JakeVig

I think hairbank has summed it up pretty well. I would say that Bosley has cleaned up its act in recent times, the bosley of old was notorious for false and misleading advertisements and other deceptive conduct some of which is documented on: http://www.bosleymedicalviolations.com/ The problem with Bosley and other 'hair mills' is that they are an umbrella company for unnamed doctors performing HT's, some good and some bad. Unlike other plastic surgery a HT requires skill, artistry and the use of the latest technology and techniques to achieve the best results. I believe only the best doctors in the world are able to dense pack and create a totally undetectable result. The quality docs mentioned on this site use the latest technology and techniques to provide the most optimal results with minimalist scarring. As for your symptoms don't worry, as it is not uncommon to have a swollen forhead and discomfort in your donor area. Your post-op instructions should instruct you to place an icepack on your forhead for the first few days after surgery to keep the swelling down. Most of the discomfort of the surgery should subside within 5-7 days. 3-4 months post op will be a good indication on how well your surgery was. Any shockloss you had in your recipient and donor area should grow back and you will start to notice your new HT hair coming through. As mentioned previously it is best to take timely pictures and document your progress. Also follow your post-op instructions dillegently do not put any strain on your donor area (e.g. heavy weightlifting, situps, running, etc) or go in the sun for at least a couple months post op. Keep your chin up Alec, you have a long wait ahead of you. Don't stress about what is done and just concentrate on the future. The good news is that you still have a lot of grafts in the bank should you need to use them in future. If the donor scar is a problem it can easily be removed by a quality doc in your next HT should you have the need. If they havent instructed you already you should get on Propecia/Proscar to slow/halt your hairloss.

What about if you go to a HT doc, they are aware of the ingredients/benefits of Proscar and will be able to prescribe it for you. Otherwise you can always get a prescription online from places like: http://www.medicalwellnesscenter.com/

Thanks Dr Feller for your first hand view of BHT. This could explain the silence surrounding BHT and why there are so few results of BHT available.

Hi Glock08, 4396 grafts will make a noticeable difference you should be a sporting a new you in a few months. Just a couple of questions, you said you got just 1's and 2's and only 6500 hairs from 4396 grafts, does this mean you had your grafts split?

Hi Jalter, Although there are some studies that indicate that laser therapy may be beneficial in preventing hair loss (although I have yet to see any noticeable visible regrowth on it alone) it is by no means as effective as the only 2 FDA approved meds for treating hairloss: Finasteride (Propecia/Proscar) and Minoxidil (Rogaine). Trying to treat your hairloss with anything else is unlikely to work. Here is an informative article that indicates that scalp med may not be FDA approved for hair loss: http://www.baldingblog.com/2005/10/05/scalpmed/ There are many proprietory products like Scalp med and Revivogen that will include minoxidil in their formula as well as '11 other secret herbs and spices' that makes their formula unique. If I were you I would not buy into any of them. If you require anything more effective than generic minoxidil I would recommend having a look at Xandrox from minoxidil.com. Dr Lee has been conducting open research on hairloss for many years the results of that research can be found on his website. He has solutions that include a high dosage of Minoxidil (12.5 and 15%) that also contain Azelaic acid which is believed to inhibit up to 100% of DHT where applied. He also provides a night time forumula which includes retonic acid which is believed to increase the absorption of Minoxidil. Basically a popular and effective hair treatment regime is to use a combination of Propecia, Minoxidil and Nizoral shampoo. Here is a good article suggesting the use of the above: http://www.regrowhair.com/general-hair-loss-topics/5-wa...-hair-loss-sufferer/ Hope this helps!

Hi Mark, Propecia maintains hair by reducing the formation of DHT which is the cause of male patterned baldness when it attaches itself to genetically susceptible hair follicles, i.e it is a DHT inhibitor. Minoxidil on the other hand is not a DHT inhibitor, no one knows how exactly minoxidil works. Initially scientists believed that it worked by stimulating blood flow to the follicle, but since other vasodilators do not stimulate hair growth this is unlikely the reason. The latest research indicates that it may work by opening potassium channels in the cells of the follicle. Although however it works one thing is clear, when you discontinue Minoxidil treatment you will lose the hair that it helped grow or maintain regardless if you are on Propecia or not.

icare4myhair, You look to have thick curly black hair with a good skin contrast, ideal characteristics for a HT. 2523 grafts will give you a fantastic cosmetic impact.

