BareBeGone

I don't think Dr. Feller pushes FUE. I had a strip procedure done by him -- I'm at over 5 months and I think it's starting to come in well - he went back about 2/3 from my hairline - the front 1/3 is coming in nicely -- hoping the 2nd third will start to come in soon. When I had my consultation, I asked him if a FUE procedure might be a possibility. He told me right off that since I needed over 3,000 grafts (and possibly later do 500-1000 in the crown if I wanted, though I might have enough hair to comb it back with this procedure) that strip would be the way to go. And of course, FUE would be so much more expensive anyway so I thought Dr. Feller was being quite ethical - other doctors conceivably could make much more money pushing the more expensive FUE. Also, I believe that Dr. Feller said that you might have to start a FUE procedure to actually see if a patient is going to be a good candidate - if not, he would switch to strip. Anyway, I'm hoping my hair continues to come in and thicken; he had told me since I had some previous procedures that it would start around 4 months rather than 3, so I'm trying to adjust my expectations about a month longer than some of the other posted charts (i.e. Mrjb's 12 month chart).

As another Feller relatively recent (going on 2 1/2 months) patient, I understand his reasoning for shaving patients. Basically, the hairs that are there get in the way -- by shaving he has a clean slate (plus, he can see what has already been done and what hairs are still growing with the use of an magnifier). Think about it, not only he when he makes the incisions, but his assistants, every time they place a hair, they would have to move to the side existing hair while they are also concerned with holding onto (in their hands) your new grafts and placing it in the proper direction for it to grow correctly). It would take much longer to have to contend with whatever hair is growing on your head. Plus, frankly, I had to have more shots over the long day as the anesthesia started to wear off. It was no problem in that the doctor would be notified and give me more shots. But I don't like shots. I hate more shots! But if there was existing hair that was not shaven there, this procedure would take even longer and result in the need for more anesthesa (and more shots! I grew my hair longer prior to the operation so I could at least have a combover during the post-op and waiting period. If other doctors don't require you to shave, that's fine - but I have a feeling it would require longer time (again, for the need to move existing hairs out of the way with many of the grafts), plus more shots as the anesthesia wears off. With a start time of 7:45 and ending at about 4:00 and with around 3,200 grafts, that was a long enough day for me.

I was there too, Bill-y!

As Regan the girl in "The Exorcist" said while she was being possessed: "STAY AWAY!!".

Hi there folks. He's very good doctor, and I'm awaiting the grafts to grow out; I had a strip transplant with him over a month ago - but -- after the operation, very hard to get him to pick up the phone (never did speak to him till I had my appointment to take out the staples). His receptionists have a lot of the answers to your questions -- but.. it seems like after spending a lot of money on the procedure it would be good "bedside manner" for the doctor to answer your questions and follow up with you on the phone ("How are you feeling?", etc.). Even if he's delegated the answering of the kind of questions you may have because maybe he's done that many times before, it's the first time of the experience for you! That's part of his job. Anyway, when I was finally able to touch the recipient area in the front of my head, it felt like he made it quite dense, so I think he did an excellent job. I just would have felt better talking to him at some point during the post-op procedure.