wA-Wa-WeE-wA!!!
That is some *insane* growth!!!

I can see both sides of the argument, but *personally* I would move forward w/the hair augmentation. The hair one gains via the meds is temporary at best, where as after the augmentation one can rest assured the hair will remain and will alleviate all concerns of loss in that area in the future. A completely different proposition if you ask me...

Additionally, this will be your first go at the augmentation and as a result you've got your best shot at getting the max # of grafts. Do you *really* want to play it ultra conservative, only to have to go in the chair for another augmentation again in the near future? Why not have this area one and done -AND- enjoy that native hair to compliment the augmented hair (giving you EXTRA density) while it lasts?
just my two pesos...

It would be great to hear Jotronic chime in on this one seeing how it is one of their potential patients.....

Anybody else?

Mikeb921 -

You're going to get varying opinions. If you were younger and not on meds I'd say don't do it. However, you are 33, on meds, and will be going to the most skilled of surgeons.

Now, 4000 grafts is going to be a ton of grafts to fill in around your native hair, unless your lowering the hairline a tad and it's not all going in there. With Doc Hasson doing the cutting, i don't think follicle transsection is an issue, as for permanent shockloss of some of the native hair, you just never know but I'd say you'll be fine.

The bottom line is that it's your call. Personally, if I had your hair at that age, I may wait a little, but that's just me :-).......and it's your noggin' we're talking about.

Looks like you're doing your homework so just make a decision you can live with.

Best wishes,

Well I just got home from my transplant. I ended up getting 4700 hairs transplanted and I guess its time for the hard part. Waiting!

Mikeb - wow! 4700 grafts is a lot considering how much hair you had to start with. I can't wait to see the photos of where it was all placed. You were in great hands with H&W so rest up and grow well!

quote:

ended up getting 4700 hairs transplanted

Mike, 4700 hairs or grafts?

Falc

4700 graft totalling somewhere around 10,000 hairs

Is there such thing as too much hair. LOL. Your gonna look like a rock star!

Can't wait to see your pics. Honestly with the mop you already had I can't imagine 4700 grafts fitting in there.............can't wait to see the pics ;-)

quote:

Originally posted by Mikeb921:
I have done a ton of research but I would still like to hear what you guys think about potential risks. They are telling me that I am a perfect canidate for what they do. A lot is going to be in my hairline. This picture doesnt show it but I do need some help there! Do you think there will be a lot of shock loss. And do you think they will be able to thicken things up or am I just wasting money?

There was a patient of Dr Hasson a year ago who had diffuse thinnign in the crown and Hasson placed ~2000-2500 in the crown.

The after results was nearly imperceptible. The problem when there is alot of native hair is that it is difficult to plant within the hair without damaging existing hair. Hair that does not return is thought to be "weak" bu you are left with replacing some hairs and losing others -- so the final result may not be what you are hoping for.


It really comes down to your expectations. HTs do not restore native density and you do not look that thin to me.

Good luck, but make sure your exectations are in line.

TheEmperor,

I believe I know which case you are referring to and if so, there is a lot more to that case and I can only recall some.

If I recall, it didn't appear to have anything to do with damaging existing hair. From my recollection, the patient had thin fine hair and even though he lost additional native hair in the crown, still had an overall slightly improved appearance. I remember him being unhappy about it, but I believe the risks were all discussed beforehand so the "result" shouldn't have been a surprise. Perhaps Joe can address this better.

I agree however, that expectations play a vital role in the "success" of the hair transplant from a patient point of view.

Falc

I felt like that was a lot to put into a area that had so much hair there as well, but Dr Hasson assured me that my hair was healthy and that I would have little to no permanent loss. So my expectation is a very thick head of healthy hair. I know it wont get as thick as my sides are but I still want it thick!

Hello Mike ,

I would gladly pay the money just to have the hair you had before surgery!
Any photos yet?
Best of luck with your goal.

dabuski.

4000 grafts, are you friggin kidding me?

Wow, talk about hair greed!

It was actually 4700 total! I cant wait to see the results.

Mike,

That's a lot of grafts. I suspect you as long as you stay on Propecia and it is working for you to maintain your natural hair, that you will exceed the "illusion of hair density" and achieve the real thing.

I look forward to following your progress!

Best wishes,

Falc

Mikeb921, I too am surprised about the 4700 grafts, and like Falc said continue the Propecia. After 10 months on Propecia/Proscar and for a month or so now I've stopped shedding hair--finally and hope it's not a no-shedding cycle my hair is going through but it is the effects of Proscar! I'm going to watch it closely but at the moment I think it's working. Good luck.

4700 grafts is a lot for any patient in one session but with Mike we did not just fill in the areas of thinning. Mike had his hairline lowered as well and in order to lower a hairline on a patient like Mike we need to dense pack into the frontal areas that were completely devoid of hair.

With the volume of hair he will have in the thinning areas once all grown out he can ill afford to have a wispy transition zone in his new hairline. The final result should be complete once grown and in Mike's case, that should be exactly what he gets.

that sound great , jo make sure we see this guys progress over the next 12 months

richie

Hey everyone check out the new pics!