dalew

actually it will be closer than you think. Docs and dentists use acellualr dermis all the time for large tissue and gum grafts. demeralized bone is used as well for orthopedic procedures. As mentioned, you cannot ake a vital hair follice, filled with bllod, tissue antigens, etc and transplant it, it willl reject, unless you take the immuno supressmeds.. which will make you gain 100 pounds anyway.. so what's the point. but for those interested, do a little research on "PRP". this is plasma rich proteins. essentially, you give your own blood, they centrifuge it, extract the plasma, which is rich with your own growth factors.... now you could mix this with a radiated, or acellualr dermal layer (follicle, or whole scalp for that matter)..(essentially the foriegn donor tissue is "washed" of all it's anitgens) and it "could" be transplanted. I am not saying this is a fact.. but i would see it as a viable option in the future. i would suspect the cloning would be more at the forefront .. it all depends on how much $$ is to be made, on who does the researxh.. and for fda approval. obviously the fda will be more favorable (as well of medical grant foundations, etc) for dermis studies for burn pt's etc, over dudes who want better hair... but possible??? anyway.. think of the potential skullduggery.. we would be back to the early med school days of paying the grave robbers for fresh bodies. ever see that bum on the corner with a great head of hair, laying in his own fluids? You think to yourself.. what a waste. dude might sell his hair, or whole friggen scalp for the right $$$. the ethical problems are boundless! btw. the average kidney can be purchased in Egypt for less than $400.00

Take it from me.. i was in your shoes 20 years ago. DO NOT. i repeat DO NOT get a ht if you are looking to go econo. I don't mean to sound harsh, but consider this: you feel isolated due to premature hair loss.. you wear a hat a lot... BUT at least if you get in a situation where you need to attend a function sans hat... the worst? your a young bald guy. sucks.. but not the end of the world. You spend 3k on a cheapo transplant and you will be married to that hat. if you need to attend a function/ situation, etc where you cannot wear your hat.. you will be a plug freak. a laughing stock. your 2 choices will be humiliation, or just not going out at all. I know that's harsh, but son, thats the way it is. i lived it for 5 years. If you don't have the $$ now to do it right, do NOT DO IT AT ALL. as i have stated many times looking back at my own past. being bald in my early 20's sucked... but being "that guy with the plugs"... well that was almost put me 6 feet under! shave your head clean, get some cool yellow tinted specs, work out and wear tight t shirts. You will be the "cool dude". chicks will dig it. you will have an aura about you. get a wig? have a $3k row of dots across your forhead? PLEASE, don't even go there. once that 15 blade sinks into your scalp.. there is no going back. period. think this one over long and hard my friend. there is NO FREE LUNCH!

Relax... you are only 4 months.. i know that sounds like an eternity when you are waiting for results... but the body takes a while to mend. NO scar thru the dermal layer will be gone in under 8 months. period. the cobblestoning will smooth out. it takes time. you do not have keloids.. that's what you would nedd to worry about (which you need not) people who form keloid scars .. well they never go away. the redness just means blood vessles are proliferating in the area which means healing is taking place. I know it's easy for me to say: but, relax, keep your cool and wait til the holidays. it will look GREAT. This talk of Lazer, shaving at this point is crazy You may want to check , or reread your doc's consent, but i would wager it specifically states that definitive results will not be known for 12 months.. or something like that. all plastic surgeons state that.. or they should. lipo scars: 9 months. boob scars: 9 to 12 months. Peopls. the human body does not heal in a few weeks, we are not talking about a scratch that goes away with some cortaid cream after 4 weeks. PLEASE.. hang in there.. don't go and do anything stupid.. it just makes it worse. let it all grow in, let the skin smooth out, facial symmytry has a way of correcting it's self WITH time! I know Summers coming up.. it sucks.. but wait at least until thanksgiving.. if it still looks bad to you (which i bet it wont) THEN go and do something. Rome is not built in a day. I do think that a lot of the docs gloss over the amount of time it takes to get the optimal results.. they know we live in a fast food society and we want it now!.. if they tell you the real story.. most folks (wrongly) will go find someone who will tell them what they want to hear. The docs don't want to lose th pt, so they gloss over.. but it's in the fine print. I put the blame 50/50. most docs are.. umm. "nebulous" as to the exact time frame because they don't want to lose the patient.. but most pre op patients only listen to what they want to hear, and think they will be crusing in their convertible in a month looking like Fabio. you have to be realistic... it takes time!!!!

