arfy

It's too early to get alarmed. It can take an average of 10-12 weeks for regrowth to begin. You're at 12 weeks, and since we are talking about averages, some guys might take longer. The fact that one side seems better than the other is a little disturbing, but it is still a bit early to push the panic button. Hang on for a few more weeks, and contact the clinic if there are any doubts. However, I looked at the Peterson Medical website, and that bad news is that they look like a bad choice for a hair transplant. For one thing, it says they use Minigrafts and Micrografts, which are not the most natural looking grafts to get. Read the article "The Best Procedure" over on the left, to learn what the state-of-the-art procedure is. Unfortunately, Peterson Medical is about 10 years behind the times. Sadly, most of the doctors use the older techniques because it is easier, faster and more profitable. If you decide to get more procedures, or want a doctor to check you out in person, look at the "Find a Great Surgeon" section here, to get some suggestions on who might be good. I got a sick feeling looking at the Peterson Medical website, with their so-called "Easy-Graft method". You can do MUCH better than them... http://www.easygraft.com/index.html

Try reading "the Best Procedure" article over on the left. There is also lots of good reading at Dr. Shapiro's website, and the NHI website: www.ShapiroMedical.com www.newhair.com An FU graft is trimmed under a microscope, so that all excess tissue is removed. The clinics that do not use microscopes can't trim grafts as closely, without risking damage. Also, it just takes longer to trim the grafts under a microscope. The untrimmed excess tissue in other grafts can cause cobblestoning (bumpy scalp) and compression (makes grafts look even pluggier). Those websites will explain it better than I can.

Doug I believe Dr. Woods has mentioned the trauma of creating all of the recipient sites at once...maybe I heard him say that on Spencer's radio show? I don't remember where I got that from, as there is quite a bit of information on Woods being circulated from sources other than this site.

Jebster, you are really a confused guy. You really ripped into me for saying consultants should be banned. You ripped into me for saying clinics should not be allowed to advertise surgery on TV. Then you turn around and say "I don't see the difference in what Wood's is doing in his web presentation and the other alleged unethical practices." If you "don't see a difference", why are you slamming the hell out of me one day, then turning around and saying Woods is wrong the next? Duh? [This message was edited by arfy on June 04, 2002 at 04:44 AM.]

Look again...he's on Pat's "Find a Great Surgeon" list. No offense, but didn't you just post recently saying you had some ridging and scarring, and some swelling months after your surgery? Are you really happy with your results?

I think Woods' website is not-so-great. But I would never suggest it is because Woods is trying to con people. Supposedly Woods is working on an updated site. And also I have heard people suggest that guys should request a copy of his videotape, which is supposed to be a better representation. Regarding Doug H's #3: Most FU doctors create the recipient sites all at once, which is allegedly more traumatic than what Dr. Woods does: Creating each recipient site individually, only when a graft is ready to be placed.

Hair "fused" to the scalp is a code word for a hair piece. They will probably call it a "hair system" or do whatever they can, to make it not sound like a hair piece.

Sunburn can trigger hair loss. I don't know what effect it will have on your grafts. But the grafts have a certain amount of scar tissue (where they sit in the scalp). You should probably keep your scalp out of the sun, even if it doesn't hurt your graft growth.

If you use Finasteride (Propecia) you should probably retain more hair, and protect it fro shock fallout. You should be using it anyway. Save all of your remaining natural hair. Transplants do not prevent future baldness.

Figsy Look at the photos of George again. In the 'before' and 'after' the rooms are completely different. Believe it or not, that green room could influence the overall color of the pics. Also, George does not have a huge bald area to cover. All the work is being done in the front. Saying a doctor alters their before and after photographs, is a serious charge. Are you saying you think Dr. Woods is a cheater and a con man...? You are entitled to your opinion, but I don't agree. The photos are poor quality (but not the worst I've seen) and I think they are authentic.

I've never heard of it. Of course, I don't know everything Post this question in the "ask the doctors" forum. You might consult with another doctor... It sounds similar to cobblestoning...is it? Or is it a broader area than just each graft being raised?

Sure, why not? He still has almost all of his original hair in the crown, before the transplant. He is only getting a limited area transplanted. And by combing his hair straight back, he can camoflage any less-dense grafted areas in the middle scalp. Most of those grafts are in the front, I presume. The photos are not high-quality, but I don't doubt them.

