Gorpy

Dr. Keene does not require you to shave the recipient area. Dr. Alexander does (or at least buzzed very short). Dr. Keene is slightly cheaper.

D, I did find some reviews of Dr. Pistone on www.hairlosshelp.com. Only a few, but that's better than nothing. He appears to do quality work from the little we know about him. I don't think anyone says he is not. The key is that no one should go into a hair transplant with ANY doctor without being fully informed of every aspect of it and any possible negative consequences. Beleive me, there are possible negative consequences. Just look for Mahair's posts.

Look like it's a pretty even trade off. The same number of men in the study died.

I chose not to use it. In the long run the same amount of hair will sprout. So, because of some negative press about it, I decided just to wait it out.

I understand he might be considered reputable. I don't mean to sound harsh. BUT, it is advisable to consult with more than one surgeon. MOST would not give you a transplant. There is a reason why.

I'd like to add that guys like Pat, the publisher of this community and Jotronic from Hasson and Wong, know tremendous amounts about this subject. I don't claim to know as much as them. Listen to them. They have tons of experience and are not trying to sell you a transplant.

Well, we actually know quite a bit. As Jotronic said, we've been through it and we've also been learning about various aspects of it for years. From you statements, you obviously are not well informed. So basically you are going into it with blinders on. Do youself a big favor. Consult with some of the reputable doctors recommended on this site. When they turn you down for a hair transplant, ask yourself why?

You hairloss is not halted unless you are on propecia. Maybe you've seen a temporary relief, but it won't last. You're just quoting off of the doctor's web site. That's all just fluff and marketing. You might as well go to Bosley. They're even better at it.

Ok, NW-5 then. There is still not enough donar hair to cover that. There is no advantage to starting a transplant early as you indicated in an earlier post. There is a HUGE advantage in stopping your hairloss early by taking Propecia. I wish I had started it earlier. In any case you need to make and informed decision. My comment about not having enough donar hair is critical to your future planning and you should understand the limitations of your donar supply.

Shock loss happens for two reasons. First, hair that is in the recipient area, that is weak and would fall out anyway due to MPB is likely to be permanently shocked out by the trauma of the surgery. Second, strong hairs in the area can be transected by the incision, which causes them to permanently die. Some strong hairs can also be shocked out by the trauma, but will generally grow back. Planting in an area with hair is always tricky. Some docs will claim that they plant in between hairs, but that's not guaranteed. There is also something called donar area shock, where the strip is taken from. You see, the hair transplant procedure is fairly traumatic to your system. Nearby hair can be shocked out and most of the time it will grow back, but I have heard of cases where it didn't.

d, you do realize that there is not enough donar hair to cover a bald head? It is just not possible for anybody. That is why ethical doctors are cautious about transplants on a young person. Let's say you end up a nw-6, which is likely. If you get your current hairline re-enforced, you'll never have enough donar hair to keep up with the loss behind it. Eventually you'll end up with a little hair in the front with a bunch of bald area behind and no more donar hair for another procedure. So, unless your hair is permanently stabilized with Propecia, you are in for a long hard ride.

Yes, I hope all of this helps. It is important to know what you are getting into. Currently no doctor that I know of has the ability to "eliminate" the scar from strip surgury. What has improved lately by some doctors is the ability to make it more concealable by your existing hair. But you must have some exising hair growning back there to conceal it, even with the best techniques. Shaving your hair or even wearing it very short would expose it no matter who the doctor is. Have you ever heard of any surgeon of any kind being able to eliminate the surgery scar? That would be big news and would be all over the television. The donar area is where the strip is take from in back. It generally is coverable by your existing hair pretty quickly. The recipient area, where the grafts are placed, is usually bad looking for about a week or two. Then you can have some lingering redness in the area.

No, there's no cosmetic difference in the area where the grafts are placed (the recipient area). The cosmetic problem is in the area in the back and sides of your head where the donar hair is taken from (the strip). That's the 25cm long stip of hair that will be taken (you realize that that is about 10 inches long). You will have a permanent scar there. You must keep your hair long enough to cover it. Shave your head and it will stand out like a big smiley face on the back of your head. I might add that most people including myself have had the strip surgery. It's more cost effective. But I am willing to keep my hair long enough to cover my scar.

Ok, so you are getting strip surgery. Forget about shaving your head in the future.

Do you even know if you are getting strip surgery or Follicular Unit Extraction? $6500 for 1900 follicular units is the price for strip. You will not be able to shave your head after strip, unless you want everyone to see a funny looking scar on the back and sides of your head. Everyone is very cautious on these boards because we have seen and heard of REALLY bad results. We have nothing to gain by our comments. Doctors have everything to gain by selling you a transplant. See my message about Plastic Surgery Nightmares herer This is happening today from doctors with so-called "credentials".

Thanks PB. Yes, I can see a bunch of little hairs sprouting everywhere that are not really visible in pictures yet. You're right. I think I have actually passed the point of where I was pre-op. That's always exciting.

Yeah, I'd say closer to 4000. You'll need almost 3000 just to cover the front half. Then more to add density to the back half.

At one time they were. By today's standards they are no longer considered mega sessions.

Yes, this is the first.

Hi guys. It has been 3 months and 3 weeks now. Man how time flies when your havin fun. Not really. It was the longest 3 months of my life :-). Anyway, I'm seeing bunches of new growth. Can't wait for it to fill in. There's still a lot of areas that need to sprout. I'm hoping this is pretty normal for this time frame.

Proscar is the 5mg pill of finasteride, the same ingredient in Propecia. Propecia is a 1mg pill of finasteride. Many of us, including myself, cut up a Proscar pill into 4 parts and take one part a day. Proscar is used typically for prostate problems.

Oh, I'm sure he cares. However, he is limited in what he can do about it just like everyone else. I'm just wondering why doesn't Donald Trump buy a piece and forget about that rediculous comb over thing he does with his hair?

KG, you've been around for quite a while, so you've made an informed decision. That's all this forum can hope to achieve. Good luck with your procedure. Let us know how it goes.

I drove home the next day (2 hours). Not a problem.

I noticed Travolta thinning about 10 years ago. Then as time went on he quit thinning and even got thicker. I don't know what he does, but that picture is about what I would expect.