HarryLemon

Okay, here comes my first picture post for all you guys! The before pictures were taken in August, 2002. The surgery (my first ever) was done by Dr. Shapiro on November 8th, 2002. The after pics were taken today (3/4/03), exactly 3 months, 3 weeks, and 3 days since the procedure. Remember guys, this isn't even at the 4 month mark yet (well, 4 days to go)! As you'll no doubt notice, despite the blossoming growth, I DID lose a bit of the original hair from shock loss (in the frontal/central area, where it was still relatively thicker). It's still early days yet, so I'm confident I'll re-grow most of those guys back shortly. I knew that might happen, so I've been feeding my scalp like you wouldn't believe since a month before the surgery. The right side of my head is where I was thinning the most, particularly my right temple. This is the area that, of the two temples combined, received by far the most grafts. The left side was simply "peppered" with grafts so as to match the right side more, color wise. To look at my left temple, though, you might think that, at the point of it, they're coming-in a little thick. Well, from what I've seen thus far, when each area started sprouting, the hairs came in at that thickness as well, and then (already!) started to blend in. My left temple point is the latest area to start growing (my left hairline corner was the very first area to start growing and look how soft it is now - then came my right temple area, followed by my right corner hairline, which is blending in right now). I know there's a lot more to come, but here's what I've got so far! THIS IS FUN!!!!! Tell me whatcha think! [This message was edited by HarryLemon on March 04, 2003 at 06:14 PM.]

Okay, here comes my first picture post for all you guys! The before pictures were taken in August, 2002. The surgery (my first ever) was done by Dr. Shapiro on November 8th, 2002. The after pics were taken today (3/4/03), exactly 3 months, 3 weeks, and 3 days since the procedure. Remember guys, this isn't even at the 4 month mark yet (well, 4 days to go)! As you'll no doubt notice, despite the blossoming growth, I DID lose a bit of the original hair from shock loss (in the frontal/central area, where it was still relatively thicker). It's still early days yet, so I'm confident I'll re-grow most of those guys back shortly. I knew that might happen, so I've been feeding my scalp like you wouldn't believe since a month before the surgery. The right side of my head is where I was thinning the most, particularly my right temple. This is the area that, of the two temples combined, received by far the most grafts. The left side was simply "peppered" with grafts so as to match the right side more, color wise. To look at my left temple, though, you might think that, at the point of it, they're coming-in a little thick. Well, from what I've seen thus far, when each area started sprouting, the hairs came in at that thickness as well, and then (already!) started to blend in. My left temple point is the latest area to start growing (my left hairline corner was the very first area to start growing and look how soft it is now - then came my right temple area, followed by my right corner hairline, which is blending in right now). I know there's a lot more to come, but here's what I've got so far! THIS IS FUN!!!!! Tell me whatcha think! [This message was edited by HarryLemon on March 04, 2003 at 06:14 PM.]

Quit.

No - that's basically the plan I would recommend, myself, Explore. Like Futzy said as well - if it's just hitting the very front, that doesn't warrant the risk just yet. You've got the right idea, and the right angle . <buzzbuzzbuzzbuzzbuzzbuzzbuzzbuzzbuzz>

Who was your doctor??

Does taking: L-Arginine L-Ornithine L-Lysine Glutamine Glycine ...really make you release growth hormones? Is that what HGH does, but cheaper?? Where can I read up on that, please? Thanks, HarryLemon

Hey, they don't call it 'cosmetic surgery' for nothing! You wanna lowered hairline, you're damn straight you can find someone who'll do it for you! Hell, you can even get a Fruit Bat nose if you want - just look at Michael Jackson! The question is - who's gonna give you a REAL Fruit Bat's nose??????????????

As Director Michael Moore will testify, there is a sickness in this country inducing fear for anything 'foreign'. Just because a product was made in India, or Germany, or someplace other than "the good ol' US of A", does NOT mean that the quality of the product is, ipso facto, inferior. I think many of you would be surprised as to how far from reality this subliminal jingoism is leading you. It also happens to be a contributing factor towards the very reason we are so derided in basically every other country outside of our own. "If it ain't American, somebody git a rope!" But hey, - there's the beauty of the melting pot for ya! You always tend to come across a chunk of somethin' that just needs a bit more stirrin', but sure adds a heck of a lot a flavor, don'tcha think!?? I have been using generic Finasteride (5mg quartered) from http://www.generics-online-pharmacy.com/ProductList.htm for about 2 to 3 months now (having been on Propecia for over 3 years total prior), and can testify as to the quality of this product, which is made by Dr. Reddys (http://www.drreddys.com/home.asp?div=div_7&id=F_102) (a publicly traded company ["Rs"], with global offices ??“ including Georgia and New Jersey). They are able to sell this generic equivalent so cheaply due to the vastly reduced costs of overhead in foreign countries worldwide. Sounds familiar don't it? Sure it does!!! It's all in the good ol' tradition of any of our own, home grown, multi-national conglomerates worth their salt! Don't let me stop you from paying hundreds of times more for the same thing than you need to be, though. God knows we all need a cause, right? [This message was edited by HarryLemon on February 17, 2003 at 12:13 AM.]

