Doc Patient

Pictures removed

Mr. Joe, I was told that my donor area was "good" density at my initial consultation, but was not great. Both procedures I was told resulted in a surplus of 1 and 2 hair grafts. Thus, my conclusoin is that my donor was at best average. My goals were to cover as much bald scalp as possible, even if density had to be thin to get some coverage in the back. I am happy with my results thus far, but hoping that there will be further improvement for the second procedure since I am only at 8 months postop on that one and my understanding is that the crown area takes the longest for final results.

I have added some pictures taken 9-9-06. That is 8 months after HT#2 which added 2,200 to midscalp and crown. Density in crown was lower than more anterior areas and designed to convert bald crown to a thinning crown. This is 13.5 months p/o HT#1 which added 2,518 to frontal third. I am now on Propecia for 14.5 months. Should be some more improvement hopefully in the next few months. I will post 10 month pictures if there is interest. I now have sufficient hair in the crown to make Dermatch practical (which I did not have before). With Dermatch it looks fuller. If there is interest I can post some pics with Dermatch the next time I apply the stuff (which is usually just on weekends).

Wow!Your hair looks great! Certainly a very big change. Nevertheless it looks like the aging process continues. Why do you think the wrinkles on your forehead have progressed so much over one year?

ogph, Take a look at the two pictures of the back of the head - one from 7-9-05 and one from 7-9-06. Most the difference in these two I feel at this point is attributable to Propecia. I would say the results thus far from Propecia are quite significant.

Thank-you Troy for your response. I like sharing my progress with others in the midst of similar transformation (or contemplating such). While I like sharing my progress, there is some expectation that others will offer comments, and frankly only one reply is a disappointment.

Troy, Your results are AWESOME!

Time for some updating! Lots of milestones are being reached this month.... 1) July 1st made exactly one year on Propecia. I have been on 1mg/day for a little over one year now. 2) today makes exactly six months since procedure 2 (2,220 for midscalp and crown - Dr. Jeffrey Epstein). This is now the area of most dynamic change, and I look forward to more improvement in the coming six months. It has already been transformed from bald to a thinning look. There will be more improvement and I will continue to post updates (next likely at 8 months). 3) in two weeks I will be at the one year mark for procedure 1 (2,518 for frontal 1/3 - Dr. Jeffrey Epstein). The photos I am posting today are close enough to be considered one year photos. The results are great; especially when compared to where I was one year ago. As always, I look forward to hearing your comments.

I'm just over 4 months post op by Dr. Jeffrey Epstein with a tricho closure, and feel confident that I could buzz to a 1 already with no detectable scar. That's not the look I want anymore though, but nice to know that I could do it. I think the scar is already completely healed and don't expect any real change going out to the 8 month mark.

tkerr22 and Hairbank, Thanks for your replies. It's nice to hear comments from others undergoing similar transformations and are in the same boat.

Gorpy, Thanks for your reply. It is overall disappointing though to take the time to post pictures and get only one reply.

One thing these pictures do not convey, unfortunately, is the quality of the trichophytic closure. It is truly as if the "scar" is not even there. I don't even feel a ridge anymore where I know the incision to have been. I'm confident I could go very short on the sides if I wanted to. This, however, is not the look I want at this time. I used to buzz it all the time. After going to all this trouble, the buzzed down look is one that I don't think I'll ever want again now that I'm no longer bald and getting better every day! (nice though to know that I could go really short if I change my mind).

Smoking will be very deleterious to your results. It is harmful to the healing response after any surgergy. Yes, your doc is not exagerating by telling you that you will ruin the results of your surgery by smoking.

I've just added five photos taken on 5-10-06. This was 9.5 months after procedure one which did the frontal one-third with 2518, and four months after procedure two which did the posterior two thirds with 2220. I can see lots of improvement in the first procedure in the past four months. I suppose at 9.5 months post-op this is getting pretty close to the final results here. Procedure two results are now starting to come in. Photo wise there's not too much to see yet (what do you guys think?), but I'm feeling more stubble back in these areas every day now. I think I can feel the new growth better than see it at this point. Is this normal? I will definitely appreciate everyone's comments! I'll post more photos again probably at 6 months Thanks.

Hair Apparent, Thank-you very much for your reply.

Hair Apparent, Nice to read your recent update. I'm at HT2 + 87 days. Yes, we are most of the way through the dormant period at least now. Question: when you had your first procedure (that did the entire scalp with low density), what time difference did you note between early sprouting in the front vs. midscalp and crown? My second procedure was done for midscalp and crown primarily - I've heard these areas progress more slowly. Just wondering what your experience was. Like you I did not want to do hair transplantion only to the front 1/3 leaving a big bald area behind, so I did my second procedure at 5 1/2 months after the first (first did frontal 1/3). The front is looking great, and hopefully the bald areas behind will start filling in soon.

