GuitarPlayer

Most people start seeing good growth right around the 6-8 month time frame. It takes about a year to see the full results of a hair transplant.

After looking at your photos, I came to the following conclusion. You have a ton of hair! A lot of guys on here would kill to have as much hair as you. I wouldn't engage in a hair transplant if I were you. You'd be risking shockloss and an unnatural look down the road if you lost the rest of your hair and were just left with your tranplanted temples. I would just stick to the meds for the time being.

I read an article once that stated that using minoxidil after a transplant may help to prevent shockloss. I can't recall which doctor authored the article. Usually you have to wait a week to two weeks before you can use minoxidil after a transplant. What does your post-op instructions say?

I have never heard of a doctor leaving the donor area open and unsutured until the end of surgery. I think even most hacks close the donor area right after the strip has been extracted.

It seems to be widely suggested that Travolta wears a piece. Perhaps he didn't have his piece on.

Pimmers,

It may be a good idea to switch to the 2%, at least for a few months. Then maybe you can switch back to the 5%. Also, therapeutic shampoos such as Nizoral and Neutrogena T-Sal help tremendously with the itching from Rogaine.

GuitarPlayer

Bobman,

Did Dr. Hasson tell you how many grafts he thinks you have left? Perhaps you may be joining the 10,000 Graft Club.

GuitarPlayer

Bobman,

I have to agree with Hairworthy. I think your results definitely rival Futzyhead's.

GuitarPlayer

Pete,

Never heard of the doctor you're asking about. In the New York/New Jersey area there are several excellent doctors: Dr. Epstein, Dr. Bernstein, Dr. True, and Dr. Feller. All are highly recommended on this website.

GuitarPlayer

Ron73,

Who did you go to for your transplant?

Best of Luck,

GuitarPlayer

Just wanted to mention that Graftcyte also helped my itching after I had my transplant. I was spraying that stuff on several times a day.

Anonymous,

I use the 2%.

GuitarPlayer

Awesome result! You must be very pleased. Just curious... do you have any available donor left should you need it in the future?

I have been using topical spironolactone for about the last 6-8 months mainly on my crown and midscalp. It seems to be helping out. It appears that I've gotten a little bit of regrowth in the crown and that I have reversed minitiarization on some of my hair in the mid scalp region. Anybody else use spironolactone?

Anonymous,

Nizoral and T-Sal work in different ways. From what I've read, Nizoral eleminates some of the DHT in the scalp where as T-Sal increases the absorption rate of topicals such as minoxidil. I actually use both. I mix a little bit of both in my hands and then lather into my hair and leave it on the scalp for about five minutes. I do this two to three times per week.

You can get really cheap T-Sal from Walgreens for about $3.50 per 16 ounce bottle. It's their own brand, but it's the same active ingredients. They run specials about every other month for "buy one get one." They charge $7 per bottle, but during the buy one get one you get them for about $3.50 per bottle. Dr. Lee also sells a shampoo that combines the active ingredients of Nizoral and T-Sal, but it's a bit expensive. It's much cheaper the way I do it.

Guitar Player

I have never heard of this doctor. How severe is your hairloss? 900 grafts is a very small procedure. Is this a "strip" procedure? I personally wouldn't do a strip procedure for only 900 grafts. Also, make sure you are getting follicular units trimmed under a microscope. Did you meet with the actual doctor or just his assistant? I personally wouldn't consider a doctor who wasn't willing to meet with me for the consult.

Hoping,

Your growth will only start to come in around three months. You won't have a decent amount of growth till about 6-8 months. Generally, it takes about a year to see the full results of a transplant. 2800 grafts at the hands of Dr. Epstein should give you a very good result.

GuitarPlayer

FU stands for Follicular Unit. FUE stands for Follicular Unit Extraction.

You only want to consider docs doing follicular unit transplants. This then differentiates into "strip" and "fue." Anything other than follicular unit transplants is outdated.

I would really study all of their before and after pictures and see if you can widdle it down to your "Top 3." Especially study pictures that are similar to your degree of hair loss, hair color, hair texture, etc. Then consult with those three and see who you like best.

Zaq,

I'll try to address your questions in the order that you listed them.

1) There has been a lot of debate regarding smaller sessions versus larger sessions on this board as well as other boards. Read the threads and you'll hear all the pros and cons.

2) This question is something you'd personally have to decide, but if you're not happy with the doctor's work I definitely wouldn't go back.

3) Rule of thumb is that it takes about twelve months to see the full results of a transplant. I would wait the twelve months and then decide from there.

4) Good doctors remove the first scar when they do the second procedure. This way you don't end up with multiple scars.

5) If the doctor goes into the same area for the second procedure as he did with the first, I don't think there would be as much shock loss. If he goes into another area, you could very well experience the same amount of shockloss or more.

GuitarPlayer

Anonymous,

You seem to have a good regimen. I would just suggest having a good therapeutic shampoo in your shampoo rotation to use two to three times per week. Nizoral and Neutrogena T-Sal are both excellent therapeutic shampoos. They mainly help with inflammation and itchiness of the scalp, which can often be the result of using Rogaine.

GuitarPlayer

5000 grafts at the hands of Ron Shapiro should give you an awesome result. Keep us posted.

Hairworthy,

That is one awesome result. One of the best I've seen.

GuitarPlayer

Although we'd all like more regrowth, if your head looks "basically the same" you can consider the Propecia a success. Meds are best for slowing down or haulting your hairloss. Very few have gotten significant regrowth.

You may experience a little bit of regrowth if you add Rogaine to your regimen. Are you using any topicals?

Dr. Vogel seems to have a very good reputation from all that I've read about him.