Chris in Seattle

Yes, Dr. Gabel and his team are great. Yesterday marked 1 year since my procedure.

Well today marks exactly 1 YEAR since my HT. My hair is still thickening and darkening. It's becoming harder to see my scalp, unless it's wet or under harsh lighting. It's a funny thing 'cause hair thickness seems to vary from day to day. I'm also letting it grow out. I'm noticing quite a difference in the way strangers respond to me, or look at me. And I'm more often referred to as "bro" or buddy" which is SO much better than "sir" (I just HATE that!). Anyway, I posted a couple new pics. 4,115 grafts (8,319 hairs) by "The Great" Dr. Gabel Hillsboro, OR March 8, 2010

Thanks for all your kind words! I have just recently seen a lot of thickening, so I look forward to the final result.

Here's the link to my photos from Month 0 - 10. HT by Dr. Gabel March 8, 2010 4115 Grafts http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/ChrisinSeattle/albums/451

I just wanted to add that I also had a procedure done by Dr. Gabel, in March, and he (and his team) ARE outstanding! I could not have made a better choice. It was not only worth the 3 hour drive from Seattle, but I would've chosen him, even if he was thousands of miles away. I recently saw a friend who I haven't seen since I experienced any hair loss. He pretty much forgot that I had the procedure done. Then I reminded him and showed him pictures from before my surgery, and he was absolutely shocked! I've definitely noticed some thickening lately, and I look forward to the full result. I feel most "exposed" when my hair is wet or if I'm around bright lights. But in general, the self-consciousness that used to rule my entire life is hardly felt at all. I plan to post pictures this weekend, to mark 10 months since my surgery. Thanks, Dr. Gabel!

Hey Labrat, Yes we are fortunate to be living in a time when such high quality hair restoration is even possible. Have you been to any consultations yet or considered any specific clinics? After reading some of your prior posts on this thread, there seems to be a part of you that is a bit hesitant about getting a HT. It's a big decision but I wonder if there are any psychological (or financial) factors holding you back? Are you totally sure that this is the right thing for you? Dr. Gabel - March 8, 2010 4115 Grafts 1s - 958 2s - 2209 3s - 849 4s - 99 Total Hairs - 8319

Labrat, To answer your question, I had my HT done by Dr. Gabel in Oregon. I HIGHLY recommend him and could not have made a better choice. It's very true what you said about some guys looking radically different with/without hair. It's a bit like a girl with beautiful dark hair who dyes it blond. Often it just washes out her complexion and she doesn't look as good. So are you saying that you've been considering a HT for 17 YEARS?! Well what's stopping you from pursuing it? Dr. Gabel - March 8, 2010 4115 Grafts 1s - 958 2s - 2209 3s - 849 4s - 99 Total Hairs - 8319

Thanks guys, for your kind replies and support. I tweaked the title of this post a bit. I honestly don't know if the scar will eventually emerge, but I'm not concerned 'cause it'll be as good as it can be. Today marks milestone Day 14 post op so it was really nice to return to regular showering again, jogging, and I also worked on carefully removing nearly all of the remaining little white scabs. It was funny 'cause when I started jogging today, my scalp felt a little funny, but that sensation was gone in just a few minutes. I'll occasionally get a little itchy, but other than that it feels like nothing ever happened! I have been taking pictures almost everyday, although Dr. Gabel also has some which he initially said he'd like to post first.

Hair Me, Yes I will post the pics. However, I'm in no rush to do that just to "prove" something. Dr. Gabel has the best quality photos to date, but we haven't discussed exactly when we'll release them (they'd also have to sort through them all, which takes time). But it's only been 13 days and right now I'm more focused on getting rid of my little scabs, not to mention tomorrow which marks day 14, when I can officially do basically anything I want. I really look forward to that! Even though I felt fine, holding back a little in the first 2 weeks hasn't been easy for me. I'm sure that some of you can relate. I haven't even looked for the donor scar myself 'cause Dr. Gabel told me that you can't even see it, and I believe him! However, it should also be noted that I have dense donor hair, so just 'cause it can't be seen now doesn't necessarily mean that it would be completely invisible if I were to shave my head. So perhaps "invisible" is a relative term.

