Robert_

Looks good. Id trust Dr. Feller in a hearbeat, but dont take my word for it. Dont take ANYONES word for it. Take YOUR word for it. That being said, Be sure you know the consequences if your existing hair recedes behind those graphs. That can set you up for failure in the future. Make sure youre diligent about the drugs (Minox, Prosca/Propecia) and make sure youre prepared mentally to go through with it. I was way worse at 20 years old. Make an informed decision and you shouldnt be dissappointed.

"at least consider doing a HT...either that, or a used fishing boat!" Look, Mike, I can really respect wanting that boat (8 years navy; 2 years as a yacht delivery captain) so, yeah, i understand your delimna with the decision alone. But, i agree with HBT. Maybe even up to 3000 to pack some more density in there.

yup.

All hail Rugger! The MSM king! heh heh, you getting tired of answering that same question everyday?

Thanks, HBT. Yeah alot of people ask me why I dont mind driving an hour and a half every week (or, now, every month), but it really comforts me to know that everything is ok as I progress

Just got back in the house from having the stitches removed. Oddly enough, this was the most pain I have had the entire time, and it wasnt bad at all. Just some pulling sensation, really. Talked to Dr. Cooley for quite a bit. I'll be going back in 3 weeks from now and about every month thereafter for new pics and such (which is good, b/c my camphone does suck; I know, I know, I need to break down and buy a real camera). Anyway, other than a slightly dry scalp, which he recommended a shampoo for, everything is going great. I still cant work out to any great extent for another 2 weeks or so, but I can do some light running and lifting if i wanted to. Im thinking Ill be lazy for 2 more weeks. Wont hurt much, right? heh heh heh. So anyway, here are some better pics: While he was cleaning up the recipient area with some gauze, some of the hairs were coming out and he showed them to me. Im actually kind of relieved that they are falling out. It means progress. Call me crazy, i know... Right after the stitches were taken out. And again, with hair down: Yeah, I know I need a haircut to get that fuzz off my neck, but I was waiting for the stitches to be removed. I have no idea what my stylists reaction is going to be. Thanks!

Yeah, i figure the best thing i can do is concentrate on school and try not to look in the mirror TOO much. (the latter AINT gonna happen, though)

"stop gloating about Dr. Cooley!!" haha, what can I say? The guy is more than aces in my book.

No, RDJr., thanks for the question. Im always searching for unforseen possibilities and complications. So far, so very good, but one can never be too educated.

"A white hair is better than no hair. " Yup. I agree. I have a friend whos 29 and has some white. Hes ALWAYS whining about it. I just want to shake him and drag him by the ear to the "Just For Men" aisle and scream at him and his FULL head of hair "AT LEAST YOU HAVE HAIR, MORON"

I never went out without a hat before so I havent been out without one since. The only person that knows is my roomate (shes the one that drove me home) and she thought it was cool as hell. With the hat on, its totally undetectable. With the hat off, it just looks like I have peach fuzz in the recipient area, so yeah, i guess with Toppik and Couvre (on my still-bald crown) I could go out without a second look.

Ask and ye shall recieve... I doubt this is much better, its really hard to get a decent pic from the side. Be all end all, you really cant see anything at all except the hair. But yeah, this tightness that I read about, I havent had any. Guess im lucky.

HAHA, nah I was gonna keep it clean. But that is cool, it never occured to me that they may actually stay. F$%&ing sweet!

So the graphs might actually grow? Hmmm....interesting...that may not be so bad. Or will they just stay the same length and stare back at me in the mirror day after day after day?

Im due back at Dr. Cooleys office tomorrow afternoon, so I figured id post some 2 week (well, 1 day shy of) pictures of my hairline and scar before the stitches are removed. Hairline Stitches from back (sorry so blurry) Stitches from side Everything is still going great. I feel a slight numbness in the recipient area, but nothing troublesome at all. In fact, I only feel it when I comb through my "existing" hair. Also, the stitches itched a little more the second week than the first, but its barely worth mentioning. I do think the hairline pic is decieving, maybe due to the bathroom light or due to my camera being a camphone and not having a good resolution. The redness that shows on the picture is not truly accurate. There is barely any redness at all.

dunno, call it overkill, but i liked the idea of going back for the cleaning in a week and to get another look-see at 2 weeks post op. sounds wierd, but im kind of anticipating the hairs falling out, just to know that things are progressing, I guess. Dont remember, whjos tag line it is, but it really makes sense: "Is it 6 months yet?"

Whatever you do, take that to heart. DONT EVER STOP. I got on Minox and Propecia at 20. I took it for about a year with great success. Because of that, and being uninformed, I stopped taking both and my hair loss came back with a vengeance. I would have almost a full head of hair (at least at the crown and top) if I had never stopped taking it. Its great stuff for maintaining what you have up top and possibly growing, but its definitely a catch-22. If the minox 5% is too greasy to deal with in the morning, just get 2% in the morning and use the 5% before bed. In my humble opinion, that 3% youre lacking in the morning is negligable as long as youre diligent in the treatment.

I went with the stitches because he said that he prefers them (that they can leave a slightly smaller scar than the dissolvable ones). That, and I have no class on Fridays, and the idea of two checkups at weekly intervals sounded pretty good to me. I always like to be comforted with the knowledge that they think Im doing well and that everything is healing the way its supposed to.

"... i spread it out as much as possible" Correct me if Im wrong, but I dont think ANYONE on this forum hasnt done that a million times. Skins, I wish you all the luck in the world bro, believe me when I say that I know EXACTLY what youre going through to look in the mirror at 20 and see scalp looking back. You have something that I didnt 5 years in advance, though: this forum and all the wealth of information that is available from these guys. Read, read, read. Get on Proscar or Propecia and Minoxidil as sonn as possible and STAY ON THEM. You have to know that its going to be a big committment from you to overcome this. Lots of luck.

Awesome to hear! Yeah, Id definitely want to hear about it. As a matter of fact, Im going back up friday to have my stitches taken out so we will have just missed each other.

I dont buy that much either. Noone does interviews with the Enquirer. Noone respectable anyway.

Yeah, pics would be helpful.

If Im not mistaken you have dark, somewhat thin hair on light skin as I do , huh HBT? Im thinking of lighting it a bit after it grows in to buffer the contrast a bit.

Im thinking to at least consult with the respected Doc in your area, (Doc Epstien and Doc Charles in Boca Raton). Im thinking that, yeah, even though youre young, to bolster that hairline with a modest HT and maintain the drugs, you can set yourself up to beat this thing before it gets out of control. Also, look at the bright side like this: Im not trying to get your hopes up (like mine are) but they say that hair multiplication may be a viable option in ten years. Youll only be 30 (and Ill only be 35!) so there may be a light at the end of the tunnel there too. Go see the Docs though, the worst that can happen is that they turn you away for your own good.

Ah, ok. Well, I should add that if you are successful in getting the tax back from the Canadian Gov't, I wouldnt try to write it off on your US Fed. tax return...just my two cents...hahaha