Big1

Yeah Arfy, any news? (Write a long one).

I have to go home in 2 weeks. I had a surgery 2 weeks ago and by the time I fly home I will be 1 month post-op. I buzzed my hair too short and my extremely dimpled recipient area is clearly visible. I want to wear a hat but I know that I will be nagged about it. My plan is to dye my hair red so that the newly operated pink recipient skin can be concealed. I can then say that I am wearing a hat because "the red dye looks bad". My question is, what can I use that won't damage 1 month old grafts? I do not use concealer and I think my hair will still be too short in 2 months anyway. My hair is dark brown. I think that I would first need to bleach my hair before the red dye can be seen, but I refuse to use it. What can I use? PLEASE HELP.

I have to go home in 2 weeks. I had a surgery 2 weeks ago and by the time I fly home I will be 1 month post-op. I buzzed my hair too short and my extremely dimpled recipient area is clearly visible. I want to wear a hat but I know that I will be nagged about it. My plan is to dye my hair red so that the newly operated pink recipient skin can be concealed. I can then say that I am wearing a hat because "the red dye looks bad". My question is, what can I use that won't damage 1 month old grafts? I do not use concealer and I think my hair will still be too short in 2 months anyway. My hair is dark brown. I think that I would first need to bleach my hair before the red dye can be seen, but I refuse to use it. What can I use? PLEASE HELP.

That looks like very good work; however, aren't you concerned that a significant number of grafts will fail to grow because they are so densely packed? What makes you think that you are achieving 90-95% growth? I'm a young man and I would like my hair to be as dense as possible, but I'm skeptical that densely packing to such an extreme results in high yields. Don't you have to separate a tremendous amount of follicular units to achieve densities of 60 grafts/cm2?

Frankly, I'm horrified that the doctor would encourage you to have surgery for 500 grafts. If you had a VERY small area to fill (like 10 square centimeters), then 500 grafts barely sounds right, but if the area is truly that small then DON'T BOTHER. A small surgery like that can do a tremendous amount of damage, and much more destruction would result than improvement. I was in this exact same situation 3 years ago. My guess is that the doctor is lowballing you and quoting you a number that he thinks you can afford. RUN!

I can't believe your dermatologist hasn't encouraged you to introduce Finasteride (Propecia or Proscar) into your regimen. This medicine has been used for nearly 50 years to treat men suffering from "PRO"state cancer. The side effect was hair growth. I don't have any hairloss in the vertex but have been on Propecia for 3 years and it has either DRASTICALLY thwarted my hairloss or my hairloss conveniently ended when I began taking it (which is very unlikely). The research and development was funded based on the hypothesis at the time -- that it promoted hair growth in the vertex. It was found that hair growth was observed over the entire head. Minoxidil won't give you shit in the way of hairline and I would encourage you to save the money, time, energy and aggravation by doing what works for me, which is to get off of it at once. The rumor is that Minoxidil (Rogaine) will mitigate shock loss but to a much lesser extent than Finasteride. As you already know, some patients believe that it not only protects the vellus hair but it also promotes their growth. I am not of that opinion. I have never tried Minoxidil for a significant period of time because hair never seemed like it was worth that kind of trouble (and I won't even if in fact, it is worth the trouble); moreover, the payoff with Minoxidil is so incredibly minute, and as soon as Rogaine is interrupted all payoff subsides and "newly grown" hair falls away. I don't think your dermatologist is terribly concerned with hairloss in general (and your hairloss specifically) because he isn't giving you sound advice. Ask another doctor...its your head.

A lot of reputable doctors commend DHI on their webpage. Based on the photos in the gallery, they seem to be doing really good work. They're doing FUE without shaving the donor region now. Hmmm...

Dr. Beehner offered a really good explanation in the "Ask a Physician" thread. If you're already on Propecia the likelihood of your hair falling out (from shock) is less. That being said, your hair will fall out for the rest of your life, and although it may look good now, you may need to be updated in several years -- the transplanted hairs will persist while the native hair falls away; the transplanted hair will no longer be camouflaged by native hair. Depending on your hair color and quality this may not be an issue.

Before you get too excited refer to the before pictures. It may be possible that a lot has grown and that you may just need more grafts.

Grafts can die for 2 reasons: they were left out of solution for too long or they were transected. The former is unlikely since you received FUE, but the latter is certainly possible. Dr. Jomes is probably using one instrument to remove the grafts instead of two -- a sharp to dislodge and a dull to remove. He may have transected the graft. It is also possible that the grafts haven't grown yet, but I have always known FUE grafts to grow quicker (because there is generally less tissue surrounding the graft).

I agree with Hair Be There. If you insist on a transplant, look into F.U.E. It is so much nicer to have your hair and not have a scar.

The work looks good but obviously the photo doesn't provide a lot of detail. I would like to see the doc provide evidence of 60 grafts/cm2. Thanks.

