tremblant

Hi Megatron, I think your hair looks pretty good under those strong-light close-ups. Just to echo what hairthere said, if you use some product you may be able to get away with pushing the hair back at this point (under bright light it will be a bit see through though) - have you tried Samy Fat Hair thickening cream -- after making your hair a *touch* wet (slightly drier than towel-dry), put a small amount on your hands, rub palms together, and , rub it through the top area from roots to tips , then blow dry and then push it back w/ your fingers instead of a comb -- it will thicken you up! I do it even without the blow drying and feel that it helps. I learned about that on this forum actually... Please post a pic to show us what it looks like if you end up doing it.

Maxxy, My Finasteride is produced by Mylan: http://www.mylanpharms.com/pro...aspx?pid=187&query=1 This is the stuff I have now which I got from my local pharmacy. When it runs out I'm filling at Costco; I'm not sure which company produces their Finasteride. Spex: That looks pretty hard to me, also the Finasteride pill is a bit smaller than the Proscar pill, and I have a hard enough time cutting it into 4 even pieces with a pill-cutter! Also, when you cut like that you're taking a bit less than 1mg on some days and a bit more on other days, whereas w/ a 4-way split you know you're getting at LEAST the recommended dose of 1mg every day. Maybe it doesn't matter though...

I know some people don't even trust generic finasteride, let alone getting a generic from overseas.... personally i wouldn't mess around with a med not made in a US pharmacy, just isn't worth the risk for your precious hair. cutting the pill in 4 is hard enough, i can't imaging trying to cut it in 5 -- generic finasteride is a SMALL pill..... i wouldn't skip a daily dose either, but just my personal opinion. i think the AM is the best time to take it, your body's productions of steroid hormones are at the highest then... anyone agree/disagree?

hi bud, I recently found out from help of people on the forum the following: Finasteride is the generic form of proscar (both are 5mg tabs) but finasteride is cheaper. If you fill your Rx at Costco it's like $35 or so for a 30 pill supply of Finasteride (which after you split it in four lasts 4 months) vs. my local pharmacies/CVS/walgreens where it is $90 or so for the same quantity. Versus propecia, which like you said is on the order of $200-300 for the same quantity. Seems like a no-brainer, esp. since I'll be taking it for many years...

The problem with this though is that you would have supershort hair on the top (b/c it had been recently shaved) and 2" hair on the sides/back? This would look very unnatural if you went to work w/out hat 2 weeks post-op. To Emperor: initially you said that you may be able to get away w/buzzing to a #4 on sides/back and using concealers, which would make sense, then you said side hair would need to be an inch or longer for concealers ... I guess it depends on your hair characteristics/shock loss. Anyone else had good experience w/recipient shaving and then returning to work in 2 weeks (without people knowing you had surg)?

Emperor, Thanks for the reply, some interesting thoughts. Well, I have straight black coarse hair, probably avg to above avg density, and fair skin. It seems that if you strategize it and don't buzz down the sides/back but cut it short but not too short it could work (be back at work in 2 wks), provided top is not too red. And if there is some shock loss, do concealers do a decent job of concealing things, provided that you have let the hair grow at least 2 weeks post op?

HTI and HairCare, To clarify, I'm not as concerned with a "bald/balding look" or the "shock loss" as I am with someone noticing something (scar or otherwise) that makes them think "transplant surgery". So...how long?

Hi, Wish I didn't have to start a new thread, but after searching couldn't find answer: Two part question: 1) If you shave recipient area pre-HT, how long will it take before you could go back to work without anyone knowing you had any surgery? I would imagine it would involve buzzing the rest of the hair to match length of recipient, and use of concealers on the scar areas? 2) If you do shave recipient pre-HT, is it better to shave your whole head and go to work with it for a few days PRIOR to HT so people get used to it, or better to just show up at work after the HT with shaved/buzzed head? Any thoughts on this? Thanks. In my line of work I probably could only get 2 weeks off. Also, I have a small/fair amount of native hair in the recipient region.

