Joecifus

Emerald- You need to do a LOT more homework! Read this forum long enough, and you'll find that the majority of guys who went to someone local or one of the hair mills are 100X more likely to be dissapointed or worse. I tried to develop a checklist for newbies that would help lead them to the right doctor for them. See my link below. Most importantly - Travel Distance should be the absolute last thing you consider when choosing your doc. My Pix and Hair Mentor page with advice on Choosing a Doc, anti-swelling and healing advice

Thanks, I was dyin' over here. Needa beer bad. Dr. Epstein was one of a very few who made it to my final list of HT docs I would even consider. You may see my updated doctor checklist on my link below. Each of the factors on the list are crucial in choosing a good doc, and when you use it, you can't go wrong. Besides the list, I also chose him cause he specialized in dark haired individuals (he worked with a lot of Latinos in Miami), and his practice background and current side practice is in facial plastic surgery. Click for - My Pix, and Mentor page with advice on Choosing a Doc, anti-swelling, and healing. http://www.hairtransplantnetwork.com/mentor/mentor_profile.asp?Mentor=Joecifus

Hairseeker- Thanks. But that's pretty much the point. If you follow each of the crucial checklist items, it narrows it down to only a handfull of great doctors. You simply can't go wrong with any of those who meet all criterion. Moreso, which would you choose for yourself; A fully authorized MD medical doctor who has earned hospital privliges, has tons of photos, etc., or would you choose a DO? Especially since each has about the same cost. Click for - My Pix, and Mentor page with advice on Choosing a Doc, anti-swelling, and healing. http://www.hairtransplantnetwork.com/mentor/mentor_profile.asp?Mentor=Joecifus

Just updated my mentor page to reflect the things that worked for me. Hope it helps. Please feel free to send revision suggestions. ----- To find a doctor who is imminently qualified your doctor MUST: - Be an MD medical doctor. (Virtually anyone can 'perform' HTs.) - Have current hospital privileges. (Even if the procedure is done in an office, hospital privileged docs are scrutinized.) - Be peer reviewed. (Other doctors formally review each other to maintain qualification.) - Have MANY strong before and after photos and testimonials, and allow you to speak with or meet past patients. - Perform the majority of the procedure. The doctor should be the ONLY person to cut and suture the donor site, place the recipient cuts, place the front FUs, and be in the office for the entire procedure. - Be a member of IAHRS- http://iahrs.com/ - NOT, repeat, NOT be associated with a 'hair mill' chain. - NOT have a reliably bad review on this site without more consideration.(Use search tool). These qualifications narrow the field to only 4-6 doctors I would have considered. I thought this would make it more expensive, but worth it. But, it actually lowered the expected cost, and way less than what the hair mills charge. After using the checklist above, devouring this great site, and reading about and talking to doctors, I chose the best doctor for me - Jeffrey Epstein out of Miami, FL. This turned out to be an excellent decision. Dr. Epstein was not only super-qualified, but he and his staff were very cool too. They were kind and accommodating during the surgery, and I felt like I was taken care of professionally on every level. My Story - I am 42, was slick bald on top and crown (NW6), and wore a hairpiece for 8 years. I had 2,200 FU's done on 2/3/03, and another 2,170 done on 8/8/03. The surgeries were honestly easier than a dentist visit. Epstein gave me a valium and an Ambien, and used a special 'wand' to deliver Novocain. I only felt 3-4 light needle sticks and relaxed or slept through the rest of it. Recovery was easier than I expected too. Considerations for things to help with swelling, healing, and appearance*: - Grow your hair pre-op to avoid hat-head after. - Vitamin C up to and through the surgery. - Bromalin pineapple extract from GNC 3-4 days before. - Headband around the forehead for 4 days after. - Graftcyte(sp?) spray every awake HOUR for 4-5 days. - Prednezone(sp?) for 3 days after. - Rogaine on days 10 - 60+. - Toppik powder and Dermamatch on days 10-30 for concealing. *These are things I have gathered. Some have consequences. Get your Dr.'s advice before using any. Post-op, I didn't have so much as puffy eyes, and my new hair grew in quickly. It was a looong 3-4 month wait before most of the hair fell out, then started to regrow. But, while initially worried about the donor scar, I could barely find it 5 months later. That's another benefit of me choosing Dr. Epstein. His background was facial plastic surgery and those skills translated well for hairline design, FU placement and a minimal donor scar. At 5 months, things looked so good - I threw out my @!*%^!*^ hairpiece. For more fullness, I decided on a second HT. Now, from the looks of it, I'm going have a 'normal' head of hair for the first time in 20 years - UN-Friggin-believable. How can you beat that!!!

