agenteye

Looking excellent so far Stublu! 6 months already with still a lot more growth to come! You must be thrilled......congratulations!

Mike

Hi Benson!

I would agree with Spanker in saying that 4500 would probably give you the option to spike your hair and still have a somewhat dense look. To anyone here just answering, it would really be a guessing game since we don't know what your hair characteristics are like. But because you have dark, straight hair......it usually takes a bit to create the illusion of great density. Again.....you might be able to get away with 3500-4000 grafts also, but I think those extra grafts that Spanker estimated will really be the difference in wearing your hair the way you like!

Best,

Mike

Sweet beard dude. I'm jealous. Your hair looks outstanding.

 

As far as suggestions? Lose the bangs or grow the top more and sweep them to the side, or style them up. I don't know what the best answer is, I would just try something different with them.

 

Sweet tats too. And I would keep the beard. You could probably be Wolverine for Halloween.

LOL!!!! Spanker, reading this cracked me up. "I don't know what the best answer is, I would just try something different with them." Hahahaha! Thanks for sugar coating it buddy. I will admit that my hair is unusually long and curly right now (for some reason) and I feel I don't know what to do with it. With that said, I have been growing it out strictly for a festival I am attending next week......and I wanted to be able to do some funky styles with my hair (photos to come soon). When I get back.....I fully plan on cutting it back down to a length I like a little better. It is more manageable and I feel better about my hair at the shorter length! =)

Can't, Magnum, Gaelic! Thank you so much fellas for responding as well! I really appreciate the feeback a lot!

Best,

Mike

Hey everyone. Hope this photo update finds everyone well! :cool:

Well, I just thought I'd take this opportunity before my vacation next week, to post my 9 month post-op photos for the forum to see. I am currently 3 days shy of the 9 month mark, but took advantage of a free "photo shoot" outside the other day to capture a few outdoor photos. The rest were taken in my bathroom....as usual! Hahahaha!

Nothing much to report as far as a huge change in hair, except a little bit more added density from the shafts continuing to thicken. You can see how long I've allowed my hair to grow when you compare the photos to previous months. The sides and back of my head (and beard) got trimmed this morning, but the top has not been cut in months. I dunno....I sorta like my hair longer and at the length it's at now?! Suggestions?

I really think that my hair restoration has far exceeded my expectations so far. I think that it is especially noticeable when I look back through my pre-op album. The craziest thing to me throughout the entire process so far, is that I don't really remember what I looked like pre-op, until I see photos. But because I wake up everyday and see myself with hair......well.....it's like I never really had any loss at all. Sure, there is always the desire for MORE hair.....but I'm super happy where I'm at today and the road I've traveled to get here. I feel good. I've been hitting the gym more, and generally feel the best I've felt in years. The only real desire I have now is to have a second procedure next year. As you can see from my crown shots, I still have a little bit that needs filled in. My mid-scalp is also thinner than I'd like....so am hoping to have a pass there the second time around. It's kinda hard to see in the photos with my hair as long as it currently is.....but it's a little thin!!

As always, the photos were shot using my iPhone 4S. There were no flashes used. Some of the pictures (all of the self ones) are blurry. Sorry about that guys!! :rolleyes:

Please view my photos in the album (with link) below. The first 4 photos in the album were taken by my friend Olivia when we were outside yesterday. I thought I'd try to get some in the daytime, since I haven't done that in many of my albums in the past. The rest of the photos are obviously poorly shot by yours truly.....well, the blurry ones anyway. The last 4 were taken by my Mom.....and she took one of both sides, back and front to see what you'd see if you were to take a walk around my head!

Anyway, that's all I can really think of to say right now. As always any concerns/questions/comments are always welcome. It is always nice to hear feedback from my Hair Restoration Network family!

Hope everyone is having a great week!

Best,

Mike

9 MONTH POST-OP PHOTOS!

Congrats Wylie. Looks awesome buddy! Must feel great to have such a big change. I understand all too well how a hair restoration totally changes the way you look and feel about yourself.....so very happy to see that the result turned out well for you!

Best,

Mike

Martin,

Looking really great at 5 months buddy, and still so much to come. For me, Month 5-7 was when I saw some HUGE changes, and everything looks to be right where it should be. Given where you started from, you should be very happy already!!

