Fluffhead

1 hour ago, SLA said:

On another note, to Fluffhead- I think your HT looks amazing!

You mentioned in another post that you have been losing hair since your 20s and that you suspect you had been holding steady at a NW3 due to finasteride. 

Given your mentioned family history of NW6 and 7, I personally would save the grafts. While finasteride could (fingers crossed) hold you steady for the rest of your life, I would be thinking worst case such as what if you stop becoming a responder, or what if they determine that long term use of the drug has detrimental effects (hopefully not).

We all hope that there is a cure to all of this in due time in which we have hair cloning available or they figure out how to safely revive all the dormant hair follicles, but I am one to plan for the worst.

Be well and enjoy your amazing new look! 

Thank you for your thoughtful reply. I wholeheartedly agree with you. Given my family history it would be wise to wait. For the next 9 months, I don’t think a touchup will be possible, so I’m confined to daydreaming for the time being. 😄

1 minute ago, Zoomster said:

Hey Fluff

Re the 1500 -2000 grafts possible 2nd pass .. only one way to find out !!

Something you said a while back stuck with me 

"You're prepared to do whatever it takes to get to the desired final result you're looking for "..ie youd have a 2nd procedure If needs be ..

Something tells me you wont be needing one 😊

Z

We'll see. Right now things are trending up, but I'm greedy. 😅 Have been balding since my early 20's and now see what I've been missing for all these years. Will make a decision once C-19 has run its course. Right now nobody is getting into India. I'm sure when this is all over Eugenix is going to have a line out the door.

-Fluff

3 hours ago, Pyrat said:

Long overdue update. I think my results are mostly there. I have not seen too much change in the last 3 weeks or so.

The donor which was a big concern has improved quite a bit but the right side is still a little parse. I can trim to a number 2.5 and people cannot make out that any hair was taken out.

I am quite happy with the results and they look quite good and very close to what I had wanted. A couple of areas that could’ve been better are:

1, Temples: the transplanted hair look sparse and strange looking compared to the native hair and also curl quite a bit,

2, Immediately behind the left and right corners of the hairline, there seems to be an area which Is quite thin and looks unnatural as my hair grows longer. This could’ve probably been better if a few more grafts were put in there.

I might go for a second procedure to get a touch up and fill in some areas and maybe have some put into the crown if the finesteride solution that I plan on purchasing from Eugenix when I am in Delhi (next month) does not help.

The pictures attached are immediately after drying the hair and under quite harsh lighting with the exception of the last one.

Hi Pyrat,

It's great to see an update. I was just thinking about you yesterday.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but this marks 5 months? If so, I think you can still look forward to some significant growth. You've only just completed the first significant spurt that occurs between months 3-5. While not as pronounced as the first, I experienced several significant growth spurts between months 5-8. 

Hairline looks good. Coverage appears on point. Once those bad boys thicken up, you're gonna be in for a real treat. Stay on Finasteride. 

Looking forward to the next update. 

-Fluff

27 minutes ago, Zoomster said:

So reading between the lines If one suffers from anagen synchronisation like I appear to have we can only hope to enjoy up to 80% of transplanted  hair volume at any one time come final result...?

Wondering about this as well. People say wait 12 months for the final result, but if at 12 months anagen desynchronization begins to occur, wouldn't it appear roughly equal to 100% of the transplant at 80-90% thickness? I believe that I experienced this between months 6-7 which is why I suddenly become concerned about how my result was coming along. Something to keep an eye on for sure. 

Can't tell that you got chopped. Hair still looks really good. I feel that when you get to this point in the journey hair greed sets in for most, especially if the transplant is above average. You can see what a full head of hair would look like, but the density just isn't there. Makes you start wondering what an extra 1500-2000 grafts in select areas would look like. 😄

Keep fighting the good fight brotha. 

-Fluff

18 minutes ago, Melvin-Moderator said:

Honestly, 

I think I will be headed to Eugenix myself next year. Hair greeds calling my name lol

Ha! I know the feeling well! 😄 I know Nelson, Abinay and the @Eugenix Hair Scienceteam would be over the moon to have you there. 

Small update. Found myself under some really harsh office lights tonight and wanted to snap a few pics for you guys. The thickening I've been experiencing has really allowed the transplant stand up under these kinds of difficult lighting conditions. It's a very positive development as my final result begins to round into shape. 

-Fluff

Little late posting my 9 month update, but the pictures were taken last week at 9 months exactly. Have seen a little new growth in the last 30 days, but mainly it's just thickening at this point. As usual have taken a variety of shots - towel dried fresh out the shower, under harsh downlight, standing on my balcony dried+ styled and a few other randoms. 

