Caboki Works! (pretty much)

[Time to do something]

My Caboki arrived today and I must admit I'm excited. I applied it and it really does make me look like I have hair! It works far better than anything else I've ever tried such as Toppik and DermMatch. The only thing I'm not totally happy with is the fact that it appears to dull the hair. My own hair is very shiny and the hair on top of my head where I applied this is now much duller so it doesn't match the rest of my hair. Any suggestions on how to fix that? Also when I applied the product it appeared I had a head full of dust but after patting my head most of that apperance went away. They advertise that it will not come off of one's head because it has the opposite charge of human hair. However when I ran my fingers through it there was some there. Not much but there was some. Overall I'm very pleased with this product and I'm sure I will be even more so after I'm better at applying it. Good stuff!!!

[Time to do something]

Here are some pics I just took. Sorry for the poor quality.

[RCWest]

TTDS, with roughly 8,000 grafts, you shouldn't need any help!

[Dr. Glenn Charles]

Where do they sell this stuff? By the way Dr. Shapiro really did a nice job for you. Looks great.

[Time to do something]

TTDS, with roughly 8,000 grafts, you shouldn't need any help!

 

I had a bad experience with the first two surgeries. You can search my name and follow the saga here.

[Time to do something]

Where do they sell this stuff? By the way Dr. Shapiro really did a nice job for you. Looks great.

 

Hi Dr. Charles,

 

Thanks for your help last year when you evaluated how many grafts I may have left for Dr. Shapiro. It was much appreciated. Between the Caboki, SMP I'm considering in July and the crown hairpiece I'm finally seeing light at the end of this five year tunnel. You can visit Caboki's website and get information on the product. It has the opposite charge as human hair so it clings to it. I was impressed.

Edited April 24, 2012 by Future_HT_Doc
outside link removed.

[StaggerLee123]

Here are some pics I just took. Sorry for the poor quality.

 

Starting to look better man. I think as your hair grows out it will provide better coverage and you will feel better and better about it. Must feel nice not to have the piece on top.

[the-bald-reality2012]

TTDS,

 

Based on our shared experiences with that jerk-off Epstein, you know I'm probably the most negative guy around here when it comes to HT's. A lot of other posters can't understand what you've gone through, but I can.

 

So, unlike the cheerleaders and patient reps, you will get 100% unvarnished truth from me.

 

Honestly, you look much better in these pictures you just posted up than the earlier pics.

 

Under most types of lighting, you'll be in really great shape. The work post-Epstein was good enough that you have enough to effectively use a concealer like Cabooki. You're going to have to live with your hair grown out at that length and the Cabooki, but you will be fine. Congratulations on taking a big step forward in moving on from the nightmare.

 

You should feel confident enough when you go out to realize a simple fact....

 

You look fine!!!!!! No one is looking at your hair!!!!!!!!!

 

To give you a comparison, you responded once to me that you are 6'2". Right now, somewhere in America, some guy of 5'6" is worrying about his height. So what you worry nothing about and take for granted, someone else is constantly fretting about. And somewhere else, a girl is worrying about her breast size. Someone thinks they look too fat, too skinny, to old, too young, too bald, too hairy, and the list goes on and on.

 

Insecurity. It's the disease the MSM (mainstream media) has pumped into our heads. Tools of control used by those in control to make us consumers and debt slaves. Buy this...buy that. Wear this...wear that. Look like this...look like that...

 

Just like the Matrix, we have got to free our minds.

 

The lesson here that you can take is that it never mattered. You could have shaved your head all along and you would have looked fine. I know you don't think that, but it's true.

 

The disease all along was insecurity. With or without hair, confidence and happines come from the inside out and not the outside in. Hopefully, the rollercoaster you've been on will help that sink in.

 

So now you are good. You look fine. You can chill a bit. Try to enjoy life a little bit and learn to relax on this one issue. The insecurity will return and it will be your job to keep it at bay. It will always be lurking around the corner. Trust in that fact.

 

When it does, just keep telling yourself the simple truth: "I look fine. No one is looking at my hair."

 

Finally....

