After years of deliberating the decision, I finally scheduled and followed through with a consultation with Dr. Jerry Cooley on May 10, 2006. I started thinning significantly in college – 25 years ago now – and ultimately advanced to a Bald Class 5 my mid 30’s. While I had learned to live with baldness, it surely wasn’t my choice. However, I was much more confident about living with hair loss than I was about talking to a physician about the possibility of doing something about it. Tripping across this site while searching for latest advances and miracle cures made all the difference. I owe Pat The Publisher of This Community a great debt of gratitude, as well as all you other members who have shared your experiences. As a result of all that information, I went to my consultation with few questions remaining other than whether or not I was a candidate, and if so, when I could schedule.
The consultation began with Ailene, Dr. Cooley’s assistant, who is regularly praised in many of these threads. I can confirm every word is true – she is the best. I can’t say enough about Dr. Cooley’s talents and professional style – I truly can’t remember getting this much personal attention and support at any time in my adult life, particularly from a physician. I had a 2500 graft session on May 18, and it was an experience I won’t forget – absolutely positive in every way. The long version of my experience is written in excruciating detail on my blog – I’d encourage anyone who’s interested in my impressions of this truly great doctor to check it out.
At one month out, virtually all of my transplanted hair has been shed, but I can feel the little whisker-like growth indicating my future appearance is alive and well. I’ll do my best to update pictures as milestones and noteworthy things occur. In the meantime, I’m attaching the before and after pictures Dr. Cooley took the day of and the day immediately following surgery, along with a picture I took a week out. Although the pictures are also on the blog, they’re such a great testament to Dr. Cooley’s work that I think they’re worthy of duplication here. |