This doesn't sound right to me. Does the doctor say that this is supposed to go back to normal? Or is this a permanent condition?

Senator Biden got a transplant in the 70s, I saw his picture in Life magazine and it looked bad. Over the years he has had some additional work to improve it, but it still looks bad and wrong. It is not natural to have a big bushy hairline, and a massive bald spot in the back. He alo has a very unnatural-looking hairline shape. This just goes to show that corrective work has limits, so make sure you pick a world-class doctor the first time, because once you get botched, the damage is done. I also think Biden's transplant does not follow a pattern of hair loss found in nature. It's too thick in the front. He probably had more grafts put in-between his old plugs, and none of them were removed (like most corrections nowadays). I bet he has "zero" follicular unit grafts, I bet the additional grafts are all Minigrafts and Micrografts. I sometimes hear certain doctors talk about how Minigrafts are useful, because they add density. Density is meaningless if your transplant doesn't look 100% natural, and Joe Biden's definitely does not! Guys, either get it right the first time with a world-class doctor, or do yourselves a favor and don't do it at all!

AVOID Dr. Schwinning like the plague...! He is a member of Long Island Medical Associates, they are currently being sued by something like 100 ex-patients. Read this newspaper article, you will be amazed: A Hair-Raising Tale of Deceit (NY Daily News)

Sorry Cutlass I shouldn't assume you are unwilling to try Propecia...as i was writing, I got interrupted. Too late to edit my post. But it is so important to save your remaining hair, even if you are getting HT... especially if you get a HT!

It blows my mind that some guys are willing to undergo surgery, but not willing to try preventative medication first. You could maybe save yourself some unnecessary surgery, by maintaining those crown hairs. Plus whatever other original hair a guy has, will make his HT look all the better. Who is your doctor? Most good HT doctors want you on Propecia, before any surgery. It probably helps with shock fallout. As Dr. Parsely said, you don't just let all your teeth rot, and then ask a dentist to replace them all.

I'm not suggesting you get numerous procedures. I just think you should not use up all 3000 grafts unless it is necessary. I would avoid putting grafts in the crown, if you still have a decent amount of hair there. Crown graft coverage will probably be light anyway, so putting grafts in an area with some coverage will gain you nothing, except exchanging grafted hair for natural hair. I'm just saying use your donor area up "as needed" and not because you are on a tight schedule. What about Propecia by the way?

I assume you are using Propecia, to try to save all those crown hairs you still have left? I hope so! I would try to get a light coverage in the crown if you have enough donor hair, but not at the expense of the front. Personally I don't mind a thinning look or even a baldspot, as long as it all looks natural. I'd rather not have a perfect hairline, with a big bald crown. I like HT that follow a pattern of loss actually seen in nature. Why don't you just get a thousand or so, and leave the back until later? Just get the finishing touches on the front and mid scalp? Why such a hurry to max out your donor supply? Maybe you could post your pics?

I'm not a doctor either, but I know you need to keep your head out of the sun after surgery, too. Not just for a few weeks (like swimming) but even longer, i believe.

The term "mixed grafts" is vague, and can mean anything and everything. I think it is Dr. Parsely who says he uses 2% Minigrafts, and everything else he uses is a FU. There are some doctors (Shapiro may be one, I believe...?) who will occasionally use limited amounts of "coupled FU grafts". Those grafts are still microscopically-dissected FUs, unlike Minigrafts. Some patients have low donor density, which is one of the reasons given. (Donor density is "how many follicles per graft" and not "how close together are the FUs" as I used to think). If a patient has almost all 1&2 follicle FUs, then supposedly "coupled FUs" are used sometimes. Again, that is not a Minigraft. I personally would only get FU grafts, and NEVER agree to get Minigrafts. In my opinion, the biggest priority is naturalness, and density is secondary. I would also resist coupled FUs. If you read Dr. Beehner's posts carefully, he says that there are some experienced surgeons and clinics who can get good density with "all-FUs", because skill and experience are factors. Other less-experienced doctors might need to use coupled grafts in that same situation. Dr. Beehner basically leaves it up to the experience and philosophy of the individual doctor, and doesn't say one way is better or worse. What he does say is that some doctors get better results doing it one way, and other doctors get better results doing it another way. I say it's worth seeking out the doctors who get the best results when they use only FUs (or the rare limited use of "coupled FUs".) And absolutely avoid doctors who use Minigrafts. If I am not mistaken, Dr. Bernstein is one of the doctors who only uses FU grafts, because he has the experience and skills. According to Loria's website, he uses Minigrafts and Micrografts. That is NOT good, in my opinion! I've also read some less-than flattering reports online about Dr. Loria. Since Dr. Bernstein is considered probably one of the very best in the world, a New York native owes it to himself to at least consult with Dr. Bernstein.