You know who, imo, has a good htp. the guy on law and order svu. looks sharp. good rececession at the temples. widows peak. that's what i would like to have had. don't understand the whole ken doll perfectly straight hairline everyone hear seems to want. again... just my opinion.

Just give it time. it looks great. would you prefer to have a straight frankenstien hairline too low acoss your forhead? Believe me I had that 20 years ago and spent ecades and $$$ to get it sparse and uneven. believe me.. go natural.. not bulk. "nature abhors right angles". applies to the hair more than everything. Balboa, at 4 months, you look great. don't sweat it. imagine what you will be in 6 more months.

Rapheal84, I don't disagree with you in the least. with todays tx, i think it is a wonderful option for a young man to enjoy his youth. BUT, i would only suggest that he do his research, and weigh the option that "results may vary". You can have the best heart surgeon and still die on the table. my point, is even the best HT surgeon is going to have some subpar results. htat's a fact. we are dealing with a lot of physiological and biological variability. i see alot of guys on this board complaing about their "bad work". perhaps their bodies just did not respond the way all anticipated. remember, medicine (I say this a a Vet, but it all applies the same) is an art, not a science. I can "fix" a 100 dogs. one, or two are going to get an infection, or die, or require more work, or end up with permanant groin damage. That's just how it works. everyone has their preconcieved notion of what they will look like. all i say, is be prepared, and blame no one but youself if things don't work out. also, althougth the odds are much less now, I would still debate that it is worse to be young, virile, and in thw swing, but be emasculated by a bad HT than to be bald. at least bald is natural, a bad HT and your a clown. I have no abswers, just observations.. but from a different time. but one last input. For the past 2 weeks I was in Playa with my wife and some friends. wore a hat during most of the day, to prevent sunburn, but i had no problems jumping in/out of the pool, on the beach, wind blowing, etc. my hair looks quite good now.. if not a little too thick in the front for my age (I know.. I can't stop bitching about something!) went out to clubs, flirted with the young girls, all is good. now i don't know where the guy was from, or where he had 'em done, but saw some young kid (20 something?) in a hollister shirt at a bar. his plugs were just coming in, enough that he (i asuume) thought he could get away with out a hat (perhpas 4 months out?) i picked it up right away being a plug veteran, but the 2 young couples at the table next to us were ripping him apart. one of the girls was wondering if he had cancer. I was considering ripping in, but 1. my wife knew i was tensing and her nails started squeezing my arm (the "keep your mouth shut signal") and 2. at this point.. it's not my problem. there is no answer. just wiegh all your options realize it won't make any difference in the end and there is no going back. if one's ht comes out great. kudos bro. if you end up losing 2o years and 60k just to get back to normal.. well that's the chance you goatta be willing to take. cheers!

Balody, that is a "great" story. Now that's what I am talking about. Things seemed like such a big deal.. thw world comes to a stop... but in the big picture.. just a (in my eyes) a good story to reflect upon. thanks for shairing. mmhce, I never heard to comments to my face... if so people were uusally trying to "support" me.. which was so patronizing it was agonizing.... perhaps i was just paranoid, but i just KNEW (?).. see above.. did the world really revolve around me?.... that i was being shredded behind my back by classmates. in fact, i would bet my life on it. but who cares? My hurt and shame drifted away along time ago, if anything now. i just deplore myself for a bad decision. still not too healthy!!

I really don't know if there is a "moral" to my story. I guess my main conclusion is: 1. i rushed into it at a young age, WHEN at that time i felt distanced from my peers because they all had hair, and i was losing mine. 2. I had it done at a time where the procedure was crude and results were not good. 3. Yes i have been "fixed up" and pretty happy with my results 4. all that being said, if i knew then what i know now.. i would have never had it done. Not that i am unhappy, or live in shame, etc.. its just that at my point now in life. 50% of my peers are bald(ing) was the 5 years of horrific , hat wearing embaraasment worth the 10 years of having mediorcre hair? not to mention all the time and $$? i could by a new aston martin with what i spent. now all that being said, when your 23, going out to the bar with your friends and you have become invisable (when a few years earlier you were "the man"... i guess one really does not worry about 20 years down the road. the Samson effect? If i went up to that kid and said.. don't worry.. 20 years from now you'll be all right, do you think he'd care? i would not have. it's all perspective!

