Senior Member rjvw Posted January 20, 2007 Senior Member Share Posted January 20, 2007 My Journey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill - Seemiller Posted January 20, 2007 Share Posted January 20, 2007 rjvw, Congratulations on your procedure with Dr. Epstein. It does appear that Propecia has brought some hair back for you, however, the angling and lighting is different so it could be an illusion? But you said you see some changes, so that is great! Surgery looks good...clean. It should give you some nice overall coverage, but I wouldn't expect a lot of density. A lot of ground has been covered with not too many grafts. If you are not satisfied with the density after a year or two, you can always go back for more. Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member NervousNelly Posted January 20, 2007 Senior Member Share Posted January 20, 2007 I think that you will have some pretty decent changes as there does already look like an improvement with the propecia alone. It looks like he primarily just added FU to zones 2 and 3 so I would think that the hairline and frontal area will look awesome. There is always so much discussion of density and ofcourse we all want our hair to look as full as possible, but just providing a new, clean, defining hairline makes all the difference in the world. Dr. E did a great job on the surgery and given time you will be a new man. Best of luck. NN Dr.Cole,1989. ??graftcount Dr. Ron Shapiro. Aug., 2007 Total graft count 2862 Total hairs 5495 1hairs--916 2hairs--1349 3hairs--507 4hairs--90 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member rjvw Posted January 21, 2007 Author Senior Member Share Posted January 21, 2007 I posted a few more photos showcasing Dr. Epstein's work. My hair is still a little wet from taking a shower. But it gives you a good look as to what to expect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member the B spot Posted January 22, 2007 Senior Member Share Posted January 22, 2007 RJ, how many grafts did you have transplanted? Everything looks really clean, so I expect some really good growth. Did Dr. E mention any worry about shockloss and is that the reason he only transplanted throughout the frontal zone at about 15-20 fu's cm/2? Anyway, your going to look great, and I especially like the way your incisions is hidden!!!!!!! Keep us posted!!!!!!!!! Go Cubs! 6721 transplanted grafts 13,906 hairs Performed by Dr. Ron Shapiro Dr. Ron Shapiro and Dr. Paul Shapiro are members of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Neptune Posted January 22, 2007 Senior Member Share Posted January 22, 2007 Looks great rjvw! Still feeling the tightness in back? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member rjvw Posted January 22, 2007 Author Senior Member Share Posted January 22, 2007 B Spot, Dr. E and I never really talked about shockloss. He did mention that I was getting great results with Propecia and that it seemed that my hair shafts were indeed getting thicker thus might help in slowing or stopping future hair loss. Our game plan was just to work inside my exisitng hairline. I don't mind having a little reveal to my scalp. I just didn't want to be able to see right thru to the back of my head, if you know what I mean. Neptune, the tightness comes and goes. Sometimes, like now, I even forget that I had a HT. Now that my swelling is gone and except for the small crust on my head I look the same as before. I'm gonna post photos about once a week so you can see what you'll be going thru. By the way, I called Dr. E when I swelled up. It was 5:30 on Saturday night and I got a return call, by him, within an hour. That says a lot about the man. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Neptune Posted January 22, 2007 Senior Member Share Posted January 22, 2007 Thanks rjvw! The pics will really help me as this is a rare chance to follow a couple months after someone who's condition is very similar to mine with the same surgeon. Most appreciated! I got an email from Dr. E over the weekend just asking if I had any more questions (we have corresponded via email quite a bit over the last month), so that made me feel good. He's answered every question I have had to date. So far, so good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member rjvw Posted January 23, 2007 Author Senior Member Share Posted January 23, 2007 Added 1 week photos. Please note I still have my stiches. I have not lost any little guys yet but I'm expecting a fallout soon. Still have some crust/scabs but they are mostly in the center of my head. They are hard to see in person. Plus it helps to be 6'2". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill - Seemiller Posted January 24, 2007 Share Posted January 24, 2007 rjvw, I know you have been one to be concerned about looking as "normal" as possible as quickly as possible right after your HT. Allow me to say congratulations...your 1 week post op photos look great! Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member NervousNelly Posted January 24, 2007 Senior Member Share Posted January 24, 2007 Oh by the way, the propecia does seem to be working very well in such a short period of time---you probably didn't need the HT. Kidding ofcourse but it will be interesting to see your results in a year. Good luck. NN Dr.Cole,1989. ??graftcount Dr. Ron Shapiro. Aug., 2007 Total graft count 2862 Total hairs 5495 1hairs--916 2hairs--1349 3hairs--507 4hairs--90 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Neptune Posted January 24, 2007 Senior Member Share Posted January 24, 2007 Looks great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member rjvw Posted January 26, 2007 Author Senior Member Share Posted January 26, 2007 Updated again. I will wait a few more weeks to document any changes .....good or bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member rjvw Posted February 13, 2007 Author Senior Member Share Posted February 13, 2007 One month update. Shock loss is a real bitch. You can see a big difference from my side view photos. Thank god I know it's only a normal stage that we all must go thru. I can't wait for the growth to start. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member NervousNelly Posted February 13, 2007 Senior Member Share Posted February 13, 2007 Ya shock loss sucks. Like you said, it is normal and give it time and all will be good again. If the propecia worked for you prior it will help with the growth. Mid to late summer and you'll be laughing. Please keep us posted. NN Dr.Cole,1989. ??graftcount Dr. Ron Shapiro. Aug., 2007 Total graft count 2862 Total hairs 5495 1hairs--916 2hairs--1349 3hairs--507 4hairs--90 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member rjvw Posted February 13, 2007 Author Senior Member Share Posted February 13, 2007 Thanks NervousNelly. C'mon summer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill - Seemiller Posted February 13, 2007 Share Posted February 13, 2007 rjvw, Shockloss is no fun, but the good news is, it's temporary. I looked at your pictures...maybe a little bit of shockloss, but I wouldn't say it's real bad...at least not yet. Just a warning...it MIGHT get worse before it gets better. Just don't panic if it does...it's normal. My bad period is typically 5-10 weeks. Just thought I'd share. Keep us posted. Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member rjvw Posted February 13, 2007 Author Senior Member Share Posted February 13, 2007 Bill, it's cool. My target goal has always been July (6 months). Plus it's winter, hat season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Neptune Posted February 14, 2007 Senior Member Share Posted February 14, 2007 I know you are dissapointed but we'll be throwing you a party (online of course) later this Summer when it's a 100 degrees outside and your hair is growing like mad! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member hairbank Posted February 15, 2007 Senior Member Share Posted February 15, 2007 rj- Thanks for the updates.................you're coming along. Don't fret the shock loss, I think my shocked hair started coming back around the 2 month mark. Hang in there..........it'll come, braddah! Hairbank 1st HT 1-18-05 - 1200 FUT's 2nd HT 2-15-06 - 3886 FUT's Dr. Wong 3rd HT 4-24-08 - 2415 FUT's Dr. Wong GRAND TOTAL: 7501 GRAFTS current regimen: 1.25mg finasteride every other day My Hair Loss Weblog Disclaimer: I'm not a Doctor (and have never played one on TV ) and have no medical training. Any information I share here is in an effort to help those who don't like hair loss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member rjvw Posted February 16, 2007 Author Senior Member Share Posted February 16, 2007 Thanks for the support guys. It's been great to be able to read about others going through or have been through the same highs and lows of a HT that I'm going through. To me, this forum has made all the difference in my decision to go ahead and step up and have a HT. I know without it I would have never even thought of doing it. Or even worse I might have trusted Bosley as the "premier HT authority". (Never believe what you see on TV) The knowledge, wisdom and support on this forum is truly priceless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member rjvw Posted March 3, 2007 Author Senior Member Share Posted March 3, 2007 Some guys asked about hiding our scars so I thought this may put them at rest. Plus you can see my shockloss is looking much better. I just wish the top would start growing in faster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Gorpy Posted March 4, 2007 Senior Member Share Posted March 4, 2007 rj, Everything is looking good. Now just wait it out. Gorp ____________ 2700 Total Grafts w/ Keene 9/28/05 663 one's = 663 1116 two's = 2232 721 three's = 2163 200 four's = 800 Hair Count = 5858 1000 Total Grafts w/Keene 2/08/07 Mostly combined FU's for 2600+ hairs My Photo Album See me at Dr. Keene's Gallery Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member rjvw Posted March 16, 2007 Author Senior Member Share Posted March 16, 2007 Hey everyone, I've updated my photos again. I'm hoping this is really helping anyone that is unsure or just curious about the process. At 2 months I'm just starting to see some new sprouts. I can actually feel them with my fingers but no real difference yet with my appearance. As I have stated before my goal is to be able to see a big difference at the six month mark. (July) Also, my scar is healing just fine. Getting less and less noticeable each week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member pushing 40 Posted March 16, 2007 Senior Member Share Posted March 16, 2007 RJ, It looks like you had zero shock loss in the recipient area, is that correct? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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