new to forum and ignorant about HT

[wrapper]

Hi everyone,
Thanks again for the advice and guidance over the past 2 weeks, I haven't been online for about 4 days but doesn't stop me thinking about my situation, I am going to post my conclusions, if anyone wants to comment or give me advice I will be extremely grateful, I don't want and won't ever get FUT, I have read too many horror stories and won't risk ruining the rest of my life, which only leaves me Fue, which I may not have enough hair for, my plan is to hopefully get a fue transplant (if my donor area is sufficient) to make me look like a norwood 2 or 3, then maybe get the crown filled in (partially) a year later even using body hair, having my hair as it is now, number 1 cut or number 2 and maybe having skin pigmentation done as well, if I get this done I think I would look a lot better than I do now with basically my big bald head, I can afford to pay £12k for this maybe a little more, I am a reasonably good earner and can afford to do this without stretching myself, as I've said I am looking to improve my appearance, getting fue, keeping my hair short and having skin pigmentation to fill in some of the gaps, does this sound a reasonable/plausible idea, I won't be offended/upset if someone says I am way off the mark, this site's advice has been invaluable to me.

 

[beardywierdy]

Hi

I wouldn't say that having FUT was equivalent to ruining the rest of your life, as you put it. There are loads of guys on here, me included, who have had very positive FUT surgeries. Admittedly, it is more hassle than FUE but it is a very successful method of hair transplantation. Remeber, FUE has risks too; the transection rate is higher and you are still removing hair - you only have a finite amount, whichever method you choose.

I have seen some nice FUE cases where the recipient doesn't grow out their hair but leaves it very short i.e number 1 or 2 and because they have had the hairline/temples reconstructed, it appears that they have a full head hair, albeit very short hair - does this make sense?

Not sure if you are on the meds but get on finasteride/minox foam for a year and research, research and research some more. I know that this is not what you want to hear, as you are keen to get it done, but a few more months won't make any difference and might save you loads of heartache. And remember that a HT won't get you that job you always wanted/the girl you have been lusting after. It will simply give you that little more confidence.

 

[wrapper]

beardywierdy,
I said "risk" ruining the rest of my life, you've misquoted me, and I've came to that conclusion after listening to the members on here, thanks for your comments all the same, good to hear what you said about the fue cases with short hair, that's the type of illusion I'm hoping to achieve, not quite "a full head of hair" though think that would be too ambitious, I will take something like regaine if it helps but definitely not finasteride, as for getting me the job/girl I've always wanted, quite happy with my job, I'm a 46 year old divorcee don't think it would do me any harm, we all want to look our best, that's why we're on this site.

 

[beardywierdy]

Hi

In respect of the job/girl scenario, I was figuratively Speaking. If I were you I would get myself informed about HT methods/Risk/medication etc etc. and get as much advice as possible.

Also, it's difficult to make an objective decision when your mind is all over the place. Get as much info as you can and as I said in an earlier post, meet patients and consult with reputable surgeons. I would be prepared to meet you if you wanted and I am sure others would too.

Good luck

 

[wrapper]

Hi,
Just to let the forum know that after giving it a great deal of thought, I've had 4 appointments with clinics, I've tried to find out as much as was possible, I have decided to have a FUT Hair Transplant, I have been told by all clinics after examination that my donor area is good, I have decided to have my surgery done by Dr Pathomvanic in Bangkok, he wasn't the cheapest, I could get it done cheaper in the UK, I don't really want criticism from forum members, I've made my decision, I've paid my deposit and all going well will have the procedure on 22.01.12, I'm already doing regular scalp stretching exercises to hopefully minimise the scar, for me this will be the first in what maybe is a long road as hopefully I will have the option in the future of a further FUT or FUE and/or scalp pigmentation, I can afford these procedures and "you can't take it with you", it would be nice to have some hair on top again, I am thinking worse case scenario I get a visible scar and with FUE and/or scalp pigmentation I can cover this so hopefully will not end up looking any worse than I do now, just a bit poorer financially which I can handle, I will post pic's in the future if anyone's interested, be nice to help someone in the future in the same situation as myself.

 

[beardywierdy]

Hi

Good luck, I hope everything turns out well. At the end of the day, if you are comfortable with the research you have done, it's your head and your money.

Have you met any HT recipients btw? This would've given you the opportunity to see what a HT looks like in the flesh.

Hope it works out well and I look forward to seein gthe photos

Cheers

BW

 

[Bigmac]

I`m glad the forum has helped you with your research, all the best for your upcoming procedure.

It would be great if you keep us posted on your progress.

Thanks Bm.

 

[wrapper]

I will keep the forum posted, I know it's a slow process, hopefully by mid summer I will post a pic with some hair starting to grow where there wasn't before, I won't post any gory post-op pic's though but will let the forum know how it went and hopefully I can recommend my clinic, as for your question beardyweirdy, only folks I saw where guys who work at the clinic who've had ht's I was impressed by how hidden their scars were, almost totally undetectable, I'm not stupid they wouldn't work there otherwise but still good to see what can be done with good results, that's why I have chosen Dr Pathomvanic, lots of really good stuff written about him and his clinic on forums and was impressed by what he had to say to me about minimising the scar on our emails, between this and what I've read about him on forums enabled me to make my decision, lots of guys to choose from, you can only choose one, I hope I am lucky and have made a good choice.

