Acrobaz

Good luck! You've chosen a good surgeon and I look forward to reading about your progress.

I check in every so often. Feel free to contact me via Spex. Not sure why the PM system isn't working. By the way, three and a bit years on and I'm still a happy camper.

Hello all. I've just updated my blog with my photos at the two-and-a-half year post-op stage. Feel free to take a look. I'm still happy. Regards

Hello all - I'm back for the first time in a while. I have updated my blog with new photos taken at 19 months post-op and some more recent commentary. My hair in these pictures is quite a bit shorter and certainly more groomed - I have brushed it for a change! Best wishes

Outstanding.

Many thanks for the nice comments BadhairUK. You're absolutely right - the cosmetic difference at this stage comes from the maturing of the new hair. It's so much more natural than it was a few months ago and very hard to tell the difference between the original hair and the transplanted hair. Today I did something that I have looked forward to since the operation a year ago: I went to see a proper gentleman's barber at a reputable salon for a proper cut and style. This guy is *the* men's barber in my home town and has been in business for over 30 years. I spoiled myself and paid extra bucks to see the man himself. I wanted advice - for the first time in years! - about styling. I particularly wanted to avoid going down too short around the scar area, so I took a deep breathe and told him about the hair transplant. He was the first *new* person I've shared it with outside my immediate family. I do not exaggerate by saying that he was absolutely gobsmacked! He said he has seen some butchery over the years and that this was the best transplant he had ever seen. He said that he would probably have picked up traces of the scar when cutting at the back, but would not have noticed that the front third was almost all transplanted hair. Thankfully (as it was a weekday afternoon) I was the only customer there - so he got his colleague along to have a look and they both admired Dr Feller's artistry. We talked about the op in detail (he says he is often asked questions about hair loss and various treatments) and he now wants me to email some names of top surgeons so he can put links about them onto an info section on his website! Being a good forum member, I shall not cheerlead for just one surgeon and shall give him various names. All in all, today was a great day.

Hello everyone. I've updated my weblog (see link below) with my one-year post-op pictures. My hair is thicker and longer, which adds to the illusion of density - which is what we are all after! Any questions, please let me know. I remain happy with my result. M&M - sorry for the delay in responding to your query. Dr Feller has remained supportive throughout and ready to answer my occasional questions. Quite rightly, he has adopted a steady "wait and see" approach but he accepts that I may need more work on the right side in due course. For my part, I never expected to get the hair I wanted in one pass and I have realistic expectations for when I should go for HT number 2. In my mind, I think it should be a few years off, when I have lost more natural hair on top and need more work there too. Regards

Hi Petchski Pleased for you mate - it looks really good. I'll be posting my 12 month pictures shortly. Regards Acrobaz

Hello again folks. Anouar - a comparison of my "top down" pics from pre-op to now appears to demonstrate that the areas where I was most bald before are still the areas where I lack density now - and, given the even distributions of the grafts over the frontal third, perhaps that is not surprising. However, equally I must acknowledge the possibility that I have been a poor grower on the right hand side. Bandido - this is round one, not round two. I was hoping that round two might be a few years off yet! The 8.5 months comparison was deliberately done to show maximum illusion, while the majority of the blog pictures are in sunlight. I am happy with where I am. It's not perfect but it's a massive improvement. I'll post some more pics at 12 months where I will try to demonstrate different styles. It's also hard for the pictures to show what I *see*, close up in the mirror. The hairs on the right seem thinner than on the left, and that makes me hope that there is still maturing and thickening to come. Crucially, I did have realistic expectations about what round one would achieve. I also ought to say: I've been in contact with Dr Feller and he has been supportive and helpful throughout. My main aim in this has always been to pay it forward for men (and women) thinking about having the procedure; I'm not fishing for "whoa dude" comments. Realistic pics and realistic commentary - it's what we all need. Please take what you will from it. Regards Acrobaz

Julius - I don't know the precise answer to your question. The immediate post-op pics will give you a rough idea and I had approx 3,200 FUs in total evenly distributed across the frontal third.

I have today updated my blog with my ten-month post-op pictures. How am I feeling? The overwhelming sense that I have is that I did the right thing and that I am delighted with where I have got so far. There will probably be some further maturing and thickening to go, and that is all for the good. But the improvement from where I was before the operation is dramatic. I no longer wince at pictures of myself and I feel content when I am styling my hair. I have had an enormous range of positive comments, along the lines of looking young, fit, well etc - and sometimes just "whoa, cool hair". But the change has been so gradual that no-one has flat out asked me whether I have had a hair transplant. It helps of course that the new hairline is maturely positioned. Until recently I was wearing my hair much longer, and there is no doubt that this helps me style it in a way that enhances the illusion of density. I had not appreciated before the HT (as much as I do now) how important a part styling plays in maintaining that illusion, although it's fairly obvious really. In the most recent set of pictures, I have again had my hair cut fairly short, partly so that viewers/readers can compare like with like. I am not wearing any product. I have (as usual) aimed to take them in direct and quite harsh sunlight - although viewers/readers should bear in mind that much of my time is spent in lower lit conditions that enhance the illusion of density. These pics were taken in the evening sunlight. I won't pretend that I am not still hoping that the front right side catches up in density terms with the front left side. That said, I am not going to let something short of perfection detract me from feeling very happy indeed with my result so far. I also want to take the opportunity to pay tribute to Dr Feller for his artistry (and giving me a spring in my step) and to Spex for his support, encouragement and constant reminders that it is a waiting game. My next update will be at 12 months. I will try to incorporate some variety - longer hair, wet hair, different styles, etc. I think it's helpful for people to see the result both with and without amplification. I am going "off grid" in a few days for about a month, but will try to deal with any queries/PMs on my return. Otherwise, best wishes to everyone for the festive season. Regards Acrobaz

