Joe Transplant

Texas Usually after 8 days the grafts are pretty set. Try to be careful, but don't sweat it too much - a few days after my surgery, I slammed my head against the wall (accidentally of course) and things still turned out OK. The only time I lost a graft was by picking a scab with the graft still attached to it. Joe

That doesn't seem right, first of all a graft with 5-6 hairs would be a pretty big plug. Also, I think you're right when you said 10,000 hairs. You can achieve a pretty good density with 5,000 graft containing and average of 2 hairs/graft. This all depends on the size of the balding pattern. You may have 100,000 hairs on your head, but only a portion of that will thin out to less than 50%, usually the hairline, top and crown. Hopefully I can explain this correctly; When it is said that you start noticing baldness after losing 50%, it's not the entire head we're talking about, it's only a certain area. My numbers aren't accurate, I'm just using them to make a point. If your balding area is just the crown, then we're only talking about 2000-3000 HAIRS leaving approx. 97,000 in the other areas. If it's the entire top, then we're talking 25,000 HAIRS leaving 75,000 on the sides and back. If you harvest 6,000 GRAFTS totalling 12,000 HAIRS from the remaining 75,000, then you can get close to 50% density on top. I don't know if this makes sense, sometimes getting info from my brain to print just doesn't translate well. If it doesn't, hopefully someone can clarify.

Mahair, I really feel for you, but I've seen photos of guys who have been butchered and have had their transplants redone by a great doctor and the results were great. I have read a lot of your posts about how this has destroyed you and I understand the emotional pain this has caused, but now it's time to start thinking about a solution. First, ask yourself how the transplant truly looks visually, separating emotion from the result. A great way to do that is to post your pictures up so we can do it for you. That way you get a fair assessment. Then we can give you some direction on how to fix it if there is a really big issue. Not to push aside your feelings, but sometimes we do see things worse than they really are. One point that leads me to this is that you mentioned you had permanent nerve damage in your donor area. You're only a few months post op, and we all lose feeling after the surgery, but most of it comes back. Calling it "permanent nerve damage" may be premature and inflammatory. But then again, you might right on with this and the other issues - the rest of us just don't know. You are not the only person this has happened to, and unfortunately, not the last. Others have come out of their tragic ordeal with great results, and it's time to take their view on the situation. A great role model would be jotronic. I myself am not totally happy with my HT, as I mentioned in detail in other threads, but I know I will go to someone else and have it fixed. So for now, I just keep brushing my hair forward. Please take this knowing that I have only your best interest at heart. I just want you to focus on the positive, as hard as it may be. Others have done it, am I'm sure you're strong enough to come out of this as a shining role model to others. Also, I am a little confused, in one post you mentioned you went to Bosley, and in another MHR. Not that it's important to your feelings, but we want to warn others about the doctor you went to. Take care, Joe

PD, I noticed my hair thinning about 6-7 years ago. I remember running my fingers through my hair and having a bunch of it fall onto the bathroom counter. That really freaked me out so I started using Nioxin. That was the first thing I looked into. I believe it helped with the daily shedding. My hair kept thinning, but not at the previous fast rate. Other than trying propecia for about a month five years ago (don't like taking meds,) Nioxin has been the only treatment I used, and still do. Again, the thinning still occured, only slower, and at the beginning of this year, I received my first HT. It definately wouldn't hurt to try it and see, especially if you want to "attack" it from all angles (propecia, rogaine, shampoos, etc...) There are other shampoos you may try like NANO and Nizoral. I do like the way it leaves my hair. It appears thicker, and it leaves my hair and scalp feeling really clean. I've tried other shampoos, but it's harder for me to style it without Nioxin. Of course this could all just be mental, but I feel good using it and that's fine with me. I use the cleanser and scalp therapy everyday. Hope this helps. Joe

Vocor, (Actually, this is for anyone with propecia experience.) I know you've had some great results with Propecia, and was wondering about the shedding. How bad was/is it, and during the shedding phase, did your hair look thinner? or did you just notice more hair on the pillow. I've never been one to really take meds, so any additional personal info you may have on side effects would be great. Thanks.

Vocor, (Actually, this is for anyone with propecia experience.) I know you've had some great results with Propecia, and was wondering about the shedding. How bad was/is it, and during the shedding phase, did your hair look thinner? or did you just notice more hair on the pillow. I've never been one to really take meds, so any additional personal info you may have on side effects would be great. Thanks.

