Neptune

Glad to hear about your next step Carol! Do you have any before and after pics from the first procedure so we can see how things have developed? Are these from after your second procedure? If so, you can't tell a thing so that is good. Congrats on your procedure and good growing!

Up to three weeks and looking more and more like my old self every day in terms of the hairs falling out from the new grafts and the minimal hair I've lost due to shock loss. The two seem to balance each other out if not work in my favor. I'll be curious to see how things look in another month or two, so now the waiting game begins. So far, so good! I'll post one more set after next week (month one) and then go by month from there on out unless something warrants being shown.

Ralph: A search is indeed a good starting place as some of us have posted here about our exerience with Dr. E. As for me, I had my procedure done three weeks ago tomorrow and I have been very pleased with everything so far. My results won't be known for a year, but thus far, everything I was told to expect has been what's happened. I had 2100 grafts (you can catch my post under the photos section) and was able to go back to work undetected in a very short time though I took a full two weeks off. Dr. E. filled in my hairline and helped restore my temples. Again, time will tell but thus far very happy with my results. Dr. E. and his crew are a good bunch and his techs are outstanding. Let me know if you have specific questions and I'll try to help out.

A search will find a lot of information on this, but to give you a brief answer, it can depend on lots of variables. How many grafts? Which doc? Custom blades? Will you follow your pre-op instructions? Etc., etc. As you can tell if you look at the photo section, some of us were fortunate to look pretty good after as little as 7-8 days. A few pulled it off faster than that. Me personally? I took off two weeks and nobody has noticed anything. And I think I could have done the same in about 8-9 days. But then again, I only had 2100 graphs and didn't get shaved. Check out the photo section and see what you think. You'll be impressed.

I had the same concerns Delaware. I had a procedure done by Dr. Epstein (Miami) March 12. I went ahead and took off two weeks just cause I felt I might need to. In truth, it wasn't necessary but the extra few days made me feel good as I experimented with Toppik and Dermatch for cover. This had nothing to do with redness as the redness was gone in 8 days (actually about 6-7) days. And this included temple areas. For me , the only obvious difference were the new little hairs that were transplanted. I have blond hair up top (which had a darker base in back), and thus the new hairs from the back stood out a bit more than my frontal native blonder hair. So, I experimented. Putting a little lite colored Dermatch (or even a little makeup powder) on the base of the hairs made a HUGE difference. I then put a little darker Dermatch on top to shade in with the blonde (to give it a blended look) and used some of that self tanning stuff on my face and neck. Let me tell you what - Invisible! I was in front of a large group of people today (including high level execs who will notice EVERYTHING) and, other than some compliments on my tan and glasses (which I've actually had for a few months) nobody could tell a thing. As was mentioned, having a small session (2,100) and going to a doctor like Dr. Epstein (who is known for minimal redness soon after the procedure) and I was very satisfied. I'll try to post a pic of me in the next few days with my current look and I hope that helps. So the answer at least for me was yes, you can hide the results with the right doc and the right approach, at least after one week.

Hey Yukon: I understand the whole "strip scar" concern as it was one of the things that really held me back too. With that said, however, unless you are going to shave your head down or you have very poor donor coverage, I can voice that it is now one of my least concerns having had my procedure done two weeks ago Monday. Matter of fact, other than the fact I can feel that an incision was made, it doesn't cross my mind at all. The way I looked at it was this: Did I want to have more hair in front where I and others look every day, or worry about what should be an invisible scar to the rest of the world? Still, I had to think about it. Very glad at this point but I guess time will tell. I'd be curious if most guys who have had the procedure done really regret the scar issue as you suggest. Anyway, good luck to you and to NN in your decisions. I wish you the best.

Pushing: Hey, sorry about my delay in posting on your progress, but MAN, YOU LOOK GREAT!!! I can't even imagine how good that's gonna look when it grows in. Congrats on an amazing procedure and keep us posted!

Thanks Bill and rjvw. I am excited about the future and am delighted I chose Dr. E. My main reason was not density with this procedure, but being able to go back to work in short time and not have people know I had a transplant. We will see this next week, but I think I'm going to be able to get away with it! Once things grow in, and I determine how satisfied I am with the density, I may go back for another one. Time will tell. For now, I just want to go through the "cycle" and go from losing the graphs, to more shock loss, to starting the growth itself. Really exciting! Wish I was in Philly and I'd get together for a beer with you guys and Hairfree so we could all talk about our progress. Thanks again. More to follow as it happens.