Hi moxonator There's quite a few UK guys who post on this forum. I agree with the posts above. Avoid HG. Look for consults with Farjo, Devroye, Feriduni etc. They are in the coalition for a reason. Also send a PM to Spex on this forum who, although a representative for Dr Feller in the UK, is impartial with his advice. There's also a similar thread here: http://hair-restoration-info.c...=777106844#777106844 Good luck.

That is neither a fair nor accurate description. It is also an irresponsible thing to say to a first-time poster. I will resist the temptation to say more as that might accord with the misleading picture you are trying to paint. Regards

Good luck. With Dr Hasson, you are in absolutely great hands. Sit back and enjoy the ride.

Fascinating to see a relatively unusual case and I imagine the patient is thrilled. It is truly an excellent result Dr Beehner - a dramatic change even without the accompanying facial surgery. Real artistry on your part. Incidentally, here in the UK we would use the female designation as Maxxy suggests. Although legal recognition as a female may only happen upon conclusion of transgender surgery, out of respect we would maintain the female designation for both a pre-operative person and a male who seeks to change their gender identity in non-surgical ways. That said, you know more about the details than us! Regards Acrobaz

Emperor - you make a measured and important point. I agree with you completely.

Balboa - many thanks for your persistence in dealing with this issue and, despite receiving legal threats of this nature, for continuing to share your experiences with the members of this forum. More power to your elbow. I sincerely hope you are able to achieve a resolution. That would have been my response - to run a mile. It astonishes me that Pats/Eric does not realise this when he makes posts of the sort that have appeared on this thread.

Excellent progress Drew. Are you happy?

Hi ScottishGuy I agree with Forrest Gump - do try a concealer. I used Nanogen fibres when I returned to work and they worked fine, although you might want to practice applying a concealer first before the day of the interview. Good luck.

Bill It's great to see the growth of the community and I hope you get lots of applicants to choose from. Regards Acrobaz

Thanks mgem! Hope things are progressing well for you. It's amazing the difference that came from (a) growing my hair a bit longer, (b) waiting to 8/9 months, and © going to a proper hairdresser!

Badhair UK - always nice to see those pics! John - I am a little ahead of you and have noticed real changes in density developing over 8/9 months. As everyone else has said, keep hanging in there.

I know I said next update at 10 months post-op, but I thought you might find this a worthwhile post. I mostly upload pictures that show my hair as it appears outside under direct and quite bright sunlight. While that is an honest portrayal, it can mislead viewers as to the effect of the "illusion" of density when out of direct bright light (as I am for most of the time). I have added a blog entry to my hair loss site today. The pictures shown under the heading "Direct comparison: pre-op and 8.5 months" were taken from almost exactly the same angle: but one was pre-op, while the other was taken today at 8.5 months' post-op. I had a haircut last week - a sort of textured crop - which gave my hair a bit more "shape". I thought you might find the new pictures interesting. The difference is clear. It's great for me to see. This is actually my left side pictured; the camera on my laptop reverses the image. Regards

Hello SaintJohn Although I am older than you, I am also from the UK and had a similar experience with the Hospital Group. You did the right thing. Better to lose ??500 now than pay much more further down the line in repair costs. I suggest you go through this process: 1. Reflect on whether this journey is for you. Have you tried buzzing down your hair? Are you prepared for all that comes with HTs - the expense, the "hair greed" (see other posts), etc. Believe me when I say that it is much better to have no procedure at all than to get it done by a clinic whose main virtues are lower price and closer location. 2. Try medical treatments and see if they make a difference first. The only two treatments that have proven results (although they don't work for everyone) are minoxidil (regaine) and finasteride (propecia or proscar). 3. If you still wish to go for an HT, seek a number of consultations and ask lots of questions. Farjo is a very good clinic, and the only one in the UK that this forum recommends. You could look into European clinics as well, e.g. Devroye as well as Bisanga. Don't let geography determine your choice, so you should consider US/Canada as well. Travelling out there costs money obviously, but it otherwise straightforward. 4. Keep researching. You can never do too much research into the issue. It's a big decision and you need to weigh up the pros and cons. Like all surgery, it can have tremendous benefits but it is not without risk. 5. On the covering up point, this depends on whether you go FUE or strip. Strip needs more down time. I went back to work at 21 days; see here for pictures - http://hair-restoration-info.c...=318108471#318108471 Good luck.

Great write-up M1A1. I look forward to seeing your progress.