This is not advertising. It is posted in the appropriate section and does not include contact information. The results look promising.

Tom Spruill, M.D. said, "we do have a decades long medical legacy of hormonal manipulation- for better or worse." The "decades-long legacy of hormone therapy" that you speak of was never a study of hair loss treatment; obviously, it was implemented and used to treat prostate cancer. Its long term effect on men that suffer only from hair loss has yet to be established.

Removing the plugs was a good idea if you are willing to lower your hairline about 3 mm (which is not much). Lowering the hairline also impllies a need for many more grafts. If you use f.u.e. (from your chest) -- which Dr. Charles is qualified to do-- to cover the top, you can use donor hair (from your head) to achieve a lower hairline and more density. If you can get another surgery in a year from now, you're gonna look great.

Dr. Charles is excellent; chances are very good that he did NOT mess up. It is possible that much of your transplanted hair has grown (and sometimes it is just hard to see any improvement without a before pic). I didn't see any growth until about month 5. Month 6 has always been very exciting. Everything will work out, but if you insist on freaking out, just be careful with your head.

Smoothy, I think that you're mostly right. The width of scars seem to also be caused (in part) by gravity. Thus, even if a small strip is cut out, if there is still a lot of skin left, then it may pull down on the scar. I just want to know how significant the "pull down" factor is.

One would assume that the less elasticity (or the less "give" in the skin) the more likely a wide scar would result; however, I have also heard the opposite, which is that more elasticity would lead to a wider scar. Which is true? Are there special cases which support the latter (or is it the rule)?

One would assume that the less elasticity (or the less "give" in the skin) the more likely a wide scar would result; however, I have also heard the opposite, which is that more elasticity would lead to a wider scar. Which is true? Are there special cases which support the latter (or is it the rule)?

Today I receieved a call from Roxy (a member of Dr. Epstein's staff). I never had an opportunity to speak with her but she did leave a detailed message and asked me to call her with any questions. I was also called by Dr. Epstein but was away from my phone at the time. He too left a message and provided both his work and his home telephone number. My impression of Dr. Epstein's practice has changed. It is very clear to me that Dr. Epstein is concerned that his patients have positive experiences at his office. It was nice to recieve phone calls from both Roxy and Dr. Epstein. I am certain that any patient would leave his office a very satisfied customer.

An h.t. is expensive. I better be getting more for my money than merely results (like respect for my anonymity and courtesy). A good result is not the only criterion for deciding on a doctor. I would also add that it probably isn't that unusual for prospective patients to want their privacy and to keep their anonymity. My money is too hard earned to give to just anybody.

By the way Geedo, you specifically need to calm down and read. We are supposed to share our experiences -- and not only the good ones! Evidently some things need to be repeated) I NEVER EVEN SPOKE WITH THE DOCTOR! Needless to say, my comments didn't smear Dr. Epstein. Don't be so quick to call people names.

Lets calm down for a second. That was my experience with his help and not with Dr. Epstein. I'm not condemning her or his office, just communicating with you and anyone else who cares to read. I was not a "surrogate". I called after my friend called, who was unable to get info.; I was as well. Not getting information was never the problem. I'm happy for you that you had a nice experience.

I don't want to waste too much time on the subject. The interested party called with specific questions but he was unable to get any information. I called (anonymously) and she said "I don't know what you guys are doing but your friend just called and asked similar questions." I then asked "is that bad" and she said "no". The fact that she would try to "out" me is absurd and she is evidently way too unprofessional to be working in a business like aesthetic surgery. After all, if it is acceptable to treat prospective patients like that (before the doctor has been paid) then I would be curious to see how a patient is treated after he has paid. She might be the exception (and not the rule) at the doctors office -- and I would hope so-- but JESUS CHRIST!!! Its somewhat understandable (yet not at all appealing) that she couldn't answer ANY technical questions but it was not ok for her to try and shame me (or my friend). Not what I wanted to have to deal with.

Today I helped someone close to me research hair transplant doctors. I spoke at length with 2 doctors: Dr. Charles in Boca Raton, Fl. and Dr. Nussbaum in Miami. Both Doctors were very pleasant and knowledgeable. I was surprised to hear that Dr. Nussbaum has 9 technicians disecting grafts for every case -- now that's service! Dr. Nussbaum uses inteneral dissolvable sutures and external traditional sutures. I for one, am very impressed with what I've learned from Dr. Nussbaum. The person who is interested in surgery has already met with one of Dr. Nussbaum's patients and was impressed. Dr. Charles is in his thirties and was extremely accessible for both the interested party and myself. My sense is that he is very ethical and talented. My first inclination was to advise my associate to solicit information from Dr. Jeffrey Epstein (in Miami). I called his office today and spoke with a girl (whose name rhymes with droolin). I never got a chance to speak with the doctor but based on my impression from the girl who answered the phone, I would NEVER step foot in his office. Too bad. As for me, it looks like I might have my 4th and last procedure