kirkland

SMP does have its limitations: you have to maintain the length of the native hair to match the SMP which usually requires shaving the head every 1-3 days; not all SMP providers are equal - some are simply going to provide better results than others; not all pigments are created equal - some are permanent and might discolor over time while all pigments (permanent and non-permanent) will fade over time; the illusion tends to look better on those less hair-to-skin contrast (ie, dark skin/dark hair) and with lower degrees of hairloss. For FUT scarring, it can truly be positively impactful.

A Robertson is the best and it's no contest!

As I have stated in a recent post, I had SMP done 5.5 years ago with the Milena Lardi pigments. Part of the treated area was removed by laser but the remaining pigment is still visible. If the immune system is meant to remove the pigments naturally in the timeline that Milena Lardi claims, I don't believe it.

I would say yes but not on the timeline that SMP providers often suggest.

I noticed the redness about one day after the treatment.

The top shot is the result right after being done. The second shot is a few weeks ago. Lighting is dark but you can still see the outline of the SMP in the hairline. Back towards the crown is where the SMP pigment still resides.

I don't want to dissuade you from doing the treatment. For many, it seems they are satisfied with the results. All I can offer is a cautionary tale of my own experiences and why, if I could choose it all over again, I wouldn't go with SMP. I did it 5+ years ago but, ultimately, I both didn't like the upkeep (shaving every other day) and there was a persistent redness under the treatment that made me feel too conscious. I ended up wearing hats most of the time even though the treatment was meant to give me freedom from them. 2 years + ago, I had most of it removed by laser. I say 'most' because the SMP tech had inked into my native hair area to help create a better blend but the laser tech didn't want to treat that area for fear of damaging the native hair. After the laser treatment, instead of dark pigmented dots, there was now a scarlet-red blush in the shape of the treatment area. It's only been in the last few months that I feel comfortable going out without a hat. There is still a faint outline of the treatment visible but it is fading. The inked area that was not treated by laser is still pigmented but it, too, is fading. If you are prone to redness, you want to proceed with caution. SMP requires regular shaving in order to maintain the illusion so be prepared for the upkeep.

The needle was set to a maximum of 0.5 mm and, yes, I did have the procedure done in the U.S. It was a Milena Lardi-trained system.

Sorry to hear about your first procedure. Seems like your ended up with decent results after your second procedure but we can only see the frontal hairline from your videos. Would be helpful to have a full 360 degree shot of your head plus a top-down view.

Abhinay, Was this surgery done over two days? I would assume it was.

You are just restoring a hairline so between the two options provided, Rahal is the better choice. I don't think Dr. Jones does really good hairlines. In Toronto, those are the two more well-known names in hair restoration but as @JohnAC71 stated, you should really consider H&W as a third option. They do have a rep in Toronto you can meet with and at least get another quote.

That's a homerun if I were the patient. Single megasession, near-full coverage. Truly transformative.

Tricopigmentation is the temporary version of SMP. Anyone who claims that it fades completely away in 2-3 years is not being honest. I had trico done over 5 years ago and, while the pigmentation has faded, it is still present and very much visible on my scalp. If you are considering the treatment, please know that there are risks involved. For one, as mentioned, the ink does not fade away in a few years. It could very much remain visible for many years. You could have a laser treatment to remove it but that also comes with a risk as lasers, if not done correctly, can damage the dermis and native hair. In addition, your skin type could react negatively to SMP. If you are fair skinned and prone to redness, you could develop Post-Inflammatory Erythema (PIE) in the areas that were treated. This leaves a red 'blush' due to the trauma of the treatment itself. That blush may never completely fade. I have been in contact with at least two other people who had SMP and developed PIE (including myself). The common factor was skin type.

I'm being told by my Eugenix contact that a medical visa may be a way to work around the lockdown for international travelers.

I have surgery booked with Eugenix at the end of October. My current plan is to still go ahead with the surgery but India is closed to international travellers until the end of September and I am coming from Canada. Now I am being asked if I can arrange a medical visa from my consulate. I don't know what this means. Can anyone provide some help?

There are still international flight restrictions until the end of September. And, yes, I could use your help about finding the best way from the airport to Eugenix. Should I take a taxi, public transportation?

Well congrats in getting into Eugenix - excellent choice! Can I assume you are a domestic client? I have my appointment booked at the end of October but India's lockdown until at least the end of this month may frustrate these plans as I will be coming from Canada. It's natural to be nervous going into surgery but I wish you Godspeed in your recovery.

Interesting. Wonder if they are signalling molecules which is necessary for the various cells to communicate and grow hair. Maybe they are overexpressed in skin anomalies like moles.

IIRC, it was $4 CAD per graft

I did some basic research into S Korean HT docs about 2 years ago since my wife is Korean (Canadian). Dr. Jino Kim, in Seoul, runs the New Hair Institute, named after the same one out of Los Angeles by Dr. Rassman. Dr. Kim was trained by Dr. Rassman. Prices are, indeed, in the range between the better clinics in Turkey and North American clinics.

You're as likely to care about your appearance at 40, 50, even 60 in this looks- obsessed culture.

The donor area looks virtually untouched. Solid work.

I think this is a good thread topic. I'm interested in hearing from forum members if their HT boosted their confidence. When I did SMP over 5 years ago, I was certain that it would turn a corner for my confidence but it didn't. It looked unnatural and made me hide my scalp more than before.

You're correct in saying that he has a fine hair caliber. He might also have lesser numbers of multiple hair grafts than average which could account for the thinner look. However, it is difficult to say how much improvement is demonstrated from the before and after pics given that his hair is quite short in the before pics compared to his 2-year pics. Also, his hairline is still poorly designed, if designed at all. Ultimately, if the client is happy, it doesn't matter my opinion. I just think that it's an odd choice by Dr. Wesley's clinic to showcase this particular outcome.

Is there a mistake here? Did the clinic send the wrong 'after' photos? Personally, I would be disappointed with these results. The hairline is ill-defined, the density does not seem to reflect the high number of grafts. This result would not entice me to consider this clinic.