Updated with photos week and a half out. Scabs gone. Redness gone. Just a bunch of new little hairs that I'm now trying to cover up with Dermatch and/or Toppik just cause they "look" darker than my natural hair. Actually, with a little powder from my wife's makeup, they (and the entire procedure) are invisible! Stitches are out and the donor scar is healing nicely. No complaints at all and now just waiting for the new little ones to drop off. Going back to work Monday so we'll see if anyone notices anything. I've got a few stories lined up if they do!

Yes, density will be the key. I would have taken more if they could have been had, but I'm fine to wait and see how it looks. I can't believe the number of new (or soon to be new) hairs that are now all up front and center. Really does take me back about 20 years just thinking about it. Waiting till later Summer is going to be hard! Donor area looks good too. I'll try to get some pics of it. Can't see it at all without pulling the hair up. A couple of bigger scabs that I'm working on with Vitamin E oil. Thinking about an Epson Salt rinse on that area as well. What do you think?

Gorpy: I'm on both Proscar and Rogaine. Been on Proscar since December, 06 and Rogaine for several years, but switched to the foam a couple of months ago. I like the foam more though I can't tell if the new growth I've seen (I have a blanket of baby hairs coming almost out to the hairline that are new) is due to the foam or the Proscar. Probably the Proscar though. Dr. E did a nice job going in between, but he cautioned me that I could lose 10% or so of the frontal hair to shock loss, and not to be surprised if I did. I figured this was a small price to pay for not having to shave down anyway. So far, nothing has come out but I'm only on my third day post op. I'll keep you posted though.

I have asked and been told that I will soon get a total count breakdown. I'll be sure to provide that to everyone as soon as I get it along with some new photos. It already looks a ton better than these. Taking some pics tonight.

I've posted comments on the other forums about my experience with Dr. Epstein. I had the procedure performed Monday, March 12 and these pics are right after surgery. I'll take some more here in a day or two and share them as well. Dr. Epstein and his staff were fantastic! He ended up harvesting just under 2,200 grafts, of which about 120 or so (60 on each side) went to rebuild the temples. Funny, but these pics don't show all the newly place hair very well, which was all placed in the frontal zone. But when I put my hand on my scalp flat I feel a nice little carpet of new hairs. Hairline was dropped a tad as well, but not much. It's now Wednesday and the swelling has begun. Not too bad, but it is there. I'm using Graphcyte and Vitamin E oil to soften the scabs which are going away nicely. Seems like a typical experience from what I've learned from watching so many others go through this. No complaints from me as I'm very happy with everything thus far! More pics will be posted from time to time, and comments are welcome.

I've posted comments on the other forums about my experience with Dr. Epstein. I had the procedure performed Monday, March 12 and these pics are right after surgery. I'll take some more here in a day or two and share them as well. Dr. Epstein and his staff were fantastic! He ended up harvesting just under 2,200 grafts, of which about 120 or so (60 on each side) went to rebuild the temples. Funny, but these pics don't show all the newly place hair very well, which was all placed in the frontal zone. But when I put my hand on my scalp flat I feel a nice little carpet of new hairs. Hairline was dropped a tad as well, but not much. It's now Wednesday and the swelling has begun. Not too bad, but it is there. I'm using Graphcyte and Vitamin E oil to soften the scabs which are going away nicely. Seems like a typical experience from what I've learned from watching so many others go through this. No complaints from me as I'm very happy with everything thus far! More pics will be posted from time to time, and comments are welcome.

I've done a search and found many different answers to this. Is pure non alcohol aloe vera good to use? I've heard of epson salt water, saline, aloe and vit. E gel. I don't want to put anything on the grafts that will suffocate them or harm them. Is that possible with any of the above gels anyway? Thanks for any advice you have to offer guys!

I've done a search and found many different answers to this. Is pure non alcohol aloe vera good to use? I've heard of epson salt water, saline, aloe and vit. E gel. I don't want to put anything on the grafts that will suffocate them or harm them. Is that possible with any of the above gels anyway? Thanks for any advice you have to offer guys!

Thanks guys. And thanks for the tip about rolling the towel up. Damn I wish I had been smart enough to think of that last night! I had the kind of night where you aren't sure if you can get comfortable, aren't sure if you are going to rub your head in the middle of the night, aren't sure if your bleeding and generally, just can't sleep kind of night. Kind of like the one before. I'll be glad to get home and relax a few days in my own bed. I'll be sure to post some pics soon.

