dakota3

It does help Mask ! Thank you

Any one had any experience with his hair clinic ? All I can find is rave reviews about them on line. Seriously I haven't found 1 bad thing about them. You'd figure that all companies would have a dissatisfied client or 2. Makes me a bit weary .

Thanks for addressing our concerns Janna :-)

Thanks Spex! I definitely value your opinion! My scar is about 2 inches above the hump on the back of my skull . Not sure what the proper terminology for it is but I think you probably get my point :-) is that normal or too low ?

Wes310, I can definitely sympothise w/ your situation . I also had a tranplant that didn't work. I actually decided early on that I was just going to shave and deal w/ the scar. It has not been easy at all. I went from being self conscious about balding to being self conscious about my scar . At the end of the day I look at it like this way " and I constantly have to remind myself of this" is that nobody focuses on my scar or my the fact that I'm balding near as much as I do! No one except others who have gotten HT procedures are looking at you and asking " have you had a HT?" There are tons of stories you can come up with to divert the focus away from a HT. I recently have been thinking of giving it another shot but I'm nervous because it didn't work the first time. I may end up just having SMP in the scar area and call it a day. I hope this helps

Yes It was like pulling teeth to get a response from SMG. I was told its a lady named Kasia that does the SMP . I talked to her a few times via email but didnt get the impression that my business was important to her.

Hairthere, when is your clinic opening up ? I'd be interested in discussing my options w/ you. Thanks!!

I'm just wondering ! I know his results are great with the hair, but how do his scars match up ? I ask because I had a procedure done years ago by Bosley and the transplant didnt take. I'm thinking about another one but I keep my hair short . And in case it's just me and hair doesn't take to my head for some reason I still have only the same scar. The existing scar isn't pretty by any means but I've seen worse. I am thinking about using the existing scar to get as many grafts as possible without taking any unnecessary Chances on having a wider scar. Fyi The scar doesn't go from ear to ear . So does anyone have any comments on Rahal's scars ? Thanks

Anyone here have SMP done with Shapiro medical group yet ? And if so how'd it turn out? Care to share pics ?

Thanks to everyone chiming in here . Because I've had a bad experience in the past I tend to lean a little more on the cautious/skeptical side. There's definitely an argument to both sides but I may lean towards the temporary SMP because unlike a HT and scar if I don't like the results it'll go away in a few years . Like I said in my first post .... I've heard nothing but good things about His Hair but I'd like to see some more results up close several years later to prove that the pigment does not fade or change color .

Escar , could you find and post results from day 1 until 5-10 years later ? I think that'd be key in helping not only myself but maybe others decide which route we would go .

Thanks

I probably will try temporary first . I'm more looking comments on whether or not what I've been told is accurate . As far as I understood all tattoos fade over time , but I'm not familiar with the technology that goes into SMP . Also is it true that the follicles always stay dark?

I'm just looking for advise . I've heard good things about his hair clinic but am a little concerned about a permanent solution. I'm nervous that over time the color would fade and that when I get older and go grey or white that the SMP being of a darker color would be obvious . Here are 2 quotes I got from a representative at His Hair . Please tell me if they sound accurate ?

1st quote

"Because the SMP is to give the illusion of hair, you would need to keep any existing hair cut short which means that you will only see the follicle. Your follicles are also going to be a dark color, even when you grow older. Therefore, our consultants matches the pigment which they use to your follicle in order to blend it in. Your follicles, will not change over time, so down the road, the pigment color would not be a problem."

2nd quote

"The treatment is permanent and is made not to fade over time. However, because everyone’s scalp takes the pigment differently, we do offer a 1 year guarantee which will cover any additional sessions that may be needed for faded after you have completed the number of sessions you were quoted for"

I'm simply looking for advise on weather or not this is a sales tactic or if what I'm being told is 100% the truth ? Like I said .... My biggest concern with permanent SMP is fading and or not looking natural when I turn grey/white .

I'd like to add a little more to my previous statement. To speak more to how proffesional Dr. Cooley is he also offered to continue to work on my scar as well and I think I had pretty decent results. "Better now then previous to the Acell". I think having reasonable expectations about these things will help prevent dissapointment. One of the first things he said when I started discussing the procedure with him is that there are no gaurantees. So I went into the procedure expecting nothing but hoping for everything. Almost 1 year later I am pretty satisfied with where I am "although by no means content". I am confident that Dr. Cooley continues to try to perfect his methods.

I also had Acell with plucking done with Dr. Cooley. While I can't say the scar has hair growing in it, I can say that it's appearance has slightly improved and it is not rigid or bumpy anymore. In fact if I run my fingers back there I can't even feel where the scar is. I think this like anything else needs to be perfected before we can see any spectacular results.

I can not speak to Dr Hitzeg, but can about Dr. Cooley. In the trial stages of Acell I contacted Dr. Cooley and made plans to go down and have the Acell applied to my existing scar. He charged $0. Not even for 1 thing. The cost was all on him. He even bought me lunch. Speaks to how nice of a person he is!!!

It has now been roughly 11 months since the procedure and I can honestly say that while it doesnt seem like any hair grew into the scar, if I run my fingers along the scar I can't fell the difference between normal tissue and the scar tissue. It feels like normal tissue. The appearance of the scar has gotten slightly better, but it feels 100% like normal tissue.

