Rocky

Thanks Joe. B Spot, I can vouch for the fact that Dr Knudsen knows Dr Shapiro and has observed his work. When I had my procedure done in '04, Dr Shapiro was not only in attendance in the surgery, he also placed some of my grafts. True story. Regardless of whether you like the work of the Drs or not, they are both top shelf humans.

A third with hair pulled back - scars in temple point etc.

Sorry about that. Try this.

Hi guys, I had some repair work done with Dr Knudsen in Jan 04. I had previous scalp reductions amd a flap done in the late 80's - early 90's - ( DR Marzola when he operated ut of Sydney). Thankfully, my results have been ok. I am 49 and my hairloss appears to have stabilised. I have never taken meds. Anyway, I was happy with the work of Dr Knudsen - as others have said, you won't get huge sessions, but you will get good quality conservative work. He gave me 800ish grafts to repair my hairline and temple points. As you can see in one of the attachments ( the close up with my hair pulled back ) I still require further work on the temple points ). I will definitely go down the FUE route next time - I am all scarred out. Anyway, I can pull off a reasonable 'do' and don't have to make any adjustments to my life other than a fair whack of product for styling purposes. Dr Knudsen's after surgery care is also excellent.

Does Dr Feller still do FUE? I was under the impression that he decided that he preferred strip. Dr Woods is certainly the most experienced. Everything else is fairly subjective.

Gee, and i thought scalp reduction was frowned upon by our experts.

Dr Shapiro is a true professional, highly skilled and a totally great guy. If you are reading Dr Shapiro, I am the guy you worked on in Dr Kudsen's office in Sydney in January 2004. You are a complete champion !!

Thanks pat for your compliments. Dr Knudsen is a nice guy who does good work. I have, as i mentioned in my original post, had previous surgery. Dr Marzola performed scalp reductions and a flap on me in the late 80's / early 90's. I was very happy with the results and very impressed with Dr Marzola as a surgeon. ( let's not forget that the much lauded Dr Wong from H & W fame trained under Dr Marzola . Fast forward to January 2004. I wanted to soften and make my hairline more natural. After consultations with all prominant Australian surgeons, I settled on Dr Knudsen of Double Bay, Sydney. We decided on about 900 grafts which were placed in approximately the first cm of my hairline and also in the side lever area. From the start, I liked Dr Knudsen's manner. He is very experienced and is very approachable. He is as good as his word. He was also involved in all aspects of the design and placement of the grafts. I am sure my surgery with Dr Knudsen was meant to be. During the initial stages of my op, I was talking about some of the major surgeons who were doing great things in the US and Canada. I don't know whether it is appropriate to mention this or not, but I mentioned the name of a particularly well known and regarded HT Dr. Dr Knudsen said something to the effect of, " He is in Sydney at the moment. Would you like to meet him?" Anyway, in a very short period of time, this very prominant DR came into Dr Knudsen's surgery and also worked on me. Amazing. This guy was a complete gentleman and a total champion. As I said, my operation on that day was meant to be. Back on track, post surgery, Dr Knudsen was always available to talk and provide follow up / supportive words. Overall, a very positive experience. I would also like to sing the praises of Dr Marzola as well. Basically, all of the hair that you see on the top of my head is transplanted and is the result of Drs Marzola and Knudsen.

Two years down the hair restoration highway and this is where I'm at. I am 45 and I have had several previous surgeries dating back to the late 80's. The work was done by Dr Knudsen in Sydney.

Why has Dr Woods / Dr Campbell fallen off the radar? Surely these two should be mentioned in any FUE list.

Don't underestimate the work of Dr Knudsen in Double Bay, Sydney.

Thanks Smoothy. I'll have to add the Zinc and B6. Paris Caine, from my experience MSM definitely speeds up growth of hair and nails. I actually take it as a preventative measure for sports injuries as much as a hair tonic.

I have read about this stuff for some time and, while browsing through my health food shop the other day, decided to buy some. A couple of questions. I don't take any meds at present, but I have read about the shedding process that happens when starting on the traditional meds or 'blockers'. Can I expect any shedding with Saw Palmetto? I read how Saw Palmetto works on the Prostate, and vaguely remember that the blockers ( Pro' Fin' etc)may work in a similar way, and were actually discovered 'accidently'. So, what can I expect with Saw Palmetto? The only other substance that I take is MSM, which I realise is a tonic rather than a saver.

I have read about this stuff for some time and, while browsing through my health food shop the other day, decided to buy some. A couple of questions. I don't take any meds at present, but I have read about the shedding process that happens when starting on the traditional meds or 'blockers'. Can I expect any shedding with Saw Palmetto? I read how Saw Palmetto works on the Prostate, and vaguely remember that the blockers ( Pro' Fin' etc)may work in a similar way, and were actually discovered 'accidently'. So, what can I expect with Saw Palmetto? The only other substance that I take is MSM, which I realise is a tonic rather than a saver.

Don't want to be a phrophet of doom, but your scar will certainly not get any thinner. I have read that scars may take up to 12 months to settle. Some people unfortunately, heal different to others. It is just the way the cards fall. Luck of the draw as much as surgeon skill. I agree with the comment about Drs being a bit more upfront about what could happen. However, like any commercial activity, advertising is about portraying the business in the best possible light. With the abundance of people on these ( and other) forums who push the barrow of a particular surgeon,it is easy to find best case scenarios. Good luck.

