2,000 grafts with Dr. Paul Shapiro

[aseda1979]

This is great. At 6 months your crown looks amazing. The pics tell the rest of the story about that front half, very full.

 

You will be amazed at your 1 year crown status. My crown @ 6 months post op was very noticeable but was slowly getting filled in, now at 10.5 months its almost completely covered.

 

I would be thrilled if I was you, more growing and satisfaction to come

 

Cheers

[orlhair1]

Thanks for the additional pics.....you have to be super happy......it is amazing where you are today and more to come is just icing on the cake as they say. You have to be feeling like you have finally arrived after a long journey! Dude if 32 scares you, just wait until you get to be my age

[StaggerLee123]

Congrats Aaron your hair is looking very healthy and you have great coverage. I am way jealous =). How did your scar turn out this time? Any pics of it? We are very similiar in skin tone and hair color. My scars took a long time to heal up and were red for about two years before they settled down. Physiology plays a big role as we all know, I like the fact tht Dr. Paul attacked it differently your last time out. I'm going to have to take a drive up to SMG.

 

Congrats again!

[multiplier]

Once again, I'm jealous Aaron That must be awesome to see in the mirror every day now. Thanks for keeping up with my updates too. Been really busy but will try to post here more often...

[aaron1234]

Thanks gentlemen. Really appreciate it.

 

@Capelli. Appreciate it man. Give yourself five more months...

 

@hairthere. Thanks! Can it really get better?

 

@Sean. Yes, I've been on the vitamin regimen since the procedure and I wish I could have demonstrable proof that they have had an effect. However, I'm at a good place now so I'm not going to be changing anything at the moment.

 

@aseda. Thanks bud. The crown remains the thinnest area and I rely on dermmatch for it on a daily basis. But I still feel some stubble in the crown so I expect some more growth to come.

 

@orlhair. Looking back on the journey, where I've come from, is the most rewarding thing at this point. Viewing my Pre-SMG and Pre-Finasteride pics on my blog show a pretty bleak situation hair wise. I've come along way in these past five years for sure.

 

@staggerlee. Sounds like your scar situation is very similar to mine - redness and all. I have three scars right now. One scar on top from my first surgery before SMG and two scars morphed into one below that. My physiology did me no favors in the scar department but even still they don't bother me. The only reason why I'd want a scar revision is to put me in a better position if I need more work done in the future.

 

@multiplier. Thanks man... Looks a little better than when you met me in person right? It's such a long journey and you are just getting started. Can't wait to see what happens in your case.

Edited January 10, 2012 by aaron1234

[NEWHAIRPLEASE]

Looking great Aaron. Can't wait to start showing photos!!

[aaron1234]

Thanks NHP. It certainly is a thrill to share your journey - especially since all of the people I deal with on a daily basis have no idea. It's an outlet for sure.

[StaggerLee123]

Aaron any particular reason you decided to go with Dr. Paul over Dr. Ron at SMG? I've looked through alot of their results and I have to say that they are both very good. Was it a matter of who was available to fit your schedule or did you have a preference??

[aaron1234]

I was on a tight schedule at the time and Dr. Paul was available. But to be honest, like you I went through all the pics of both docs and couldn't tell the difference between their work. Can't go wrong with either.

[balody]

looking excellent Aaron and early days yet.

[aaron1234]

Thanks balody!

[aaron1234]

Hello Nine Months! It’s been three months since my last update because I really don’t see much difference now from the six month mark. If anything I may have gone through a minor shed as it currently looks a tad thinner. I noticed something similar to this last time around between the 7th and 9th month - it lends credence to the theory that there maybe an inflated result within the initial growing stages (5th-6th?) before the transplanted hairs restart their own individual cycles. Again, just a theory and I’m not exactly sure if that is what I’m experiencing. Like Jotronic once said, “Hair is always in a constant state of flux.”

 

Overall, everything is looking great and I feel pretty confident with my hair right now. Still considering a scar revision but I may just wait it out another year. More hair is not urgent at this point. The scar is not noticeable though it causes a slight “hat-head” effect in the back - my stylist and I have been working with ways to camouflage it with varying lengths.

 


Full disclaimer: I’m wearing dermmatch on the crown in these pics. Sorry, didn’t get a chance to wash it out today. I've included some pics in different lightings/rooms so you can get a better idea of where everything sits.

Edited April 2, 2012 by aaron1234

[Spanker]

It really is a crazy difference that lighting type and lighting angle can make.

