Gatsby

On 2/2/2020 at 8:22 AM, Mr Sinister said:

Hi guys, as smp is still a relatively new field I’m finding it hard to find examples of smp which have been done over 4 or 5+ years ago. I understand it fades, but I’m wondering if the pigments have a tendency to “bleed” into each other over time, similar to how normal tattoos work.

Have any of you had the procedure done a few years ago and got example pics?

thanks 

The key to good SMP is finding a great SMP artist. Someone who has been doing it for more than a few years and didn't decide to take up SMP as a career change in mid life. Before I had SMP I did a lot of research, no less than I would in researching for the best hair transplant surgeon for my needs. I was prepared to travel/fly, etc. I live in Australia and luckily I discovered Caitlin James. She now has three other SMP artists working for her across Australia under SMP Australia. I saw a few SMP artists before Caitlin and the body of work that Caitlin provided compared to the others were like night and day. Please note that I do not work for Caitlin in any way, shape or form. I'm just happy with being hair piece free after 25 years of hiding not only my baldness, but the scars of two really bad hair transplants. If people are looking for a really good SMP artist then you have to treat it the same as if you were looking for the best surgeon to perform a hair transplant on you. Their are so many cowboys in this industry (as it is a relatively new industry) and SMP is not for everyone. As stated earlier, SMP lasts a lot longer where as trichopigmentation is broken down by the body much more quickly. There are arguments for and against both. If anyone does intend on going down this path, then again, just do your due diligence. Unlike a hair transplant, SMP can be lasered off, but it is a painful process. Also everyone (just like a hair transplant) is different. Scars behave differently to SMP than the scalp and can absorb ink leading to 'blue' scars appearing, etc.

voxman you have a great head of 'natural' looking hair man. It looks good long. Keep it growing!

I had given up on hair transplants after I had several procedures to remove the punch grafts in my early 20’s. I began researching hair transplants again only four years ago when I was rejected by Dr Bhatti who I saw in person. Other hair transplant surgeons said they could go ahead but give me a limited head of hair (framing the face, filling in the forelock, etc). I declined until I spoke with Eugenix very early in the year. 

12 hours ago, Melvin-Moderator said:

I don’t mind it, bald cafe has a very anti-hair transplant stance. What made you change your mind on hair transplants?

Hey Melvin. Like zoomster I was told Previously that I was not a candidate for a hair transplant. It wasn’t until I got in touch with Dr Pradeep and Dr Arika that I was informed by them at Eugenix that I would be a suitable candidate. 

5 hours ago, LonelyGraft said:

Hey gatsby, who do you use for your amp and how long does it last in your scars? Your results are as good as this guys imo 

Hey Lonely Graft. I did a lot of research initially as I would if I was going to have a hair transplant as I think I may have stated. In the end I went with SMP Australia. Caitlin James did my SMP and she had volumes of work over the years to show me covering men, women, HT scar camouflage, different forms of Alopeica, SMP for HT's requiring more visual density, people wishing to get rid of wearing hair pieces, etc. She travels O/S every year for conferences and has won many international awards, etc. Caitlin has also worked with a hair transplant surgeon for many years also so she has a great understanding of how hair should behave, even at a shaved look.

As to how long SMP last comes down to so many variables. After the final SMP, after a few days the results settle and look at their best at about the two week mark. They continue to look 'great' for up to six months (this is in hiding linear scars I should add). Over time linear scars tend to become slightly more visible (they attract the eye geometrically, where as old style large 'punch grafts' and current FUE scars remain hidden. The reason why over several years SMP fades (but still remains) is because the liver is constantly trying to break down the foreign material. It's also incredibly important to cover your scalp from the sun (as it can bleach down the look over time 'and' give you skin cancer). The type of ink and the range of pigments available also play a role. Most importantly it comes down to the person performing it. It's just like the hair transplant industry. I hope this helps. Take care!

I have posted this podcast I did with Harry earlier in the year from his YouTube channel 'Bald Cafe.' I was getting pretty down on myself (due to the lock down at the time really) but I am fine now. The reason I am posting it is because I just want to share with some of the more recent and very young members who are requesting to have very low hairlines and unnecessary procedures as young as 20. I made this mistake at '18' and although I have come out of it on the other side many, many years later, I wouldn't wish what I had to go through on anyone to get there.

I hope it's ok Melvin to put this post up and feel free to delete if it's breaking any rules, etc. My aim is to hopefully prevent others from making the same mistake/s I did. It's so sad that today many, MANY years after what happened to me, this is now still happening on an almost pandemic level! There are so many young men who we never even hear from that live a lonely life of quiet desperation from the result of a bad hair transplant. It's a long video so feel free to only some of it if you choose to. Take care everyone!

Hey Leonidas. What is the name of the doctor who performed your procedure? How much involvement did he have in the procedure? What is the name of his clinic? It looks great. Looking forward to your updates in the future. Thanks for sharing.

You look great. You look unremarkable in that you appear as if you never had a hair transplant! I agree with Nelson that you should try finasteride to keep what native hair that you currently have. I look forward to further updates. Congratulations!

From the glabella (the point between the eyebrows) the hairline 'ideally' should be 7cm's high. This obviously varies and in older men should be slightly higher. This is if you want a 'natural' looking hairline and not something from Planet of the Apes!