Please excuse the digital artifacts in some photos. When I import from my phone, I have to convert them to jpg. Too lazy to do it again to get perfect photos. 😅.

Happy to answer any questions!

12 minutes ago, Chris32 said:

I saw you mentioned you got a medical visa already. When did you get yours? Visa applications have been discontinued until further notice. I just emailed them and got the following message:

"Hello,

Currently, the Indian government is not processing visa approvals but you can place an application as early as now and we will process it as soon as they resume the process. Thank you."

See my post history. My procedure was last January. 

58 minutes ago, Chris32 said:

Is that all that is needed in addition to a passport? And I take it a regular tourist visa is not sufficient enough, correct?

I'll check out that website, looks like a good service. Is there a benefit to using them instead of the suggested Cox and Kings Global Service for obtaining Visas (https://www.in.ckgs.us/)? Like faster turnaround time, cheaper, etc.

I have no idea. I’m just telling you what I used. Turnaround time in my case was around two days. Getting the medical visa allows you to go back into the country in the unlikely event you have an issue with your transplant. I can’t vouch for the other service but I can for this. Good luck. 

I got an e-medical visa with these guys: https://www.ivisa.com

Easy and flawless. Highly recommended. 

The day I checked into the clinic the team showed me a client testimonial video they'd just shot. It featured this slick bald middle-aged Irish guy, well spoken, affable and relaxed talking about his experience at Eugenix. It struck me how generous this guy was to shoot a video before he even went under the knife. Over the past 9 months, it's been incredible to see the transformation you've undergone. This result is nothing but aces. I know it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. Stoked for you, man. 

1 hour ago, Looking for HT said:

Thanks Melvin. Yes, with fibres, it looks pretty good Will see how I get on and in the worst case scenario,  a touch up should fix the problem. Thanks for following and your feedback 😊

Your donor area is ridiculously thick. It appears you could harvest another 3000 and not miss a beat. Your touchup procedure is going to get you where you want to be and then some. Yes, you'll have to go through another ugly duckling stage, but it will be a small price to pay for the end result. My guess is Dr. Sethi can't wait to have another shot at this. 

You definitely look better than where you started. No doubt about that. Hope you continue to keep us updated through month 12. 

All the best, mate.

Fluff

Looking fantastic! Congrats!

9 minutes ago, kid said:

Dear Fluffhead,

I have a few comments for you and some questions;

First off, definitely your results are great. From personal experience I would humbly suggest to you that you try not to nit pick (i know it's not easy) if you see a slight gap or some minor asymmetrical areas. Keep in mind that naturally hairlines are not perfectly symmetrical and people after age 20 do experience some hairloss. Try to enjoy your results as much as possible and move on. I think the last thing you should think about now is another touchup. You may need some work done down the road but definitely not now. Always remember that the objective of a HT is to improve on a problem and not to achieve perfection. If you strive for the latter you may end up with a bigger problem than you started with.

 I am curious to know the following;

 - In my case I feel like the characteristics of the transplanted hairs are a bit wirey/frizzy. Basically if you pay close attention the transplanted hairs dont have same characteristics as natural hairs on my hairline. From your pics I cant see any of that at all. However we know that pics are not the same as seeing a result first hand. Have you noticed something similar from your results? Can anyone comment on this experience?

- I would like to know how noticeable or not would you say you result is. Based on how you feel, would you say it is noticeable to a barber? How about if you were swimming?

Thanks

 

Since getting my transplant, I’ve been to 2 different barbers. Neither have noticed that I had a transplant. I still haven’t gone back to my stylist of 10+ years. I’m waiting for the final result first. Her feedback is what I’ll use to benchmark the result. She’s brutally honest 😊.

As far as how it looks coming out of the pool, I would refer to the pictures above with wet hair. Would look similar to that. I have not, however, been to the pool since my surgery. 

The hair in the frontal 1/3 has a different texture. This is especially noticeable in the first 6 rows. I don’t think it’s unusual. The hair itself is getting stronger, thicker and more natural each month. You can see a picture from yesterday above. 

I’m not chasing perfection. I am chasing imperceptibly. I don’t want people to look at my hairline like something is off. I fully understand that a transplant is the illusion of density and not native density.

I didn’t get to enjoy my hair when I was in my late teens, 20s and 30’s. Instead I lived under hats and layers of embarrassment and poor self esteem. For the next 10 or so years of middle age I’d like to have the best head of hair I can get. That’s why I even mention a second sitting. I want to go after it now before the mid scalp and crown begin to bald even more. Maybe it’s foolish and  pathological, but it’s what I would like to experience for once in my life - a head of hair that I can style and have fun with. The other day my father sent me my football portrait from the summer before my senior year in high school. At 17, you can see that I was already going bald. For guys like me, this is something that was denied us when we were young, so a good hair transplant turns back the clock a little. It’s a messy bag of emotions. An empathetic surgeon understands this. They know how important it is. I feel Eugenix excels in this area. They really do care about their patients.

