NewHare

His work looks good.  And he seems to do large sessions which is nice. Support.

After reading the thread below, I had to question whether the drs on the recommended list should re-evaluated every year of so since it appears that there are/may be drs who are now doing sub par work.  If so what is the point of a recommended list if they are not all of the highest quality ? 

I was considering Dr Charles, however judging by the posts I read even though he is a 'recommended' dr his work seems to be questionable at best.

Which leaves me to wonder, which of the recommended drs, are actually recommended ?

NH   

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The recommended list for this site, like any other lists, do not mean much. It means they had a few good reviews during their screening, but it seems to me like once they have been recommended and pay a monthly fee, they pretty much can do whatever they want with their practice. Like Dr. Diep, who just got removed from the list after years of bad practice.

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If Dr Charles think this is a "good" result, then I am scared to see what a poor result from him would look like. I would avoid and look elsewhere.

Curious as to the outcome of this one ?  Dr. Charles was on my short list, though after this I'm questioning that.

Has anyone had a procedure recently with Dr. Charles after this incident ?  If so how was your outcome ? 

On 11/2/2022 at 1:24 PM, GoliGoliGoli said:

How long have you been off now? I have my surgery on Nov 8th so I've been off since like Oct 29th or so. And will have to stay off for 10 days after surgery. Shouldn't be enough time to lose any gains hopefully

Been off about a week or so, waiting for the burning to subside.  I have noticed a change in the quality of my hair now, it's back to being more brittle and dry.  Though of course your mileage may vary.   

Good luck with your procedure.  All the best !

On 10/31/2022 at 2:36 PM, GoliGoliGoli said:

Well, if the itching and burning is caused by the Foam I doubt any shampoo would be able to help. 

You may want to experiment with other types and see if that helps. If you do, I would recommend trying name brand Rogaine just because it's kind of the "Standard" 

Thanks Goli, that's a great idea.  I'm just waiting for the burning and itching to stop, it's been about a week since I stopped the foam and it hasn't subsided.   I'd also like to look into the Nanoxidil @E39 had mentioned.   unfortunately I'm losing all the benefits I gained - less hair fall and better fuller hair texture - since I stopped the foam. 

Guys, two additional questions. 

I was using Kirkland Foam, stopped a week ago and still itching and burning. Is there any specific shampoo I could use to relieve this ?

Is Kirkland not a good product, I read were most say they don't have any problems with foam.  It's usually the liquid that causes itching and burning. Are there better foams out there that won't cause as many problems ?  I'd hate to give up the benefits I got from the foam, though I still have scabbing all throughout my scalp along with itching.  

6 hours ago, E39 said:

I used minoxidil foam for years with good results. After a while, it began irritating my scalp. I have since switched to Nanoxidil with good results and no irritation 

Thanks E39,  That's interesting that you used it for years and then it began irritating your scalp.  Not familiar with Nanoxidil, I'll have to look into that. Where are you purchasing it ?   Do you know why it doesn't cause irritation for you like the foam did ? 

7 hours ago, Gatsby said:

I've been on minoxidil (both in the foam and oral version) continually now for about 5 months. I still consider this early days but I feel that my hair overall is now fuller. It could just be from the maturing of my hair transplant now at nine months but I do feel that it's due to minoxidil. Also @NewHare if you are using the foam version one thing I found that made application easier was this. I would squeeze the foam into the cap. I would then fill the sink with hot water and lower the cap into the hot water just enough so that it heats up and melts the foam into a liquid in the cap. Then apply this to your scalp. I found this helps when applying it. The foam when converted to liquid this way felt less greasy than the normal topical minoxidil. All the best!

Thanks Gatsby,  I found the same, my hair is a lot fuller and the texture is better. However in the last few days I noticed inflammation and scabbing on my scalp. I stopped and am waiting for it to subside.  My question is since I don't want to loss the benefits can I use Minox less often, maybe 2-3 times a week and still reap the benefits ?  Just wondering if anyone else here crossed this bridge before ?   I can see now I probably won't be able to continue 7 days a week anymore.

I'm starting to have very bad reactions to the Kirkland Minox foam.  I had to stop.  Though when I was using it I got very possible results in hair quality and less breakage.  If I can tolerate it for 1-2 times a week will it still give me some benefits or does it have to be used daily ?

I'd love to keep using it daily but I can see now that even the foam is causing problems to my scalp.  Has anyone used Minox only a few days a week and still got descent results ?  

