Hello Friends,
My name AK(Initials)and presently I am 26 years of age. I started loosing my hair when I was 17 due to typhoid and then there was no looking back , I had progressive hair loss.I tried all types of medication--acupuncture,laser,massage but nothing helped. I wasn't very confident in my college and was scared to go to my native as my relatives made fun of me.
So when I got my first job , I decided to go for a Transplant with all my savings of 6-7 months.
I searched on Net as there was no other way to find a good HT doctor , first name which came was DR Venkatram Mysore (he extensively advertises, I learned it later that all that glitters is no gold), I met him , he said we'll bring your hair line down by 2 inches and will need 1300 grafts at cost of 30 per graft.After HT he said we have put 1700 grafts and charged me 5K more.
I was happy for 45k ill have my hair back.
he did not advice me to take any medication to stop hair fall or anything.
I got my HT done by Venkatram , my exiting hair WAS Not shaved and 2 inch patch was added in front. when my Transplanted hair grew they were look toothbrush bristles , standing erect, , I went to DOC he said this is because they are small , then there was a GAP between transplanted hair and original hair on Left hand side , , Doctor said this is because your hairline has receded after transplant, can any one explain why didn't he consider this while transplanting. the density in front of my head was very bad so I couldn't part my hair in side Nor in middle. .
In 2 years time the gap between transplanted hair original hair was very clear , it is one full line.I was traumatized as I was looking like a Porcupine, I had to keep m hair all in front like Lalu Prasad yadav. everyone was asking me whats wrong with your hair.
Worst past Dr Venkat punches wholes to transplant this left small mounds on my head in transplanted area like small pimples , so now I can not even go bald as it looks very odd with front portion with these mounds.
This is after spending 50k on my HT and medication.
I was so traumatized I used to put black color on my head to hide shining white skin between my hair.
Now i went to all doctors to see if I can get this fixed Non surgically , they all said its a very BAD transplant and nothing can be done.
I considered another transplant , I called Dr Venkat's office , this gentlemen is now charging 35 per graft. I was like I am not going to be fooled again.
I searched on net and came Dr SREEDHAR REDDY POTHULA (another bad doctor)..met him, he charged 300 for consultation. showed me pics of his operations , said i ll take hair from below ears and stuff, now I already have a scar from previous HT and his doctor wants to make more Scars and make back of my head look like a Criss-Cross.
He even said Ill put some 300 grafts on your crown(back of head). I was like OK, but for some reason I thought I need to do research more this time than to make same BIG mistake I made last time. SO I called up Dr Chandrashekhar from Berkowits clinic whom I had me for hair fall and asked if he could suggest a few doctors.
He gave me a few names and I met all of them (even though it costed me 1500 more to meet these different docs)
Now finally I zeroed in on Dr NOBBAY BRIAN of NOBBAY dermacare, reason:
1. When I met him and told him my situation , he told me that If I would have met him when I was 24 to not go for HT at such young age, take medication to stop hair fall and then consider HT.
2.He told he will take skin from back of my head in such a way it will leave only 1 scar, he will take of the previous scar so I am let with only one scar, this Dr Sreedhar reddy never thought of.This was such a relief because Dr Venaktram had left a heinous scar on back of my head which looked like Barbwire.
3.He convinced me that I should not have any hair on my crown , because he said hair on back of my head is still thinning and with proper usage of finepecia and mintop it can be controlled , moreover if I get few 100 hairs on back when at old age my hair will recede from back it will look like a an island of hair ,very awkward.
4.He said he will shave front of my head put hair in such a way that there is no gap , he will increase density of old transplanted and will transplant even in areas which already have hair for future balding.
5. He said be realistic , hairs will fall one day , I will transplant in such a way that when you are old your transplanted hair look natural.
Now none of the doctors told me these things , they say yes to everything you say. A doctor should give you a realistic view , not just consider his business.
You should ask a lot of questions to your doctor , as many , there should be no doubt in your head.
I under went transplantation with Dr NOBBAY BRIAN on Monday 12/10/2009 for Rs25 per graft, he has done an excellent job ,
Friends none of us want to to go for a Transplant in first place , it is not very pleasant and is very expensive. But what can be really worse is a BAD transplant , because that will make you life even worse.So choose your Doctor very very wisely , think of long term effects , so that you don't have to go through the ordeal of Multiple HT.

I am posting my before and after pictures below.

gap.JPG (22 KB, 423 downloads) Gap Between Transplanted hair and Real Hair, poor hair density in Transplant done by Dr Venkatraman Mysore-Bangalore..

Scar left BY HT done by Dr Venkat Ram Mysore -- Bangalore

scar.jpg (24 KB, 376 downloads) Scar left BY HT done by Dr Venkat Ram Mysore -- Bangalore

NEW HT done by Dr Nobbay brian , covring old gaps and filling future balding areas

newht2.jpg (33 KB, 426 downloads) NEW HT done by Dr Nobbay brian , covring old gaps and filling future balding areas

1700 grafts wont be enough if u want to bring down your hairline 2 inches. who is Dr NOBBAY BRIAN?? hair loss for crown and on top of your head, use propecia or any local medicine similar to it and try rogaine or anything similar to it as well.. good luck

I never heard of any of these Doctors, where are you from?

ak26, I have not heard of Dr Nobbay before though I have heard Dr Venkatraman mentioned before in these forums. I hope things work out well for you, though a doc recommended on this forum is safest since he has a proven record of great results.

I had visited Dr Venkataram about 3 months back and found his approach very professional- he specifically advised me not to undergo transplantation as I was, in his opinion too young(22 years) and my stage of baldness was early. He specifically pointed out that , unless drugs are taken to prevent further hairloss, I will end up with problems of receding hairline and leave only grafted hairs in the front.And two to other transplant doctors whom I visited earlierwere only too happy to operate and did not point out all the information given to me by Dr Venkataram .I also found that he had specifically pointed out these problems of early hair transplants in his website. He advised me against surgery despite my repeated requests for surgery
I am glad I visited him .

AK26 Hello
I agree with RajToor to use propecia 1mg and Minoxidil 5% to stop your further hair loss.