LaserCaps

Most believe, if you have not experienced any sides within the first two weeks, you never will. We do not know how Min works, May be coincidental. Keep an eye on things and report to your PCP. Oh, and keep aspirin on hand just in case it happens again. Curious, did you have anything to drink prior to the festivities?

Some doctors are more conservative than others. Did you get printed post op instructions? I would follow them. 7 days post op is not unreasonable to start massaging with your figertips. Many believe you cannot hurt grafts 3 days post op.

It is VERY advisable to start the medical regimen ASAP. The sooner you start, the sooner you can halt the loss. It typically takes 12months to see what the meds will accomplish. You could wait to do the transplants, but they also take 12months to mature, so now you are two years into the process. That's why most patients will do both at the same time. A year later you'll be fuller in the front because if the transplants, and fuller in the back because of the meds.

It is not what you need but what the doctor estimates he can harvest from the donor area at any one time. A typical recommendation for a case similar to you would be in the 2000-3000 graft range. You have a large pattern, and it is expanding. I would suggest you concentrate your grafts in the front half as this is the area you see when looking at yourself. It is also the area others see when they interact with you. In the meantime, I would consider some type of medical regimen to help you with retention. Propecia, Rogaine, PRP and Laser are the modalities we refer to when dealing with this condition. Propecia/Rogaine, are considered to be the best to help you retain in the crown. The problem I find is one of expectations. Most patients become frustrated and stop a year later when they see no visual change - not understanding - the meds are not intended for you to grow anything. Rather, they are to help you with retention. So, if a year later you look the same, the meds did what they were intended to do. PRP and Laser can help reverse the thinning. There are two types of loss, the type you see and the type you don't. What you do see, in the pillow, comb, sink, is normal. The follicle gets tired of producing hair and goes into a dormant period. 3-4 months later the hair returns. This will happen randomly to all the hair in your head. 100 hairs a day is considered normal. Hair loss is different, you don't see it. Under a bright light start looking at the hair in your temporal areas. Notice each strand. Some will be nice and thick. Others not so much so. Some are so miniaturized, they are about the dissipate and disappear. This is hair loss. PRP/Laser can help reverse the thinning. The problem, most clinics do not know how to do PRP. If you hear the word, "sessions," run in the opposite direction. This does not work. It also implies doing a syringe size worth of PRP, do a few shots, and have you return in the ensuing months to do the same. This does not work. Once happy with the results in the front, and you confirm the non-surgical regimen is working, you can then tackle the back if need be.

What you're experiencing is normal. Typically at about the 7th day the clinic will instruct to start massaging with your fingertips. Read the post op instructions and see what they recommend. The rest of the crusts will fall off was you start washing normally. Doesn't seem you have much left anyway. Then comes the waiting time, 3-4 months before the new hair starts sprouting.

What do you mean, he put hair in and around the existing hair? Didn't you discuss what was going to be done prior to the procedure? You make it sound as if this is a total surprise to you. The instruments used are sharp and sometimes, inadvertently, he can give you a haircut, other times, it could be shedding due to the trauma of the surgery. Perhaps this is just normal shedding which happens naturally and at random. Regardless, give it time. Typically, all of this will return along with the transplanted hair in 3-4 months. Did you do PRP along with the procedure? What medical regimen, if any, are you doing to help you with retention?

This is an interesting question and one that doesn't come up often. I think we can all agree the hair in the donor area is the best hair available for everyone. The issue, however, is the fact that there are over 100 different qualities of hair in that area. (Fine, medium fine, coarse, etc), with the finest found behind the ear, and the coarsest in the center of the back. So, I would take a hair from that area and use it to compare the caliber of everything else. Trick will be identifying the miniaturized hair, unless you keep track of where to took the sample from. If from the temporal areas, likely miniaturized.

