itsabouttime

http://www.hairtransplantnetwork.com/blog/home-page.asp?WebID=765

Just got back from surgery, pretty out of it and in some pain but thought I'd write a quick little review here. Everything I read about Dr. Rahal and his team were an understatement. It's hard to comprehend how good everyone there is at their job until you go through it yourself. The friendliness and professionalism of everyone, Dr. Rahal, Adrian, the Technicians, Theresa, was just great. the inevitable future surgery (hopefully not soon) will definately be there. For now, can't wait for this pain to go away and start growing . Pictures upcoming of course, I'm gonna go try to get my mind off this pain. Cheers,

Just got back from surgery, pretty out of it and in some pain but thought I'd write a quick little review here. Everything I read about Dr. Rahal and his team were an understatement. It's hard to comprehend how good everyone there is at their job until you go through it yourself. The friendliness and professionalism of everyone, Dr. Rahal, Adrian, the Technicians, Theresa, was just great. the inevitable future surgery (hopefully not soon) will definately be there. For now, can't wait for this pain to go away and start growing . Pictures upcoming of course, I'm gonna go try to get my mind off this pain. Cheers,

About $3.5/graft. Ye from all the results I've seen here and on other forums, FUT graft usage seems to be a lot more efficient at this point.

Well, after another week of nonstop research, emails, consults, discussion and reflection, I have decided to go with Rahal after all. I looked around all the boards online and saw umpteen results. FUT is definately the way to go for this procedure, and Rahal is one of the best choices. Procedure is booked for May 15th for 3000-3500 grafts starting from the front and moving towards the back without wasting too much on the crown at this point. 4000 grafts FUE for mainly crown work with Armani was just a ridiculous consideration for so many reasons. Anyway, now I wait in anticipation. Will definatly get a blog started etc when the time comes to contribute to the community as results are great to see when doing your research. Thanks for all responses and care.

Still seems like the strip procedure is my best bet at this point for a big first sitting. Would rather not waste any donor supply with potential FUE mishandling. Of all the strip doctors I've reviewed so far, Rahal seems like the best bet, although I haven't spoken to H&W yet.

Ye it seems for the first big procedure strip might be best, but not sure if I really wanna be scarred like that...maybe it's not that much of an issue. Will look into the other guys thanks.

Interesting, he does BHT too, I have a ton of that....will have to look into this. Thanks.

Zone 1 for me is fine, Zone 2 could use some work, and it's most zone 3 and 4 that are the problem...for now anyway. I am quite nervous about doing 4000 in one sitting with FUE cause it's apparent that might waste some grafts. Still, even 3000, not having the scar would be nice. I see lots of happy patients online from both docs...Armani's campaign is definatly more aggressive. Still not sure who to go with...essentially, they will give you what you want anyway, I could go to Armani and say I want this many grafts here and here, I don't have to do 4000 there if I don't want to obviously. This board is obviously gonna be mroe biased towards Rahal anyway for so many reasons...hard decision overall...

I did book with Armani but have not left a deposit...yes I agree about his consultant, I'd think more fondly of Armani if I did not discuss anything with that kid...Armani's only hurting his practice with that individual...anyway. Been on prop 3 months now, was on minoxidil for a bit, going back on soon. What's the graft limit of the strip procedure in one sitting? How about FUE? Here's the pic. Making this decision really comes down to trusting that the grafts left over aren't enough to cover the rest of the potential balding and leaving the crown alone for now. Still seems inconsistent that 4000 grafts can cover all this, and 3 or 4000 more isnt enough to cover what could also be lost in the future. http://hairnetwork.newrosoftmods.com/groupee_files/attachments/8/4/6/8461029853/8461029853_top.jpg

Firstly, yes I was wrong, Rahal would be a strip procedure, I apologize. Thanks for all the responses. notgoing2gobald, your response addresses my concerns really well and sheds some nice light, thank you. I am realizing how emotional I am getting about this whole thing and it's clouding my judgement. Deep down it's obvious I am trying to convince myself that I can restore all now and everything will be okay, it might...but as much as I feel I'm willing to make choices now on "maybes", I probably won't have the same mindset 20 years down the road. Perhaps this whole Armani situation is jumping the gun. I walked out of there thinking wow I was just told what I wanted to hear, what do these guys think I'm a sucker, and yet, it still manifests in my decision-making. Regardless, I have some thinking to do, but, it does seem to be a common theme in hair restoration in all boards etc that it's not a good idea to throw too much into the crown... Now, I do have one question however. In my situation, looking at my head, if, 4000 grafts is enough to cover all of this, then, I fail to see how 3-4000 more is not enough to cover other hair loss...that would mean I would have to lose an amount equal to or greater then the balding areas now, which just based on the size of my head seems unplausable. I can't help but look at it like that...

Right, he does FUE and that is what I discussed with him...? Perhaps I'm missing something here?

Rahal is not strip, both are FUE... Right distance shouldn't be much of a factor, but it's slightly considered when assessing post-op factors, in this case neither doc will be "next door" so it's cancelled out.

Perhaps I'm misunderstanding but there seems to be an inconsistency in what you're saying. You're saying results are greater then ethics and so therefore rahal is greater then armani...although...rahal is the more ethical one in general.... Also, I can take then from your comment that you're saying rahal has more proven world class results....does armani not as well?...

Should also mention that Armani's 4000 graft recommendation is at 20-40/cm2.