Time to do something

I don't have any pre op pics. I wear a hair piece and the only photos I have of myself are with the hairpiece. The only photos of me before the surgery are ones my doctor took. To give you a reference I was slick bald in the front third of my head with a band of my own hair across the top of my head and then a bald crown. So to judge what kind of growth I've had simply picture the front of my head bald and then look at the photo I took today after nine months of growth and there you have it. To me it seems like the scalp shouldn't be clearly seen at this point and it shouldn't be a sparse and wispy as it is. Were others out there at about the same density at nine months? I understand that 12 months is the maturity date for a HT. I sure hope there is MAJOR growth in the next three months.

I'm sorry but I don't have any pre or immediatly post op photos. Only my doctor has those. I wear a hair piece so any photos I have of myself are with it on. The only photos taken without it was in my doctor's office until the ones I took today.

I currently wear a hair piece and it is left a little longer because of that. However today I did get it cut shorter on the sides. Even with the hair cut shorter it still looks like I am bald on the top. My hair is very thick on the sides and back so this sparse amount of hair I have on the top isn't going to look any thicker by cutting my sides shorter. Cutting my sides shorter will give me the appearance of less density on the side which would help match the top but I'm not trying to reduce my side density to match the top I want to increase the top density to come somewhat close to matching the sides and that is what my doctor told me would be the result.

Please provide feedback. This is nine months old and I don't think it looks thick enough. This discussion can be continued here: http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/showthread.php?t=154519

Please provide feedback. This is nine months old and I don't think it looks thick enough. This discussion can be continued here: http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/showthread.php?t=154519 Nine_Month_Results_April_08.bmp

WOOOHOOO! That did it. Now-feedback please.

Bill-if this doesn't work may I just send the photo to you to post? Here is another attempt to reduce the size down to less than 300kb so I can post. Nine_Month_Results_April_08.bmp

Thanks. I just tried something before I read your post. I've never had this kind of trouble trying to post a photo before. It isn't too user friendly. : )

Here are my nine month results.

Yes I just found out it was moved. I'll need to create another post to direct people to that area so they can see my progress.

I've tried sending a couple of photos and it says the upload exceeds the maximum allowed size of 300kb. It indicates my photos are 1171kb. Is there a way to reduce the size of a photo down to 300kb so I can post it? I've never had that problem when sending photos in the past. Thanks

I had a post that several of you responded to titled "Nine Month Report" and I went to attach some photos and it is gone. It says "Did not find any data for this topic". Is the site down or did my post somehow get deleted?

I had a post that several of you responded to titled "Nine Month Report" and I went to attach some photos and it is gone. It says "Did not find any data for this topic". Is the site down or did my post somehow get deleted?

Notice: Since some very long topics, like this one, can often have relevant information that is not evident until the end of the topic, we have summarized some of this important information in the below clarification: After 9 months and 2520 grafts, this patient appears to be experiencing some slow hair growth, which is discussed in this forum thread. The patient did post a single photo in this topic. However, additional photos revealing the patient's progress, including a before photo can be viewed on his hair transplant patient photo album. Given these additional photos and input from Dr. Epstein, it appears that the patient is experiencing somewhat better growth than could be seen in the first photo posted on this topic. However, this patient's growth does appear to be slower and thinner than most patients at 9 months. This may be due to his regular wearing of a hair piece, which many physicians believe can inhibit or slow growth. Doctors Epstein, Keene, Konior, and Ron Shapiro were consulted about this case and agreed that regular use of a hair piece covering may indeed slow growth. In the case of slow growers, final hair transplant results can often be delayed by several months. Therefore we recommend that viewers wait several more months beyond April 14th, 2008 before drawing conclusions about this patients final results. We appreciate Dr. Epstein's responsiveness to this patient and dedication to quality care he has provided patients over the years. We will be monitoring this patient's progress closely in the coming months. ---------------- Original Thread ---------------- I am really starting to get nervous. Nine months ago I had a HT. I had some of my own hair on the top of my head and received 2520 grafts in the front part of my scalp. I understand that I still have about three months until it has reached maturity but unless there is major thickening in three months this is going to leave me still looking bald and I'm nowhere near ready to remove my hair piece. I am scheduled for the second procedure May 19. I am supposed to decide if I want the next grafts to go in the front to thicken up the spot where the first procedure was done or put them on the crown or a combination of both. Based on what I see today the only option is to put them in the same location in the front where the first procedure was done. I have a very sparse dusting of hair and the scalp can be easily seen. Since my hair on the sides and back is so thick I have the dreaded "Bozo Effect" going on. So now I have thick hair on the sides and back and a wispy dusting of hair on the top. I am basically still bald. I'd be glad to send some photos so I could get some opinions on my progress. Do I click on "add attachment" to post a photo? I'd just like to know if others think there will be a major burst of growth in the next three months or if my grafts weren't all successful. Thanks