 

Please become a positive force and try to steer people clear of hair transplants (at least until they've done a major appraisal of the risks involved). The risks for these types of surgeries are huge in comparison to the returns. You've seen first hand what happens when things go wrong. Warn others. Your story, like mine, is invaluable for helping people make the right choice on wether they want to play the odds in Vegas with their scalps.

 

Let's all remember the disease is insecurity.

 

Spread the good words of Morpheus: "Free your mind!!!"

[aaron1234]

TTDS,

 

Looks pretty good. If you want to diminish the dull/chalky appearance then simply apply some styling paste (Aveda or jcrew, etc) after the concealer has dried and has been combed through. Less is more. It works well for me with dermmatch.

[Time to do something]

The Bald Reality 2012-I agree with most everything you said. You are very well spoken. I tried to stay positive through this ordeal or I'd have been a basket case. It is still not over but I'm getting closer.

[Time to do something]

TTDS,

 

Looks pretty good. If you want to diminish the dull/chalky appearance then simply apply some styling paste (Aveda or jcrew, etc) after the concealer has dried and has been combed through. Less is more. It works well for me with dermmatch.

 

 

So the paste will make it shinier and not interfere with the product? I heard many styling products including pomade makes hair density appear lower. If this has worked for you I'll try it!

[aaron1234]

Yes, it works but I use very, very little paste. I also rub it into my hands first before applying it to my hair.

[RCWest]

TTDS, I'm sorry you got to Dr. Epstein after he was good. Is your donor exhausted? Dr. Shapiro did do a great job in fixing things!

[Time to do something]

I may have a little more left but I'm finished with hair transplants. Dr. Shapiro said I could come back for a touch up and I suppose that isn't out of the question but no more full blow hair transplants. What I have is what I'll have to work with. Epstein was a nightmare. Didn't refund one cent of my money after several coaliton doctors indicated I did not get the results I should have for the number of grafts planted. He gave several other patients refunds right around the time I had my issue with him. I guess he figured that he couldn't give all of his unhappy customers refunds or he'd go out of business. I don't know how he sleeps at night.

[Time to do something]

One of the limitations I see with Caboki is swimming. It comes off with water. This is why I'm considering the SMP in conjunction with Caboki. SMP will of course not wash off with water so I'll still have an illusion of more dense hair even when swimming.

[Dr. Glenn Charles]

Sometimes combinations of products are more effective that either one by itself.

[Blake Bloxham]

Bald Reality,

 

While I'm disappointed to hear about your unfortunate hair transplant experience, I really don't think it's fair to label all hair transplant procedures as a mistake or "warn" other individuals to stay away.

 

As I'm sure you're well aware, our community is filled with thousands of satisfied hair transplant patients, and I think that type of tangible evidence counts for something.

 

Regardless, thank you for sharing your input, but let's remember to keep things "fair and balanced." While we have no problems discussing some of the "cons" associated with surgical hair restoration, the "pros" can't be completely ignored in the process.

[the-bald-reality2012]

TTDS,

 

I know this message is long. But if you read through it, you will see why I am writing at length.

 

Thank you for your comment about me being well-spoken. My comments come from the heart. I feel for you and your story and see you are at a fork in the road.

 

Don't worry about that fool Epstein. Like 99% of HT doctors, he is a fraud. When times were darkest for me, he wouldn't even answer my emails. He was always terse (with his "Correct" or "Incorrect" answers to questions that deserved detailed answers) and seemed perpetually like he wanted to be somewhere else. Roxy and "the girls" (as Epstein called them) were nice, but I wouldn't want them to do my laundry let alone place hairs into my head.

 

But this isn't about Epstein. It's just about you finding your way to the light.

 

Take a good look at the pictures you posted up. They look really good. Worlds better than it did before. And that is in brutal bright sunlight. If you can conquer the bright sunlight then you are home free. When you post up at a bar at night, cool as a fan with a drink in your hand, you will look the same as every other 30's-40 something-ish guy there. No worries.

 

As for the pool dilemma...

 

Look at my situation and compare. I have a huge scar in the back of my head (Epstein's little parting gift to me after I deposited a fortune in his bank account). I have had to cope with it and deal with it when I go into the water for years. So I went for scar revision.

