Nashville Kat

ifloss, I think you have found out why those of us that are Cooley patients, say the things we say about him. He is a true artist in his chosen profession and as you said, a really down to earth and decent man. Your work looks great and yes I think you can get back to where you want to be, but you have to be realistic and understand that you have more work to do to get there. When this HT grows in you will have a great look to build on when you get ready. Best of luck to you and your new buddies. By the way don't get too attached to them, in a couple of weeks they will leave you only to return later. Nashville Kat

Prospicience, It was great to get a chance to meet you the day of my procedure. As you could see, it was very laid back and comfortable. Sorry it's taken me a week to get back to the forums but I did not get a break from work this time. I got back home Friday and went to work Saturday and havent had much time to stop since. As far as your healing, I'm 46, about the same age as you and ended up with somewhere over 2600 grafts this time. I'll have to check with Dr. Cooley's office to get a exact count and my photo's and then I will post them. It's been a week since my HT and pretty much all the scabs are gone and it's hard to tell that I had anything done except for the little short hairs everywhere which I expect to lose shortly. My 9 year old daughter say's I have a little hair village growing now on my crown. Go figure, kids. What I have done after both my procedures that seems to have worked well, is take a good multi vitamin, extra vitamin C, Whey protein twice a day and about 3000mgs of MSM a day for a few months after surgery. That and try to eat well and get plenty of protein to help your body heal. That's it. I'll try to post more on my experience later when I can get the photo's from Dr. Cooley. Don't stress, Your in very capable hands and you will be very pleased. Nashville Kat

My past experience with Dr. Cooley is that he had me come in the following morning for a check up and cleaning. Actually he picked me up at my Hotel and brought me in with him. I'm not sure if you guy's are from Charlotte or from out of town like me. You can clean your hair and head the day after surgery, you just can't scrub it like you might on a normal day. You have to wait I believe it was somewhere between 1 and 2 weeks. Don't worry they will give you complete instructions on what to do and what not to do. I think the next time he wants to see you is in about 10 days to 2 weeks to remove the sutures. If your from another city you can get dissolveable sutures or you can arrange to have a local Doc to remove them when you get back home. I had the dissolveable ones the first time and they damn near drove me crazy for 3 weeks until they finally came out itching. I have made arrangements with a local Doc to remove them this time after 2 weeks. Other than the day following surgery I have not seen Dr. Cooley in almost a year but he did stay in touch with me by phone and e-mail for several weeks checking up to see that all was well. You will really like dealing with him and his staff. By the way, I was the one wanting to take a break every so often, not Dr. Cooley, although he was very accomodating in letting me take them. Good luck guy's and keep us posted. Nashville Kat

Prospicience, Congrats on the consult with Dr. Cooley. I assure you that you will be very pleased with the work that he and his team will do for you and your time spent there. It sounds like your getting a very good deal on pricing. Better than what I got. I am one of those scheduled in front of you with Dr. Cooley on Dec. 8th. for my second procedure of 2500 grafts with him. I had 2500 grafts the first time and am most pleased with the results that I got from those. You can expect a very long day when you have it done. On the day I had my first one, Dr. Cooley picked me up at my hotel at 8:00am and dropped me back off at 9:00pm for a total of 13 hours. He is very meticulous at how he places each graft and takes his time. It is very much worth it as you will be very pleased with the results. Good luck and keep us posted on your progress. Nashville Kat

Trachound, Don't worry, You won't feel a thing. My Dr. Gave me a shot and the next thing I remember is sitting back up and starting the placement of the grafts. Don't remember a thing!! Don't worry it's not that big of a deal and you have a excellent Doctor. Nashville Kat.

