If you could do anything different what would it be?

[callumb93]

Hi,

 

Just a general question on people that have gone ahead with a HT if you could reverse time what would you of done differently before taking the plunge? Also any tips/pointers to give to someone who is considering a HT?

 

Cheers

[Bill - Seemiller]

callumb93,

 

I'm one of those individuals who believes in the clich? "everything happens for a reason". So that being said, I guess I wouldn't change anything. That said, instead of getting 4 hair transplants over 5 years, I probably could have gotten done in two procedures over 2 or 3 years. I was clearly a candidate for a large hair transplant megasession but the physician I went to first was very conservative and only offered sessions up to 1600 grafts. Now it was 2004 but even at that point, some physicians were doing sessions upwards of 3000 to 4000 grafts. Had I gotten two larger procedures, I may have been done faster.

 

That said, I am very happy with the work that I've had done so now almost 10 years later after my last hair transplant, I probably wouldn't change a thing :-).

 

Best wishes,

 

Bill

[Speegs]

If I knew what I know now when I started I'd have gone to Dr. Gabel for my first procedure instead of waiting to do so on my second.

 

Biggest pointer is don't be afraid to travel, and consult with no less than five reputable doctors for opinions to consider.

[Pete-from-Farjo]

In an ideal world I would have had exclusively fue procedures, but as my first ht was back in 1998 this wasn't really an option

 

That being said though, my fut scars are pretty much a non-issue for me, and I can still cut my hair pretty short without them becoming visible.

[hairtransplanthrowaway]

callumb93,

 

I'm one of those individuals who believes in the clich? "everything happens for a reason". So that being said, I guess I wouldn't change anything. That said, instead of getting 4 hair transplants over 5 years, I probably could have gotten done in two procedures over 2 or 3 years. I was clearly a candidate for a large hair transplant megasession but the physician I went to first was very conservative and only offered sessions up to 1600 grafts. Now it was 2004 but even at that point, some physicians were doing sessions upwards of 3000 to 4000 grafts. Had I gotten two larger procedures, I may have been done faster.

 

That said, I am very happy with the work that I've had done so now almost 10 years later after my last hair transplant, I probably wouldn't change a thing :-).

 

Best wishes,

 

Bill

 

Hey Bill. Do you continue taking medications?

[Dr. Rahal]

You're doing the best possible thing: research. Don't do anything until your certain with the doctor & treatment plan you end up choosing. Many patients take years before taking the plunge. You're empowering yourself with education, that's the right path.

[biolizard]

EVERY single day, every day....I wake up and look into the mirror first thing in the morning and think to myself I would give ANYTHING to go back in time and NEVER get my FUE HT done!!

 

I SO wish I would've just buzzed down my scalp and accepted my aging and hair loss with grace and dignity. I now find myself looking at balding men who have buzzed down their scalp with tremendous envy!!! The worst mistake I have ever made in my adult life was getting a FUE HT.

[hairtransplanthrowaway]

EVERY single day, every day....I wake up and look into the mirror first thing in the morning and think to myself I would give ANYTHING to go back in time and NEVER get my FUE HT done!!

 

I SO wish I would've just buzzed down my scalp and accepted my aging and hair loss with grace and dignity. I now find myself looking at balding men who have buzzed down their scalp with tremendous envy!!! The worst mistake I have ever made in my adult life was getting a FUE HT.

 

 

Why is that? I'm kinda glad/relieved I've decided against FUT that I'd planned for May.

[hsrp10]

My first HT many many years ago at Bosley was a disaster but the Internet was not in full force back then (was limited to researchers and the military then) so I ended up making an ill-informed and rash decision.

 

I have made up for that by trying to help as many people on this site as possible make an informed decision based on thorough research and through relaying my experiences. These days it's much easier for you guys thankfully!

 

In terms of subsequent procedures the only thing I would have changed is recognizing that with fine caliber hair transplanted density needs to be greater than 60 grafts/cm2 for the perfect look.

