LaserCap

It depends on what side you're on. Clinic wise, particularly in the old days, 4 months. The whole idea was to have both procedures growing at the same time to yield the biggest result in the shortest amount of time. The 4 months allowed for the first set of grafts to break the skin. The doctor could then see the result of the first procedure and have an idea where to put the second set. Now-a-days you don't see this any more. Best is to allow the area to heal and gain elasticity. 12 months seems to be the norm. There are exceptions to this. If the grafts are going to be harvested from a new area, or if FUE is going to be used as elasticity is not affected. I also agree it is best to exhaust FUT first. Ultimately a patient could put FUE grafts on the scar to break down and help camouflage.

There are so many misconceptions about medical therapy, it's worth visiting once more. Nothing out there regrows hair. Nothing. What it can do is to help you retain. So, of you look the same a year later, the medication did what it was intended to do. From time to time there can be enhancement. That's what gives the visual improvement. There are two types of loss. The one you see and the one you don't. The type you see, on the shower, the pillow, etc is shedding. The follicle gets tired of producing hair and it takes a vacation. That resting period typically lasts 3-4 months and then returns. This will happen randomly, to all the hair in your head. Hair loss is different. You don't see hair loss. To to the bathroom and turn on all lights. Look at the hair on your hairline, particular the temporal areas. Look at the hair caliber of each strand. You'll notice some are thicker than others. There are some so fine you can't hardly see them. We call this miniaturization. Eventually the hair withers, dissipates and disappears.The time to be on meds is before the hair is gone. Do you have to be on the meds forever? Yes, unless you don't care about hair any more. So say you get on the meds. 7 years later you decide to take it no more. All the hair you would have lost in that time period will be lost. This is a commitment you're making. Getting on and off is just a waste of time and money. It's been known MInoxidil will help for about 7 years and then it loses some of its efficacy. Just continue using as if you were starting on day 1. You may even decide to combine it with other modalities. Please post photos. I have another concern. I'm wondering if your case involves thinning of the donor.

Sounds like the money aspect of this is weighing on you. If that's the case, I would wait. You seem to be OK with your current situation but it would be nice if you could reinforce the hairline......What about the rest of your head? Sounds as if you're experiencing diffused thinning. My suggestion is to continue medical therapy. Propecia, Rogaine, PRP and Laser are the modalities we typically refer to when dealing with this condition. It's been documented there is synergism when used simultaneously. So I would encourage you to do as many as you can. Give it a good year and reassess.You may be able to accomplish what you set out to do without having to worry about traveling and all that. With regards to taking meds daily. Think of the millions of people with high blood pressure. If you don't control it it can kill you. I would think of it as the hair vitamin and start thinking it will have a positive effect. During that time put your pennies away. Is a doctor following your case? Do a couple of consultations and see what you're told. You may become aware of other alternatives you had not considered.

Finish your front. Add PRP at the time of the procedure. This can help bring in the results a lot sooner. It can also help reverse miniaturization and may help improve the crown. Once happy, go ahead and tackle the back. Do as many grafts as you can afford and keep in mind it might take 2-3 procedures to achieve density. Keep in mind this is the weakest point we all share so it does not have to be super full. It may then start looking like a hair piece.

You're crazy. Investigate PRP and laser combination. Some people would die to have the hair you have. Leave it alone. When you say "it is getting worse," what do you mean? Are you seeing a lot of hair in the tub, pillow?

You just had surgery! All of what you're experiencing is to be expected. My post experience was similar to yours. Wait until the sutures are removed, you'll feel better. I would encourage you, if possible, to return to the clinic for a wash. That will also help. Please avoid any weightlifting exercises that involve pulling on the neck for a good year. Push-ups are OK as well as leg presses. This can lead to a stretched scar.

The age is not the issue. There are many factors why you should wait until a few things happen. Let me get into it. Regardless of age, there are commonalities we all share. The most important to discuss, give your question, are the crown and the donor. The crown is the weakest point. Why, you might ask? Because there is a point from where the hair grows. The hair then grows away from the point and in a swirl. We refer to it as the whirl. So, get a piece of paper and draw a point. Draw lines through the point as to form a cross and think of this as the result of procedure one. Turn the paper to the left or the right only slightly and draw another cross intersecting the point. That represents procedure 2. The point is, it would take tons of grafts to fill in the crown. 1800 grafts is a drop in a bucket and you'll see little to no change. What a waste. The worse thing is, you just used a percentage of the donor which is lost and will never return. Now suppose you lose all the hair front and have no donor to fix it with? I wish we had a barrel full of grafts that we could just return to. Unfortunately we don't. The donor is limited and you should treat it like gold. So, the rule, in my view and that of many others, is to concentrate on the front until you're happy. It is important to recognize it is the front people see when you interact with them. It is also the area you see when looking in the mirror. Can you then do the back? Sure, but. If you've shown the propensity to lose, this will continue. Are you doing any type of medical therapy to help you with retention? Propecia, Rogaine, Laser and PRP are the modalities we typically discuss when dealing with this debilitating condition. And, when used together, there can be synergism. Get on them and wait a year to see what they can do. If a year later you look the same or better, then, (and you're happy with the front), you can tackle the crown. Keep in mind, once you start the meds stay on them, otherwise you'll just resume losing hair.

