tremblant

Why are people asking about the hair up front? Shouldn't the hair in back (donor) be most important? Even if hair up front is thinning, he could still be a HT candidate, no? [would just have to decide what parts of the head to do first]

Hi Guys, Thanks for your replies. Hairthere, I appreciate your reply; I'm not ready to post pics yet however. Tao, thank you very much for your comment -- I'm glad that your decision worked out best for you. I think we may have different levels of balding at the crown though, since I have a complete white spot several inches across, and you mentioned that "most people actually cannot see my still sparse crown unless they're over me". I would have thought that standing behind you they could see a bald spot pretty easily. I hear your argument for tackling the front only though for the first HT and it's pretty compelling. Maybe I could see if some grafts could be extended a bit further back on the top towards the crown to decrease the white spot radius by a bit (I guess provided it didn't sacrifice much front density). Thanks again.

One other thing, Bill: Are you still losing some of your natural hair or has that process stopped?

Bill, Thanks for your replies to my multiple posts. It's interesting, none of the HT docs mentioned a large densely packed megasession to me before, just the 2000-2500 initial HT (with the understanding of other HTs to come). I have been told that I have very good donor characteristics by all evaluators. Re: the density topic -- I understand that given my situation I will never achieve a full normal thickness head of hair and I'm okay with that. I would like reasonably good coverage though, like yourself or Glock08. Question for you Bill: given the multiple surgeries you've had, does the back of your head/neck feel tight given the number of harvests back there? Any restriction of motion, pain/discomfort?

check out density Glock08 got after ~4300 grafts w/ Dr. True -- the 1 year pics are incredible! it's not like a native head of hair, but a WORLD of difference from being an NW6... http://www.hairtransplantnetwo...CopyID=919&WebID=122

Bill, Someone made the suggestion to consider having more grafts for the first procedure to hit both spots ... any thoughts on that? Would it be using too much donor too soon?

That wouldn't be considered "blowing my donor" site too soon (if I put 3000+ grafts in the first procedure to spread some into the crown too)?

Hmm. I guess from what you're describing your density is very good, just that to get a "native" head of hair look, you need the toppik. I guess that's OK. I hope that if I ultimately get to 7500+ graft level that my level of coverage (for a genetically NW6) would still be very good, albeit a bit thin, esp. given my light skin and black hair.

Has he done a hairline for you? If so, what are your skin/hair characteristics?

Hi, Does anyone have any reservations about the way Dr. True creates the hairline, especially in those w/advanced levels of baldness destined to lose all of their natural hairline? I'm particulary interested in anyone who has personal experience and has black (or dark brown) thick hair and white skin. I know there are pics on the hairtransplantnetwork.com/ site but I would like to hear from patients... Thanks!

They are all independent factors that when summed will influence your self-confidence/self-image. If you are overweight, you may be unhappy even with a full head of hair, and if you are bald you may be unhappy even with a six-pack (unless you shave your head, in which case you would look diesel!)

Bill, Thank you for your timely reply. I have good donor characteristics and also I know I will very likely desire a second procedure 1 year after the first. Honestly you are an inspiration for me, as I have seen your transformation pics, and you had similar hair loss/age combo as I ... also I am considering Dr. True and I know he was one of your HT surgeons. Thanks again, tremblant aka mini-Bill

Dr. Charles, Thank you for the reply. I imagine you would still hold the same opinion if I were to tell you that I am willing to have a follow-up surgery one year after the first?

Thanks for your replies guys. I think the slicked back look is a timeless classy look, and also can get more coverage provided, as you all have said, that ultimately some hair is placed over the crown/vertex so it doesn't look like a blatant cover-up job. Obie one -- I'm surprised that after 7500+ grafts you don't have satisfactory density and still use Toppik? I guess it depends on how dense you want it...

youngsuccess, thanks for your reply. would you go by the patient before/after pictures on the hairtransplantnetwork.com site? or do you think they only show the BEST patients under optimal lighting? It's hard for me to meet patients in person b/c I don't live close to either surgeons office.

Hi, A while ago a post was made by "the B spot" stating that Dr. Cohen is a solid HT surgeon, but only for men up to a NW4. Also it has been alluded to a few times on this forum that he prefers smaller sessions and is conservative. He recommended a 2000-2500 session for me -- has anyone had experience with this # of grafts with him? He suggested putting most on front and less on crown. I'm also considering Dr. Robert True, who recommended the same # of grafts, but he suggested to put it all on the front now, and in a 2nd HT to address the bald spot on vertex (I'm prob a NW5V now). Any thoughts?

