Mountinvan

Excuse me--he is actually 45. Here's a recent quote from Brady on missing training camp:"I'm 45 years old, man. There's a lot of s--- going on. You've just got to try to figure out life the best you can. It's a continuous process."

Prior to 2007---when his hair seemed to get better--there were signs of temple thinning at the corners. He shaved his head back around 2005. Hair transplant? FUE--if he had one because no apparent scar. My best guess is several HTs--probably small procedures with a generous amount of good meds. The bottom line is that Tom is sporting a great full head of hair. Modern science played a role, but he lives up to his superstar status both off and on the field!

The Brady hair fascinations are never-ending. At 44, he is sporting a full mane---fuller than 10 years ago. I almost always agree with Melvin, but this time I have to question whether it is a combo of good meds and a good HT. Here's why: his father is quite balding---

For higher Norwoods, I would not leave out Eugenix. Our moderator had a procedure there in December and he is looking good.....

There is an article in Orange County Registrar on the UCI researcher--Pikus. UCI has filed a provisional patent application for the use of SCUBE3 and its related molecular compounds for hair growth stimulation. Further research will be conducted in the Plikus lab and at Amplifica Holdings Group Inc., a biotechnology company co-founded by Plikus. There are side effects from too much SCUBE3 so don't rushout and use it without seeing the studies.

I am biased as a2xKonior patient. He is not only consistent but a fine person with great surgical and artistic style. He takes great care and attention. Many believe that one of his many strengths is the ability to get more bang for the buck, using less grafts to achieve cosmetic differences. If you are looking for your best bet with individualized attention, Konior should be top of your list. He's at the top of his game.

I met the newest Doctor--Dr. Bhumik Shah-when I was having a procedure done by Dr. K. He was training under him and learning at the tutelage of the Master. I think he goes by "Boomer." Very compassionate and very committed to hair transplantation. I was most impressed and would trust him as he is well trained and is using the awesome techs at CHI.

HT is a lot more than just moving hairs. There is skill needed in the extraction to preserve the viability of the follicle, handling of the extracted follicle, and in the placement. Because it is cosmetic, there is artistry involved. Because it is surgical, there is technical expertise. Because donor supply is limited, you need to be aware of donor management in both the short and long term. Each country has different licensing procedures. The U.S. allows doctors to perform any medical procedure, including surgery. The U.S. does require all incisions to be doctor-made, but extractions can and are often done by technicians---which, like the doctors, vary in skill, precision and artistry. The HT industry has tried to "credentialize" the doctors but these credentials don't guarantee any result---some require knowledge and hands-on experience. Check out: https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/hair-loss/surgeons-credentials for a good explanation of the various organizations and credentials. There is no real board certification for hair transplant doctors in U.S. "Currently, the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) has no certification process nor an approved medical specialty board sanctioned for the specialty of hair transplant surgery. The ABMS is an organization of 24 approved medical specialty boards, of which the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery is not part. " IAHRS is a good place to start. The Web MD link above says: "The IAHRS is a consumer organization that selectively screens skilled and ethical hair transplant surgeons. The IAHRS does not offer an open membership policy to doctors practicing hair transplantation, and is the only group that openly recognizes all surgeons are not equal in skill and technique. (Duh!) In 2001 the IAHRS became the first hair transplant society to implement a minimal case requirement to apply for membership." This Forum is invaluable to your research. Not only does it have recommended doctors that have passed the scrutiny of the members, it has posted reviews and outcomes. The hair mills are rightfully criticized because surgery is for keeps and repairs are difficult and expensive. Golden Rule #2---research, research, and research. Take your time. Your hair loss didn't happen overnight and it won't be cured overnight. Look at the posted results; try to be discerning to make sure they are legitimate. Believe it or not, some sites (including some in Turkey) have posted great results--but they were not their surgeries but rather good result cases from other clinics. It is a jungle out there of deceptive marketing, hype and unethical tactics. But, done right, HTs can be life-changing. We are fortunate to live in a time where HT technique has progressed to the point that you can have awesome, transformational results. Forum members have seen major improvements in their appearance and self-confidence. No one country and no one clinic has a monopoly; it does depend on your goals and budget. Don't go for the quick fix---be careful, cautious and deliberate. Research, research, research.

Melvin has already answered this line of inquiry in an honest, candid way. We are fortunate to have Melvin and a no-pay forum. Doctors recommended for membership are put up scrutiny not just by the Forum Moderators and Owners but also the Forum members. As Jon says, it works 2 ways---and guess who benefits--us! There is so much smoke out in the internet , it is great to have a place to share experiences, cull out trolls, and get honest feedback and advice. Let's top beating this horse; there is no free lunch.

Take a look at some You Tube demos on concealers. There is a rich debate on which works best. I think it comes down to personal preference. Melvin, our moderator, has I believed used Caboki (a brand similar to Toppik) for crown and elsewhere. He has dark hair so i imagine it is pretty easy to match color. Caboki is made of plant fibers and minerals. Caboki advertises that it is safe for sensitive scalps. A review says "Some of the keratin hair fibre products will cause scalp itching and burning and many users of keratin hair fibres claim that they find the dyes leach out and create a greenish tinge on the scalp. This can be especially evident in the sun." Toppik, which appears to be the most popular, is made from keratin. Some think keratin based fibers are the best because it is a protein found in natural hair, but be forewarned that it can cause allergic reactions. Both Caboki and Toppiks claim their products are resistant to rain, sweat, wind. Bottom line is that I do not think there is a consensus on what is best so try different ones, especially being attuned to matching color and testing out how they hold up under perspiration, water and rain.

You are never too young to look your best. I am "wowed" by the artistry and transformation. Great job.