[aaron1234]

Spanker, true true. However, I will say that that harsh lighting is by far the worst case scenario. If I ever notice a room with that type of lighting I consciously avoid it. We discussed this in your own thread on this topic, but my thin hair characteristics and styling also play a role in the light reflecting off of my scalp.

[StaggerLee123]

Looking good Aaron. Harsh lighting can make anybody look bad and remember the way you have your hair styled will show light coming through to the scalp. If you parted your hair on the side and it was laying down I bet you would see no scalp even in the harshest of lighting conditions.

[aaron1234]

Thanks Stagger. You are certainly correct that a parted style or combed to the side style would do better in deflecting the light from my scalp. However, I still think that this is the best style for me at this point. Though I have played around with the idea of growing it out longer for the shingling effect. It's just that this style looks best in 90% of the lighting conditions that I'm in.

[Bangs]

You look great aaron123, Patience paid off for you.I would be jumping for joy with your hair!

[RecedingTide]

Looks good. Simply styling your hair straight down and flat to the scalp will make a massive difference re the lighting. With your current hairstyle there is no shingling going on. Anyways you have a healthy amount of donor for the future should you need it. I guess if you ever go back to the well for more and you put some in the crown you could always considering another 700-1000 in the front. Kind of like Dazza has done. Maybe the finishing touches for a few thinner spots might be something for FUE after stripping out down the road. You've certainly planned well for the future with Dr. Shapiro.

[orlhair1]

Looks great Aaron.......I agree with others that anyone's hair (with or without a HT) is going to look more see through in very harsh lighting. The bottom line is you have quite a full head of hair which looks incredibly natural.....the result anyone who gets a HT is looking for. I can understand why you feel great about it.

[Levrais]

I may have gone through a minor shed as it currently looks a tad thinner. I noticed something similar to this last time around between the 7th and 9th month - it lends credence to the theory that there maybe an inflated result within the initial growing stages (5th-6th?) before the transplanted hairs restart their own individual cycles. Again, just a theory and I’m not exactly sure if that is what I’m experiencing. Like Jotronic once said, “Hair is always in a constant state of flux.”

 

Aaron, well put. Sometimes I think I am observing the same thing at month 8, nice to see Im not the only one. You;re looking good either way.

[aaron1234]

Thanks Bangs! You will be soon enough. You went to the right place.

 

Yes, RecedingTide - you're totally correct that combing my hair straight down would make a big difference. However, I just look stupid with that style. I'll keep on experimenting to see what I can come up with.

 

Thanks orlhair - it's been great of you to follow my progress so closely. Really appreciate it man.

 

@Levrais. If you look at my blog from my second hair transplant after month six you'll notice a little difference (especially at the ninth month mark). I don't think I'm losing grafts necessarily, more likely I'm starting a cycling process with my new hair and it will likely grow back more mature and thicker than it did first time around. We don't read about this theory often around here anymore, but I remember reading about it four or five years ago on the forums. The transplanted hair has to start cycling just like any other hair eventually, so naturally they won't be in full bloom simultaneously for long.

[multiplier]

Looking great as usual Aaron, I think that style works for you regardless. Most of us would rather have that amount of hair and a good style. Unfortunately I don't have enough HTs to style my hair in a flattering way yet, but hopefully it'll come. Posting some pics today, in fact. Be in touch...

[aaron1234]

Thanks multiplier. I agree the style works well for me even if it doesn't provide me the shingling effect.

 

Just checked out your six month pics and compared them to the pre-op. Definite improvement in my book and more to come. Hope you're doing well!

[aaron1234]

An update is long overdue, so please accept my apologies. I'm approaching 18 months out from my latest procedure. Things look good. I've been experimenting with a longer style. Some days I like it. Some days I don't. I still would like to refine some areas in the hairline, mid scalp, and crown. My right temple corner has receded further back than my left. But first things first, a scar revision in 2013. My scar doesn't bother me but I will need it revised if I want more grafts in the future - and of course, I do. Take note I do have a little dermmatch in the crown for these pictures. The hairline and midscalp are concealer-free.

[Janna]

Hi Aaron,

 

Didn't recognize your hairline at first with your long hair. I personally think your hair may be a bit too fine to sport such long hair? Maybe I'm just used to the faux hawk look. To me it looks like your left side has receded further back than right side. What time of the year are you wanting to do the scar revision?