Back again guys! I have been home all weekend with a little cold so I have been on this forum for hours upon hours. I have been reading new & old post from this forum & other forums.
Sometimes I am so ready to go for it & sometimes I think I am crazy for even considering it!
I know no one can make up my mind for me, and you know what the wive's always say...If it will make you happy! Of course not being bald will make me happy! But what if my expectations are not met? what about that scar on my head?
And just the fear of the procedure itself?
Not to mention the cost. Will I be even unhappier about what I've done to my Virgin scalp?
So if I do scrutinize any pics I see here it is because I don't want to be misled.
No answer's are required,I am just spouting out what is in my head about what I don't have on my head.
Happy Growing to all of you brave people!
I could be a chicken!

Filica,

You are pretty much identical in thought and feeling to almost every single one of us. Probably each of us has asked ourselves the same questions, thought the same things, felt the same fears. Seriously. I have been here for 2 yrs and no transplant yet. I am scheduled for next month, but it has taken me 2 yrs to make up my mind. And is it completely without question made up? Hell no! There is still doubt and fear brother; they are just on the lighter side of the scale now from where they used to be. Take your time. Relax. Educate yourself. and did I mention take your time?

Oh Folica--- I think I am going to have to request you and NervousNelly switch names!!!!!!

Don't EVER worry about over-analyzing pics or results or strategy.....It's YOUR head your talking about!!!!!!!!!

You sit back and keep looking around..... the bug will either go away OR you will fully understand the committment and settle on a great doc and move forward.

Just relax and keep asking questions!!!!!!!

Yes B spot, NN would be a good name for me! LOL!
Well I am new to this forum but I came damn close to doing a HTP back in 1990, I am glad I didn't! I just put on a baseball hat & have been wearing it ever since. (not the same one)
Hey Pushing who are you going with If you don't mind me asking? Two years here,man I don't think I can take it! You know how you get obsessed with researching..I think I am driving my wife(who is a hair stylist) crazy!
If the bug does go away I will be stuck in this Baseball hat forever! Pretty dramatic huh?

Believe me we all understand where you are coming from. I was not fulfilled after my first HT and discovered this forum, it took me one year and a half before I came to commit to doing my second HT. Yes! My second HT. It takes time to research, learn and digest all this stuff, you'd think I was like a veteran with one HT under my belt ... Like my brothers said, don't fuss about anything, enjoy the forum, take your time, only you will know when you're ready and if it feels right or not.

Folica,
I decided on Dr. Hasson. Money was not a considration; traveling via airplane was but I'll get thru that. What reason I decided on him? That would take months to explain or maybe seconds, I dunno.

My wife was getting annoyed with my "slight obsession" also. It was about 2 yrs ago when I first commented on my hair. I think it was time to either sh!% or get off the pot so to speak. The last thing she said about it was "You've done your research and now you feel there IS a Dr. who can give you what you want; so now either do it or don't, but make up your mind". Then she closed the visor on her helmet and made me chase her for 20 miles (her CBR is a little faster than my Ninja). But again I say: take your time.

Follica,

I hear you brother. I think you are in a very normal place, even though you may not feel like it. The only thing I can say is relax...take it easy. Research, scrutinize pictures, evaluate, watch, and wait. Make a decision when you are ready. It is 100 times better to make a decision late than a decision early if you know what I mean. People who jump into things typically go in uneducated and potentially come out disappointed. Good things come to those who wait. Now get me a bottle of ketchup!

Falc

I know what you mean - I took about 3 years to make up my mind, 2 of them lurking here. Probably a good thing too since I'm only 27 now, a month after taking the plunge.

What I did initially was just shave my head. In fact, shaving my head was what definitively showed me that the reason I want hair is plain old narcissism since girls seemed to like me shaved more than before. Go figure.

My point is, don't rush. What's another year or two going to change, really? Let's be honest, you're married, you have no need to attract women anymore. So the only reason to get a ht is yourself And if it's for yourself, you can afford to take time to be sure!

It is pretty amazing how we can all relate to our situation.
Pushing 40 I agree, money is not an issue. If I could get the hair I want there is almost no price I wouldn't pay!
And sure Hasson seems like slam dunk after all of the success post. But I don't like to fly either. And my wife has had it up to here
with my comment's about every actor I see on tv having HTP's! If she runs she won't get far in that Mitsubishi mirage I bought her...
Falc, you are man of wisdom, All of your post are insightful. I want to relax but I want Hair like yesterday!
And Young Guy yes I am married, thats a good point but it don't seem to curb my desire for more hair. I believe If I don't do it now @49 I may never do it. By the way with my trusty baseball hat I look about 39, or so I'm told.
HK I guess you are still waiting for the results on your 2nd HTP. I wish you
many many many hairs. You deserve it bro!
My wife & I had Chinese takeout today & she said my fortune cookie would reveal my answer. It actually said " Try Something New & Different You will Like The Results".
Can't go Wong..(pun intented) with a fourtune cookie eh?

Folica,

I hope i didn't offend there - I was purely joking and meant nothing by it. In either case, my apologies

Being 49, however, is good news for you in the sense that your hair loss pattern is most likely well-established by now; doctors will be able to give you a decent idea of what can be done which should make the decision much easier.

If you haven't done so yet, I would definitely suggest you get a consultation with a reputable physician, even if it's an online one. For an online consultation you will need front, top, & back pictures of your head. It's usually free, doesn't obligate and may help come to a decision. I had one 18 months before I decided to go through with it and it really helped me.

