thanatopsis_awry

I don't think there is anything inherently wrong w/ transplanted hair as compared to our "normal" hair; could be wrong though. I'm not an Armani fanboy, but the guy did some nice -- if not altogether ethical -- strip work...many of his patients that I have seen styled their hair in the ways that I think you (and I) are interested in. I would, though, certaintly like to see more actual examples and accounts of HT patients w/ a good quotient of hair being able to style their hair as they please. As for me, indeed, the proof will be in the proverbial pudding!

I was very hot for FUE for a good while; the FOX test is a sort of biopsy (spelling?). Anyways, it gauges how good a candidate you are: "The FOX?„? Test can identify those individuals with the optimal hair and scalp characteristics to get maximum benefit from the FOX?„? Procedure. In the FOX?„? Test, follicular unit extraction is performed in a sample area in the back of the scalp. The FOX?„? Test is performed under local anesthesia and takes about 15 minutes. Patients who are FOX positive will be good candidates for Follicular Unit Extraction. If the test is negative, conventional strip removal with microscopic dissection is the best option. Presently, we are limiting the procedures to only those who are FOX positive." That is from newhair.com/NHI. FUE has gotten a lot of backlash on boards, imo, because some may very well be bamboozling people into buying into unfounded hype; marketing and taking advantage of this "revolutionary" procedure. Most of the concern and questioning is well founded to me. However, I in the most capable of hands (e.g. Dr. Feller), for some people, it can be a wise alternative. With the right doctor, with the right patient, with the right graft count, the yield can be very much acceptable AFAIK. I have a suspicion something isn't kosher, though, in our master plan of spreading out FUE sessions to total the single session FUT procedures. Don't know for sure, though. Personally, I'm quite keen on FUE if it gone about properly; and, in the future, I definitely will keep a close eye on finding any way I could incorporate it into my battleplan if it makes sense.

It's all just about your ultimate density and hair count in relation to your hair loss; in capable hands, if any NW2 receives ~1.5k+ grafts he shouldn't have any problems styling his hair to his choosing; if a NW3 receives 1k grafts he prolly will, but if he received 3k he shouldn't. So, if you are X-NW, and receive a graft count that is dense packed proportionate to your loss you should be in the clear to style your locks just the way you know Jessica wants them.

A poor yield is what scares me the most as well; however, it seems like various docs (Dr. Feller in the U.S., Bart's clinic to a greater extent) can do ~1000+ feeling very comfortable in a single session -- especially if you take the FOX test (I think it's called) and are a good to great candidate. If say you desired/needed a 2k procedure, and your doctor feels very comfortable performing 1k in a single session....is there anything bad about going in for a 1k procedure, then a week or two later going in for another 1k procedure? Or 3 days of this if you need 3k, etc.

AFAIK, dut blocks a (much) greater % of dht than propecia; it is FDA approved, but still hasn't finished some types of testing and approvals....thus the hesitance of many doctors to prescribe it. Propecia is still the gold standard, but like Bill mentioned if you don't respond well to it or start losing ground I think dut can be a sound move. Either way, it's exciting to know that dut may very well end up being the replacement to Propecia's throne. Bottom line is that it may very well be stronger and have greater scope than propecia; it's unknown how well any individual will respond to either drug, but your chances of halting -- and regrowing -- hair loss may very well be better with Dut. Also, I wonder if you had bad side effects w/ propecia if you could try dut and perhaps end up being in the clear.

http://www.hairlosshelp.com/forums/messageview.cfm?catid=10&threadid=72517 Simply incredible, and for but 6months....unreal. The subject also talks about hairs sprouting up "everywhere"; my main concern with switching over to Dut asap is that there might be a finite, longetivity for each drug's efficacy and I wouldn't want to squander 5odd years of working propecia...But, if Dut passes all the trials it's going to be very tempting to make a switch over given how powerful the drug seems. As an aside, the subject also mentions his one side-effect being an increased libido!

Peraps the best way to minimize or prevent shockloss is by strengthening your existing hair via propecia and rogaine, first and foremost; going to a highly skilled, elite surgeon is another critical factor. Also, regarding "shockloss", if the above is done, it will likely be temporary shockloss or permanent shockloss to hairs that were already on their way out. As for "best" surgeons in the Northeast it is tough to say, and you should certaintly consult with several that catch your eye and get a better idea as to who is the best for you.

