Slush

I randomly signed in here and just so happens you bumped this thread yesterday. Funny coincidence!

7-years later and I have no regrets. Not much has changed. I'm very pleased with how my face is framed.  Every morning when I do my hair I think about the transplant, usually it's just a moment. I'm very pleased. 

I do find myself wanting to hide the transplant scar. Dr. Alexander's work is phenomenal, but when my hair is cut too short I have a pencil line or a "hat" line and minor shock loss that is detectable. This translates to some angst every time I get a haircut, as I do like to cut short (#2). I also do want another transplant, but I don't want to go through the long process of recovery. My career is now very public, so I can't conceal like I did many years ago. 

I think about taking a month off for FUE in the crown and front denisty additions, but now that I'm in my 40s I care less than i once did. What I may end up doing is SMP to help conceal the shock loss around the scar. (Just starting to think SMP. Needs more research.)

In all, I am very happy. Since I may not do another transplant, I would have been fine with FUE. Still absolutely love the work Dr. Alexander did. 

3 years ago I started topical minoxidil & finasteride. 

Hi everyone, 

Dr. Alexander and Spex were in Los Angeles today so I had the opportunity to meet with them face to face. After my last post I had a Skype session with Dr. Alexander, but pictures are limiting, especially with fine hair like mine. Lighting makes a huge impact. 

I met with Dr. Alexander again because I am pleased with his work. His strip scar work was phenomenal and my frontal third looks natural, so if I do ever decide to proceed with another procedure he'll undoubtedly be whom I trust! The questions I had today was whether the doctor and Spex recommended further density added to the front, to handle the crown, or perhaps live as is. (Dr. Alexander will actually tell you if no procedure is best.) 

After inspection in person, both concluded that my frontal third looked quite good and natural for my profile/genetics/etc. The consensus was to do a one-and-done FUT on the crown. The doctor felt I had minimal risk to the mid/bridge section if maintained properly. Note that this is different than the previous pictures seemed to reveal. (Great news!) Spex went as far as saying I had a LOT of hair in that area. Whew! 

Now that I have more data I'll consider my options. I was concerned another procedure would lead me to the "chase", but Dr. Alexander and Spex both felt crown attention may be my final unless technology really progresses in the future and i kept at proper maintenance (even without fin). I however dread the idea of another strip procedure recovery, just because of the cosmetic strain involved. I was reassured the second time around is easier, and I can actually envision that based on experience and surgery location. 

No pictures as things are the same as before except some more gradual loss in the crown. 

And lastly... 

I can absolutely confirm that Spex's hair looks incredible in person.

Please keep us posted. Take a look at my links as well, as you may feel the condition is similar. I did FUT to leave open the option of more grafts down the line. It absolutely was not an easy decision, but I TRUSTED the work of Dr. Alexander, and the scar I have left is extremely difficult to detect.

Body hair is something I think about. Chest hair is different color/texturr for me though, but maybe...

Very true, Spex. While I tried to manage expectations, I still hoped for better frontal third density. Dr. Alexander tried to make the frontal third a "one and done", And now I'm wondering if density can be added. Should I accept this as it is? I know donor region is very limited, especially since I don't want to do FUT again.

Spex, what do you suggest I do next?

I managed expectations well going in. Hopefully my pics will help those with more sever hair loss like myself. Honestly, I didn't realize my hair loss was so severe until I just looked back. It's easy for you mind to revert back to previous hair stages.

I can say that I am happy to have more hair (you know what I mean, the appearance of!), it looks natural, I look younger, and depending on angles/light it looks even thicker. I definitely don't regret my decision, I just want MORE! The scar is extremely minimal, which speaks volumes to Dr. Alexander!

Additional comparison pics added to help the community.

The above pictures were with wet hair. I found some dry hair pictures with a little longer hair. This was March 20, so 2-3 weeks before the haircut pics in the previous pics. It shows how much lighting, dry hair, and more recent styling helps (it's kind of an illusion).

Hi everyone, there pics were after my last haircut. It's about 3weeks old. My career has taken off in major ways, so much apologies on the delay.

I'm at 14 months. Here are my thoughts:

- When I look in the mirror I absolutely feel happy with my decision. Real life seems to look better than pictures. Perhaps it's perception, angle, or being more judgemental?

- Knowing that the density I have is probably all I'll get, I am wishing for more. I feel the transplant area looks quite "thin", but absolutely better than before HT. I am wondering what options I have going forward.

- i did opt to not take Propecia, and perhaps that's why my hair doesn't have me fully satisfied. I accepted thinner hair without hormone alternation. Personal choice that was the lesser of two evils for me.

