Jump to content

HTHELP

Restricted Facilities
  • Posts

    56
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Everything posted by HTHELP

  1. Back home after two days at SMG. A BIG thank you to Nicole for doing a fantastic job! She's a great artist and person. That being said, for anyone considering the procedure my initial reaction is that it's fantastic (i know there will be some fading over the next couple of weeks, but I'm hopeful that it will be minimal). The reactions from from my wife, to parents, kids, friends and co-workers (who I sent pics to) the response has been great. Here is a quick recap of the procedure where i'll try to address the questions I had going in. On my first day i was slightly taken aback from my appearance post shave down (I brought my own clipper so Nicole could match the buzz cut to what it produced..as I researched different clippers I realized that some cut closer than others at zero guard so this is something to consider for those of you that proceed. I chose to purchase the wahl peanut based on reviews and the fact that it buzzes really close). After the initial shock i got some meds to calm me and for the pain. I was little nervous based on some feedback and other reviews on what it would feel like but I can honestly say that it wasn't that bad at all. For the most part i'd rate it at 2 or 3 at most on the pain scale out of 10. Some areas up front are more sensitive..for those areas at most i'd say it was a 4 or max 5 at times (even on the second day when it was a little tender). I know everyone is different but for anyone concerned with the pain I would tell you not to be. For the most part it kinda felt like some scratching at you if that puts it in perspective. Day one is basically a "base coat" so it's lighter then it will be. I decided to venture out and go the mall to shop and see if anyone would notice or stare at me. I was slightly red in some areas but of the most part it looked like nothing was done. While shopping and talking to employees and a bartender not once did anyone look at my head or take a double look. When I got back to the hotel I inspected the results and noticed a couple of things I wanted to address the next day with nicole on the hairline (I forgot to mention that I agreed with the Dr. Joe the day before and he drew the hairline design which looked great). Day 2 was basically the same as day 1 except more "density" was added and the small change to the hairline I wanted was addressed. Nicole didn't like a couple of the "dots" so she addressed that as well. She has the patients self interest at heart for sure. Both days were around 5 or so hours I think including a quick (tasty) lunch. When I go back for my third touch-up secession i'm going to darken it a bit to get a little fuller look, but other then that I think it looks great. Upon real close inspection if someone doesn't know about SMP i'm confident in saying that they would not think that it's not hair. I think this is a real useful tool for anyone on the fence of getting a transplant or wants to go with the buzzed/shaved down look. I'll talk to Nicole and Jenna about posting pics etc. If something wasn't addressed that anyone has questions on let me know.
  2. I've been following the forums for well over 10 years. My hair loss began when I was 16 (diffuse). As it got worse I started relying on concealers which were great at first. As my hair loss progressed its gotten harder to not only hide my bald spots but also the concealer itself. Although I've seen some amazing results from h&w, SMG, rahal,Cooley, konior and others I began to realize I didn't have the ideal hair characterstics to get the result I would want via a transplant. So sadly I came to the realization that I would need to shave / buzz down. That left me with the decision to either get a fue session done or go the temp SMP route. Because of my use of concealers to shave down without doing anything would leave a lot of explaining to do.so at the end of the day after a lot of research I've decided to go with temp SMP at SMG. (Leaving open the option to add fue but im hoping this will be a stand aloneprocedure)Although not an easy decision due to the uncertainty of how I will look I have a lot of faith in SMG and their stellar reputation. Knowing that they stand behind this as well as H&W gives me a strong level of comfort that I'll look good (undetectable) afterwards. I'll be sure to post pics and give updates after the procedure. I was fortunate enough to talk to some past patients myself and would love to be able to play it forward to others. Fingers crossed my next post will be a happy one post procedure.
  3. What clinic did you go to? Is this temp smp or permanent?
  4. Makes sense, thanks. Outside of the scar area would you say the rest of the smp is undetectable to your natural hair to someone who didn't know you had anything done (and even for those that do?)
