NC30

I had recently posted a question in the non-surgical section kind of related to yours. I've also read and have been told ( by at least 2 doctors) that when you use minoxidil your hair does become "dependent" as you stated. In my case before my HT, I had used rogaine for a lengthy period of time, and when I stopped using it, I experienced a GREAT deal of hair loss.....to the point where many people noticed and even said something about it. When I got my intial HT consultation, my doctor told me that it was most likely due to coming off rogaine and that many people experience the same. One of my questions was whether or not you should use rogaine after an HT. Obviously if you have pre-HT existing hairs and quit using rogaine, they are probably going to fall out. My major concern was getting on the minoxidil cycle, and then losing the HT hairs as well. Even if you dont ever quit rogaine, I'd heard that it had more or less a "shelf life" for you hair...that after 2 years or so, your hair was adjusted to it, so it was like not taking it at all. (ok...quick side note here...does this sound like drug use? is rogaine the new crack? your hair gets addicted to it, then it gets used to it so it needs a stronger fix so you bump up to extra strength...etc....hmmmmmmmmmmm) If anyone knows for sure that I'm wrong or right, please feel free to correct me. I've chosen to stay only with propecia after my HT. I dont wanna get the new grafts hooked on minoxidil. My advice to you....just say no to rogaine.

Well..I had a 1500 HT procedure. I didnt move forward at all, just started filling in for now. I didnt have to shave my head for the procedure, I tanned a little bit beforehand ( which helped to get a little darker to hide the redness), and my hair really wasnt that long at all. I went back to work 2 weeks later ( just took my 2 weeks of vacation then). I saw people I knew after a week from the surgery and not a single person noticed. No one's still noticed a thing at work. My hair isnt that long at all.

I've heard/read that minoxidil has a limited lifespan for your hair. In other words...after a period of time ( I've read usually about 2 years), that minoxidil would lose its effectiveness and no longer be helpful, and potentially harmful. I started minoxidil a few years ago, and saw some results, but nothing major. I also started propecia about a year or so later and had pretty much stopped all hair loss. I was no longer finding hair in my combs/brushes, was noticing baby hairs, etc. Unfortunately, I was a little too overconfident about my condition, and was too embarassed about gettin the propecia prescription refilled and stopped the propecia. A few months later, I stopped using minoxidil ( again, it was embarassing for me to buy it at the store--i'd go to stores not in my area, coupled with procrastination, and an extremely busy work schedule). Well, after quitting minoxidil I experienced an EXTREME amount of hairloss--to the point where people would actually be rude and point it out or ask questions. During some of my consulations before my HT, I was told by doctors that the extreme loss I'd experienced was due to me being on the minoxidil and then quitting. So, I've read and been told that if you start on minoxidil, and have stayed on it awhile, that if you ever get off it, you'll usually experience a great deal of loss. So, after its limited lifespan for your hair is complete ( the 2 year phase), would u also then experience a severe amount of loss? I'd like to see everyone's thoughts on this as well. I used the minoxidil for a very limited time to help the intial grafts grow, but I dont want to start the whole process over again. If I've gotten a 1500 graft HT, I dont want to lose all of it if 2 years later they fall out again because of the minoxidil wearing off...as well as losing the existing hairs still there. It would be defeating the purpose of the HT in so many ways and be devastating. And besides...if the new hair is "programmed" differently and wont fall out again since their permanent, I dont wanna harm the new ones by startin the young'uns on drugs. If someone knows differently, or has read/experienced the same, please feel free to comment. I'm not going to start minoxidil again. I'm going to stick with propecia. If the Thoughts?

