Regular Member firstFUT Posted October 16, 2020 Regular Member Share Posted October 16, 2020 I thought sharing my experience might be helpful to others and to show my progress so far. I am 38 years old and have fine hair. I plan to update monthly for the first year or so. About a year ago I started to think about getting a HT after gradual thinning for several years. I first started Finasteride Oct 2019. I discovered this forum around that time and looked at results and reviews of many of the recommended surgeons. I did not mind traveling or price in terms of limiting my options. I first sent photos to H&W and they said I would be a good candidate for FUT, recommending 4000-5000+ grafts, noting a second procedure for the crown might be helpful. I then met Dr. Bernstein in NYC for an in-person consultation. He also recommended FUT, approximately 2500 grafts. His thoughts were similar to H&W, to start with the hairline, cover some midscalp, and only thin coverage to the crown. During continued research, I became interested in learning more about Dr. Cooley's practice. I found nearly all reviews to be excellent, results to be natural and excellent as well. I also liked the idea that he often seemed to transplant in the range of 3000-4000 grafts, somewhere between the other two recommendations I had received. I spoke to Lollie (an assistant of his for many years) for an in-depth telephone consultation after sending photographs to her. She was very pleasant and extremely helpful with scheduling. Approximately 3500 grafts were recommended by FUT. Also, Dr. Cooley does most of his FUT surgeries without shaving the recipient area, which was a big plus for me. I drove 12 hours to Charlotte the day before surgery because I did not want to get on a plane in the middle of COVID. On 6/10/20, I had the procedure. I had paid for 3,000 grafts in advance but was hoping for 3,500, as we had discussed. First I met Brandi, his lead assistant with many years of experience, to review some paperwork, etc. Then I met Dr. Cooley who discussed the hairline and asked for my expectations. He is friendly and reassuring. I asked that overall he use his judgement for what he thought would be the best in terms of overall improvement, and that I obviously wanted it to be natural. I asked that he err on the more conservative side to account for future loss, and to use as many grafts as he thought would be beneficial. His office is nice. The day was comfortable and the 12 hours (7AM-7PM) went quickly. You are given some conscious sedation at first to help relax (valium and midazolam), which I found helpful. Numbing is mildly uncomfortable for a minute or two. He was able to extract 3679 grafts (1- 1032, 2-1783, 3-714, 4-150). Post operatively, the following two days were mildly uncomfortable, but mostly only the first night. I did take tylenol and motrin regularly for about two days. I did not have swelling. Driving the long distance home over the following two days, starting after the post op visit with Dr. Cooley the morning following surgery, was not uncomfortable. I was first able to feel some growth around 3 months and think I have some noticeable visible improvement now at 4 months. I hope to share the continued improvement over the next many months. I would highly recommend Dr. Cooley and his team based on my excellent experience there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member firstFUT Posted October 16, 2020 Author Regular Member Share Posted October 16, 2020 Post op photos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member firstFUT Posted October 16, 2020 Author Regular Member Share Posted October 16, 2020 1 month photos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member firstFUT Posted October 16, 2020 Author Regular Member Share Posted October 16, 2020 2 month photos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member firstFUT Posted October 16, 2020 Author Regular Member Share Posted October 16, 2020 3 month photos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member firstFUT Posted October 16, 2020 Author Regular Member Share Posted October 16, 2020 4 month photos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member ShadowMoon Posted October 16, 2020 Senior Member Share Posted October 16, 2020 Looks great man! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Ian. Posted October 17, 2020 Regular Member Share Posted October 17, 2020 Thanks for the photos and write-up! You chose a great doc, I look forward to seeing your results! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Britanium Posted October 17, 2020 Senior Member Share Posted October 17, 2020 Nicely done Dr Cooley. Super refined work as per usual. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member hairlossPA Posted October 18, 2020 Senior Member Share Posted October 18, 2020 will be following Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member firstFUT Posted November 15, 2020 Author Regular Member Share Posted November 15, 2020 Photos at 5 months. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Britanium Posted November 15, 2020 Senior Member Share Posted November 15, 2020 Looking like it’s progressing well ! Thanks for the update 👏 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member firstFUT Posted December 11, 2020 Author Regular Member Share Posted December 11, 2020 Photos at 6 months 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Britanium Posted December 11, 2020 Senior Member Share Posted December 11, 2020 Serious progress since the last pics! 👏 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member home1212 Posted December 12, 2020 Senior Member Share Posted December 12, 2020 Dr. Cooley really aims to recreate the natural hairline you used to have .. looks absolutely amazing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Melvin- Admin Posted December 15, 2020 Administrators Share Posted December 15, 2020 Wow how did I miss this, looking absolutely stunning for 6 months! I’m a paid admin for Hair Transplant Network. I do not receive any compensation from any clinic. My comments are not medical advice. Check out my final hair transplant and topical dutasteride journey: View my thread Topical dutasteride journey Melvin- Managing Publisher and Forum Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Coalition Hair Loss Learning Center, and the Hair Loss Q&A Blog. Follow our Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, and YouTube. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Fahri Posted December 16, 2020 Regular Member Share Posted December 16, 2020 Looking SO, SO good, thank you for sharing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member firstFUT Posted December 30, 2020 Author Regular Member Share Posted December 30, 2020 I want to thank everyone for the words of encouragement. I will continue posting monthly for the first year unless I notice progress for even longer. This site was invaluable to me. I found it at the same time I started to consider a HT, about 14 months ago. It made narrowing down the list of possible doctors so much easier than it would have been otherwise. Without it, I wouldn't have known where to start and would have been much more likely to stay close to home for the HT. With the site it is so much easier to develop a list of 5 or 10 surgeons to research (based on patient results and reviews) further prior to choosing a few excellent ones to consult with. It is also really nice to see those who have gone through a HT before encouraging those who just have. I could not be more satisfied with the whole process and this website is an important reason why. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member firstFUT Posted January 17, 2021 Author Regular Member Share Posted January 17, 2021 7 months 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Style22 Posted January 17, 2021 Senior Member Share Posted January 17, 2021 Looks great! I’d be thrilled. Dr. Cooley is one of the three I’m considering. Thanks for the updates! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Fahri Posted January 17, 2021 Regular Member Share Posted January 17, 2021 Such a difference to your first pictures, I would be so happy with your transformation, thanks for sharing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member firstFUT Posted February 14, 2021 Author Regular Member Share Posted February 14, 2021 8 months 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Spanker Posted February 14, 2021 Senior Member Share Posted February 14, 2021 Looking great! I am an online representative for Dr. Raymond Konior who is an elite member of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians. View Dr. Konior's Website View Spanker's Website I am not a medical professional and my opinions should not be taken as medical advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Britanium Posted February 14, 2021 Senior Member Share Posted February 14, 2021 Great improvements from the last pics ! 👏 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member anotherhairlosssufferer Posted February 14, 2021 Senior Member Share Posted February 14, 2021 Nice, this looks really good! Minoxidil 1x day Stopped Fin due to sides HT With Dr. Konior December 2020: https://www.hairtransplantnetwork.com/blog/anotherhairlossdude/4442 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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