Tao

I didn't have a lot of money when I started HTs but after three procedures, I had spent what I would have on a new car.  My hair has brought me way more joy and contentment than a new car ever would.  Just my experience.  Mileage my vary.  Dr. Konior did all of my surgeries so it was money well spent.

I'm kinda in the same boat as you, Melvin.  Three HTs and I'm really happy with the way I look from the front.  But the damn crown is definitely a black hole of grafts and like you, I could definitely use at least a few hundred more there to really shore it up and never have to think about fibers again.  I'm 55 though and a slightly thinning crown looks fine so I'll probably not do a fourth.  If I was 38, I'd definitely think about it.  Congrats on a great transformation and an amazing journey.  Thanks for honestly sharing your experience and wisdom with all of us.

What a journey!  Congrats!  Looking forward to seeing your new look.

1 hour ago, jakos said:

The fact that you may end up losing more hair when you stop minoxidil is worrying, but I am still considering it and Fin together. Will probably give it a go anyway.

Honestly, I think I would be more content with a loose hair 10 years later; but I know that I'm probably overestimating that  

Do you also have/had dense donor area? Does it enable enough grafts to cover much of the hair losing area including the crown?

Thanks!

I do have good donor hair.  My hair thickness meant less grafts covered more.  And then Dr. Konior was my surgeon and he does a great job of maximizing what you have, as good HT docs do.  My crown is almost fully covered now though I could use one more pass to get it all the way.  I'm 54 though and a little balding back there doesn't bother me, especially given where I started from.

I think that's pretty much how I looked at around age 30.  Because I still had a hairline, I didn't really notice my crown hairloss until I saw an overhead shot of myself (which was frankly pretty much of a shock). I didn't take finasteride but I did try minoxidil for awhile.  Then I quit that and lost a ton, including almost all of my hairline too.  I think I was a solid Norwood 5 or worse by age 40.  In retrospect, I might have tried finasteride to see what hair i could keep.  In your case, I'd recommend you try it for a year and see if it thickens up your crown (that's where it seems to work the best).  Then go from there. If you lose more hair up front and want to address it, then focus your HT on the hairline (that has the biggest impact as that's what people see when they look at you) and keep grafts in reserve for working your way back into the crown (the black hole of grafts).  Well, at least this was my route and it worked out well.  I'd also get several online consults with Drs. recommended on this forum and see what they recommend.  Good luck! 

3 hours ago, Melvin- Moderator said:

So almost identical to me, we focused on the side channels and maximum density around the whorl. But I fully expect to have some scalp showing when it’s wet or under certain lighting. Do you think you’ll go back for another 1000? If so, do you think it’ll be enough to never use fibers again. 

I’ve always wanted to create a pomade that has some fibers built into it, so it can help thicken your hair but not be as messy, if I can formulate this I’ll be a rich man 😂 

Will I go back again?  I never say never (I didn't think I'd do a third pass but I sure did).  However, if it would take another 1000 grafts, I ask myself, is that small spot worth about $10k to get rid of?  I can sure think of other ways to spend that money.  And would I ever still need to use fibers after another surgery?  I don't really know.  Since I'm really happy with my hair now only (maybe excessive) hair greed would be motivating me.  But we all have heard the sweet siren of hair greed.  Right now, no plans though.

1 hour ago, Melvin- Moderator said:

Your hair looks absolutely fantastic, I believe we're around the same baldness scale. That's why I posed the question, will the be my last hair transplant haha. I will re-evaluate at 12 months. I was told by Dr. Sethi that I could easily do another 1,500 grafts from under my chin and still be able to sport a beard. I don't feel like my donor looks too depleted right now either. How many grafts did you get in your crown?

I got about 2,000 in my crown on my second procedure, with about 300 going to shore up my hairline.  My last procedure, 1,600 grafts went toward shoring up my sides and parts and some into the crown.  Its all covered now but the crown is not dense for sure and when my hair is wet, you can see a balding spot.  With the right styling and length and when its dry, its pretty close to not needing hair fibers.  But not quite.

