jimcraig152

Don't be discouraged. I think with some temple grafts and additional grafts in the corners, the height of the hairline placement they've designed for you would work. Here, take a look at this: See how it frames your face better? But yeah, would be good to wait another 3-4 months for the fin benefits to kick in before being more aggressive.

Yeah, ask them to design a hairline that frame's your face better. And if they are apprehensive to do so, at least get the reasoning from them. The hair line they've proposed to you is a net zero change in my view. Also, I'd wait a little while longer to confirm finasteride is kicking and stops your hair loss. Then let them know this. Perhaps the effects of finasteride not yet kicking in is a factor in their conservative approach.

Means you'll look like a man still suffering from hair loss, rather than a man with a great head of hair. That they are being conservative, perhaps you are not able to take finasteride? So they are being conservative to reserve donor supply to treat crown work in the future? I don't know. Perhaps they don't have resources for a larger graft procedure?

Too conservative. But I am sure there are other factors involved in that decision. For one, I can't tell from your photos how old you are.

Though your pictures aren't clear, the reason why one would pay the extra $$$ for FUE is for less visible scarring and the flexibility to wear shorter hairstyles. You haircut in that picture can't get much shorter. So mission accomplished. As for your recipient area, you are right on track. How many grafts was this?

Hey @baldlivesmatter, Thanks for stopping by. In the 3 months since I have been on this forum, I have seen all the great results from Dr. Diep. Those results are at least a year old. And if you participate frequently on any internet forum, you know it is bad "netiquette" to bump an old thread. That is why I haven't commented on those old threads, not that I am being dismissive. I think your hair looks great. I acknowledged that in this very thread back in this post, BTW. As for my results, no doubt I will look good at the end of my journey. No doubt even as I pragmatically assess my current progress, I look good now. However, it is very easy for hair loss sufferers to be pragmatic in affirming their results. Simply because, where we were once bald, we now have hair! So we have to be ecstatic, yeah? #cartwheels. The problem with approaching assessments pragmatically is to be dismissive of any/all inherent shortcomings. True, no hair transplant is perfect. But the shortcomings are clearly as a result of compromises that could have been avoided and cannot simply be dismissed. Let's call the identification of these repeated shortcomings for what they truly are: Compromises employed by Dr. Diep at the expense of diminished aesthetic results that the patient is seeking in surgical hair restoration. These compromises allow Dr. Diep to save his time during any given day. That time saved then is leveraged to maximize his revenue stream through increased volume of patient procedures performed per day (2 full procedures per day) and increased pre-consultations arranged per day (effectively, $1000 per pre-consultation). In these discussions, I am reminded of having recently watched a WWII documentary. The theme explored in the documentary was this: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” As a brother in the struggle, I am happy for you and the results you've attained. However, these baby doll grafts were delivered by Dr. Diep as a result of compromise. This unnatural hairline was delivered by Dr. Diep as a result of compromise. The decreased flexibility for a FUE patient (like yourself) to wear shorter hair styles is a result of compromise. Dismissing these things gives Dr. Diep a pass, allowing these shortcomings to be applied on fellow hair loss sufferers to follow. Dismissing the criticisms, turning the other cheek, is all that it takes for these shortcomings to continue to exist.

I don't believe I've ever taken my criticism of Dr. Diep down the ad hominem path. You can correct me if you feel otherwise. My critiques of Dr. Diep have been directed towards the application of his techniques, the reasonings he provides for his methods, the compromises he takes/his MO, and the operation of his clinic. As for your results. I think they are great, world class even. But I would not categorize Dr. Diep as world class. Consistency is a hallmark of any critical measure of review. And there are way too many inconsistencies with Dr. Diep's work to qualify him as a world class hair transplant surgeon. EDIT: Though, I respect your opinion.

Mathematically, it results in the effort of 1 whole procedure that Hasson and Wong perform each per day: (1/2 of a patient's FUE procedure--the implanting part) * (2 patients) * (1 day) is equivalent to 1 whole procedure per day performed each by Hasson & Wong. It is not even a concern when highly competent techs perform the extractions. I mean, in the US, you can have a surgeon performing the implantation, then have, within legal US guidelines, an ARTAS machine doing the excisions. Which would you rather have? 🤪

That was rocknrollman as well. Here is that post.