GTDL, U hit the nail on the head right there. The only problem i see, or have experienced.. is the "stigma of plugs"> it's odd. a chick gets a boob job, or a face lift, nose job, etc, even guys with lipo.. even if it does not turn out well, it's viewed as a "good try" and there is some improvement. A bad HT.. you are worse off than the guy with the bad toupee. at least he can take it off. Over the years, as mine was repaired and softened with time, i have been out with friends, co-workers, etc and some guy wit a fresh HT walks thru the restraunt, pub, etc. he is shredded as bad as the guy with the bad wig. As with you, i am at a point in my life i need not impress anyone, nor do i care, so i will usually share my story and tell them to lighten up. I have seen some awkward looks. and, of course, the "boy i should would not have known if you had not told me". but after all is said and done, once i let the cat out the bag, i catch 'em eye drift'n" for the rest of the night. whatever. all i can say is 1. I wish i had never done it 2. HOWEVERER, todays techniques are so great, perhaps i would do it if i could obtain the results we see today. 3. it has a lot to do with age... when you are in your 20's and the "bald guy" you feel isolated and will go for anything. when you get into your 40's (as i am now) and look around at your kids Lacrosse game and 1/2 the dads are bald(ing).. who cares? now u are the one with plugs. i guess to me, i see at my age, it implies a vanity that i don't have. 20 years ago.. sure.. now i wish i could just be what i would have been! but people only see u at one point in time. they don't when u had them, or for what reason. it's not for them to judge. but at that point i guess i, too am a hypocrite. when i see guys on this ite with older grey hair getting HTP, i just don't get it. i judge them as "old men with bad judgement".. what do they have to prove? what are they looking for? but then.. what in the hell right do i have to ask that? 4. there is no answer... all i would implore anyone to do is: A. do your homwork B. think about the future c. will it really change your life.. and will it be better, or worse.. once u cross the line.. u really cannot come back. My humble opinion: Bald is considered "loser" by society, but it is natural. bald with 4 mm plugs going straight across your forehead, and a big scar on the back.. what the hell is that? do you really want to use toppix and hairspray for the rest of your life and live in anticipation of the "eye drift". or worse????

Hi all. i am a 20 year vet of HTP's dating back to the old plugs.. now in my 40's getting some removed/ replaced/ recycled, etc to give me a more mature hairline. The fact that i have had some work done over the past few months .. and since it's from the front going back.. there's no place to hide. knew this going in.. but boy it takes me back to some hard times! I know things are different know... but back in the day.. you just had to deall with the corn row plugs for a year or 2 until it all started to fill in. i feel for everyone.. but i kind of get amused when lurking this site i see posts from fellows who just had their grafts placed " 6 weeks ago" and when can i start dating, etc. for those of us from the "old days" or for the poor folks out there who are still getting mangled by unscrup docs (PLEASE>> DO YOUR HOMEWORK!!!) it can be a hard way to go. that brings me to my segway. I apologize if this post offends anyone, or if it gets removed, i understand.. but as a band of brothers, i am interested.. what are some of the worst embarassing moments you had with the htp experience??? here's my story: thru highschool/ college.. pretty much a stud. not the best looking, or biggest jock on campus, but always attention of the ladies. when i went out with my buddies, it was always me that the girls we met would ask about/ cozy up to, etc. then.. senior yer of college, it started happening.. the inane questions: "hey.. ya know your losing your hair?".. like i had to be told! after college i went straight into Vet school. I looked like Phil Collins (remeber this was the 80's) by the end of my 1st year. I think it was a combination of being in a high stress program.. and the hair loss that did it.. but man.. i had NO self confidence. i see this posted a lot.. i really think women can smell it. I went from Joe "let me go talk to them for ya" to the schmuck in the corner within 2 years. I thought about some dark stuff. so anyway, I see an ad in the Sunday paper about Hair Transplants. It seemed this would be the answer!.. went to the clinic, never even talked to a doctor, just a bunch of great looking photos and vague promises that i would be back in a crew cut/ mullet (again.. the 80's!) in no time. I was 19, never even told anyone, not my family, i guess i just thought it would be a week or 2 and my head as a whole would start regrowth. It hit me when i was driving home from the appointment.. about 800 4mm punch holes straight across my forehead. i remeber puliing over to puke.. not from being sick.. but the cold reality setting in. well after 2 weeks of spring break holed up in my aparment back to school. no wearing a hat in vet school. moment #1: the stunned look of my classmates as i walked into the clinic.. the "what happened?" no one was being a smart ass.. they just didn't know what was up. the next 2 years were horrific. i sequestered myself in my room as much as possible, never even dared to go to any function where i could not wear a ballcap.. and the buzz/ jokes. etc. i think most of it was lighthearted, but i was paranoid and a mutant. several "fix" jobs during these years.. but it finally got to a point wher i could kind of pull off a comb-over. now.. by my senior year.. looking ok enough to venture out. eye drifters at every turn.. but i was kind of used to it by now and, the hair did't look too bad. right light, right room, i could pull it off. Worst moment ever: March 17 1990: my buddies and i were partying.. someone had the bright idea of lets go downtown (philly). I am in the bar, a little toasty, i had been working out like crazy, just back from Fla, so a little tan, so i guess i looked ok with my hat. I remember (I'll take this to my grave) one of the hottest girls i'd ever seen.. comes up to me, she puts her arm around me, drinks ome of my beer, etc.. you know the deal.. we stumble over to the bar, so i can buy her a drink, her friends come over..... she takes off my hat to put on her head.. shes facing the bar as she puts the hat on.. her hand reaches back for mine, and then she turns and looks me in the face.. eyes drift up.. she has this I feel sorry for you smirk on her face. plopls my hat back on my head and stumbles away with her friends.. laughing.. i wanted to die!!! That was as low as it can get. i have never told that story in 19 years now. whew!!!! anyway, next couple years, i got hooked up with the right people once i became a "dr", hair look'n pretty good, married a great good looking gal, and honestly, over the past 15 years, i really think only a few people have noticed. or perhaps it's the confidence.. but who cares? Like i said, i am to the point know, i am getting taken out to get e recede look going, and i frankly don't give a damn! my point to this long winded story: 1. do your research.. DON'T jump into anything! sometimes the "cure" is a lot worse than the problem! 2. if u go to a good doc.. you should be able to ease into it. but ther may be some hard bumps 3. keep your cool. it will all work out it you do your researxh and know waht you want and have realistic expectations. 4. No, this is no for my amusement, perhaps just a thought of the are others... but would anyone else like to share some moments that you wanted to crawl under a rock? it's quite cathartic and you will look back with some amusement. D

