Senior Member Robert_ Posted August 28, 2004 Senior Member Share Posted August 28, 2004 First of all, I want to apologize for the lack of clear photos. I'll get someone to take them for me at a higher resolution soon but I wanted to go ahead and get something up since it has been so long. At 17 months post op, I can honestly say that my life has changed as a result of this procedure with Dr. Cooley. No longer do I dread events where I cannot wear a ball cap. No longer am I worried that someone may be staring at me wondering why such a young guy is balding. Those were the stares that I got as young as 20 years old. I no longer get them. My hair line may seem high to some, but that was my cautious approach and Dr. Cooley and I discussed it extensively. I wanted an even higher hairline, but he convinced me to go down just a bit; about a half inch. My concern was/is my rapid hair loss at such a young age and rampant male-pattern baldness in my family. I have been lucky to be a decent responder to medication on my crown. I am currently taking Avodart - .5 mg daily, 5% generic minoxidil applied twice daily, good vitamins, and an attempt to get enough rest, which doesnt always happen but I do what I can. Dr. Cooley and his staff in Charlotte, NC are absolutely top-notch in every respect and I have no qualms recommending their clinic to anyone considering hair restoration surgery. I have had nothing short of the most positive experience that could be imagined. In short, the photos speak for themselves. I recieved 2,300 grafts to the hairline and forelock. I am patiently watching my crown grow thicker as time goes by. I have absolutely no plans for getting grafts placed in the crown area for fear of future loss because of my relatively young age (27). I may kick around lowering the hair line sometime in the future, but for right now I am happy. You can see my still-thin crown in some of the photos. With some dermatch in, there is no detection of hair loss. Without it, I have a thin crown. Compare my latest photos with the below "before" photo and you will see just how far I have come. If this transformation isn't "life-altering" for a mid-twenties guy, then I don't know what is! In closing, "Thank you Dr. Cooley!" -Robert Before: 17 months post op: *6 Month Update* 6 months post-op: A picture is worth a thousand words. What else can I say? Thank you DR. Cooley!!! **5 month update** Everyday is better and better. I can leave the house without a hat on (with a little Toppik sprinkled on the crown) every day now. In fact, the only time I have worn a hat lately is around the house! It's also a great feeling not to feel "naked" without it on anymore. And yes, I have gotten compliments on my hair! I will be posting a picture with Toppik in tomorrow for everyone to see and give feedback. **4 Month update** I see more growth as time goes by. I am still looking forward to the 6 month mark. **2nd 3 month Update** When I was in Dr. Cooley's office last friday, we were discussing my new growth from both the transplant and the addition of Finasteride and Minoxidil to my regimen again. I had stopped using both for about 2 and a half years not being informed of the obvious consequences. When Ms. Ailene handed me the last photo in the gallery showcasing the extent of my hair loss before the medications and transplant I was floored. Even though I am on the forums daily and see my "before" pics a good bit, it is difficult not to recoil a little when you see the dramatic change that just 4+ months of the medications can do. I had been on both for about 3 to 4 weeks again when the top picture was taken the day of my consultation. My consultation was the day before my procedure was performed. Once I saw this, I knew I had to have this picture to post for others to see. With the 1-2 attack of the transplant and the medications (Finasteride, Minoxidil, and Nizoral shampoo), I am extremely happy with the results thus far. **3 Month Update** Ok, here it is. 4 months after re-starting Finasteride and Minoxidil and 3 months post-op. I took some more at Dr. Cooley's office Friday and he is emailing them to me. There is one particular picture that he had that was taken the day before the procedure that I cannot wait to share. It really highlights what The Finasteride and Minoxidil has done for me so far. For now, though, just compare the newest "Top" pictures with the "Before #5" pic to get a good estimate of what is going on. More detailed pics to come soon!! I wanted to update my old thread to a photo album. I am currently exactly at 10 weeks post op from my procedure with Dr. Cooley. I had my second hair cut since the procedure today and I had the back and sides trimmed with a #2 guard. I am very happy with the way the scar looks and I am already seeing grafts pop at the hairline. If anyone has any questions on my procedure I invite you to look back on my original thread (though I am reposting all of the pictures here): http://hair-restoration-info.com/eve/forums?a=tpc&s=5696015661&f=2566060861&m=691103843<BR><BR>I