Lennney

Good progress, right on track! This is where you are going to see consistent improvements just about weekly. In 1-2 months, you'll have pretty good coverage so that you'll look good from the front profile view, which is the most important view. The top view is good, but not really indicative of the progress HTs give, which is changing the appearance, which again, is from the front profile point of view.

Little odd that you didn't wash your hair (which would have removed most of the scabs before the 4 week mark). You will lose the "hair" as part of the process. What the HT does is it moves the "root" of the hair, so the hair loss you're seeing is superficial. Otherwise, it looks on-track. This is the worst phase in terms of appearance, so it will definitely get worse before it gets better, so just keep that in mind. Keep an open dialog between yourself and the clinic. Follow their instructions for post-op care and ask any questions you have. The clinic wants you to succeed for several reasons, and following their guidance is in your best interests. Keep up the fin, minox and coconut oil treatment you're doing. Keep a good attitude and let the recovery take place!

Great hair length! Even with not "full" coverage of your crown/top, the way you he style(s) the hair and the length are perfect! Your His hair looks completely natural. Fantastic improvement over yor prior condition. Very good work by Eugenix and good work styling.

All of these are normal. It is far too early to worry about the sprouts being native or not. I had a sprout that grew to .5cm and stopped for like 5 months haha! Didn't grow at all. I can't find it now, so it either fell out or grew to length. Point is, don't worry about it til at least the 6 month mark. You'll drive yourself crazy if you do. Redness lasted a very long time for me, maybe 3+ months of "some" redness over normal scalp color. It goes with the territory of being pale. Hopefully you don't pop them, but I also only had a few. Normal again. I had a really itchy donor too. Try patting it gently. It'll relieve the "itch" without damaging /infecting the scalp using nails. You're now at the point where you'll be improving by leaps and bounds!

Damn. I'm a little surprised that Eugenix can get 2500 grafts from your beard in one go (1 or 2 days). If that's possible, I don't think you'll ever have to shave your neck or under-chin again haha! I personally agree with another poster that a shaved/buzzed look looks good on you, but I would urge you to consider growing your hair out longer than that. @LaserCap made several good points, especially about not worrying too much about the whirl area. I would push you to use as much beard/body hair as possible, and like LaserCap said, put that mostly on top, use your donor to solidify/shape your hairline, and grow your hair out. A thinning whirl is normal and doesn't have the same negative connotations that thinning top/front have. You could always address this in another procedure down the line, which will be much less involved than this current (considered) HT. If you're also attempting to move on from grieving process, I would make another change, and grow your hair and try something new. You're getting an HT after being "discouraged" from getting one, and you had a buzzed haircut because your wife loved it. I would still push through with Eugenix (good clinic and solid results on advanced cases like yours), and grow your hair out to a new style that "fits" your new hair. You say that you want to be with friends and be active, but lack confidence (or see confidence you can get from improving your appearance). A large part of that confidence comes from genuinely being who you are, and having an identity. I don't imagine you want to disrespect the memory of your wife, but it is normal, natural and expected that you forge your own identity. I think at some [sizable] level, you are carrying an identity around that doesn't fit who you are, you subconsciously know this, and thus feel some imposter syndrome. Pretty difficult to speak to women when you're subconsciously thinking that you should not flirt while "married." I think with a change of appearance, a following change of style will lead to a shift in your identity which will allow you to be more "free." I'm not a psychologist, but I can see a pattern. For reference, my SO liked my hair and also discouraged me from getting an HT. I also looked "good" with a hair part hairstyle. After convincing, I was finally able to get the HT, even though the SO was nervous. Now, everyone is happy with the results, SO especially. I mean to say this as: The people who love you don't want you to "feel bad" about your appearance. If you're fat, your family won't push you or say you should get lipo. They support you, but are rightfully nervous about surgical options. It's only when you do research, present your case of why you need it and how the surgeon is top-tier that your family will agree to letting you go through with it. We're all here for you should you go through with HT or not.

