tkotko

What exactly is a "standard of care HT in 2003"?

Good luck to ya Truckie. Seems like with that amount of area you could have had more grafts. But I'm sure you will be an improvement. You can always go back for a second if necessary. Since he only did 500, did he use FUE method as opposed to strip?

Graphcyte for 5 days post op seemed to work well for me in the healing process. Majority of the scabs were off in about 10 days or so. It was also kind of soothing in a way, I actually couldn't wait it use it every 30 min to an hour. My doc recommended Rogaine for 2 months, starting 1 week after the procedure, which is what I'm doing. I probably will never be a definitively determine if it helps, I'm doing it regardless as recommended.

3 months really isn't enough time to truly judge the results you're going to experience. You may have to give it up to a year then evalutate what's going on.

Ken do you have any before and after pics to share with us?

I've been on propecia for a little over 4 months, and prior to that, for the past year or so, I noticed unusual amounts of hair on my comb on a consistent basis. That seemed to have subsided after about 2 months of use of Propecia, so for me, it appears to have slowed, possibly halted, the hairloss in the frontal region. Hairloss is cyclical also, so it's kind of early to tell, but that's my results to date. Had I started using it, say 4 years ago, I probably could have avoided or delayed having a procedure.

113 bucks for 30 pills is over twice what I'm paying for Propecia!!!

Fabe - In the event Dr. Charles doesn't pop in the site for awhile, he has a practice in Boca Raton, Fl, and is also affiliated with the Shapiro Medical Group, where he does procedures approx 1 week a month. A link to his site can be found on the home page of this site as one of the recommended physicians, as well as the link to Shapiro Medical. He was my physician as well.

Looks very good TTACO. Looks like excellent progress from month 8 to 9, unless it's just the pic quality, length of hair etc, but I'm impressed. If you didn't see any more progress in the next several months hypothetically (I'm sure you will), what's your feel on the density? What's your gut feel on getting a second procedure? Good luck in your continued progress.

I also went to Shapiro Medical, and had Dr. Jennings from Depaul Hospital remove them. He's my PCP. Any physician can do it though, it's easy stuff. If you have a primary care physician, just have him do it.

Oh yeah, I meant to ask, who was your doc, if you don't mind my asking?

Looking good Joe! I know you mention that at times you think it might look worse at this stage, but based on the pics I see good progress for 4 months, unless your wearing it longer or styling in a diff way. Have you noticed the scar being any less noticeable when wet as time has progressed? I know what you mean psychologically being affected. I found myself staying home more often on weekends, just not being the same guy I know I am when I'm with friends. I've always mingled with the opposite sex at parties, bars, etc, but the past year found myself not putting myself in a position to be rejected. Funny thing is, since I've had the procedure a few weeks back, I've already got a couple opportunities with some gals at a local bar when hanging with friends, even came back and play a little strip pool this past weekend with 2 girls! Wow, that kind of stuff just hasn't been happening for a long time. But like you, my attitude has been changing, having a little hope now. I wish I could have received hope in another manner other than getting a procedure, maybe doing volunteer work, helping others, feeling good about my knowing I'm a good person, but unfortunately I couldn't. I watched Michael J Fox on Dateline tonight and he's got much bigger issues with a better attitude, and here I am devestated by hairloss! Makes me feel a little selfish and self-centered. I don't think I'm that superficial but for some reason this has bugged me immensely, can't help it, and started affecting my personality, but now I think I'm on the way back! Give us an update in a couple mos and good luck in your continued success.

My routine is massaging my temples for a couple minutes, then massaging my "landing strip" for a couple minutes, then the very back of my lower head for a couple. Started this when I was 18 when I started noticing some hair loss, and those who would tease me passed me way up through the years. I got lazy the past year, year and a half or so and it seemed to accelerate a bit. So I'm convinced that it helped slow it down tremendously, but of course I can't prove it and win a Nobel prize or anything! Good luck with your continued progress.

Looks great Harrylemon! From looking at your before pics someone could tell me that was me and I'd believe it. We're very similar in hair color and degree of hairloss, so I'll be monitoring your progress for sure, and especially with the combo of FUE and strip, which seems very intriguing in the event I need (want) to go back for another dose. I hope I enjoy similar results at 6 mos. You mention you perform some scalp stretching exercises. For years (20) I've massaged my temples, forehead and back of my head for sake of controlling my hairloss and I'd swear it works cause the 2 periods I got lazy is when I noticed more hairloss. But anyway..what type of exercises do you do and where did you hear about them?

My guess it's a business decision to help both parties. For instance, one doctor who's not well known but does quality work would like to enhance his reputation by being affiliated with a clinic that is already reputable. And the clinic that is already reputable, say Shapiro for instance, having approved of the quality of the relatively unknown doc, can partner with him and increase cash flow by taking a percentage of the proceeds. So they both win, as long as the quality of the new doc is high and doesn't damage the rep of the established clinic. Anyway..that's my take on it.