want to apologize on the clarity of a lot of the pictures. Camera phones just aren't great at documenting hair transplant procedure progression, it seems. I am going to post some clearer shots of my 10 week progress tomorrow. There are a good bit of pictures, so you may just want to hit "gallery" in the top right corner instead of waiting for the pictures to download individually using the "slideshow." Once the Gallery is up, just click on the individual thumbnail to see it full size and to be able to read the whole text. Thanks, -Robert As forum moderator and a Patient Advocate for the Coalition I'm available to answer any questons. To view animations and videos and learn about leading hair restoration physicians visit http://www.regrowhair.com/our_physicians.asp ------------------------------ Check out the results of my surgical hair restoration performed by Dr. Jerry Cooley by visiting my Hair Loss Weblog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member baldcasanova Posted August 28, 2004 Senior Member Share Posted August 28, 2004 Looking great Social. You are forming a nice head of hair and things seem to be filling in well. Cas ____________________________ 630 FUT - 8/27/03 2200 FUT - 5/20/05 2000 FUT - 12/15/07 "i haven't been this bald since.... well... since I was born!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Brando Posted August 28, 2004 Senior Member Share Posted August 28, 2004 Social, you're hair is really starting to look great! Your scar is 99.9% undetectable and I would not suspect a thing if I wasn't looking for it. You're going to be a man gorilla when it's all said and done! Keep the updates and pics comin'!! Bran Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member HairBeThere Posted August 28, 2004 Senior Member Share Posted August 28, 2004 I can't believe how unnoticable the scar is! Man everything looks to be going great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 28, 2004 Share Posted August 28, 2004 Once again, I am amazed at how quickly the redness disappeared. It looks like you went for a 'somewhat' mature hairline, but it doesn't look as 'u-shaped' as some others I've seen. Did you work with Dr. Cooley on the hairline, or just take what he suggested? How dense did he pack the hairline? Good luck, it's going to look sharp when it grows in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Robert_ Posted August 29, 2004 Author Senior Member Share Posted August 29, 2004 Thanks for the compliments Bald, Brando, HBT, and Biff. The hairline was discussed at great detail between myself, Dr. Cooley and his lead technician, Ailene. They asked me what my goals were and what I wanted and guided me into making a good decision. I did not want a hairline that was too low. I had actually started getting used to the way it was! The lines drawn can be deceiving. Where the line is, is where the first of the single hair grafts are to be placed. This is so it is a gradual ascent into the hairline instead of a "wall" of hair at that line. As far as density, I recieved 2,300 grafts at the hairline on up as you can see a little clearer in the picture below: -Robert ------------------------------ Check out the results of my surgical hair restoration performed by Dr. Jerry Cooley by visiting my Hair Loss Weblog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Brando Posted August 29, 2004 Senior Member Share Posted August 29, 2004 Hey Social, I know I've asked you in the past, but any idea when the video will be up? That will be a big step forward on this forum to have a bird's eye view of what a HT patient experiences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Robert_ Posted August 29, 2004 Author Senior Member Share Posted August 29, 2004 I will be making my video debut shortly. I cannot wait to see it myself due to the fact that I was unconscious during pretty much the whole thing. -Robert ------------------------------ Check out the results of my surgical hair restoration performed by Dr. Jerry Cooley by visiting my Hair Loss Weblog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Robert_ Posted September 26, 2004 Author Senior Member Share Posted September 26, 2004 There have been some questions raised for the length of hair that is acceptable post op. I asked her to do a "high-and-tight" all the way up with a #2 guard. No blending like last time (I looked back and noticed that I never put that in). Full disclosure. I still wear my hat a good bit and none of the people that I know would even know what a hair transplant is so I get no questions. They all know that I have been in multiple motorcycle accidents anyway, so if they think anything they will probably chalk it up to that. I did this to show off my scar to you guys. The camera I took these with is really lacking so they didn't turn out sharp, but I have more detailed ones on the way. -Robert ------------------------------ Check out the results of my surgical hair restoration performed by Dr. Jerry Cooley by visiting my Hair Loss Weblog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Big1 Posted September 26, 2004 Senior Member Share Posted September 26, 2004 You already look noticeably better and you have barely achieved 15% of your yield. 