coinflipdrifter

@TheGreatPretender I appreciate the kind words. It means the world. Truly. Unfortunately, I can't take oral fin but am using topical. I got hit with full blown sides around six months ago from oral and still haven't fully recovered. Fingers crossed on the topical.

@HappyMan2021 - not quite. Apologies for not being clear. First procedure was with Dr. Wasserbauer in the Bay Area. I was 23. Candidly, she had no business operating on me at that time and in hindsight, I feel strongly that she should have turned me away. I had a full head of hear and was worried about future loss; she implanted in places I already had hair. Second was with Dr. Paul. Nadimi's wait time is at least nine months out, yes. Appreciate the kind words. To me, it's completely changed my face - especially with how high Dr. Paul made the left side comparative to the right. It's impossible to style, etc.

Hi all, About to book my third HT with Nadimi. The wait will be nine months - and then the twelve month wait after that. I'm not sure if I can wait that long. My parents are sick of hearing it. They claim it's all in my head. It's not. I (31) had an FUE gone wrong one year ago with Dr. Ben Paul in NYC. We agreed on 1800-2000 grafts. Three months after surgery, he let me know he'd only implanted 1250. I went from a semi-normal look to full blown diffuse thin strictly in only my hairline. To make matters worse, the left side/corner point of my hairline is a full half inch higher than my right; I'm convinced he transplanted more hair on my right than left. It looks awful. Here was what I looked like one month before my previous surgery. Granted, there's a lot of 'push forward' here but it still looked semi-normal. And below is today. No matter what I do, it looks like there is way more hair on the right side of my head than my left. In pictures, my hair looks like it's sliding off the right side of my head. No matter what I do - styling, different haircut, etc. - it just looks extremely awkward and sickly. I was blessed growing up handsome - but was never vain about it. I never struggled getting dates, building relationships, etc. Now, I feel like I'm walking around botched, disfigured, and my esteem is shot. I'm isolating. Worse, the hair loss feels more out of my control than it ever has been. I feel like my magic power had been robbed. I'm convinced that it's not fixable, that my donor is too depleted, etc. I genuinely don't know how to handle this. I'd buzz, but I'm night-light white, can't tan (I inherited ginger skin from my mother - just not the hair color), and have a giant FUT scar on the back of my head. I've had a few consults that say I've got about 4-5k grafts left - but my gut tells me that's generous. Dr. Hasson thinks I'm headed for NW5 - NW6. I'm not sure what I'm looking for here other than a place to vent. My friends don't get it and my parents don't want to hear it. It's tough to want to do anything else until I find a livable resolution. If you made it this far, thanks for reading. - CFD

Great. I'm on topical fin and oral min right now - and still on the climb back from oral fin sides. I'll reach out to Hasson about the topical duta. No idea what CosmeRNA is but I'll look into it.

Appreciate the quick reply @Melvin- Moderator! I think what I'm most worried about is that I'm fairly confident I need at least 2k grafts to fix the frontal band and first half of the mid scalp (Hasson and Bloxham both floated this number) and Hasson thinks I only have about 4k FUEs left. That's not much leftover for the continued recession (and I can't really take oral fin). 2k FUEs doesn't feel like it's enough to cover the remaining midscalp and crown, no?