I'm late in reading this thread.  Congrats, Melvin!  This looks like superb work and I'm sure you're excited as hell to see what the result is when it grows out.  I'll be interested to see what your final result is in your crown.  That's the black hole of grafts. Even after my third surgery, I still could use about a 1,000 more grafts in mine.  My goal was to stop using fibers too and if I just go with the slightly balding in the crown look (I'm 54 so who cares?) I'm there.  However, I can still sprinkle just a little of the fibers on and I'm 100% not balding (ha!).  Still, hair nirvana is dumping the fibers and never looking back.  Happy growing and thanks for letting us all see the full journey.

Yes, a good down payment on a house or a new car.  Fortunately, I found Dr. Konior a little before he got popular so he didn't charge as much in the past.  The three spaced out sessions allowed me to save for each too.  Don't think I could have taken the hit all at once.

I had about 6,800 (wow) grafts transplanted with Dr. Konior over 3 sessions.  As much as I would have liked to have had that done in one session, I'm grateful I didn't.  The advantage of several sessions is that you get to see what each comes out like and then adjust to what you need the most for your next session.  I did the front third first, then my crown.  And then for my third, I needed additional crown work but also work on my sides and part as I had lost more over the years.  One and done would probably have not resulted in as good a result as I got with three separate sessions.  But its a waiting game then until you finally get to the finish (and truth be told, I could probably use one more last little touch up on my crown the black hole of grafts).  So I understand the appeal of a megasession.

I personally didn't have any problems. That's only a sample of one though.

I used foam rogaine and had no issues whatsoever.  I don't know if it did anything though.  Dr. Konior's work is so clean, I never had any redness at all.

7 hours ago, BDK081522 said:

I had two procedures with Konior and his instructions were Minoxidil is recommended starting two weeks post-op. I did it for mine and had no issues. 

Yes, that sounds right.

I had FUE done by Dr, Konior and was told to use minoxidil for the 1st couple of weeks (after maybe a week out from the surgery I think) if I wanted to speed up the growing (and who wouldn't?).  Funny how there is no consensus.  I did use it and got good growth pretty early.

That's crazy good!

I chose not to take it too.  Messing with my hormones is a risk I didn't want to take.  I had a wife who changed completely when she took hormones so that definitely influenced my decision.  That said, life is full of balanced risks/rewards so I don't blame people for trying it out and seeing if works for them.

2 FUTs and one FUE was my route and that definitely maximized the number of grafts I could use.  Good video, Melvin!

Hairloss history?  I lost most of my hair by the time I was 40.  Started losing it in my 20s although I didn't really notice it much because I couldn't see the top of my head  When I see pictures of that time now, it's quite obvious.  I tried Minoxidil for awhile but then gave up on it (not much efficacy for me although it probably slowed my loss.  Once off it, I lost hair faster).  I started looking into HTs, consulted with two kinda sketchy doctors before finding this site and finding out Dr. Konior was fairly close to me.  Dr. Konior recommended propecia but I was hesitant for a few reasons.  My primary reason was my now ex-wife had started taking hormones to help get pregnant and she totally flipped and became a different person.  That told me that messing with hormones shouldn't me taken lightly.  Also by the time I found ot about propecia, I was pretty far gone.  Knowing what I know now though and having seen some friends be on it for a long time without any issues, I might have done things differently.  But I have never taken it.  That likely led to my needing a third transplant as I lost some more hair on my upper sides.  Who knows though.  My goal, whether realistic or not, was to not have to mess with my hair everyday.  Outside of a little dash of fibers if I feel like it, that's where I am now.  No medicine or special shampoos or supplements or routines.  I don't need to look like a model.  I just didn't want to look ridiculous.

I sometimes forget that that's where I started.  Good to be reminded!

5 hours ago, Curious25 said:

Thanks for the update - looking great! 
 