But as Bill said things seem to happen and work out for a reason, and I'm happy I have reached my goals without any major issues along the way including during my long travel journeys to the best HT restoration surgeons in the world.

 

I consider myself extremely fortunate and a large part of not having had any major subsequent regrets is due to the HRN.

[Spanker]

I would have went a little higher and just reinforced behind more existing hair, allowing the line I'd drawn slowly come to be. Soon, I'll be closer to 50 than 30, and while I wouldn't ever want to be bald, losing some hairline would be ok over the next ten years. But I wasn't able to deal with that at the time. So, long story short try to get some years behind you, especially if you have mild loss. That said, I do have a killer head of hair.

[aWidowsPeek]

I would have had my FUE transplant done 5 years earlier if i had realized it could be so affordable, painless, and undetectable. I wasted 5 extra miserable giant foreheaded years of my life haha.

[biolizard]

Why is that? I'm kinda glad/relieved I've decided against FUT that I'd planned for May.

 

Just please do your research and KNOW EVERYTHING before jumping into it! And for god sakes do NOT let the 'doctors' mislead you! They will say misleading phrases like its 'just a simple procedure'. I was told I could return to work the next day! I was flat out lied to in some instances. One the check clears and your head has been irrevocably alter, their is no going back!

 

I was going through a mid life crisis and very depressed and insecure. That's a TERRIBLE place to be when making major decisions! I admit I'm to blame for allowing myself to be used while in a vulnerable state, and I take responsibility for that. But that doesn't mean that I have to remain silent and not speak out and warn some of unscrupulous, misleading practices within the hair transplant industry. I trusted the doctors and believe everything they told me, in part because deep down I wanted to believe that their was a simple easy fix to my balding problem. Really it is a BUYER BEWARE industry. Go in with your guard up!

 

What do I wish I would've done first?

1. Shave my head down first. I actually may have like itvonce I got use to it!

2. Try FIN first!!! If you have side effects like I did, then get a hair transplant idea out of your head and move on. Without FIN/propecia your hair lose with continue on most likely at a rapid hair, making your HT look really bizarre when the hair behind the recipient grafts falls out.

3. Have the density of your donor area evaluated by a impartial thirty party. If your density is low, then HT is not for you.

4. See a mental health specialist if you are depressed or having a mid life crisis like I was. I'm serious about this. Don't make a decision like this when your head is in a bad place. You will regret it like I do.

5. See a HT in person. Pics can be made to look however the person wants them to, and seeing one in person is indescribably better than just viewing online pics or watching you tube videos.

6. If you do decide you want to dive into a HT realize that location and cost are NOT factors to consider.

 

Anyway, I could type on, but that gives a few baisics of how to proceed.

[Shampoo]

I am very happy I had hair transplants. I have hair! I can't imagine where on the Norwood Scale I'd be right now. I don't even want to think about it. In fact I'd probably being seeing a mental health professional for depression had I NOT had a hair transplant.

 

Things I might do different?

 

#1. I would not have such a small first procedure. I suppose back then it was more common, but that was a lot of trouble for such few grafts. If you are going to do this, at least do enough for substantial impact.

 

#2. Hate to bring this up, but I'd use stool softeners post-op while on pain meds. Would have avoided a very uncomfortable trip to the emergency room had I just been taking an over the counter product like Dulcolax for a few days.

 

#3, I would ask during my consult with the doctor "are you the one that will actually be performing my surgery?". My first surgery in Arkansas, the main doctor, the one that did my consult was not the doctor that performed my surgery. It turned out ok, but I didn't really like that.

 

#4. I would not worry at all about short term things like "does the doctor shave down my hair or can he do the surgery without shaving my head". "Whats everybody going to think at work or friends". All wasted worry and energy.

 

i may think of more...

[JohnArbuckle]

Great thread topic. I haven't had surgery yet, but outside of that would have started taking dutasteride sooner. I wasted years being scared away by internet fear mongering.