Hopefully this is the right sub-forum for this type of question. YOU'VE COME TO THE RIGHT PLACE. I'm 33.5 years old with balding on the crown and a receding hairline. I also have a pretty thick donor area. (Pic attached). I am hoping to get in for a transplant with Dr Nader in the next few months. My question is this: I really don't want to go on Fin/Min. Mainly because of the side effects, WHAT SIDE EFFECTS ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT? hassle...THERE IS NO HASSLE WITH TAKING A PILL. TAKING A PILL AND WALKING OUT THE DOOR IS A LOT EASIER THAN USING ROGAINE WHICH IS MORE LABOR INTENSIVE, PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE WHO USE IT TWICE A DAY. cost....COSTCO ON-LINE CHARGES $26 FOR THE WHOLE YEAR. What I would like to discuss is peoples thoughts (And personal stories) on avoiding Fin/Min after a first transplant and just planning to get a 2nd done later on with perhaps some Micro Pigmentation to add the appearance of thickness. It sounds like 6000 grafts is what's needed for a decent full head of hair, and with prices in Mexico/Turkey being lets say 1.35 per graft that's only $8100. I understand this wont return you to full native levels of thickness, but add in some Micro Pigmentation and it seems like you're good to go. No risk of side effects, and cheaper long term cost than a lifetime of Min/Fin but also without the daily hassle. Does anyone have any thoughts on this plan? THERE ARE OTHER MODALITIES OTHER THAN FIN YOU CAN DO TO HELP YOU RETAIN. (MIN, PRP, LASER). IF YOU PLAN ON NOT DOING ANYTHING, I WOULD AVOID TRANSPLANTS TO THE CROWN. IT IS IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE, IF YOU'VE SHOWN THE PROPENSITY TO LOSE, YOU WILL CONTINUE LOSING. YOUR CROWN SEEMS TO BE EXTENDING FORWARD. I THINK YOUR ENTIRE TOP IS AT RISK. NOT DOING SOME TYPE OF MEDICAL REGIMEN IS JUST SILLY. YOU WILL NEVER HAVE THE TYPE OF DENSITY YOU HAVE BY DOING NOTHING. KEEP IN MIND. THE DONOR IS LIMITE AND FINITE. SMP WILL BE A GOOD ADJUNCT AND WILL BUY YOU TIME.

Good question. I've seen this happen throughout my career. Staffing issues, (someone gets sick), an accident, could be anything. Life gets in they way from time to time. I think it is important to recognize a doctor also has the prerogative not to move forward with a procedure if he does not feel comfortable for any reason. If the patient has unreasonable expectations, for example. Other times it could be just a simple explanation - like weather related issues - which comes into play when someone is traveling from a long distance. Imagine if the flight is cancelled. In this day and age reviews are very important. "Not a happy camper" will immediately run to the computer to give his opinion which can be very damaging to the clinic. Constant communication with the clinic is key.

There are two types of loss. Shedding - which is normal, and hair loss. The follicle gets tired of producing hair so it goes into a dormant period. 3-4 later the hair returns. This happens randomly to all the hair in your head. So, even if you cut the hair short, this will still happen. The only reason why you were able to keep track of it was the fact that it was longer. Hair loss is different. Under a bright light start looking at the hair on the hairline. Notice each strand. Some thick and some thinner. We refer to this process as miniaturization. Eventually the hair dissipates and disappears. Once gone, the hair does not return. That's hair loss. Propecia, Rogaine, PRP and Laser are the modalities we typically discuss when dealing with this condition. Are you doing any of them?

Finish your front. Can't go wrong with hair in that area, it will always serve you well. LaserCap. Model 224. This is by prescription only and carries a lifetime warranty.

Are you doing any type of medical therapy to help you with retention? You seem well demarcated, so I am guessing you are doing something. Well receded corners, I gather you want to address that. Based on the photos it seems you have donor availability. The problem is, if you've shown the propensity to lose, you will continue losing. How much? Who knows? At times I wish I had a hair crystal ball. Is there family history? There is something to be said about the way people lose hair. Hair in the front grows forward. Hair in the mid-scalp grows forward and shingles. This is why the front and top always look fuller. But in the crown, we all share the whirl. It is the point from which the hair stems and grows outward from there. Thus, if you draw a dot on the piece of paper, and draw an intersecting cross, (imagine that's the result of procedure 1). Turn the paper ever so slightly and draw another cross. How many crosses would you need to draw to fill the area? The crown is a sphere and can eat your donor. Eventually, if you ever lose the front, you'll be asking "why did you put all my donor in the crown? When people look at me from the front, I still look bald." Because of the fact it is the front you see when looking at yourself in the mirror, pls put more value to that area. So, when is the right time to do a crown? When you're happy with the front and you confirm the meds are working. Just one more point. Think of the crown as a circle. You fill the circle with hair. Because you've lost, you'll keep losing. You go on to lose all the hair around the circle of hair. You've left with a target - which will not look natural as no one loses the hair that way. We call this chasing the pattern. Eventually you have to keep using donor to natural. Finasteride, Rogaine, PRP and Laser are the modalities we refer to when dealing with this condition. Perhaps you should do all of them and see what happens in the crown. Transplant the front. A year later, based on the outcome you can decide if continuing the meds is worth the time and money spent.

