trying2moveahead

"....i think he looks pretty young & fine in the photo." Forks drop and the room falls silent! trying2moveahead

Dammit! "Temples of Doom"...what a great handle!! trying2moveahead

I would not want to apply ANYTHING directly to the recipient area this soon. The hat or extra time off seems the only options to me, unless you just say "%#@* it!" and go in with nothing. If you wear a hat, make sure it is clean and does not sit on the recipient area itself....nor put extra stress on the donor region. trying2moveahead

Here is a direct quote from my post-op instructions from NHI: "...It is critical when shampooing or rinsing the transplanted area that you are gentle for the first two weeks following surgery. DO NOT RUB, PICK, OR SCRATCH, as this may dislodge grafts..." It also says this if you experience dryness from using Graftcyte: "...if the scalp becomes too dry, you should switch to Baby Shampoo on the fourth day and continue showering only using Baby Shampoo for the remainder of the week. Resume your normal shampoo after the first week..." Hope this helps... trying2moveahead

This might be a result of the scalp drying out too much around the suture line. I asked about this too and the MD office suggested I switch from Graftcyte to baby shampoo, which I did and it improved a lot. They stated they've noticed a lot of similar drying complaints with the use of Graftcyte lately. Are you using Graftcyte? It is also possibe you are actually experiencing some stretchback. I noticed a spot was stretching right away, even while the sutures were still in. trying2moveahead

I've been staring at this post for a couple of days and have really been at a loss for what to say or even think....really at a loss. With the general lack of replies, I wonder if I am not alone here. I've been gettting used to seeing all-FU work and this is clearly not (not to state one is necessarily superior to the other...necessarily). It does remind me of some earlier work I got however. I guess it's too early to form an opinion on the work shown anyway and I really don't want to cause JoeHT any undue concern....which is why I am not sure I want to even post this reply. I do wish you the best of luck and a speedy recovery, JoeHT! trying2moveahead

Hey, everyone! There's gonna' be a fight in the parking lot! (parking lot audience) BTW, I had some FU's put in a wide donor scar behind my right ear and it looks like they're starting to come in now...some of them anyway (approaching 3 months post). trying2moveahead [This message was edited by trying2moveahead on October 29, 2003 at 10:35 PM.]

Ha! Very funny! The original poster has no idea how obvious his lack of understanding of HT technology is in this poor attempt at a spoof thread. My guess is these 2 new posters are here to poke fun at the rest of us. trying2moveahead

I think you will find that people have had crown work to a small degree, but rarely have a large session of grafts put there. Most (good) docs will resist puting a large amount there because this will deplete available donor hair for when and if the top and front decide to go and the sides and back creep farther down (in which case you could be left with a rather strange "hair island" in the crown). There are several members here that have had their crowns "peppered" with a small-to-moderate amount of grafts, just to give a little more coverage back there. If you decide to persue this, I recomment you take a real conservative approach. Don't act for the "now" and shrug-off the future by going for a heavy restoration back there! Also, keep taking the Propecia. It may take a couple of years to see good regrowth and it is likely at least slowing your loss. trying2moveahead BTW, I've had extensive work in the front...no crown work (Propecia did great for me back there after a couple of years).

OK, Mahair....no more Mr Nice Guy! You've reached your limit on posts that state your life is ruined! I'm saying this as a friend who has been there too (mini and micro "plugs" in the 90's...cobblestoning, pluggy hairline, etc). The inconsolable grieving, despair and remorse you are experiencing needs to begin to switch over to coherent thinking, planning and action! (face slap, face slap, head dunk in cold water ). Regardless of the fact that you may not have gotten the best type of procedure available, or that you now feel you did not need a HT at all to begin with, here are some key points to help you begin to think more clearly and with purpose: 1) You CANNOT go back in time or wish it all away. It is done. Feel disappointed or mislead if you must, but the overwhelming and constant remorse and anguish does not serve you. 2) If the results are truly crappy, you need realize that you are not to blame. It does not automatically mean that you are now less of a person or some kind of freak because of someone else's actions, techniques or abilities. 3) You are at 4 months! It is WAAAAYYYY to early to judge results. Even the skin irragularities may still smooth out more (albeit the best techniques should not cause much to begin with). Once you have yielded you final results (after at leat 1 year, mind you), you can then make a sound determination of the quality of the work. 4) If even then the work still looks pluggy and bumpy, there are docs that specialize in "repairs" where larger plug-type grafts can even be removed, broken up and redistributed (I've had 2900+ FU's placed in front of old grafts...no plugs removed). 5) If number 4 comes true, a repair procedure may be your only sound option (I don't think you would like a piece or electrolyisis, etc.). If you are convinced that this will come true, then begin researching now and go in for some consults. This will help to move things more towards "action". 6) If the despair still does not let up for prolongued periods, then consider seeing your MD. There is a chance that something may be treatable with meds or counseling (hey! It happens to the best of us!). It is time to start trying to move ahead!! Please report back with your action plan. Your friend, trying2moveahead [This message was edited by trying2moveahead on October 19, 2003 at 07:50 PM.]