In our recent E-mail I got the impression that- that is what he was finding with a 1 time procedure patient , and that he has noticed that multiple applications seemed to make more of a difference. * Please do not 100% quote me as I am trying to recall the E-mail conversation*. I'm not sure if I've given any help here, but I saw Acell in the subject title and felt as though I'd like to chime in.

Who said this was scarless surgery? I do not believe Dr. Cooley would say that. It does not work in all cases and there certainly should not be a claim of scarless surgery.

I will only say that if Dr's like Dr Cooley are working on this then there is a better chance of success with Acell

Glad to see you are not going to Bosley! I found this site to late before they hacked me up. Do not limit yourself to Florida if you can help it. There are very talented surgeons all over that will do a great job!! If you are a HT virgin I would actually recommend against it all together but if you have already had work done that do your research before you take the plunge.

Hi,

 

I'm considering surgery with Dr. Distefano for my receiding hair line?

Anyone seen his work in person? how good is it?

I have no experience with him but I can tell you he advertises ALOT!! Im not saying he is bad but the best clinics do not have to advertise at all. Do ALOT of research before making any decisions.

What I noticed is the graft was only secured by the upper layer of my skin.

If it was only a few days post op and you tweezed the hair out you propably would have pulled the bulb out with the hair which would have damaged/destroyed the graft. The fact that it was only a hair and you are 2 1/2 months post op means that the bulb is permanant in the recipient site. Think of it as a weed if you will. If you pull it out of the ground by only what you see then a week late the weed is back. We are not unlike plants. Your hair works the same way.

I understand that you are paranoid right now and that is completly normal but to be honest with you from the pics and the way you describe things it sounds like you are right on track. Remember there are no 2 people who are the same. Some will not shed at all or it takes along time, while others shed after 2 weeks. Some will start growing at 2 months, while others dont start until 5-6 months. Some scar easily, while others heal remarkably well.

I would also say if you are going to compare-, to compare yourself to other Dr. Cooley patients as opposed to other doctors patients because they all use differant techniques to achieve the same results.

I also can touch my scalp and I can feel hundreds or even thousands? that are short and prickly versus my grown out existing hair.

 

Weird isn't it? I'll keep everyone posted.

Actually that sounds pretty normal!

azn_guy,

1st... Pictures can lie but it looks to me you have had plenty of shedding, but...

If the pictures are lying do a search in the find tab and I think you'll be surprised how many guys have had this happen. You may have been at the end of your telogen phase at the time of the procedure and it may take a little longer for you, or you may be a rare case that doesnt shed at all "or so it would appear". Either way I think you may be unnecesarily worrying about this at only 7 weeks.

FYI I think your donar scar looks fantastic for only 2 months!!

Short term solution would be a concealer. Long term may include restoration, however give propecia, minoxidil, and concealer a full year and then re-access your situation. Because you are so young you are lucky enough to be on the cutting edge "no pun intended" of some possibly great advances in hair restoration. PLEASE be patient and do your homework before rushing to a decision that you will have to live with for the rest of your life. If you do decide that you can't wait please dont let traveling discourage you from going to the very best doctors. While there are no doctors that I know of in your immediate area you are a short flight away from the best ones. H&W, Konior, Cooley, SMG are all relativly close and IMO are the best of the best in this field. Good luck!!

Dr. Charles,

 

Thanks so much for the response.

 

The only NW6 folks in my family are on my father's side. He was one of 4 brothers. 2 of them never went past NW3/4 until their 60s when they passed on. He and 1 other brother were NW 6 by age 30, and then stayed that way and never made it to NW7.

 

On my mother's side things were much better. None of the men went past NW3, even in very old age. I definitely have some of her hair qualities too, and am currently between NW3/4v at age 41. Where I have hair on top it is healthy terminal hair and looks to be similar density to my donor area, no diffuse thinning at all. And for many years now I no longer notice hair fall in the tub or on my pillow. What is there seems like it would take many years to miniaturize if I would ever progress to NW6.

 

Does it mean anything that the only NW6 folks in my family were full blown NW6 by age 30 ? There's absolutely no history of anyone going to NW6 beyond age 40, that is why I am asking. It would seem (I hope) that genetics would remain consistent in this regard. In other words, if I was going to be a NW6 shouldn't I have already been there before age 30 since that's how the gene works in my family ?

 

BTW I've been on proscar since age 31. It never grew anything back, but i stayed on it anyway.

Unfortunatly Im not sure you can always count on family history to give you all of your answers. I for example am the only one in my family that is on his way to a NW6. My father is a NW3/4 with a bald spot in the back and recession in the front but has a solid mid section of hair, and my uncle on my mothers side is a NW4 with just recession in the front but thats it. Every one else has a full head of hair. I've gone as far back as great grand parents and 2nd uncles and have found no one with more hair loss than me. Sorry to say that Proscar MAY be the reason you havent advanced to a NW6. All individuals are differant regardless of genetics

This is great news!! Lets get rid of both companies for good!! I dont want to see anyone else fall for the hype like myself and many others here did only to be heart broken. I agree! GOOD RIDANCE.

alot going on there but it looks great! It'll take a little getting used to but Im sure we'll all be able to navigate around in no time! Great Job Bill and Pat!!

Looks good but I'd like to see the same angled photo's with the after shots instead of just straight on.