Patricia

Dude, My initial hair thinning was not related to a HT. sorry if I did not make that clear.. I was told by some top docs (Cleveland clinic, Northwestern University) that it was due to stress of grad school which I never really believed. Probably in retrospect, a combination of really poor diet and maybe stress-- who knows? It did eventually get better over a 2 to 4 year period of time..Docs back then gave me prednisone and steriod injections to the scalp.. I don't think the meds did anything.. it improved over time but not 100% It is still thin around the part which is why I am gong to do a HT...I think some docs still do steriods (pills) from what I have heard. I do not reccomend it There is a topical steriod that can be combined with Minoxidil. I have been told a well balanced diet and proper nutrition can help. When I first started thinning I was a vegitarian and trying to maintain wt at 105lbs..Ironically the steriods made me look like I gained 30 lbs.. it was not a good way to go.. hopefully yours will improve over time.. gone today...hair tomorrow...

I have been using a small filler hair piece on and off for over 15 years...I am very specific in the way they are designed (custom and made on the premisies)for the very reason you are concerned about..stress on the exsistng hair. There are some very gentle snap clips that can be sewn on. These are less stressful than the little combs with teeth...please note that the combs with teeth come in sizes and I prefer the tiny ones (which sometimes have to be ordered but the hair place can do it if you insist).I also am in the public quite a bit and do presentations at conferences so I am very concerned about the way the piece looks and being secure... I often where sun or reading glasses on top of my hair to hold the piece down (I don't need glasses--this works well and people just think you're smarter)so most of the time I don't use the front clip. Dress casual and try snug fitting sunglasses on you head for a few weeks if that works for you.If you'd like, I can see if I can find out who can order the snap clips for you...good luck!!! gone today...hair tomorrow...

My hair got quite thin (apparently due to stress) and then over a few years time improved.. As it was getting thicker I noticed really strange hairs--my hair is blondish brown and some indivdual hairs were bright red and quite curly.. I even showed my doctor who supposedly had experience in this area and he just shrugged...Eventually they came back to normal. Perhaps this is related to "shock" or just a phase the hair goes through for a few people..most people I talked to about it have not experienced it..hang in there and they will probably get back to normal... gone today...hair tomorrow...

Hi, How can you tell if there is good elasticity in the donor area? I am wondering how much "give" there should be and whether or not scalp exercises can really improve elasticity. Any thoughts? Thanks..... gone today...hair tomorrow...

Hi, How can you tell if there is good elasticity in the donor area? I am wondering how much "give" there should be and whether or not scalp exercises can really improve elasticity. Any thoughts? Thanks..... gone today...hair tomorrow...

I spoke with Dr. Wong this evening and to those of you who don't already know this, he was a pleasure to talk to. (Thanks Joe for your suggestion to talk to him!) He answered many questions, explained some technical aspects of the procedure and was upfront about shockloss. (We even got to nutrition and daily exercise) I did not at all feel that he was anxious to get to the next call. Wish more docs were like him... gone today...hair tomorrow...

Could someone please tell me what the difference is between combining two FU's (each with 1-3 hairs so the result could be at least 3,4 graft) and a micrograft? Does that result in the same "micrograft" that so many of you are opposed to? I think that perhaps it has something to do with the way they are "trimmed" which produces a better result. Is the difference between a 3-4 hair FU (which is made up of 2 smaller FU's) and a "micrograft" determined by the the number of hairs, or the way it is transected? This would not be at the hairline but to help narrow a center part. I thought I understood this but after reading some of your posts I am confused-- Thanks for your input.... gone today...hair tomorrow...

Could someone please tell me what the difference is between combining two FU's (each with 1-3 hairs so the result could be at least 3,4 graft) and a micrograft? Does that result in the same "micrograft" that so many of you are opposed to? I think that perhaps it has something to do with the way they are "trimmed" which produces a better result. Is the difference between a 3-4 hair FU (which is made up of 2 smaller FU's) and a "micrograft" determined by the the number of hairs, or the way it is transected? This would not be at the hairline but to help narrow a center part. I thought I understood this but after reading some of your posts I am confused-- Thanks for your input.... gone today...hair tomorrow...

My suggestion is Do NOT talk to their lawyer (I can tell you this because I am one) on Monday. Remember it is THEIR lawyer, not yours and it is not for your benefit. You can be sure that the lawyer is taking careful notes on every word you say. You are concerned about a medical conditon and the lawyer is not equipped to answer anything for you-everything you say can and will be held against you.. The guys here are saying give it time and they have gone through it--relax take their advice...but don't talk to their lawyer. .. [This message was edited by Patricia on July 27, 2003 at 12:27 AM.]