Just updated my mentor page to reflect the things that worked for me. Hope it helps. Please feel free to send revision suggestions. ----- To find a doctor who is imminently qualified your doctor MUST: - Be an MD medical doctor. (Virtually anyone can 'perform' HTs.) - Have current hospital privileges. (Even if the procedure is done in an office, hospital privileged docs are scrutinized.) - Be peer reviewed. (Other doctors formally review each other to maintain qualification.) - Have MANY strong before and after photos and testimonials, and allow you to speak with or meet past patients. - Perform the majority of the procedure. The doctor should be the ONLY person to cut and suture the donor site, place the recipient cuts, place the front FUs, and be in the office for the entire procedure. - Be a member of IAHRS- http://iahrs.com/ - NOT, repeat, NOT be associated with a 'hair mill' chain. - NOT have a reliably bad review on this site without more consideration.(Use search tool). These qualifications narrow the field to only 4-6 doctors I would have considered. I thought this would make it more expensive, but worth it. But, it actually lowered the expected cost, and way less than what the hair mills charge. After using the checklist above, devouring this great site, and reading about and talking to doctors, I chose the best doctor for me - Jeffrey Epstein out of Miami, FL. This turned out to be an excellent decision. Dr. Epstein was not only super-qualified, but he and his staff were very cool too. They were kind and accommodating during the surgery, and I felt like I was taken care of professionally on every level. My Story - I am 42, was slick bald on top and crown (NW6), and wore a hairpiece for 8 years. I had 2,200 FU's done on 2/3/03, and another 2,170 done on 8/8/03. The surgeries were honestly easier than a dentist visit. Epstein gave me a valium and an Ambien, and used a special 'wand' to deliver Novocain. I only felt 3-4 light needle sticks and relaxed or slept through the rest of it. Recovery was easier than I expected too. Considerations for things to help with swelling, healing, and appearance*: - Grow your hair pre-op to avoid hat-head after. - Vitamin C up to and through the surgery. - Bromalin pineapple extract from GNC 3-4 days before. - Headband around the forehead for 4 days after. - Graftcyte(sp?) spray every awake HOUR for 4-5 days. - Prednezone(sp?) for 3 days after. - Rogaine on days 10 - 60+. - Toppik powder and Dermamatch on days 10-30 for concealing. *These are things I have gathered. Some have consequences. Get your Dr.'s advice before using any. Post-op, I didn't have so much as puffy eyes, and my new hair grew in quickly. It was a looong 3-4 month wait before most of the hair fell out, then started to regrow. But, while initially worried about the donor scar, I could barely find it 5 months later. That's another benefit of me choosing Dr. Epstein. His background was facial plastic surgery and those skills translated well for hairline design, FU placement and a minimal donor scar. At 5 months, things looked so good - I threw out my @!*%^!*^ hairpiece. For more fullness, I decided on a second HT. Now, from the looks of it, I'm going have a 'normal' head of hair for the first time in 20 years - UN-Friggin-believable. How can you beat that!!!

Solid- Hey waddabout me? I'm thirsty as heck. Anyhow, be sure to open up your choices to other docs as well for your follow up. In my mentor page (link below) there is a list of criterion that your doc should match. DO NOT make travel distance an issue at all, and be sure to include the docs from the IAHRS association. Click for - My Pix, and Mentor page with advice on Choosing a Doc, anti-swelling, and healing. http://www.hairtransplantnetwork.com/mentor/mentor_profile.asp?Mentor=Joecifus