People get married and get divorced at all different ages--even into their 90's. People worry about looks and sex at all different ages. The "I won't care so much at age___" is BS and just justification for instant gratification. The author of this thread made a good point about waiting for the hair loss pattern to become more stabilized and known. Melvin and others made good points about age being relative and hair loss being important to those who suffer from it at varying ages. Baldness is more prevalent at later ages so maybe easier to accept or rationalize----but who among us would not like flowing locks of hair at 60, 70 or beyond?

Glad you came to our Forum. Wow--first time abroad and HT to boot. You are taking big steps, but they are manageable ones and you have researched well. From everything I have read here, Eugenix will take great care to make sure your trip is a pleasant one. I am from USA. Our Forum moderator, Melvin, went to Eugenix last December. He recorded his procedure. Aren't you glad the Forum vets the HT docs? It will prepare you for the HT part. Indians are very hospitable people. Make sure you get their butter chicken. Since India is a congested country and there is lots of traffic, etc. follow Eugenix lead on what you should do. You will have food costs and other out of pockets. Make sure you get an invite to the "Farm"--looks wonderful. Take this as an adventure but one that others have done with great success. Your life is going to change for the better---enjoy the sights, the food, the gracious Indian people (they even are nice to Americans---ask Melvin) and let's not forget---your new hair!

I believe that in the hands of a skilled surgeon you would be amazed at your transformation. I think you would look like a new person-younger, more confident and more attractive. Medications would stop further hair loss but if they are not in the cards with the present offerings then so be it because new ones are in the pipeline and might not give you sides. There is a whole process to researching surgeons, getting on their wait list, etc. I wouldn't delay. You will be amazed by what a talented HT surgeon can do. If you are interested enough to post on this forum, you already taking the first steps. I know you are motivated to do something that will be a life changer. It has been for me and countless others.

I guess hair pieces and fiber are drug free. Good call, Melvin. Can't wait to sign up for $200 saw palmetto as long as they throw in some free snake oil.

Matthew gave a talk today with the theme "We have a Chance" at the White House on gun control. I know it is a partisan issue so I will drift instead to noticing his hair. There is definitely some temple recession, especially on the right side. Unlike Melvin, I am not a pro at "product" so I don't know if he was using it. All in all, I would say his hair has held up and is better than it was before than the miracle cure drug-free "Regenix." No way to see what is in Regenix, but Matthew claims it has brought him to nearly NW0. Yes--I have some cheap swamp land in Florida for you. We will not know for sure, but my money is on Matthew having had a HT or two that over time has held up but he has, notwithstanding Regenix, more temporal regression. Assuming I am right,he probably went to one of the wizards on this Forum's list. Maybe he needs a touch-up?

You must be stoked--all around major improvement. Pretty soon you will have Clark Gable jealous and you will be donating your fibers. Do you have any gut feel on how much difference the laser cap makes?

Hey Melvin: Good advice, but I think you want to avoid mega sessions. Doing smaller sessions would intuitively mean less likelihood of a moth-eaten donor pattern. By the way, how's your progress with your own mega session? Picking the right surgeons, in your case, is the magic bullet. Thankfully this Forum helps you avoid the mistakes and pitfalls of HTs.

My impression is that in about 6 months you are going to be one happy man. The amount of grafts used should address in spades the "v" frontal recession and should produce for you a strong, youthful hairline. I think you are helped by the abundant native, wavy thick hair. You were very capable of hiding the recession pre-ht but now you will have more styling choices, Good decision going with a recommended listed elite doctor--dramatically increases your chances of a stellar outcome.

First of all, we are so pleased that you trust our Community enough to share your experience. Thank you. You provide a tangible example of how important it is to research and plan carefully before a HT. I have used the recommended doctors here----and thank my lucky stars that I did. They are vetted. There are no guarantees in HTs that really mean anything so why not stack the cards in your favor. Go with the recommended docs.

My suggestion is that you are arbitrarily tethering yourself to SoCal. The whole procedure can be done with 3-4 days travel. You have H&W in Canada or Gabel--both have excellent results and are close to your range with a little extra saving. Do yourself a favor--spread your net wider. But if you need to stay where you are, check out Carman. Research...research...and choose wisely not conveniently.

There is a mention of Berbatov in English chatter: "The quality of the surgery was complimented by several people on social media. One Twitter user commented that ‘Berbatov’s hair-line must be up there with Liverpool in Istanbul for great comebacks!’ Compared to some of the other poor efforts we’ve seen in recent history, it was refreshing to see a footballer with a great transplant." Maybe the fact he is Bulgarian gives a hint?

I like the natural improvement. The Dr. has turned back the clock, and made for an impressive frontal impression. I am sure patient is very happy. Is there a second procedure planned and, if so, is it addressing temple points and mid-scalp?

Glad you did such a thorough post. If you had your ideal situation, what would your hairline look like? Maybe you could photoshop a proposed result? I wouldn't limit your artistic creativity to any of your previous age stages since you are likely to have to sport a more mature look. I think if you pick the right clinic/surgeon you are going to be one happy young man. We are so lucky to be living in a time when we have options other than hats and powder wigs. Also, Melvin is testing out a laser cap and am wondering whether he would recommend using that modality now or waiting to after you have your procedure?

I think Melvin is saying he is all in favor of a vibrant, open community where we can fairly evaluate strengths/philosophies/skills of various surgeons and clinics. It is unfair to the surgeon and to the community if there are anonymous posters with a biased agenda---hard to always detect. Thank you Melvin for keeping this as fair and open as you can, while preserving the integrity of the dialogue. We have to realize that not all results are the surgeon's best product; they can be constrained by patient budgets, patient goals, and patient's unique characteristics (good, bad, or neutral). In the end, we each have to research, research , research.