NW

ttaco, Lookin sharp !! Congrats NW

NC30, Excellent questions, ones I had as well, For me 1st HT, I had the most severe shock loss at appx the 6-8 week point, in my case the hair grew back in between 4-6 months, about the same time the new grafts started to grow. I was actually quite concerned about the shock loss, but again it did grow-in later. I lost a ton !!! You will not get further shock loss after the grafts initially grow in, or in other words once the improvement starts to appear, your fear of further shock should be over. And as you eluded to already, HT#2 was very smooth with little or zero noticable shock loss. NW [This message was edited by NW on April 29, 2003 at 08:16 PM.]

Microprose, I agree this thread is not really about you, in fact I am anxious for you with the "all FUE". This is for the guys that could have rapid hairloss later....as you have mentioned you will never have a large amount of hairloss and are not worried about it. No prob. But most other guys will have substantial hairloss later in life, the point is just be careful, nothing more. Keep us posted. NW

Skinnyvi, There is a 3 month time frame where you can actually look "worse" than pre-HT, especially if it is your 1st HT. Believe me I have been there ! Keep the faith, this is common. NW

Chaz, Nice !! I cant wait to hear the excitment when the new real hair grows out...in 6 months youll be singin'. NW

I agree Arfy has made a very valid point on hairline, I am happy I listened to him early on. I was a dificult newbie too...I told my 1st Doc put me way back in time...its normal, hell we all what to look like Brad Pitt etc.. nothin wrong with that !!! Also I think there is nothing personal here either, because he mentions any guy could have a nice hairline for life...some guys can definately pull it off.. (I agree) But, He qualifies that with..."most" guys experiencing hairloss..are not best suited for such an aggresive square temple..if you see your hair going at a young age, that is NOT a good sign for aggressive work. It is very difficult, almost impossible to cleanly extract frontal/temple hair later....ouch !! you dont want to hafta be in them shoes.. The message is just be careful and be certain.. I think honestly "if" Pat ever hires a true "staff" member it should be Arfy, he tells you what some docs may sidestep, and I know his intentions are genuine (not personal). I wish every single guy hair happiness, but boy I almost jumped in too quick....."just be sure to look both ways before crossing" NW [This message was edited by NW on April 27, 2003 at 09:52 PM.]

In my opinion, We can get wrapped up in classifying hairlines as U, V, or square. But there are so many that are not necesarrily one or the other, like mine. I would say it falls into the "U" pattern but has several "jagged" purposely irregular edges and does not even fall into the "Stadium seating" look as suggested on this site, in fact perhaps a U that was slightly widened for a bit more coverage, but not quite a square temple look either, and some temple area left naturally receeded. They come in all shapes I guess... Just a 2 cents thought. NW

In my opinion, We can get wrapped up in classifying hairlines as U, V, or square. But there are so many that are not necesarrily one or the other, like mine. I would say it falls into the "U" pattern but has several "jagged" purposely irregular edges and does not even fall into the "Stadium seating" look as suggested on this site, in fact perhaps a U that was slightly widened for a bit more coverage, but not quite a square temple look either, and some temple area left naturally receeded. They come in all shapes I guess... Just a 2 cents thought. NW

Son of a plug, I went with the approach you are speaking of, not overly aggressive, but some fairly conservative temple fill, leaving the look of some natural recession (but not much). I think it is a common approach. Looking back, I am glad I did not go overly aggressive. But I agree with Microprose, hairlines are personal, and each guy needs to make his own call and commitment. V, U, or square..a guy will do what his opinion desires. The more aggressive you go however, the better the odds of miscalculations ?. BTW, nice wife to offer support - keep her ! Its brutal out there, you make a mistake - you live with it. Good Luck ! NW

Numbness for me subsided fully by the time the new grafts grew in...gradually. This was the case for both HT's. NW

Foriegner, After reading past debates about not getting Scalp reduction surgery, I have to say yours looks very well done, I think Jim is correct in mentioning your scar being further back lessens the potential for any pitfalls & the HT looks like good work too. Time to hit the beach soon !!!

Arfy, After 5 years and 2 HT's I fully agree w/you on: "The HT should stand alone in years to come"..I am an advocate of top-scalp hair 1st and foremost, the hair that looks genuine at 55 or 60. Guys that fill lower regions and dis-regard the top central area are potentially setting up a back-fire situation. My 1st Ht doc would not put grafts anywhere outside my native receeded hairline which at the time was a nw3 at best.....of course my 1st reaction was "Damn, he could have done more", now I think "he was definately" the wise one and I didnt stray far from that hairline, just having the healthier hair allbeit higher up...still makes a dramatic improvement in hair volume overall. Its case by case..but most guys could get some top coverage and look fairly good throughout life. NW

I would have to 2nd harry's post. No pic... Go directly to jail.... and do not pass GO

agree, Good post Hotcreek & Microprose - It's at least "partially" looks, There is an initial physical attraction for both men & women that cannot be denied. Agreeably it varies by different levels somewhat, but looks always count at least for 1st impressions. My opinion NW