Make sure the surgeon uses two sets of stiches for the procedure. One for the subcutaneous layer which is dissolvable, and a running suture for the surface layer (usually removed after 10 days). For the first 60 days (may want to make it 90), do NOT stretch your head forward all the way, or even most of the way. Accomodate such actions any way you wish for this time frame, just do not let yourself stretch forward! It should heal completely, in as tight a fashion as was sown, if you do this. This does not, unfortunately, take into account factors such as skin elasticity which may eventually undo all you've strived for to begin with, over time. Your doctor should be able to advise you on this. Make sure it's one of the best. [This message was edited by HarryLemon on February 14, 2003 at 05:01 PM.]

I passed the 3 month mark on the 8th, and I still have, at times, some pink on the recipient area, but it HAS been getting less and less. I find that it's most 'normal' in the morning, then, after the shower, it's nice and pink again (and tends to stay at least somewhat pink throughout the day). Every time I apply a little Emu Oil, though, it fades no matter what time of day it is. You may think Emu Oil is, well, 'oily', but it sinks right in and does not leave an oily surface (unless you use to much). In any event, I too am looking forward to it just getting back to it's normal hue asap. Tell you what though, my grafts are REALLY starting to come in, now. Front, back, all over. Still very wispy (most of them - some not), but definately starting to show!

Let me know how that turns out. My doc was sure I didn't fit the bill either until my tests were confirmed, "Mild Hyper-Thyroidism". All the best, HarryLemon

Somebody get this man a microphone and a magnifying glass! Not only is he a comic genius, but a piercingly perceptive sleuth of unparalleled proportions! Yes. I, HarryLemon, stand before you now in all my unadulterated(?) splendor. What you see is very likely what you get: an utter lack of wool. Bare faced, but not shame-faced, I, in all my glory, stand ever-ready to crack a wide grin in welcome to all my fellow gene baldies. Hello! No two-faces here, just common denominators please! Why, I can remember a time when-<"PFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFT!">... excuse me. Now do you see what you've gone and made me do?! This isn't even my post, and you've gone and brought out the "inner-me" all over it!! SHAME ON YOU!!! WTF!!! BTW, don't mind me - I'm just talking out my arse. P.S. - You're funny... really! You're a very, very funny guy! [This message was edited by HarryLemon on February 09, 2003 at 07:57 PM.]

David, I'm happy for you that freedom has finally come knocking again! In regards to your propensity for burning off painkillers extremely quickly, and healing super fast, I have the same mixed blessing myself. I have always had an extremely fast metabolism. It was not until I went for the battery of blood tests required by Dr Shapiro prior to my HT last November, that I learned of the reason for this: Hyper Thyroidism. I strongly recommend that you visit your Physician and tell him/her that you would like to have your thyroid screened for Hyper Thyroidism. It's not your evey day kind of blood test, which is why most people who have an over active thyroid seldom ever learn of it. Disregarding it can lead to cardiac arrhythmia down the road - particularly if you are subject to periodic heart palpitations, from time to time (and had perhaps been chalking them up to sub-surface stress?). I'd lived with it for so many years (I think probably 10?) that it was genuinely refreshing to notice it get back to normal after starting on my anti-thyroid meds (totally harmless). It's wierd trying to describe something, on such a 'low-radar' level, that had just been a part of you for a good decade, but now that it's gone - I feel a LOT better (I know - I felt "fine" before too - was what I was used to). It's hard to explain, but I really just feel less "wired" all the time, and am genuinely more relaxed. I kinda feel like a kid again, actually! Might be worth your while to just get it checked... Regards, HarryLemon

http://www.generics-online-pharmacy.com/ProductList.htm

My HT was on Nov 8, and I am now starting to see quite a substantial amount of finely haired growth coming in, but this is due to the time being right for the transplanted hairs to start growing. Are you sure you're not confusing the two together here?? One month is hardly enough time to gauge a product like Propecia, or Avodart's, effectiveness I think. I started getting regrowth when I started Propecia around 3 years ago, 3 months into the treatment. That is considered early. One month, however, is kinda unheard of, isn't it? It's always gonna be tricky gauging any drugs effectiveness if you're also benefiting from a new HT's incoming growth.