Dr. Arocha

It is likely you are still the same pattern - but with hair. You typically want to give it a good 12 months to mature the results. Nothing wrong with moving forward a bit quicker. You'll just have both procedures growing at the same time. This will yield the most results in a shorter amount of time. You do, however, want to wait 8+ mo to allow the scar to heal before doing it again. Remember, it is common for a doctor to re-excise the original scar. Are you doing any type of medical therapy to help you with retention?

Wow, let's take it step by step, Hi all,I'm 38, and stopped Rogaine when the pandemic started and drastically shed over the next year or two to what you see in the pictures. (YOU LOST WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE LOST HAD YOU NOT BEEN ON THE MEDICATION. SO WE CAN ASSUME THE MED WAS HELPING YOU WITH RETENTION. I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO RECONSIDER AND GET BACK ON IT). I don't want to be on Finasteride (low T currently), (THERE IS ACTUALLY MORE TESTOSTERONE UNDER THE MED THAN WITHOUT. NOT SURE IF I UNDERSTAND YOUR COMMENT). ADDITIONALLY, IF YOU HAVE LOW TESTOSTERONE AND LATER DECIDE TO GET SHOTS TO NORMALIZE, YOU'LL NEED A DHT BLOCKER TO MINIMIZE DHT WHICH IS AN IRRITANT TO THE FOLLICLE). or Minoxidil (messed my skin up due to using too much) (THE MEDICATION IS SYSTEMIC, PUT IT ON ANY ONE PLACE AND THE SKIN WILL ABSORB THE MEDICATION AND HAVE A UNIVERSAL EFFECT THROUGHT THE ENTIRE PATTERN. WERE YOU USING THE FOAM OR LIQUID? , and wanted to evaluate hair transplant options now that I have my hairline for my age.I had a consultation with Dr. Voorhies in SC and Dr. Cooley in Charlotte. Their recommendations:Dr. Voorhies:* 2 day FUE: 3000 grafts in mid-scalp, frontal, hairline, and 2000 grafts in crown.Dr. Cooley:* 1 day FUT: 2500 grafts to front 2/3rds of my scalp and 500 grafts in crown IF YOU ARE TRYING TO AVOID MEDICAL THERAPIES, DID YOU LET THESE DOCTORS KNOW THAT? FUNNY THEY WOULD RECOMMEND TRANSPLANTS TO THE CROWN IF YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO RETAIN. CONSIDER, AND THINK OF THE CROWN AS A CIRCLE. YOU FILL THE CIRCLE WITH HAIR AND THEN, BECAUSE YOU'VE SHOWN THE PROPENSITY TO LOSE - YOU WILL CONTINUE LOSING. NOW YOU ARE LEFT WITH A TARGET, AN ISLAND WORTH OF HAIR AND NOTHING AROUND IT. Dr Cooley recommended FUT as I don't plan to shave my head, better chance of a take than a FUE surgery. Will match the current hairline. They recommended the normal Finasteride (light dose), oral minoxdil, etc. But I'm ok if I do lose more hair eventually and have to have a follow up surgery. I'll do all the non minoxidil/finasteride treatments though. (KEEP IN MIND THE DONOR IS FINITE AND LIMITED. THERE IS TYPICALLY NOT ENOUGH HAIR TO ALLOW FOR A FULL SET OF HAIR IN THE FRONT, MID-SCALP AND BACK) IF YOU DO KEEP YOUR HAIR ON THE LENGTHIER SIDE, AGREE - EXHAUST FUT AND THEN MOVE TO FUE. YOU'LL HAVE ACCESS TO YOUR ENTIRE DONOR AREA.I'm leaning towards Dr. Cooley. Money isn't really a factor and I'd gladly pay more/travel for the best transplant results I can get (that is, in case there is another doctor I should be considering).Does anyone have any recommendations for which direction I should go? GET ON THE MEDS. DO ALL OF THEM (PROPECIA, ROGAINE, PRP AND LASER). GIVE THEM A YEAR. TRANSPLANT THE FRONT AND FORGET THE CROWN. ONCE HAPPY WITH THE RESULTS IN THE FRONT - AND CONFIRM THE MEDS ARE WORKING, YOU CAN THEN WORK FARTHER BACK INTO THE PATTERN.