Best,

Mike

Thanks for the reply, guys. This forum looks quite helpful!

 

A bit more details about myself: I'm on early 30s. My hairline started receding although sort of gradually from early 20s. Right now, I have some recession esp at temple area. I have included my pictures in album, link below. First 3 pictures are in natural state, last 3 pictures are from a recent consultation I had with True & Dorin (hence the pencil marks).

http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/realdeal777/albums/2628

 

I feel that every year the hairline is going back, so I started using Rogaine foam since last year. Although I have been bit inconsistent lately as I had unrealistic expectation of getting some regrowth, but I plan to continue using it as a defense going forward.

 

I want to go thru FUE surgery to restore my hairline. I have had two consultations so far: one with Bosley and one with True & Dorin. Bosley suggested that I do about 800 grafts, while Dr Dorin suggested I do somewhere between 1500 - 2000 grafts. Both suggested $10/graft as cost. (As a reference: I was told that I had thick donor area, so could do up to 8,000 grafts in total, although I guess by that he meant additional surgeries in future if needed).

 

Would be great if you guys can advise me on:

 

1) Any idea why graft number suggested by Bosley vs Dorin is so different? Not sure if it has anything to do with density proposed. Dr Dorin suggested density would be somewhere less than 1/2 but more than 1/3rd of my normal hair density. Bosley didn't suggest anything per se about density. Area-wise, Dr Dorin put a pencil mark (last 3 pics on my album). Can you suggest me number of grafts needed (a) to cover area penciled, (b) to bring the hairline a bit further down.

 

2) The hairline suggested by Dr Dorin (with theh pencil mark on last 3 pics on my album) is better than my current hairline, but I was expecting a bit better/lower hairline. Otherwise, the result didn't look attractive enough to justify $15-20k, in my personal opinion... Am I being unrealistic?

 

3) My budget really is $10k, and I want ideally a slightly lower hairline than what Dr Dorin has penciled on last 3 pics on my album. Is this impossible to do with FUE? Any suggestions? I can consider going overseas if costs are let's say half... (after all looks like I'd need to take 1-2 weeks off work anyways due to shaving/scarring)

 

4) I was told that usually there aren't many complications with FUE as it's a surficial surgery. I would like to know if any of you guys know if I should worry or be aware of something...?

 

5) If I do the procedure overseas, obviously I guess there is the risk that shall there be any complication I won't be able to see the doctor straight away... How substantial is this risk? Are complications frequent? Or is this something manageable shall I be in that country for a week doing sightseeing after surgery?

 

Also, some follow-up questions please:-

 

> canuhairme,

Can you tell me why you suggest against going for Bosley? Also looks like you went to Canada to Dr Rahal. They seem to have offices in NY as well. Was the reason you went to Canada because you wanted to get it done by Dr Rahal himself?

 

> Mickey85,

Can you give me some idea about what Dr Hakan would charge for FUE? Also, any advice to patients from US, esp shall any complication/after-care needs arise?

Realdeal-

Hey buddy, welcome to the forum. You have come to a great place for advice and support. I will try and answer some of your questions above, although I will start by saying that all of the guys have given you excellent advice when they tell you NOT TO GO TO BOSLEY for a hair restoration procedure. Bosley uses several "physicians" for hair transplantation. Most likely, they are not highly trained and specialized specifically in hair restoration; and it would certainly be a gamble on what kind of result you were going to get in the end. Especially at $10/graft. That's a lot of money to throw away if it doesn't go according to plan!!! Bosley is essentially an "assembly line" hair transplantation company....and frankly, that isn't the kind of business that works well for patients trying to get an outstanding result!

Hairthere is correct in saying that Dr. Rahal doesn't do procedures in New York at this time. He specifically has his California and New York offices setup for consultations and patient aftercare. All surgeries are performed by Dr. Rahal in Ottawa, Canada (which is still a very short trip in for you if you are in New York). Dr. Rahal charges $8/graft for his FUE work, and produces consistently excellent results. You should never rule out a location for your surgery when your end-goal is a satisfied hair transplant result!!!!

