tstan

What do you tell people, especially those you see often or every day?

Considering an HT, 2500 grafts, in late December, with Haber. Based on some of the posts, and checking some weblogs, I'm wondering how visible and obvious a HT is after two weeks, one month, or even three months. I've noticed many people have redness on the scalp or visible scarring from the donor area not only after two weeks, but even several months later. It seems to vary greatly by individual. I also noticed it is often the case the transplant receiving area gets shaved, making it even more obvious something drastic has happened. Man, I was hoping to not have my co-workers all notice the transplant, but it does not look like there would be any way around this. Comments? Factoid: I would have my hair grown about 1 1/2" inches by time of the surgery.

Well, I haven't talked with my wife yet, but probably will on Saturday. We will have some time away from the kids. Based on some of the posts, and checking some weblogs, I have some new reservations. I've noticed many people have redness on the scalp or visible scarring from the donor area not only after two weeks, but even several months later. It seems to vary greatly by individual. Man, I was hoping to not have my co-workers all notice the transplant, but it does not look like there would be any way around this. Factoid: I would have my hair grown about 1 1/2" inches by time of the surgery.

Next month I'm scheduled for a 2500 graft procedure with Robert Haber for a cost of $8000. This is my first. I'm having it over the Christmas break, taking a full two weeks off from work. As I get closer to the date, I'm nervous. I have until Monday to call it off without losing a $1000 deposit, and my wife is sending me signals (again) she is not very supportive. There are several issues I'm facing, and wondered if forum members can comment. First, my wife. We have been talking about this procedure for almost two years now. For most of that time, she has really not wanted me to do it. She has said over and over again that having this done means I'm a fake, I'm superficial. Somehow, she finally relented about a month ago when I said I had made up my mind and wanted to go forward. She even stood up for me when my kids bugged me about it (they are both in elementary school, and have also said they don't want me to do it. They are afraid I won't look the same). Yesterday my wife started back into her old message system about my being a fake, and I'm distressed. Other family members know about it, and are neutral, for the most part. I feel like I'm all alone in this, and am worried. Those first couple of weeks after the procedure are going to be rough, I believe. I'll spend Christmas with family members with these staples in my head, and my frontal scalp all red, and what not. I think my kids will probably start blabbing to everyone in our neighborhood what daddy did, and I'll be embarressed. Then I worry what will my head look like when I get back to work. Will people say, 'Gee, what happened to you'? Will I have to explain to the world what I did and why? I'm also wondering frankly about what my wife says. Am I a superficial person for wanting to restore some of my hairline? Will it send a message to others that I'm just a sleazy, insecure, fako? So, I know I need to talk with my wife again, and will do so this weekend. I need her support. Does anyone have comments? I feel weird asking a group of total strangers, but then, I need perspective from people who have been through this process.

I saw this posting on a celebrity plastic surgery site. Here is an excerpt: "Then after the procedure, maintenance takes place. About 3-4 times a month, the patient comes back to get hair washed or repositioned depending upon if hair started to grow under the skin or not. This costs at least $250 a month. The scalp grows some hair and the skin itself sheds as part of the normal body's replacement function. And as mentioned before, maintenance after a successful procedure costs about $3,000 a year." Is this accurate? After spending $10k on a procedure, you should expect to spend an additional $3k a year afterwards?

I saw this posting on a celebrity plastic surgery site. Here is an excerpt: "Then after the procedure, maintenance takes place. About 3-4 times a month, the patient comes back to get hair washed or repositioned depending upon if hair started to grow under the skin or not. This costs at least $250 a month. The scalp grows some hair and the skin itself sheds as part of the normal body's replacement function. And as mentioned before, maintenance after a successful procedure costs about $3,000 a year." Is this accurate? After spending $10k on a procedure, you should expect to spend an additional $3k a year afterwards?

I am not asking rhetorically. I would like to know from the community whether Feller is most economical or if there are other skilled doctors offering similar results for the same money.

This is a very interesting topic to me. I am thinking seriously about a procedure, but worried about what people will say or ask me after the fact. I could afford to take off work for a month, maybe, but then have to go back to an office environment where I will see people on a daily basis. How have others handled this situation? What questions were you asked? How did you answer? How long until the appearance of the procedure is essentially vanished?

I'm very impressed by the photos I see of Dr Feller's patients. He seems to achieve results with 2000 grafts that other doctors achieve with 3500-5000 grafts. Is Feller offering the best value around? (No I don't work for him!)

I'm very impressed by the photos I see of Dr Feller's patients. He seems to achieve results with 2000 grafts that other doctors achieve with 3500-5000 grafts. Is Feller offering the best value around? (No I don't work for him!)

Dewayne, Thanks for your thoughts. What clinics do you recommend? I live in Ohio. The two I've consulted are: Wolf http://www.wolfhair.com/ Haber (who is listed on this HTN website) http://www.universityhair.com/

Hello, I am first time visitor and have not had a chance to read through too many posts. In talking with my wife about transplants she has raised questions that I wondered if this group could answer, or direct me to answers. 1. How often do transplants fail? I am 40, in very good health, and have frontal baldness but plenty of hair from the back to move to the front. For financial reasons I would probably go with the strip method over FUE. One physician told me (online) that I was a good candidate for a transplant. How often do these procedures fail to produce the desired result for someone like me? What if you spend $7000 on a procedure... how likely do they fail and you have nothing to show for it? Or, what percentage of the total grafts typically fail to regrow? 2. How does a procedure change you as a person? My wife wonders how I might be different after a (presumed) successful procedure. I assume I will feel better about my appearance, but are there other, either positive or negative outcomes? Do men often become a superficial jerk who then think they have to get other corrective surgery to address other issues? Having improved their appearance, do they look at their wives differently who have their own appearance issues? 3. What happens in the period after surgery? Will I come home and people say, "Gee, what happened to your head?" I keep my hair very short and will have to grow it out about 1" before the procedure. So after the procedure, how will I look and what will be the remarks and questions I get? 4. How many estimates should I get? I received an online consultation from one physician (Wolf in Cinn) and am seeking a second (Haber in Cleveland). Thanks for your help, tstan

Hello, I am first time visitor and have not had a chance to read through too many posts. In talking with my wife about transplants she has raised questions that I wondered if this group could answer, or direct me to answers. 1. How often do transplants fail? I am 40, in very good health, and have frontal baldness but plenty of hair from the back to move to the front. For financial reasons I would probably go with the strip method over FUE. One physician told me (online) that I was a good candidate for a transplant. How often do these procedures fail to produce the desired result for someone like me? What if you spend $7000 on a procedure... how likely do they fail and you have nothing to show for it? Or, what percentage of the total grafts typically fail to regrow? 2. How does a procedure change you as a person? My wife wonders how I might be different after a (presumed) successful procedure. I assume I will feel better about my appearance, but are there other, either positive or negative outcomes? Do men often become a superficial jerk who then think they have to get other corrective surgery to address other issues? Having improved their appearance, do they look at their wives differently who have their own appearance issues? 3. What happens in the period after surgery? Will I come home and people say, "Gee, what happened to your head?" I keep my hair very short and will have to grow it out about 1" before the procedure. So after the procedure, how will I look and what will be the remarks and questions I get? 4. How many estimates should I get? I received an online consultation from one physician (Wolf in Cinn) and am seeking a second (Haber in Cleveland). Thanks for your help, tstan