  5. Big improvement! Glad your happy. Do your buzz with a clipper or shave with a razor? Do you find the treatment to be "undetectable"? Also it sounded like dr.pak wasn't really pushing the smp route per your write up....can you elaborate on his reservations to the treatment if any?
  6. Looks good. Big improvement! What do you use to buzz down with? 0 guard on clippers or do you shave it down?
  7. Happy to see a new SMP result. Joe- do you know how close this patient buzzes down (no guard/1 guard/2 guard, etc.)? Hard to tell from the pics but it appears in some that the actual hair is longer then the smp in some areas so i was curios, thanks. Hairthere-can you pm when you have a chance I have some questions for you as I'm a New Yorker. Thanks.
  8. Sadly I've had a similar experience with SMG in getting information regarding SMP. It's been frustrating and surprising given there transparency all these years when it comes to HT's. As I understand it they are taking it slow with the procedure but the customer service for those of us who are interested has fallen short....
  9. Wow, only 6 months..hmmmm. I was under the impression that for the most part you could expect to see a solid 12 months (and in some cases 2 or 3 years) out of the temporary SMP. I know you received your treatment for free (which looked great) but I can’t help but wonder for someone who would have gotten extensive work done (getting their entire head done for a buzzed look for instance) I think they would be extremely disappointed in having it only last 6 months after shelling out some real decent $$$. Spex maybe you are the best person equipped to answer this as I believe you are working for Milena once again, but for situations like this (really quick fading) is there some kind of discount associated with the next procedure? I’m still confused on the pricing in general..I think I read on a previous thread that after the initial treatment each additional treatment is a lot less. Is that true? For any of the other clinics that plan/are offering this (H&W, SMG, Dr.Lindsey) I’d love to hear how your pricing structure would work and what kind of recourse someone would have in similar situation (premature fading)..I look forward to your responses. Thanks.
  10. ???????? So your showing his pre-op only pics in the "Results Posted" section? Am I missing something here? These are the pre-op pics right?
  11. Although I wouldn't want to go through 3 sessions for 3K grafts everyone has their own financial restrictions (amongst other reasons) so I won't question that. What I will say is that like TC, I would be dissapointed with this result. I personally don't see one picture/angle that I would even consider remotly acceptable (hairline doesn't look good, view from the top looks bad etc). I'm not sure what this patients goal(s) was, but if he's happy then good for him.
  12. Nice result, and documentation. I know that your clinic does FUE as well but rarely see any posts regarding it. I'd love to see them if you have them.
  13. Good stuff as always from SMG. Janna do you happen to know the area covered and density that was implanted? Also any reason this patient shaved down for surgery (I was under the impression that you only shaved down for larger secessions) unless the patient was indifferfent,as I realize it makes is easier on all of you if they do. Also how many days did it take to complete the surgery and what has been the typical secession sizes for someone who is looking to get around 2K via FUE (can it be completed in 2 days?) Thanks
  14. I just went through all the videos on the site (I usually view just the pics on my phone that you post since the iphone doesn't have flash). Needless to say super impressive as expected. Clearly there is a reason (outside of having someone taking the time to actually make the video) that many of the other clinics do not do this if you ask me... In this particular patients case do you know what the area covered was and what his final denisity achieved became? Your visual documentation is TOP NOTCH, I do wish that you would post a couple of more details though (I'm not talking about graft breakdown) but more along the lines of hair characteristics, density achieved and area covered. I think (for me personally) that would better help me gauge what I might be able to achieve given my current state. I applaud your visual transparency and hope you continue to raise the bar across the board. Thanks!
  15. 4.5 hours...is that some kind of record? Damn! Well done. anyhow it looks very good (as good as it can at this stage anyhow). A couple of quick questions for Doctor Feller. what was the patients goalregarding his hairstyle post HT? Is he looking to keep the buzzed look? How wide of an area was covered and what density was achieved? What kind of hair & donar did he have? Thanks!