Thanks everybody for your replies. Yes, I did have my HT on July 4th and there was another guy in there the same day. I don't expect my HT to be as dense as my hair piece but close to it. My doctor said with two procedures he could get close to that. In my case I believe that is important because my hair is so thick in the back and on the sides that having it thinner on the top looks very off balance. I explained this concern to the doctor and he said it would not be an issue. He said that is called the "Bozo Effect" when the hair on the sides and back is thicker than on the top. I don't expect to have the hair of an 18 year old but on the other hand I don't expect to look like someone who is thinning or balding either after investing a lot of time and money into the procedure. What is funny is the few times I have emailed into this site anxious for results I was told they were just around the corner. At the three month mark people emailed that they saw good growth at four months. At five months when I posted people said they noticed a lot of growth at six months. At six months when I still hadn't seen much people said the biggest growth was at the seven month point. Now that I'm at the seventh month I'm hearing the biggest growth comes after the eight month mark. I feel like I am chasing rainbows. I hope after the next two months I finally start seeing some density. I know you guys who are further along are probably laughing at this remembering when you were in the doubting phase but at this point the only thing that will ease my mind is HAIR GROWTH! Thanks for all of your input.

It is possible that Brian is involved in the hair piece industry or selling a "hair tonic" and just came on to give hair transplants a bad name and scare people who might be considering it. I hope he is wrong because I am one of those people that is waiting for my results and his email made me think. However, I think there have been too many positive stories on here for him to be 100% accurate. If he did have a bad experience I encourage him to reply back because if anyone can guide him it is Bill and the people on this forum who have been through good and bad and come out ok.

I have been off of the forum for a while to let my HT just sit and "cook" and give it time to show some results. The majority of people on this forum indicated their most amount of growth took place in the seventh month. Well tomorrow makes seven months since my HT. I must say I have mixed feelings. I definitely have hair where I was once slick bald but it is nowhere near what I would call cosmetically acceptable. My own hair is very thick and the area where I had the HT is nowhere near as thick as my own hair. It looks really off balance which is one of the things I said before my procedure I did not want to happen. My doctor said it is called the "Bozo Effect" and it would not happen. I wear a hair piece and it will not come off until my real hair is to a point where I believe it is cosmetically acceptable for all to see. Plus I think if I took it off at this point and people saw how sparse my hair was it wouldn't speak well for hair transplants and I intend on telling everyone that I had a HT. When I look at my profile in the mirror to the side it looks really, really sparse. It looks like I am basically bald with a sprinkling of hair over my scalp. The scalp it totally visible. I had 2520 grafts placed on the front third of my head. In May I have an appointment to go back for a second procedure. By then I need to decide whether those remaining grafts will go in the front to thicken up what I've already had done or if they will go on the crown. If I base my decision on what the results look like now then I will be using them to thicken up the front and use a small crown hair piece for the crown. I'd love for the grafts to go on the crown so I can be done with the hair piece. Hopefully in the next three months there will be some major changes that will allow me to put them on the crown. Believe it or not I still have a spot on the upper left part of my head that is still somewhat sore and numb. Any thoughts out there? Thanks