- I don regret FUT. The scar is basically undetectable. Dr Alexander did great. With that being said, any future HT, if I go that route, will not be FUT. I don't want to go through that again, and I think I have lucked out on the minimal scar. Repeating the process would mean tighter scalp skin and potential a worse scar.

- I do plan to meet with the doctor virtually soon to discuss progress and status.

I'll post pics after my next haircut. It's when it looks best.

Thank you! Just passed Month 8. Still time for improvement!

Hey guys! I'm nearly to month 8! I got a haircut today so my hair looks it's best. Keep that in mind for those considering a HT. It's combed and cut short, so it looks fuller. It still looks very thin/spotty when I don't comb it frequently. It's part of the illusion, at least at this point.

I'm finally at a "normal" haircut. It is at a #3 with a fade to the top. The lady who cuts my hair can only spot a few pink parts on the scar. She says #2 will definitely happen soon. Most on this forum have said #2 isn't possible, so that's telling of Dr. Alexander's work.

6-month comparison

I'm a week early of the 6-month mark but I had time tonight to take pics and post. I tried something a little different, I combed my hair before taking pictures, and I took them in the bathroom which has a little more forgiving light. I didn't snap any of the donor area because I want to wait on that until my next haircut.

You guys can judge, but it's coming in. Looking at my pictures I see I definitely still have a large forehead (or five head as my dad called it), but I think that just shows that Dr. Alexander matched my original hairline well. A couple things to note:

1) my mentor through my 20s saw me on Friday. (I'm 35.) We had lost touch when I switched companies and went through a divorce. He came out and said, "man, you haven't aged at all!" He also commented that he liked my beard, which was hilarious because I've had it for years now. I think he noticed something was different, but couldn't peg it. I last worked for him at 29.

2) a woman at the brewery was trying to guess my age and that of a buddy. While she may have been simply nice, but perhaps not, she guessed no older than 30.

I do credit a huge amount of looking younger to less stress these days, but I have ALWAYS looked older, and I have ALWAYS been balding. For the first time in my life I have hair that looks more in tune with my age. I think this is part of what I'm experiencing.

Wow, that's incredible! Your growth looks ahead of me and I saw Dr. Alexander a month before you did. I'm very impressed. Keep us in the loop!

It looks great! I really appreciate your breakdown of months 3-6-9. I'm nearly at 6 and feel the same

I'd love to see the donor region. How short can you cut your hair in the donor region?

Growing nicely!

As discussed earlier in this thread, my FUT was just before yours. Our progress is very similar in HT growth. I imagine I know how you feel - in the right light it looks quite nice, and in the wrong light it leaves a lot to be desired. I've found that shorter hair helps the look, which is a challenge right now while my scar lightens.

Thanks for the update!

Thanks everyone. I have got a couple PM requests for an update. I'm at 5 months.

I am noticing that light is everything. In the right light (not direct), my hair looks pretty full. I'll occasionally glance in the rear view mirror and get that accidental look and think, "oh yeah, I like seeing hair there!" Then, as you'll see in the direct light pics,it can look very thin and sparse. It's still early and I'm optimistic.

Lastly, finding the right person to cut your hair and work with the scar is big. I just noticed taking these pics that my scar was visible today. I need to take more effort to comb the hair on the side of my head to cover. Lesson learned. I'm told the scar is lightening.

Let me know your thoughts! Remember, some are in flattering lighting, others are not.

16-week Status

Under varying light. So far so good!

I forgot to mention that my experiment with finasteride has finished. I lasted a month or so on M/W/F doses of 0.25mg. I didn't experience side effects. I went to my Optometrist and we got on the discussion of hair. I forgot that last year I told him about minoxidil. He started using it with success. Our conversation eventually went to finasteride. He said he was on 1mg a day for nearly a year. After about 6 months he noticed that his libido was non-existent. He said when he looked at attractive women he just felt numb, immune to caring. (This probably doesn't seem so bad since he is married with a baby.) He eventually stopped finasteride. I asked when he felt he returned to normal, his response was, "I haven't. Maybe it's because I'm in my 40's now, but it coincided with my finasteride use."

We've all read the studies, internet horror stories, the FDA data (2% etc), but hearing this story directly was impactful. He didn't seem emotionally harmed by it, but stated his experience as matter of fact. He tried it, had a reaction, and is living with the result. While I was leaning this direction anyway, hearing a first hand unfortunate story gave me the final push to make up my mind, the risk just isn't worth the reward. I want my hair badly enough that I'll undergo the knife, spend 5-figures to see a wonderful surgeon, but I will not proceed with any medication that may (but likely not) have serious side effects. For those that take finasteride, rock it, the data is in your favor. The benefits of more hair on your head and less body hair are extremely attractive. I understand, but it's not for me.

