Bandit90

16 minutes ago, NARMAK said:

Well said. Definitely an amazing result and takes absolutely nothing away from it mentioning medication and starting sooner. I just think it shows an example for other people to learn from yours and others journey. 

Way too many times, guys feel too  scared of side effects to even try and save their hair and end up in a vicious cycle. I feel like at least somebody that gave it a go like Melvin and then had to stop due to sides is an acceptable example of doing it the right way. 

Completely Agree. I did take finasteride when I was 19 for a week, then freaked out when I read about the horror stories and in the process convinced myself I was getting all sorts of side effects (In hindsight so silly of me). Interestingly, that was when I came across the HRN. When I got to 29 I resumed finasteride, but went in with a more mature mindset following the science, and unsurprisingly did not have any side effects. I do have sympathy for men who reject the drug out of fear because I know how it feels reading those horror stories and in your 20s let's be honest a healthy sex life is very high up the agenda for most, but then again I have even more sympathy for dudes who are high Norwood’s in their 20s because let me tell you that sucks too lol! I do think the best way to tackle finasteride if you are super anxious, is doing a titration phase over six months starting at 0.25mg EOD slowly building up to 1mg ED.  

That is my ten pence worth lol, as I don’t want to go off on a tangent with Finasteride side effects, given the rabbit-hole nature of the topic!

Haha, hair greed for sure! If there was ever an advert for getting on the meds sooner rather than later then this has to be it! Obviously, i'm absolutely over the moon with everything to date, and nice to know I still have something to look forward to when graft cloning becomes a reality!    

Been meaning to throw this light hearted post in. When I was there in October, I asked Dr Sethi in a non-norwood 7 world what would my hairline be. So got Dr Sethi to design it! Cant help but kick myself that I didn't start on finasteride much sooner in life 😂. 

8 hours ago, ticker said:

They invented DHT method which is kind of DHI. I had same confusions but after talking to various doctors and doing research DHI is where there wont be pre made slits. Extractions will be done first and then Implantations with implanter pens which will do slits and place grafts in 1 shot. DHT is slits will be made first then extractions and implantation simultaneously which is little different than traditional pre-made slits where slits will be done first, extractions and then implantations. The difference between DHT Eugenix vs other pre-made slits is the grafts outside body is minimal in Eugenix method. I might be wrong here but I have to wrap around these techniques multiple times and finally settled on this understanding  Regardless of methods I was told its Doctor that what matters and their results but Not technique. My intention is not to derail this topic but I was looking for some sort of confidence from community to which doctor I have to choose. To make it simple I settled on 3 doctors who agreed to do HT on me even though I am a diffused thinner and I am having difficulty which one I have to choose . Dr Defrietas, Dr Nadimi and Dr Sethi. Dr C Rejected me otherwise he was my 1st choice. I waited 4 years to have an appointment with him and I got rejection in 20 minutes..lol

Not to derail the thread, but would like to chime in about my experience getting rejected from docs. I was rejected from H&W, after an in-person consult from Dr Wong, he took a ten-second look at my hair and said “no transplant” for me, going on to say that if I did one I would like “an old man with floppy hair”, I was then ushered very quickly out the door. The feeling of rejection is not nice, especially if you had your heart set on that doctor. At this point for me, I lost all hope in the hair loss journey, as I saw H&W as the holy grail for advanced norwoods. But I have since learned that some doctors just do not like challenging cases for various reasons and especially when they have the luxury of picking and choosing patients due to high demand. This doesn’t mean that you aren’t a candidate for surgery, it just means that the doc doesn’t feel comfortable taking your case on. I know there is a lot of respect for doctors who reject patients, as this is perceived as highly ethical as opposed to taking their money. But I do get the impression, they can also reject out of just not needing to take on difficult cases, due to an abundance of demand from low-risk patients.

I have a whole lot of sympathy given you waited for four years, and were very quickly told no. But you have mentioned some world-class docs you have had consults with and are keen to take on your case. I know you request confidence from the community, and without trying to beat the Eugenix drum too hard, as both a complex case (NW 7, Retrograde Alopecia, Fine & Light Hair) and as a Dr Sethi patient, I can first hand vouch that he thrives off challenges and  likes to challenge the status quo. So I’m confident he would excel in a case of treating diffused hair loss.

Cheers Gents. So pleased with how far the hair has come, and for you gents to call it “Hall of Fame” worthy is very kind. I’m sure Dr Sethi will be humbled by those comments too. I know the lighting of the hair inside the car tends to be the more flattering one (compared to facing the bathroom mirror under the harsh downlight) but even at any angle the before and after are mind-blowing for me. This just showcases how much the industry has evolved over the past five years, that someone even as far gone as me, can have a shot at full hair restoration. PS I will be posting my month 9 update next week.  

Really pleased for you Ryan. As other posters have said your hairline looks very natural.  I'm also super impressed with how well your crown is looking too! Plus lots more improvement to come. 

Damm! This looks like some quality work. Really looking forward watching your progress over the coming year!  The transplant alongside the thickening from the finasteride makes 2023 a very exciting year for you! 