You're making progress. As others have said, the crown is the most difficult area to get growth from HT, and also the most lengthy regrowth cycle. Best of luck! Edit: Also, you had a relatively small number of transplants to the crown. I think you're still 6+ months away from real results. The crown area always looks more thin than it is due to the hair dispersion. I think in 12 months your hair will look significantly better. This process will just take a while, and will not be complete on it's own; you'll have to brush your hair to make the illusion complete.

If I didn't see your initial pics, I would say the HT is very good. Seeing where you came from, WOW. Legit transformative. You gotta just buy some hair dye for those 3 front gray hairs now!

Research yourself, and contact the docs. If it were as easy as picking the "right" doc, there would only be one doc recommended. It all depends on what you expect, what doc is comfortable doing, any expertise you need for you case, and how well you and the doc "work" together on your case. If you have those 5, then you should continue researching those 5. This site is a great resource for finding past content. Their websites are great resources to get more info. If you post these 5, at the least, you should know what they will all have to offer you. There's no shortcut for research.

Double post...

@Biceps I would also advise to stop nizoral. With your pattern, I would also advise you to check out @CosmoKramer post/advice on rolling. Your donor isn't the strongest, and at age 26, I am nervous you may end up with extreme thinning donor area . You said that you don't have much of a beard, but I imagine you also don't have much chest hair for a BHT. If I were you, I would stay on the fin and give derma rolling a shot (with topical minox). I would do whatever you could realistically do that isn't permanent (not HT/SMP) at this point, just to see if changing some stuff up would help. I agree with Melvin that Diep is a good surgeon. I haven't been on the forum too often in last 2 months, but I don't remember seeing any bad results from Diep in my year and change on the forums. The only concerns I've seen for Diep are his prices and his [large] punch size. Outside of that, I think he has a catalog that speaks for itself. Whatever you do, best of luck. >Edit . I do think that the "vibe" you get from a doc is underrated. If you go to a doc you're just not comfortable with, I wouldn't do it. I'm a believer in the placebo effect and similar cases where the mindset has had "unbelievable" positive effects. I think you should completely buy into what the doctor is doing, and believe that there is no other clinc/doc you'd rather have. Having just a little seed of doubt before hand is enough to become a full-blown panic when things aren't going to expectations (like the guy who wanted to get his HT reversed like a week after). If you do go the HT route soon or eventually, you'll know it's the right doc because you'll feel it. It doesn't sound like you feel it from this visit. The good news is that there are dozens of good docs.

I wore the bandana I was given for about 2 weeks. I then moved onto a baseball cap that was somewhat professional (repin' my university at work), something that doesn't seem "too" out of place. I also kept the HT quiet except for a few trusted coworkers. I also mentioned and showed it to my boss, who is ultimately the one who is responsible for dress code. My baseball hat was not mesh, and I don't think it's that big a deal (unless you work in hot conditions that causes a lot of sweat). After too long, I finally got a flat cap. I wish I had gotten it sooner. My HT buddy, HLPToronto recommended it, and raved about how it is work professional and makes him appear more classy. I would probably rock the flat cap about 2-3 weeks after a HT. The donor looks normal, or at least inconspicuous at that point. Just whatever you do, have the cap rest on non-HT areas (temple, sides etc.) for the first 10 days or so. After that, its okay for it to touch your recipient hair, just very lightly (have your hat be very loosely fit).

I looked up some nizoral posts, and there is a decent sized minority recommending staying away from it. Here is a post from Spex from back in the day warning against nizoral. Also, I briefly checked the thread, but you didn't have another HT, did you? If I remember correctly, I think the baby shampoo was for a max of like 90 days. I can go check my paperwork, but I definitely stopped after the recommended period was up. Again, for cosmetic properties, the coconut oil was the best. It gives my hair volume, shine and softness. For comparison, with regular shampoo that I mentioned, which is still pretty good, my hair has a more wiry and stiff feel. With the oil, my hair feels more bouncy. I know that nizoral was a recommended treatment, part of the big 3 like you mention, but I'm just a little skittish of using it immediately post HT. Also, I mentioned it on my own thread, but, I got off of minox in last 2-3 months. I got a little tired of applying it, and I didn't see much progress with it. I swapped it for the oil at same time, and I like the results so far. If I were to go back on minox, I am definitely interested in either the oral version, and to a much lesser degree, derma rolling (don't want to bleed several times a week). Best of luck!

