LaserCap

Totally agree. Some use very little per time, more frequently, and some use a lot more, less frequently. Many doctors are coming into the arena not really knowing what exactly to do. Those will typically fail. Where are they getting their info? Probably from the supplier. And there are many. Give them a year to confirm that their work did not produce results and they'll be out of the picture. Unfortunately it is the patient that suffers in the end. But this does bring a point. For those that know what they are doing.....Is it their responsibility to teach others? Is it such a secret that no one wants to share for the sake of making more money? Perhaps. You would think that the ISHRS would get involved and concentrate a day or two on this specific subject. What works, what doesn't. We'll see.

A lot of common sense in what you wrote. Currently, Propecia, Rogaine, laser and PRP are the only FDA approved/released modalities currently being discussed by most practitioners when it comes to hair loss. There are tons of other things out there that people swear by. Like I tell people, if they work for you, continue using them. Most, if not all of the "modalities" out there that can help with retention, do work in different ways and are thus synergistic when used simultaneously. Most believe it takes about 1 year to see what these meds will do. So create a baseline. Take tons of photos and repeat every 3-6 months. In one year you will have a decent idea if the loss has slowed down, stopped, or you are reversing the thinning. Chances101 did ask - why aren't you a candidate for transplants? Are you experiencing global thinning?

You should add a laser. This tends to work great along the PRP. Ask the doctor.

Your results look uniform. I think you are right, you may have gone on to lose more native hair. Had it not been for the transplants, you would be in worse shape. Now, the question becomes, is the native hair still there? Why not go on a medical regimen, (Propecia, Rogaine, PRP, Laser), and do it for a good year. Take good photos and see what happens. Worse case scenario, you lose a year. Bet to say you may return to have as close a density as to what you had 5 months post op.

It seems that your hair is rather short and the contrast between the color of the hair and the color of the skin is not helping. Not sure about Finasteride. You are in a better position to answer that. Let me explain. Why did you decide to start the med? Were you thinning? Who put you on it? If you were not thinning and started the med, the question then becomes what loss would you have had - had you not started the med. If you were not supposed to lose any hair in the interim, not sure why you started in the first place. Considering your history, I think being on Finasteride is the best thing you ever did. I would also encourage you to consider Rogaine, Laser, PRP. All of these modalities work in different ways and are thus synergistic. Let me ask you. If you were to stay the way you are for the rest of your life, would that be OK? Deciding on meds is huge. It is a big commitment. If you eventually stop them, not only do you lose the benefit, you lose the money you invested. The question then becomes, what loss will I have. Given your history, it is likely you will lose. How much? Who knows. Considering limitations of donor area, particularly on those that have advanced patterns, I again, believe you should be on medical therapy. With generics and all that is now available, it is very affordable. And, you will never achieve the density you currently seem to be enjoying just by transplants alone.

Awesome and natural.

Just like anything else, PRP is yet another modality to help you with retention and enhancement of the native hair. It can have an effect throughout the entire head, particularly if done by someone that actually knows what he's doing. I say this because there are plenty out there using so little or not often enough, that the result is negligible. If done correctly, however, it can help reverse the miniaturization of the native hair. It can also help speed up the results of a transplant procedure. And, if combined with laser therapy, it can have an even greater effect. You may also want to check into PRP. Al

If you really think about it, we are only helping a handful of people. Don't get me wrong, I truly enjoy participating and value what we, as a communal group, are trying to achieve. Many people out there need help in one way or another. Lucky are those who find the site...that are doing the research.....That does bring up a question. What are we doing to promote the site? How can we truly become a source of information to all that are considering hair transplants? It is unbelievable how many still think that plugs are state of the art.

Awesome, like always.

I just went through all the answers posted on this topic and I think, overall, it represents a bit of what is believed about laser therapy overall. It does work at the cellular level, and it is yet another modality to hair combat hair loss. It is synergistic with other modalities and you will lose the benefit if you stop it. It is recommended to do 3 times per week for 30 minutes each time. The only cap that does have studies is LaserCap. The array of 224 diodes allows for optimal results. There is also a 300 diode unit that drops down in the occipital area. This cap is ideal for patients that are thinning in the donor area, (experiencing global thinning). The laser comb by Hairmax that came out years ago was the first to get FDA approval. Once the approval is given, no one else can get "FDA approved." The can get "released." The problem is this modality is the fact that the doctors selling these products do not know how to market them. Go to a consultation and see what say and and do. Did they scope? No! So, if you have a decent set of hair, for example. You are shedding big time and end up purchasing a unit. Do you think that 6 months later you will see a difference? NO. If they do scope, however, you now have a base line to compare the same area. How many times have I seen dejected patients only to get really excited when they confirm that miniaturized hair has actually improved in caliber. Dr. Alexander and Dr. Arocha do sell LaserCap. Have a consultation with them to learn more about these units. The most important thing in my opinion is to take photos and keep records. This can take 6 -12 months to really see results. And it works great when combined with PRP, at least for what I've been able to observe so far.

