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IMO, the actually area where the grafts were placed appears to be clean work, but it is kindo of hard to tell from the picture; however, the patient has a lot of area with thinning behind the frontal zone that should have been addressed; IMO this patient should have had a larger session to cover more of the frontal 1/3 instead of just the frontal zone; maybe that patient is going to come back in a year for another session or hope propecia helps in that area--I don't know the details of that particular case; IMO this person would have been ideal for a mega-session and maybe "one and done"; he will most likely need/want another surgery to address the mid-scalp area

5000-6000 grafts seems high for a NW 3; and although you don't ""need" to get on propecia, most HT doc's highly recommend it to their patients that have MPB. I would say get on Propecia; I would also consult with coalition docs--a lot of clincs have online consultations. Do you care to share some pics? We could get a better idea if the grafts estimate is accurate; also your age would be helpful.

cricket, Maybe I'm too conservative, but I would wait to get a HT. You are very young and I think you have somewhat aggresive hairloss for your age; definitely stay on propecia, but I would see how things looked when you are 30 or so; like I said I may be acting conservatively; if you go the HT route go to a coalition doc; also with your pattern, I think it will take a lot of grafts to give you a good cosmetic differance that you will be happy with.

There is a synergy between the two; However, IMO propecia is the foundation, ie. the bottom of the pyramid. Rogaine can be added to maybe get some additional benefits. In other words, without Propecia, Rogaine will not provide long term beneifts. If you are using propecia, adding rogaine may provide additional growth/maintenance.

chitchat, As Mike said, stay away from the hair mills and do lots of research; also are you on propecia? Propecia will slow down/stabalize your hair loss; if you are not on propecia, I would try it a year before getting a HT; also dandruff does not generally cause hairloss; it does not provide optimal conditions for your scalp, but as a general rule it will not cause hair loss or accelerate MPB; do you have pics to share?; we could get a better idea of your situation;

KamCal, at 7 days post op the grafts are very secure; if you lost a graft you would know it; it would bleed quite a bit; I think the "black thick dot spot" you are refering to is just part of the scab. I think you are OK; the follicle is longer; I would say you are fine

ng2gb gave you good advice; also, are you taking propecia? It appears you have somewhat of a diffuse pattern in which propecia could be beneficial; also do you have more pics, differant angles etc. so we can get a better idea of your loss; it is kind of hard to tell from the pic; 9K for 1100 grafts is a rip off; that is close to 9$ per graft; plus 1100 is a small procedure by todays standards; you would not be happy with 1100 grafts, and you would go back for another procedure a year later to add more density; the coalition doc charge 4-5$ per graft and the cost/graft decreases if you have a larger session

birdy, I would wait at least a year and see how propecia works before considering a HT; what is your family history of hairloss? At 26, chances are you could lose more hair; propecia should stabalize/slow down your hairloss; there are patients that have HT's with your loss similar pattern in their mid-twenties; but if you go that route you need to be conservative; allowing for future HT's if your hair loss progresses;

Aviaran, do you have any pre-op pics? looks like it is coming along nicely; I would not lower your hairline anymore; not sure your age, but it looks age appropriate; you won't have enough donor to lower the hairline to the line you drew in the pics and add density on top; I think another session of 2500 or so for density with withouthlowering the hairline would look good; I would wait another 6 months for it to fully mature to decide though.

any pics?

IMO, you should be honest with her and tell her you are going to have a HT; if she is worth being with, she would support you; You will not be able to hide it even if you told her you are going to be out of town for 2 weeks. You will have redness for a few months etc....Even a small HT of 1300 grafts would be hard to hide. Just be honest--hell, maybe she will be very supportive and go with you to your surgery, drive you home and tend to you while you recover.

I just got my pre-op instructions for my surgery oct. 4. It say no Vitamin A 10 days before surgery. I take accutane--low dosage 20 mg 3 X week for mild acne; accutane is a derivative of vit a. Will it be OK if I get off accutane a couple weeks before the surgery? I don't want to cause any complications during my surgery and compromise the results. Thanks for the replys.