Now onto your specific questions:

1.) It is tough to say why Bosley and T&D are giving you different treatment numbers. But I would assume that True and Dorin are probably more accurate in the assessment than Bosley is. Bosley is happy to get patients in their door for treatment to get your money.....and are far less concerned that you leave their clinics satisfied.

2.) I think it is important to consider a hairline design that is both age-appropriate and achievable. An excellent hair restoration surgeon isn't going to suggest something that wouldn't ultimately work with your face/features, and yet isn't going to give you a low hairline that will ultimately not work for you later on.

3.) Again, this is where a lot of patients end up unhappy. Someone who is considering a hair restoration AND achieving the results they want to achieve, shouldn't place a pre-determined budget per se ($10,000 in your instance). The problem in doing this, is that you may need 2000 grafts in order to achieve the appearance YOU want, and yet the cost of grafts may not allow this result to be created. If T&D suggested that you need 1500-2000 grafts for the hairline they originally drew, and you wanted an even lower hairline.....well, you may need to consider even more grafts to achieve that. Keep in mind, lowering your hairline is not always a great idea.....

4.) In general, if you choose a surgeon who specializes in hair restoration (a recommended physician from the Hair Restoration Network), the procedure is very safe, with consistently great results. A cosmetic procedure of any kind isn't completely risk free.....however a good physician will essentially ensure that you have zero complications. The clinics are state of the art, the physicians and teams are highly trained, and hair restoration in general is minimally invasive. Especially if you go with an FUE procedure where there won't be an incision in your donor area!

5.) I can't comment about overseas work and any medical care that you might need afterwards. I imagine if there was a complication (however rare), it could get quite expensive.....as your insurance in the US wouldn't cover any medical emergencies or care that you may need from a cosmetic procedure gone wrong, overseas. That is part of the gamble with going abroad for a restoration. I saw a documentary where all of these women (and men) went to Mexico to save money on some sort of a body reconstruction....and they were left disfigured and ill! It ended up being way worse for them in the long run....as it not only ruined their figure, but left them with insane hospital bills! Your risk of something like this happening with a hair transplant is obviously significantly less...but you should be knowledgable and aware of ALL possibilities.

If you would like to email me some photos of your hair (and even if you wanted to draw the hairline you're looking to achieve on them), I would be happy to get them over to Dr. Rahal to see what he would recommend for a treatment plan for you. It would give you a better idea of how many grafts he would think were needed....and would help to determine roughly what the procedure would cost!

Again, welcome to the forum. It is great that you are starting to do your research, and that you didn't jump into anything too quickly. There are a lot of guys on these forums who have had bad results in their first (sometimes second) procedure because they didn't do proper research, and were "convinced" by the clinic to just jump right in. I'm sure a lot of them here would tell you the same thing.....that it pays to choose an excellent surgeon and to do your research before you take the plunge!

I am here to help in any way I can, so please make sure to reach out to me if you need anything at all!

Best,

Mike

Mrpredictable.

Hey buddy. How's the ugly ducking phase treating you?! The growth is definitely going to be here before you know it. I'm guessing by looking at your information sheet above that Dr. Rahal placed your follicles in your frontal and mid-scalp at a fairly high density?! While it reads as a percentage, mine was similar yet the density is indicative of cm ^2 on my info sheet. If that is true of your procedure, I'm guessing the 65% may be 65 cm^2, which would give you a very dense result. My frontal region received roughly 55 cm ^ 2......and usually 50 + is needed to give the illusion of density. So if I am reading your sheet correctly, you got above average graft placement for density up front, and this should produce an amazing result. I could be wrong, but again.....that is my guess!!

Hope the healing is going well and you are beginning to get excited for what lies ahead! :-)

Best,

Mike

Looks really great! No surprise from H & W. Thanks for sharing this fantastic result!

Hey jpthind,

3 weeks already, huh? Man....does time fly by. Have you contacted the clinic with any photos to see if they know what you're describing might be?! Although it is natural to worry about every little thing that seems wrong so soon after a hair restoration, what you're describing here does not sound like an infection to me. If you had an infection, you would most likely be having additional complications; such as pain and fever. Maybe your scalp is just slightly irritated? Have you been wearing a hat or did you change your shampoo/conditioner?

Again, nothing to worry about most likely. Contact your clinic and I'm sure they'll advise you appropriately.