Thanks. No matter really. The primary goal of FUE and the reason one pays for the higher premium is so you can have less visible scarring allowing for the flexibility to wear shorter hair styles. The primary goal is clearly satisfied and that is plain to see. The secondary goal of FUE, which is proportionally related to the primary goal is low transection loss/high yield. As high transection loss requires additional punches thus producing more scarring. There is a proven track record from Hasson and Wong for low transection loss/high yield. Thus, their techs are highly qualified. Perhaps are surgical interns? Given the goals are satisfied and the track record has been proven over and over again, there is no problem. In all actuality, given the obvious skill of H&W's techs, the patients are best served this way. I mean, let's say in another professional setting where the product is a specialized electronics device. Is the customer best served if the engineer that designed and builds that device also responsible for packing and shipping out that device? Or should the engineer outsource the packing and shipping so their skills can be best served refining that product? I would choose the later. The key is the competency of the techs which is plain to see, allowing Hasson and Wong to divide and conquer the more important work, the incisions implanting which requires both technical proficiency and artistry.

So does that mean, 4 patients are done by Hasson and Wong in a day (2 patients for each surgeon). Or two patients a day (1 patient for each surgeon)?

Your a good dude @Melvin-Moderator and you have a great head of hair now! Kudos to Dr Diep on your work! While we are on this specific subject, would you mind updating us on the status of this patient? Many of us have some real concerns in this regard.

BTW, after getting over the initial shock of the the procedure around the 6th day, I've stated that I like my early results. I still do. No doubt I'll look good at the end of all of this. But it is also possible for me to be critical of what I see. If you recall, @Melvin-Moderator, I stated very early on in this thread, its not the criticism that matters, it is what one does with the criticism that does. So let's hope Dr. Diep does hear these concerns. Because when it comes to criticism, there are only two things that one can do: Prove them right, or Prove them wrong It is also well within my privilege to be appalled when a fellow hair loss sufferer goes to the same surgeon I went to for an 800 graft procedure, then has >1,400 units excised from his scalp. Over 45% of follicular excised units inexplicably lost. And to a lesser extreme, be similarly appalled to see baby doll grafts implanted into a hairline in 2020. Or when a patient pays the premium for a FUE procedure so they can have less visible scarring allowing for the flexibility of wearing shorter hairstyles to see all +1,000 excisions performed on too small of an area, defeating the purpose of paying the premium for FUE in the first place. There is no other group of members on this forum that are more aware of the great results that Dr. Diep produces than actual patients of Dr. Diep. Including me. I/we would have never sought surgical hair restoration with Dr. Diep in the first place had we not been aware of those great results. We aren't dismissive of those results, we are dealing with the odd peculiarities. Like the primary goal of all surgical hair restoration is universally lauded as naturalness. A listing of 7 rules for naturalness and density is quite plainly indoctrinated on MHTA's website. The 7th rule being: "Random hair placement: In nature, hair grows randomly, no specific rows or groups of hair. The more random the hair placement, the more natural it will appear." Yet it is an odd wonder that we all have grafts implanted in rows on our scalps. Defeating that rule entirely and the primary goal of surgical hair restoration. Anyways, Diep "Haters" (I suppose I am lumped into this side of the fence) and Diep "Riders" can do this all day. But we have more important things to do on this particular day. So get your asses out and vote!

I got a PM from elsewhere remarking about my early growth. While I think I am ahead of the curve by a bit, I don't think it is mutant-Wolverine-healing-factor aided recovery by any means. But that person asked if I got the A-Cell or Amniofill treatment options ($600 each). Obviously, he must be a recent MHTA patient too and must have bought into those treatments. I told him I would answer in my thread. But before I answer that, let me say that during the 8 months between my preconsultation visit and the actual date of my surgery, the Amniofill and A-Cell options and explanations for what they are were never presented to me, not once. The first time I ever heard about them was when I was reading the final agreement I had to sign on the day of the procedure. I left them blank because i had no idea what they were. Then Dr. Diep explained to me that it "Can help me recover faster." I suppose if the world had been normal, the idea of faster recovery would be a good selling point as a patient would have to be presentable at work and such. My knowledge on the subject of surgical hair restoration was much more limited then, even just 3 months ago. But whatever research I had done up until then, never once had I heard of Amniofill or A-Cell at all, let alone wide use of those treatments in surgical hair restoration. Plus I knew the recovery period would take a full year. Factor in that had I opted in for those treatments, they would have been agreed to in the same document where I just signed an agreement that hair restoration is not guaranteed for success. And given that "faster" is a relative term, what value is there in a treatment that costs $600 each when measured on a scale of recovery that takes 12-to-18 months? What is faster? Two weeks, a month when balanced on the scale of at least 365 days? In any case, the decision was easy for me. It was aided by knowing I was going to be in quarantine for the foreseeable future anyway. I didn't see the value in those treatments given the time scale and macro circumstances. Make of it what you will that these options were presented last minute. But I think I made the right decision by passing on them.

