Phab

Thanks for the responses everyone. I've had my procedure with Dr. Rahal (in Canada was cheaper than in the US and he is well-known) and I can tell you from experience, he did not perform the extractions and was not present in the room with me for the extractions. @pkipling do you know the law in Ontario?

This is the problem of going with a doctor that everyone talks about. I thought that waiting a year for this procedure meant that he'd be the one doing it, but when I was there I saw other patients at the same time as me. I did not know it, I just assumed he was the one doing the extractions, since he is the doctor right? But I also did not ask. It's weird to me that you go to a doctor for a hair transplant and he or she is not the one doing the hair transplant.

I hope my results are satisfactory, but It's been 4 months and I have yet to see results, I know it's early, but my hair looks worse than the procedure (I already had thining hair). But I'm hopeful that his participation in the cirgury has no difference in results 🤞 

I'll come back in a few months with a follow up message and I'll create a new thread with my experience and results

I've searched for this topic here but couldn't find one so I'd like to learn from other patients and from other clinics as well.  I was wondering if it's common practice for the well-known doctors to not perform the extraction of graphs.

2 hours ago, FuriousGeorge said:

Interesting- I am scheduled for Dr Hasson for an FUT. Would have got it last year, but border closing screwed things up and kept pushing my appointment out. I can’t imagine them not offering it when most competitors still offer it. 

Interesting. I'm not sure why they are telling some ppl one thing, and others another thing. Is your HT a restoration from a previous bad HT? or is it just your first one?

On 4/8/2021 at 8:48 PM, Hair038 said:

Yes, and I am a little surprised. Initially, Dr. Wong recommended FUE. When I asked about FUT I had to send in a video showing my scalp laxity (which I guess makes sense to ensure one is a suitable candidate for FUT). But the rep I've been corresponding with told me that Dr. Hasson no longer offers FUT anymore. 

I live in Canada and so I also consulted with Dr. Rahal and was told the same thing, they do not offer FUT anymore. 

And I'm honestly not sure of the exact reasoning behind this. Is FUT no longer profitable from a business model perspective? It certainly is generally cheaper than FUE. If FUE, on average, is twice is much as FUT then I guess it makes sense to only focus on and promote FUE. I don't know. 

After researching for the past few weeks, I came to the consensus that clinics that offer both FUE and FUT were usually held in higher esteem because the option of FUT addresses some disadvantages of FUE (like I mentioned above), is more costly to the clinic (in the form of requiring more techs etc.), and is not as profitable as FUE. But maybe I'm wrong. I haven't delved a lot into the continual and constant advancements that FUE seems to be making. Perhaps there is a lot that I've been missing in my research?

I have the same questions as you have but the answer probably comes to $$$, even thou their sales reps won't admit it. Since in Canada it costs less than in the US, doing FUT is not as profitable, because imagine this: When they schedule a patient for FUT, they prevent another patient from scheduling FUE, and if they do this very often, they end up making less money in the end. They have enough patients for FUEs (they are booked months ahead of time) that they don't need to open space for FUTs anymore.  A lot of americans would flood Canada for an FUT procedure if they ofered it, they already flood Canada for FUE

When you talk to a clinic that offers both, ask them what is the avialability and chances are they have enough space in their agenda, so they don't have the luxury to reject FUT patients. Dr. Rahal and Wong/Hasson are the most popular ones, but they are not the only good ones in Canada. There's Robert Jones and others. 

I also had an FUT and thining of doing a 2nd one but is Hasson and Wong still doing FUT? I've heard and spoke with them and they now recommend and push for FUE only. Is that your experience talking with them too?

Nanogen, Toppik, Caboki, Febron, Biothik, Hairatin, GoFybr, Luxe, Boldify, Infinity, XFusion, Crown, Cuvva, Samson, Strand, Eclipse, Elevate, Aliver

So many brands, with differentr price ranges, don't know which one to choose. What are the top 3? And the best one cost benefit? 

I've spoken with aheadink, scalp micro USA, and hairlineink which are probably the best ones and only the latter one hairlineink  provides this kind of service of density where you don't buzz the hair. All other 2 only provides the buzz cut

Essentially the reason is: They "don’t feel it’s the best option in terms of results. It is 2D and one really requires something that offers real diameter like a hair transplant or thickening fibers such as Toppik."

So go with hairlineink 

I'm gonna hold on on this, and go with another HT and then think about it again and use toppik in the meantime

@EvoXOhio @Ronnieman  @Curious25 @j1mmy We can discuss that SMP vs concealer here: 

1 hour ago, EvoXOhio said:

I’m on a discord chat about it, and lots of people are getting blood work done and finding that it does goes systemic to a degree. 

 @Ronnieman I've been using topical dut for 2 weeks, the gel one. and I have a feeling that it does go systemic but I will report back about this. There's ppl in that discord also reporting an increase in acne spread, that hasn't happened with me, but again too soon to tell

8 hours ago, Carbon said:

Those online SML density fill to the crown pictures look amazing. Almost too good to be true. There’s no way that’s possible with just SML alone. 
 

im not too familiar with how to use concealers. Can it be used with gel or hair spray?

Yes, the best to use it is with hair spray! You can use it without, but with hair spray is the best way, check this out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5c_NadgH_dw

Cool thanks guys! Another reply here: https://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/topic/58925-does-having-smp-hinder-your-doctor-when-carrying-out-a-ht/?tab=comments#comment-582754 from a doctor

@DrTBarghouthi hi doctor, what about space (sq/cm)? Would the dots impact that in any way, like not being able to place grafts on top of the dots? 

On 12/31/2020 at 7:48 AM, hairthere said:

Gatsby,

You have a pretty solid understanding of SMP at this point. In fact you're probably more knowledgeable than many practitioners. Glad to see you found a good artist and that you're happy with the results!