Most have said Dutasteride and oral Minoxidil.  I'm wondering if this applies only to those losing hair (younger) and how this would apply to those who have lost the majority of their hair years ago.  Is there any benefit to using Dutasteride and oral Minoxidil later on after years of hairloss ?

I'm two months into using Minox foam.  So far I'm noticing my hair's texture has changed for the better. It used to be more dry/brittle and prone to beakage, where now I'm noticing little to no breakage and much less dryness. Also even though I haven't noticed any new growth overall my hair does look fuller.  Is this usual for Minox, or is there something else going on ?   

Thanks Dill. So you're saying 2500 would be enough for the front and crown ?  That's sounds good, I though it would be a lot more for both areas.  I was thinking maybe 2000plus just for the front third.  

On 10/7/2022 at 12:13 AM, Dillpickle123 said:

I think you should consult with a HT surgeon, you may still have a bit of donor left and beard grafts even after the Fut procedures 

Yes, I believe you're right Dill, however before I consult with an HT surgeon I was hoping to get some advice and insight from the group here.  How many grafts would I need ?  How does my donor look ? Would Minox, ect help ? What not to do ?  I think that would best help when I go to my consult(s). 

On 10/5/2022 at 1:37 PM, GoliGoliGoli said:

 

Ya I'm curious about the 4 previous as well, where were the recipient areas in these 4?

As I said, mostly in the front, though a few were planted in the crown as well.

On 10/5/2022 at 3:39 PM, GoliGoliGoli said:

I have to say, this and a few other results where peoples transplanted hairs thin is pretty concerning. I get that donor hair is DHT resistant not DHT proof, but it seems like in some cases transplanted hairs end up falling out pretty rapidly (IE within 10 years or so). 

Well my first HT (plugs) was +/- 1989-90, so yes it's been quite a while.  Though I was never on meds. I was told by a doc, that it wouldn't make much of a difference at that point.  Though I suppose that wasn't the best advice.  

Back when I first started (1990 ?) I was told to try Minox. It was very expensive then, and burned the hell out of my scalp so I just stopped it.  Probably a mistake on my part. 

On 10/5/2022 at 1:33 PM, Doron Harati said:

You need to upload good photos of your donor and use measure tape over the thin area for better estimation, you had 4 FUTs over the frontal area only?

How old are you?

No, the FUTs were spread out from the frontal to the crown. Though they were more concentrated in the front.

I'll just add the first two sessions were the old plugs (89'-90' +/-) That is what you see mostly in the hairline.  Back then they

pulled a few plugs out planted them in the hairline and crown and called it a hairtransplant.  We've come a long way.

I'm currently 65 y/o.  

21 hours ago, GoliGoliGoli said:

How long ago was the surgery that transplanted hairs into this area? Was it pretty full illusion of density following the surgeries? How long did it stay dense? 

My last surgery was back in 2007, which gave me a fairly good illusion of density.  And lasted up until about a year ago, more or less. But I really started to notice it thinning in the last few months.  Though yes, it certainly looked a lot better years ago.

On 10/3/2022 at 2:19 PM, Rahal Hair Transplant said:

There is no doubt that the frontal area is rather thin looking. How far goes back is hard to see by those photos. You said that you may not have that much donor left. Have you undergone strip or FUE? If you have undergone strip, you may still have enough graphs available via FUE to transplant the frontal zone providing more density.

Before proceeding however, I think it’s worth exploring why you may have lost some hair in the frontal zone.  Did you actually lose hair or is that area of the scalp just still thin despite your transplant? If you did lose hair do you think it was natural hair or transplanted hair that you lost?  You could have just lost some additional natural hair due to the progression of male pattern baldness but if it’s transplanted hair that you lost, the question is, why?   My concern is, if it was transplanted that you lost, what’s to stop it from happening again if you get another transplant?

I look forward to your response.

Rahal Hair Transplant

Yes, my 4 previous procedures were all strip. 

It was somewhat thin after the procedures, though it has gotten worse over the last few months most noticeably.  I was able to conceal it fairly easily by styling up until let's say 6 months to a year. Now I need the help of Dermatch.

Much of the density in that area came from transplanted hairs, along with what ever native was left.  I'd have to say I probably lost both native and transplanted hair. 

What would cause transplanted hair to fall out if that is the case ? 

If I were to follow through with FUE, how many grafts I would need ?    