I just got my pre-op instructions for my surgery oct. 4. It say no Vitamin A 10 days before surgery. I take accutane--low dosage 20 mg 3 X week for mild acne; accutane is a derivative of vit a. Will it be OK if I get off accutane a couple weeks before the surgery? I don't want to cause any complications during my surgery and compromise the results. Thanks for the replys.

I'm having surgery in October with Dr. Arovonitz in Detroit; had 1300 grafts from mhr in march 2006 with a wide scar; could the doctor leave the old scar and then end up with two scars; to me, that would be better if it would allow more grafts; to me the scar isn't a major deal cause I wear my hear long enough to conceal; ideally I would like just one scar; but rather have two if I get get the grafts needed to give me the cosmetic improvement in the front.

I'm having surgery in October with Dr. Arovonitz in Detroit; had 1300 grafts from mhr in march 2006 with a wide scar; could the doctor leave the old scar and then end up with two scars; to me, that would be better if it would allow more grafts; to me the scar isn't a major deal cause I wear my hear long enough to conceal; ideally I would like just one scar; but rather have two if I get get the grafts needed to give me the cosmetic improvement in the front.

Thanks for all of the replys; as a last resort, could the doctor leave the old scar and then end up with two scars; to me, that would be better if it would allow more grafts; to me the scar isn't a major deal cause I wear my hear long enough to conceal; ideally I would like just one scar; but rather have two if I get get the grafts needed to give me the cosmetic improvement in the front.

I have a wide scar from my 1st transplant from MHR. I am going to Dr. Tessler in Detroit area for my 2nd HT. He didn't seem to think it would be an issue. We are shooting for 1600 grafts--beef up the hairline with more density. Could the wide scar be an issue? Basically my hairloss is only at the hairline/temple area and I'm 32, so I feel my hairloss is fairly stabalized.

I have a wide scar from my 1st transplant from MHR. I am going to Dr. Tessler in Detroit area for my 2nd HT. He didn't seem to think it would be an issue. We are shooting for 1600 grafts--beef up the hairline with more density. Could the wide scar be an issue? Basically my hairloss is only at the hairline/temple area and I'm 32, so I feel my hairloss is fairly stabalized.

I start school in the fall, classes monday, tuesday, wednesday; if I had surgery on a thursday 1500 grafts, could I wear a baseball cap to class on monday and be OK as far as not damaging grafts and avoiding detection; also, would the swelling be gone by then? I've heard the swelling can sometimes linger until day 5-6 post op. Thanks

I have some proscar that will expire soon; is it OK to use, say a couple of months after the expiration; will it have the same efficacy? Thanks for your replys.

I have some proscar that will expire soon; is it OK to use, say a couple of months after the expiration; will it have the same efficacy? Thanks for your replys.

It's nice to here you guys are getting good results with Avodart. However, how can you guys' afford 3mg and 10 mg per day--that's like 180$/month and 600$/month, respectively for generics. Real Avodart double that. I'm on .5 mg, I just can't jusify spending that much a month unless I was getting amaxing results.

Thanks for the replies John, and Bill

I'm probably a worry wort. I'm 7+ months post op, and I was combing my hair today and I noticed a bit of blood(not a trickle, just enough to dab with a piece of toilet paper) along the hairline. I looked closely and it looks like it is where a graft was placed (because it is slightly raised) but there is no hair srouting yet. If that is a graft is it possibly damaged? I don't think so but I just want some reassurance. Thanks for the comments.

I'm probably a worry wort. I'm 7+ months post op, and I was combing my hair today and I noticed a bit of blood(not a trickle, just enough to dab with a piece of toilet paper) along the hairline. I looked closely and it looks like it is where a graft was placed (because it is slightly raised) but there is no hair srouting yet. If that is a graft is it possibly damaged? I don't think so but I just want some reassurance. Thanks for the comments.