Darkman, What is your hair situation? Bald spot in the crown, recession in the front, diffused thinning....how severe, what NW level, etc. Dr. Melike sounds and looks solid; perhaps not able to perform densepacking or megasessions at the level of other surgeons that are out of your reach, but this isn't to say you will not walk away in a better spot than you are currently in. Depending on your hair situation, her limitations may or may not be a huge deal. Since you are adamant about not being able to travel abroad, Melike may very well be your best bet for your first HT -- in the future, perhaps, you may very well have even more options. I concur that you should go do a consult; research and dig, and try to get a good picture of what you can realistically achieve from Melike and then determine if you think it is a good deal for you to go through with it.

I think that's a very good point regarding the rampant over-estimation of grafts for patients with very mild NW levels; and how it can very easily mask poor FUE growth. The more I learn and see the fishier it all seems. And I have yet to see clear before and after cases of higher norwood levels undergoe these types of (experimental...) FUE megasessions....despite the ad nauseum promises of delivering the goods. Logically *and* empirically there is so much weight against Armani's theses; of course, I hope he is correct and I would be among the first in line if what he says to be true was proven so. Still, it boggles the mind how much people are risking -- and paying -- without the true credibility.

Like I initially said, I hope your unsatisfactory consult isn't clouding your judgement and fueling you to make a rash decision where you are going to get shafted and experience something far worse than a bad consult...you seem to have the means to book with *any* hair restoration doc in the world -- an envious position. Unless you're joking about already having booked an FUE w/ dhi, I would recommend against it for all of the reasons mentioned in this thread. Best of luck, of course, if you do go through with it.

"Can't we unite in our recognition of the discrimination, manipulation, horrification, humiliation, isolation, rid-I-cu-LATION of this 'A' balding-NATION!?!?!?" Prit-ty, prit-ty good....

Looking at Trump's hair somehow gives me the urge to *not* want hair; this coming from someone who would trade Fort Knox for an extra 3k in my donor.... Tons of information in this thread; on a conceptual level, I've likened the quality of an HT and it's surgeons to cooking, which I'm a fan of....on a superficial level, when I battle Iron Chef Japan we are using virtually the same ingredients and trying to achieve the same goal; however, they have such passion, and understand the science AND art of food so well that they can wield their tools in such a way to produce a result that I, and most, never could.

Thx Bill, appreciated! I remember knowing nothing (now next to nothing...) and how beneficial and nice it was to receive detailed aswers and info....the world of hair loss can be a tricky beast, always good to get and spread knowledge.

I *think* Cole is veering in that direction.

By "poorly" I don't mean it's going to wreck your hair, just that it is too strong for some scalps and can cause irritations -- especially if you use it frequently. If you are using just nizoral I would use it everyday, though I think the bottle has a baseline recommendation of less than this -- not sure, exactly. Revita is an elaborate shampoo that throws everything *and* the kitchen sink at combating DHT/hairloss. Revita serves a similiar purpose to nizoral, though it contains more components which may be good for your hair and hair loss....I think it smells really good and makes my hair appear fuller, and healthier as well.

I only see the price of HT making an appreciable decline in the "near" future if FUE megasessions become a proven, viable procedure; in which case, I imagine FUT will become like the VHS tape when DVDs came along and became the gold standard. HM would certaintly do the same to an even greater level, but that reality is so obscure at this point I wouldn't start thinking it has any sort of impact for another decade or so.

To varying degrees, when people start up rogaine (or many treatments for that matter) they often go through a "shed", which is actually a sign of impending progress and that you are responding to the treatment. It is brutal to go through a bad shed, but stick with it. There is also just regular hair shedding, and regular hair loss which you may be experiencing at the same time.