 

I'm 4 months out now. Last week I played basketball for one hour on Tuesday and Thursday. For the next 3 days, the back of my head was on fire. It was an incredible pain that kept me from doing anything. I stumbled into my dermatologist's office in tears. It's feeling a little better now. But I just can't touch the back of my head too much. Hopefully, the soreness will go down. But of course I'm worried that it will always be tight and painful for the rest of my life.

 

My point is that I'm beginning to question whether doing the scar revision was worth potential long-term pain I may have to deal with. And why did I do it? So I can have the scar not be visible when I'm in the water. Well, the scar is a little better. But at what cost? I don't want to live in pain and worry indefinitely. It may have been a big mistake. I just don't know yet. I felt forced to gamble yet again. Once more into the breach.

 

Do you see my point relative to your situation?

 

My honest opinion is that you should stop right here. No more touch up surgeries. No more anything. The SMP, in particular, sounds like a potential disaster for you in the future. The danger signals are flashing right at you with every inquiry you make into it. I read all of your posts about Good Look Inc. Your head could end up looking like a Smurf in 5 years. There isn't enough info to warrant the risk.

 

Are you willing to take that chance? If you go through with and in five years it does happen, then you will look and feel like a fool. You will have learned nothing. You will end up in a place worse than you have been before. That blue head won't come out. You'll have to blast it with lasers and lose the precious grafts you have now. It's potential madness. Try to look at it from an objective point of view. It's money, time and a colossal risk you're putting in for a minor reward.

 

A lot of people here are commenting. But no one is telling you the right thing.

 

I feel that I am. No. I absolutely know that I am.

 

The pool? Give me a break, man. Work out, do abs, and get plenty of cardio (no steroids or even creatine or any other crap they sell at GNC!). Because pool and beach time is about looking at people's bodies and not their hairlines. Take a look at Casino Royale. When Daniel Craig comes out of the water, the first thing you look at is his stacked body, not his hair. But if his head were painted blue then maybe one would have to look there.

 

You honestly look fine they way you do now. You have a hair stylist that knows your situation and can help you keep your hair the right length. You have found the right concealer for your hair type. You are not in physical pain (as I am). You have control of the situation. Why would you want to risk losing that?

 

Consider this a warning. This nightmare will never end for you if you keep going. And that's what you keep talking about doing with SMP. Once more into the breach. Just a bad idea all around.

 

Move on with your life. Be happy. Visit this site to warn others or to provide moral support for those going through the same problems. See how people will keep falling or breaking even at this game long-term. You've done the research yourself. Dr. Oz isn't wrong in his book. Long-term everyone here is going to go bald (yes, even the super success stories). Keep visiting this site and watch and wait. You'll see. They'll either disappear or stop posting updated pics. You know the truth. They will end up one day where you are now. Wait and see.

 

But absolutely don't come back here one day with a blue head. Because you're going to find and read this very message I am writing now and feel one overwhelming word...

 

REGRET!

 

Look and think before you leap. 'Nuff said.

Edited April 25, 2012 by the-bald-reality2012

[Gettinold]

Here's my question.....does it get EVERYWHERE like the Toppik does? Toppik does a great job for me as I keep my hair in a bit longer style, but my bathroom is covered in the crap after I get done using it..

[Gettinold]

and bald-reality, you might get more respect for your opinions around here if you didnt say things like "Like 99% of HT doctors, he is a fraud"...That means these doctors that many of us love are crooks and we're all idiots. Sorry about your pain, but just because one girl treats you like crap, doesn't mean they're all dirty skanks.

[Time to do something]

Here's my question.....does it get EVERYWHERE like the Toppik does? Toppik does a great job for me as I keep my hair in a bit longer style, but my bathroom is covered in the crap after I get done using it..

 

 

There was a bit in the sink but not what I saw when I used Toppik. If you go online you can get a free sample. I'd give it a try. Let me know what you think.

[the-bald-reality2012]

Gettinold,

 

First of all, I'm not a fan of HT's but I do respect this website as a forum. My opinions are an extreme form of devil's advocate. Accept it as that.