Brad, I did not consult with Dr. Charles in Boca. I'm in anesthesiology so I have no special knowledge about hair transplantation except what I have learned through my experiences as a patient and reading this forum. My plastic surgeon colleagues both of whom practice in Boca Raton both recommended Epstein, so he was only one I consulted. They did not mention Charles. I'm getting great results. Epstein does excellent work. I'm sure you will be happy if you go there.

Well I certainly wouldn't stop it now right after having a procedure. It will speed up your results. Personally I would stick with it at this point for another 3-4 months and then reconsider stopping it.

I had my second procedure just three days after yours (mine was 1-9-06). About two weeks ago I started seeing a few grafts poking up, but so small and fine that I wasn't really sure about them. Now they're looking more obviously like sprouting little hairs - small and fine. They get thicker with time. Are you using 5% minoxidil? This has been shown to speed up the process. I started using it on the grafted areas two weeks after my procedure and will use it for the first four months or so on the instructions of my doc.

I went through the same dilemma in January for my second procedure. Originally a NW 5, my first procedure (2,518) restored the frontal 1/3. This was July 2005. Now at 8 months post-op, the results are still getting better all the time. My second procedure was done Jan. 2006 and was 2,220. Options were 1) to bring down the hairline a bit and do the midscalp, but leave the crown alone or 2) accept the high but very nice hairline from the first procedure and go for complete coverage in mid-scalp and crown. My crown is not that bad since I've been on Propecia for 8 months now. It's filled in a bit from all sides coming up from the back and sides. Like Hairbank though it bothers me to see this bald spot. In the end I felt that it was more important to get complete coverage even if at lower density (crown density will be the thinnest) than a lower hairline and remaining bald in the back. This is a personal decision that you will have to make on the basis of your own personal aesthetics of what you feel looks best. To me, having a low hairline, but remaining bald in the back is not a nice look. I realized that people will be looking at me from all angles and not just the frontal view. Both procedures were by Dr. J. Epstein. The scar has been pretty much imperceptible to touch since about the one month postop mark. I'm pretty sure that I could go a lot shorter than a 4 with this closure if I wanted. Now at 10 weeks postop, I'm already seeing some very early signs of growth in the mid-scalp area. Nothing in the crown yet. My undertanding is that crown results take considerably longer than other areas of the scalp (i.e. 7-8 months). With procedure one continuing to mature in the meantime and the results of procedure 2 developing over the course of the rest of this year, 2006 is going to be a very exciting "hair" year for me.

No. I went to another physician.

Actually there was a recently published study that looked at Saw Palmetto vs. placebo for treatment of prostatic enlargement. Saw Palmetto it turns out was no more effective than placebo. So it does NOT work for enlarged prostate. Not aware of any study of its effects on hair loss.

How do you feel about losing your hair?? Does any man really want to be bald?? Very, very few I imagine would choose to be bald if they had a choice. Many I suppose just accept it and go about their life shaving their head and looking like Kojak. Does this mean that they like it? I expect it's a very small minority that actually "like" it that way (similar to the number of men with full heads of hair that choose to go ahead and shave it all off and keep doing that - not many). If a magic wand could be waved instantly taking away baldness nearly everyone would do it, don't you think? Some a afraid of surgery, medications, or simply don't have the means to do something definitive about it. Doesn't mean that they "like" though....

Well I'm not too sure myself to be honest. To "saturate" my system with Fin during the recovery process? I have also restarted MSM & will stick to it for the next 3 months. Today was my first day back at work, after what everybody thinks was a vacation. So there were lots of people coming to my office to chat... the ultimate test, 5 days post-op. Well not one "suspicious" look, not one comment, it's as if I had never had surgery. My new scar feels great too. Can't believe the old, large scar from my UK HT is not there anymore. Dr E really did a fantastic job, I still can't believe it. Worth every cent. Hairworthy, Glad to hear that things are going so well. I think you will be very happy with the way your donor heals up. I'm just coming up to the two month mark after my 2nd procedure with Dr. E. The donor incision is essentially undetectable to my sense of touch at this point. I don't even feel a ridge anymore. It's amazing! Also I had a few grafts put into the widow's peak. I'm seeing some sprouting there already. Are you going to use minoxidil?

Hairworthy, Nice to see your most recent pics! Glad to hear that things went well for you. Your hair is going to look excellent later this year. Too bad I missed you guys Friday evening. Yes, South Florida is a great place to live (expecially this time of year). We did get hit with two hurricanes last year though here in Lauderdale. Best wishes!