85% left to go. Enjoy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Smoothy Posted September 26, 2004 Senior Member Share Posted September 26, 2004 Looking good Robert-- update with post. looks like a good amount of FU for hairline and midsclap. Congrats and keep growing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Hair Apparent Posted September 26, 2004 Regular Member Share Posted September 26, 2004 Excellent, Robert. I'm glad for you, and of course, I have an especial interest in your results since Dr. Cooley just did my HT ten days ago--even a three-month wait seems like an eternity. While studying your photos, a thought struck me, but it's worth mentioning for those who check out this board and considering HT for themselves. As you know from my first post, detailing my procedure with Dr. Cooley, I'm pushing fifty years of age, was a Norwood VI (maybe a scosh better), and am reasonably certain my hairloss has stabilised. At my age, a full head of hair is not expected and the risk of additional balding is minimal, so I opted to have Dr. Cooley distribute the 2000 grafts (I know I got some bonus grafts out it, but I don't know how many; just out of curiosity, I asked Ailene to let me know the exact number) over all of my balding area, rather than concentrate on the frontal hair line. (I had about 5,000 potential grafts to start with, so I could have held off the crown until later, but I gave my own reasons for wanting a greater coverage initially.) That meant trade-offs, and for me, I was willing to sacrifice a wider frontal hairline--and I noticed that your original frontal hairline just about mirrors the one that Dr. Cooley constructed for me--although mine will be somewhat more defined and denser. And this is the point I am trying to make for anyone out there reading these posts and trying to make a decision to go for HT. Even setting aside the important distinctions of individual characteristics like density of one's remaining hair and the colour and width of one's individual hairs and, of course, the degree of baldness, there are different expectations and desires and levels of appropriateness to age. I will be thrilled to have what Robert had to begin with when he had his procedure, if it's a bit thicker in front (and if not sufficient, that's what some of the other 3,000 grafts can be used for). That's very appropriate for my age and with my salt-and-pepper hair, people will consider my hairline to be a result of natural ageing and not premature balding. This is not to say that Robert is being vain in wanting his hairline filled in. He is younger than me and the hairline designed for him by Dr. Cooley is most appropriate to his age. What Robert is getting is most fitting for his situation. And that's the thing: many folks out there considering HT's and going over this board for information will be scanning pictures like Robert's closely, to see how it's working and to evaluate what can be done for them. (I didn't discover this board until after I had my HT, and I still do that.) The thing is, everyone doesn't have to shoot for a complete frontal hairline and the appearance of a full head of hair to end up looking great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Big1 Posted September 26, 2004 Senior Member Share Posted September 26, 2004 What Robert is getting is most fitting for his situation. And that's the thing: many folks out there considering HT's and going over this board for information will be scanning pictures like Robert's closely... The thing is, everyone doesn't have to shoot for a complete frontal hairline and the appearance of a full head of hair to end up looking great. I totally agree. It is very unusual to be "pushing 50" and to have a full hairline. Generally, guys with full, unscathed hairlines are wearing systems or have had transplants. But many of these guys would look better if their hairline looked more natural, and more appropriate for their own age. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Robert_ Posted September 26, 2004 Author Senior Member Share Posted September 26, 2004 Thanks for the feedback, guys. In my initial consultation me, Dr. Cooley, and Ailene talked extensively about the hair line appearance. I wanted to make sure that the hair line that I recieved was going to look natural at 26 years old and 66 years old. Dr. Cooley was, as always, two (or three) steps in front of me. When drawing the hairline (if you go to "gallery" in the top right corner you will see the picture of the sketched hairline) Dr. Cooley addressed this issue in that to put it too high would rob me of the benefit of a youthful appearance and to put it too low would create a hairline that would not be appropriate for the mature man I hope