If you read the verbage that's available at BOTH of these sites (who are simply resellers) for these products, you'll notice that they're BOTH called 'Finast' (equivalent of Proscar), and are, naturally, BOTH manufactured by DrReddys. If you dig a little deeper at http://www.generics-online-pharmacy.com/ProductList.htm (as deep as selecting 'Home' from the top, then 'About Us', followed by 'DrReddy's'), you'll see even more!

"The mark of the beast"... So that's what you call what I've gone and spent ten grand on, huh? Great! Send me the T-Shirt and the Flag while you're at it, and I'll go on a frickin' parade; "Behold! I am the Devil incarnate, RUN!!!" You know, I can appreciate the aesthetics of restoring one's hairline without leaving a scar from strip surgery as well as anyone else can. It's not like we all got up in the morning and said, "Hmmm, I think I prefer the scar.", though. The fact of the matter is, while FUE may be available already, and the technology behind it is improving by leaps and bounds (not a bad thing!), it's still a procedure that results in a substantially larger percentage of follicular transection than a skilled strip surgery will yield. You have to ask yourself what is more important to you, and factor-in whether or not you actually even CARE about having a scar that nobody is ever going to see or know about to begin with, anyway. Like many others, I have no intention or desire to ever shave my head to the point where it would become visible. I am also more interested in the results of specific surgeons that have been proven, photographically, again and again and again and again. There are many other reasons as to why EITHER method can be seen as a more attractive choice above the other one, when looking at them AS THEY ARE TODAY. That doesn't mean I'm going to start bashing the one that is, arguably, probably on the way out, eventually. Again though, if I know that my scar is never even going to be a factor for anyone in my life, including myself, then I have to ask, quite simply, what difference does it make?!

I see you bought/downloaded the book from http://thinningscalp.com/, TopJimmy - that's precisely what they say about it, word for word! The Von - the $15 bucks this book costs is well worth the price, as it not only shows you several recommended locations where you can buy Emu Oil, but it lists 89 items, in total, which benefit the health of your hairs. Well worth it! [This message was edited by HarryLemon on January 26, 2003 at 03:55 PM.]

Man, that's exciting to hear, figsy - I'm creepin' up on 3 months post-op here, and the waiting is getting tough. Good deal of wispy ones starting to come through. Arrrrgggg! - I can't wait! [This message was edited by HarryLemon on January 21, 2003 at 12:49 AM.]

(From a post I made on Jan, 3rd) I wish someone would have told me to do the following things when I was 23, when I started receding from the front (I'm 31 now): 1. Start taking Propecia. 2. Slap on a bit of Emu Oil before bedtime, and rub it into your scalp/hairline in particular. The fatty tissue underlying your scalp is beginning to disappear thanks to age and being male. Females don't lose any of this fatty layer, and it's held by some to be one of the contributing factors towards Male Pattern Baldness. Emu Oil has been shown to significantly restore this fatty layer beneath your scalp, and to actually increase the width of your hair follicles in the process. Ever hear of the now-deceased actor Anthony Perkins? According to an interview I once read several years ago, in Playboy magazine, given by actor Christopher Walken, Anthony Perkins shared the following advice with him when he expressed his concern about his receding hairline: (to paraphrase) "...that the reason that men go bald is because after a certain age they lose the layer of lanolin beneath the scalp which women always retain, making it get tighter and consequently constricting the blood flow required - at that level - to feed the follicles in perpetuity... That if you grab a really good fistful of your hair, from all topside areas, and really yank it in all directions for a couple minutes every day, that that will keep the scalp nice and loose, and your hair won't fall out." Christopher Walken then went on to say that Perkins said that ever since he started doing that, he never looked back. Walken then went on to say that that's exactly what he's been doing every day of his life since then as well ??“ and look at him now! I, myself, don't have the inclination to do this to myself EVERY DAY, so it makes sense to me that Emu oil is actually a means to the same end! If you want to know an excellent source of knowledge on all the ways in which your hair can benefit, spend 15 bucks and buy/download this book, ??Alternative Treatments for Hair Loss', available at http://thinningscalp.com/. You'll find links to 89 natural treatments, supplements, and remedies (with no half-arsed science behind them either ??“ yet another thing I wish I was told about when I was 23). Don't worry about the "89" bit, either, just read it and you'll learn a hell of a lot about some of the more beneficial vitamins, shampoos, and DHT cleaners that are available out there at grocery store prices already. 3 or 4 of the products listed within have proven useful enough for many alone. Hope this helps... HarryLemon [This message was edited by HarryLemon on January 21, 2003 at 12:42 AM.]

