Mike1651

When I was going through the process of choosing a HT surgeon, I also sought out Dr. Beehner and Dr. Bernstein for consultations. In my case, Dr. Beehner's plan was more conservative than Dr. Bernstein and struck me as a more logical approach. In addition, I felt extremely comfortable with Dr. Beehner and decided on his clinic in spite of a much longer commute. My case was complicated due to the removal of multiple plugs that had to be removed from my hairline and crown. Also, I discussed using 100% FU's, which Dr. Beehner agreed to, although he had complete confidence in using DFU's which we discussed in detail. I scheduled a procedure and had approx. 1800 FUT's. It went extremely well and I couldn't have been more pleased. Because of the great experience, I scheduled a second procedure and had approx. 2000 more grafts transplanted. It's been several years since my last transplant and I am still grateful to Dr. Beehner for the excellent job restoring my hair--not to mention what hair does to one's confidence! In closing, I found Dr. Beehner to be a 1st class surgeon and artisan in the HT field. More importantly, he's an extremely caring doctor/person and goes above and beyond in his patient care. I don't think you can go wrong entrusting your procedure to Dr. Beehner. Good luck with your decision!!

I've had two very successful surgeries with Dr. Beehner and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend him for HTN's "Coalition" group. My experiences were very positive and the HT's have made a significant impact on my life. In my case, Dr. Beehner proved to be more than a great surgeon. He also proved to be a great person with the patient's best interest at heart. I'll always be grateful to him for significantly improving my appearance!

matx: I'm in total agreement with Manko...your picture does show a raised area, but it does not show the punch marks left by the instrument...your scalp could be more sensitive to the procedure than someone else, and hence the irritated area...as you read about other experiences on the forum you'll notice that FUE & strip procedure reactions are different for everyone...I can understand your concern, but I trust Dr. Beehner will "walk" you through this sucessfully.

Matx: As Manko indicated, you definitely did not have strip surgery--I've had both...everything you describe is typical FUE--moth appearance, etc...you couldn't be in any better hands than with Dr. Beehner...hang in there, your recovery will be brief...will a little research you'll quickly realize that your reaction was premature!

To All: I added a couple of additional photos showing the transplanted hair from above and also combed back. Hopefully, it helps everyone visualize the results without Toppik or Dermatch which I typically use for a fuller appearance!

TC17 & Atomic: Thanks for your replies...presently I don't have any further pictures to post, but I'll try to take/post a few with different views...thanks again!

Bill/Hair Me Out: Thanks for the kind words...yes, I am very pleased at the results considering where I began & what Dr. Beehner had to work with--IMO, I believe Dr. Beehner is very underrated...when your under his care, it becomes obvious that he's a terrific person/surgeon...Bill, you're right, Dr. Beehner typically will do sessions in the 1.5K to 2K range--I had (3) sesssions of approximately 1,700 grafts each...thanks again for your comments! Mike

Although Dr. Beehner was working with an extremely compromised donor area, due to large punch grafts, he was able to use his extensive experience/expertise to give me a very natural looking hairline with a reasonable amount of fullness. Dr. Beehner's strategy was to remove any plugs that would interfere with the proposed new hairline. As the pictures depict, the plugs have been removed & the remaining plugs are mixed in with hundreds of follicular unit grafts. To date, I have had a total of approximately 5,000 grafts. I am extremely grateful to Dr. Beehner for making it possible for me to go into the world "hatless" after having to deal with the appearance of the plug grafts for many years!

I've had two 1500 + graft procedures with Dr. Beehner & would highly recommend him for your HT...my experiences were extremely positive & I wouldn't hesitate to utilize his services again if I were to have another transplant!

mikeh: I've found that you're likely to get reduced pricing by continuing with the same doctor for your procedures...like any business, the doctor's have to continually keep all potential patients interested in their practice...the HT business has their peak/off peak periods & the possibility of getting a price break is very real during those times of the year!

Hairtoday is right. Dermatch is meant to darken the scalp to mask the contrast between your hair & scalp. The Dermatch that's applied to the hair plays a role, but it's the darkening of the scalp that does the concealing!

I just returned from my scheduled FUT surgery with Dr. Beehner at Saratoga HT center--it was my second HT with Dr. Beehner. The plan was to densify the 3500 FUT's previously transplanted. A 2000 graft procedure was planned, but Dr. Beehner was hindered by (2) previous/unfortunate plug surgeries & was only able to harvest 1710 FU's. The day began at 7:00AM with a discussion about strategies & subsequent pictures. Dr. Beehner performs ultra-refined techniques & indicated that he would use blades cut to .7mm & .8mm for the fine hairline work. With the aid of (4) techncians, Dr. Beehner & staff did a great job making me feel "right at home" & comfortable. As I experienced in 2002, Dr. Beehner's procedures are literally painless. As is common, I have some residual soreness in the donor area, and virtually no swelling. Dr. Beehner removed the donor hair & supervised the technicians as they sliced/distributed the grafts. The technicians placed the majority of the grafts with Dr. Beehner checking in frequently on progress. He participated/finished the procedure by placing a number of grafts in the hairline. Finally, he inspected all the grafts before having the technicians put small bandages over the grafted area before I left the office. I was very satisfied with my previous experience/results with Dr. Beehner, in 2002. Today's experience was also excellent. My thanks to Dr. Beehner & staff for a job well done!