Mont- I know you want it clear by Monday. It might happen, might not. I'm about 5 weeks out of my 2nd HT. My donor scar was very pink and wide (I should say the area around the scar - cause the scar itself is nearly nil). Anyhow, it was quite pink and visible cause I didn't let my hair grow long enough the second time. But, almost overnight about week 3 1/2, the pink faded about 80%. I don't know why, but it did. And if it's like last time, I won't even be able to find the scar after about 4 months. The point being - you're looking for Monday. That's not a healing thing in my opinion, but a 'suck it up' one. Go "Cosmetic on your ass" for now. We all did the HT for cosmetic reasons. Don't be afraid to get the concealers we talked about - they'll work great. Plus, if your Dermamatch doesn't arrive in time, don't be afraid to drop by the drug store and pick up some women's cosmetic powder that matches your scalp color. Experiment with it until you're cool on it covering the red stuff for the week or two you might need it. (I didn't do this myself, since I just tossed out my hairpiece -- I figured if anyone didn't notice my elvis wig gone, they wouldn't give a crap about a little pink in my scalp). Click for - My Pix, and Mentor page with advice on Choosing a Doc, anti-swelling, and healing. http://www.hairtransplantnetwork.com/mentor/mentor_profile.asp?Mentor=Joecifus

Hairseeker- I agree that I was on the fence as being a bit too early. But, for personal timing issues, I pretty much had to do it then (doc Epstein out of Miami wouldn't do it until the 6 months minimum). Plus, two other things were in my favor - I was slick-bald and didn't risk harming native hairs. And, he authored a med journal article I read having to do with sporadic, yet consistent placement of the first transplants, with a map in mind of where to place the following FUs. That way even if a hair hasn't popped, or is already dormant it won't get transected even though it's not visible. Click for - My Pix, and Mentor page with advice on Choosing a Doc, anti-swelling, and healing. http://www.hairtransplantnetwork.com/mentor/mentor_profile.asp?Mentor=Joecifus

Wow Jim! Super update. I'm very pleased for you and how it turned out. It's exciting to hear that it keeps getting better too. I'm just 4 weeks off of my second HT, which was done at only 6 months after the first for a total of 4,400. Click for - My Pix, and Mentor page with advice on Choosing a Doc, anti-swelling, and healing. http://www.hairtransplantnetwork.com/mentor/mentor_profile.asp?Mentor=Joecifus

I just posted this (first post there ever). I imagine it's just a site acting as a marketing vehicle for FUE by the way it describes itself. But, we'll know for sure if this post from Joecifus disappears: "Holy Cow!!!! I had read extensively about HT, and had written off FUE due to its newness and the fact that a lot of docs have a problem with it - mainly that it MAY cause damage to the donor area and transection upon donation. But $57,000 for the 4,400 units I had done in 2 sessions for $13,000 by one of the best guys in the business? Wow! I understand that I have a linear scar (nearly indetectible 4 months after my first surgery - after spending 5+ minutes in the mirror lifting my hair, I frequently had trouble even finding it). If this post is gone later, I imagine this is a site only interested in advertising docs who do FUE's. If it's still here, I may consider FUE's for touch up work later." Click for - My Pix, and Mentor page with advice on Choosing a Doc, anti-swelling, and healing. http://www.hairtransplantnetwork.com/mentor/mentor_profile.asp?Mentor=Joecifus

I just posted this (first post there ever). I imagine it's just a site acting as a marketing vehicle for FUE by the way it describes itself. But, we'll know for sure if this post from Joecifus disappears: "Holy Cow!!!! I had read extensively about HT, and had written off FUE due to its newness and the fact that a lot of docs have a problem with it - mainly that it MAY cause damage to the donor area and transection upon donation. But $57,000 for the 4,400 units I had done in 2 sessions for $13,000 by one of the best guys in the business? Wow! I understand that I have a linear scar (nearly indetectible 4 months after my first surgery - after spending 5+ minutes in the mirror lifting my hair, I frequently had trouble even finding it). If this post is gone later, I imagine this is a site only interested in advertising docs who do FUE's. If it's still here, I may consider FUE's for touch up work later." Click for - My Pix, and Mentor page with advice on Choosing a Doc, anti-swelling, and healing. http://www.hairtransplantnetwork.com/mentor/mentor_profile.asp?Mentor=Joecifus

Please see my link below for healing recommendations. I used oral anti-biotics, Vitamin C, Neosporin, vitamin E or Aloe gel at times, and a gym headband to prevent swelling. I'm 4 weeks out of my second HT and have nothing but a super-tiny sensitivity in the donor area (say, if my kid whacks me). Click for - My Pix, and Mentor page with advice on Choosing a Doc, anti-swelling, and healing. http://www.hairtransplantnetwork.com/mentor/mentor_profile.asp?Mentor=Joecifus