Less visible scarring is the reason one pays the extra premium for FUE. Was that achieved? Check! The primary goal for surgical hair restoration is naturalness. Was that achieved? Check! One patient, one surgeon, two days. The needs of the patient put first, one patient at a time no matter the time that needs to be spent. Anything less than these simple standards shouldn't qualify for further mention. Can't be more simple. Excellent work by a surgeon that sets the bar for the industry. I do so love to seeing this. Congrats brutha! Will follow your thread closely.

@anotherhairlosssufferer, my response to you is as a brother suffering from hair loss. I'd like keep this as an open dialogue over the next post or two. So feel free to respond and I will too. Firstly, I think your struggle with overall processing of what you are seeing in these real patient testimonies in this forum is being weighed down by the following factors: The $1000 deposit you've already paid to keep your scheduled surgery appointment and the fear of losing that substantial amount of money The convenience of geography. I am guessing you must live in close proximity to MHTA or can crash at someone's house in the area. Or you might be out of the area and have already made travel plans and don't want to go through the inconvenience of cancelling and losing out on further monetary investment The research you've put into the decision already; the time you've already spent. You just don't want to lose anymore as you've suffered long enough The Youtube videos you've seen Am I right? For the moment, let go of these things so you can start fresh with the critical decisions you have to make. With all 4 of the bullets above, wipe them clean off your slate, if only for a moment. Imagine that $1000 deposit can be refunded to you at any time. Do it. Imagine there is another choice surgeon you don't have to travel far to. Do it. Imagine that you know nothing about surgical hair restoration and are just beginning your own musings into it and have not lost any personal investment of time into it. Do it. Toss out any results you've seen from Youtube. Do it. Now that you've done that, click on @rocknrollman's user ID above. He mentions he is a rock star in one of his postings. An 'effen ROCK STAR of all things! Now what would it take to make a rock star upset? The baby doll plugs that will be on prominent display as he is on stage. The same ones that are implanted into @Tentpole91 where his latest posts expresses he is just waiting out completion of the 12 month recovery to get repairs from a different surgeon. Then look at @Dadda response in that thread where he expresses he is in the same boat. Take a look at this patient's thread then ask yourself if what you see is natural. Take a look at @baldlivesmatter thread. While his transplanted hair results look great because has thick hair follicles. But then click to the end of the thread where he is pondering what he options he has to combat the fact that his extractions weren't spread out throughout his donor region. He paid extra dollars for FUE (like you will) so he could have less visible scarring and so he could have the ability to wear shorter hair styles. Has he really achieved that? Now let's look at the work of other surgeons. Take a look at this patient's results after 8300 FUE grafts and tell me if you think his donor looks worse off than my 2332 FUE extractions or baldlivesmatters'. Take a look at his recipient area and tell me which surgeon produced the most natural result. 8300 FUE units over 3 procedures. I would say this surgeon produced yield that surpasses anything you've seen with Dr. Diep, yeah? Now look at this patient's 2500 graft procedure. Which donor do you feel is better handled. Which surgical grafting technique appears more nature-made to you? Would you be astonished if I told you that both these patients paid ~$2.50 per unit + a trip to Mexico. If you do the math, does that put the expense at or below the $19K MHTA estimated for you? Here is another 2500 graft procedure. Ask the same questions. I picked 2500 units as that is close the estimate for your procedure and for my final count. But let's look at a larger procedure. Here is a 2800 graft procedure. Whose donor is more worse for wear? Who is going to be in a better position with their donor supply to treat progression as we age? Getting back to those 4 points: The common thread about myself and those other Diep patients isn't that we've had work done with MHTA. That is the past. The commonality is in our futures. We are all likely to have further HT surgery, not to treat progression, but for repair. So think of that $1000 deposit as money you might save if you can avoid a repair. Don't be afraid to travel. You don't get do overs. Make the choice that achieves the best possible outcome for you. Don't worry about the time you've spent already. It has already past. Put the time you have now to the best possible use as the time will pass anyway. As for the Youtube videos, Dr. Diep's most passionate supporter will tell you this: "They are all cherry picked. No Dr. is going to put out their bad work." So if you've digested the above, know that you have a good 3 months or so before there is no looking back. If you do end up choosing Dr. Diep, let's make sure you get what you want. I and the rest of the fellas commenting in this thread are your brothers in the same struggle. We have no skin in the game and are just trying to help each other out. I don't mind keeping the dialog open in my thread as long as it helps someone; you. Lastly, I never said Dr. Diep butchered me. Not once. And if you think I am being xenophobic in my criticisms of his work, know that Dr. Diep and I are both Vietnamese. And it is because we are both of Viet-descent, I expect better from him as it is ingrained into our culture.

