HT scheduled for 6/26/06-Before pic posted-Comments please!

[jerry78]

I'm scheduled for my HT on 6/26/06 with Dr. Katz of Philadelphia.

 

I'm getting 1,000 grafts in the frontal area.

 

I'm looking for comments both pro and con as to what I can expect, and if you think a 1,0000 graft session will do me any good. Thanks-Jerry

[jerry78]

I'm scheduled for my HT on 6/26/06 with Dr. Katz of Philadelphia.

 

I'm getting 1,000 grafts in the frontal area.

 

I'm looking for comments both pro and con as to what I can expect, and if you think a 1,0000 graft session will do me any good. Thanks-Jerry

[JakeVig]

Hi Jerry,

 

Did you have any other consults with other surgeons as well? The only reason why I ask is that it looks like 1000 grafts will not make that much of an aesthetic difference over that area. I would've thought along the lines of 2500 grafts. What are your expectations for this HT and is there any reason for the low graft count?

[UGLY MAN 4 LIFE]

I'd say about 2000 grafts aswell.

[Lon]

I wouldn't waste my time on 1000 grafts...You will be disappointed

[johnnie69]

if i were you, id cancel the appointment and go to a different surgeon....Id say you need 2500-3000 for your frontal 1/3.....1000 graphs is gonna be dissapointing man......long wait to realize that you should have done it different.....Dr Katz , if it the Dr Katz I talked to also, doesnt do larger sessions....

 

Although his work seems quality, I went elsewhere because of the session size...I just had my second and the wait is pure hell man....not worth it for 1000 graphs knowing youre gonna need another larger procedure...

 

Good Luck with whatever you choose to do.

[irish homer]

i was going to get 1000 graphs in ireland untill i researched this site and got sound advice from knowledgable posters. i ended up in miami for 2350 and am delighted i did the research. not worth the hassel for such a small number. keep reading!!!

[the B spot]

Jerry, Dr. Katz does do solid work and has performed many quality HT's. In addition, he is on the recommended list here at the site. I would caution you, however, as Dr. Katz's philosophy seems to be based around sessions of 1000 to 1500 MAX, resulting in several sessions and higher costs. If sessions of 1000 grafts is ALL you need this is perfectly fine, as graft numbers are a little out of whack right now. Judging from your photos and the level of loss you have, you have to recognize and understand the possibility exists that after 1000 grafts into your hairline and "frontal region" you may shock out many weakened hairs, resulting in an overall thin look AFTER the procedure. However, if you were to attack your entire balding pattern, (it looks as if you will thin into the midscalp region at some point) with a higher graft count 2 things happen: 1. Your doc will be able to achieve higher density and address all of the problem areas in such a way that should you lose some hair to shockloss, it will not be as apparent. You need to look around and find a hairline specialist and one who can give you densities of 25 to 55 one pass. I hope this helps you out ,and I hope that you do not cut your head open for 1000 grafts. Wait and educate yourself a bit.

[pushing 40]

When my hair is shorter and combed back, it looks absolutely identical to yours. After several consults with top surgeons all listed on this site, the lowest recommendation I've received is 1800 graphs to keep hairline the same but slightly more dense; the highest is 2900 for maximum density and filling in temples. I also have very good donor density; is that a problem issue with you? Is that why he's recommending such a low number?

[jerry78]

Thanks to everyone for the solid, sound advice. I really do appreciate it. You have all convinced me to the point that I am going to schedule 2 more consults with different doctors to see what they say also. I'll keep you all posted. Jerry

[marino450]

Does anyone know why Dr. Katz prefer smaller sessions. Are there any benefits of having a smaller session like minimal shock loss or better growth? Just wondering bc if he is a recommended surgeon here then he must be qualified so he must have his reasons too.. thanks for the help

[jerry78]

Marino:

The reason that Katz uses for small sessions, according to what he told me at my consult, is that if you place lots of grafts close together at the same time (think of planting vegetables in a garden without spacing them apart),a lot of the grafts will not grow due to the lack of blood supply, etc. He prefers a small session, then when those grafts have taken "root", a second session can be done thereby allowing more graft growth. Jerry

[hrthr]

Dense packing seems to work everywhere else. Seems a little hokey to me.