Well, I finally got my schedule straightened out for the next month and have bitten the bullet so to speak and have scheduled my second HT with Dr. Cooley on Dec. 8th. 2005. This will put me just short of 11 months since my first. The transformation has been truly remarkable and I'm really looking forward to getting this one done. Except of course for the waiting part. I'm scheduled right now for another 2500 grafts to fill in the crown where I have had nothing done so far, and the rest in the front and hairline to fill it in a little better. I'll get Dr. Cooley to take some before pictures which will also be my 11 month after the 1st. procedure shots and post them when I get back so that those that want to see can do so. I'm really pleased at my results so far at 10 months compared to where I started last January and believe that Dr. Cooley did such a good job for me that he deserves to get to finish the project he started. I'll keep you all posted as to my progress. Nashville Kat

Hair Apparent, Glad to hear your consult went well and you have a plan of attack. I was hoping that by luck we might end up there at the same time. Guess not. I spoke with Aileen today and booked mine for Dec. 8th for another 2500 grafts. Hopefully this will give me enough that I will be finished at least for several years. Good luck on yours and I'll keep you posted on how mine goes. Nashville Kat

WHAT DOWN SIDE!!!!! THAT'S NOT A DOWN SIDE THAT'S A UP SIDE!!!!

Underrepair, Dr. Cooley also suggested waiting 1 year but say's you can move on with a second HT earlier. I think the answer he gave me was to wait as close to a year as I could just so that you can see exactly what growth you got from the first one and to allow for complete healing and reduced trama. I'm almost at 10 months now and I'm considering a second HT between now and the end of the year depending on Dr. Cooley's schedule. Nashville Kat

Not_A_Cyclone You are experiencing the EXACT same thing that everyone else does. The waiting is by far the hardest part of the whole deal. Don't stress my friend and just try to get your mind off of it and think about something pleasant. Growing hair is kind of like watching grass grow. The harder you watch it the slower it grows. Even when it starts growing it's still growing hair and it takes time. My suggestion is to set your sights on something you plan to do in six or seven months from now and think about how different you will look then. Killin time will kill ya if you think about it all the time. Happy growing! you don't have long to go! Nashville Kat

Billydett, You really won't notice much difference at three months but it will start coming on stronger in months 4 thru 8. By then you should notice a big difference depending on how much hair you had moved. Good luck and patience is a virtue!! Nashville Kat

ASDS, Dr Rose has a terrific reputation and I'm sure you will find him to be a excellent choice. Good luck!! Nashville Kat

Thanks Hair Apparent, Mine just keeps getting better to this point but as I just posted on your thread, I'm considering going back for more before Christmas if scheduling permits. My crown is still pretty thin but we did not move any hair to there in my first HT. That plan has worked well for me so far and I'm glad I made that choice. I'm really looking forward to you getting your second done and seeing the results. It is tough to come up with the funds but it's a must after you get a little taste of hair again!! I know you feel the same and I really wish you luck. Dr. Cooley will get you there this time moving that much hair. It will be HUGE!!!! Good luck my friend and maybe I'll see you in Charlotte!! Nashville Kat

Hair Apparent, Great new's!!!!! I know your ready to get it finished. I am also contimplating going ahead with my second HT between now and Christmas but have not had time to get in touch with Dr. Cooley's office yet to check his availability. My schedule is slammed right now also and that might be a problem for me between now and then. Get Dr. Cooley to take some photo's of your noggin and let's see where your going with this. Obviously your going for the brushy Bill look this time with 3500 grafts. Man I think that's great!!!!! Keep us posted!!

Gorpy, Excellent looking hairline that you will be pleased with beyond your expectations. The next few months will seem to take a few years but it is well worth it. PLEASE keep posting photo's as you progress so that we can all see how it grows out. I think it looks like you got a outstanding job done and you will be very happy 8-10 months from now. The worst part is waiting!!! Just be patient. Happy growing!!! Nashville Kat

PB, I've never really tried to hide the fact that I had a transplant done. Hell I was damn near bald to begin with so there wasn't really any hiding it. The people that haven't seen me in a long time can't tell what's different but most that are around me alot know I had it done and are very supportive and can't believe the change it made. I guess everybody looks at it differently but I was kinda proud that I was actually able to get something done that has had such a dramatic change on my looks and self confidence. Using this name, Thanks. I'll try to update with some new pictures before to long. Nashville Kat