I have dealt with the ED's for 20 years. oddly enough, as i read in this thread.. for me it was not when i was losing my hair.. another thread i want to start.. you always get that jacka@@ "hey, did you know u r losing your hair?" thanks, i had not figured that one out yet. glad you could let me know. i want to ring those peoples necks back in the day. but after the plugz.. oh God did the eye drifters start. it always bothered me.. i guess i can't blame them.. with my initial horrible results.. they were probably thinking: "what the hell is this freak of nature?" i would probably do the same. that being said, after a few glances, why keep looking? it aint gonna change. that's when i got pissed. i once pulled the mel gibson line from his disfigured face movie. a lady just kept looking up all during a lunch meeting. I finally got up walked over to her seat, bent over, and said: here, u are so interested, why don't you take a good look?. i pulled my hair up and pushed the hairline back. she ran out. now luckily for me, i was with my practice partners, who all know, and she was your typical company rep.. so no harm done.. she did not get the account. made me feel good. but did not change the fact i had bad plugz a young lady was transfixed on. i guess she got last laugh... but i would bet she won't do it again. over the past 10 years.. i have had a lot corrrected, and it looks better, or perhpas i am just used to it. does not happen as often, or i don't notice it as much. however, i don't want to be a hypocrite. when i see the lady with the big breast implants.. i can't thelp but let my eyes wander. the problem.. they dress it up and want people to see.... me??? i try to cover it up and hope no one notices. ahh,, the irony!!!!!

Wow, read your blog. sounds very similar! eerie. Not to politic, but i would like to think that most of the docs try to help.. but i guess i wish they would come out and say: "i don't know how this will work out".. or as the gentleman in Baltimore put it" I don't think i can make things any better". I can respect a man, or woman, who knows what their limitations are.. it's the hacks like PUIG who left a bad taste in my mouth as well. I guess, like you, this all starterd for me decades ago, at a younger, more desparate age. I was (and still am) hoping that with the advances, and the internet communication, the bad seeds will fall off the tree. I guess i was also hoping i could find that one person with lots of great feedback that could fix my problem. but not unlike the Phillipino faith healers.. i guess there will always be someone out there who just wants your cash. It's odd, i probably have as much as a new Porsche invested in my head over the past 2o years.. and would pay twice as much to have it all gone.