Let me know if you have any more questions!

-Fluff  

10 hours ago, Gabreille Nelson Mukhia said:

It is looking good. How is it now sir? 

The middle part of the hairline is filling in now. Trust the process! 😊 Thanks for stopping by, Nelson. 

17 minutes ago, Roman1973 said:

Could you plz make a conscious effort and try to answer my previous question seriously? I am of course bald otherwise I wouldn't be here but taking Fin is so scary that unless I understand how to handle its side effects I will probably refrain from any HT.

Have taken finasteride for 21 years. Have never, ever had an issue getting an erection. My sex drive has decreased over time, but that may have something to do with being in a monogamous relationship for 13 years. To be honest, it's fine. Much less of a nuisance. Not everyone has the same enthusiasm for sex. It comes down to individual relationships and whether or not both parties are comfortable with the frequency of sexual congress. 

For me, having hair is more important. How you look impacts your everyday life. If that means I bust a nut less frequently, then so be it. Will pop finasteride until I die. YMMV.

2 minutes ago, Mycroft said:

Thanks for sharing so many different "states" of the hair. I feel like patient posts have been a bit better about doing this lately and it helps people considering surgery have realistic expectations.

As a bit of a perfectionist myself I see where you might have concerns but I think you're in a much better headspace than your last update and that you will likely see some of that alleviated with hair maturation as you said.

Looking at your photos I actually suspect that the lack of maturity in some of the hairs is probably causing them to be a little less cooperative when you're styling, which probably feeds into your frustrations with certain spots looking weaker at times.

Having said all of this, I still think this is shaping up to be a great result, and even if you do end up wanting a second pass you'll be able to look good in the meantime. I promise nobody is doing a double-take looking at that hairline and that's exactly where you want to be.

Your wisdom is always appreciated, @Mycroft. I'm optimistic that things will continue to improve. My hair can definitely be a bit uncooperative at times. There's distinct kinkiness in the hairline. It's been around a month since my last haircut, so it's time to get it trimmed which always helps the look. 

I know that I shouldn't expect much growth from this point, so judging by the state of my hair at the moment, I'll almost definitely be looking at a second sitting. Will have to decide if Eugenix is the right clinic for the next round. Will make that decision at the year mark. Appreciate your continued support. 

On 8/30/2020 at 10:57 PM, Melvin-Moderator said:

Great presentations, if you were unhappy, you’d only post the negative angles. That’s how easily a community can be swayed. Shows that hair transplants aren’t perfect, but styled correctly, they can get to be 99% like yours. Great job man you’re an asset to the community 👏🏼

I am definitely not unhappy! 😄 I know what a critical decision this is for so many. My primary objective is to provide clear pictures and analysis of my hair at each of the monthly milestones. I fully understand that second sitting is required in many cases, and I'm prepared to take that step if necessary. Continuous improvement is what I'm after. Thanks for your support, Melvin. 

Yesterday was 8 months on the dot, so you guys are owed an update! Have definitely seen some darkening and maturing in the last 30 days. The gaps in the hairline have become less noticeable, so I'm feeling much better about my overall appearance. My left side is weaker than my right side. Not sure if fewer grafts were placed there, if the grafts didn't take, or if I've seen some hair loss behind the hairline. Probably all three are possible :). I'm adjusting to it, however, so the obsessive side of my personality is paying less and less attention to it over time. 

I'm providing several sets of pictures here. Sorry if it's overkill, but it may help someone in the future. 

1. Straight out of the shower untouched. 

2. Out of the shower slicked back.

3. Towel dried almost immediately post shower

5. Towel dried combed. 

6. Dried and styled under different kinds of light. (No fibers, but some clay added)

One thing I can say is that there are lots of immature hairs in my hairline and right behind the hairline at the moment. That's why it has a wispy, kinky look in some pictures. I'm assuming these hairs will darken, thicken and straighten out over the next 4 months. If that happens, I feel the result will end up look pretty damn good. Feeling much more positive than last month. Got to give these things time! 

If you have any questions, please let me know. 

-Fluff

8 hours ago, Zoomster said:

Hi All

8 months today and it’s been the most stressful month of my life so can’t have helped things HT wise ..but life goes on ..

I’ve attached mix of indoor /outdoor pics for comparison.