Hey @Micky597, For afro hair and resulting hairstyles, Dr. Diep's methods seem to lend towards success. The row placement is diffused by the random growth of curly afro hair. I would imagine you would only have an issue if you were to wear a zero fade hairstyle (like how Eddie Murphy wears his hair in this video). But being you are a FUT patient, it is not likely you will ever do that. The straight line approach Dr. Diep uses to place hairlines actually lends perfectly for afro hairstyles and will save your barber some time in the future I mentioned in my first response on your thread that your procedure is some of the better work that Dr. Diep has done in some time. The reason I said that is because he placed the rows tightly together all throughout your recipient area. Now would you have benefited from natural graft placement? I think so. But how much so? Probably only in those instances where you would wear a zero fade hair style. And for psychological reasons to combat feelings of uneasiness after reading my postings :). I think you'll be fine.

That is correct. Nizoral.

Thanks @DenverBuff1989. Ahhh, k. Well my HT is all hairline work, so looks like I won't be using any concealer then. Will use head wear for the Holiday gatherings. Working from home during the pandemic. Not likely to see my co-workers again for another 6-12 months. Not worried the professional setting. Despite suffering hairloss since my late teens, the progression has been slow and I've always been able to hide my hairloss well. Having the illusion of great hair has always been my trademark.......... Age 27 (short hair styled to hide NW3 status) Age 45 (long hair styled to concea NW3 statusl) Age 45 (long hair w/no concealment effort) ................so I am not ready to surrender that illusion yet.

A beanie or hat is the fall back plan. But I've never used any concealers before. Want to explore it as an alternative. FYI, here is where I am at today with my progress. I don't imagine it will change much in the next month for which I'll be 4 months removed from my surgery:

@anotherhairlosssufferer, please answer these questions so I can properly respond to you. What NW scale are you? Who did you book your surgery with? How many grafts have been estimated for you? FUT or FUE? How old are you? What is the price per unit for your procedure? I noticed your user ID, so my response shall be as a brother who has been dealt similarly bad cards.

Never used concealer in my life. But I've seen a ton of really bad examples from celebrities, athletes, and various men over the years. Need a recommendation for a concealer that would best suit this need: Hair will be very short as of Thanksgiving, I will be 4 months into the recovery process from HT There will be no styling products in the hair otherwise as it is too short right now As a result, hair will be dry and not have the wet/styled look I tend to sweat when I eat and drink (alcohol) on the Holdays Things sometimes get rowdy messing around with friend and family Any concealer better than one or the other? I just need to get through the few days during the Holidays, then it is back into quarantine.

Check out this man's thread. He went from this, to this on the Big 3 + derma rolling + keeping healthy + being persistent. I've gotten quite a bit of regrowth in the temporal regions in the 5 months I've started using min and fin. Not sure which one is doing it either. But in case it is min that is causing the regrowth, doesn't make sense for me to stop using it. No growth really at the vertex or the crown though.

Thanks for the update @Tentpole91. I feel bad for the circumstances but am glad you didn't get passed an NDA and still do speak truthfully about the experience. Best......

Roughly the same as he stated here. Also, Shapiro posts that for each FUE unit, it is $7 on his website.