Hey guys, Consult update here. I met with Dr. Bloxham today in Great Neck. I can't speakly highly enough of his surgical intelligence and demeanor. That said, he pitched a very, very different approach to the repair comparative to Dr. Hasson. He immediately identified density as a problem and agreed it need to be fixed sooner rather than later. I know a lot of you had mentioned that it looks fine (which, much appreciated) - but the pics aren't doing anything justice here. It's really, really thin in the front and it looks diffuse on only the left. Dr. Bloxham recommended a second FUT with a target of 2k-2.5k grafts in a dense pack approach in the front. While I'm not necessarily against another FUT, I am apprehensive about any situation that would worsen my scar. Also, I'm definitely thinning in the mid scalp and crown... so any splurge in grafts here is a risk. @Melvin- Moderator - I did a few searches, but do you have any good references of multiple FUT results? Bloxham was confident in this approach (and I know he's a bit of a detractor of FUE) but it's not something I had heard of as popularized. He was confident I had about 4500 - 6000 FUT grafts left. As you can imagine, this is a relief. He also mentioned that my FUE donor supply was 'patchy' from the previous procedure so hence the FUT recommendation. My question for the group - Hasson was pretty anti-FUT and Bloxham is very gung-ho about this. How would you suggest I rationalize this? I really do want to maximize donor area for the inevitable crown work - but I don't really know which approach is safer. My gut is saying go FUT to maximize donor yield... but I do worry about yet another botch and then dealing with a noticeable scar (my current one is very, very small). I have consults setup with Cooley and Nadimi in the coming two months before I decide between Hasson, Bloxham, and those two. Thanks again for all your input. - CFD

Appreciate the kind words, guys, and sorry for the late reply. Been on a torrid work travel schedule. Took a few snaps this morning in better light. This shows more what I'm talking about. There isn't nearly enough density in the front for me to actually style it without everything pushed forward - especially on the left. @Berba11 @Silent123 @Melvin- Moderator - I'm not trying to lower given the half-burned donor supply (but I'd love to fix the temples). Sides seem to slowly (emphasis on slowly) subsiding so it could be depression, etc. I'm shedding like nuts still and I can't tell if it's the oral min, the topical fin, or what.

@BaldV - I appreciate the kind words - but the camera isn't doing this justice. It's extremely see through (and it doesn't help that I'm pale). In person, it looks like I'm diffusely losing it.

Hi all, I’ve posted in the past - but I’m looking for community support on a seemingly uphill battle. A bit about my HT experiences: - I had a 2200 FUT with Dr. Wasserbauer in 2015 that rendered little results. I thought it had been a complete botch, but further surgeons confirmed that she had transplanted behind what we had planned for and thus, I’m balder than I had originally thought. I was 23. She shouldn’t have operated on me given at this point I only had slight recession. - 10 months ago, I had a pretty terrible 1250 graft FUE with Dr. Ben Paul in NYC. While he’s one of the kindest Dr.’s I’ve ever met, he took a far too conservative approach, ended up doing less grafts than we had agreed upon (which was supposed to be up near 2000), and thus I look like the below. In short, the density is horrendous for the space it’s supposed to cover, it doesn’t blend, and he replaced bald spots with diffuse, see through fin spots. It wasn’t looking great before hand - but this diffuse thin has really, really destroyed my self confidence. - I also can’t take Fin. I get full blown sides. I’ve switched from oral to topical - but my libido and ED haven’t subsided in the slightest. It has me spooked. I’m also taking oral minoxidil, using Niz. and Propidren. - I recently met with Dr. Hasson - who thought I had roughly 4000k FUE grafts left (which, honestly, this feels generous). He’s also fairly confident I’m destined for Norwood VI town. - I’ve set up consults with Nadimi, Bloxham, Dorian, and Cooley. Before I get to my questions, see below for the current state of things: Left side. It’s noticeably thinner than the right side here. Right side: Left Side - from a different angle Awkward front pulled combover to cover the diffuse thinning: Pre-2nd HT, about a year ago. My questions are as follows: - Has anyone ever done a third repair? I’m really feeling disheartened by the lack of content I’m seeing around about the viability of something like this. - What is your estimate for # of grafts needed for such a repair? - If I try and get 2k grafts in the front with a reputable surgeon, will a remaining 2k grafts be enough to have to (eventually) cover the crown? - Is beard-to-hair transplant a viable solution here for density? I know you’re not supposed to use beard hair in the front … but I have too thick beard and would get rid of it in a heartbeat if it meant I could fix this issue. Has anybody had experiences with this type of transplant before? - Is getting another surgery at 12-14 months too aggressive? Honestly, this is ruining a huge chunk of my life (especially dating) and I want to feel like I’m reasonably in control of this. Thanks for your input in advance. I appreciate this community immensely. - CFD

@Gatsby- does topical actually work? I just posted about this because there's really not much literature out there beyond advertising.