  16. Looks MUCH better to say the least. Any chance that you have an example that shows the result with a shaved head? Just curious on how the scar looks with FUE implanted when the hair is buzzed down. If acceptable it could potentially sway those of us who are leaning towards all FUE procedures that fear they will eventually progress to such an advanced stage of baldness that the best hairstyle option is to just buzz down. Thanks
  17. I couldn't agree more with TC and thana. I think people should take a close look at what thana siad above. This is coming from someone who's experienced an awesome result via strip YET may have done things differently in hindsight. I for one started thinking about getting an HT 5 years ago when I was 25. Had I gone through with it there is no doubt in my mind that I would now be playing th" catch-up" game and married to a comb over type hairstyle for the rest of my life (which I fear the case will be for many ht patients in general...especially the younger ones who's hairloss patern is not yet defined. It kills me when I see these guys who have so little hairloss yet they decide to go through with life changing surgery). When someone questions it I see the responses ranging from agreement to "everyone has different goals, and this level of hairloss may bother them and not you". I can't help but shake my head at that. The "I want it all NOW" mentality (isn't that what got us / this country in the financial mess we are in) is short sighted to say the least. I'd still love to hear from smg,feller,Lindsey or any doc for thet matter regarding what level of density (appx) would be needed to pull of the buzzed look. I'm hoping to set up a consult with dr. Feller since I'm in ny (no luck so far with the receptionist). I'll circle back with you TC if/ when that happens.
  18. The more and more I look at my progressive hairloss the more and more I think FUE is the way to go for me as i'm mainly looking to frame my face and pull of the buzz look without having the complete "bald shine" going on. I did get to thinking however (not sure how feasable or how much sense this makes) about the possibility of doing a small strip procedure (one where I wouldn't have the entire scar going ear to ear but a smaller one that only goes half way around or something like that) if that makes any sense. The reasoning for this is two fold. 1. I can obtain more coverage then with just FUE, where I could potentially sport some different hairstlyes until i'm at the NW6-7 area (currently nearing NW5). 2. When I do have to buzz i'll have a visablbe (but a much smaller one ,and on that will be much easier I think to pass off as "accident" etc) and maybe won't scream HT patient.. Just curious if anyone has given this any thought (or actually done anything like this).
  19. "What is most disconcerting to me is the fact that those patients are probably the future for many of us under the age of 35 who are experiencing hair loss. Sure, we see great results when a top physician transplants a 30 year old NW 5, but what happens when that 30 year old patient progresses to a NW 7 at age 50? Why is it that when a doctor works on a NW 7, he is almost always limited to the frontal forelock pattern, yet when a doctor works on a patient who may turn into a NW 7, such a pattern is not used?" BINGO!!!!!!!!! I say this to myself all the time! Granted I think some will be fine (or more then fine) especially those w/o a history of balding in their families (although sometimes that doesn't matter either) and for those who have/had awesome donar and ideal characteristics. The point about donar thinning isn't discussed enough either. Another excellent point. I think to some degree some of us are in awe of the "wow" results and just forget about the rest cuz thats the easy thing to do. It's almost like "hey look at the guy, he was worse off then me I can look like that as well". And yeah, maybe (if you are one of the select few to get the "wow" results...which is FAR from guaranteed) you can..but for how long, and what are your options then. (I can see LMS nodding his head..) All that said, personlly the only other option i've considered(after weighing all the factors that you basically mentioned) is getting micropigmentation into the scar if I went with strip (after fue etc was placed in the scar as well). IF I knew for certain (or close to it) that it could yield a nice cosmetic result where the scar is bascially masked at a buzzed cut, then strip would once again be on the table. But I have to hear from any trustworthy sources (or see any examples first hand) that would make me comfortable with it. (sorry for getting off topic..) Anyhow I would love for a Dr, on many of the points brought up here.