Thanks for the reply Narmak.  At my last consult the doc had told me not to go with meds as I had lost all or most of my native. Risk, reward.  So I never went with Fin or Minox, though now I believe that was poor advice as I am in fact losing more. That said, I just started on 5% Minox foam.  How would one go about getting a script for Fin ?  Should I ask my PCP or would it better to go to an ht doctor ?   Or can this be done with an online consult ?

Judging by my photos, how many grafts would I need to fill the area in ?? 

I thought it best to focus more grafts on a smaller area, though you're saying to spread them out evenly.  Could you tell me why you would take that approach ?   I'm concerned with a limited amount it might not make much of a difference. Though I do understand having a lop sided ht would not look good either. 

That's why I'm basically here, as this is a hard choice to make.  Having the help and input of the community is a great asset.

Helpfully other ht vets will jump in as well.

I'm somewhere between a norwood 5/6 and have had 4 previous FUT procedures.  With a little help from dermatch I can pull off a fairly full appearance.  However I've noticed lately my frontal third is looking thinner.  I don't believe I have enough donor left to fill in the whole frontal area but I noticed I can comb my hair more to one side which 'covers' that fairly well leaving the other side open.  I'm thinking if I do this and then transplant into the 'open side' I should probably get better overall coverage, as opposed to filling in the whole frontal third.  The area seems to be about 8-9 sq inches (58 sq cm).  Those are my thoughts,  how would you approach this ?   Should I just target a smaller area, or fill in the whole frontal third ? 

I used conditioner when I took these photos which gives my hair a thinner look. I normally use a volumizing shampoo which gives it a thicker appearance. But I wanted to make it easier for everyone to see the area in question.

Joker, your donor looks rather sparse.  I think there's a chance you may not achieve what you're setting out to do.

Especially at your age. As someone else mentioned I'd look into the shaved look. It might suit you well.

Best, NH

Thanks LC,

That's more in line with what I had thought.  Though you mentioned the crown, I've read it works fairly well all over the scalp.

I was advised by a ht doc not to bother with Propecia as most/all my native fell out and all I had left was transplanted. Though

now I'm noticing as of late the frontal third is thinning further.  I'll have to look further into Propecia and others treatments. 

As far as Propecia is an office visit necessary or can one get a script online ?  I'm not near any decent clinics.

 Thanks guys, that's very disappointing. I'd thought Minox was much more effective.

I've also heard that Minox will help 'strengthen' and possibly thicken the existing hairs. Is this actually true ? 

I lost my hair 20+ years ago, would Minox be worthwhile for me to try or is it too late at this point ?

Thanks...

On 8/10/2022 at 1:22 AM, Dillpickle123 said:

@Gatsbyhes had multiple punch scars in his donor and underwent a massive FUE with great results so far after being told he wasn’t a candidate, Dr Sethi would be good to consult with 

Thanks Dill.  I'll have to read through some of Gatsby's posts. 

17 hours ago, pkipling said:

Are you looking for guidance on whether or not you should use Minoxidil? If so, keep in mind that it's not recommended for men over 65, so based on that alone, it doesn't seem like a good idea. At the very least, you would want to discuss this with a doctor and get their input. 

As for wanting input on getting another procedure, if the last surgeon you had a procedure with told you were "tapped out", then that doesn't seem very promising. If you're unsure on what he meant by that, then I would recommend reaching back out to him for clarification. A surgeon who knows your history and the ins and outs of your scalp is going to be a much more reliable resource for you than any of us could be - especially considering how complicated the history seems to be.

Thank you pkipling...    as to the age I was more concerned if it would be effective at this point, given so many years have past since I lost my hair (30+).  Does one need to use this during or right after hair loss ?  Is it effective 30+ years on ?    Also since it's 'only for use on the vertex'  would it be effective on the frontal and mid scalp regions as well  ?  

As far as the age and medical concerns I have no medical history to speak of however I would of course speak with my pcp and cardiologist prior to use. 

As to having another procedure I was hoping to hear from members here who after multiple strip procedures followed up with FUE.  But yes, speaking to the previous doc is a good idea, though being his was a strip only clinic I'm sure he meant tapped as far as another strip procedure.  Also, as I've learned each doc has their own opinion, so even if my last doc feels that's it, another may not agree.  Which is why I asked here, to get a broader perspective from a large patient base. That and maybe get a few recs as to which FUE doc would be best suited for this. 

Thanks........