Wow is all I gotta say! Had my procedure yesterday with Dr. E. Will post pics when I get home but wanted to give you this update now. First of all, you can pretty much take RJVW's comments and post them here verbatim. I arrived about 8:30, had a review of the procedure with Doc E, followed by a drawing of the hairline (which I felt was perfect). Had planned on 2000 graphs, and ended up just shy of 2200. Also decided to go with about 50 to 80 graphs per side for temple restoration. Dr. E is a very nice man. Whistles pretty much throughout the office all day and asks lots of questions about you on and off during the long procedure. And the staff? They are perhaps the friendliest people you'll meet. One by one they introduced themselves to me and they all spent the day chatting both with each other and with me. Very nice group! As for the procedure, the whole thing went off without a hitch. Took a Valium but skipped the optional Ambien cause I didn't want to snore them out of the room! Everything was explained to me and then we got started. The numbing was no worse than little shots that just sting a little. If you can handle a dentist, you can handle this stuff. Really the only pain I experienced all day were these numbing shots and they weren't that bad, especially once the areas got numb initially. The strip was out so damn fast I couldn't believe it! All the techs went to work on that while Dr. E starting making the incisions. Before I knew it, he and one of the techs were carefully putting in the graphs. Dr. E. in the hairline and the tech in the temple. Later, as we got past the hairline, the techs did more of the placing, but Dr. E was either placing more himself of keeping a close eye on what went where by one, two or three hair graphs. Once most of the initial hair line work was done by Dr. E, I was sat up and they all looked at me from all angles. They agreed one side needed more refining and a little lowering, so off to work Dr. E. went. Then they worked their way back till they were finished. Before I knew it the whole thing was over. Started the actual procedure around 10:00 and finished around 3:30 or so. Got my post op directions and my wife took me back to the hotel which was just a few miles away. Only had to take one Tylenol w/cod. and that was really just to help me get comfortable with the back of my head on the pillow. Only had slight bleeding in the back. Nothing too bad. Look pretty much like I expected on the top. A little red/pink and the typical little scabs. Many of these melted down once I started spraying with the graphcyte. Had a headache (probably from the temple work) but it was gone in an hour. Watched a movie with my wife, had some dinner in the room and got packed so we could head out today to go back home. I'll get you pics and some graph counts by hair once I get home. Thanks again for all your support guys! I would never have done this without you and I a glad I did as I spent all night looking in the mirror thinking how cool this is all going to be when it all grows in!

Best to try a search on this site and you'll find more info than you can stand. Also, I want to make sure I clarify my last message. MSM is a substance that possibly makes hairs and nails grow faster. It does not, however, make hair grow where it has not grown before. It is a supplement that may help stuff grow faster, provided it is growing in the first place. Or at least that is what I've been told. Try a search and see if that helps. Bet it will.

Hotel is only 3 miles from his office, so should be fine. Traffic around here is a bear though. They said to be there by 9:00 which shouldn't be too hard. Miami was great today. Went to Key Biscayne and South Miami Beach. Talk about traffic. Try Miami Beach! Great to get out and just get some sun. No burn though. Ready to go tomorrow!

Hairfree: Just a note on MSM. As Nervous said, it does/can help speed up hair growth (along with nails). Just stop taking it at least a few days before your procedure, cause it also thins the blood (like asprin and alcohol can). Good luck!

Going out to enjoy Miami today. Maybe going to head out to Key Biscayne or just go cruse the beach. An added side benefit from having this done in Miami this time of the year. Don't worry, I'll wear a hat! I'll check in with you guys hopefully tomorrow night, but we'll see. Thanks again for all they advice and support!

I heard from Dr. Epstein within a few business days. Heard from Shapiro medical in around a week and Dr. Alexander's office in two weeks or so. Of these, Dr. Epstein responded himself while the other offices (not that this is bad) had an employee of the clinic provide the first response.

Bill: Thanks for your support to us all during this process! I will for sure post pics of before and after for all to see. As for relaxing, my wife and I are flying to Miami Sat and we're going to spend the day Sunday just driving around enjoy the warm weather (hopefully). Then we'll head over to the office Monday morning and get things going. Really looking forward to getting this part done!

Thanks rjvw. Never thought about the mirror, but I'll take one for sure. And I'll be sure to ask Dr. E about swelling control.