to someday become (that was supposed to be funny...haha). When he sketched it out and noted that the lines are not "hard" lines but instead where the first layer of 1's and slightly further back 2's will be placed, I knew that I was in good hands. The line is actually going to be almost invisible to the casual observer in order to create the subtle "lead up" to the thicker hair slightly further back. This addresses the issue of whether there will be a "wall" of hair that looks unnatural. Also, if one was to look at the hairline placement as compared to many young men my age that have no noticeable hairloss you will see that it is slightly higher. This is more than fine with me as it is definitely one that lets me look to the future with confidence. -Robert ------------------------------ Check out the results of my surgical hair restoration performed by Dr. Jerry Cooley by visiting my Hair Loss Weblog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Brando Posted September 27, 2004 Senior Member Share Posted September 27, 2004 Social, Looking good man! Thanks for buzzing the back to show us the scar. I can really tell the propecia and rogaine are helping you out. You're going to have Brad Pitt hair by the time this is over with. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Cleanhead Jones Posted September 28, 2004 Regular Member Share Posted September 28, 2004 Amazing! You look great. The pictures you have are really cool too. I can only hope that my session turns out as well as some of the stuff I'm seeing here. Good luck and keep those updates coming. Cleanhead Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cas Posted September 28, 2004 Share Posted September 28, 2004 social, the hair looks great man. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member NYC Guy Posted September 29, 2004 Regular Member Share Posted September 29, 2004 Social, Looks like your results are coming along nicely. 3 months from now will be the real test to see how successful the yield from your HT has been. From your earlier pictures, I do think think Cooley designed a very nice hairline for you with very good temple work. We are all keeping our fingers crossed for you for continued good progress! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Robert_ Posted September 29, 2004 Author Senior Member Share Posted September 29, 2004 Brando, Clean, Cas, NYC, Thanks for the kind words. I promise I'll get better about updating with better and better looking pics. -Robert ------------------------------ Check out the results of my surgical hair restoration performed by Dr. Jerry Cooley by visiting my Hair Loss Weblog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Robert_ Posted September 30, 2004 Author Senior Member Share Posted September 30, 2004 I just posted a couple of more "before/after" pics that I thought really showcased the extent of my progress so far. Let me know what you think. -Robert ------------------------------ Check out the results of my surgical hair restoration performed by Dr. Jerry Cooley by visiting my Hair Loss Weblog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member HairBeThere Posted September 30, 2004 Senior Member Share Posted September 30, 2004 WOW!! I think you mixed the correct coctail! That is one you the most incredibale 4 month comparisons I think I have ever seen! I know you're stoked! Congrat's man! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Brando Posted September 30, 2004 Senior Member Share Posted September 30, 2004 That is absolutely incredible. I can't believe the difference. Social, don't be suprised if you're not on the main website of Dr. Cooley's in a few months in the before/after photo section. Congratulations and whatever hairdance you're doing everyday, do one for me too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Robert_ Posted September 30, 2004 Author Senior Member Share Posted September 30, 2004 Thanks, HBT and Brando. Yeah I showed that before pic to my roommates today and they could not believe it. They see me everyday without my hat on and so the change has been gradual so they didn't realize the extent of improvement at first. I can't wait to post the 6 month pics now . -Robert ------------------------------ Check out the results of my surgical hair restoration performed by Dr. Jerry Cooley by visiting my Hair Loss Weblog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Brando Posted October 2, 2004 Senior Member Share Posted October 2, 2004 Social, About how far along did you begin to see some transplanted hair begin to pop up noticeably? I just want to get a feel of what's expected for me because I'm approaching the 2 month mark. Thanks, Brando Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 2, 2004 Share Posted October 2, 2004 Robert....that truly is a HUGE change for just over 3 months. do you have any toppik or other concealer in those after pics? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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