I agree - talk to a doc. But, it seems crazy to me to have another scar line. I've seen photos of guys not happy with it, and it doesn't make sense for the most part. The only reason would be if you didn't mind the second scar and were super-super tight on elasticity, and couldn't afford the 1mm loss from the old scar line. Click for - My Pix, and Mentor page with advice on Choosing a Doc, anti-swelling, and healing. http://www.hairtransplantnetwork.com/mentor/mentor_profile.asp?Mentor=Joecifus

If you're in the public eye - take a lead from Ron Ensona(sp?) from MSN $ report. I watched him and his gang for years. Then, one day - out of the blue - he showed up without a piece. The guys ribbed him for a few days, then everyone forgot about it. It was about the same with me - I was completely bald underneath and had more hair than Elvis at 16 on top (or so it felt with a new wig). Anyhow, I tossed mine after my new HT started to grow. There was a noticable differemce. But, after seeing each person (I told some I shaved it all off, closer people I told it was a HT), they completely forgot about it after the 2nd or 3rd time they've seen me. Just jump in. If you are newly transplanted, you may want to wait. All of the new hair will fall out and start to grow in 2-3 months. Click for - My Pix, and Mentor page with advice on Choosing a Doc, anti-swelling, and healing. http://www.hairtransplantnetwork.com/mentor/mentor_profile.asp?Mentor=Joecifus

I, too, had a hairpiece -- burned the pecker a few months ago! If you use adhesives, I would highly suggest waiting more than 2 weeks for any adhesive near recipient sites. I think 3+ weeks is more like it. Instead of full adhesive, like I used to do, I sewed in hair clips to the back and sides, and put a very narrow slit of glue on the front edge, and that did not touch where the FUs were inserted. The whole thing about timing for the transition was the worst part of the process for me. Even tho my new hair had just started to grow in, I said 'frig it' and figured this was a new beginning and tossed out the hairpiece for good. I can promise you that it's one of the best feelings in the world to get rid of that thing. BUT- you do not want to be in the same boat as so many others on this site by going to the wrong doc, and end up with a bad job. Please see my link below for pointers on how to get the right guy to do it -- there are truly only a handful that you should go to. Click for - My Pix, and Mentor page with advice on Choosing a Doc, anti-swelling, and healing. http://www.hairtransplantnetwork.com/mentor/mentor_profile.asp?Mentor=Joecifus

Anyone who has read this forum for any length of time, and is still considering a hair mill is absolutely insane. Click for - My Pix, and Mentor page with advice on Choosing a Doc, anti-swelling, and healing. http://www.hairtransplantnetwork.com/mentor/mentor_profile.asp?Mentor=Joecifus

A couple things: I wore a hat like this- http://www.hats.com/cgi-bin/Hats.storefront/3f4f8e41005cda34ead0c0a80a6506d9/Product/View/208897WHT?dept=22&deptName=men's+casual+hats It worked great cause it had an adjustable band which kept it on tight, but DID NOT touch the grafts. 2- My doc had me do several things to eliminate swelling. Please see my link below for those pointers. 3- - ho long before the swelling starts? I HAD NO SWELLING AT ALL THE FIRST TIME. I BELIEVE DUE TO MEDICINE I TOOK FOR IT, AND BECAUSE I WAS TOLD TO WEAR A 'SWEAT-BAND' HEADBAND FOR 4 DAYS. 4- And gow long will it be like this? I HAD A SMALL AMOUNT OF SWELLING IN FRONT OF ONE EAR THE SECOND TIME - (I WORE NO BAND THIS TIME). IT STARTED ON DAY 2 AND WAS DONE ON DAY 5. MY DOC (EPSTEIN-MIAMI) GAVE ME A DIUERTIC TO TAKE JUST IN CASE THERE WAS SWELLING. I TOOK IT ON DAY 4 AND IT WENT AWAY QUICKLY. ( as i dont want to check in my appartment looking like Frankenstein ) - Is there a cure for the swelling not to occur, or to minimalize this? SEE MY NOTES ON THE LINK BELOW - Can i drive a car after the HT? YES - AFTER ANY SEDATION WEARS OFF. - Will i be able to get the staples removed in his other clinique in Madrid? - MY DOC DID A SINGLE, NON-DISOLVABLE RUNNING STITCH. MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO CLIP IT (PER HIS INSTRUCTIONS) AND REMOVE IT ON DAY 10 - IT TOOK ABOUT 1/2 HOUR. IF YOUR DOC IS NOT POSSIBLE, I'D ASK ANY LOCAL DOC TO TAKE OUT THE STAPLES - IT'S VERY EASY WITH THE RIGHT TOOL. (USE ANTI-BIOTICS WHEN THIS IS DONE) BE SURE YOU ARE USING THE RIGHT DOCTOR. I DON'T KNOW WHO YOU PLAN ON, BUT I'D HATE TO SEE YOU TYPE A NOTE IN THIS COLUMN A MONTH AFTER THE OP, LIKE SO MANY OTHERS DO, AND BE UPSET THAT YOU DIDN'T PUT ENOUGH RESEARCH INTO IT. Click for - My Pix, and Mentor page with advice on Choosing a Doc, anti-swelling, and healing. http://www.hairtransplantnetwork.com/mentor/mentor_profile.asp?Mentor=Joecifus