Well I had my sutures removed on Friday (post op day 11). Dr. Gabel says that you CAN'T EVEN SEE the donor scar! I didn't think that could even be possible! And I feel NO tightness or discomfort at all. I know I'll be asked about photos, so FYI many were taken, both in Dr. Gabel's studio and with my own camera. Selected pics will be posted in the near future, possibly after the shedding period. Thanks again to Dr. Gabel, AND his fantastic staff! Although a HT is masterminded & directed by the surgeon, we should never overlook the huge role that talented Technicians, CMAs, Patient Coordinators, & Graft Placers (other than the surgeon) play in the process. Dr. Gabel - March 8, 2010 4115 grafts 1s - 958 2s - 2209 3s - 849 4s - 99 Total Hairs - 8319

Hi Joe, Despite our earlier exchanges and sarcasm, I just wanted to commend you for your reply that I just read on another post, to the guy who is interested in Dr. Gabel. You were kind enough to actually pass along Gabel's phone number which was really cool of you!

Hi, well I just had a HT by Dr. Gabel, who I highly recommend. The cost is based on how many grafts are placed, but after a certain number of grafts, the cost per graft goes down dramatically. I would consult with him for a better assessment of the actual cost, based on your specific needs and goals, and his recommendations for you. He will be very straight-forward about it. Joe was nice enough to pass along his phone number. I wish you the best.

OK...since a few of you are so confused or curious about my original line regarding "overhead costs", I'll clarify so that we can move on. :-) All I was basically trying to say is that those who conduct business in a more remote, rural place or even in a modestly affordable city or suburb, obviously do not have to pay nearly the same amount for office space (and the like) as somebody who practices in an extremely expensive urban area. That's a simple fact. And of course, the average cost of living varies significantly from place to place, including what would be considered a liveable, suitable wage for experienced staff working in that particular region and trade. This is all I meant by "overhead". I wasn't referring to costs directly related to the medical field, 'cause I know nothing about that. It was merely a general statement that I later decided to delete 'cause I wanted to shorten my post and stick to the more important points. Of course I was not comparing costs between any specific coalition clinics and certainly not to any based in Canada, where there's an entirely different healthcare system altogether (frankly, I wish we had some form of universal healthcare coverage in the US too, but that's a whole different subject). I should add, however, that I was also vaguely referencing the worldwide HT "chains" that we've all heard of, who charge an incredible amount of money, largely to merely cover the costs of more advertising. So now that I've clarified, I hope we can put this to rest and get back to why we're all here: HAIR!

Hi Joe, I may be new to this forum, but why would you, as a salesman, have any sincere interest in my progress? It's especially perplexing, given that I had my procedure done by another surgeon, who just-so-happens to also be located in the Pacific Northwest. While it's no secret that Hasson & Wong do great work, so does Dr. Gabel. It's perfectly understandable that you'd have specific agendas, goals and motives to fulfill. After all, you're just doing your job and you've gotta make those quotas, right?! However, most of us are only here to help eachother out. I appreciate the encouragement, but I will post my pictures when I'm ready. I haven't even had my sutures removed yet. But thanks for your concern and willingness to offer advice.

Thanks Bill. I do plan on posting pictures, it's just a matter of when (possibly after the shedding period, but perhaps sooner). But I will say that even the relative stubble that I'm seeing now, just 9 days post op, is an incredible improvement. And despite the fact that I haven't gotten a haircut yet to even things out, I can actually tolerate looking like this, unlike before the procedure. That says a lot. Thanks so much, Bill, for starting this community. We're all fortunate to have a forum like this to support eachother and have the resources available to make informed decisions. I enjoyed reading your story (and could certainly relate). Chris

Hey Irichey, I am so happy to hear about your experience and there's no one who knows better! I just got a HT from Dr. Gabel too and you're so right about him being the best. He's not only an outstanding surgeon with fantastic staff, but also a genuinely good guy who you can trust. And you're right, he's so worth traveling to (near Portland, OR), as I drove down from Seattle for the procedure. His consultation offices in Seattle/Bellevue & Boise are also very convenient. I'm so glad you feel as fortunate about your choice as I do, and please keep me posted with your progress!