  20. TC17- I'm in the same boat and my HT plan (if it ever happens) is exactly the same. My concern of progressing to NW6-7 (which I think more people should be concerned with) is the driving force. At the end I think that having the buzzed look at a #1 (or maybe worse case #2) is a HELL of a lot better then being married to one hairstyle (some kind of combover). When doctors like Dr.Beehmer post his NW7 results consitently (I think he does great work and I happen to think he underated/underapprecciated overall) but in most of those cases the front to back hairstyle is all they can pull off. Personally I don't care for that (I don't think I would when i'm older either as i'm currenlty 31). I honestly think for younger guys who have are experiencing advanced balding (I'm in the NW4-5 category as a diffuse thinner) that the FUE option (framing the face with the ability to buzz down now or later) is the best solution. I know some people always say "why waste the money and just shave down" but I think there is a big difference in the slick bald look and the stubble look (the latter being the MUCH better look/option). I'd love to hear from some of the docs (SMG, Feller etc) that have performed FUE for someone who was looking to achieve this who was already at an NW4/5 or worse level. On a previous post that someone started they asked what kind of density needed to be achieved in order to pull of the buzzed look with the illusiong of decent density (and if it would be less then having your hair grown out) I don' t think any doc's (or any of the valued members here responded to that). I would think the density would be much lower as I know when my hair is shorter it masks my thinning. Bill- do you know what density you were at prior to your 3rd surgery? Your shaved head pic stands out to me. Thana- I thought your buzzed cut (even though you complained about butchering it!) looked good as well, but I think your density was fairly high... Anyhow I think this is the "safest" way to go for someone who wants to pull of some hairstyles now and leaves them the most forgiving options later on. (I realize the pitfalls/risks of yield), at the same time I think in the hands of a competent doctor (SMG/Feller etc) that the chances of a good results are good.
  21. Great question. Very interested in hearing the doc(s) response as I'm in the boat. I understand everyone is different (hair caliber etc) but on average what would do u think it would be?
  22. Notquitebald, I've thought about this a lot myself. Ideally I think strip is the way to go, but if your looking at NW6/7 then thinking along these lines to me makes perfect sense. Framing the face with the transplant and then being able to shave down to say a #1 clip via fue would look much better then without doing that I think. That said, the only thing i've found encouraging recently is the "potential" of micropigmentation on the strip scar (maybe coupled with fue into the scar) that would allow someone to shave down to a #1 clip and still have the strip scar "concealed". I haven't seen enough quality pics though regarding the above scenario to feel real comfortable in it. IF that was a vialble option then I would def go the strip route since worst case scneario you would have decent styling options now (with hair!) and then worst case you can shave down if the hairloss progressed so bad that HT's were no longer an option.
  23. Hey man, I can relate 100%. I startig losing my hair when I was 17, diffuse thinner just like you. Needless to say i'm at the cross roads now (30 years old) and although i've become a master of using toppik the hairline is gettig harder and harder to mask (persoally I wish I had just shaved my head way back when, but by using concealer all these years if I were to shave now my hair loss/masking would be so noticable that its just not something I want to deal with). Anyhow like you i'm at the point of "what next". No easy answer here unfortuntatly. I hear you completly on just watig to have a decent amount of hair on top and then using a concealer to fill it in (I was looking at pics of myself from 6 or 7 years ago when at the time I thought my hair was "thin" and I WISH I had that much hair now.) Using the concealer at that time was much easier/faster and the result looked so much better so i've thought about that scenario as well. Anyhow my advise like many others on here will be to see how the meds work and talk to some top docs. Do the online consults and visit some clinics in person and that should help guide you in the right direction. If you want to PM me feel free. Good luck.
  24. Dr.Lindsey as always thanks for taking the time to contribute. Have you seen any of your HT patients that have done this? As you said I would think that for people who are looking to cut their hair to #2 or even potentially a #1 clip who dont have an "optimal" scar would be able to if it indeed works. From the pics i've seen on websites even people who shaved down with a razor seemed to have fairly "decent" results. Also Do you think that for someone who doesn't have optimal density that this would be an option as a "permanent" concelear?(I believe this wears off after X number of years and basically fades away and you have to get it done again...at least thats my understanding)
  25. yeah, I guess you can say its a fancy word for that! I've been looking at some pics of people who have had it done and the results were promising. I'd like to see someone up close in person, and more transparent pics though.
×
×
  • Create New...