Time to do something

I had a HT with Dr. Epstein in July. I have no reason to believe the results won't be good but I'm not far enough along yet to speak about it. I can tell you he seems to be one of the top in the country. I haven't been able to find any negative press on him on this site or the various others out there, only praise. I'm sure he'd probably let you know if there is anyone in the SF area you could see.

A couple of times in the past week I have submitted a question and put it under "Hair Restoration Questions and Answers". When I have gone back to look for it I can't find it. Then I noticed it is in a different category from what I originally put it under. They were put in a category with very low traffic. Since I was asking a question I thought the original category is where it would logically go "Questions and Answers" However the latest one appeared under "Shampoos, Sprays and Concealers". Now it is under a category with very little traffic and I'm afraid many will not see it. I don't think it was moved intentionally because if it was I believe I'd have received a note letting me know that had been done and I haven't received anything like that. How could these posts have been moved?

A couple of times in the past week I have submitted a question and put it under "Hair Restoration Questions and Answers". When I have gone back to look for it I can't find it. Then I noticed it is in a different category from what I originally put it under. They were put in a category with very low traffic. Since I was asking a question I thought the original category is where it would logically go "Questions and Answers" However the latest one appeared under "Shampoos, Sprays and Concealers". Now it is under a category with very little traffic and I'm afraid many will not see it. I don't think it was moved intentionally because if it was I believe I'd have received a note letting me know that had been done and I haven't received anything like that. How could these posts have been moved?

Thanks for the link to the thread on Dermmatch. I might start using this once my HT is further along. These products appear to be like some kind of mascara for the hair. What is this stuff made of? I always worry about something on the scalp because it will absorb through the pores and into the body. Does this stuff work somehow by fluffing up your hair or does it stain the scalp the same color as the hair to give the appearance that it is thicker? I've been a hair piece wearer and got a HT to get away from the maintenance of the piece and I wonder if I try this if I'm going to be swapping one type of maintenance for another, although I can't imagine this being as much maintenance as a piece. Hopefully after my second HT my hair will be thick enough so I don't have to use this but just in case...

Does anyone know anything about a product called Dermmatch? If so what is your opinion on it?

NeveVirgem, Your question is an excellent one. I know exactly where you are coming from because I asked the same question last week. When considering a HT we want to make sure we are getting the absolute best there is because we have to live with the results the rest of our lives and we have all heard horror stories about HT's gone bad. My opinion to you is to not only ask that question on this forum but go to some of the several others on line and ask that question. If you see one, two or three names appear over and over on multiple forums which all have different criteria then that should tell you something. However, some of the other members gave you some good information. This is an extremely subjective matter. What may look like the best HT to one person may not to another. I would suggest going to the websites of the top three or four doctors you are narrowing it down to and look at their photo gallery. Look at the after photos and see if one doctors results pop out at you as being more to your liking than the others. Also take into account that the people you are asking are giving their opinion. Who are they? Are they qualified to answer a question like that and what are they basing their answer on? I am not implying their answers aren't valid but keep in mind it is their opinion. I have learned a lot from this forum and it has really taken some of the stress off of getting the procedure. In fact I probably wouldn't have gone through with it had it not been for this forum. So just ask yourself are the answers you are getting based on results from their own transplant or have they see others that have had transplants from the doctor they are recommending? Also they might like the results they see from the doctor they are recommending but how do they know there may be other patients out there with even better HT's they haven't seen from another doctor. One doctor my be among the best in megasessions and another may be the best in hairlines. I believe the doctors that have been mentioned on this forum so far will do a great job for an overall appearance. If one happens to be better than the other in a specific area then the difference is probably very small and probably not noticeable to the average person except maybe in the case of Bill who was looking for a doctor that specialized in megasessions. I used Dr. Epstein for my first procedure and I am going back for my next one with him in January. The results of my first one aren't far enough along yet to speculate how it will turn out but I have no reason to believe it won't be very good. I hope this helps you and I'm right there with you in wanting the best outcome!

Has anyone had any experience using Revita and where can it be purchased? Online it said I could get it at Walgreen's but when I went there they did not have it. I also tried CVS and they didn't have it either. I see where it can be ordered online but I'd rather buy it now and not have to order it, pay shipping and wait. I'm in Florida.

I'll probably stick with the same doctor after reading your points especially after he told me I would received a little bit of a discount for procedure two. I just wondered a few days ago if different doctors had different strengths and weaknesses and if using two different ones might blend the best of their strengths together. It is probably such an minuscule difference though when dealing with the top doctors that it wouldn't be worth starting over with a new doctor who isn't familiar with my hair, scalp etc. I just read a few times on here that certain doctors are known for more density and/or better hairlines. I haven't been able to figure out why a doctor would provide less density if the donor grafts are available. I don't want the hair line of an 18 year old but I don't want a sparse one either that looks wispy like I am thinning. My hair is very thick on the sides and back so to have thinner hair on the top would look off balance. I have no reason to believe I won't have some good density once the HT matures but if I had one of the doctors that provides less density then I wouldn't be as happy as I would had I gone with another doctor that provided more density. My doctor is conservative which I appreciate because I don't want to be sold a bill of goods. I am a NW5 and my hairloss has pretty much stabilized since I am 46. I had 2520 grafts placed in the front third in July. The doctor said I'd be really happy with the results and he said he packed the grafts in there pretty tight. In January I am going back for procedure two to address what to do next. I am either using the next grafts in the front to thicken it up or on the crown or a combination of both.