Best,

Mike

I think you'll find that all of us in this forum are a little photo-crazy....so you wouldn't hear any complaints if you wanted to share your current photos with us! I always like to see the work from different clinics, regardless in what stage the patient is pre/post-op. With that said, if the only reason you were planning on sharing was to highlight your concerns (and the "problem" area you speak of has already shed and wouldn't be visible to illustrate your point), then I wouldn't worry too much about posting photos until your hair begins to grow in. What your describing could very well be something that looked funny immediately post-op, but won't be a concern once the recipient area begins to grow in.

Whatever you decide to do, you are in a great place for support and feedback!

Looking forward to seeing some photos of your experience in the near future!

Best,

Mike

Baldie,

Welcome to the forum, and congratulations on your decision to have a hair transplant by a Hair Restoration Network recommended surgeon!! I think everyone here has answered your questions satisfactorily, so please keep us posted how everything goes. A 4500 graft session should make a phenomenal transformation to whatever your hair looks like currently, and I look forward to following your journey. I imagine you will be documenting your experiences with a write-up and photos, so I will keep my eyes peeled for that.

Best of luck on your big day!

Mike

I think photos will definitely help us assess your situation a little better HairKlepto, but I can assure you that you were in very good hands at SMG. Dr. Shapiro(s) take pride in their work and results, and I'm sure they would be happy to address any concerns you have with your outcome.

Wishing you the best!

Mike

Looking great! Congratulations on a well-done result!!

Interesting case. Thanks for sharing!

..Dr Rahal is pretty good too:D!

 

LOL!!! Honest mistake!!

I imagine if you completely "bic'ed" your head, you might be able to see the white scars....depending on how long it has been since the procedure. However, the scars are so minimal in most cases, that unless someone were right up against your head with a magnifying glass, chances are it wouldn't be noticeable; especially in most lighting. Also, when you clip your hair with a no-guard clipper cut, you still leave a tiny bit of hair (although very short) behind.....and it's not the same as shaving down to completely skin as you would with a razor. I imagine that the stubble left behind from the clippers would help to conceal the "scars" pretty well....and it most likely wouldn't be noticeable. Again, all of this depends on the patient, his scarring characteristics, and the skill and precision of the surgeon who performed the procedure.

Fantastic result, as always from H&W. It looks ridiculously good.....I hope that after 3000 more grafts added for density to my head, I look this good as well! JEALOUS!!

72 days.....definitely looks like some magic is going to happen soon! Congrats buddy!! Can't wait to see your 4 month progress....that's when things started growing quicker than Jack's magic beanstalk for me!!!

Hi HairPhoenix,

Welcome to the forum!! It is too difficult to determine what the issue you're describing could be, from the photos that you posted here. To be honest, I don't see anything at all. I'm not saying that there isn't anything there, I just can't personally see anything!

In regards to the things your describing, have you seen a dermatologist at all? I think this would be the first step I'd take before I did anything else. If you are convinced that what you're describing is specifically related to your transplant, I would reach out to the surgeon that did your procedure and ask for his/her advice.

Again, sorry I can't be of more assistance, but I am unable to conclude anything from your photos.

Keep us posted on what you find out!

Best,

Mike

I am super impressed....yet again! Amazing result!!

Hi there cichlid,

Welcome to the forum buddy!!

In answer to your question, Dr. Rahal does have an office in Beverly Hills.....but to avoid taking over someone else's thread, I will send you a PM.

I will try to address any and all of your questions there!

Denny, sorry for the intrusion on your thread. Moving it elsewhere! =)

Best,

Mike

Also, I always wanted to use the line "say it an't so Joe!" with you.

Hahaha! That made me laugh!!

P.S. I like that you tweaked your temples a little bit....from what I can tell that is going to look REALLY nice!! You said you had 300 grafts added to the front in total???

Can't-

Looks so awesome buddy! That is going to do wonders for you, and I'm so pleased you are finally done!!! I take it you made it back to the US safely already? Can't wait to see it all start growing. What did it feel like shaving all your hair off......I bet there's a bit of reluctance to do so?! LOL

It just goes to show you how far you've come....especially when you show us your very first picture from prep procedure #1. Very happy for you!!!

Congrats,

Mike