Manko

I'm suspicious.

The pics are not from identical angles, but I'm not so sure that this is a good result. At 10 months I would've expected more out of 1500 grafts.

Good luck

Manko

dazza - Looks good. Just curious why you didn't go back to Feller?

Good luck,

Manko

matx - I've had both strip and FUE, and yes, the area can still be a little painful a few weeks out. I really wouldn't worry, you'll heal. If you got an infection, that's a different story, but antibiotics will take care of that. I'm sure the doc used .9mm punch's, it would be unethical to lie about that, and Beehner has such a stellar reputation that you should be comforted with his response. I know after my FUE session, I made a point of not looking at the donor area for about a month, and when I did look there was nothing to see. Best of luck, I'm sure you'll be fine.

Manko

One other thing, you definitely didn't receive strip surgery. Trust me, I've done it. You'd have stitches, bandages, stitch removal, etc. You're fine. relax, you're making me nervous.

Oh dear lord...you need to settle down. You're only 12 days out, and Dr. Beehner is very well respected. Please, relax, and rest assured that you have a long time to go before you can make an assessment as to whether you're troubled or pleased, I'm guessing that since you've chosen a good doc that you'll be pleased. At this point, your post is alarmist in nature, and unfair to the doctor who was looking to help you. You'll be alright...your pictures show nothing alarming, you just need to settle yourself.

Manko

Thana - I gladly paid $10 per FUE to Feller. Yes, the economy is bad, but if you want a top doc, you've got to pay the price.

FUE is (IMHO) the least detectable since you don't have the large strip scar. You definitely need to take time off though. I just had a small FUE with Feller, and the only thing that would've made it very detectable was that Feller shaves the recipient site (he also shaves the donor site, but that can be blended in with a 1.5 clipping...I know, I did it). I have been able to cover up the recipient site though by combing my hair the other way, and no one has said anything. First week, I was completely paranoid, now it's 6 weeks deep and I don't even think about it (due to new combing pattern). Good luck.

BigBill - It's not great, but can certainly be made a lot better by one of the best doctors available. I'm more troubled by how you described the scar, although there were no pictures in your posts. I think you'll be fine in the long term.

Good luck.

Manko

Hey Bill,

I'm just simply giving my opinion. The guy asked if he should have a Ht or not. And my answer is a definite NO! Obviously, I have tunnel vision. My life has never been the same since having a Ht. That is why I'm suggesting that he not have one.

 

Also, The more I read this forum, I'm getting the impression that there are actually more repair patients on here than there are people having a ht for the first time that are happy with their results. Am I way off base with this statement? I think there are quite a few people on this forum suffering from the same "tunnel vision" that I suffer from, but one must ask-- Why so many people suffering from tunnel vision? Furthermore, posters like me are attacked with each post. So, I honestly don't believe that this forum is even hearing from half of us "tunnel visioners".

Now, with that said, you have allowed me to be totally transparent to date Bill,--Thank you for that.

_____________

John - I don't get the impression that the forum has "more" repair patients. Your story is interesting, but I think it's unusual compared to most posters on this forum. Having said all that, I don't think Rays should get an HT, I think his hair characteristics are not good. Meds should absolutely be considered first.

SPEX - JUST ANSWER THE QUESTIONS, DON'T WORRY ABOUT CAPITALIZATIONS.

Originally posted by Hair28:

The surgery was with Dr. Charles just over 10 days ago (this was my 2nd HT with Dr Charles). He told me I had very little bleeding and that the techs did not have any issues inserting the grafts into each hole. I too was amazed at how fast they inserted the grafts, since he also did my first HT about 2 years ago and it took about 3.5 hours back then to insert just over 2000 grafts (excluding strip removal and disection).

My obvious concerns this time were: 1)did I actually get 2,100 grafts, and if I did, then 2)did speed sacrifice the handling -and potential survivor- of my grafts?

I trust D. Charles and I guess (or hope that) I might be one of those patients where everything just goes right, or like Dr. Beehner mentioned above, all the stars were in perfect alignment.

I'd say that's incredibly fast. I had a 350 FUE session about a month ago, and the placement of those grafts took about an hour. I would've been very suspicious if you had the surgery done by any one other than Dr. Charles...he does seem to have a stellar reputation.

Originally posted by Rachmunas4life:

What were the differences between Dr. Epstein and Dr. Shapiro in each detail?

 

I met with both of them by in person consultation a short while ago.

 

Thanks and grow well!

I was curious as well. There's usually a story when someone doesn't go back to the same doc. I'd had 2 small HT's done (100 grafts each time)in the mid-90's by a plastic surgery guy, they were basically worthless, but created a poorly healed scar. Then I went to Hasson...great work, and would go again if I needed a bigger session. Last session, was a small FUE touch-up with Feller. It's not even a month yet, but I'm very optimistic. Anyway, that's my story, but I'd be interested to know why a switch was made from 2 sessions with Epstein to Shapiro.

Both are excellent. I've gone to both of them, and the only reason I didn't go back to Dr. H was that I decided for a small FUE session. As far as I know, Dr H is not doing FUE's. If I needed the type of session you're describing, which is going to be a strip session, either doctor will give you great results. Flip a coin.

