Bushy

Whoa, Pat . . . I don't log in for a week and you go and get all cut up!!! Congrats. Can't wait to see your final result. Did I say final???

Thanks, Bill. I guess you're gonna be BushyBill! BTW, I just noticed that I have you beat by 50 grafts! Hairbank, thanks. It's gonna take some patience now as things thicken up over the course of the next 6 months to even one year.

I just uploaded my 6-month pics to my blog. Not much different from month 5, except that the hairline continues to soften. The density on the top part is still not where I expect it will be months from now. At this point I don't plan any updates for another 2 or 3 months, because the differential will probably not be that great. Please let me know what you think. Your feedback will be appreciated (good or bad).

Here's to hope!

Dhuge, that appears to be a really great scar. Nice and thin.

Bill, so far so good. I will note how different we all are in some regards. I mean, I'd never go out with the scar that visible. Good for you that you are that self-confident. Also, it seems that you have suffered 0 shockloss. Am I correct?

Pat, is this your new bumper sticker?

Wow, Pat, that was a great read. Thanks for sharing all this invaluable information with us. Two questions, if I may: First, were any potential downsides raised by the panel with regard to trichophytic closure? Were any patients (models) shown? Second, in the Wong-Shapiro debate, were any potential downsides presented for the super-large sessions (other than potentially larger scars, which doesn't seem to be a problem for H&W)? Thanks for all you do for the HT community.

Looks nice, but it would really have been cool if you didn't make us all hire an investigator to locate the pics!

WOOHOO!!!!! GO Bill!!!! Looks unbelievable!

Thanks, guys. Hairbank, you're right: I'm glad the back part is filling in so soon, as I didn't expect much action there until month 7 or 8. Troy, yup -- I can't wait for the next few months to pass by (in hair time, that is). Spexie, I'm finally gonna meet the legend!

Um, please stop rolling your eyes at me, Mr. I-got-a-full-head-of-hair-in-one-pass. (Grrrrrr) Bill, get lots of rest. You're in for a real fun trip. Can't wait to hear back from you afterward! Thanks, B-Spot! (BTW have you ever posted pics? I'd like to see.) And thanks. Kamin!

I've updated my blog with Month 5 pics. What do you think? Comparison pic to month 4:

Bill, when do you leave for your surgery? Where do you live? Good luck with everything. I can't wait to read your updates. You're a good guy and deserve the very best, which you certainly will get!

Well, it's easy with guys like Mark, who are totally decent, intelligent, respectful individuals making a valid point with which I happen to disagree.

Mistake? NO, I heard your birthday party was spectacular!!!! Now if you needed to cater your 500-guest wedding, it would have been a mistake. Like I said, Smith is just as good as Jones, for certain situations.

Mark, perhaps a better analogy would be comparing Smith and Jones as caterers. Smith is small-town operation -- works out of his garage. He makes delicious food, and is the perfect caterer for your birthday party or Thanksgiving dinner. Jones makes equally good food, but has a 2,000 square foot commercial catering facility, a staff of 20, a state-of-the-art-kitchen and 3 trucks. He is the guy you want to cater your wedding. Smith and Jones, one on one, are equal in their culinary skill; but one of them is a more elite "caterer." Jones has been granted membership in the County Culinary Coalition.

LM, what an unusual post! I commend you for not going forward in light of your doubts, and Dr. Shapiro for recognizing that you were not ready. I, too, walked away from surgery just before it was scheduled. My story was quite different, though. I was going to Bosley in NYC! For me, it was the combination of bad vibes and visions of a horrible "showcase" rep I had seen the day prior (whose work looked like a bad hairpiece) that caused me to rethink things just before I left home that almost-fateful morning, and left me searching the net. Fortunately, the first site that came up was this one, where a quick search on Bosley revealed that I was about to make the biggest mistake of my life. The one thing we may have had in common, however, may have been our unreadiness. Clearly, you were in the office of one of the greats (unlike my situation). However, perhaps you need more time to consider the various aspects of the surgery, whether it's pain, growth, shockloss, etc. (and I'm not referring to looking beyond Dr. Shapiro, as it doesn't get much better). My point is: Pat yourself on the back for having the insight and fortitude to say "something doesn't feel right and I'm not doing it." I hope you keep reading and asking questions, and ultimately make a decision that brings you happiness when you are good and ready. Bravo!

First off, and perhaps most importantly, your hair looks 100% natural. Dr. Keene seems to make extraordinarily natural hairlines. The density is not overwhelming. The grafts were spread over a fairly large area and she seems to have placed a bunch in the temple region. (You also have posted no profile pics from the surgery or after, so I cannot tell exactly what she did on the sides/temples.) It may require another surgery to enhance the density. Are you considering that?

I'd need to see some before pics to which to compare this.

Pat: Several years ago I expressed concern that paid memberships by doctors would corrupt your objectivity in recommending them. However, your actions have made it crystal clear that doctors must earn recommendation on this site or membership in the Coalition. You have not hesitated to refuse membership to those whose skills or ethics are lacking, regardless of the fees they are willing to pay. In fact, you have canceled memberships of those who have failed the test, basically turning away $$$ in favor of maintaining a high degree of competence, thus solidifying the Coalition's credibility. It must be hard for you to walk that fine line between good business and solid ethics -- isn't it a challenge for us all! However, you have proven time and again that you will not let undeserving doctors into the Coalition, or recommend them on this site. In addition, you have personally visited many clinics, observed surgeries, and openly documented them. Consequently, your site and your Coalition have, in my mind, more credibility than any other. Thanks for doing your best to move the field of hair transplantation "onward and upward."

Good point. Dr. Hasson's reaction was kind of "this is still only 5 months . . . wait till it all grows out!" And thanks for the compliment.

Thanks, London and Mark. I really only had Dr. Hasson refine the hairline, though he did, in the process, add a bit of density where needed.

Thanks, Lad. Which one do you like better? I went for the less-jagged one with HT #2, whioch I thought suited me better given my course, dark hair.

Well, I'm one week away from my 5 month pics, but couldn't resist showing off my newly refined Hasson hairline.