Shaving your head or cutting very short is not a necessity, that's what my doctor indicated. In fact they suggest not cutting it, especially in the back to hide the sutures. I imagine it might make it slightly easier for the doc the shorter it is, but they did definitely tell me it wasn't a necessity. I did have mine cut fairly short 2 days prior, to about an inch on top. That was more for me not having to go get it cut for some time after the procedure.

I'm probably jumping the gun in being worried about it. He actually said he went thinner than usual, as the technicians commented as well. So you've help reassure me that I shouldn't worry just yet. Just will have to wear my hair a bit longer for this summer anyway so I can enjoy a little wakeboarding. I appreciate your comments as usual, you are definitely a wealth of knowledge. By the way on my progress - I'm 2 weeks, 2 days out, and shedding has not taken place. I would almost take my results as they are cause it kind of fills in the receded area, and looks pretty cool. I take that as a positive sign for things to come - hopefully enjoying similar success as you have enjoyed. My scar seems a little rigid on one of the ends, not sure what that's about yet.

Thanks, it does give me additional insight. I'll stay patient and hopefully in a couple months it will not be noticeable when wet. On the topic of stretching, is there a time period that you know of or heard of where the threat of stretching is gone? I've been restricting my activities tremendously so far just in case, and will do so for at least another few weeks, such as no golf.

Gosh Purpella, I really do feel for you in your situation, as I'm sure your new friends do on this forum. So you do have a lot of support and people to talk to that have their own unique situations. I wish I could help you more physically, so all I can do is act as a friend and do what I can. I would first take a step back, take a deep breathe so to speak, and prepare for the challenge you have to face, and try and do so positively. All of us face or have faced similar physical challenges, to differing degrees. Like Jenn said yesterday, try to find the good things in life going for you, I'm sure you're a great person so that's most important, and look forward to whatever you can - work, friends, upcoming trip, pets, whatever. On the physical aspect of it, I would consult a dermatologist. Possibly it's a temporary situation, maybe due to the medication, who knows. I know you have already consulted your HT surgeon. He did say this has happened to 2 or 3 others. Did he say what the resolution was for the others? If the resolution was positive then that will give you a ray of hope on that path. Maybe consult with another recommended HT surgeon and tap their knowledge. Maybe they have some insight. I wish I could help more, but I had to pop in and do what little I can. I hope someone on this forum has knowledge on this situation, but either way, I'd work on the mental aspect first (maybe professionally) then tackle your challenge. Believe me, you'll be a stronger person once you have successfully tackled your situation in whatever manner you do it in.

Thanks guys. I'm hopeful that mine will not be visible when wet once it has healed thoroughly, but in the meantime keep the hair a little longer so I can enjoy some summer activities. Thanks again.

At Shaprio Medical they indicated it would be okay to start using Rogaine 1 week after the procedure.

Hey all- Was wondering what your experiences are/were with regards to the visibility of the donor scar when your hair is wet. I'm only 11 days post op, and just had the sutures removed yesterday. I was hoping that once they were out, that when my hair is wet that it would be undetectable, but I can see a line fairly clearly. When it's dry it's not visible, just wet. I'm an avid water skier so I'm hoping this isn't an issue come summer, so I'm hoping that it's just still early in the game and in the healing process. Any thoughts? Thanks tkotko

Hey all- Was wondering what your experiences are/were with regards to the visibility of the donor scar when your hair is wet. I'm only 11 days post op, and just had the sutures removed yesterday. I was hoping that once they were out, that when my hair is wet that it would be undetectable, but I can see a line fairly clearly. When it's dry it's not visible, just wet. I'm an avid water skier so I'm hoping this isn't an issue come summer, so I'm hoping that it's just still early in the game and in the healing process. Any thoughts? Thanks tkotko

Sounds great Chaz. Keep us posted. I just had a procedure with Dr. Charles last Monday. Question for you - How long were you numb in the recipient area? I'm a week out and still numb. I've heard that's normal, but I'm just curious to what your experience was. Take care and good luck, tkotko

I agree with you 100% vocor. I went as conservative as I possibly could last week, with no temple work. I try to envision my situation when I turn, say 50 (I'm currently 38). I wanted a slight recession, and that will look perfectly normal for the rest of my life, I hope anyway. With my family history of very little hairloss, and my current state, about NW2 - NW3 (and I've been slowly losing hair since I was 19 **by the way, for years I would massage my temples and scalp, and I'm convinced that has helped because in a couple periods where I was lazy is where I'd notice more hairloss), and ample donor supply in the doctor's judgement, he said I could have even went a tad bit more aggressive. But I went as conservative as I could that would still provide me good astethic benefits. So I think I was in a position to push the envelope a bit, but in my eyes there's to much at stake here, and being as conservative as possible, while still making you feel good about yourself again, is the way to go, or at least safest.