First, let me say, you do a good job covering. You are smart to style your hair to the side. The hair shingles and give you the sense of density. That being said, you have diffused thinning throughout the pattern and it looks like a pretty good size. Additionally, you are expanding the pattern, particularly to the sides and back. That means that there is more loss to come. Fortunately, however, there is a lot of miniaturized hair that has not left the building. The first thing to consider is the halt the loss and hope to enhance the hair you have. Has anyone spoken to you about medical therapy? (Propecia, Rogaine, Laser and PRP). Most believe Propecia and Rogaine tend to be the most effective in the mid back. A few basics of hair transplants. Hair in the front grows forward at an angle. Hair in the middle, similarly, grows the same way. Thus, there is shingling and that's why the front and middle always tend to look fuller than the crown. In the crown we all have a whirl, (swirl), and the hair grows away from the point. The hairs are not working together and makes the area look thinner. So, if it is normal to look thinner in the crown for everyone, leave it alone and let the meds do their job in that area. So, if you are considering transplants, concentrate them in the area that you see, (and others see when they are talking to you), in the mirror. To have full access to your donor area I would consider doing both. First, FUT. It is less expensive. Do as much as you can. Start in the front and have the doctor concentrate the grafts as much as possible to make an impact. Have the doctor work back until he runs out of grafts. Allow a year to see the results, (transplants and meds), and reassess. At that point, you may consider FUT or FUE pending elasticity and a few other factors. Ultimately, and to look fuller, you may finish with SMP. This helps minimize the contrast between the hair and the skin. Good luck and please research. Look at photos. HUNDREDS before making a decision. If the doctor you choose is good, he'll be excited to show you his work.

This is a serious topic and one that merits a bit more discussion. I am guessing that historical info helps here. If it's successful 100% of the time, it should be successful every time a procedure is done. But, how can you tell? Well, magnification and other considerations.......Is doing a test area, particularly when dealing with a condition other than a hereditary one, a good idea? Of course! Once you see the take you can then decide if the procedure is worth the risk. Now let's take a normal, every day procedure, (no dealing with a medical condition other than a hereditary one). Many things need to happen before a viable graft is transplanted. First, it needs to be harvested. Did the doctor go all the way down the the base of the follicle? Once out, was it manhandled and damaged because of the way it was dissected? How about at the time of placing? Was the graft squeezed too hard? Was it placed at the right depth? I am aware cases that, without fail, were unsuccessful. No take. Non whatsoever. The doctor did a second procedure because he actually felt bad for the patient. The second one did not work either. Doctor had been doing this for 30+ yrs. Could never figure out what the issue was. This is the reason why I don't place a lot of value on semantics. If you've been doing this for 50 years but have been doing it wrong for 50 years, guess what? It is all about results. Photos. So, do your homework. Review HUNDREDS of photos before making a decision to move forward with a transplant procedure. Donor is limited. Treat it like gold and allow an expert to help you. I realize trust is a big thing but anyone can say anything at any time to convince you.

So many things about this post....First the consultation. I'll bet, if you go to different offices, you will get many points of view. Many factors involved.....The Doctor, the staff, have they had any work on that particular month, they prefer FUT over FUE because they have no experience? You can actually question EVERYTHING..... The donor is the donor. It's common sense. If you have a small head, small donor. Larger head, larger donor....but larger pattern as well. It is all relative. The one thing that was not mentioned was elasticity. Most believe the donor is very specific but, if you consider FUE, (look at photos of various clinics), you'll notice that they will typically harvest from top to bottom and from side to side. So, to say that your donor is only in the area within the strip they are considering harvesting, its questionable.

Melvin, good report. I see this frequently with people just coming into the industry and trying out ARTAS. Techs will harvest, make recipient sites and place. This brings up a question I had not thought of before. Is there a local agency that can regulate this? So, say, for example, you become aware of a practice where the harvesting is done by a tech and not a doctor. Can you call someone to come in and do a surprise visit? I am guessing the practice can always say that the tech is working under the umbrella of the doctor......Thoughts?

It should, depending on how much native hair you have. This is a fiber that adheres to the hair and it makes it thicker looking. It also takes away the contrast between the hair and the scalp, depending on your hair color. Much tougher to conceal on a blond person. I would wait a week post op to start using, but ask the doctor, he can guide you. Now, that's where the hair is located. If you are considering hairline work and get to experience some redness down the forehead you can use some mascara. There are some make-up artists at the mall. They use the stuff day-in day-out and can also help you.

If you had sex the day of the procedure......Houston, we have a problem. If not, the hair should return. Many believe the hair in the donor area is the strongest hair there is, (and it's permanent). That's why that is what is used to do transplant procedures. There are so many combinations of hair, (thick, medium. thin), and even colors. Some darker, some lighter. And where are they located. Typically the caliber of the hair located in the hairline area is far thinner than the hair right behind the front. So, to answer your question, it depends. Where did she pull it from? The next time you are with the girl, pull out her hair...see if she likes it. Bet she will stop doing it again.