Jenn, I would be guessing on Shapiro working on women, you may give them a ring, I hear constant praise for them - Dr Redmond is really the guy I know is specialized in womans issues, I hope actually you can perhaps get some drug/hormone therapy and maybe not have to do HT, but admitedly I have seen photo's of womens success's. Hairloss can suck, but the field has seen some advancements..and inside you are the same great person youve always been ?. I would be optimistic - but careful too !! I like the appt. you have with Dr Redmond...it would be my 1st step. There are some woman posters on here now and then too....one is named "too funny man"...you may want to look up her past posts ?..maybe her situation is similiar..I believe she had HT.. and do not know if it was a success or not ? NW

Female hairloss, Dr Geoffry Redmond, BTW, I also do have the utmost respect for the physicians at the Shapiro Clinic as well. NW

Hey Jenn, The Doc (i earlier refered to) that has a specialty for women's hairloss. For what its worth: Dr. Geoffrey Redmond He was from "the bald truth" website and dealt with female hairloss issues. (your pic - well its nice !) I wish ya the best ! NW

Hey Mike, I can help with 2 of your questions, based on my own experience anyways: -Propecia, Is the best product available for 8/10 guys w/MPB, it is slow to kick in so give it 1 year, you may not notice a thing right away, as hard as it is, be patient. The main improvement is its holding power, not a ton of new hair. -Toppik, This stuff is the most natural and awsome stuff I have ever used, it is most effective if you at least have some thinning hair, I used it post-op on my crown and it saved me till the trimmed area grew back. You may have to experiment with the different colors etc.. I wish you the best ! NW

Jenn, I wish you luck sweetie, Dont let it get ya down, in fact I have seen some nice improvements on Female's. Spencer Kohbren used to have a Doc that addressed only Female hair issues on his "The Bald truth" website...But lately I have not been able to log in ?? Perhaps they were working on it, or he has went strickly radio ?. NW

Nice !! I like the hairline pattern...individually staggered hairs add to the natural look when grown in. The Shapiro group - I have see very excellent pics from them - class act clinic! Congrats ! NW

Homer, Buddy - Hair dont make the man, dont be discouraged. My praise for Vocor is beacuse he is young but is proceeding wisely by filling in reasonable turf rather than going for the all out teen look. A lot of older guys not only continue to receed but around 60 they get an overall thinning, perhaps "diffuse thinning" of some sort (I dont know the scientific name/cause), but look at your Grandfathers hair, (overall thinning?)it is common. Perhaps you can realize a realistic improvement without mortgaging the future of your head & Hopefully you have given consideration to Propecia, which I am sure you know all about. Top-scalp FU's by a good Dr., spread for coverage, may help you keep at least a thin frame of hair, rather than slick bald ? or just dont do HT period, who knows fully what the future holds ? Get some advice from the good docs & remember your hair loss is bothering you - but most likely has no impact on your friends, the girls..etc... keep your head up. NW

Vocor, My Opinion here, Temple hair often appears quite a bit thicker largly due to the top scalp hair and the "shingle effect" as the hair grows out. You can realize an amazing amount of coverage just by planting healtier hair in previously weak zones. I had fairly minimal temple grafts. My hairline was placed a bit higher than yours and originally I admitedly "whined" light heartedly to Dr H., ... lol .. but I am happy and I think done for a good while, the hair showed up on game-day..done deal. Lately I dont care much about my hair, probably because the trauma is over..it is still fun listening to the success's of others, and the docs just seem to keep getting better. And of course the debate's rage on, thats what makes this site so cool !! NW

Mr T, Happy head of hair to ya !!! A little swealling/redness & 6 months worth of time I think you will have a nice improvement. All the best to you !! NW

Hairline taste is a personal decision, to each his own. The Wildcard: I think the wildcard here in my opinion is individual hairloss progression between the ages of 25-50, contrary to the notion "look at your Dad", well..my Dad had "more" hair than me even at 65 & my mothers Dad had "more" hair than me ?? So where do I predict my future ? It aint easy even with Propecia etc.. Conventional wisdom says plant grafts where you know you can sustain your Hairline...this is not bad advice ?? (Most Docs will NOT even do aggressive HT on Young guys or even do HT period ? - just ask yourself why ? are the Docs wrong ?) Otherwise if you go for it.Figure on several surgeries to come and the hopes of having adequate donor hair. The more aggressive the hairline, the more maintenance area to keep up - or the more FU's needed just to stay afloat. it may be workable for some ?: I think "some" guys can pull this off with an aggressive hairline, but for other guys it is playing "Roulette". Prguy looks like he does have a pretty good abundance of hair, hopefully that holds true w/age...I am just saying for "most" young guys. Be careful I have seen story after story of "I wish I wouldnt have went so low". Now what do I do ?? NW [This message was edited by NW on April 19, 2003 at 09:07 AM.]

Younger = some risk I think young guys are at a bigger risk with HT, look at Ron Howard....full head of hair on "Happy Days"..? Look at him today ? I am not preachin' here but the risk can be far greater the younger you are, who knows Propecia may have helped him ? Vocor, your HT pattern rocks ! you have nothing to worry about IMO. Very well thought out design.