FacelessMan

Sorry for the multiple postings...still on Madrid time... For what it's worth, everyone I've told about my own HT has been supportive and basically said some variation of "hey, good for you." Several were genuinely curious, especially during the early hat-wearing stage...and a few, including the hair stylist I use, wanted a referral! Which goes to Dr. Feller and his staff's credit... People who are predisposed to judge others, I think, will find some way to do it...if it isn't your choosing to renovate This Old Scalp, it could just as easily be something else...

Another thought on the "to tell or not to tell" topic... I have this $.02 theory that, if more people realized that HT's are not only miles ahead of the bad old days of plugs, but that they have evolved to the extent that they produce some great and utterly natural-looking results, then maybe, just possibly, a lot of the stereotypes most of us have heard...that it's a midlife-crisis thing, that it's about insecurity...might just die a well-deserved death. Or at least be counter-acted with modern reality. Obviously, a HT is surgery, and that plus the time and nature of it make it a big step, but in its essence it's just another way to look better...no different in principle than working out, getting better clothes, getting a better haircut.

To hit the original question...I'd say, definitely tell her. The HT is something good you're choosing to do for yourself; whether or not she supports you in it, thinks it's silly, thinks less of you for it because of assumptions, perhaps, is part of your learning about how good the relationship in fact is... Regarding shaving, another part of the equation, as I rememeber a doctor posting here once, is that aside from allowing the surgeon to better see the "playing field" of your scalp, shaving also eliminates the need to comb through existing hair many, many times during the procedure...which can definitely stress it. Bill...perhaps you can confirm or deny this...it was an older posting. Benjamin

Hello, I can't speak from personal experience about Bosley, but your question raises a good point about many people's concerns about them, at least as I have read: 1) It's unlikely that anyone here can share personal experience with, or detailed information about, Dr. Haber, because Bosley is a reasonably large chain wherein the individual surgeon and technicians performing your procedure may be complete unknowns...no esrtablished track record, no photos of results, no easy way to talk to patients. 2) There have, unfortunately, been far more negative opinions shared about them than positive...so it seems from my perusal of this and other sites, at least. Which doesn't mean that a good procedure with a Bosley surgeon is impossible, but...why, given that and 1) above, take a chance? Once part of your donor area is used up, it's gone, whether it's put to use skillfully or otherwise. With several surgeons whom people have met, whose results are availabel here, whom Pat has carefully screened and reviewed, and who in many cases have posted here themselves, why not go with them? Some $.02...best wishes in your search. Benjamin

"Laser? I hardly know 'er..." Thanks, Dr. Feller, for speaking the truth to power...er, to charlatans...! Your respect for truth, and your sincerity, are a huge part of what got me into your (battered blue/black) chair.

In a word...no. Your hair's basic color, texture, straightness/curliness, is what it is. That said, there are so many products and stylists on the hair market that I can only imagine that there are ways to work around it without going into huge debt... As for the attractiveness, I wouldn't assume anything. And if someone actually told you that your hair texture was somehow a deal-breaker...that is his problem!

To answer belatedly, definitely...in fact, I might go back for more!

I lost interest in the original post about halfway through, but... <UL TYPE=SQUARE> <LI>Yes, "Bill" and "Jotronic" and "Spex" are paid by their respective clinics, but they are also entirely open about that fact. Absent that openess, sure, I'd be skeptical if I thought that someone were posting a glowing recommendation of a particular surgeon based on $$$ rather than the doctor's actual work... <LI>Yes, it's unfair to blast a particular clinic or doctor without backing it up, and at times people also post here when they are legitimately angry because of shoddy work that they literally have to wear on their heads, or unethical behavior from doctors that costs them thousands of dollars. There are also, at least as I've seen, many more posts from people who honestly want to learn more, and who try to share information with others as fairly and honestly as they can. My $.02 is that Pat does well at striking a balance. Benjamin

Fantastic!

Michael: I am by no means knowledgeable on meds, but Valium and Vicodin are definitely not mojo-enhancing substances...separately or together. And Dr. Feller -- what's this I hear about lesbian porn?? All I got to watch during my procedure was "Kill Bill..." Benjamin

Goldeneye, As many others have said...it's completely normal! You can think of it as the transplanted hairs leaving to make room for newer, thicker, stronger ones...something like that! Good growing to you, Benjamin

Not that this isn't common knowledge, but... I wanted to weigh in and say that one of the reasons why helpful, sincere people like Bill post disclaimers is perhaps because many people assume that those who post favorable results about a particular doctor, or doctors, are shilling rather than simply sharing their results. So, if anything, his disclaimer gives him *added* credibility, not less...