 

[Bigmac]

If you do post a picture when you are seeing growth it would be beneficial to others if you also posted a pre op for comparison.

Cheers Bm.

 

[wrapper]

Bigmac,
I opened this discussion up with a picture of my bald head, I also have others, will be glad to show a before and after, hopefully with a lot of luck I will be in the position to.

 

[Bigmac]

Thanks, more pictures the better as it helps everyone in their research.

 

[wrapper]

Hi everyone,
it's 8pm here in Bangkok, my hair transplant finished about 2 hours ago, my strip produced 3732 grafts, which I am dissapointed with, Doctor told me I had a tight scalp, he has had as much as 6000 grafts from a strip before anyway just got to say how well I was treated at Dr Pathomvanic's clinic in Bangkok, very professional and 10 out of 10 for how I was looked after and made to feel at ease, if this one's successful I will definitely comeback for another one, I am norwood 6, I was once criticised on this forum for comparing going abroad for a HT to going abroad for dental implants which I've already done, well actually it was a good comparison, I expect I will have some pain and uncomfortable days to come but right now I feel no pain and I'm just about to go out for dinner, I won't take any pics just now as I've a large headband on anyway I'm sure you've seen loads of post op' pics, I don't expect much change in my hair for a couple of months but after that I'll post a pic, be it good or bad, I can't advise or encourage anyone to go for a HT but from my point of view, I could afford it, hated my bald head and just went for it, right now I think I did the right thing, I won't be saying that if I'm left with a big scar but Dr Path' says that 85% of his patients have a pencil slim scar and can have their hair short, hopefully I'm in that 85%, time for some food but sadly no pint with it, doctor's orders.

 

[Masher]

Why don't you just ask the question on here dude? then have a real look at the top 3 surgeons that come up.Take head that most of the people on here are VERY clued up and did lots of research before making a commitment, although money is an issue it should be based on skill not cost..so who would I go to...Shiparo....BHT...Feller and in the UK Farjo ar starting to produce good clean results with good pictures and back up etc...so there you go dude ;-)

 

[Masher]

OOOps guess I am a little late LMFAO....good luck with the results dude..not familiar with this surgeons work but I am sure you did your research...look forward to seeing the results and good growth to you sir:::C

Mash

 

[wrapper]

Strange reply Masher, advising me on who to go for a HT after I'd posted that I'd just had a hair transplant, anyway now 1 day after my HT, I have some swelling and some pain, which I'd say was a 3 out of 10, have to stay out the sun but other than that I can behave normally, fly home tonight maybe will be an uncomfortable journey home, not sure??? went back to see my doc today, he is very happy with outcome but suggests I have a second strip ht next year where he will expect to get 2500 grafts, he says he will not touch the first scar and will use donor area from above, I will obviously have to see how things progress before deciding, a 2nd transplant was always my plan but FUE not another strip, now the doc has got me thnking, if any of the good folks on this forum can help educate me on this subject, I will be very grateful, for instance, how many grafts approx could I expect from fue bearing in mind that I've had a strip, on the same token, if anyone is considering doing something similar to myself and is looking for advice, I'd be delighted to help.

 

[topccat29]

Well since you have already had a strip you might as well take another one until it is maxed out. I would ask why the choice of a second scar as opposed to working with the one you already have. Is that just a convenience for the doctor or does having a second scar benefit the patient somehow?

To be honest I don €™t like the fact that the doctor would even suggest that but maybe there is a good explanation so that is why I €™m asking.

 

[wrapper]

Topcat,
In answer to your question, Dr Path' explained to me that he has learned from experience that it is better to leave the first scar alone and to make another scar, I took from that that it is better to have two smaller scars as opposed to having one bigger scar, I got the impression from him that he used to use the original scar for a 2nd ht but decided through experience that this was not the best way, he's the expert so I'll go with what he says, I'm back home now and can see my wound, I am surprised how low down the cut was made, definitely plenty of room above for another strip, I'm not in any pain but I do have a swollen head, have to wear a headband for another 3 days.

 

[topccat29]

I think that having multiple scars is a bad idea but I will post another thread on the subject.

 

[wrapper]

five months exactly since my transplant, nothing much happened for the first 4 months last month has seen a good improvement and because of the growth I have started using toppik and their lacquer for the first time, only product of this type I have tried so far, it's amazing the difference toppik makes, unbelievable, I look like I have quite thick hair on top and it looks real, been told this many times, still have a big bald crown but another strip ht will cover that...hopefully, I will be left always using toppik or similar but for the difference it makes it will be worth it, I'm no longer bald...after 20 years, was a great decision to have a HT, wished I'd done it sooner.

 

[TR38]

Would it be possible for you to post before and after pictures with the Toppik please?