Dude! Right on, man! Excellent choice!!! I am extremely happy for you, Shady - it would have been a BIG mistake, otherwise! Yes, these meds really do work - just develop a routine and stick by it. I started taking Propecia about 3 years ago when I noticed that I was losing it on my crown. For me, it took about 3 months on Propecia to notice it was growing back, and it has been pretty solid ever since. Propecia and minox 5% make a great combination, and are definitely worth giving a try for at least a year to see what improvements they garner you, if any. Statistically, I think it's about two-thirds of the men who take those drugs will, at the very least, greatly reduce the rate of loss they experience - if not halt it altogether. Dutesteride IS stronger, but it seems as there's a greater chance of experiencing side-effects with that one (was what my doctor told me, anyway). I would try Propecia first, and then - if that doesn't work after a year - try Dutesteride. BTW, if you want to save a ton a dough while you're at it, go to your local pharmacy and buy a pill cutter, and then see if you can't either get a prescription for Proscar (which is 5mg Finasteride as opposed to Propecia's 1mg) and then quarter the pills so you take 1.25mg a day, OR, do the same thing but pay even less by buying them from [promotional content removed by forum moderator - Robert] . Up to you - but worth looking into unless you're okay with $60 bucks a month for LIFE! Break out the bic's! HarryLemon

If you read his story, Pat goes on to inform you that he got THREE sessions of 1450 grafts each, not just one. But you are right in summarizing the average hairs per graft...

Contact Ron Shapiro's office and email Matt your pictures to see what he says about them. Shapiro has done a lot of pretty amazing repair work in the past. Maybe he could just "bridge" that island from the sides and buffer it out a bit all round with a relatively small graft count... Worth asking IMO.

hairy, I had an HT w/ Shapiro back in Nov '02 (my first one), where he transplanted 2300+ grafts. I felt zero tightness after the operation, but followed their standing advice to NOT bend your head all the way down for at least a month afterwards anyway (for obvious reasons). If I feel I want, or need to go back for a second one down the road, then I fully expect to probably feel a little tightness afterwards... Everyone has different levels of skin elasticity, and your doctor will measure that on you before proceeding (assuming you go to a top doc). My understanding is that my case is not unusual at all - many people have my experience - tightness-wise - post op.

Shady, did you get my voice mail? Please don't do it! It is very evident from the pictures of your donor area that the density of those hairs - in even the thickest portions - is quite weak to say the least (just look at the spacing between them - skin everywhere). Couple that with the fact that your still only 24 - man, forget about loosing your hair, you're on the verge of loosing your happiness if you get that procedure done. Today's HTs are for guys who have a better-than-fair bet of MAINTAINING a good supply through-out their lives. Yours, I am sorry to say, is already pretty gone to BEGIN with! That only sucks if you keep your heart bent on preventing the inevitable, instead of accepting it ??“ and for that matter ??“ diving into it "head-long" (pardon the pun)! I am in violent agreement with NW's take on the matter. You're best option here (and you were very wise to ask for everyone's educated opinion on the matter before acting) is to forge yourself the beginnings of a genuinely positive resolve on the matter. Accept what is currently inevitable, and maybe in ten or less years, hair cloning will take off! In the meantime, absolutely dive into playing around with a cropped, if not fully-shaven, ??goatified' visage ??“ I think that would actually look really cool on you (you just have to "own it"). If you do this, I'll bet you'll have second thoughts when cloning actually DOES become available due to how cool you'll look. There is, if you'll only observe, more than a little relief and satisfaction to be gleaned from KNOWING what is really best for you, instead of continuing-on in an awful haze of confusion. That relief alone leads to confidence in spite of oneself, and confidence - not hair - is the catalyst that transforms you. We all seek it down different roads anyway. I think the signs being posted here are pretty clear, don't you? What's to be confused about? You've heard all of the solid, impartial advice anyone could ever need on the subject. Of course there's always going to be people out there who are willing to separate you from your money (and f^@$ you in return). The difference is in who's looking out for YOU. Don't do it, Harris. Sincerely, Harry "Krishna" Lemon [This message was edited by HarryLemon on January 18, 2003 at 11:56 AM.]