Hi Eddie I think the best doctor in the New York area for Hair Transplants is Dr. Bernstein at NHI. He is one of the best in the world. Did Dr. Loria and his assistants use microscopes (not magnifiers that they wear, but binocular microscopes) to dissect your grafts? That is the most efficient way to use your donor hair. Read the article "The Best Procedure" on your left. It explains the use of the microscope, and why Follicular Unit grafts look more natural than Minigrafts. If I were you, I would only get microscopically-dissected Follicular Unit grafts, because they are the most natural looking. The "all-FU transplant" is considered state-of-the-art. I just checked out Dr. Loria's website, it may not be up-to-date, but it says he uses a mix of Minigrafts and Micrografts. That approach is not as good. Maybe his website needs to be updated...? You might still end up with a satisfactory result, give yourself about a year to decide if you are happy with your new look. I certainly hope everything works out for you, I think guys should only get "amazing" looking hair transplants, anything else is not worth it. Go for the best, when it comes to your appearance. If you think you might go for a second procedure, please do yourself a favor and check out Dr. Bernstein, and see what you think. His website is www.newhair.com and it is pretty informative. He is "no-pressure" and you would be smart to shop around a little, before any more surgeries. Any other questions, just ask... I don't want to bring you down while you are still fresh from surgery, but I feel like it is important to be honest. I personally had bad results from a hair transplant because nobody would "shoot straight" with me, so I think it is important to get the facts out there first, and worry about guys' feelings second.

Sometimes grafts can die, for a variety of reasons I believe. They can be improperly seated, they can be mishandled, etc. I believe having one or two grafts "pop out" or die per every thousand transplanted, is not considered "out of line". Even 10 may not be a red flag...I think the main thing that makes grafts pop out is "pressure" in the scalp, in other words if you have had thousands of grafts put in, that creates some additional tension, and it is possible a couple will pop out. 10 grafts is a few more than anyone wants, but it may not be an emergency if that is all you lose. Be sure you are treating your grafts gently, and also not exerting yourself for the first 2 weeks to a month, etc. Follow your clinic's post-operative instructions very closely. You don't want to be lifting heavy things or doing anything that will create pressure in your scalp. Be extra careful even bending over to tie your shoelaces the first few days. If I were you I'd contact your doctor if you have any other questions about caring for your grafts. I just re-read your first post. If you have other grafts that seem like they are popping out (more than the 10 you mentioned) you should probably see your doctor right away. It sounds like you may be in danger of losing some more? Let us know what happens!

You are not bald enough for a hair transplant. This has been discussed over and over here. A HT hairline is mature and recessed, so it still looks natural when you are 50. Otherwise, people will wonder why "grandpa" still has the hairline of a teenager. It will look bizarre. Read the "My Recovery Story" part of the site, and look at Pat's hairline. I bet his "end result" hairline is higher and more recessed than what you currently have naturally. In other words, you wouldn't gain a thing by putting in grafts right now. You should be using Propecia to stop the progression of hair loss. If you can do that, you will never become bald enough to really need a hair transplant in the first place. You shouldn't even consider a HT until you are at least Norwood 3 or higher. Try and hang on to your hair the way it is now, and you will be ahead of the game.

The "scam" part is that Avacor is an expensive repackaging of Minoxidil. I think you can get generic Minoxidil at Costco for like 15 bucks a month. Avacor is something like 6 times that price. The doctor you see and hear on those commercials, spent 2 and a half years in prison for defrauding Medicare. He's a crook. Now that the patent has expired on Minoxidil, anybody can repackage it and sell it, apparently. Just spend your money on Minoxidil.