Hi Sociald, I've never heard of a spray but I heard minoxidil is now available in a foam format which is less greasy and irritating. You may also be interested in the minoxidil applicator which promises to be a more effective way to apply Minox though I havent used it myself: http://www.regrowhair.com/non-surgical-hair-loss-treatm...pply-your-minoxidil/ Other than that minoxidil.com has a 12.5% clean feeling, non-greasy solution that may be useful.

your hairline looks to low in my opinion. At 23 with your degree of hairloss I would have not brought the hairline down at all and settled for a denser windows peak. Although on a plus side 2.5 months is not that long in terms of what to expect with HT growth. Although to have a good idea of what to expect I would go back to your doc and request how many grafts you got as well as how dense the packing was.

Use the 'find feature' young waggy :-), if you can't find any comments on these docs chances are that you will not get any feedback. I will re-iterate what is a strong consensus on this forum, do not let geography or cost be a determining factor in getting your HT. The best doctors in the world whoose many patient results are listed here are cheaper than the 'hair mills'.

Its up to you, if it looks like you are running the risk of having a depleted donor than it may be worth the inconvenience as you wont have the option to go back in time once all is lost. Otherwise if Propecia is working well for you alone and you dont run the risk of a depleted donor than I dont think the messy regime is worth it. Dr Lee from minoxidil.com suggests that any regrowth you will get from minoxidil will come within the first 2-3 years after that you can drop down to 1 application a day to maintain what you have.

Hi SocialD, Unfortunately Minoxidil (Rogaine) and Finasteride (Propecia) work differently so the hair that you grew or helped maintain with Rogaine will not be maintained Propecia. Both are treatments (not cures) and will require you to stay on them indefinately in order to maintain the benefits.

Firstly irv, I can understand the benefits of finally being able to voice your insecurities among fellow supportive hairloss sufferers without being ridiculed by your friends, this is I believe one of this forums major strengths. Although Im going to have to agree with everyone here to start looking for docs outside your area. I know its convenient but you would hate to be kicking yourself years down the road when you know that a couple of days in another state would've given you a much better result. You should be able to take high quality pics of your scalp on your own and use them to consult with the best docs listed here. If you go with one of the coalition docs you can pretty much guaranteed to get a great result with a minimal donor scar - I think avoiding a bad HT should be your top priority. Basically Avodart suppresses around 92% formation DHT while 5mg of Finasteride only suppresses around 70%. You would want to do a lot more research on Avodart before considering it as it is considered to be an 'unsafe' and more potent drug than Finasteride (Propecia/Proscar). There is a lot of information on Avodart available on this forum, you can also get a good summary information on the differences between Avodart vs Propecia on Robert's Q&A hairloss site here: http://www.regrowhair.com/non-surgical-hair-loss-treatm...d-you-choose-part-2/ hope this helps irv, Good Luck!

Hi Bill, Yeah I was thinking that because you needed the optimal no of grafts that you probably could've got 2 large megasessions rather than 3. Well it doesnt really matter now, you are well educated and from what I hear have got your scalp excercises going for the grand finale HT that will give you the result that you want. Good luck with the Scalp excercises and your max graft HT with H&W!

I whole heartedly agree. Pat what you have helped created is a godsend to many. By maintaining this forums integrity you have provided hundreds of hairloss sufferers a life saving resource now and into the future.

bestinthebusiness, That is a very old article. Intercytex in the UK are known for their work towards hair multiplication. Unfortunately we still seem to be many years off before it becomes commercially viable.

Hi Bill, Looking at where you started Im suprised that you opted for 3 procedures rather than 2. Was there any reason for this or was it just your personal choice?

Yeah I don't see any reason for Dr Feller not to be apart of the coalition. In fact he is usually the Dr we refer about when we say that there are excellent Dr's outside of the coalition. His results speaks for themselves and he has the added benefit of being a regular poster (compared to other Dr's).

I would prefer to see actual photos of the results of BHT patients.

Well I think Dr E's response has put the issue at rest. Just one last thing can Pat or Dr E adjust your signature or something so it doesnt take up the whole page.