Yeah, I know what you are talking about. You get that jacked feeling right after the surgery because everything looks dense and really great. The initial redness and scabs you see, although rather unsightly to some degree, may even add to the overall density effect by adding contrast between bald scalp and hair. However, you need to also remember that the hair shafts were at their full thickness right after surgery and prior to their shedding. At 3.5 months, they may be starting to visibly grow in but their shaft thickness is likely still very thin, wispy and vellous-like. Additionally, you probably only have a certain amount growing now and more will come in later (you may still only have 1 hair growing out of a 2 hair FU, for example). Once all come in and they approach their full thickness, your opinion will likely improve. However, many still want more density even after all is fully developed and go in for additional session(s). I just had a second session myself 2.5 months ago (1700+) and am already seeing definite growth (albeit still very wispy). Good luck and hang in there! trying2moveahead

As my "handle" indicates, I've been in the same boat as you for many years and am also trying to move ahead. I have been a slave to the hat for many years and had my life SEVERELY effected by what I considered to be ver poor, pluggy, obvious work from the 90's. At one point, I even ordered and paid for a piece, but never actually picked it up. However, I'm rapidly returning to "normal" now after 2 sessions of repair work by Dr. McClellan of NHI, who uses modern all-FU techniques. I'm only 2.5 months post my second repair session, so I still have some old plugs showing through (we did not remove or re-distibute the older plugs, istead the FU's were placed in front of the old work...which was high enough to do so). These newer techniques are FAR superior to what a lot of us were mislead into getting just a short time ago. You may want to seriously consider repair work by a reputable, all-FU doctor that is experienced in repair work...esecially if you do not want to be a slave to a piece or a hat anymore. Do your homework though, you derserve to get it right this time and end up with results that you are satified with (which, as hard as it may be to beieve, is very possible these days). Keep us posted trying2moveahead

I really don't think that is possible at all. If it was remotely possible, to actually effect the forehead that much would mean ther would be an incredible amount of tension in the donor area and the likelyhood of a very wide donor scar would be very high. trying2moveahead

Man! And I already liked Vanilla Coke!! Oh, happy day!! trying2moveahead

OK, for those who have not seen the original topic by Cureus, it is at the following link... http://www.hair-restoration-info.com/groupee/forums?q=Y&a=tpc&s=5696015661&f=2566060861&m=6226080303&p=1 Frankly, UnclJim, I'm suprised you started a brand new thread on this as apposed to conveying you concerns on the original thread. That said, I did see what you saw and wondered about it some too. What I saw was a lighter area (or line) at the base of the frontal hairline hairs, just to our left of the widow's peak. It did not strike me as that significant or obvious but, admittedly, I had noticed it. I also considered it might be something that is not apparent other that on a closeup flash photo. Either way, it's probaly something that the average person would never see anyway. Overall I am very impressed with the shape and placement of the hairline. I might have opted for a few more single hair "stragglers" to soften the hairline a bit, but it looks great and Cureus seems to be quite happy with it. trying2moveahead

I had a few implanted into a scar behind my ear a month and a half ago. Time will tell in mine, but I've heard some doctors claim that FU's in scars grow poorly or not at all, while others claim they grow exceptionally well there. trying2moveahead