[dhuge67]

Originally posted by jerry78:

Marino:

The reason that Katz uses for small sessions, according to what he told me at my consult, is that if you place lots of grafts close together at the same time (think of planting vegetables in a garden without spacing them apart),a lot of the grafts will not grow due to the lack of blood supply, etc. He prefers a small session, then when those grafts have taken "root", a second session can be done thereby allowing more graft growth. Jerry

I heard this from my Doctor as well.

[jerry78]

dHuge67:

Do you mind me asking what the cost was w/ Dr. Pistone? I may be consulting with him before I go ahead with my HT.

My quote from Dr. Katz was $5,000.00 for 1,000 grafts...Jerry

[dhuge67]

Originally posted by jerry78:

dHuge67:

Do you mind me asking what the cost was w/ Dr. Pistone? I may be consulting with him before I go ahead with my HT.

My quote from Dr. Katz was $5,000.00 for 1,000 grafts...Jerry

$6,500 for 1,604 follicular units.

[tkerr22]

Originally posted by jerry78:

Marino:

The reason that Katz uses for small sessions, according to what he told me at my consult, is that if you place lots of grafts close together at the same time (think of planting vegetables in a garden without spacing them apart),a lot of the grafts will not grow due to the lack of blood supply, etc. He prefers a small session, then when those grafts have taken "root", a second session can be done thereby allowing more graft growth. Jerry

 

 

See I was told different by my doctor because of the new blades they use that make the incisions so small and nonevasive. He went ahead and dense packed my front and it turned out great! If you look at H&W along with some other docs on here they dense pack too and there is no loss of grafts due to their non evasive blades

[dhuge67]

Originally posted by tkerr22:

Originally posted by jerry78:

Marino:

The reason that Katz uses for small sessions, according to what he told me at my consult, is that if you place lots of grafts close together at the same time (think of planting vegetables in a garden without spacing them apart),a lot of the grafts will not grow due to the lack of blood supply, etc. He prefers a small session, then when those grafts have taken "root", a second session can be done thereby allowing more graft growth. Jerry

 

 

See I was told different by my doctor because of the new blades they use that make the incisions so small and nonevasive. He went ahead and dense packed my front and it turned out great! If you look at H&W along with some other docs on here they dense pack too and there is no loss of grafts due to their non evasive blades

I believe you are correct. I never said that what I was told was infallible.

[tkerr22]

I was told the same thing your doc told you when I had my first HT. Things have come a long way in the last few years, and am glad they have! I go in a week from Friday to get my next HT for my midscalp and crown. Am very excited because if this does to my midscalp and small crown area what my last HT did for my front I should be all done and have good coverage across my head! And once again he will be dense packing those areas. My last HT I had quite a bit of shockloss due to the densepacking but it was worth it in the end. Not so much hair in the crown to shock out so no real worries this time around

[John_in_NC]

what if it was the temples alone? I know in this case he probably needs to fill the center too, but would 1000-1500 be enough for the temples alone with 40-50 grafts/cm2 density?

 

 

Originally posted by JakeVig:

Hi Jerry,

 

Did you have any other consults with other surgeons as well? The only reason why I ask is that it looks like 1000 grafts will not make that much of an aesthetic difference over that area. I would've thought along the lines of 2500 grafts. What are your expectations for this HT and is there any reason for the low graft count?

[jerry78]

After much reading and researching, I decided to NOT go through with the 1,000 graft procedure.

 

Although I lost $500.00 down payment, I believe it was better than losing $4,500.00 more with the probability of being disappointed with the results.

 

I'll probably wait until I have a chance to consult with another Doc...probably Feller or True.

 

Thanks for the sound advice to everyone. I do think I have made the correct decision to hold off on this.

[Jotronic]

Clinics that say dense packing is not the way to go are speaking from experience...their own. Just because they cannot do this does not mean it is not being done everyday somewhere else. The scalp has an enormous blood supply relative to the rest of the body. There is more than enough to keep the grafts nourished.

[FacelessMan]

Hello,

 

For what it's worth, I asked Dr. Feller the same question -- whether "dense packing" was a threat to the grafts -- and he very emphatically said no (and in fact, he and other leading surgeons like H&W accomplish it routinely).

 

Benjamin

[tkerr22]

I just had 1650 dense packed in my midscalp, if the doctor has the ud to date techniques and tools it works out great since the smaller blades leave less trauma and more grafts can be planted closer together

[Guest]

Jerry, have a look at PB's blog on this forum.

He had a very successful 2700 grafts with Dr Feller in a similar area and size to what you're looking at.