I would love to see pictures too. I couldn't find any on the blog link in the signature.

3-Month Update (Wow time flies!!)

We're told that HT won't grow until months 4-6 or later. It looks like it's mostly true, but I have a good 100+ transplanted hairs growing already. In fact a couple friends mentioned to me. They knew about the HT so they've been monitoring. So save these few pieces, I'm patiently waiting for growth.

When my hair was longer and needed a cut, the donor scar was disguised big time. No sign of it. I went to my hair guy and he tried a blend for me. A #1.5-2 below the scar, and a hand trim above it. I liked the idea, but my head just wasn't ready for it. It's resulted in a little odd haircut, but nobody really cares. Once the scar fades more and the shock loss returns, this option may work. Unfortunately I think it made the scar more noticable.

Pic 1: hair before transplant and now. You can see the minor growth in HT.

Pic 2: Donor Area after Haircut

Pic 3: messy donor area before haircut

Thanks.

I am about 1.5 days shy of 9 weeks. After not really looking for a couple weeks, I decided to snap some pics. I wasn't expecting much, but I know the curiosity many have here on how they may progress following a HT.

Pic 1: white area is the transplant region. Zoomed in black areas are where I do not believe I had any terminal hair prior to the HT. The darker hair there is presumably new growth. The area between the black region did have some native hair, and it looks even thinner now perhaps due to shock loss. This is noteworthy because I do believe I have a handful of follicles growing already.

Pic 2: in the right light this area (left side of recipient region) appears pretty lush, but I believe this is simply vellus hair regrowth thanks to minoxidil. I had this before the HT, but it's mostly undetectable. This pic is noteworthy because many think a HT will kill existing follicles. This indicates my native follicles that had miniturized and nearly died may have survived, albeit in life support condition. While I wish these were transplanted hairs, I doubt it. Dr. Alexander called this "ground cover". I'll take it!

LSUTiger, I'd love to see pics!

My girlfriend says the scar is only visible because it's red. Dr. Alexander explained the healing process and this is normal. I'm sure it'll fade. I think it's only visible, like speegs said, when under very major scrutiny. The concern for me all along was how to have a normal looking haircut due to what was shaved and shock loss. Being a white collar professional, with major interviews and customer meetings, I have had to keep up a good appearance. It is a relief now that despite not being 100% back to normal look, I'm essentially there.

I have seen many videos from Dr. Alexander's​ patients that have good regrowth by month 4. Perhaps the exception, but I do believe ACEL helps. I am seeing some indications of growth, which I am happy about. Just recently I've had acne pop up in the recipient area, and from what I understand this is positive as it indicates hair is trying to push through the surface.

My Christmas pics should sport a great hairline, but I'm hoping my summer lake pictures have a "good" one. Crossing fingers!

Week 8

Some transplanted hair continues to sprout, but it's pretty sparse. Seen in the right light, I have significant vellus hair, but I am pretty sure this is what I had before the HT and not transplanted follicles. My "frontal patch" that was shaved appears to be nearly back to normal. The shaved crown region still looks goofy but I honestly don't think anybody notices it. No more concealers... The donor region looks better after my second haircut. I don't think anybody notices it anymore either.

Slow going so no reason for pics. I'm at the point where I don't look every day. I wash, apply my minoxidil, push the hair down, and move on with my day. It'll get there.

Good luck! Eager to see the results.

Very impressive looking. Good luck!

Hi everyone, tomorrow is Week 7. This stage is boring and frustrating. I've found myself feeling less euphoric about my HT, and instead fatigued by it. I am tired of waiting for my head to return to pre-surgery look. I'm told the scar is barely visible, but I see it. I'm more self conscious now than I was before the surgery. I still expect a great result, it's just this stage is not fun at all. I'm expecting great results, anything less than fast growth and I'll be disappointed. I probably should dial back expectations. In the short term I'll be happy with regrowth of native hair.

Anyway.... On to actual status.

Shedding has been gone since the week 3 period. Regrowth has been minor, but I am still seeing some sprouts. I have abandoned the use of concealers and just favor a hat outside of work. Vellus hairs are popping up like crazy on the hairline thanks to minoxidil (pic 2 shows quite a bit). I have had some annoying acne on the crown transplant region, but it seems to be subsiding now Overall, not much to really report physically. This is the emotional stretch....

I have started 0.25mg of Fin M/W/F.