windjc

Were you not happy with your first FUE? Why not go back to the same doctor? Everyone has a different opinion about who the "best" are. So that changes everyday, depending on who you talk to. But the docs you mention all seem to still have good reps. I got FUE with Umar and like it. But I don't think that there have been any revolutionary developments in techniques in the last 12 months. Strip docs are getting better at closing the scars. FUE docs are coming out with more patient results. But thats about the extent of it. Some docs are experimenting with different ways (platelet rich blood and such) of increasing healing and lowering transection rates, but they havent shown verifiable results as of yet.

Thanks Bill, But I think your arguments include financial ones, which I wasn't referring to. Also, imo, the arguments against FUE first still include transection. As techniques improve, this is becoming more of a dated argument. I am living proof that you can get density just as good in a FUE procedure as strip. And there are many others. Anyway, I still think you have good important points in most of what you say regarding the comparison between the two. I simply advocate patients looking at every conceivable option before deciding long term course of action.

It makes perfect sense to me. Below is a post that I wrote on another thread... others might not agree, but it seems very logical to me. "In FUE, there is only so much you can take before the area looks thin, however, in a strip you are also removing the skin as a result you do not encounter that problem. If you started off by getting large FUE procedures, then you pretty much have to continue with FUE. To get a strip procedure at a later date, you would have to get a wider strip taken as the donor would be depleted." Sorry, Maxxy. This logic makes no sense. Its still the SAME amount of grafts either way. If you do strip first, more of the grafts will come from strip. If you do FUE first, more of the grafts will come from FUE. Either way, same amount of grafts. Any theory that says strip first - FUE second = more grafts is assuming transection in FUE. Thats an ASSUMPTION.

I thought I was sorta bright, but this whole "the best way to get the most grafts is to do strip first and FUE second" makes ZERO sense to me. Why on earth could someone not get just as many grafts by doing FUE first and strip second? Either way you use ALL the grafts on the flesh that is completely removed from your head with strip and SOME of the grafts everywhere else. I'd love to know how you can somehow harvest more grafts by doing strip followed by FUE. It makes no sense to me although people post it on different threads constantly. Was this something Feller posted and so everyone just went along with the theory?

Ummmm. Experimental? Are you referring to the nape hairs? So, worse case scenario they all fall out 20 years from now and he loses the front two lines of hair, maybe a cm? I think "experimental" is a bit harsh, imo. Especially when, even with this worst case scenario, he will have a potentially much more soft and natural hairline for a long long time.

For those who know, this is a serious question. I'd like to know what the real deal is with hairsite. Like, for instance, who runs it and what his real income sources are. I've read forums for some years now and I post from time to time. If anyone was to research my posts you'd find that I am a big proponent of patients taking responsibility for the results of their HTs, etc. I have defended docs that I thought were unfairly bashed. I am not an alarmist or prone to melodrama or hyperbole. But I have become frustrated with what seems to be a blatant disregard for real patient feedback on Hairsite. I am coming to the opinion that that site is only run for profit, with the forum only a shell to bring more business to the site. I have no problem with online monetization. I have made millions in online marketing myself. But to have a forum and not allow open discussion or any negative feedback regarding doctors or situations is unfathomable. I know many on here know more about that site than I do. I am NOT starting this thread as an open invitation to bash Hairsite. But I would like some honest objective feedback about the operation that is being run there. Cheers.

Your friend has some good points if you are not going to a great doctor. If you are going to a great doctor, then most of your friends points are mute. I wish your friend would have also said "and I'll support your decision no matter what you choose or what the results are".

WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY did you go to this same doctor 4 times? At some point the patient has to take responsiblity for their results. You didn't get good results with the 1st transplant. Your experience with Bauman should have ended their. I don't even know what to say. And you are still talking to him about another surgery. At this point you get exactly what you deserve. Its horrible that the results are this bad. Its sad that you could have avoided 80% of this EASILY.

You wanted good answers. Bill just gave you golden advice. You should take it. You should absolutely take it.

I had 2600 frontal FUEs done with Umar 4 months ago and have gotten very nice results already. Its funny your experiences and opinions are similar to my own. Umar is very kind in person although stoic. He also invests very little in staff or customer service. Of course, the upside of this is he does all the transplants himself. The downside is that he has a new secretary every 4 days (Okay, I jest a bit here). But his staff (of one) almost costs me my transplant because they failed to notify me that somehow my wire didnt come through to their bank and then when I showed up they called off the surgery for non-payment. So, basically I refused to leave, we had a heart to heart, and went forward. But the results are as good as any strip I've seen on any forum after 4 months. I'm glad to know you had positive results. Congratulations.

Hairballs? WTH? What caused those? They look stuck way down in the lower epidermis. Good lord. That was a great repair job, btw. Interesting rake marks on the back of the head. Talk about a butcher.

