FUTshortly

Thanks HTsoon. I'm not going to do FEU, my mind is 99% made up on FUT. Has anyone else heard a claim that Dr. Shapiro does not use custom-cut blades? I am assuming that this is not true, but would welcome folks on here with knowledge to re-assure me that Dr. Shapiro (like H&W, Alexander, Feller) uses the best, most effective equipment and techniques for FUT work. Thanks!

Question for the forum: Although I've settled on FUT and narrowed down my initial short-list to H&W, Alexander, Shapiro, I am still in the due-diligence phase and as such still interviewing various other Doctors. Would GREATLY appreciate feedback i just received from one Dr. in North America (recommended by this site) who does both FUT and FUE. Don't want to name names but here's what he said: First: FUE is better than FUT (even for cases like me) IF the Dr. knows how to use ARTAS really well. He claims the low survival rates in FUE are Doctors doing this manually, as he says the robot is (1) more precise/gentle at extraction and (2) the robot lends a way to tell if the follicle is damaged in which case they don't implant them. He says he will only do FUT if a patient can't afford the higher cost of ARTAS FUE... Is this BS? Second: When I asked which other Dr's he recommends for FUT, he said makes sure to find someone who uses the lateral slit technique using custom-cut blades. He recommended H&W, Alexander, and Feller (a bit strange that he recommended Feller given Feller's views on FUE, but so be it.). This Dr. DID NOT HOWEVER RECOMMEND Shapiro for FUT. I asked why. He thinks Shapiro doesn't use custom-cut blades but needles instead. Is this BS?

Thanks for the feedback esrec and lefty. Any one hear any difference between Ron and Paul Shapiro?

I've read this forum a few days but this is my first post. I am 51 years old and a NW VI. Nearly completely bald but decent donor area for 6000+ grafts. Never had any transplants before. Never took any meds before. I'm normally very anti surgery and meds which is why although i've thought about transplants and meds over 25 years, until now just passed. Ready to take the plunge soon though. It's now (within the next year) or never! After my own research and a couple of consults, pretty convinced to go with FUT. I would need about 6,000 grafts for decent coverage on front and crown. Decided to do first FUT with the goal of having my frontal view look great for photos (been a while since I would even get in family pics!). Hopefully, i'll be able to find a doc that can do at least 3,500 and possibly up to 4,500 in first FUT so the front looks great but there is also some coverage on mid-section. I'm fine with going back for a second FUT a couple years later to finalize coverage on the crown / mid-section. Getting a decent price point is important as i'm just a middle-class guy, but getting the best result is even more important to me. I live in the Midwest but travel to any State or Canada is not an issue. Based on my research and goals, i've narrowed down to (I think) Dr. Shapiro, Dr. Alexander, and Hasson/Wong. Are there any other Doctors I should also consider? The only Doctors i've heard of that will do a mega-session of more than 4,000 to 4,500 grafts in one FUT session are Hasson/Wong. Obviously, if the patient is the right fit. Should this be a consideration for choosing H&W? Any advice on these Doctors or other Doctors (pros, cons, etc.) would be very much appreciated!