Hey, It varies, but generally the effects of a Finpecia will start to take noticeable hold at around 6 months -- but that is a minimum. I think the answer to how long you should stay on it varies from doctor to doctor, and also with the nature of your hair; many will tell you 1 year, but I know some say 6 months and some say 9 months. I really wouldn't feel comfortable telling you how long, especially not knowing your actual situation; I would say, though, the longer the better. Nizoral 2% is stronger, though some react poorly to it and switch to the more mild 1% -- which is what I take. I rotate between Nizoral 1% and Revita, which I love. If you want the 2% you most likely will have to find it at an online outlet. As far as I know, dermmatch is in no way "bad" for your hair in any way, shape, or form. I started using dermmatch (and toppik) after I was told to be on the meds for a while before my HT. I was *so* distressed at the time and didn't know how I'd get through and bridge the time between then and my HT and the results. It is not hyperbole to say that dermmatch/toppik have saved me; without it I have no idea how hermetic and insecure I'd be in any public situation. Especially for a diffuse thinner, I think the results can be tremendously dramatic and positive.

"Shock loss" is either temporary or permanent; the temporary shockloss will grow back in tandem with your new HT and is not a real issue other than it sucks to maybe look worse for several months. Permanent shockloss generally occurs with hairs that are "on their way out" -- that is, they are rather weak and you would invariably lose them anyways. So, how to mitigate or prevent permanent shock loss: the skill of a surgeon plays a role, as the finer the tools and surgical skill the less trauma and risk of permanent shock loss to hairs. Another way is to strengthen these weaker hairs so that when it comes time for your HT there are less hairs that are prone to shock loss....getting on and allowing propecia/finpecia to take hold is perhaps the best way to go about this, but a combination of rogaine 5% and a nizoral-type shampoo could also help. As a diffused thinner it is true that you are more likely to get struck with shockloss; however, there are definite ways to counteract this. And remember, hairs that do get perma-shocked are pretty much on their way out anyways. As for side effects, the only way to know if you are in this definite minority is to try it out; can always get off it; as for there being no guarantee for its efficacy, this is true, however it is far and away your best bet. If you decide to go the recommended route, and the wait is killing you, try out dermmatch/toppik -- it saved me and helped bridge the time period to my HT.

Sorry to hear of your extremely unsatisfactory consult, just make sure it doesn't cloud your judgement; if money isn't an object, you thankfully have relatively easy access to your choice of the best docs in the world, at least. And I don't think that you naming a clinic you are hot for would make anyone think you're some "shill". You would probably get some sound advice and information that may or may not help you. I would guess, nonetheless, that this mystery clinic is where you learned of strip procedures as being "last century" and "outdated"; and discovered the "no-scar procedure"..... Make sure you don't get bamboozled and sold a bill of goods -- in the land of HTs there are things much *much* worse than merely bad consultations.

If you are going to go in for some very minor refinement -- which is all any ethical doc would probably do for you -- I would recommend getting it done via FUE a'la a "lunchtime FUE" session. Btw, if you really were quoted @ 5k grafts that is unfathomably laughable.

I have been using a combo of nizoral and revita shampoos for some time now; difficult to say for certain if it is related, but my hair does seem quite "healthy" on them and my hair loss, particularly in the crown region, seems to have stablilized. I also went through a temporary shed which is a positive sign, I suppose. Pretty good bang for the buck and certaintly worth adding to your arsenal, imo.

Mohi, I too would encourage you to try to place a premium on finding the best doc regardless of location over mere convenience. Not knowing your situation, if you haven't gotten on -- or at least tried -- "The Big Three", it would be highly recommended and could also give you the chance to take your time, research and evaluate your situation regarding HTs while also doing something very beneficial for your hair. The Big Three = propecia, rogaine 5% foam, nizoral shampoo....these do a great job of halting hairloss and strenghtening your existing hairs while also providing regrowth for some. At the same time, before you get an HT it is adviseable to get on a combination of the aforementioned 6+months prior to undergoing the surgery.

Could be wrong, but I think he started this thread under the assumption that he didn't have an HT yet b/c he thought he would get a more "unbiased" response, which he seems pretty keen on attaining...dunno though. Anyways, 3k grafts seems like a pretty robust number, and it very well could give you a great cosmetic change; even taking into account what I think is a deceiving pic, 3k grafts seems pretty hefty, not that thats a bad thing. Try to get more pics up, would like to see your crown.

I don't think any coalition patient in this era will receive a HT that will induce a negative effect on their hair....it is just a matter of how successful and w/ the coalition docs I think the primary factor that may be the most volitile is a poor growth rate....I'm curious too what this rate of occurrence is, what % is considered poor, and how much it has to do with the doc himself.