I've heard/read that minoxidil has a limited lifespan for your hair. In other words...after a period of time ( I've read usually about 2 years), that minoxidil would lose its effectiveness and no longer be helpful, and potentially harmful. I started minoxidil a few years ago, and saw some results, but nothing major. I also started propecia about a year or so later and had pretty much stopped all hair loss. I was no longer finding hair in my combs/brushes, was noticing baby hairs, etc. Unfortunately, I was a little too overconfident about my condition, and was too embarassed about gettin the propecia prescription refilled and stopped the propecia. A few months later, I stopped using minoxidil ( again, it was embarassing for me to buy it at the store--i'd go to stores not in my area, coupled with procrastination, and an extremely busy work schedule). Well, after quitting minoxidil I experienced an EXTREME amount of hairloss--to the point where people would actually be rude and point it out or ask questions. During some of my consulations before my HT, I was told by doctors that the extreme loss I'd experienced was due to me being on the minoxidil and then quitting. So, I've read and been told that if you start on minoxidil, and have stayed on it awhile, that if you ever get off it, you'll usually experience a great deal of loss. So, after its limited lifespan for your hair is complete ( the 2 year phase), would u also then experience a severe amount of loss? I'd like to see everyone's thoughts on this as well. I used the minoxidil for a very limited time to help the intial grafts grow, but I dont want to start the whole process over again. If I've gotten a 1500 graft HT, I dont want to lose all of it if 2 years later they fall out again because of the minoxidil wearing off...as well as losing the existing hairs still there. It would be defeating the purpose of the HT in so many ways and be devastating. And besides...if the new hair is "programmed" differently and wont fall out again since their permanent, I dont wanna harm the new ones by startin the young'uns on drugs. If someone knows differently, or has read/experienced the same, please feel free to comment. I'm not going to start minoxidil again. I'm going to stick with propecia. If the Thoughts?

Just a quick note from my experience.... A dull bee sting is about right. I'm the type of person who doesn't like to put people out or make them go out of their way, and can be overly polite at times because I dont want to be a bother (ok...gonna stop elaborating on that).....anyway...I really had very little pain during my 8 hr surgery. Once your anesthecized (sp) they will occasionally need to re-inject the area to keep your scalp numb. I probably waited a little bit too long sometimes to let them know that the medication was wearing off, and so when they re-injected me again, it stung a little. Don't be afraid to speak up as SOON as you start to feel anything. If you catch the numbness wearing off at each time it might start, then you shouldnt feel any real pain at all, only slight discomfort.

It's been one month since my 1500 HT. I think redness will vary from person to person. I'm a fair skinned person, but prior to the surgery, I tanned a little. In my experience, for the first week or so, you could definitely tell where the hairs were, and there was scabbing although nothing that looked extremely abnormal. I stayed at home the entire week afterwards, kept the scalp moist at all times ( with a tiny spray bottle). I had virtually no swelling, and I never detected any redness whatsoever. As far as the feeling of the donor area, I never really had any pain. They prescribed valium for any post-surgery discomfort, and I took one the first night ( even though I didnt feel like I needed it, I just took it to make me sleep well and rest). It didnt do anything for me, so I just didnt bother with the rest. After the first week, I've felt pretty much the same since. No more itch, slight tightness ( although only noticeable if the donor area is pressed up against something), and really no actual discomfort. I know a lot of other guys will have had different experiences, and my best advice would be hope for the best but plan for the worst. I think you'd be completely ok to travel.

Okay....this is my second post on this message board, even though I've been reading it for a long while now. It's been 31 days since my 1500 HT. I've done all the research, read as many posts/message boards/websites, etc., and I'm not finding the answers that I want. I've not had any major side effects from my HT. There was never any redness, perhaps just the slightest bit of swelling, no discomfort, etc. I'm perfectly fine with all of that. The only thing I've had is perhaps adjusting to the odd feeling of the donor area ( the slight tightness, the different feeling from that area---no pain) I've read how many of you had significant shock loss with your first HT, and minimal with the 2nd. I've also read how some experienced shock as soon as a few weeks afterwards. So...here are a few of my questions which I hope many of you can answer or tell of your experience.... 1. When is the earliest that shock loss begins? 2. What is the latest you've ever heard of shock loss beginning? 3. When it does occur, how long does it typically last? 4. When is shock loss typically done? ( Say, for example, after 3 months if you hadn't experienced shock loss then you're pretty much in a safe zone? 4 months? 6 months?) I know that shock loss will vary from person to person, but I'm pretty sure that there's a typical range that most everyone will fall into. I know I'm probably not the only person wondering these things, and I've done an incredible amount of reading, but I'd be happy to hear all of your thoughts.

