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AndrewYoung

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  1. I haven't heard anyone talk about the other side effect....lack of morning wood. I think we should be responsible enough to discuss why it does that and what are the ramifications there. Also, finesteride-ridden semen causes birth defects. That can't be good, can it? I am on the meds now but how long? I am not sure. I understand that coming off them might mean more loss and perhaps the need for an additional future HT. But I've often wondered if another 5 or 7 grand isn't worth being done with it in the future and not taking any more meds. Plus, I'd like my morning wood back!
  2. Forgive me if I said unethical. I guess I mean to say I think it is a bad business practice. The bank in AZ opened later? I worked for a not so large bank and we had a 24 hour number anyone could call to get their limit increased. Perhaps he needs to find a new card issuer. Banks will not guarantee funds but they will verify funds. Also, have you heard of remote capture? You can now deposit your checks without going to the bank. With Check 21 in place, it is pretty damn fast in clearing these days. Again, I apologize if I said it was unethical. I believe I said bad business practices are a reflection of the persons ethics. I should have said CAN be a reflection. It's just that, from my experience in the business world and banking, I see flags among business owners. Those that held to outdated policies and tried to justify it by blaming "the system" also TENDED to also be those that had some other problems in their business (or were just flat out fraudulent). I am not saying that about the Doc. I am simply saying that has been my experience. I simply wouldn't do business with someone that required a prepay for services yet to be completed and I think the good Doc could be losing some income as a result. Of course, it's her decision.
  3. Tell me, how many independent docs are out there? How many of those do suppose are quacks?How much do you suppose they combined spend in marketing? I guess the point I was trying to make is that there are bad docs but just because someone is part of MHR or Bosley, that does not a quack doc make. The statement about how much they spend in marketing is true. But are any of you running a company? I am and I can tell you that a good portion of my budget is related to marketing. Sometimes it works, other times it isn't so successful. Franchisees combine their marketing dollars to create economies of scale. That is why many successful business people align themselves with McDs, Wendy's etc. They could go out and open Joe's burgers but they wouldn't have the marketing muscle the big boys have. There are bad Wendys and good Wendys. Joe could have a better burger or he could have a worse burger. But Joe can't get his message out to the same number of people for the same dollars. All I am saying is let's focus on the good docs, the bad docs and leave the rest alone until someone can prove one way or the other. Let's focus on Joe, the franchisee of the Wendy's and not Wendy's. I do get offended because I feel I got a good doc and, yes, she is an MHR member. It just burns me a bit when people make blanket statements just because they are from one of these franchises.
  4. I went to an MHR doc (Pauls in Denver) and I am feeling pretty good about my HT. I wish this board would get off who is affiliated with what and just focus in on what docs are good and which ones people should avoid. I don't know anything about Mollura but let me ask this... How can you tell from a few photos at five months that it's all done yet? Give it some time. I do agree with B Spot, Ringo has more hair loss than I had and he only had half the grafts I received. He'll probably need another if he really wants a good final look. Still, this doesn't look bad considering where he started. Still 1,700 isn't maxing out any single session these days. I'd be curious why they couldn't get more than 1700 this time around. Shouldn't ever doc ask what are your expectations? More coverage or more density. I undertand that the doc should give some guidance. If Pauls would have told me I'd only be able to get around 1,700, I would have went for crown work and some fill in under the top. Perhaps Ringo wanted coverage.
  5. I had over just over 3,500 grafts placed in one day. I went in at 8 and came out at around 5:45. Personally, there were times during the day where I almost fell asleep. Now I am a baby when it comes to pain threshold, but I could have gone another few hours if need be. I would much prefer that than two days. I would think the risks of putting an anesthetic in two days in a row would be greater than putting a bit more in on day one to help with the pain. With an adequate staff rotating in three stations, I wouldn't think that any mega session should go two days. Personally, I can't imagine going in that second day right after the first. All I wanted to do was relax, sleep, spray, shampoo, spray and relax. Perhaps some patient is willing but it's definitely not for me, thanks. Course, there are also patients willing to go to bad doctors too so, there ya go. Just because a patient is willing to do it doesn't make it a wise practice.