I just returned from my scheduled FUT surgery with Dr. Beehner at Saratoga HT center--it was my second HT with Dr. Beehner. The plan was to densify the 3500 FUT's previously transplanted. A 2000 graft procedure was planned, but Dr. Beehner was hindered by (2) previous/unfortunate plug surgeries & was only able to harvest 1710 FU's. The day began at 7:00AM with a discussion about strategies & subsequent pictures. Dr. Beehner performs ultra-refined techniques & indicated that he would use blades cut to .7mm & .8mm for the fine hairline work. With the aid of (4) techncians, Dr. Beehner & staff did a great job making me feel "right at home" & comfortable. As I experienced in 2002, Dr. Beehner's procedures are literally painless. As is common, I have some residual soreness in the donor area, and virtually no swelling. Dr. Beehner removed the donor hair & supervised the technicians as they sliced/distributed the grafts. The technicians placed the majority of the grafts with Dr. Beehner checking in frequently on progress. He participated/finished the procedure by placing a number of grafts in the hairline. Finally, he inspected all the grafts before having the technicians put small bandages over the grafted area before I left the office. I was very satisfied with my previous experience/results with Dr. Beehner, in 2002. Today's experience was also excellent. My thanks to Dr. Beehner & staff for a job well done!

I'm an ex-patient of Dr. Cole & found him to be an extremely ethical man & excellent HT surgeon...he absolutely went out of his way to consult with me & satisfy my hairloss concerns...I've always been satisfied with the 2000 grafts that I received a few years ago...the issues that currently surround Dr. Cole seem to be cloaked in mystery...as I said, my experience was a good one! Mike

Hi J: Congrats on another great looking HT with Dr. Beehner...it's obvious that Dr. Beehner is performing ultra refined procedures, as your pictures indicate...judging by the hairline, your results should look awesome...I'm also a patient of Dr. Beehner & I'm planning another procedure with him soon to complete my restoration...good luck with your healing & your new growth! Mike

Bushy: Wow, what a great result you've been blessed with...naturally, the rest of us are quite envious...I believe your hairline is one of the best I've seen...congrats on an outstanding transplant!! Mike

Hey Sydney Guy: Toppik & other similiar products are not little hairs that get attached...I would describe it more like a fluffy powder that adheres to any existing hair in the area of application...it also makes it way to the scalp & darkens the skin to help conceal baldness/thinning...without some hair it would not have any means of attachment...it does work, but, it takes time to get used to applying it without waste...it can be used near the hairline & with practice/experience it works quite well...they offer various color shades to match your own...hope this helps!

Chitchat: Welcome to the forum--this is a great resource for someone like yourself...you'll find that most posters will steer you away from Bosley, MHR & most other "hair mills"...take the time to do some research & ask questions of the posters...the recommended docs on this site are excellent choices...after doing your research, schedule consultations with a few of the doctors who are in close proximity to the Philly area--keep in mind that many patients travel to all regions of the country to have a transplant...take your time & absorb the volumes of information that's available to you on the subject...there's a live forum chat each Tuesday evening at 10:00 pm--you'll find it very informative...take care!

Bill: Thanks for the update...your transformation has been truly amazing...I'm definitely envious of your results...everything looks extremely natural...isn't it great to only wear a hat when you "want" to although I'm sure you might want to proudly display your PHILLIES hat today!

Chris: I've been following your story for awhile--sorry that things haven't worked out like you anticipated...have you discussed your situation with Dr. Pistone?--has he offered to help resolve your situation?...you would be in great hands with Dr. Feller, for sure...you could also research Dr. Bernstein, Dr. Vogel, & Dr. True, & Dr. Beehner--all of the above are very adept at HT repair projects...good luck with your choice!

Johann: The redness you describe is normal with every HT...the duration of the redness varies from patient to patient, but, I would guess that it will be obvious for 3-4 weeks...after the grafts shed many patients liken the redness to a sunburn...rest assured it will pass...if you look around the site you'll find many pictures where you'll see patients with the red scalps...good healing!!

MarylandGuy: Sorry to hear about your dad--I know the feeling because my siblings & I care for our mother who also had a stroke...regarding your question, check Dr. Vogel's credentials--he's an excellent doctor in your area...good luck!

Wylie: There are a number of Coalition docs who perform excellent repair work--on the East Coast--Dr. Feller, Dr. Vogel, Dr. Berstein, & Dr. Beehner to name a few...I had large plugs in my hairline, which were artistically concealed, so, your mini-grafts will be much easier for one of the docs to work with...as many posters advise, don't limit your choices because of distance...after a little research, I'm sure you'll choose someone that you'll be happy with...good luck with your choice!

Bill: I would be interested in participating on occasion. During working hours in can be more difficult but, I'd be interested in sharing experiences with other members. Will this become a regular occurance each day?

Hi J: You point is well taken, as well...I definitely understand how emotional the results of a HT can be--I was butchered myself during my first HT...there's no question Dr. Beehner is ultimately responsible for his associates performance, but, I just didn't think stumper made the circumstances perfectly clear in his initial post...this is the great thing about the HT forums as it gives all of us the opportunity to share experiences & pass it on to others who are trying to educate themselves on the various pitfalls that may exist.