Ive had 2500 beard grafts extracted. In honesty, you would be very challenged to notice any evidence of extraction and scaring. Beard seems to heal very well  and generally can clean shave without detection. 

Damm Adrian! It's unimaginable to see how far you have come in the ten months. To say you've been to hell and back over the course of your life would be an understatement. But the tides have well and truly turned and the improvements just keep coming. TBH I think i'm more excited for your next sitting, then I was for my own. 2023 has never been more brighter for you Adrian! 🙌🙌

Great result! 

5 hours ago, Boomerang said:

I see what you mean but I am genuinely surprised how things have turned out positive.

I can’t speak for others but in my case, Coming from 2 previous bad experiences, I always had doubts about my 3rd procedure as well (this one @ Eugenix)… which I think is normal. Then bit of miscommunication and mixed communication from Eugenix as well, just flared-up the doubts. So from that perspective, I wouldn’t call it overreaction because my first point of action was to contact Eugenix but that’s where mixup happened. Then I brought it up here on the forum.

This 3rd procedure has changed my perspective. To me, going to the best clinic and putting your trust in them and then being patient. My advise to all looking for a HT is don’t rush into it and don’t expect rushed results.

hand on heart, thanks to Eugenix. I know I have paid them for the procedure but I am very thankful to them. Results so far have changed my life.

Great result mate! Just had a read back, and wouldn't kick yourself about being seen as overreacting, you was clearly stressed at the time, as would anyone in that situation! I do however, think certain posters replies didn't help your anxieties by stating you were over-harvested, which I have no doubt caused you a lot of unnecessary stress! Your journey will serve well to those who go through shock-loss post surgery and need some inspiration. 

Best of luck with everything! All be over with in a flash and soon be strolling out the clinic with a huge smile on your face! 

19 hours ago, Doron Harati said:

How old are you?

Caucasian blond hair in general will give less coverage effect, seems you're now NW5 with a some thin hair over middle scalp with a future pattern for at least NW6, you need to grow your hair for better estimation, I think you might can have low density result, not all candidates want this.

You also need to check you have enough donor for 2 procedures.

I had 3 HTs, my 1st experience was horrible by a hair mill that botched me very badly and overharveste my donor, trust me you would care a lot it this would've happen to you, it sounds the doctor you checked was ethical and realistic with you, because there's many unethical doctors and cheap hair mills that will give you broken promises that will do it to get your money no matter what.

Not sure this is entirely true regarding the blond hair will give less coverage. Dr Bisanga infact states the complete opposite to this. He said this on a recent video. 

8 hours ago, general-etwan said:

Be sure to bring things to entertain yourself…movies, books, etc. There isn’t much to do directly outside on the streets near Doubletree, and even if there was, you’re going to be so exhausted and tired that you’ll just want to chill for a few days anyway!

Yeah very interesting. Really it was Sethi’s idea; Bandit said originally the plan was to hit everything at once but that after Sethi made a plan to leave the crown for a second procedure, he agreed. I see nothing wrong with Bandit’s approach; I just personally wished not to leave any area completely bare after the first procedure. Having amazing density has never been as important to me as having a more uniform look, so it was important to me visually to attack everything in the first procedure. Also because I may be entering a career soon in which I don’t know when or even if I will be able to travel back to India to have another procedure.

I agree if you can go for full coverage then do it. I was clear with Dr Sethi that I was cool with the fact that I needed two procedures. Dr Sethi did say that the benefit of focusing on the front and mid-scalp in the first surgery, is that they wouldn't need to shave the recipient down for the second procedure, which now on reflection was a good choice for me as I get to enjoy the results of the first sitting, while the crown goes through ugly duckling motions. To be honest, you still get from A to B whichever route you chose. However, I suppose not touching your crown in the first sitting, will give you that little extra determination to return and get it finished. Whereas you could maybe get used to having lower-density coverage and put off a second procedure, especially if you were to use fibres to compensate.

33 minutes ago, BaldingEagle1 said:

Thanks @SLA

 

@Bandit90 who went over the graft design with you (front and mid first)? saying because another poster did all 3 sections..

 

just trying to find out the best route for me too

 

Was Dr Pradeep who suggested this approach. 

27 minutes ago, BaldingEagle1 said:

So we have to bring the Eugenix letter with us? the emedical visa isnt enough?

I'm only familiar with what is required for UK nationals. We can't get Evisa's in the UK and have to apply for a regular paper visa. I'm sure @SLA would be able to assist with US requirements, given he has recently been. 

55 minutes ago, SLA said:

Ridiculous IN A GREAT WAY, @Bandit90- I think you have mastered the PERFECT hair style! All looks amazing....just you wait. And the HT surgeon who at your consult who said, "No Hair Transplant" (you  know who I mean) will be wishing he said otherwise.

Miss our time in India, Mate 

Thanks Adam mate! Haha.. I know exactly who you mean. In honesty, he actually did me a huge favour that day knocking me back, as gave me time to stumble on here and find Eugenix! Miss our time too, hard to believe it's been over a month... Is it to early to start planning a third procedure yet 🤣.

