Frederick

I got the impression that 5000 is fine these days...my final recession zones were pretty clear, one advantage of waiting till your forties! and they'll be placed in such a way that any receding will not make them look bad - the grafts are so fine anyway, nobody would think them unnatural. Besides, there's a zillion treatments on the way - I'd take the plunge and know that your frontal lne is gonna stay the time anyway... cheers

The scar issue : it was bumpy at first, and more or less crossed the back of the head. But it was painless and now has disappeared completely - I cannot even feel it myself. My girlfriend looks for it and cannot find it! It healed beautifully and is not even an issue now. I wonder if a second operation might stress it? I have no idea.

I see alot of anxiety on these boards from guys who are wondering whether to get a transplant. I was in this situation just a year ago - and really anxious about it. Seems so difficult to make such a huge decision. I'm 42, was class V-VI Norwood, I mean bald bald...wore a hat all the time, even though my girlfiend liked me bald! Not me. So I had one megasession of about 2,600 grafts at NHI in New York with Robert Bernstein with the understanding that I would need another 2,500 a year later. Cost : $12,000. Yeah, it's a lot of dough. Results? Unbelievable. First of all, forget the commercial hype. It hurts a bit and no you don't go to work next day - I work at home so no big deal, but otherwise it would be a nuisance because I was pretty glowing red from mild inflammation along the hairline for about 2 months. But every person is different ; I have delicate skin I guess. I used make-up but without a hat it would have been a bit difficult to explain away. "Sunburn"? But other than that, it all grew in like clockwork. I have thick-but-fine curly dark hair, average density, a bit salt and pepper. I'd been wearing a hat for about 5 years before this - had the operation in May and by October there was enough hair for me to consider other alternatives. Advice : use some Toppik fibers. By mid October I discarded the hat, dabbed a bit of Toppik here and there and people would say to me "I always thought you were bald under that hat. And you have great hair!" It has been astounding. The hair is thick, curly, and looks amazingly real, which I guess it is. I will need a second session to thicken it up unless I plan to use cosmetics for the rest of my life but right now it looks like a full head of hair if I do use them. Who would have believed it? It's the best money I ever spent and has changed my life, literally. I just wanted to share this with men who are doubtful about the whole thing - yeah, it's traumatic, no question! - and hear all these doom stories. Try Bernstein, I had a fine experience with him and will be going back next year, even though I'm in no particular hurry. The money is quickly forgotten when you get your hair back, trust me - it's priceless.

I see alot of anxiety on these boards from guys who are wondering whether to get a transplant. I was in this situation just a year ago - and really anxious about it. Seems so difficult to make such a huge decision. I'm 42, was class V-VI Norwood, I mean bald bald...wore a hat all the time, even though my girlfiend liked me bald! Not me. So I had one megasession of about 2,600 grafts at NHI in New York with Robert Bernstein with the understanding that I would need another 2,500 a year later. Cost : $12,000. Yeah, it's a lot of dough. Results? Unbelievable. First of all, forget the commercial hype. It hurts a bit and no you don't go to work next day - I work at home so no big deal, but otherwise it would be a nuisance because I was pretty glowing red from mild inflammation along the hairline for about 2 months. But every person is different ; I have delicate skin I guess. I used make-up but without a hat it would have been a bit difficult to explain away. "Sunburn"? But other than that, it all grew in like clockwork. I have thick-but-fine curly dark hair, average density, a bit salt and pepper. I'd been wearing a hat for about 5 years before this - had the operation in May and by October there was enough hair for me to consider other alternatives. Advice : use some Toppik fibers. By mid October I discarded the hat, dabbed a bit of Toppik here and there and people would say to me "I always thought you were bald under that hat. And you have great hair!" It has been astounding. The hair is thick, curly, and looks amazingly real, which I guess it is. I will need a second session to thicken it up unless I plan to use cosmetics for the rest of my life but right now it looks like a full head of hair if I do use them. Who would have believed it? It's the best money I ever spent and has changed my life, literally. I just wanted to share this with men who are doubtful about the whole thing - yeah, it's traumatic, no question! - and hear all these doom stories. Try Bernstein, I had a fine experience with him and will be going back next year, even though I'm in no particular hurry. The money is quickly forgotten when you get your hair back, trust me - it's priceless.