  6. Where is Hairbank. Isn't this an old post resurrected? lol I would recommend the GraftCyte as well. It has Aloe and I know a number of contributors swear by it. I concur. Another thing I did, that I thought was really helpful was, rather than shower, take a bath. In fact, take one in the morning and one at night. Something about fully dunking those suckers and staying under water, gently shampooing your head and re-immersing them in the water really helped me. Plus, when is the last time you got to soak in the tub? Did the clinic give you the GraftCyte pads? Putting them on, wearing the plastic cover for 20 to 30 minutes and then spraying the solution on at the recommended intervals (I think it was 6 to 8 times a day, if I am not mistaken) keeps that head moist.
  7. Oh you'll know if you lost the graft. Trust me, I lost one. Dumnass that I was, saw a flaking scab, tried to extract it with a comb (don't ask me why) pulled the graft right out. A lot of blood. A lot! Like gushing down my face. Yelled at my wife. Obviously loud and frightened enough that she came running up the stairs. She got a cool, wet cloth, put some presure on it and it quickly stopped. Scared the hell out of me. Oh well, one down, 3,523 still in place! Some will go sooner, some later. As Jotronic said, it's normal. Just try to relax. Some won't shed at all. You might, I say might, lose a few but probably 99.9% of those shedders will probably come back. Some sooner, some later.
  8. Thanks for the crown comment SNP. I am three and a half months post now and the front and top is really growing in thick but the crown is still lagging. I was really beginning to worry! It helps knowing that. As Mrjb says, and I am trying to remember....patience! In some ways, the slow growth is a blessing. It has allowed me to hide the fact that I had HT from everyone. I am getting comments like, "you look tan" or "you look young for 40". People just can't place what it is that is different. Seeing these same people time and again, and the gradual growth/thickening really helps.
  9. I just have to comment. As a former bank officer and now a business owner, I think this policy would preclude me from even considering going there. Business practices say something about the ethics of a person. Please allow me to address a couple of points made from a professional knowledge viewpoint. #1 How do checks increase the costs? Check Systems, calling the bank to ensure adequate funds are available and clearing the check (with Check 21 procedures dramatically increasing the speed at which checks clear) all make it very easy to accept a check. #2 Credit and debit limits can temporarily be increased by the bank to allow a large item to be approved. I know, my bank has a daily limit set at $3,000. A quick call to the bank, they verified I was the cardholder and seconds later, my daily limit was temporarily increased. The card went thru fine. (I had the money and could have written a check but wanted the card miles!) #3 Just because the plastic surgeon down the street does it, doesn't mean that you should too (and I really have a hard time believing that this is truly a universal plastic surgery industry practice - damn, there goes that tummy tuck idea). Perhaps the next time you go get your car repaired, drop off your drycleaning or get your teeth cleaned you should prepay. When you ask why you should prepay, they can tell you that they require this because the plastic surgeon down the street does it. #4 - Prevents delays on the surgery date? So are you saying that even after I deposit the money, show up the day of surgery, before you cut into my head, you require me to pay? I didn't pay for my surgery until AFTER I came out of my day session. It sounds like regardless of whether you abandoned the practice of two weeks advance notice, you still want payment BEFORE you do anything. This speaks volumes about your business practice. Requiring someone to pay two weeks in advance? Come on. A deposit sure, but if you aren't going to keep it anyway if they cancel, why require it before services are rendered? Would you ever deal with a roofing company or a car dealership that says you have to pay two weeks before we roof your house or before you can pick up your car? Seriously, this policy is simply bad business. Every business has some credit losses. It's part of life. But for most businesses in America, it's normally 2% or less. If you lose more than 2% of the other 98% of honest, paying customers, you are losing business. From the comments made here, I can see more than 2% that wouldn't go for this. That should say volumes about that policy.
