jac1971

I've used Revita almost everyday for a year and have no problems at all with it other than it tends to dry my scalp out a bit and the problem that I just had with the bad batch that I received (you can read about that in another post here). Sounds like it effects different people different ways like alot of things do.

I've been using Revita for almost a year now. I just purchased two new bottles of Revita. After opening and using one of them the shampoo made my hair really greasy and heavy almost like I had washed my hair in hair gel. I tried the second bottle with the same results. Has anyone else experienced this?? I would like to continue to use Revita but after this I probably won't!!!

I'm a Dr. Cooley patient and I have been taking Propecia for almost a year. The only problem that I've had was a little swelling around my eyes but it's so minor that I can ignore it. Other than that, I've had no problems and it appears to be working. I'm on a M-W-F schedule. Also, I'm over 7 months post-op and am VERY pleased with the results so far. I would definitely recommend Dr. Cooley!!!!

As you may have seen on this forum already, I have been on Propecia for a little over 5 months and am experiencing eye and facial swelling. It's not that bad but noticeable. I stopped taking it a few days ago because I read where if you keep taking it after swelling occurs then the swelling could go to your tongue. That would not be pleasant!!!

I've been on Propecia for a little over 5 months now and around the 4 month mark I noticed that the area above my eyelids was swelling. Now, my face is starting to swell some. I think that I'm seeing results with propecia but I've read that if you start seeing these symptoms then they could become worse (i.e tongue starts to swell). I hate to stop taking it but I certainly don't won't to choke to death with a swollen tongue or throat. Opinions???

How long should the donor area be washed from side to side?

Well, I just had an HT done a few weeks ago but I would certainly rather have a scar on the back of my head, which I can cover if I let my hair be a little longer than usual, than have a bald head. That's just my opinion. I'm not really concerned about it other than wanting the incision to completely heal.

Just heard from Dr. Cooley. He said that it's okay to use hairspray now. I'll just be using enough to hold it down a bit. I don't think that using alot would be good so it's better to be cautious, in my opinion.

Is it okay to use hairspray 4 weeks post-op?? Not much but just enough to keep my hair from blowing in the wind.

I would also consider Dr. Cooley in Charlotte, NC. He did mine about 3 weeks ago. So far so good. I promise that I'll post some pics soon. Research him and I'm sure you'll be impressed.

HTNONO, I just had HT surgery on November 23rd. Things went very well the day of and since. A brief synopsis of my experience is elsewhere on this forum in the Surgeon Reviews section under "4288 Grafts by Dr. Jerry Cooley". Of course, I won't know my full results until about this time next year but from the MANY photos and blogposts that I've read over the past year, you won't be disappointed by his work. Let me know if you need anymore info or advice. Dr. Cooley and his staff have treated me great from day one and I've had no problems at all thus far (I'm 14 days post op).

Got an answer for the use of saran wrap. The saran wrap should be worn 3-4 days under a hat post-op to protect the grafts. The wrap has a greenhouse effect, of sorts. This greenhouse effect apparently helps the grafts. Don't ask me how. That's just what I was told my Ailene at Dr. Cooley's office. At any rate, I haven't worn it for a few days now. Airflow is a good thing for healing as well, of course.

One other thing I would like some opinions on that may be elsewhere on this board but I'll ask here anyway. I have a job that won't allow me to wear a hat. I also have some social things coming up and I'm a little nervous and self-conscious about my new stubble and lower hairline. I know that it will disappear but not before I need to expose my head to the world. Should I just tell everyone what I had done?? I have some hair to hide the HT with but not enough. I'm kind of in a quandry here!!!

Nsuede, I have stitches. Can't wait to get them removed. They don't really bother me. It's just one little milestone that I want to reach in the process. Harry101, The cost was around $13,000.00 From what I've seen in my research, for almost 4,300 grafts that's at least in line with what other clinics charge if not a bit cheaper.

He told just me to wear it on my head when I wear a hat to protect the grafts. He didn't say for how long to do that, however. It must have been just for the first 2 or 3 days. I will ask him. I'm about 10 days post-op now so I would say that it's okay not to now. Things look good so far.