Hair Tomorrow, Looks like tomorrow came and went beautifully! That is one damn clean and precise recipient region...looks like you buzzed your head and god a very localized sunburn or something. Another H&W win...good healing and growth to you! Benjamin

Dr. Rassman: thank you for being as open as you have been about the situation, and I am sure that Nan values your compassion and attention. The more that we, on this largely anonymous forum, see physicians getting involved and being honest, the better we (speaking for myself, at least) definitely feel! Dr. Feller: Well played, offering her the kind of reassurance (although that may have been on the other forum...I lost track) and voice of reason your own patients have come to expect. Nan: hope that you are feeling better! You are in good hands, and invisible or otherwise have support and advice in this online community whenever you want it. Benjamin

Hairbank, Yeah, could have answered my own question by actually clicking on your blog link, which was right in front of me...looking great! And 120% natural. Damn fine progress from your starting point! Benjamin

Orion -- looking good! Four months, as many will attest (my late blooming self included) is only the beginning...good things lie ahead for you! You have put yourself in superb surgical hands. Grow Like A Mofo, Benjamin

Hairbank -- thanks for the feedback! I tend to agree on the growth rate. Overall, it looks and feels and "behaves" differently, and from what I can see, comparing the just-after photos to the most recent ones, everything is growing; while it is definitely thin behind the temples (or whatever those parts of the head are called), it looks even. Given that a) the temple points used about 500 grafts, combined, of the 4200 I had moved (if I had overheard Dr. Feller correctly during the procedure), that b) I had a large area to cover, and c) my hair is fairly fine-textured, AND d) that even at what is now past 7 months there is more growth to come, the thin-ness is par for the course. Now that it has grown to a more standard length, it's hard even for me to remember that it wasn't that way all along! How are you growing these days? Benjamin

Hello all...just posted 5-plus and 6-month photos. More to come! Hope all here are growing well, and/or taking solace in the wealth of good advice and experience narrations that this site offers! I have been "away" for a while; between a fair amount of familial travel back to NYC, and a new job, my internet time has dwindled! Benjamin

Innnnteresting... I'm going to infer/assume that good surgeons, when evaluating "scalp laxity" and determining the scope of a given procedure, take into account not only the number of grafts a given scalp will allow them to extract, but the safest strip that they can excise without causing undue stretching, tightness (and related discomfort), and of course scar distortion, later on... "Scar Distortion"...sounds like a good name for a retro hardcore band... Or maybe "The Screaming Follicles"... Benjamin "Plastic Man"

"EndOfTheRope," I think the key is the length at which you want to wear your hair, post-HT...my understanding is that if you keep it longer, it would cover whatever scar remained. Do you happen to have photos you would be comfortable sharing? At a minimum, this is a key question for your doctor. I passed the 6-month mark on 12/19, and although my hair is not blond (you can judge for yourself, but I'd characterize it as "light brown"), and the hair in my donor area both thick (thankfully!) and reasonably long, neither I nor the stylist I use have been able to find my scar for the past three months at least -- courtesy of Dr. Feller's deft hands and tricho! Hope this is of help... Benjamin

Trememdous difference! Enjoy and continue to grow and thicken well... And, HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Oh, and... I hear you on the shaving thing; I felt a moment of squeamishness (if that's the word for it) about it, too, but for me, it was worth it -- if it made the placement easier, and reduced the risk of shockloss (of which I had none that I could identify), wearing a hat at times when I normally wouldn't was no big deal.. That said, I had the convenience of a) a job where no one cared about said hat and b) living in Virginia (near DC) where men seem to wear caps more often than I see them doing in, say, NYC, where I grew up. I was also wearing it during the summer, which is when men REALLY seem to wear them a lot here.

EmuSteve, From what I have read, H&W and Shapiro are bot excellent...H&W's reputation is stellar, and they are one of the clinics that have made the "megasession" almost the norm. So, I would file away the 4000 quote they gave you as a viable option. I myself had 4200g with Dr. Feller, who is superb, a "mentee" of the sadly recently departed and gifted Dr. Seager, and who is to megasessions what Guinness is to ale. He would have done 5000 with me with ease, had my scalp allowed that much donor strippage. He's also a sincere and compassionate physician, and will be straight with you about your goals. From your photo, my completely amateur take is that with your level of loss and fine hair texture, 4000g or more sounds good...but it goes without saying, it your doctor's call... Wishing you success! It seems that you've already targeted some great surgeons; I hope that you get all the feedback you need. Benjamin

Pushing40, Ha...I'm "pushing" my way in that direction myself... Funny, the shots you took with longer hair look like I THOUGHT my hair was, pre-procedure, both texture-wise and balding-wise, but seeing the shorter shot, you have a lot more than I did, and seem to have more "resilient"/less flat/whatever hair, too. If I were to SWAG it...I'd say that 3K grafts would dense-pack the hell out of the temples, and give you a stronger hairline, and give you enough "body" to have more options with how you wear your hair. At a minimum, you wouldn't need to keep it longer and comb it specifically to cover bald/really thin areas... Also, proper graft direction is essential, regardless to how you wear your hair; it's part of what separates the artists from the hacks in this field... Feel free to ask more questions! Benjamin

I have not had the pleasure of knowing, or having direct experience with, Dr. Seager, but perhaps I can say that his gifts and teaching have nonetheless affected me, through the hands and mind of one of his "students"...for which I am indeed grateful. Dr. Feller, you do your mentor proud.