That hairline is far too low. You have to remember you will be living with this for the rest of your life. You need a hairline that you can grow into, not out of. I have the scars to prove it.

I agree that less light to the scalp will equal less pigment from the sun. Also remember that scarring also occurs under the skin where the grafts heal which is perfectly normal.

When it comes to hair it's all about confidence (or lack of it). It's our self perception that seems to dictate much of our self esteem. At 25 after two failed hair transplants and nothing but scars across my forehead (and donor region) and a receding hairline I opted for the one thing I thought I would never do. I got a hair piece. Did I regain my hair? No. Was my confidence and self esteem sky high? Fucking A! Throughout my 20's and 30's I never worried about not be able to attract a girlfriend and I had plenty. I was also a gym junky and would work out without the hair piece or just wear a cap. Some girlfriends knew it was a wig as I would tell them or make a joke of it and let it fall off and others didn't know. I remember a few 'intimate encounters' where half way through a partner would want to run her hands through my hair and I would say something like 'just not right now love!' 🤣

However it would be fair to say that I could never go out with a woman who had an issue with my hair (my car, my bank balance, etc, etc). And neither should anyone, be it follicilarly  challenged or otherwise! I have a gorgeous girlfriend now, much younger than me and she couldn't care if I had hair or not. Love doesn't operate like that. If only we too could see ourselves as others do. We would be far more self loving and so much more happier too.

Who was the surgeon/clinic that you went to? What have they said about this? Was this an FUE or FUT procedure? What medication are you taking? To me there are so many unanswered questions that you need to share and explore in order to get the feed back that you require to go forward to achieve your goals. Firstly your hair/scalp looks 'natural' and does not look scarred, etc. This is a huge plus! Also you need to take action re: the first questions I have put to you. I realise how upset you are feeling now (trust me I have been there myself for years) but there will be a way out. Several members here who have great looking heads of hair have had a first poor result from a transplant (sometimes even two poor results). Again I would just like to stress that as bad as you are feeling this will pass. You need to ask us more questions so we are able to help. Take care!

I'm incredibly happy for you! The color of your hair also blends well with your skin, adding to the illusion. You have great coverage already. I look froward to see final results after the 12 month mark. Thanks for sharing!

On 8/5/2020 at 3:34 PM, rhstoned said:

@Gatsby Thanks! do you know anyone on here i can follow up on their experience with eugenix? I'm willing to go anywhere to get this next HT done but i've been hesitant on India. Turkey alone with a bit iffy for me but i know there are "some" really good doctors there if you do the research. 

@rhstoned yes. Quite a few here have had surgery with Eugenix. zoomster and several others here have. I'm sure other prople can chime in with names they can remember. Wishing you all the best!

Wow your donor looks like it was never touched! Impressive work and I look forward to your updates. Congratulations!

Great topic Melvin.

@ontop. I would never have believed that a laser cap could benefit in anyway more than just being another gimmick. However they actually can have a slight/moderate benenfit. Look up laser cap and Joe Tillman on YouTube where he talks about (but does not endorse or receive anything) them. All the best.

16 hours ago, Zoomster said:

Can’t wait to start following your Journey @Gatsby..any word on when travel can commence again ??

youd think the Oz PM would understand the important of your predicament and allow you a special travel visa to India ..perhaps even lay on the government Jet for you 😊

Z 

I think you'll be rocking a ZZ Top look by the time I can get out of Oz. Our Prime Minister has quite 'literally' stated that international travel will not begin until a vaccine has been found and is available. The good new is that it's very unlikely that I will be losing anymore hair before then! Stay well zoomster and I look forward to more of your updates.

Incredible result! your hairline looks exactly as mother nature intended. congratulations!

Sorry to hear about the stress and struggle zoomster. Hope things sort themselves out as all things do pass.

Your scalp though!! It just keeps on pushing out hair! It's really quite amazing to see how you have achieved total coverage. However the gold standard is how natural your results are. The hairline is soft and the crown is growing in the direction that mother nature intended. Very happy for you and you still have quite a few months to realize the full effect. All the best and take care!

Not meaning to hijack your thread Melvin. This is what the back of my head looks like when shaved (pre SMP). The top scar looked like the bottom scar and I had it removed in a strip like procedure maybe 20 years or so ago. I was going to have the bottom scar removed also in a strip procedure but just gave up on the idea. This was in the days when I wore a hair piece and I started to toy with the idea of maybe shaving my head. The next photo is after the final treatment when I first had SMP about three and a half years ago.

15 hours ago, Melvin-Moderator said:

There’s been a potential cure for the past 20 years. Tsuji, allergan, none of these are even close IMO. 

Make that 35 years and counting!

I would give this a wide berth personally. Forget Turkey if you have a virgin scalp. No offense.

Firstly, what a great head of 'natural looking' hair on your head you have Melvin! Second to that, no one outside of a hair transplant forum would pick or view your donor area as scarred. On top of that, your hair is cut so close to the scalp and it still looks great. If you were ever concerned yourself then a top SMP artist would be able disguise your donor perfectly. FUE scars are very easy to hide compared to FUT scars. I have large punch graft scars in my donor (like 5mm round) that SMP hides completely. Linear or FUT scars are much harder to disguise and attract the eye.