Things are looking pretty good so far! You've had a great deal of growth since May '03. Quick question...what are we looking at in pic # 1 there? Is that a scalp reduction incision in the middle? Your post stated "orchiectomy", but I'm pretty sure that is not the medical term for that. trying2moveahead

If your swelling is as far down as cheeks and throat right now and has left the forehead & eye area, you're probably going to be OK by 9/11 (seems like it goes away pretty quickly then). As far as the smoking thing, I know NHI should have sent you home with very specific instructions about this and other issues (was just there myself within thwe past month or so). I know there were very direct instructions regarding smoking in my packet (although I don't smoke). I believe it all has something to do with possibly impeding healing and may effect scarring somehow. trying2moveahead

I swell real bad too! This last time, when I got 1700+ FU's in August, I had a real odd swelling pattern because I mostly slept on my left side. I did this because of donor area tenderness and because I had a donor scar repair behind my right ear and did not want to lay on either. I essentially medicated up and did not move all night. The left side of my face puffed-out WAY more than the right! Hard to describe how weird this looked....yuk! trying2moveahead

Yep....agree with all the replies so far and the same happens to me and I've been on it for years (although the sheds are not as dramatic anymore). There are actually 3 ever-repeating stages of life for normal hair. They are growth, rest and fall-out. Normal hairs are all on their own schedule so shedding is staggered and usually not noticeable. I've either heard this before or actually developed my own (unscientific) theory, but I believe that starting to use Propecia may actually reset multiple hairs onto the same schedule, therefore causing them to reach the fall-out stage at the same time. This, I believe, is the reason many Propecia users experience the disconcerting heavy sheds every 3-4 months or so. I have found that, even with very nerve-wracking sheds, I have never been able to perceive any visible thinning and I've actually thickened considerably in the crown area. So, hang in there! trying2moveahead

This is a good question. In the early days of Propecia, I recall my MD expressing concern over taking Propecia while not protecting against pregnancy. I think I recall something about a possible risk of effecting the fetus' developing genetalia or something along these lines (not sure). At that time, there was even a serious warning about a pregnant female even simply touching a Propecia tablet! I think these concerns may have died down since Propecia's been out for a while though. Perhaps an MD on this forum could comment? trying2moveahead

I can't say specifically if I've ever noticed anything with the prostate, but I've noticed that the boys and general vicinity will ache from time to time (I think I've heard this is not too uncommon). Proscar (the big brother of Propecia) was/is prescribed for prostate enlargement, so prostate side effects do not seem that far fetched. trying2movehead

The first and most obvious reason would be that some more original (non-transplanted) hair has been lost. However, you stated you started as a 6 so I'm assuming you mean the transplanted area itself is appearing thinner (assuming there was no original hair left there)? If we're talking about transplanted hairs, I'm more inclined to think it's a hair moisture or texture issue instead of an actual hair loss issue. If not already doing so, try a volumizing shampoo, moisturizing conditioner and then even a leave-in conditioner and see if this helps (I like the "Aussie" volumizing shampoo and moisturizing & repairing conditioners). trying2moveahead

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>....You sound mad at him, like he's wasting your time. If you knew more about alcoholism and its effects on the "mind" and body you might have realized that his question to him sounds completely valid....Thats all.... Mad at him? Probably more upset with what has become expected college behavior of constant parties and excessive drinking, especially with each generation trying to out do the previous as far as wild & out of control behavior (I know there are students who do not behave like this). I'm worried about what it will be like when my kids go to college...wondering if I'll get back someone who is ready to enter the professional world or someone who is ready to enter rehab and the liver transplant waiting list. As far as being to hard on him...well, too bad. May help serve as a wake up call better than some vanilla response. However, harsh words from an annonymous poster on some discussion board is nothing compared to what likely lies ahead in the cold, real world if the behavior does not change. But, I'll entertain answering the original question as requested. Since everything (including oral medication) is processed through the liver, it is my best guess that alcohol consumption in heavy quantities (especially if liver damage already exists) may be detrimental to the efficacy of a medication. However, this is best answered by an MD...perhaps here on this board (who may be able to then comment on the likelyhood of completing medical school on 50-75 beers a week!). trying2moveahead