Joe, Well why is it so "odd" that I would edit my post?? Being brand new to this community, I thought my original post was a bit too wordy. Isn't there an "edit" feature on here, just like the "quote" feature? I don't know why it's such a big deal. Chris in Seattle

Hi Praytx, Well I just had a great HT by Dr. Gabel in Oregon. I'd recommend contacting him 'cause he's not only a top-notch HT specialist, but a genuinely nice guy who will be very honest about what would be best for you. Best wishes!

Thanks for the info, Bill!

I'm 6 days post op, following a HT with Dr. Gabel. I was wondering if there's any kind of supplement out there to help reduce the shedding period and speed up the growth process? Does anyone know of anything that works well for growing hair faster?

Well I think that everyone needs to find the solution that works best for them. Despite the strength of this community, it's a very individual thing. Some people are more suited to shave their head than others, and some are more suited to do nothing. I'm not "superficial", but as much as we try to emphasize what's on the inside and all that, it doesn't help if we're completely obsessed with hairloss and how it makes us feel. And it's not really so much about age. Sure, a younger person is more likely to lose more hair, but it also depends on the individual so there's no reason why they shouldn't consider a consultation with a great surgeon if their hairloss is in an advanced enough stage (which it very well may be). As for me, I'm single, 30+, a musician, free-spirit, and I feel just as devastated as many guys in their early twenties feel. Of course, not everyone over 25 has the same lifestyle and is settled and just ready to accept it. I just got a hair transplant 5 days ago and I feel absolutely fantastic about it. I only hope that more people will experience the same joy, if and when it's the right decision for them.

You're so right, Flavio! Sure the bald or shaved look might look good on some guys, but only if it fits them well. That's not for me, and I just got a great HT 5 days ago from Dr. Gabel. I am ecstatic that I made the decision. But my friends, though supportive, don't seem to understand. "You don't need that", they'd say. But I was never able to accept my hairloss, it was an obsession every single minute of the day and there's nothing worse than being DESCRIBED by your hairloss. For example "Do you know Chris?" "...Oh yeah, the balding guy down the hall, right?!" So no one can tell me that it makes no difference.

I got a great hair transplant 4 days ago, from Dr. Steven Gabel, near Portland, Oregon. I must say that I am already ecstatic! It was well worth the 3 hour drive from Seattle. For years, my hair loss has completely devastated me, to the point of absolute obsession which would torment me literally every single second of the day. No matter what anyone said, I just couldn't deal with it. My confidence was crushed and I was insanely self-conscious, especially without my hat. While some guys might look fine with their heads shaved or whatever, that look just isn't me or how I want to present myself to the world. I tried 10+ herbal remedies, plus Rogaine foam, but nothing seemed to work. I often just wanted to hide. But then came March 8, 2010, when my whole life changed. Over the course of a grueling 13 hour mega-session, the amazing Gabel team planted 4,115 new grafts into my hair-hungry head. And now, with my thick, dark curly donor hair, I'm amazed at how well my scalp is covered in only 4 days! After thoroughly checking on me the day after surgery, they carefully instructed me on how to care for my "new do", and it appears to be healing really well. I honestly feel like I'm starting a whole new life now. They took extreme care in every detail of the process and Dr. Gabel is a great guy, who you instinctively feel you can trust. He's always honest and very personable. He personally plants at least half of the grafts himself and is virtually always in the operating room overseeing what is going on. He and his staff (of 6 wonderful women) were both fantastic and fun. My pics were taken in their pro studio and will be posted soon. I will also be posting my own pics of my process (possibly after the shedding period). My mission now is simply to help other hairloss sufferers, 'cause I want each of you in my situation to have the same positive experience. Chris in Seattle