I remember reading that some people had issues with the nizoral shampoo post HT. I think maybe it was bill or another senior member. It helped me drop nizoral from my routine because I also didn't enjoy the dry scalp that felt a little irritated. In the last 5 months, I've stopped washing my hair with shampoo every day. If I shower, I just use water on hair, and when I do wash it, which is about 2-3 times a week I use(d) nioxin and now the bos-revive shampoo and conditioner. It is similar to the nioxin, and does leave my hair with more volume. In the last 3 months, I've started using coconut oil, and that has been the best change of all. I microwave it behaves like an oil, and massage it in for 5 minutes. I then let it sit. I went from sitting it for 30 minutes to 90 minutes currently. I then shampoo and condition, and my hair feels and behaves great! I also alternate some days with baby shampoo, but rarely now. In my opinion, it's not the cause of your dry scalp; nizoral is. Oh and I just checked my nizoral, it was 1%. I can imagine your drying is worse than mine If you're using double the concentration.

My scalp didn't itch, since most of the nerves are disconnected from surgery (don't worry, I have 100% feeling after 3 months, 90% after 1 month). I had window seat and my SO next to me, so I was, or rather other passenger was protected. I didn't get up from seat to spray. I would go to bathroom if you are aisle seat, since it's no hassle. If you're middle/window seat, I would politely mention that you had a procedure recently, and you need to keep it moisturized. Tell them that it's healing, but needs some saline spray, and mention that saline is a sterile salt water. Ask them if they're okay with you asking them to get up every 1/2 hours, or if they are okay with you spraying next to them. If they get mad, it's their fault. If they understand and agree to let you, no one is harmed and everything is happy in your aisle.

You just got to suck it up. I hate sleeping on my back too, and I too can't really do it. I had to prop myself up with pillows and such to sleep at about a 45 degree angle and be sure to use a neck pillow. Just force yourself to do it. Make sure you use the pillows and such to block yourself from turning to your sides. After the 2 weeks I forced myself to sleep on my back during recovery, I don't think I've slept on my back since.

I don't recommend taking over 100ml. The clinic will provide you some 100ml bottles and saline. I got some from my clinic, and I cannot imagine them not helping you out in this regard. Ask for two, one for your post op recovery in hotel, and one for travel. Fit all of your liquids into the quart sized bag (at least that's the rule in USA, but most countries follow this template). I had my medication in a checked bag, but you'd be okay bringing that with you in your carry on. If you have paperwork from Eugenix or a different doc, great, if not, just don't say anything about it and it'll be fine. Either way, I don't think fin, vitamins would cause you any issue AND you'll have post-op care instructions from clinic for antibacterial wash and any pain medication covered. So you'll be fine. Keep as many 100ml or less spray bottles as you like, but you'll need only 1 even with a 30 hour travel time trip like I had. Like I said earlier, just go ahead and buy some saline online or in a pharmacy and have it ready. Paddy could probably tell you how much he used, but I think I only needed 2 liters.