Hi

We all have gone through this and it is totally natural.. The most important factor is making the right choice.

+ Do your research
+ make an educated choice
+ Take an action ( or none)

What you don't want to do is go back and forth out of nerves & anxiety.. It's not healthy or constructive..
We are at a point in technology where, if performed properly, a HT can produce an exceptional result. Many of us on here are living proof..

Eventually you will either seek hair or not have it ..

Make an educated choice on the facts and your preference

As my username implies I have been in a similar situation as you. It is perfectly normal. I had a HT 16 yrs ago and always knew that I was going to have to have another as my native hair around the HT started to go.

My anxiety has been more about the time off work, will I look strange when I return to work, etc. The surgery itself doesn't really concern me because I know that there are some top notch surgeons available that are highly skilled and capabable of some great results.

I guess it is just a matter of time and research and eventually you will be much more comfortable with things. Don't rush into anything. Take your time and proceed when you are good and ready.

Thanks for the input MRBJ & Nervous.
Young guy i was not offended by anthying you said, it all made sense to me.
So thanks again for your input.
I do have a consult with Keene on Monday! WOOHOO! I think my hair has growin just being on this forum, must be the good vibes!

Good first step

I wish you the best of luck.

Well, for what it is worth, I am six months out and I am very happy I did it. I had all of the same worries. I am getting lots of compliments on my "haircut" and it feels great. I was probably a nw 2b or 3a, so people have no idea why I look a little better/younger, etc.

quote:

Originally posted by folica:
I believe If I don't do it now @49 I may never do it.

I was 44 when I received my first HT (over two years ago) and then another about a year ago. I believe that you're doing the right thing by researching your options. What's another couple of months before making a decision, right?

Although I am pleased with my results (it beats the crap out of what I looked like before), I just wish that I would have found this forum sooner. I would have definitely chosen one of the Coalition docs.

quote:

Originally posted by kamin:

quote:

Originally posted by folica:
I believe If I don't do it now @49 I may never do it.

I was 44 when I received my first HT (over two years ago) and then another about a year ago. I believe that you're doing the right thing by researching your options. What's another couple of months before making a decision, right?

Although I am pleased with my results (it beats the crap out of what I looked like before), I just wish that I would have found this forum sooner. I would have definitely chosen one of the Coalition docs.

Kamin, whats up man?! I appreciate your input.
I noticed you are A musician & EVH fan.
I am also an aging musician, Clapton is my idol
But of course EVH rock's!
Do you have your HTP pics posted before & after's. Is that you or EVH on your profile??
It's hard to see it that small. Keep Rockin & Growing hair!

Folica,

Being worried about hair loss is a big deal. I know. It consumes your every thought, it creeps in to every aspect of your daily life. You'll be talking to someone at work, at a game, at the gym and your eyes wander to their hair and you start to wonder what it would be like to have the same. It's not so much of a dominant theme to your daily routine but it is a subtle consistency that may not even be something that you are concious of. You notice people all around you and what their hair looks like. Did they have a HT? How much further will THEY recede? Is he using creative combing to hide something? Is that guy wearing a toupee? It gets to the point that if you were to step outside of yourself and look back you'd swear you looked like a loon. But it is what it is and we are cursed with it. Only two solutions are available; accept it or change it.

Thank whatever deity you want that you did not get that procedure done back in 1990. If you had you most likely would not have had Proscar to stop the rest of your loss and you could have wound up with thicker mini grafts angled in all the wrong directions standing proud and tall in the areas of your current hair loss. Being 1990 you would only have had a few hundred so by now they'd be sticking out like a sore thumb.

Now this is much less likely to happen however there are still an overwhelming number of clinics that will leave you with something that you wish you did not have. While every case is extremely important situations like yours have less room for error because so many more grafts are necessary to get the job done right. Be absolutely sure of your choice whenever you have made it. Second guessing is natural especially when considering hair transplantation but you need to find a clinic that is consistent with the realistic results you believe will suit your case. You are in a good place for researching your options, now it's time to interview anyone and everyone you are interested in. Act as if it is indeed an interview because you are the employer, hiring a specialist, to perform one of the most important jobs in YOUR life.

Good luck with your interviews. Ask the tough questions and doubt everything until the evidence is irrefutable. The right clinic for the job will emerge with time.

i guess everyone has a different way of doing things- my research was limited to finding a reputable doctor using this forum. once i did that - I didnt think too much about the whole thing or the procedure- I figured I will let the doctor do that for me- after all if his reputation is good there must be a reason for that. Thats how I approached it.

quote:

Originally posted by jack1:
i guess everyone has a different way of doing things- my research was limited to finding a reputable doctor using this forum. once i did that - I didnt think too much about the whole thing or the procedure- I figured I will let the doctor do that for me- after all if his reputation is good there must be a reason for that. Thats how I approached it.

Jack, you are right about everyone having a different way of doing things. I wish like you I could just trust what this reputable doc is telling me like you do. But I am skeptical.
As you might have read I almost did a HTP in 1990. I am Glad I didn't just let my emotions take over back then!
I guess you can say I am conservative. Hell I had a small laser procedure done to remove veins from my nose, I am left with a red crease & an indentation in my nose,The laser burnt it, the skin dont come together anymore. The doc said that laser dosen't do that. But it did..
So as the saying goes, if it sounds to good to be true,it probably is. But I'm still in the game! Have you had your HTP yet or your scheduled? Who did you decide on?
Thanks Jack, when I hear someone like you make no big deal of it, It brings me a step closer to going for it!