Longtimelurker - I didn't think the pics looked that bad, but Bill's point is extremely valid, you wouldn't want that scar front and center. The one guy on Kabaker's site looks like a guy who just had a naturally high hairline, but he didn't seem to have any male-pattern-baldness. I thought he looked alright. I would stay away from doing this surgery if you were going to need an additional HT. A lot of guys are paranoid (largely unnecessarily) about having a scar in the back of their heads, I can only imagine the anxiety of having one right across your forehead.

Good luck.

Manko

Now I'm off to bed, wifey is calling. Last comment, Kabaker is recommended by this site, but truthfully based on a lot of his available procedures I would think he would not have passed the test. In addition to scalp reductions, he's also offering juri flaps. I'm not sure what to think anymore, but I remember those 2 procedures being considered very old and dangerous approaches, and very much along the lines of big punch grafts. UncJim would definitely have an opinion, but I'm afraid that I'm now walking in dangerous territory by criticizing a site-sponsored doc.

Alright, one more comment before bed. I was just looking at the rest of the website, and not surprisingly the guy is offering scalp reductions. I'd have sworn that was a taboo procedure today (UncJim, if you're out there), so all things considered I would personally stay away from this doctor.

Originally posted by Manko:

I have to be honest, the results aren't bad. I'm a little shocked, because I was instantly very leery of this post. I think the guy looks better after the forehead reduction. He kind of became a punk rocker in one session. I'm still leery, but the pictures are intriguing.

Quoting my own quote, one serious caveat would be to see how these people look when they're 50. It's definitely along the lines of a facelift, but for some reason instead of pulling the face back, the hair is being pulled forward. There's no way in a million years I'd ever consider it, but some of the pics are hard to judge since they seem to have been taken almost immediately after surgery (or at least, I hope so).

I have to be honest, the results aren't bad. I'm a little shocked, because I was instantly very leery of this post. I think the guy looks better after the forehead reduction. He kind of became a punk rocker in one session. I'm still leery, but the pictures are intriguing.

Well, HTNONO, the only thing I can say is that you probably didn't do enough research Just kidding, but truthfully, your result doesn't look as terrible as you're describing it. It's not great, but it's not catastrophic, and of course I would never go back to Bosley. Seriously, get yourself scheduled with a great doc (Feller/H&W/Shapiro, amongst others), and have your hair situation revisited. I've had HT's with both H&W and Feller, both are excellent, and the ony reason I didn't go back to H&W was because of the distance (Feller is in my proverbial back yard, and 7 years ago, I hadn't heard of Fellers great work). One comment you mentioned that I completely agree with, and Dr. Hasson mentioned as well, and that is that the transplanted hair is definitely thicker and has a different characteristic than the surrounding native hair. I do think it evens out a little bit over time, but it will never have the same exact characteristics as the original hair (in my case, my HT has all been in the hairline area). But, once you've started, you're in the game for a long time. I am a super slow receder, and I'm sure religious use of Minox/Propecia are responsible for that, but I know I'm now committed to the occasional (once every 5 year) "tune-up". It's not so bad, and it could be worse, you could be bald. Good luck.

Manko

I don't think so. You remind me of myself when I was 18. I went to a toupee guy to see if he would make a toupee for what I was certain was a balding crown. Of course, this guy was truly an expert (and thank God, an honest man), and he told me that my interpretation of a balding crown was something that in his opinion would never go bald. Well, here I am at 42, and my crown looks the same as it did at 18. Of course, I've had a few small HT's done in the hairline to maintain things. Anyway, you're fine. Good luck.

Manko

I just did a search on small FUE sessions, and this one came up with my exact situation. I'm going in for 300-400 FUE's in a few weeks to fill in the area behind where I'd had the hairline rebuilt. Original hairline rebuild was 1200 (via strip) done about 6 years ago. Apparently I'm a slow receder, mostly because of Propecia and Rogaine, as I'm now 42, and have been receding since 18 (wow, that's hard to write). I'm not sure what's the better situation, slow torture of a gradual receding hairline, or quick torture of a rapidly receding hairline. Good luck to all.

Manko

Who did the work? You should definitely see more thickening over the next few months.

Good luck,

Manko

Drew35 - I'm not sure you ever needed an HT Good luck, the work looks great, I look forward to seeing your progress.

Manko

Originally posted by riky:

Originally posted by Manko:

I'm going to take a guess and say that Riky is one of Dr Shapiro's techs. Having said that, I'm convinced, and am now one of Dr Shapiro's biggest advocates. I always liked the song on his website anyway. Good song = good HT.

Well sorry to make you wrong but, I'm not working with Dr. Shapiro I'm one of his patients that leave in LA California and I'm attending to Hubbard College located in 320 n Vermont LA CA where I'm going to graduate in two month of administration and also as a business consultant. Is 6:11 pm now here let me know if you need more prove my friend.

Why the sarcasm, didn't I say I was now an advocate of the good doc. Thanks for the time and location information as well, that definitely adds to your veracity. Is that your Masters of Business Administration, or are you working towards your Bachelors at this point. In either case, best of luck to you, I'll carry the torch of the Dr. Larry S (while you study), but I think that between the two of us we should be able to instill the necessary confidence in this board that soon Dr LS will be asking us to post some criticism of him just to allow for a well earned rest.