 

Besides, I'm just trying to help this one person out. The only comments I've made are to TTDS based on shared experience.

 

I find it very funny that I get tons of responses to my negative comments on HT doctors and HT's in general. However, absolutely no one comments on the advice I'm actually giving TTDS.

 

No one is telling TTDS that SMP is a potentially really bad idea. No one (except me) is telling him that he looks really good (which he does). No one is dissuading from spending further time, money or energy on hair restoration.

 

No one (except me) is telling him that he should just be happy and that there is more to life than getting more and more surgeries, treatments, etc. Because it will never end. It can go on to FUE, body hair, SMP, PRP, A-cell, laser light therapy, and ad nauseum. It's a business of providing hope and illusion. And no one is telling them to stop throwing more money at more hope and illusion when he longer needs it.

 

And just to note, the big irony is that my HT work would actually fall within the top 10-15% of the ones I've seen on this website. If I keep going down this HT road and push to somewhere around 10,000 grafts I'll look like the best ones here (Bill, aaron1234, etc.). The scar was huge but I've dealt with it and I've got it reduced to something manageable. I'm hoping the pain doesn't stay long term. I don't want to be in pain for the rest of my life. But on the cosmetic side, I'm pretty sure Epstein would hold me up as a model of his good work.

 

So I could easily turn around and be a poster boy for HT's. But I would never do that because I know the truth.

 

In the end, the flaw is not the surgeon, it's the entire notion of hair transplants themselves. This is what I mean when I say 99% of HT doctors are frauds. Because the entire idea of covering 100% of an area with about 25-40% of it's original density is flawed. And the way it is marketed and sold is fraudulent. The fundamental issue of not of enough is generally talked around because the patient is desperate and willing to believe anything. Propecia is misrepresented and so is Minoxidil. Neither can really stop the hair loss in the long run. The only weapon you truly have is more HT's and that is just not enough in most cases.

 

In most cases, patients are left playing the Vain Rooney game of using concealers to mask what hair transplants are - a minor short-term fix for a major long-term problem. When I first saw Rooney's HT on TV, I honestly couldn't believe it. I wondered how many grafts it took to make his head so full or who is doctor was. But then later the pictures came out of what he looks like without concealer. And it's the same old story. Small strips of hair covering large swaths of scalp. And he's only 25. Wait till his hair ages, thins, goes gray, and continues to fall out. Rooney is going to regret his hair transplants long term. I'm pretty sure about that.

 

We can play with the camera angles and concealers all day long to mask the truth. Or we can just realize that there is something more to being a man than transplanting weeds to the top of our heads. It's just a call for TTDS (and by proxy myself) to move on. And that's all I'm saying.

 

And if you want love between patient and doctor, you can go read the posts on this website by The Emperor and his back and forth with Jotronic at Hasson and Wong ( one of the darling clinics on this site). He was clearly dissatisfied and expected a lot more. And John R, the necrosis patient? That is just a tragedy. Kevchristy, Female Hair Loss, and so many others have come and gone through the years here. The cheerleaders and patient reps outlast them all though and over time slant the opinions toward the "rewards" side of the equation instead of the "risks" side.

 

The simple truth is this...

 

You can't even approach actualy "objective" coverage (something that can basically stand all lights and angles and not be a matter of opinion) until you hit somewhere around 9,000 to 10,000 grafts. To do that you have to risk so much. FUE won't give you enough grafts so you have to go strip. And if you max out on scalp laxity at about 7,000-8,000 grafts, you'll have to top off with FUE.

 

Only a handful of patients are lucky enough to get 9,000-10,000 grafts. The rest are left playing with the camera angles and using concealers.

 

But the key point here is TTDS. Why doesn't anyone bother to back me up when I tell him he looks fine? Why doesn't anyone second my opinion that SMP looks frought with risk? That if his head turns blue in 5 to 10 years he's really going to regret it? Why? Because I'm down on HT's and hurt people's feelings about the HT doctors they "love so much"? Is that all you guys care about?

