PCC

Sadwife, I read your post with great empathy. My history mirrors that of your husband as I also began losing hair in my teens except in my case I started out with transplants. Although I'm probably one of the lucky ones as far as the older techniques, I have very mixed feelings about my outcome. Now at the age of 44 and facing additional work to improve and refine that from my earlier proceedures. However as the early balding had an enormous negative impact on what otherwise were some of my best years, I would have been miserable throughout my 20's had I not addressed it. So I can truly relate to your husband's feelings and experience. Your comments about having multiple proceedures yet still being balding but now with scars, and wishing you could just shave your head but you can't strike a chord with me more that you can imagine. I know you understand that hair transplanation does absolutely nothing to prevent or stop continued hairloss. Your love and support of your husband is heartfelt and appreciated. I am also blessed to have someone who loves me unconditionally but can't understand why this bothers me so much. I absolutely agree that "what's inside is what is really important". With that said,it can also be much more fashionable and socially accepted to be bald today than it was years ago and some men look absolutely fabulous with a shaved head (Have you been watching "Dancing with the Stars" lately?) But not all of us can pull that off and the sad reality is that there are those in the world who won't give the "inside" a chance if they don't like what they see on the "outside". Your husband and I fortunately don't have to play the dating game anymore. But I find myself careerwise at a stage when I'm competing against people several years younger, more tech savy, etc. and I fear the hair issue is a limiting factor for me professionally. Yes, we should accept ourselves "as we are" but sometimes it is hard for us to internalize that. Phil

I believe Dr. Friedman was previously with MHR at one of their locations out west. More recently I thought he was affiliated with Hair Club but he perhaps he has his own practice now. Otherwise I haven't heard anything about him either positive or negative. Phil

NoBuzz, Great to hear from you again! I'll shoot you a PM. You are absolutely correct about Ed Harris in Apollo 13 as one of the NASA controllers. I remember the buzz cut which was appropriate for the era depicted in the movie. It did look really good but you are right that it makes a difference having a personal stylist on set and the average person does not have those resources. There was a more recent movie that he was in (I can't remember which) in which he played an FBI or CIA agent and he had the completely shaved head. That looked cool on him also and definately added to his "tough guy" persona. I guess what I was trying to say is that while the systems he has worn in various roles have looked good on him, he seems like the kind of person who is comfortable enough to "be himself" in real life which is refreshing. Mr. Jobi, You are correct that some men "wear" and accept their balding better than others. I agree that many factors come to play in this including age, height/physique, skin tone, etc. I have never been one of these people mostly because of the very early age I started balding during a time when it was not as mainstream and socially accepted as it is today. I think many men look fabulous with a completely shaved head and I have a father in law I would love to see do this. Unfortunately for me because of my previous surgeries that will never be an option. Phil

This past weekend my wife and I rented the recent movie "Gone Baby Gone". In it the highly regarded actor Ed Harris played a cop. He was wearing a hair system in the role which when coupled with a goutee actually looked good on him. I can't recall ever seeing him "with hair" in any of his many roles over the years or in his personal life. He seems to specialize in macho/tough guy characters. Although the piece did give him a different look, he seems comfortable with his balding and wears it well. That is admirable. I wish I could say the same for me. Phil

Yes, I also had heard that Dennis has "had some work done". For me it's always been hard to believe because he always has had a thick full head of hair even back to the Saturday Night Live years and when he had his own talk show. He wore a mullet style back then but that was appropriate for that era. I can't ever recall him having any degree of balding and if so it must not have been very significant. That classic segment on SNL when Dana Carvey did his dead on impression of him while they were side by side was and still is absolutely hillarious! Phil

I am an EMT and epinephrine and lidocaine are front line cardiac drugs in emergency settings. Repeated doses of epinephrine are administered in cardiac arrests in an attempt to stimulate the heart. Lidocaine is used to stabilize a variety of irregular heart rhythms(arrythmias). In addition to being administered through an IV, these drugs can also be squirted down an endotracheal tube for direct access to the lungs and then into the body's circulation. Epinephrine is also used to treat severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) and acts as a vasoconstrictor. It is the ingredient in those "epi pens" that people suspectible to such conditions carry. Phil

Larry, I just sent you a private message. Phil

Dr. Ziering was also on the Today show a couple years ago, interviewed by Matt Lauer, during a series on hairloss and solutions. Phil

Yes, Ted Danson wore a crown only hair system during the "Cheers" era. This was revealed on the series finale. His hair has gone completely white as he has gotten older. On that current show he's in, the legal one with Glenn Close, it looks very full. So it would look like he's still wearing one or "had some work done". Phil

Dr. Simmons is with MHR. He is in the Minneapolis area office now but according to their roster he seems to have worked out of a couple of their other locations around the country as well. I can't recall him specifically being brought up here before,either positively or negatively. The organization however has a very marginal reputation. Phil

Mark, Yes, please post some pictures. I live 45 minutes away from the MHR Orlando office and would be very interested in an objective assessment of Dr. Barusco's work. He has never been mentioned here before either postively or negatively and I agree that it is as critical to evaluate the individual surgeon as it is the organization as a whole. Phil

Bowlforthedog, I know he is recommended in this community but I don't think he's a member of the coalition. I'm pretty sure he has a profile here and maybe some reviews from patients. I don't know anything about him personally but Pat must have confidence in him for him to be recommended. You will have to share your impressions with us after your consult. Phil