  10. I've been away for a bit and I know that this will inevitably lead to getting blasted (it's okay I am used to some of it by now) but hears my thoughts -and they differ with many on this board. Research all the methods, consult with a few doctors, check their methodology and go in for a consultation with a couple doctors. As everyone here points out time and again, there are a lot of very qualified, top notch independents. I am not hear to knock anyone but don't be afraid just because someone is associated with a so-called chain. There are some very good doctors there too and the power of their network (shared marketing expenses, greater visibility) is simply a way for them to make it more affordable. Call it marketing the hell out of it or whatever you want but there is some basic business advantages to an increased pool of marketing costs being shared. I went to Dr Pauls at MHR in Denver and I am very happy with where I am at 3 1/2 months after. Not there yet but getting better every day! Short answer, look at the photos of, and talk to, former patients and be real comfortable with the doctor you choose - regardless of their affiliation or independence. It's kinda like Lasik only different. You only get one set of eyes and you only get one head of hair so research fully, be completely comfortable with your choice and feel confident that you are making the correct decision for you.
  11. HB, THanks for the input. Yea, I know finesteride helps to keep it from enlarging - sorry for the confusion on that. My thought was, is there a side benefit to taking it even at a lower dose. You hear those commercials that say something like 50% of men over 50 have an enlarged prostate. I thought perhaps there was a chance that even at these lower doses, if you were someone that might have a prostate prone to increasing in size, the finesteride might help. Probably wishful thinking since it is only a quarter of what they prescribe but just a thought.
  12. Dang, I am at five weeks today and I thought, just perhaps, the worst was over - shock loss, trying to hide the newly transplanted hairs by bringing the existing hairs down instead of my old combing over, ingrown hairs, itchy skin, oily scalp. Just today one of the girls at works said my hair looked thinner....argh, it gets worse? How will I survive the summer? If I can just make it to football season!
  13. Hey Bill, Just checking back in. Work has kept me pretty busy and away from the boards. A lot of reading to catch up. I am now five weeks out and getting the itching, a few pimples, which as I've read is a good thing and some shedding/ thinning/shock that is driving me crazy. A number of people talk about taking Propecia/finesteride every other day. I've noticed a bit of decrease in libido but hanging in there, no pun intended, hoping that will come back with adjustment. I've been staying on the 1.25 mg per day finesteride but have considered backing it off to every other. What are the pluses and minuses of this? If I decide to do it, should I supplement it? Another thought I had, since finesteride is used for enlarging prostates at 5 mgs a day, is there any indication that it might help us at a smaller dose?
  14. I was scheduled to go back to work one week after (had mine done on a Thursday) but decided to take a couple extra days and then have the weekend before I went back. Glad I did as it looked much better 11 days in versus 7. Did your doc not give you shampoo and conditioner with your post op instructions? I am still using my original supply of GraftCyte - shampoo only until the sutures were out and now conditioner. Once it is finished, my doc gave me a large bottle of Resultz. Both contain a Copper Peptide. Also, you might look at getting some Toppik and apply this lightly over the area. Combing it in has seemed to thicken up my hair and conceal the obvious-to-me new hairline. I would avoid hairspray for some time unless you can find one that doesn't weigh down the hair which might augment your existing hair shed. I am about three and a half weeks out and have had some shed so be prepared. Nothing major and you will probably notice it more than anyone else but just be prepared.
  15. Perhaps within that same ten year window for stem cells to refine, they will come up with a way to avoid scars all together as well. Then we can all go in for our scar corrective surgery while we grab more density. Kinda like the guys that have to go in today for 1980's plug removal and corrective surgery today. We'll all look back twenty years from now and describe what we went thru to a bunch of, now, teenagers and 20-somethings and they'll look at us like our Docs were barbarians and that we are ancient. Heck, I already feel old just thinking about it.
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