Mrjb, That is probably one of the most useful posts I've seen on here. Thanks for posting it. I have been off of the forum for a while to let my HT just sit and "cook" and give it time to show some results. The majority of people on this forum indicated their most amount of growth took place in the seventh month. Well tomorrow makes seven months since my HT. I must say I have mixed feelings, but your post gave me new hope. I definitely have hair where I was once slick bald but it is nowhere near what I would call cosmetically acceptable. My own hair is very thick and the area where I had the HT is nowhere near as thick as my own hair. It looks really off balance which is one of the things I said before my procedure I did not want to happen. My doctor said it is called the "Bozo Effect" and it would not happen. I wear a hair piece and it will not come off until my real hair is to a point where I believe it is cosmetically acceptable for all to see. Plus I think if I took it off at this point and people saw how sparse my hair was it wouldn't speak well for hair transplants and I intend on telling everyone that I had a HT. When I look at my profile in the mirror to the side it looks really, really sparse. It looks like I am basically bald with a sprinkling of hair over my scalp. The scalp it totally visible. I had 2520 grafts placed on the front third of my head. In May I have an appointment to go back for a second procedure. By then I need to decide whether those remaining grafts will go in the front to thicken up what I've already had done or if they will go on the crown. If I base my decision on what the results look like now then I will be using them to thicken up the front and use a small crown hair piece for the crown. I'd love for the grafts to go on the crown so I can be done with the hair piece. Hopefully in the next three months there will be some major changes that will allow me to put them on the crown. Believe it or not I still have a spot on the upper left part of my head that is still somewhat sore and numb.

I took the advice of everyone on the forum and postponed my next HT from January to May. I had no idea that six months was too soon. Moving it to May will be just under 11 months which I assume is an adequate amount of time. Doing it during Memorial Day will also allow me extra recovery time from work.

After I know how thick my first HT will end up I will decide if I'm putting my next grafts in the front or on the crown. If I need to put more in the front I won't hesitate using a partial piece on the crown. I've worn a full piece for years and they have become more natural looking over the years. The most difficult part to style and make look natural is the front in my opinion. However, the back can look odd if it isn't blended just right meaning the color and hair texture. It also helps to have the density somewhat light and airy and not a thick mass of hair that just sits there flat. I can't say what the difficulty level is to apply and maintain it but my stylist and HT doctor both say they have clients/patients that do this and are completely happy with it. I would stay away from Hair Club for Men. That is where I went for my first piece. They are WAY overpriced and rope you into all of their expensive services. I'll go with toplace if I need to go the crown piece route. They do this every day so they know what to do in each particular situation and they will walk you through it. You could find someone locally that will style your hair and even work with the crown piece. You might find a place that works with hair pieces and have them service it meaning color etc.

I had a HT with Dr. Epstein in Miami and before the procedure there was no consultation fee.

Taxguy, I sent you a PM.

Taxguy, Thanks for your reply. How was the crown piece compared to the full piece? How did it blend and was it easy to manage? Where are you on the NW scale? I'm a 5 and had 2520 grafts in the front third or half of my head. I am at month 4.5 so I'm not sure what the final results will be yet. Did your 2000 grafts cover adequately to provide a good density? I hope that what I got will be enough to cover with good density so I can put the next grafts on the crown instead of using them to thicken the front. However, if I need to use them in the front I am prepared to go with a piece for the crown I just wondered from someone that has had a crown piece what it is like?

As much help as this forum has been to me there is one area that I'm missing. I have found it difficult to find photos of guys that have posted photos of themselves before the hair transplant and the results 12 or more months later. We all know the results of a HT aren't matured until about 14 months after the surgery however most of the before and after photos I see here are before the surgery and maybe up to around six months or less after the surgery. Obviously these procedures aren't matured yet so we aren't seeing the final and more cosmetically appealing result. Not to mention many guys go back for a second or third procedure. I know those of us that are going through this for the first time and don't know what to expect and have tons of questions are on here a lot and we appreciate the hand holding. I suspect what might happen is after the six month mark when the hair is starting to take off and they guys feel comfortable they use the forum less and less and we don't get the benefit of seeing the matured results of their procedure months 14+. Can anyone out there post some photos of their transplant that is more than 12 months old or maybe direct me to some photos on the site that are. I may be missing them. Thanks.

Mrjb, Thanks for the tip. However, I am having limited success with it. I have been able to pull some photos up. In the search field I am entering the name of the doctor, then selecting "all forums" then under post type I am selecting "photo albums". Is this correct for finding photos of results of the doctors work? The reason I ask is many post will come up but don't seem to have any photos attached. Also what appears in some cases has nothing to do with the doctor whose work I am trying to view, it may have just been a mention of the doctor's name in a post. Should I be refining the search in another way to just view the photographic results of a doctor's work? If not it looks like it would still be helpful if members who have had procedures done by the doctors I have listed could post photos of there experience. Thanks.