Yes, I'm almost certain to have a HT, just deciding with whom.

Both Walgreens and CVS are charging around $80-90 for 30 pills of Finasteride 5mg, whereas Costco is charging $34. Obviously I'll be filling my Rx's at Costco's from now on. Thanks guys SO MUCH for saving me 100s of dollars.

FC, Looks better this month. Still noticeable if you pay attention and are in the know, but your hair is short and it is still relatively early.

So basically my pharmacy, and the CVS I checked with, is charging me $270 for 90 pills, while your local pharmacy is matching Costco's $56 for 90 pills. WOW. I am definitely pursuing this further.

Jotronic, Thank you very much for the comments and explanations. I almost had a heart attack looking at those guys pics, but I guess if they are cutting their hair that short (and w/shock loss given they are soon after HT) it could look as such. I would be VERY interested in seeing more pics of your scar at the 2 month point, FingersCrossed, esp. from relatively close. Your back looks good. I also looked at more pics of Dr. Hasson's patients on the site and their scars blend with hair after several months out, even for black hair/white skin combo. I guess you can also use some concealers early on. I was super concerned about the scar b/c where I work I won't be able to wear a hat, and I can only take off 2 weeks MAX before returning after HT.

Thanks, Bill. For some reason I didn't see your reply till just now.

Sorry, I'm still confused.... I thought Finasteride 5mg tablets (that is exactly what it says on my bottle) is the generic form of Proscar. Is your medical insurance covering any of the cost? Or are you paying entirely out of pocket? I have to pay entirely out of pocket, and my pharmacy (and also CVS) charges $90 for a 1 month supply (30 tablets) of Finasteride 5mg [which after splitting lasts 4 months]. Can someone please help clarify. I don't want to be paying $270 a year when I could be paying $4.73/month.

Sorry, to clarify: $90 for a 1 month Rx, but then I split the tabs so it lasts 4 months.

Can I ask how you guys get a supply so low in cost? Are you filling it at a regular pharmacy, or online? Is insurance covering anything or is it all out of pocket cost? My insurance won't cover the Finasteride 5mg tablets, so I have to pay about $90 only for a 3 month supply!

Looks like it reveals the scars rather than hides them to me. Look at pics of these guys several months out -- I can clearly see side scars, even with hair over 1 cm.

I'm noticing the same thing with the scar on FingersCrossed, as well as Bill. Is this by virtue of the fact that the donor strip is taken so high up the temples by Dr. Hasson? I don't know why else the scar would be visible from the sides (and back) of these guys months out from surgery. You can't tell me these scars are not detectable in person and people don't wonder/ask about them???? I've seen Dr. True's work and you can't even see the donor scar if you have a comb and are parting the hair. I know people say H&W are great, but what's going on with these scars? It must only look worse on darker hair/light skinned individuals I would think. Fingerscrossed, your scar is really assymetric in the pics -- did H&W explain why?

HMO- Your scar is really visible even all the way up to the 3 month mark! Weren't you alarmed by this? How do people go back to work after 1 or 2 weeks if the scar is visible like that?? I thought the scar should be invisible once there is a cm of hair. Also, your scar is super high up to the temples... how do you know that area is not immune to future loss.

How has your experience been? Any update??

I guess the link didn't totally come through, but google "Neutrogena T-Gel carcinogen"

I don't know about Neutrogena T-Gel, some say it is carcinogenic: http://www.medscape.com/drugin...pe=monograph&secid=4

Tao, Thanks for the clarification. Out of curiosity, are you genetically destined to become a NW6/7? Also, what is your hair and skin color if I can ask? Thanks so much again for your input.

Hi Bill, Knowing what you know now, if you could go back in time would have started with a megasession (3000+ grafts) for your first HT? Or would you have stuck with a smaller one (2000-2500)? I know you'll probably say everyone is different, but if you could re-do it, would you do it the same or go for a bigger one the first time?