Okay....this is my second post on this message board, even though I've been reading it for a long while now. It's been 31 days since my 1500 HT. I've done all the research, read as many posts/message boards/websites, etc., and I'm not finding the answers that I want. I've not had any major side effects from my HT. There was never any redness, perhaps just the slightest bit of swelling, no discomfort, etc. I'm perfectly fine with all of that. The only thing I've had is perhaps adjusting to the odd feeling of the donor area ( the slight tightness, the different feeling from that area---no pain) I've read how many of you had significant shock loss with your first HT, and minimal with the 2nd. I've also read how some experienced shock as soon as a few weeks afterwards. So...here are a few of my questions which I hope many of you can answer or tell of your experience.... 1. When is the earliest that shock loss begins? 2. What is the latest you've ever heard of shock loss beginning? 3. When it does occur, how long does it typically last? 4. When is shock loss typically done? ( Say, for example, after 3 months if you hadn't experienced shock loss then you're pretty much in a safe zone? 4 months? 6 months?) I know that shock loss will vary from person to person, but I'm pretty sure that there's a typical range that most everyone will fall into. I know I'm probably not the only person wondering these things, and I've done an incredible amount of reading, but I'd be happy to hear all of your thoughts.

I've been monitoring this site for almost half a year now. I just had my first HT last week with Dr. Cooley in North Carolina. First, I'd like to say thank you to Pat for having this site as it was incredibly helpful in making my surgeon choice. I have a Class 2 type hairline, but with great thinning inside the hair area itself. I opted for a 1500 graft HT and will most likely do another in the future. I'm going to stay on Propecia and Rogaine from here-on out as well. I know most of you know the entire procedure of HT's, so I wont go into much detail as far as the when/what/where of the procedure. I had the procedure over half a week ago and these are a few of my results... * I was prescribed medication to help sleep at night, but have yet had the need to use it as there is no discomfort. I have not had any headaches or any sort of pain. * My doctor gave me a shot of cortizone after the surgery. I really didnt use ice packs afterwards to help reduce swelling, and to be honest, I really didn't notice any until just a couple minutes ago when I reallly had to look for it. I'm going to use the ice packs a little now, but that's just to be on the safe side. * My scabbing and redness has been pretty much non-existent. I have dark hair, and so it's a little diffcult to detect it. There has been some very slight scabbing in some spots, and no redness whatsoever. * I feel a tiny bit of tightness in the forehead area, and the only complaint about the scar area is that that kind of initial feel has always taking a bit of adjusting for me. I know many people sing the praises of H&W,Shapiro, Cole, etc, and I thought I'd just say that my experience through the entire process with Cooley was outstanding. His staff was very helpful during all phases of the surgery. I wasnt paying that much attention during the surgery itself, but he did the entire portion of extracting the donor area. His staff were present in the room doing the microscopic work. He made all the incisions himself as an assistant helped keep track. During the placement portion, his nurses did do some of that work. As far as the entire process itself, I'd say that he was there for about 85-90% of the enitre process. About the only complaint I can actually come up with was that the restaurant that they got my lunch from forgot to include my fries. I'm not here to say that any doctor is any better than the next one, and I'm not here to endorse Dr. Cooley either ( I could be back here a year later screamin about sportin' a Buckwheat style 'do.). I've been impressed with Cooley thus far, and hopefully once the hair growth is complete, I will be just as impressed with the final result. I was always appreciative of all the posts and thought that I'd throw my experience in to help anyone else. If there's any other suggestions or helpful hints that anyone can give me as far as recovery please feel free to say so. I'd really appreciate it.