Ok all. I know there will be no one answer to this, but i want to get some feedback. My situation: back in the 80's when young and stupid, i got plugs from the "cleveland hair Clinic" in Phila pa at age 20. all thru grad school, wearing a hat and being humiliated at every turn, i decided to go to Bosely (i know.. how many bad choices can a guy make?) my repairs were done in the early 90's..pluggy, but thicker. finally in the late 90's i got some $$ and finally did some research and was treated by a fantastic HT guy in Baltimore. He was great.. and did a very nice job.. i actually looked human again and live life without wearing a hat everywhere. however, now.. 10 years later my hair is thinning some more, and the pluggy straight hairline is becoming more evident. have been using Propecia with good sucess for several years now.. but things are thinning. I am starting to see the "eyes roll up" (a lot of you probably know what i am talking about) from people again.. had not gotten it for a lot of years. so.. now i am in my mid 40's. my wife is completely behind me.. i would rather be bald. what to do? I talked to the Baltimore surgeon a few years back.. his main concern is that i am OUT of donor hair.. had an expander, etc.. I'm done. My hairline is too low, straight, and pluggy. i am wondering: 1. can i have my plugs refiltered and put back further for a more mature, natural hairline? i really don't car about scars.. cant be any more embarassing that what i got now. My surgeon from a few years back told me he did not reccomend it due to my cobblestoning. but.. have things changed with lazers, technique, etc? I suppose i will travel back to Dr. V in Baltimore .. but just got the feeling he did not think he could make any thing better. I respect that.. a lot.. but perhaps things have changed.. or do i go in another direction 2. also, saw a complete reversal on another site from a Dr. cole in Atlanta. pics looked good.. but does anyone else know about this? 3. I keep hearing about Dr. Feller... a top in the field? again, i know there is no one answer.. i need to go, get opinions, tx options, etc.. but my point is: 1. i will travel. I live in Ohio now, but i will amke the trips as to, and where to necessary. you only live once... i got about 40 more years to go. location is not as important as quality! 2. i have the money 3. i want someone who can fix, or remove the plugs. I don't care anymore about a full head of hair, or volume.. i just want natural as i go into my middle age! thanks!

Ok all. I know there will be no one answer to this, but i want to get some feedback. My situation: back in the 80's when young and stupid, i got plugs from the "cleveland hair Clinic" in Phila pa at age 20. all thru grad school, wearing a hat and being humiliated at every turn, i decided to go to Bosely (i know.. how many bad choices can a guy make?) my repairs were done in the early 90's..pluggy, but thicker. finally in the late 90's i got some $$ and finally did some research and was treated by a fantastic HT guy in Baltimore. He was great.. and did a very nice job.. i actually looked human again and live life without wearing a hat everywhere. however, now.. 10 years later my hair is thinning some more, and the pluggy straight hairline is becoming more evident. have been using Propecia with good sucess for several years now.. but things are thinning. I am starting to see the "eyes roll up" (a lot of you probably know what i am talking about) from people again.. had not gotten it for a lot of years. so.. now i am in my mid 40's. my wife is completely behind me.. i would rather be bald. what to do? I talked to the Baltimore surgeon a few years back.. his main concern is that i am OUT of donor hair.. had an expander, etc.. I'm done. My hairline is too low, straight, and pluggy. i am wondering: 1. can i have my plugs refiltered and put back further for a more mature, natural hairline? i really don't car about scars.. cant be any more embarassing that what i got now. My surgeon from a few years back told me he did not reccomend it due to my cobblestoning. but.. have things changed with lazers, technique, etc? I suppose i will travel back to Dr. V in Baltimore .. but just got the feeling he did not think he could make any thing better. I respect that.. a lot.. but perhaps things have changed.. or do i go in another direction 2. also, saw a complete reversal on another site from a Dr. cole in Atlanta. pics looked good.. but does anyone else know about this? 3. I keep hearing about Dr. Feller... a top in the field? again, i know there is no one answer.. i need to go, get opinions, tx options, etc.. but my point is: 1. i will travel. I live in Ohio now, but i will amke the trips as to, and where to necessary. you only live once... i got about 40 more years to go. location is not as important as quality! 2. i have the money 3. i want someone who can fix, or remove the plugs. I don't care anymore about a full head of hair, or volume.. i just want natural as i go into my middle age! thanks!