Hi irv, yeah it sux, hairloss has a way of having a negative impact on our social life. For me I was reluctant to see old friends I haven't seen in a while because they would most likely comment on what I already knew! I also have avoided all water sports for the last 3-4 years! Although being depressed and impulsive to get a HT is what lands many young patients into a butcher clinic and coming out with a bad HT. Believe it or not there is actually something worse than being bald - that is a bad HT, which can result in a lifetime living under a hat and a series of repair surgeries! I cant stress enough that you shouldn't limit yourself geographically or financially. If your lucky enough to live near an excellent doc thats a bonus, if not take the time to go to one. The results will last a lifetime and you only have 1 head and a precious limited donor supply to play with. I had to fly in from the UK to get my HT done. I was lucky to find this forum as many of the butchered HT's are performed in the UK. Basically you are not going to get any better advice than the ethical and excellent docs routinely mentioned on this forum. I would start your hairloss treatments now as you will need to strengthen your hair before having a HT to minimize your shockloss. Its a long journey irv, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel - I am half way there at 3 months post op.

irv, Just want to let you know that we all understand what you are going through. Hairloss has a way to effect our social life for years before we are prepared to do something about it. You do however seem to be lucky enough to have an understanding partner. I know its hard but try not to let this be an issue that stops you from having a happy relationship. The benefit from meds varies wildly among patients. Some people like waittosee (who you can search for on this forum) have amazing regrowth, in most cases it can stabalize and halt your hairloss, while for other patients it will only slow down their hairloss. Avodart is more effective in suppressing DHT (the cause of hairloss) than Propecia, this is also reflected in initial studies that show that it is more effective at treating hairloss than proecia. It is important though to know that it is not yet FDA approved for hairloss, it has more potent side effects than propecia and there are no studies on its long term effects. In essence you are taking a risk by taking Avodart. A lot of doctors will want you to try Propecia for a couple of years to see if you respond well before prescribing Avodart (if they do at all). I have also started taking Avodart myself as I have not responded well to Propecia for the last couple of years. One important thing that you should know before you start any treatments is that you may experience an initial shedding. You should not be concerned about this as most of the shedded hair will grow back and is actually a good sign that you are responding to the treatment. One last thing, I believe that most African Am men actually look good bald. In a lot of cases they look better with no hair than with hair (e.g. Michael Jordan). Before starting any surgeries you will want to know if you can pull off the shaved look, because after a HT you will no longer have this option and a slick bald head usually looks better than a thinning head. IMO you should start Propecia, Minox (If you can stand it) and Nizoral shampoo, and wait it out for 6-12 months so you can judge its effictiveness. During this time you should take comfort knowing that you are doing the most you can for your hairloss and that you still have the option for a HT in future. If anything the Propecia will strengthen your existing hair and minimize shockloss if you ultimately do decide to get a HT. Another bonus is that you have found an invaluable resource in this forum, that contains a wealth of knowledge. It also highlights the best HT doctors in the world so you can at least take comfort that you will not become a butchered HT victim (something that is still a common occurance in this industry today). Don't be afraid to ask questions as a HT is a life time committment and you should know all the facts before you committ yourself. Hope this helps!

Thats some pretty harsh words there B-Spot. I don't think we are in a position to be able to comment on the running of their business. Dr E may not have enough time in his day for consultations and the consultation fee may be there to limit the no of patients to those who are genuinely interested. Your analogies with the salesman is not valid in this case as anyone is able to show you a car or a house. The limited resource in question here is Dr Epstein himself (and his years of experience). The existance of a consultation fee is normal in the skilled services business. Accountants, Lawyers, IT Professionals, etc will still charge for the consultation and advice even if they don't end up doing the work. As mentioned earlier most top doctors that I know of don't even do the consultations themselves as they are too busy performing the actual procedures. Hell even with dedicated staff doing the consultations I still had to wait 2 days for my appointment for a phone consult.

That is right, Dr E is also famous for his Bona fide work in transforming the lives of young children with severe burns. Troy, I believe that he is also looking at Dr Rose. Greg you mentioned earlier that you wanted to see some of Dr Rose's patients, I believe Troy is a good example of Dr Rose's fine work!

Hi GregPorche, I have heard that Dr E does charge for an in person consultation although I believe that the cost from these consultations will be deducted from the HT price should you elect to go with him. I believe that the consultation fee is probably a result of demand for his time. A lot of top doctors are even too busy to provide consultations themselves and employ dedicated staff to handle the patient consultations.