If you did opt for a 4th session, do you have any idea of how many remaining grafts you have to play with?  

I really don't have any idea but I'm thinking if I did do one more surgery, I'd need less than a 1000 grafts.  Maybe like 700?  I think I have than many left via FUE.  No plans right now though.  I'm good for now .

On 10/19/2021 at 2:12 PM, Z-- said:

Just wanted to personally thank you, Tao. I'd seen your blog and your hair pre-transplant. I'm a bit younger than you, but am nearing your level of hair loss. Your pictures convinced me to reach out to Konior in the first place, so it's great to see this amazing result and I often look at this and other great Dr. K results when I start to panic about my level of hair loss. But your case remains the best I've seen.

I'm certain I'll need 2 to 3 transplants and I'd initially been booked to do an FUE but wondering now if I should do FUT first...I'd absolutely kill to have a result that's even 50% as great as yours! 

Hope life has been great with the hair. 

Cheers.

Z, thanks again.  You can't go wrong with Konior as he's a meticulous artist.  Not inexpensive but he definitely delivers.  My FUT scar from 2 surgeries from Konior is almost impossible to locate unless my head is totally shaved and even then its not real apparent.  If you have my level of loss, you should definitely consider FUT first to maximize the use of your grafts.  Keep us posted about your journey and best to you.

11 hours ago, aaron1234 said:

Looking great!  @Tao The HT journey does feel like 2 steps forward, 1.5 steps back at times don't it...

Thanks aaron.  And yes, the HT journey can be unpredictable.  I never thought I'd end up with 3 procedures when I started.  But here I am.  And if truth be told, hair greed makes me think about a 4th to add more to the black hole that is my crown.  Not a neccessity but...

I'm pretty damn happy, Marvin.  And I'm looking forward to following your story.  Good luck with your next surgery!  Also thanks for doing a great job with this site. Its an excellent resource for so many.

Hi All,

Sorry I haven't responded for awhile.  Busy busy these days.  Thanks for the kind words, all.  My HT journey was pretty mind blowing. I almost settled for a less expensive doctor who did not give me good advice and had I gone with him, I would surely have regretted it. Fortunately Dr. Konior was the closest recommended doctor to me and it turned out that he was also one of the best as his work became more widely known.  My first FUT session convinced me that HTs done by the right doctor were indeed legit and life changing.  After my second FUT, I hoped and assumed I was done but in the ensuing years, I lost more hair - in my crown and in my part.  I have never taken propecia nor have I used minoxidil (outside of the first month after each surgery) so its not too surprising that I lost some ground.  My last FUE surgery with Dr. Konior in March 2019, right as the pandemic was hitting, was perfectly timed.  I got it in and then got to work at home during those awful ugly duckling head shaved days.  Perfect. 

The third surgery really shored up my part (I can go running again without a hat as the wind blowing no longer shows a weak spot - I love that).  I was hoping that I would be able to permanently retire the hair fibers but my crown is still not perfect (is there such a thing with HTs?).  Without fibers, it does not look bald as it is covered with hair but it can look like I'm thinning there.  Kinda depends on my haircut (which I do myself mostly only semi-succesfully) and my growth cycle.  If I dab on a minimal amount of fibers, my hair looks perfect so that's pretty nice.  Sometimes I throw some on when I go out and sometimes I don't as I'm not really bothered by it much these days.  You kinda have to be above me to see that spot and that's not a view that most people get.  Also, I'm 54 and don't have to have perfect hair.  But it is very nice to look in the mirror and kinda like what's looking back atcha.  That said, I have several friends who shaved their head bald as they gave up on hair and man, they totally rock it.  It helps if your head shape isn't that of a lumpy potato, alas which mine is.  Anyway, here's some crappy current photos of where my hair stands now after 3 sessions.  The last two are where I started from for perspective.  Cheers to you all.  I hope all of you are doing well! 

Definitely happy.  Spent a lot but went to one of the best and it was worth it.