 

TTDS looks fine right now. He looks good enough to live a normal and happy life without wearing a wig or feeling like everyone is looking at him (which they aren't). He doesn't need any more surgeries or treatments.

 

If you are going to comment on anything, comment on that.

Edited April 26, 2012 by the-bald-reality2012

[Mountinvan]

Don't you think your bad results with Epstein is influencing your negativity towards HTs? They (HTs) do have intrinsic limitations but the results can be (and have been) pretty spectacular for the right patient in the hands of the right Doc. You are correct about limited supply and the ability of that supply to give coverage, but much depends on how bald you are to begin with. In other words, just like in any other surgery, how satisfied you are depends on what kind of candidate you are to begin with and what your expectations are. If you are a good candidate with realistic expectations, you can have an excellent result from HTs. I did. My experience is that a good Doc (and I would venture to say that the group is more than 1% of Coalition docs) can with current technology make a significant, permanent cosmetic change in one's hair situation. I have seen those changes posted by H&W, Rahal, Reed, Shapiros, T&D, etc. I am looking forward to the day that limited donor supply will be solved. I agree on freeing your mind but that includes letting go of the shackles of past experiences. I have to agree with Future Doc on this one. Lets be fair and balanced so that good candidates with realistic expectations can benefit from the amazing progress that has been made in the HT field by the really good docs.

[the-bald-reality2012]

Mountainvan,

 

I agree with your comments wholeheartedly. I do ultimately feel it is up to a person to make whatever choice they want to make in life. Provided that they are given fair and unbiased information. That is why I find this website to be an excellent tool for those wishing to learn about HT's. As I said before I'm negative on HT's but I'm definitely positive on the HRN website.

 

Future HT Doc referred to it as "pros" and "cons" like we're talking about buying a laptop and arguing about Gigabytes vs. Internet speed. The correct argument is "risk" vs. "benefit". If you had necrosis on your scalp, you would be feeling quite different about HT's than you do now. If your grafts didn't grow, you would feel different. If your donor scar was large, the same. If you just thinned out in the donor region, you would feel different. If any of your future HT's goes wrong (I hope they all go perfect for you) then you may feel that regret.

 

And you can't argue that it won't happen in the hands of that top 1% of coalition docs. Even in the best hands, there is a risk of something going terribly wrong. Dr. Epstein was once one of those top docs recommended by this site. There were others like Epstein that came and went. As I stated in my previous post, H&W has disatisfied clients (like The Emperor) that have posted on these boards as well.

 

I too am looking forward to that day of limited donor supply being solved. But it is highly unlikely to happen in our lifetimes. I don't even believe doctors even exactly know what causes hair loss (DHT is definitely a big part of the story, but not the only part).

 

And those permanent cosmetic changes you mentioned are posted by these HT doctors cannot be fully trusted. First, because pictures are deceiving. Second, because you can't be sure those changes are truly permanent considering the progressive nature of hair loss.

 

Bruce Willis is a great example. If you go on Balding Blog, William Rassman answers a question someone asked him on Bruce Willis. Rassman said that his daughter met Bruce Willis at a party back in the 90's when Willis started losing his hair. Rassman's daughter mentioned her dad's name. Rassman said that he thought Bruce might call, but that Bruce never did. The arrogance of William Rassman to think Bruce would call him up desperate for a hair transplant is incredible. Anyway, looking at Bruce's head today and how he went from NW3 to NW5/6, it's pretty safe to say that Bruce made the right choice when it came to not electing for the procedure.

 

Do you think Bruce Willis would not have regretted getting hair translants in the mid-90's when he still had plenty of hair all around his head? It would have all gone eventually, but that's not what William Rassman would have told him at the time. Rassman would have given him the full sales pitch and started chopping away at the back of Bruce's head. Bruce would have ended up like Elton John, wearing a wig to cover it up. Instead, he's Bruce Willis. He looks awesome. Why? Because his appeal comes from the inside out. He's not insecure. If he were, he wouldn't be the Bruce Willis we all know and pay to watch blow stuff up. The same goes for Jason Statham.