To answer @NAVI HTs are all about expectations and starting points..my resulte so far might seem mediocre to your average NW 2 to 5 but i can tell you as a NW 6/7 there are days I feel like I’ve won the lottery re how things are turning out ..especially so as i was deemed unsuitable candidate in the past ..

My área of concern is mid scalp density /thickness so I’m hopeing I’ll have improvements right up to the 12 Month Mark ..also happy to report new “pops “in hairline and crown area last couple of days 

two things about finasteride ..it definitely is helping my donor become more robust and recover well and has darkened my hair ...and also maybe someone one here can clarify does using Finasteride negate the benefits of using beard to scalp grafts ..ie Fin miniaturizes beard hair ??..I picked up on this somewhere on fórum ..I asked Eugenix to clarify no word back yet .

Any feedback most welcome 

Z 

 

 

 

Sorry to hear you've been going through a rough month, Zoom. My guess is that you have an incredible support structure of friends and family to help you through whatever you're facing.

This result is simply phenomenal. Every month it keeps getting better and better. Comparing your initial before shots with where you are right now it is like looking at a completely different person.  I'm so stoked for you, buddy. The Eugenix team crushed this one. The weaker mid scalp density isn't really that noticeable to my eyes. From the front your hair is a 10/10.

Can't wait for your month 9 update. Stay strong, pal. 

On 8/23/2020 at 12:47 AM, Looking for HT said:

Month 8 update

So today I have completed 8 months since I had my surgery on 21/22 Dec 2019.

Results so far are not what I expect but I am going to give it full 12 months before passing any judgements. Also, if after 12 months, the things doesnt improve, its not the end of the world.

I trust and have been told that Dr Sethi with perform a touch up procedure if required. But who knows...I might get lucky by month 12. So I am leaving negativity behind and hoping for the best.

BTW, I have let my hair grow at the back and nobody can tell that I have got a HT done.

I do have a lot of grey so will colour it in few weeks.

I cannot thank enough for all the support and advice so far from everyone at this forum.

Thank you

Your donor area looks phenomenal at this length. It's definitely the sweet spot. I need to revise my earlier comment! Granted you can't really rock a fade, but that's a small price to pay for a fuller head of hair. Looks like you still have a ton of grafts back there, so a touchup procedure won't be an issue at all. 

First 6 layers in the hairline remain problematic, but it appears everything else continues to thicken. Your profile shots are looking much stronger now. I think the temple points are looking a tad better as well. I think my primary gripe is that they don't really match the surrounding hair very well, at least at this point. I think the design of the points themselves is top notch, and even 25% more density would make them look great. Let's hope that more hairs pop in these next couple of months to get you across the finish line. 😁

Overall, I feel this is your best looking update yet. At least you've got a free touch up offer in your pocket, so the crew at Eugenix definitely has your back. Thanks for continuing to post. Looking forward to month 9!

Follow you on YouTube. Love your content - interesting, funny and transparent. I think your result looks phenomenal at this point. A+ work on the hairline. Your donor area is enviable as well. Can't wait to see your final result. I think this is going to end up one of the best transplants of the year. Keep up the good work!

On 8/12/2020 at 10:15 AM, InterventionalPDoc said:

Hello Fluffhead, 

There is a sweet spot with hair length when it comes to transplants. I have personally found longer hair doesn't always add up to the density, it is the length you had at 5 -6 month mark that has worked best for me.

At the end of the day hair transplant is a illusion and greater number of grafts with proper angles of implantation is what makes it a near perfect illusion. 

 

I recently got a haircut back to the length it was around the 5-6 month mark and agree wholeheartedly with you. Shorter hair looks a ton better and strengthens the illusion. 

On 8/13/2020 at 7:12 AM, Gabreille Nelson Mukhia said:

Lets wait for at least a year for the complete results. But we must remember that we cannot achieve the same density as we mighthave had before balding. It will be natural and have an illusion of density. But at the end of the day, it is just 40 hair per sqcm.

Praying these gaps fill in, Nelson. They're unsightly and frustrating, and I've gone back to wearing a hat. Has nothing to do with 40 hairs/sqcm. Will wait patiently, though, for that 1 year mark to fully assess. Was hoping to avoid a second sitting, but I'll do whatever it takes to get the outcome I desire ☺️.

On 8/12/2020 at 2:07 PM, LonelyGraft said:

@Fluffhead how often are you using Nizoral and which strength? Spex has stated in the past that overusing nizoral could cause shedding 

I'm on the OTC 1% non-prescription Nizoral. I use it 2x per week. I've always had pretty bad dandruff, and I've found it helps. Doubt it's causing shedding.