Great stuff Paddy. Very detailed write up. These are the types of write ups that help prospective patients like Looking for HT, as well as those who are researching understand the process. The best way to alleviate anxiety and concerns is an unbiased, factual and detailed account. I know it helped when I was researching. I didn't participate in thread earlier (was away from forum), but I loved that you flew from London because, I assume, it was less expensive. Good stuff. Delhi can be inexpensive to travel to if you put some extra time researching prices from certain airports. Some quick questions to help other members: How many nights did you stay after your procedure(s)? 1.After the second procedure's sleep, how many additional nights did you stay? 1A. Would you recommend more or less than you did (in hindsight). [ I know you had a good experience, start to finish, but would you have preferred staying longer or shorter or the same length of stay after the procedure?] 2. Any tips on the actual travel to Delhi? (Mine were: 1. bring a smog mask, 2. hiking boots (it gets muddy when it rains - more important if you go around sightseeing beforehand to Taj Mahal and around Delhi), 3. if you go do the haggling thing in certain malls [you'll know what I'm talking about if you get there], you can easily aim for 1/3 of the first stated price.) 3. Any tips on travels back after HT? (Mine were: Don't worry too much about bringing saline solution back to your country. It's much more convenient to just leave the saline in India (taking only a <100ml airplane appropriate spritz bottle on the flight) and purchasing sterile saline before you leave TO India and have it wait for you at home when you return. It saves time, as the Delhi airport (even with my 3am flight on Jan ~11th [not any special holiday]) is a zoo! Took me 3 hours to get TO my boarding gate. It was super stressful, even when I arrived 4 hours before my flight. By only traveling with carry-on luggage and not bringing saline solution, it would have saved me 20-60 minutes. Also, spritzing your head every 2 hours or so. The air in the airplane is very dry, so keep your head moisturized. )

Thanks! Have you tried combing/pushing your hair to the side? No need for hair product, just simply brush it with your hand to the side. It helps me. I know it gives me the look of added density.

I think you should wait till 12-18 months, maybe there will be improvement, but I would not go back to that doc. I would say the current results strengthened your hairline, but I am not confident saying that. I will say that your hair doesn't need fixing, as it looks like you're thinning - not bald, and not weird. I would ride this procedure until your hair continues to recede and you feel it's time for another procedure. The bad news is that it doesn't look promising for the HT, the good news is that you didn't get "messed up." Without knowing anything about your hair health, you look to be a good candidate for an HT. You have nice, thick hair, and plenty of beard hair for the mid scalp (BHT). I think your next HT can fill in the hairline when you go in for the mid scalp. I would hesitate to do a procedure now, since you look like you're not done losing hair, and it would be a game of catch-up (where you're always adding density every 2-5 years as your hair thins). As for right now, I think concealer would be the best course if you feel self conscious about your hair. If you're comfortable having some thinning, I wouldn't worry about it, as I've said, it looks natural, albeit thinning. Try having the barber go over your entire top (minus the thinner area!) with thinning shears to match the density of the front. It may look better, it may look worse, but at the least, that hair will definitely grow back and it's no harm no foul. Again, assuming there is no progress in the next ~6 months, I would absolutely not go back for any additional work with that doc, free or not. **Also, I just noticed that all of your photos, apart from two side profile pics, have you looking down. All of them. Can you take some with where you would be looking at someone eye level? It may not be as bad as it looks from what you've shown. Unless you're staring at people's boobs or genitals, they won't see this particular angle. Eye contact forces reciprocated eye contact. If you look people in the eyes, they won't look at your hairline, just a thought.

If I could have, I would have stayed about 4 or 5 days after the procedure. I ended up only staying the night after HT, another night, and I left the following morning. Each morning I had a taxi pick me up and take me to change bandages and check on the healing. I liked those benefits of staying after, so that would be my motivation to stay longer. I wore the bandana for a solid 3 weeks, maybe 4 weeks. I was away from work and school, so I took that opportunity to leave my head uncovered while I recovered. I only went to dentist and grocery shopping, and for that, I wore the bandana. I know for "sure" that I started wearing a baseball hat 20 days after, and I wore it fairly loose. I have not tried MSM. I honestly haven't heard of it till just now... But I also don't follow many natural/supplement treatments for hair.

Thanks Melvin! The job is exactly what I wanted for several reasons, and it all happened to work out. For my expectations, it definitely is a home run. I feel like it's more legit of a home run when I started seeing my mid section start thinning, and thus confirming my concerns that I would need another HT later on the mid and crown sections. I feel that Bhatti was a good choice for me with the level of density in the hairline, even when I was getting roasted when I first posted lol. I am glad he went more conservative and left my donor available for another sizable procedure. I am super stoked that my classmates and my doc can't/couldn't tell I had a HT (which means its a good HT haha!). HT isn't perfect (temples density not as dense as side hair - maybe it improves?), but it's perfect for me. Thanks for kind words, and I'm glad I discovered this site. I am happy to share my story and my knowledge I've picked up (mostly from here, honestly). Keep up the good work yourself!