You very well may not be a great candidate for FUE. But there is nothing stopping you from going for a consultation with both a leading strip surgeon and a leading FUE surgeon for their opinions. The best docs aren't going to try to sell you something they can't do. If I were you, I would set up a consulation with Hasson and Wong for strip and Dr. Umar for FUE. If you go to Feller he will tell you to do strip, so what's the point there? As some on here have mentioned, you may want to do a strip (or two) procedures followed by a FUE procedure. But, if I was in your shoes, I would meet with doctors in both fields to make a comprehensive gameplan. Of course, these is assuming you want to tackle this as aggressively as possible.

At least some of the times, FUE has as good of yield as Strip.

I agree on most points you make Billo. Hopefully the doctor could comment on his pre-surgery conversations with this particular patient especially since they wanted to show this patient on the forum.

Excuse me Windjc... But I was offering a very general opinion and view regarding the safe zone. This is not only my view, but the view of dozens of leading physicians. I was not addressing specific concerns you had about specific results. In fact, your last post contains no reference or links to a particular result you are concerned about. I can't read your mind. If you want my input on a particular result, send me a link or share your concerns on the thread featuring the results. That said, I am inclined to agree that physicians need not to deviate too far outside of the universal safe zone on extremely young patients. The younger the patient, the higher the risks. Bill Here's one from this forum: Example Again, I'm not a Keser hater. I love FUE. Had it done myself and have very good results. I just don't understand the graft selection at all.

Of course, everyone is different. That's a given. But when I see pics of a 28 yrd old with recession in his 3rd zone and a clear diffuse thinning pattern to NW4 and then I see grafts taken well above the NW7 line and arguably above the NW6 line, then I have some serious questions. Maybe the patient wanted him to do it. Maybe it was the only way to harvest the grafts he needed. I don't know. But it is a little frustrating when I ask the such questions and the moderator or the office's forum representative answer in effect "risks are minimal" or "the doctor knows best". I have nothing against Dr. Keser, but come on. We should ask for specific answers regarding this for any doctor.

After seeing some pictures form Dr. Keser's work, I was surprised that he will take many grafts from "non-safe" zones. Although there is debate to what is safe or not, I am talking about zones above a NW7. I personally would not have any doctor move grafts in that area on me. But if there are doctors that do body hair transplants and aren't recommended because of the questions about longer term effects/stability, I think likewise doctors that take grafts from aggressive areas also have to be questioned.

You may be right about this and if I exaggerated it was unintentional. However, growing organs for transplantation is considered a science that is much closer than most people would imagine.

If you want FUE, you should at least look into Dr. Umar in Redondo Beach. He only does FUE and has done it for the last 7 years. He operated on me. I'm not quite 4 months out, but things are progressing quickly and steadily for me. But there are other docs like Feller who also do FUE. Was your first surgery strip? I can't believe a doctor charged you $10 a graft in 2009. That's ridiculous. Particularly for strip (if that is what you had). There are world class strip surgeons who charge $4-5 grafts. And great FUE surgeons who charge as little as $6. At least it seems you will do your research this time. Good luck.

My doc (Umar) didnt want me in the sun for 60-90 days. I dont remember which. I'd say that the recipient area is still vunerable, simply because it probably pretty much bald (or bald-like) and easy burnt. I don't think you want to run the risk of a sun-burn to create more trauma, swelling and inflammation in the area. But that's my non-medical opinion.

I think you will be absolutely fine. Are you going to wear your hair that short? If, not, there is no way any scars will ever bee seen. You probably had a mild infection or immuno irritation. I had a break out on my nape from FUE. I haven't seen anyone on the forums with something similar. I got steriods from the doctor and eventually it went away. And this is an area with very little hair to cover up at all. You'll be fine. How is your eyebrow, btw? That seems the more interesting and pressing topic.

Celebrities aren't smart. That's one reason. At least not all of them are smart. Plus, celebrities like to get paid endorsements and things for free. Free is cool, even if its just a $500 watch or a $500 Blackberry or a $10000 HT. Plenty of celebrities have gone to bad HT surgeons and gotten bad HTs. Why are you so fascinated by this phenomena? And why are you not a fan of DHI after you went for a consultation there? Or if you weren't a fan, why did you go at all?

Hey TTP, Do you use Toppik or some concealer? I would think you have enough density in the the transplanted area that if you keep it short and use Toppik wisely, you might be able to get a fairly thick look. I know it doesn't give you more hair, but if would seem like it could make a significant difference, since basically what you have is a diffuse thinning look in the transplanted area.

I asked him about this last time I saw him, because a lot of people comment on it and I couldn't figure it out. He said that he does not clean the recepient area of blood as he doesnt want to run the risk of moving, dislodging, or otherwise damaging the transplanted follicles. He went on to say that the clean pictures you see most of the time are after the recipient area has been cleaned. He said that every patient bleeds and if you don't clean the blood it looks like this. For what it's worth.

Have things continued to improve for you past the 8th month mark? I know then you wouldn't say you were "very" happy. Moderately happy perhaps.