What part of the Country are you in? Is traveling an issue?

I've been on it for 30 years! And, while every year there seems more and more negative info, I will continue taking it for another 30. Can you imagine an hair consultant with no hair? Now, Does that mean you'll get $30K for my comment? I hope so.

It may slow down for some and not for others. We get to see people of all ages - still experiencing hair loss.

You may consider PRP and Laser. These can help reverse the thinning. It is important to recognize the mechanism of action of each is totally different and are thus synergistic when used simultaneously.

This is complicated. Typically a hereditary condition that can come from both sides. It can even skip generations. Some people thin early and rapidly, and others are late thinners. No rhyme or reason. Yes, what drives guys is testosterone which is broken down to DHT - which we know is an irritant to the follicle. Big difference between shedding and hair loss. Shedding is normal. 100 hair a day is considered normal. This will happen randomly to all the hair in your head. The follicle goes into a resting phase for 3-4 months. That hair will return. Hair loss is different. Under a bright light look at the hair in your temporal areas. Notice each strand. Some thick, some finer. Some are so thin you can't hardly see them. We refer to this process as miniaturization. Eventually the hair dissipates and disappears. Once gone, it will not return. Are you doing any type of medical therapy to help you with retention?

Well, before you give up..... You are thinning diffusely through the pattern. Lots of miniaturized hair that have not left the building. Those could be not only kept but also enhanced. OK, so you do not want to take Fin? Fine. The med, by the way, is now available as a topical solution. Then you have Rogaine, PRP and Laser. Fin and Rogaine are considered the best meds for retention in the crown. The problem is expectations. Many patients become frustrated a year later when they see no visual change - not understanding, the meds are not intended for you to grow anything. Rather, they are to help you with retention. So, if a year later you look the same, the meds did what they were intended to do. PRP and Laser can help reverse the thinning. There are two types of loss. The type you see and the type you don't see. What you see in the comb, shower, sink, etc., is normal. The follicle gets tired of producing hair and it goes into a dormant period. 3-4 months later the hair will return. This will happen randomly to all the hair in your head. Hair loss is different. You don't see it. Under a bright light look at each strand. You'll notice some nice and robust. Others not so much so. We refer to this as miniaturization. Eventually the hair dissipates and disappears. That's hair loss. My suggestion would be to do as many of the modalities as you can, or want to do. Give them a year. Takes photos in the interim. A year later you can decide if the time, effort and cost are worth continuing. (It truly takes a good year to see what the meds will accomplish). In the meantime, you could start transplanting the front and mid-scalp. Leave the crown as is for now. Once happy with the results in the front, and confirm the meds are working, you can then move farther back with transplants. FUT and FUE are available to you. Considering both will give you access to your entire donor area. Now, if you don't want to use any of the meds....Go to the mall and window shop. Start looking at people, particularly those with an advanced pattern. Notice they tend to keep a forelock, well receded temporal areas, little to no density in the mid-scalp and an empty crown. If that's the look you're looking for, you can pursue it. Just be judicious with your grafts. Once gone, you'll never get them back.

You can typically return to normal activity 7 days post op. At 21 days this should not be an issue. If you did FUT, it is important you avoid weightlifting exercises that affect the neck as this can widen the scar.

The best way to conceal is to actually just tell everyone you're getting this done. It will not be a surprise at that point.

This is sad to hear. But it's just like anything else. When something negative happens in the industry, everyone suffers. A newbie reading this would likely not purchase anything after reading this. The laser comb was the first to get the approval. Everything else falls under the same umbrella so now all laser devices are "released," regardless of their efficacy. Farther, the comb to be effective, needs to be done properly. Obviously, it is easier to use a cap - which covers the entire area when put in place. Now, there are VW's and there are Cadillacs. There are knock-offs of Knock-offs. The original LaserCap is by prescription only and does carry a Lifetime warranty. I don't think there is anything like it out there.

There are so many people in this Earth, you are bound to find some that will find this to be the most painful thing they ever did. Others might say it was a walk in the park. I think most people fall right in between. The day of the procedure you will be taking advantage of the local anesthetic. The key is to stay ahead of the pain. So, follow the post op instructions given to you by the clinic. If you wait until you're hurting, you will go through some discomfort. You do bring up something interesting. Some clinics do offer additional products, sprays, etc., to help heal faster, etc. IMO these are to be used while you're awake. I doubt if not doing the spray during sleeping hours is going to make much difference one way or another. Certainly, you will not lose any grafts because of it.