I'm laser focused on your updates btw! If I was a betting man, I would say your on track to be the result of 2023! 

5 hours ago, Gatsby said:

You're looking awesome John and at 8 months you still have more time ahead of you for the first procedure to sprout more hair and thicken up the hair that you have. Your plan is perfect to slick back the frontal hair. It gives great coverage and allows the crown procedure to mature at the same time. Extremely happy for you man and I think this two stage approach was a very intelligent one. 🙌

Thanks for the support Adrian! Very glad I opted to do the surgery over two sittings. Strangely, going through the shedding, ugly duckling phase ect for the second time, I don't feel half as bothered about it. I'm just like meh month 6 will be here before I know it!. 

Month 8 Update 

Just checking in with my Month 8 Update (Month 1 for the Crown). The front keeps going from strength to strength. I have started to do the slick back hairstyle recently, as I think this works best for me.  Crown is going through the motions, most of the shed seems to have occurred, however, there are a few hairs that are growing (hopefully this sign of good things to come). I'm happy with how the donor is looking so far, especially given 5,700 grafts have been taken this year from there (this was a big worry for me, being a Norwood 7). Also, the beard has recovered fine, it looks undetectable from the 2,500 grafts which have been taken.

I conceived two children while taking finasteride with no issues. Was just super cautious to ensure my other half didn't touch any pills while pregnant. 

On 10/18/2022 at 7:46 PM, general-etwan said:

This is a position with some logical issues, because the truth is that even in the "Sethi" package, Sethi is only doing the design and slit making. The senior techs still do the extraction and implantation. So the idea that there is a wild difference in outcome with the highest package vs a lower one; it's just not an accurate idea. What you're really paying for in the highest two packages is for Sethi or Bansal to be there for a little bit of the time with you, when they would normally be doing more expansive business things in their lives. I think @Bandit90 would confirm that. Of course there is advantage to having one of those two world class doctors doing the design, but it's not always essential. I had Dr. Das, another senior doctor, do my design, and I don't believe there would have been any major differences if Sethi would have done it for me.

Even though I went with Dr Sethi, from what I have experienced/seen I would have zero issue going with an other Eugenix doc for a future procedure.  No matter what package you choose you as a minimum you are going to get an experienced doctor making the slits and a senior tech doing the extractions. For those who have issues with techs doing extraction (I was very much in this boat pre-procedure btw) I learned that there two Eugenix senior techs who do all the extractions and have been doing this for the last 13 years, so going through the process twice already, if I got given a choice between the docs doing the extraction or their senior techs, I would 100% be requesting that the the senior techs do it.

37 minutes ago, Zoomster said:

🥂 @Melvin- Moderator…I hope High NWs people reading my thread don’t start to think to themselves ,crikey I got to  have  around 12 to 15 k grafts to look like Zoomster ..this isn’t the case at all ..it’s sooo variable .

Even recently when I met up with @Bandit90and @SLA…the former bona fide NW7 and the latter a solid NW6…John has a total of just over 8K grafts so far and is covered back to front …though I know he will probably want to tweak it next year for added density ..either way 10K grafts and a full NW7 can call it a day ( Because Of head shape etc ) ..

Adam is currently at under 6k grafts and will in all likelyhood be good to go with one more procedure of around 3k grafts ..( narrow scalp ,high sides ,wavy hair all playing in his favour)..both of these random cases will each need around 50% less grafts than I did …this ain’t a game of whose got the most grafts..I just needed to keep the foot on the throttle to get the result i dreamed of

Back on cruise control now …thank God !! 🙏

 

 

Very true Karl! I for one didn't appreciate how much head shape plays in graft coverage for high NW's. I guess those with narrow skulls can get to full coverage in less grafts than those with wider ones. But that aside, you took the complete right approach to getting the result you have dreamed of, and this last sitting it really the icing on the cake! 

3 hours ago, Gatsby said:

John this is simply mind blowing stuff and only dreams of what can be done as recent as 5 years ago! I'm so happy for you bro and you deserve it all and then some. The Norwood 7 GOAT!

Thanks Adrian bud! I certainly couldn't imagine all this being possible a few years back. The intelligent use of BHT has been absolute game changer. 

51 minutes ago, Vann said:

Bro no f***ing way. Just knowing you had your crown done at the same place you got the top done must be reassuring to know what type of results you have the potential to yield. 
 

thanks for sharing and happy growing man. 

Thanks Vann! For sure, Dr Pradeep did an amazing job with the front and mid-scalp, so I have a strong feeling he has smashed it with the crown too! 

7 minutes ago, Berba11 said:

Brilliant!

Did you travel on a medical visa this time around or a tourist visa? When I went last year India weren't issuing tourist visas.

I went on medical visa, but VFS said this time, i was supposed to have a medical letter from a UK Doctor in addition the Eugenix one (they did let me off with this, after a bit of debate). They said it would be much easier if I just went through a Tourist visa. 

Melvin kindly provided these collages. Just puts into context how far ive come in little under 8 months! Thought id post before the 2nd HT shed kickis in!