Hi all, Two months ago, Dr. Hasson prescribed me oral fin after a 9 month hiatus of being off of it. After being fine for three weeks or so, I was hit with the worst ED and libido loss I've ever had. It's odd - I took it for seven years straight with very little issues, stopped for a bit, came back and bam. Does anybody have success stories going topical long-term? I'm in desparate need of another HT in the next few months and I'm terrified that my rate of loss is accelerating too quickly for it to be effective. I should also note i'm on oral min. Thanks, CFD

Hey Alex, You and I are in the exact same boat. I mean literally the exact same one. I'm 30, have had two terrible HT's (one with a scar) that total around 3400 grafts, recently met with Dr. Hasson who was confident I was about a Norwood IV or V, and now am desperately looking for a near term plan and fix. Hell, my donor and hair color looks kind of like yours in the sense that it's course and while it looks thick, has been depleted. What makes matters worse is that I can't take oral fin. I'm still recovering from the sides (but fingers crossed that topical works). I've consulted with Dr. Hasson and have further consults setup with Bloxham, Nadimi, and Dorin. I'm also in contact with Konior (and hoping to grab a consult with him soon despite his office saying he's booked out until eternity). Hasson thought I needed at least 2000 grafts - and only had about 4000 FUE's left to give. That feels generous. Let me know how things go on your end. Would love to know the plan you roll with. Have you spoken to anyone about beard hair?

Hey everyone, I just hopped on Proscar 1.25MG and oral minox. I started two weeks ago - and then stupidly forgot my meds for a four day trip. I’ve since returned home and gotten right back on them. Unfortunately, I’m shedding more than ever right now. Sink, shower….everywhere. I know the fin/min shed is supposed to usually happen a few months in - but is it normal to be happening so instantly? I’m not going to stop but it’s a bit unnerving. I’m thinner than I can ever remember in the mid scalp and frontal areas now. Thanks, CFD

Hey everyone, Figured I'd do an update here on recent developments. I happened to fly to Vancouver for work and managed to snag some time with Dr. Hasson. While it was a good first step, I have to say I wasn't left feeling like this was going to be easy (but he and his team are top notch). In short: The donor area is...fine. Hasson thinks there's likely 3-5k remaining grafts for the rest of my life. He thinks he can work with those - but it's not promising due to aggressive thinning. More on that below. That said, I learned a few disappointing things about my current situation: The Wasserbauer transplant had sort of worked - but it grew in farther back than I had ever realized. I genuinely had no idea/memory of having planned for implanted grafts behind the hairline... but here we are. Dr. Hasson thinks without it I'd be a IV or V. I'm rapidly thinning behind my recent transplant. While not noticeable to the naked eye yet, I can tell the density has lessened significantly this year. He immediately called out hairs that were 90% miniaturized. In response, I decided to hop immediately back on oral fin and oral minoxidil. No sides yet.... We both agreed that density is sorely needed - especially on my left side. He immediately called out extremely poor angulation in Dr. Paul's work... and frankly it's something I've seen myself. It's what makes my combover look asymmetrical; this type of repair with poor angulation is one of the tougher ones. Last, Dr. Hasson didn't want to talk again for 8-12 months. I'm praying that the oral fin/min does some heavy lifting until then. I'd love to ask for the groups opinion on what I can do here given the new information. I don't expect intensive density - but I really do seek symmetry in existing and added density that can provide a normal styling pattern (so, not completely just pushed forward, lumpy, and messy). cc @Melvin- Moderator I plan on flying to Chicago in the coming weeks to meet with Konior, Charlotte for Cooley, and Maryland for Bisenga when he's in town. I've seen others mention Shapiro; is he accredited like Konior, Dorin, and Bisenga are? Appreciate you all, CFD

@Melvin- Moderator- thanks for the recs. Money isn’t an issue here; I’ll pay what I have to to find comfort and settle this unease. What is it about those four that have you thinking they’re best with repair work? Honestly, I’m not sure what to look for in this scenario outside of word of mouth referrals.