Dorian About 9 months ago, I had 1800+ grafts done by Dr. Elliott in Newport Beach. Overall, I am happy that I made the decision to get a transplant, however, for my next procedure; I am going to look at other doctors. I feel my results could have been better. I haven't discussed this with my doctor, because I realize there is not much that can be done other than having another procedure to touch things up. Now you might be asking what I was unhappy with? Well, the biggest issue for me is the hairline. Up in my right temple, the grafts were placed systematically as opposed to randomly. Although it does not look like the plugs of old, it still has a slight "linear/cornrowish" look to it. Then there's the front hairline itself. Here I noticed some 2 and 3 hair grafts growing out when only singles should have been placed. These look a little strange since I have these thicker shafts in a thinning area. It's not as bad as it may sound, but it is noticeable to someone who is knowledgeable about HTs. For this purpose, I comb my hair forward. I believe it may have to do with the fact that assistants place the grafts instead of the doc and don't pay as much attention to detail- but then again, the doc did make the recipient sites in the temple. I would give my HT a grade of a "B." Some can live with that; others demand an "A." Next time, I want an "A"

I'm 30 years old and have noticed my hair thinning since I was 24.

Mahair, Don't stress too much. Everything you're experiencing now if pretty normal. The first four days I looked like frankensien. My head was swollen and my left eye almosst closed completely. Maybe rocky is a better example. Anyways, the swelling will go away by the fifth day or so. As far as the redness on top, that may take a few months. For some it went away sooner. Hopefully you have enough original hair to cover things up. If not there are always little techniques to blend it in. Your scabs should all be gone by the tenth day. Just follow the instructions of your doc and keep them moist. Expect some shock fall out. Most of us experience it and it is quite normal to think that maybe the decision was a bad one, but PATIENCE is the key here. Allow yourself a few months to really start seeing the benefits. If you can, share some photos of what you were like before and how things are progressing. You can check out my pics at: My Photos These are only at four months, I need to update. I don't know if you've read a lot of the posts here, but most of us don't like Bosley, but that doesn't mean that you made a mistake. Some people have come out looking great. Remember it's normal to start regretting the procedure, especially right after, I know I did. But it gets better and as time goes by, you can really assess the situation and take actions from there. I did mine five months ago and I am now happier than ever even though I do want to do it again and correct a few little things. Keep asking questions!

Jenn, You're in my prayers and thoughts.

YMe, If you can, post a picture. I feel you are in the same boat I was not too long ago. I am early NW 5a and I still had a good amount of hair before I had my HT nearly five months ago. I too was worried about the rest of my hair falling out and whether or not to do a large session. I figured that most of my hair would eventually fall out anyways, seeing that almost all the men in my family are completely bald, so I just went for the largest session I could go with. My doctor did 1800+ grafts. Not huge compared to some of the 3000+ sessions other guys have done, but it's still a significant. I did experience shock fallout, but a lot less than I had expected. I thought I would be completely bald after the surgery, but if your doc knows what he is doing, then it you should be ok. During the two months I wore a hat and if I had to go out, I used a masking lotion to cover it up. Now almost five months later, it looks good and I am extremely happy with my decision. I do know that I will have to go back and do at least one more session in the future. Here are some pics of me: My Photos As far as FUE and strip method, I'm sure someone can get more detailed and give you links to sites, but from my understanding ??“ the strip method (which I did) is exactly that. They cut out a strip from the back of your head (ear to ear in my case) and then dissect it for insertion. FUE is follicular unit extraction. They cut out each graft individually from the donor area and there are no stitches and/or scars. Just a bunch of little dots that heal up nicely. In some photos that I've seen, a guy shaved his head completely bald and you could not tell anything. From what I hear FUE is the way to go, but it takes a long time, it cost a little more, and not too many docs doing it. I'm not sure how far along you are, but if you are starting propecia and still have a good amount of hair, you may want to hold off on the HT. See how propecia works for you. Take care.

Here's their website: Elliott & True

Hey Arfy, About four years back I tried Propecia. I stopped using it only after a few months. Even though I know it's pretty safe, I freak out at the fact that I would have to take it every day for such a long period of time. I don't even like taking meds when I'm sick. It's just a personal thing. I'm sure a lot of guys have benefited from it and should continue if its working. If my hair can eventually look decent after a few HTs then I'll be happy with that. Thanks

Vocor: I'll drink to that!

tkotko Yeah the scar still shows when wet, not as much as before, but I do have to muss up the sides and back a little so it's not so noticable.