I'm now at 8 months and have had considerable thickening in the last month. It just keeps getting better!!! For all that can't make up their mind about a HT. Just do it!!! I had the same thoughts and for the first 3-4 months after the surgery I wondered if I had made the right decision. I don't wonder any more. All the time and money was worth it. I would encourage anyone considering it to do your research and pick a top notch Doctor and don't be one of these guy's that are mad afterwards that they got a crappy job or even made worse. There are people right here on this site that got great advice but did not listen to it and are now bitching that they are disappointed with their results. I say, You should have listened to what you were told. If someone on this site gives you bad advice, there will be 10 of us to correct them with the right advice. You just have to listen to it. There are alot of highly qualified and skilled Doctors that you can find the info you need right here on this site and get a top notch job that no one can tell you had done. Like I said, do the research then just do it!!! Nashville Kat

You have found what is truly great about this network. Sound advice backed up with real life experiences. You will be thrilled with the results that you will get with Dr. Shapiro and I think he gave you wise counsel on breaking your treatment program down into 2 surgeries. This will work best for you and you will end up with a more overall pleasing look that way. Good luck and keep us posted as you go. Nashville Kat

Brando, Great pics. You have to be thrilled with that look. I'm just now eight nonths out with a 2500fu procedure with Dr. Cooley and I'm thrilled too. He is a master of his trade and I'm sure time will only make him better. Again, Excellent result!!! Nashville Kat

Hair Apparent, It's great to hear how far you have come. I've just hit the 8th month and I've had quite a bit of thickening in the last month and I'm really looking forward to the next few months. It's a HUGE difference!! I have to agree with you 100% that Dr. Cooley is a master of his profession and he will be my choice again when I get ready for more work. I had the best compliment of all yesterday from someone I had not seen for about a year. Last time I saw them I was nearly bald. They could not believe that my hair was transplanted and said they could not tell that it was not what god put there. By the way, this was a girl and she asked for Dr. Cooley's number because she had lost some hair from a surgery and wanted it fixed and was impressed enough with my work that she wanted the same Dr. I'm having cool things like this happen all the time as I'm sure you are. By the way, when you gonna drop a few more bucks and get the rest done? If your like me I know your anxious to get it finished. Great to hear your doing well and I would still like to see your photos sometime Nashville Kat

Artiste, I just replied to your private message. I don't mind at all if you post here though. The things we have been discussing by private message, are good questions and answers for posting here so that all like you in your position can get the same info. The down side to it is that I don't alway's get back to the forum as often to give you answers. Call me and we can discuss meeting so you can look for yourself. Maybe Robert can give you better answers on the private messaging. He can also give you his take on Dr. Cooley. He is one of his patients also. Nashville Kat

Artiste, Pick your best choice of Doctor for you. There are alot of things to look at other than how close they are to you or how much it costs.This is no time to be worried about a few hundred dollars. You only get one shot and then your stuck with it. This in my mind is way down the list!! The Doctors staff experience, facilities, microscopes, techniques, and the Doctors artistic ability among others. The round trip plane ticket was only about $200 and well worth it. Dr. Cooley took care of my hotel room and cab fee so it actually cost about the same or less to go there. I feel I made the best choice for me and would do the same again. Nashville Kat.

Zerro, Thanks for the kind comments. I had a unusually large percentage of grafts that did not shed. I really did not notice much growth though until about months 4 thru 6 with months 6 and 7 being the best with it still getting fuller all the time now. The phase that you are in was the most discouraging for me. It seems as if nothings happening and you wasted your money and went through all that for nothing. Then one day you look in the mirror and start to see a difference then it sort of blossoms from there. Just hang in there brother, your on your way and have made it thru the worst part. Nashville Kat

PB, Thanks for the kind comments. I agree with you. I personally felt better about myself 12 hours post op and it has just gotten better from there. As you said, I had very little redness and that went away very quickly. I just turned 46. Nashville Kat

Thanks for the kind words guy's. I just saw JacobS and his results and I'm a little jealous. I'm just now to the point where he started. I hope to have a simular look to his after my 2nd HT and end up with the same great results that he did. Like I said I opted, based on what I started with, to have some coverage all the way back to the crown instead of attacking the hairline all at one time. I 'm still glad I made that decision and really look forward to finishing the hairline and filling in. Nashville Kat