Panther5000,

I looked over your pics and I'm certain you could do a megasession of 3500 or so and get exactly what you're looking for. I'm not a doctor but I can't see why a good HT doc couldn't get 3000-3500, especially if they go high on the sides. If a doc could get 3500, you could get a decent hairline and some coverage where you'd like it; then no more comb forward. Good luck and go for it! Oh, and don't forget the meds. You'll want to keep what you have.

I'll echo everyone's response above (including my own initial posts ).

Are you on any meds? You might want to consider Propecia if you are not on it...it should help you maintain what you have.

I would think 3000 in the frontal 1/3rd to 1/2, maybe 3500 should make a decent difference. Have you consulted with any docs yet? Not to be biased...but since you are looking for the highest yield possible for the greatest number of grafts, I would consult with Dr. Hasson as one of the docs you consult with. One of the reasons I chose him for my final surgery was exactly that reason...I know that he had the capability of extracting a large number of grafts, most likely larger than most if not all other doctors and had yielded excellent success.

Falc

Guys thank you for the kind words.
I have used Dr Charles now the last few times I have had surgeries but to date he hasn't touched the hairline just the crown and anterior which was pretty much bald.
I am on Proscar 1/4 for 3 years now and Nizoral the last month on and off but it really dries my scalp out.
Yesterday I combed my hair back and wow I was amazed at the coverage I had in the crown from the front covering it.. The problem is the hairline and top looked so pathetically thin I would never wear it back.
I have decided to work on the hairline. Dr Charles believes another 3,000 grafts are possible but with the laxity of my scalp and the donor scars i have probably not possible in one session but maybe 2.
I am going to ask him to drop the hairline and add to the 1500 existing frontal I had with Dr Nusbaum maybe 8 years ago.
I am fortunate I have very high sides and while eating lunch with dad noticed his sides are very high but he is bald. lol
Dec 29 is the day.
Any comments fire away gentlemen.

Panther,
I didn't realize that the surgery date was set for this month. I think that many of us were hoping that you would still consult with other docs that might be able to do a megasession of 3000+. As Falc pointed out, there are docs that are particularly good at extracting as many FU as possible and this should be a primary concern for all of us. Dr. Charles has a good reputation and I'm not implying anything, but I do hope that doing 2 1500's versus 1 3000 is truly for your benefit and not his. In a lot of the research that I have done I seem to see that response from docs a lot. Anyways, it sounds like your decision is made and I think that restoring the hairline is critical at your stage. You will be in good hands. Best of luck.

Well tomorrow is the big day. After months of scalp exercises and much contemplation I am going with Dr Charles again who hasn't let me down yet. I asked him to be as agressive as possible without compromising his integrity or my head to get as many grafts as possible.
I did consult with two other Drs.
I am going to primarily focus on the front i/3 to get a nice hairline and then use some as well to improve the crown.
Wish me luck and very little shock loss guys!
I will see if Dr Charles will take pics for me before and after with my digital camera to post here asap.
Peace

panther5000...

Congratulations on your upcoming procedure, great way to usher in the New Year. I am sure Dr.Charles will not let you down this time around either. Looking foward to you followups. Good Luck!

panther,

Congratulations and good luck to you. Please keep us posted!

Falc

Thank you guys for your encouragement and opinions which have helped me alot.
I really hope this may be my last surgery!
After 5-6 procedures im still nervous though. I guess the thought of being scalped first and then pin cushioned is always unnerving!
I will definitely get digital pics before and after to post.

Hey guys here I am 2 hours post op feeling good.
Well though I dont have all of the hair counts, I forgot to ask, I know I had 1402 grafts. Now heres the shitty part.
Dr Charles was aggressive as possible and cut a 28cm /1cm strip and we still had a relatively poor yield.
Reasons. Poor density in the donor region after 6, yes, 6 surgeries. Poor laxity. Though he said the scalp exercises improved in greatly. I jujst had so much scarring.
The good news is he packed the hairline in really good. We used about 1,000 in my hairline which already had about 2000 from previous surgeries so this should be a marked improvement.
The remaining 400 were placed in perfect position on my crown which in that area deperately needed it.
Wish me luck.

charlessurgery122906_001.jpg (46 Kb, 59 downloads)

Woops that was the tech I love haha

charlessurgery122906_005.jpg (47 Kb, 57 downloads)

You can see how poor the density of my donor region is here

donor density is very poor you can see

charlessurgery122906_006.jpg (51 Kb, 57 downloads)

sorry the quality is poor but you can see where he placed the grafts all in the front.

charlessurgery122906_008.jpg (37 Kb, 47 downloads)

A light dusting of the crown taken after surgery

charlessurgery122906_007.jpg (27 Kb, 42 downloads)

Here is top shot using flash.
sorry quality arent so good giuys.

charlessurgery122906_009.jpg (41 Kb, 55 downloads)