Good points

I don't know where I'd be without this forum. You guys have made me think of things that would have never crossed my mind and I thank you for that! My doc said that by the six month mark I should have about 80% of my hair from the first HT above the surface. I have scheduled an appointment for the second HT for January 18 which will be 6.5 months since the first. He wants me to send photos the first week of January to evaluate the progress. I explained to him my concern about performing a second HT in an area where there may still be some hair under the surface. He didn't seem to think that was a problem. Since he is one of the top coalition doctors, with his level of expertise I'm going to put my faith in him. I'm also starting scalp massages.

It is probably a hair transplant. I don't know about you but I don't want to start my day off every morning with a head slap.

That was "their gallery" by the way. LOL!

It sounds like their talent is equal so I'd base the decision on: 1. The one you clicked with more 2. Best Price 3. Closest proximity to where you live. 4. Photos from there gallery (does one doctor's style match what you like better)

Thanks for the info. I'm a bit reserved about my HT at work so I didn't actually want to log into the site while I have people looking over my shoulder that is why I just used my email instead because it is a little more easily disguised because it comes to me as text only without the sites logo etc. That is good info to know for when I am home though.

Thanks for that info guys. I'll talk to my doctor and see why he believes it is ok to have the second procedure in January. You mentioned scalp massages. He told me to start scalp massages before my next procedure. How often is this to be done? Is just the donor area massaged and is there any particular amount of time it should be massaged? Any tips on scalp massage would be appreciated. Thanks.

Hello Friends, I am going to schedule my second procedure for the third week of January. This will be just under seven months since my first procedure. I will probably have the majority of the grafts put in the front where the first ones went. My doctor says that is an adequate amount of time between surgeries for a second one in the same spot. All he suggested I do is massage the donor site to get it ready. I remember reading on the forum some posts about the minimum amount of time that is acceptable between procedures in the same area and I believe I remember seeing figures like 10 months to a year. Can anyone refresh my memory and if I am remembering it correctly provide something that might back up that information? My doctor is one of the best so I'm sure he knows what he is doing I just want to make ABSOLUTELY sure I am doing the right thing because we all know with a finite number of grafts we don't get a second chance. Thanks!

Hello Friends, I am going to schedule my second procedure for the third week of January. This will be just under seven months since my first procedure. I will probably have the majority of the grafts put in the front where the first ones went. My doctor says that is an adequate amount of time between surgeries for a second one in the same spot. All he suggested I do is massage the donor site to get it ready. I remember reading on the forum some posts about the minimum amount of time that is acceptable between procedures in the same area and I believe I remember seeing figures like 10 months to a year. Can anyone refresh my memory and if I am remembering it correctly provide something that might back up that information? My doctor is one of the best so I'm sure he knows what he is doing I just want to make ABSOLUTELY sure I am doing the right thing because we all know with a finite number of grafts we don't get a second chance. Thanks!

Your hair looks great I might add so in your case using different doctors looks like it complemented each others work.

Hello Bill, I was checking my messages at the office remotely and deleted a bunch of emails from the forum that I was finished with. Unfortunately one that I deleted by accident was a private message that I had not responded to yet. The individual that the email belonged to has already gotten back in touch with me. Thanks.

Hello, I received two private messages from two different people today. I responded to one of them but accidentally deleted the other one. If you sent me a private message today could you please resend it? Thanks.

Hello, I received two private messages from two different people today. I responded to one of them but accidentally deleted the other one. If you sent me a private message today could you please resend it? Thanks.

Please Grow Please, thanks for your honesty. What you said is what I believed was the case. I really appreciate someone offering their opinion and not sugar coating it. I totally understand it is just your opinion but since I am a novice at this subject I am gathering as many opinions as I can and look for recurring themes. I think we all agree the hair mills are bad. Without candid opinions (without slandering) this forum would not be as effective.

Balody, I think you might have misunderstood my question. I don't believe this is common sense since I am not far enough along yet to know what the results are from the first procedure. I have no reason to believe the results won't be good. However, I don't think I would necessarily be "chancing" anything by using a different doctor since apparently ALL of the collation doctors are of the same caliber. I am asking this question assuming I will be happy with the results from the first HT. I have noticed that many people on this forum have had multiple HT's from multiple doctors. I know the geographic area usually isn't a factor since people travel across the country for the procedures. I wondered if having two procedures from two different collation doctors would blend the best of both worlds of two different methods of artistic ability and expertise or if sticking with the same doctor for uniformity is recommended.

What are the pros and cons of using a different doctor for a second HT? I am going back for a second procedure in a few months and wondered if possibly there was a benefit to sticking with the same doctor or a benefit with going with a different one which might complement the previous doctor's work with a different method. I have no problems with the first doctor I was just wondering if there was any thought or experience with this topic. Thanks

What are the pros and cons of using a different doctor for a second HT? I am going back for a second procedure in a few months and wondered if possibly there was a benefit to sticking with the same doctor or a benefit with going with a different one which might complement the previous doctor's work with a different method. I have no problems with the first doctor I was just wondering if there was any thought or experience with this topic. Thanks