Nervous Nelly, I concur that your assessment is right on target. The last time I remember seeing him outside of his movies was one of the awards shows. Gwineth Paltrow paid tribute to him subsequent to the movie they were in together where he played a mathematician or scientist. His hair was very white, close cropped, and yes he did have the bald spot in the crown. Like all of us, his appearance has changed with age. He's been around for decades and it's been at least 15 years since the original "Silence of the Lambs". He must be in his 70's now. Phil

I never thought about that one before. He does seem to have a lot of different looks in his many roles over the years, although he seems to specialize in playing sinister characters. I guess I always attributed it to the makeup and possibly hairsystems worn for different roles. As a matter of fact I just saw him in a preview tonight for an upcoming movie and he was unrecognizable except for his distinctive voice. So it's hard to tell what is really him and what is done for the part. Phil

Now guys if we show up at a house looking to meet Bill and Chris Hansen from "Dateline NBC" steps out from behind a corner we'll know we're in trouble! He'll confront us about those disturbing pictures we e-mailed of our balding heads. Then when the cops are tackling us on the front lawn, we'll protest that we weren't coming to talk to Bill about hair restoration, we we're "just going to hang out with him" Phil

With Donald that's just part of the image that he and the media have so thourougly cultivated. He's a master at self promotion. Why do you think all his projects he constantly boasts as being "the biggest and best, etc". As far as his hair, although we don't agree with his methods, maybe that's just the way he is most comfortable with it. Perhaps inwardly he is self conscious about it after all. In that regard he isn't that different from many of us who suffer over our hairloss but try to present a different face to the world. Phil

I must be one of the few people who has never heard of Stan Lee before but then again I don't watch the sci-fi channel. Looking at his pictures though I see what you mean about his hair. In Donald's case before I started following him regulary with "The Apprentice" I always assumed his hair was a system. It goes down so unnaturally low on his forehead for a man his age. However when he is presiding over the boardroom scenes under a ceiling light you can see how thin he is on top. The funny thing though is in the outdoor scenes when he is briefing the candidates his hair barely moves, even when he is at his private helicopter or jet. He must really have it plastered down with spray. So I think Donald probably has had some work done. I read somewhere that it was one of those barbaric "flap" proceedures which certainly would explain his styling technique. But you would think someone with his resources would get it improved. Oh well I really like his current wife and daughter! Phil

Big Guy, The immediate recovery period (first few weeks) following a HT proceedure is grueling physically and emotionally. Having been through it as many times as I have I have been where you are now and don't envy you, although I may be facing one more round in my future. Trust me though that it will get a little easier each day and before long you'll start seeing the first signs of growth. It's much too early to speculate on final outcomes at this point regardless of who did the work. Care to tell us which Bosley office and Dr. you went to? Phil

Glock, Wow what a tremendous difference! Congratulations on a truly superb outcome. I can only wish for such a result for myself. Now I bet you're very glad you decided to ditch the hair system and go through with it. Also the weight loss is definately beneficial as it further contributes to making you look younger. Phil

Robert and Giants, Guys I was where you are now around 25 years ago. I know all too well how devastating it is. What I used to get a lot was the "Do you know you're going bald?" question. I almost have to laugh about it all these years later. It was like they were doing me a big favor by "letting me know" and I should be grateful to them for it! As you can imagine this was instead met with a very sarcastic response from me. Although it is impossible at this point to definatively answer the age old question of "Am I going bald" I think if you stick around here for awhile you will get some great advice, education, and support. We care about you and you are among friends. Phil

SETT, If you decide to have another proceedure with Feller or visit the Long Island/NYC region again, try flying into MacArthur Regional Airport in Islip, Long Island. We have relatives there and have used it several times. Much smaller aiport and easier to get into and out of. Also very easy access to where Feller's office is via the "LIE" expressway. Southwest has tons of flights into and out of there but I don't know about any of the international carriers. Phil

Aileen, Sounds like you are very passionate and take great ownership in all you do. I also find myself in my job making/receiving calls and responding to e-mails at all hours and working through vacations and weekends. Like you, I don't really have to do this but I strive to provide a quality service and am a person of my word. I think you are a tremendous asset in your role and a credit to the profession. Phil

Terrific! Maybe "the Hulkster" can become their next celebrity client! I'm sure MHR would thrive on the publicity. They have other ex/retired wrestlers. Which office and Dr was it? I know he is originally from FL and the show takes place at his home in either the Miami or Tampa Bay areas. Hulk has always been very balding and leaves his remaining side and back hair very long. I guess he will stick with his trademark bandanas. I do like Hulk's daughter though! Phil

I'm particularly intrigued by the visits with Vogel and Feller because for both of them I have relatives who live very nearby. Phil

Craven, Your dependence on hats/caps and dread of situations where you cannot wear one is very familiar to me. It does become a crutch or security blanket and let's face it there are some occupations and settings where it would be frowned upon if not outright unacceptable. It's funny that I am quick to spot this in other balding men but am just as quick to admit that I am guilty of it myself. Although I am very thankful for all the blessings in my life, I too feel like my hair has hindered me socially and limited my professional opportunities. I am happy for you that you are addressing your issues. I'll reiterrate what others have advised to not count on HTs as a "cure all" for your hairloss or your self esteem. The latter must come from within. Phil