 

But at the end of the day, you're right. It's up to people to take whatever chances they want to take. Even if it is something extremely risky like a HT. And if they are happy with a few extra weeds on their heads, that's cool too. Because at the end of the day, the vast majority of men are going to go NW5 or 6 (just like Bruce or Jason Statham) and their hairs are going to look thin, grey, and dead. If someone is willing to take that long term risk of looking bizarre and not being able to shave it down, then it's up to them.

 

Here's the Bruce link for those interested:

 

http://www.baldingblog.com/2011/02/10/repost-for-bruce-willis-bald-is-beautiful/

Edited April 26, 2012 by the-bald-reality2012

[Time to do something]

The-bald-reality2012, I agree with just about everything you have said and maybe only guys who have had terrible experiences like us can relate to one another. I believe there are guys here happy with their results but many who are not. I’m somewhere in between and it is too early to determine the final outcome since my last procedure has not matured. One thing I can say was the first two I received were not acceptable at all. Dr. Shapiro restored some of my faith in the industry by giving me two free surgeries. He had absolutely no reason to do this except he is a decent human being and didn’t want one doctor who was generating a lot of negative publicity on the industry tarnishing it for all other doctors. I would have never been able to afford the work he did for me to attempt to achieve what I was supposed to get with Epstein. If it weren’t for Dr. Shapiro I can tell you I’d have gone into a major depression. He saved me in so many ways. I’m at a point now where I can use concealer and it will give an acceptable appearance. Concealer is not an ideal situation but it will provide the illusion of enough density to be acceptable. I still have the issue of it coming off on my pillow, coming out when I swim and I still have maintenance which is the entire reason I went for a hair transplant in the first place. I wanted to get away from the maintenance of a hairpiece. Now it appears I’ve just swapped one type of maintenance for another. I am being very cautious on the SMP idea. I have contacted a doctor who performed that procedure in the early and mid-90’s asking for photos of the patients today so we can see how the ink held up over the years.

I don’t plan on doing anything else other than the possibility of SMP after it has been completely researched. I’ve seen guys who have had it done and it looks very good to me. However, you are right, we don’t know what it will look like in 20 years. I’m not looking for a head of hair like I had when I was 20. I know that will never happen and I’m not sure I’d want it if I could have it. What I do want is enough hair to cover the scalp so one doesn’t see more scalp than hair. You are right about another thing, unsatisfied patients finally give up in defeat and they are rarely heard from again here. I find it ironic that this site that is supposed to thoroughly screen candidates to become coalition doctors and recommended one to me who took my money and gave terrible results. They finally revoked his membership but too late for me and my 10K.

At this stage of my life I had a few options. I could continue to wear a hair piece, which actually looks pretty damn natural, take it off and be slick bald on the top, or go for a hair transplant. I didn’t want the first option because I’m tired of the maintenance and the older one gets the less thick hair can be pulled off. High density in a hair piece (if properly styled and maintained) can look natural on a younger guy but as one ages thicker density isn’t as believable. Taking it off and being slick bald was not an option because I don’t feel I’m one of the lucky guys who can do that and look good. That left one option and that was a hair transplant. I now have hair where I didn’t before so for that I’m happy. Do I have the amount of hair needed to look(in my opinion) acceptable…no but I think with concealer and proper styling I can pull it off. It may not be what I was expecting but I will be able to ditch the piece (except for the crown which is nothing) and even though I’ll have maintenance I believe it will be less than what I was dealing with.

Epstein kept telling me I was an extremely unusual case that most of his patients were very happy and their work a success. If that is true then why wouldn’t he have considered my “rare case” the price of doing business and refunded my money since the overwhelming majority of his patients are happy according to him? He did offer me a second surgery which I took but totally regret it. I should have realized if the first one with him didn’t work the second one wouldn’t. However, my bank account was drained and I was desperate. Thank God for Dr. Shapiro’s generosity. I do commend this site for one thing. Had it not been for this site which exposed my terrible experience Dr. Shapiro would have never known about it and offered me help.

One can have all of the confidence in the world but the brutal statistics which don’t lie say people find bald people less attractive and bald people earn less than their hirsute counterparts.