Hi, Just thought of something, maybe this has been brought up before but I couldn't find it. It seems that for anyone who is balding towards a NW6 or more level, and has a HT, that they should comb their hair straight back instead of to the front or side. That way, the front hair ends up covering some of the front/top instead of wasting coverage dangling over the forehead. I think basically it should be slicked back, a la Joe Biden. Some of the hair on the front may also cover part of the bald crown when it is pushed back. Anyone think of any counter argument to this? I thought of this b/c I have advanced hair loss now and currently style my hair forward/to the side, but after a HT I want to style it back. Thanks for your thoughts...

Can you please elaborate on why you have this opinion? Dr. Cohen is one of the surgeons I'm considering and he has proposed a 2000-2500 graft (mostly to front, some to crown) for me, and I am probably a NW5 now (close to what Bill was before any surgeries) and I am destined to lose all my natural hair. I know I will need more than 1 surgery down the line.

Hi, Really sorry for the duplicate post, but I need some advice on how to do my first HT. I'm 31, balding since 21, destined for complete baldness (dad/both granddads totally bald). Currently on Rog 2x/day, Fin 1.25mg/day (R for 10 yrs, Fin for 1 mo.). Current level of baldness hard to rank, maybe closest to NW5? Looking at Bill pics before his first HT, I have about that level of baldness (complete bald spot for me at crown about 3-4" wide, and significantly thin across the front/top, however I have close to my natural hairline level except it is thin like the rest of the top). My crown loss may be a bit more than what Bill was, BUT I have black hair and white skin. I spoke with a few surgeons, each advocate an initial surgery (I know I will def need more given my future loss) of 2000-2500 grafts -- HOWEVER, some say to put it all on the front/top now, while others say to put most on front/top and some (maybe 20-30%) on crown at the bald spot. I actually favor the latter, but worry that continued gradual hair loss will make the transplanted crown hairs more conspicuous? [as discussed in point #2 on page 3 of this article: http://www.dricohen.com/news/A...etworkwithHeader.pdf Those who advocate leaving the crown alone for a year and doing the front/top first -- then I'm left with at least a year of being self-conscious about the bald spot before going for another surgery to address the crown ... although front density is important given that it's thinning to where scalp is visible... which way is best for first surgery, given that I'm destined to lose all my natural hair? Also, any difference in using a coalition surgeon vs. non-c, provided that the non-c surgeon uses ultra-refined FUG and has good patient testimonials and extensive experience? Thanks in advance for your comments and sorry Bill if you didn't want your pre-op pics brought to attention! But you have had a great result though.

Hi, I need some advice on how to do my first HT. I'm 31, balding since 21, destined for complete baldness (dad/both granddads totally bald). Currently on Rog 2x/day, Fin 1.25mg/day (R for 10 yrs, Fin for 1 mo.). Current level of baldness hard to rank, maybe closest to NW5? Looking at Bill pics before his first HT, I have about that level of baldness (complete bald spot for me at crown about 3-4" wide, and significantly thin across the front/top, however I have close to my natural hairline level except it is thin like the rest of the top). My crown loss may be a bit more than what Bill was, BUT I have black hair and white skin. I spoke with a few surgeons, each advocate an initial surgery (I know I will def need more given my future loss) of 2000-2500 grafts -- HOWEVER, some say to put it all on the front/top now, while others say to put most on front/top and some (maybe 20-30%) on crown at the bald spot. I actually favor the latter, but worry that continued gradual hair loss will make the transplanted crown hairs more conspicuous? [as discussed in point #2 on page 3 of this article: http://www.dricohen.com/news/A...etworkwithHeader.pdf Those who advocate leaving the crown alone for a year and doing the front/top first -- then I'm left with at least a year of being self-conscious about the bald spot before going for another surgery to address the crown ... although front density is important given that it's thinning to where scalp is visible... Also, any difference in using a coalition surgeon vs. non-c, provided that the non-c surgeon uses ultra-refined FUG and has good patient testimonials and extensive experience? Thanks in advance for your comments and sorry Bill if you didn't want your pre-op pics brought to attention! But you have had a great result though.