With such a great review, hopefully, the doctor will allow a free procedure down the road or he gave you a break in the price. Nice job. What I gather from your excerpt is the fact that you did research, reviewed photos, and did the numbers. Many doctors out there are so conservative and are still under the belief that, to achieve density, multiple procedures are required. The only thing you did not mention was the use of meds to help you with retention of the native hair. Did he prescribe anything for that? Lastly, hairline design. He kept you a bit on the conservative side. Good. Let it grow and see what you think. Down the road, if appropriate, you can ask the doctor to bring it down about a cm, it will frame you better.

Good point about the crown and the use of medical therapy.

I am glad you had a good experience. Symmetry, by the way, is not a good thing. If it's too perfect on both sides it starts looking fake, like a wig. asymmetric, typically, allows for the most naturalness.

The main reason to avoid sun tanning soon after the procedure is to avoid permanent freckling. 6 mo, however, is plenty of time to start tanning. If you are concerned, use sunblock and a cap, (which you should be doing anyways). I do agree with Seamike, lots of opinions out there. 4 mo, however, seems to be the standard for most.

Hair loss is complicated. Hormonal? Sure. Hereditary condition? Of course. Stress, while not the main cause, it can speed up the process. Stress? Again, not the cause but it can prompt rapid shedding. Add to the equation the fact that there are resting periods for the follicle as well as miniaturizing. There is probably lots of info we still don't know. Most believe, however, that this is a hereditary condition that can come from both sides and it can actually skip generations. They also believe that DHT is the main culprit. So, when a woman thins out in a MPB pattern, the belief is that she a higher percentage of testosterone compared to other women. How many times have I heard young guys come in and say, "wish I would have done something sooner." If you are starting to thin, do your research and go to the doctor. There are modalities, to start, that can help manage the thinning. This will give you time to then decide what you want to do. Hair restoration is not an inexpensive process and can be quite devastating for some.

Sometimes elaboration is needed for the benefit of the members. You have to remember that consultants, (ex-consultants) are not doctors and it is best to let the doctors speak for themselves.

Dr. Gabel, I believe, is the only one that goes to the extreme when it comes to cleanliness. He is involved 100% of the time in the procedure. . His staff is very experienced and amazing as they have been with him and following his techniques for a long time. He recently moved to a new technologically advanced placed which is in an easy access location in Portland. His work is impeccable. I am glad you had a positive experience. I hope you can post in 4 months when the hair starts growing.

Yes I did, he's good at what he does.

Well, that will depend on the artistry of the doctor. In the old days the general concept was that fine hair, for hairline work, would come from the nape area. At the time FUT was all there was, (mini grafts). Soon after they realized that the scars were very visible, particularly for those experiencing retrograde alopecia. Soon thereafter they started harvesting from behind the ear, where you will typically find the finest hair. Well, and to finally answer the question, the problem now is, knowing how many new doctors are coming into the industry with no experience whatsoever, they are harvesting from the entire donor area and not separating the fine, medium and coarse type follicles. There is no regard as to placing. So now you will find many patients with thicker shaft type hair on the hairline that just stands out and is easily detectable. This hair, additionally, tends to be darker. So, if you shave, and you see coarse hairs, that's on the doctor and his inexperience. The other issue you've brought up is that of the crown. I am glad to hear you are thinner there. Let's explain..... A few general concepts to understand. 1) The donor area is finite. And, in an advance pattern, it is unlikely there will be enough to allow for a full set of hair. 2) If you've shown the propensity to lose, you will continue losing. A reputable practice will always recommend some type of medical regimen to help with retention/enhancement of the native hair. (Propecia, Rogaine, Laser and PRP). Let me share an example: Class 6 comes in for a consultation. He has diffused thinning throughout the pattern and he's 23 years old. He wants a full set of hair. What to do. The first thing to consider is the fact that he is quite young and he's already experiencing very aggressive loss. It is a fact he will continue to lose the little he has. First thing is to educate the patient and explain medical therapy. Second, explain donor area limitation. (There is just not enough hair in the donor area to allow for a full set of hair. Yes, by definition he will have a bit more density, but putting 3,000 grafts, (just to put a number out there), in the whole area will give little to no cosmetic difference. (The doctor would need to leave such a big separation in between the grafts to spread them through such a big area that the patient will end up seeing little to no difference). If the grafts are concentrated and placed closer together, they will make a big difference). So the Doctor's approach should be to place the grafts close together to each other in the area that will make the most difference for the patient, the front. Considering the above, the second reason why the crown should be the last area to tackle is the fact that we all have a whirl in the area. The hair grows away from the center point. Hair does not shingle like it does in the front and top. (hair in the front grows forward at a certain angle, and so does the hair in the top. The fact that the hair shingles allows for the hair to work together and create the sense of density). If you are going to be thin, be thin in the crown as this is a normal pattern.