Could you check my post here: https://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/topic/59595-smp-for-thickening-effect-diffuse-thinning-hair-and-create-density/   about when the person has hairs but it's diffusing

Just the crown, you don't wanna  use concealers? I have a similar question, still waiting for an answer, check it out: https://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/topic/59595-smp-for-thickening-effect-diffuse-thinning-hair-and-create-density/

Considering a diffuse thining hair stage. Something like the photo below. Where hair is not going to be buzzed but can be cut longer if necessary.

I see photos of SMP taken indoors and looks good, okay, but how the results look when hair is exposed 1) to the sun, bright light, outdoors and 2) wet hair that causes thinning hair look even more thiner. How does it look? Can someone tell there's some sort of concealer there?

The discussion comes to SMP vs. concealers. With concealers, depending how you put in on, it looks very good and natural and nobody can tell the difference. There's a video on youtbe by @Melvin-Moderatorabout this. But what about with SMP? Could anyone share their experience?

cc: @hairthere

29 minutes ago, EvoXOhio said:

Of course it can, why would you think it can’t?

Figure since SMP also produce micro scars right?, Thought they would block available space in some way. So that means new follicules can be placed on top of the dots? So the dots don't matter at all for HT?

20 hours ago, Homeerestre said:

I just read the whole story here. https://www.medpagetoday.com/special-reports/exclusives/83928

This is terrible, gonna stay away from this

@Style22 thanks for the update and sucks to hear you didn't have results.

@Melvin-Moderator I was the one who said it's 5,000 per 5cc here in NYC

@Mycroft @Curious25 At McGraph it costs more per 5cc. Had a talk with them. And they told me their cost basis is $2,500 so it's expensive for the clinics too (according to thenm). They told me that it's possible to have good results, but not guarantee. When asked about empirical data, all they said was they have photo gallery. Very disappoiting. I was very looking forward to pay over 5k for this but now I totally won't!

@Nasau Hi Nasau, could you please keep us posted here? I would love to try exosomes but I want to gather more data about results and satisfaction before I make a decision

Simple question: Can hair transplant be done after SMP say 1 year after?

the only thing i dont like about concealer is the work you have to put on and put it off.

the concern that your cover could be blown is a real feeling that i felt in the beginning and without proper application, it'd get on the hands if someone touched my hair. but i have learned to use it and got so used to it that now i dont feel that anymore.

i could have waited 2 years or more if i didnt have this prejudice of concealer and gave it a shot before doing HT, wish I had someone at the time telling me how stupid I was, oh well

I guess the only way of knowing how the smp will look is to actually do it,

On 3/28/2021 at 3:06 PM, Curious25 said:

I have the upmost respect for guys prepared to use concealers, and think that they can be fantastic little tools to help pick up people's confidence in the early stages of hair loss, or whether adding to HT denisty. 

For me personally, I would feel using them similar to wearing a hair system, in the sense that, I would be hugely concerned about them being rubbed out, washed out, blown out, sweated out . . whatever that may be, it would always just be in the back of my mind. That combined with the fact that I am far too lazy to go through a whole routine each day applying them and getting my hair just right. 

I guess what I'm trying to say is, each to their own - I fully support and admire concealer wearers, however I think SMP plays a valuable alternative, and shouldn't be brushed off to the point at which people say 'just go for the toppik bro' . . SMP would certainly help alleviate some of the above concerns I listed. 

i feel the same way with smp that is going to be revealed in the sun at the park or wet at the beach/pool, but with hair fibers and spray it keeps the hairs looking fuller/bolder cos they attach to the hairs not just scap. Ive been trying to find a comparison between these two best forms of filling the gaps on thinning hair but with the sun and perhaps water components without luck. There are plenty of youtube buzzed head samples but not thinning hairs density outdoors wet in the sun

melvin posted a video on youtube with the concealer as i said and it looks awsome, i myself also have used it and nobody knows, but i have not seen one about smp yet and thats one thing what im scared off, but worse case scenario you can just use toppik on top of the smp i guess but then no point in paying $$$, the other thing is  what is the smp impact on doing an HT later

@EvoXOhio I see. It does take some work to make it waterproof but it can be done, you would need to spray a locking mist @Melvin-Moderator has put a great video about this on YouTube.

But I understand what you mean, and it’s the same reason i’m looking into SMP.

I find toppik and the mist very good, you should try, it takes much less $$ and you can do the SMP too, but at least do not discard it. @Melvin-Moderator and I were just like you before, we refused to use concealers but everyone does, actors, tv hosts, it’s totally okay. He also has a video about this on YouTube.

I’m gonna talk with this place about their SMP, and will prob go for it too, will see. The more we can postpone our next HT the better right!?

7 minutes ago, EvoXOhio said:

I think it all depends on how much hair you have to conceal it. The point of density SMP isn’t to take a bald spot and make it look like hair. If you have a bald spot or even a bald spot half covered with hair, it probably won’t look perfect in great light. Density SMP is for people like me where I have 90% coverage with small amount of visible scalp, and use the SMP to hide the visible scalp. I’ve seen pictures in very harsh bright light and outside and it looks good. Can you see dots if you zoom on up close? Sure I’m some cases. But for me I’d rather have dots than scalp showing. 

My question is in relation to SMP vs using concealer, dermatch and toppik. I want to be convinced that SMP is better than those for quality of density, and I'm not yet

5 minutes ago, Curious25 said:

With a half decent donor, <1500 BHT, a great surgeon, and some of this SMP density work - a NW6 can be fully restored to looking like a full head of hair in 2021. 

I've said it. 

 

@EvoXOhio the question I have is even in the sun? with a shine bright light, does it still not look fake?