride, like Propecia, so the one thing I do worry about is shock loss and if I should be on that for awhile to counteract the possibility of shock loss.. but that is another topic

Hello Everyone! I have been growing in worry about my thinning hair, I think maybe I am about a NW3, but perhaps you can tell me different as I will be posting what I have to deal with today. Anyway, this thread isn't about that. It's about the animosity towards FUT procedures, I don't understand it and maybe you can help me understand. I am going to be getting a consultation with Dr. Arocha in Houston Texas in a few weeks because I hear he is very reputable on here and in general. As well I see his great results that are NOT on his site (in no offense to his clinic, anyone would want to show all the success stories on their site, and they are great). However, Dr. Arocha uses both FUT and FUE, from some comments on this forum and others online I've heard phrases such as but not limited to including towards FUT procedures: "Stone age technology" "Shouldn't be used anymore" "Why mutilate your head?" "Should be illegal" I just don't understand these sentiments. I look at users such as scooter, who've had fantastic success with FUT. I've seen countless people on here who've had both done with no problems. I intend to keep my hair long, forever. I guess I don't see the problem with FUT, is it more invasive? Sure. But in the end if no one can see the scar, I really don't care. And if FUT is the more recommended option (cost is not an issue for me), why would I not want FUT? Also, if its such a barbaric method compared to FUE, then why do well renowned doctors such as Dr. Arocha use it? I think you see where I am going with this, I feel like its just a bunch of hot air people are shooting up, but I wanted other peoples thoughts. Help me understand this crazy sentiment. Side Note: Here are some pictures of my head. If/when I go with Dr. Arocha I will give an update because I believe good work deserves to be known by a 3rd party as well. Maybe you guys can guesstimate how many follicles I'll need. Also, maybe if someone could provide a good review of Arocha this will help seal it for me as well, I have seen plenty, but you can never get enough reassurance.