Could be coincidental. Go to your PCP and do a full panel.

How shallow. Sorry you had to go through that. Perhaps it intensified your "hair" stress level - which ended up causing more loss. Hopefully you started a medical regimen. How are you know?

As I read this particular post it reminds me of how complicated and involved this procedure truly is. It all starts with the initial consultation. "My first procedure turned out sparse and uneven." This tells me the doctor placed a small number of grafts in a large area. When everything grows in the result are very sparse. This means you'll never go completely bald, but it would leave a very unnatural look. Best is to concentrate grafts in one area so they make an impact. Hopefully he did not make the same mistake on the 2nd. Start taking photos and go to your scheduled visits. Give this a full year and then have a conversation with the doctor if need be.

After 7 procedures I can tell you - laxity will return. When did you have the procedure done? Tightness is always felt right the day after since the sutures are in. This feeling kind of goes away after the stitches are removed. With time things laxity improves. But this is a bit more serious, specially at the beginning. For a year... please, avoid any exercises involving the neck area.This will result in wider scars. Push-ups, if need be, are great and will not put pressure on the area. Do leg presses, etc. How did the first scar heal? Was the scar excised during the 2nd? Or was it an extension of the first? How do you typically heal? Wound physiology is mostly at play. Can you post some photos?

A couple things, If you've shown the propensity to lose, this will continue. Propecia, Rogaine, Laser and PRP are the modalities we typically discuss when dealing with this debilitating condition. Within a 4-6 weeks it is likely you'll experience retention. Enhancement, if you are going to have any, typically takes 1 year. The premise behind the meds, there is synergism when used simultaneously. Be mindful, people tend to be very visual creatures. If there is a visual difference, the meds work. If you see no change, the meds did nothing. This is incorrect. The medications are intended for you to keep what you have. So, if I year later you look the same or better, the meds did what they were supposed to do. Better? What does that mean. There can be enhancement of the hair as nothing out there regrows hair. There are two types of loss, the one you see and the one you don't. The follicle gets tired of producing hair and takes a vacation. The hair sheds and the follicle goes dormant for 3-4 months. That hair will then start going through the cycle again. This will happen at different intervals to all the hair in your head, throughout your life. We refer to this as shedding. Hair loss is different. Under a bright light look at the hair in your temporal areas. You'll notice the shafts of each strand. Some thick and some not so much so. Some are even so thin you can hardly see them. We refer to this as miniaturization. Eventually the follicle withers and disappears. The key is to get on meds before the follicle is lost. There is plenty of printed material with regards to Propecia. The recommended dose is 1 mg per day. Take it as suggested. This has to do with the time the med is in your system. Try to use more than one modality and stay on it. Getting on and off meds is just a waste of time and money. Take photos every 3-4 months to keep record of your achievements.

It works so I use it. It's contributed to the overall density. The key is to be consistent. 30 minutes every other day. My suggestion is to take photos every 3-4 months so you can remember otherwise you'll lose interest fast.

What meds are you on? In the medical world it's been known that 2 + 2 = 6. There is synergism when used simultaneously. I would encourage you to add Rogaine, Laser and perhaps even PRP. Give that a year. 3-500 grafts is NOT going to do anything for you. Consider 3-500 grafts is an eyebrow's worth of grafts. And, unlike the front and mid-scalp. the hair grown in a different fashion. We all share a whirl in the crown. This is the reason why it is the weakest point. The hair grows away from the point. Many procedures are required to achieve density. To fill it? 2 procedures of 800-1000 grafts at this point. A total waste of grafts in my view. It is important to understand, if you've shown the propensity to lose, you'll continue losing. If meds have been effective, stay on track. If you ever lose hair in the front and top, you'll have plenty of donor to address the issue. And, at that point, you'll care less about the crown. Keep in mind it is the front you see when looking in the mirror and the area others see when they interact with you.

Odd question. I'll tell you what I think. I find most people find the subject confusing as there are knock offs of knock offs. And the industry does not help either. The laser comb got the first FDA approval. All other units, regardless of efficacy, are FDA cleared. Thus, nothing else can ever be approved. Does that mean the laser comb is better? Not necessarily. For sure it is more time consuming. But as humans, we want it easy, so the caps finally arrived. Now I've even seen 12 minutes? Ridiculous? The cap I use is LaserCap. There are studies available and carries a lifetime guarantee. It is by prescription only. It truly fits under a cap and works for me. Now, ask someone else and see what they say..........