Thanks! I was a late adopter of the coconut oil, so I just need to get a chance to do some more research with the emu and castor oils. Do you rotate the 3, or have you essentially swapped from one to another in your time using them (like using coconut before you discovered emu and then discovered castor and switched from emu to castor)? In a month, how many times do you apply (each)?

Absolutely. I made comments elsewhere about this. You notice the contrast more with your very dense, very long neighboring hair compared to your thinning section. It doesn't have to be buzzed, just try cutting the hair to 2 inches and see how that looks. You can always cut shorter, but you can also let it keep growing and see how that goes. I know for me it's a sweet spot that I found from getting my hair cut and letting it grow out to a certain point. I have since just had my barber cut the hair longer (and thus closer to that point) and I think I'm getting it pretty close to perfect length now every time. I and a member: hairlosspa had issues with a shed from fin and possibly minox. Mine got better a couple months after the shed, which occurred at the 4 month mark post start. I know you mentioned that you are afraid of shockloss, but shockloss from these meds is not permanent (barring some freak reaction). Shockloss from HTs isn't permanent either (extremely rare [with all of the recommended docs on this forum]). I agree with matt though, don't really take any one recommendation and run with it. You gotta believe that the doc you pick is a doc YOU picked. You have to be confident with your selection, should you pursue the HT route (hopefully in addition to the meds). The only way you'll get that confidence is with lots of research.

Oh and I forgot to mention: I mentioned that I started coconut oil about 2 months ago. Well, I don't know if it had anything to do with it, and I am hesitant to attribute it to it, but I had a couple new growths, on my temple. It was on my thinner side temple, and it was a couple pimples, which I don't get anymore. I thought it was weird, and right before I popped them, I saw it was budding hairs. I didn't pop them, and the redness subsided. I think that there is the (very small) chance that some of temple grafts are yet to grow out - especially if we follow the typical advice of waiting ~18 months before judging a HT. I don't expect a flood of temple hairs to come in, and that's fine, I already mentioned that I will throw some more there when I eventually get my mid section filled in at some undetermined future point. I just thought it was a neat development, and I think it's worth mentioning. It could also be that those are just shed hairs that came out when I applied my minox or coconut oil in a previous application. It's either no big deal or nothing at all, either way, I just thought I should mention it.

4. If you're not losing hair now AND your hair loss Norwood pattern is at it's final stage (using your best guess to family history), then I wouldn't take finasteride. If you're likely to loose additional hair in the next 3-5 years (or slow recession back) it is probably beneficial to take fin. Also: some members take much less than the 1 or 1.25 mg dose, so maybe do more research and see if that's something you want to try. I thought I had side effects before I started fin (when I incorrectly thought I was taking fin) that I attributed to fin, so I know that some of the side effects are mental. I also know that I've experienced some, mostly slight, sexual side effects. It was mostly "mood" related. I definitely had more side effects when I tried sertraline. It was way worse with sertraline than anything I've ever experienced with fin. Worse "mood" for sex, can't get hard, and can't finish. All in different combinations all the time, sometimes 1 of the 3, sometimes a mix, sometimes all 3. So this is all to say that it's not that bad, at least not for me. I also, as a precaution, take fenugreek 800mg x2 and tribulus 1000mg x2. Maybe it helps, maybe it doesn't, but it makes me feel better knowing I am doing something - and knowing I'm doing something is what makes me not experience as many side effects. 5. I think the legal answer is 7-9 days after the procedure. I took 30 days off from lifting and drinking alcohol to just play it safe. I slimmed down during that time! I think I would wait at least 2 weeks, but I would probably play it safe again and wait 4 weeks if I were to go through another procedure. If it's not a quality of life issue, wait. If you "need" it, wait 2 weeks. Those are the ones I can answer with good certainty. Best of luck with your other questions!