Kevin- From everything I've researched - DO NOT go to the hair mills. There are only a handful of docs who can do a good job. Please see my link below for pointers on how to choose the right guy. If you want, do a search on this site for Bosley or MHR, etc. and you'll find 95% negative comments. Click for - My Pix, and Mentor page with advice on Choosing a Doc, anti-swelling, and healing. http://www.hairtransplantnetwork.com/mentor/mentor_profile.asp?Mentor=Joecifus

Since you're in FL, I did mine with Dr. Epstein in Miami, and am thrilled with the results so far (3 weeks from second surgery). 15 days was way more than enough time for strenuous work for me. But, I had FUs, and so should everyone! If you need another procedure, be sure to check into other docs. Follow my checklist in the profile below, and you can't go wrong with the 6-10 docs who qualify. Click for - My Pix, and Mentor page with advice on Choosing a Doc, anti-swelling, and healing. http://www.hairtransplantnetwork.com/mentor/mentor_profile.asp?Mentor=Joecifus

It should be a piece of cake to get good referrals from a good doc. I don't know anything about the doc you are talking about, but I'd take it as a warning sign. There are a few terrific surgeons out there, they don't cost any more, sometimes less. So I see no reason to go to anyone who is not 100% proven, like the few we all read about in this forum. Do more homework. If the doc meets the following to a top degree, then you have your man: MD medical doctors, peer reviewed (meaning other doctors keep an eye on each other), hospital privileges, many strong before and after photos, and were part of the IAHRS (International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons), or other respectable association. Click for - My Pix, and Mentor page with advice on Choosing a Doc, anti-swelling, and healing. http://www.hairtransplantnetwork.com/mentor/mentor_profile.asp?Mentor=Joecifus

Go to the right guy and you should get 95%+. Be sure to do your homework. Click for - My Pix, and Mentor page with advice on Choosing a Doc, anti-swelling, and healing. http://www.hairtransplantnetwork.com/mentor/mentor_profile.asp?Mentor=Joecifus

Dorian- Do your homework diligently. There are only 6-10 truly awesome doctors out there. And, they can cost the same or less than the others. If you see even one bad post on any doc, consider it to be 100 people who have not made the effort to post it. Don't take it as gospel, but put a lot more effort into it if you hear something. For my recommendations, please see my Mentor page with my signature link. Click for - My Pix, and Mentor page with advice on Choosing a Doc, anti-swelling, and healing. http://www.hairtransplantnetwork.com/mentor/mentor_profile.asp?Mentor=Joecifus

In my second procedure, I lost almost all (thousands) of the new hairs, but only about 10 or so existing due to shock loss. I'm pretty sure of this # cause I rubbed my scalp every day for weeks over the sink in order to get a good feeling of this number. So, I wouldn't freak out over it. It's up to you about who notices. After reading this forum for a long time - I've concluded that the only people who care - At all- are the hair recipients, not anyone else they meet at any time. So, it's up to you.

I just got done with my 2nd transplant. I did a tremendous amount of research and couldn't be happier with the results. Go to the mentor section and look up Dr. Epstein in Miami - My whole bio is in there. I would highly recommend him.

Paul- Thanks. I'm sure some or many docs have individual preferences regarding vitamins, etc. But, if pre-ops are armed with the suggestions of others in this forum, they can at least discuss any individual item with their doctor, and come to their own conclusions. thx j