VanitySux, If a person feels the need to improve their hair line for whatever reason, it is reasonable to expect that they will always feel that need. As much as we kid ourselves that we have finally found the 'perfect' HT, of course we haven't. Even the best result often requires some touching up as techniques improve or further balding demands it. Hair restoration is definitely a multi station trip for most patients. From past experience, it can be very hard to be totally satisfied. HT is good, not perfect. And that is the problem.

It is 12 months since I had my transplant with Dr Knudsen in Sydney. I had fairly early growth and everyone is different, but my results now are significantly better than at 7 months. The work seems to have thickened up and blended much better over the past couple of months. So to answer your question, I would think that you will certainly see a difference over the next 3 months. Keep us posted.

Looks good, Damo. Just beware of the possible slight let down period at around the 12 month mark when you may ( or may not) be slightly disappointed at the density of your new work. It is very common for HT patients to be continually chasing the perfect result. Just a bit of wisdom there, buddy, but your work looks good and you certainly sound pleased. That's what it is all about

12 months post op' - Dr Knusen, Sydney. 1000 hairs ( approx)

There are alternatives to the 'chosen few'... From reading this forum ( and others), it would be understandable if new readers thought that there were only about 5 HT surgeons in the world who were capable of getting good results. The constant bickering about who can do what, when and how gets a little bit pathetic sometimes and smacks of snobbery. The vested interest of some of our so-called advisors is a little too transparent to be taken seriously. Basically there are inconsistencies from all surgeons and, significantly, all heads. The recent chat about a disgruntled H & W patient must have had the inner sanctum ducking and diving for cover. I must say that any company who pays a 'rep' to surf these pages is entering into the much maligned Bosley marketing territory. Anyway, I intend to fly the flag for some of our other talented Doc's. Dr Knudsen, who did my work, is top notch, yet he is rarely mentioned. Dr Matineck is another Australian Dr who is excellent. Open ye olde eyes, boys, and realise that there are talented people in the world who come from places other than the USA. Oh, and unlike some, I'm not paid to say this.

There are alternatives to the 'chosen few'... From reading this forum ( and others), it would be understandable if new readers thought that there were only about 5 HT surgeons in the world who were capable of getting good results. The constant bickering about who can do what, when and how gets a little bit pathetic sometimes and smacks of snobbery. The vested interest of some of our so-called advisors is a little too transparent to be taken seriously. Basically there are inconsistencies from all surgeons and, significantly, all heads. The recent chat about a disgruntled H & W patient must have had the inner sanctum ducking and diving for cover. I must say that any company who pays a 'rep' to surf these pages is entering into the much maligned Bosley marketing territory. Anyway, I intend to fly the flag for some of our other talented Doc's. Dr Knudsen, who did my work, is top notch, yet he is rarely mentioned. Dr Matineck is another Australian Dr who is excellent. Open ye olde eyes, boys, and realise that there are talented people in the world who come from places other than the USA. Oh, and unlike some, I'm not paid to say this.

I would also class myself as a 'veteran'. I am 43, started losing my hair in my mid 20's and had my first round of surgery in 1988. All of my original work is still going strong and doing as it is told. I believe 'vets' such as myself, and the other names mentioned, are all probably trying to repair or fine tune the work that was done in times when the techniques weren't up to scratch. The other consideration is the unpredictable nature of the balding process; there is always the possibility of playing catch up. To be totally honest, I don't think anyone is ever completely satisfied with their results over time. The excitement and expectation that a patient feels in the months following surgery is often gradually replaced by slight disappointment that the density is not quite what was expected etc. For most, however, this is usually balanced with a feeling of " I am still much better off!" I believe that the euphoria or satisfaction with HT results tends to be temporary. Then the niggling thoughts about ways to improve it begin. As a 16 year patient, my hair is still growing but I am always looking at ways of improving the result. To answer your question, HT's are for real. Just keep in mind the reason that you seek hair replacement. Then realise it is possible that you will be a patient for life. I am sure that with talk of hair multiplication and / or cloning, most former HT patients will be keeping an eye on its progress in order to get a 'touch up' etc. The chasing of the most recent technology in order to get the 'perfect; result keeps most of us on the treadmill. It is the naive quest for the ultimate result that causes problems for patients.

I am 43 and have had numerous surgeries, using a variety of techniques over a 15 year period. I am happy with where I am at at the moment, but i am considering taking Propecia/minoxidil etc as a safety net. At the moment, i take MSM, mainly for soccer injuries rather than any hair benefit. My question is about shedding. At worst, what degree of sheeding could I expect when taking medication? When does it kick in ( the shedding) and how long does it last? What is the best combination? Any info would be greatly appreciated. As a reference point, here are some of my pics. My most recent surgery was with Dr Knudsen from Sydney.

I am 43 and have had numerous surgeries, using a variety of techniques over a 15 year period. I am happy with where I am at at the moment, but i am considering taking Propecia/minoxidil etc as a safety net. At the moment, i take MSM, mainly for soccer injuries rather than any hair benefit. My question is about shedding. At worst, what degree of sheeding could I expect when taking medication? When does it kick in ( the shedding) and how long does it last? What is the best combination? Any info would be greatly appreciated. As a reference point, here are some of my pics. My most recent surgery was with Dr Knudsen from Sydney.

Well, I'm really quite sure what he was, but I was waiting for him to open his coat up and show me a selection of wrist watches. I think it was the comb over that really started the alarm bells ringing. Anyway, I was very happy with Dr Knudsen.