Nsuede, Sleep is getting better. I'm still having trouble getting comfortable but that's due to my paranoia of irritating my incision. Not due to pain. Ailene at Dr. Cooley's office suggested that I use a travel pillow or roll up a towel and place it under my head. I saw a doctor friend of mine today and he said that my incision looks great and that Dr. Cooley did a bangup job on it. I'm getting the stitches out this coming Monday. 1. The straw that broke the camels back for me was a picture that I saw that someone took of the back of my head and I was surprised that my baldspot was getting so big!!! I then thought enough is enough!!! I'm going for it!!! Dr. Cooley's hairlines, density, etc. impressed me when I looked at them online and in the pics at the consultation. I did look a bit at Dr. Jack Fisher in Nashville but after looking so much at Dr. Cooley's work it was a no-brainer. Not that I found anything wrong with Dr. Fisher's work. 2. Not sure what I am on the Norwood scale but I have a fairly large baldspot on the crown and a fairly high forehead. I comb my hair forward and back some to cover the baldspot which is hard to do. 3. I didn't feel a thing the whole time I was in the chair. My head was really numb and I was amazed that I didn't feel anything!!!! I just got a bit uncomfortable in the chair laying facedown. Not sure how long it took but it didn't seem long at all. The dread was the worst thing about that part. 4. I try not to lean my head forward too far so I won't stretch the donor scar. The back of my head feels a bit tight but not too bad. My scalp is still numb but it's not bothersome. I hope that I've helped. If you have anymore questions, feel free to ask!!! Best of luck!!! I'll keep everyone posted on my progress.

A quick question. How long ahould I wear saran wrap under my hat after my procedure?? I'm 8 days post-op and haven't started to shed yet. Thanks!!!

Thanks for the welcome, Bill!!! I hope that the swelling will go down in a couple of days. It's not too bad but just a bit of a nuisance. I'll post some pics soon. Nsuede, I settled on Dr. Cooley because no matter where I looked on the net, not just this forum, I didn't see one negative thing written about him. I also checked out his credentials (i.e. disciplinary actions, education, etc.) and was very impressed. I looked at scores of his patient's photos and they all looked very natural with good clean hairlines. Dr. Cooley is also located about 3 1/2 hours from where I live so that helped as well although location should not be a major factor in choosing a qualified HT surgeon. Don't be freaked out. Once you make the decision to go for it, make the appointment and don't look back!!! I'm kinda of a whimp when it comes to needles and medical procedures and if I can do it you can, too!!! Like I've said, I'm now about 7 days post-op and I've had VERY little pain. I have had trouble getting conmfortable when I sleep but that's just from being paranoid about laying on my incision. Not from pain. I'm also being militant about taking the anitbiotics, keeping the donor and recipient area clean and sparying the solution Dr. Cooley gave me. All VERY important!!! So, if you decide on getting an HT best of luck and keep us posted. I will as well. I'm happy to help. Others on this forum have really helped me in this process and I want to return the favor for those that are still thinking about an HT.

On November 23, 2009 I had my first HT by Dr. Jerry Cooley of Charlotte, NC. I had 4288 grafts implanted. My in-person consultation was in August of this year. After many, many years of contemplating an HT and researching surgeons, Dr. Cooley seemed to be an easy choice. So, far, 6 days post op, I'm very pleased. I arrived in Charlotte for the procedure the night before the surgery. Dr. Cooley's office arranged for a room at the Hilton Garden Inn which was very nice. I arrived the morning of the procedure at 7 am sharp. One of Dr. Cooley's assistants, Stephanie met with me for about 15 minutes and gave me the pre-op meds (antibiotics, valium, etc.) and explained everything that would happen that day. She told me to pick out 3 movies to watch (which I slept through most of them) and my choice of where to eat lunch from (Dr. Cooley's treat!!!). Dr. Cooley then came in and took several pictures and very precisely drew my new hairline and made sure that was how I wanted it. I think that it will look VERY natural!!! After putting my surgical gown on and lying facedown, I was given Versed and relaxed. I really dreaded this part for months but it wasn't bad at all!!! Then I turned over and saw about 8 technicians working on my grafts under microscopes and at one point I had Dr. Cooley and 2 assistants working on me at once (I think that they were Amy and Stephanie) whom of which are VERY nice!!! Not to make a long story longer everything went very smoothly. I felt very well taken care of. The procedure lasted around 11 hours which really goes by faster than you would think. Dr. Cooley is a really nice guy and his staff is as well. I also can't forget to say nice things about his Clinical Supervisor Ailene Russell. She has been great with me from before the consultation until now. Very professional!!! So, things look to be progressing on schedule. I've amazingly had VERY little pain but some swelling mainly around my eyes which will hopefully go away in a couple of days. One bit of advice before I make another post: take at least a week off from doing much of anything. It's not that you will feel that bad but your body really needs to rest after having this done. I have approximately 79 stitches in the back of my head and 4288 very tiny holes in my scalp so it can be a bit traumatic to your body but again, it's not as bad as it sounds!!! Also, having to spray a solution on your head several times per day really requires you to stay inside unless you want to wear a hat alot. I prefer to let air to the wounds as much as possible. My job won't allow me to wear a hat so I hope to be able to take an extra week off to finish spraying the solution which is EXTREMELY important to do!!!! More to come.......