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northeast,
I can hardly wait to see your last BHB procedure to fully manifest. I always wish you the best results my friend as you have come such a long way. And as I have stated before, your transparency and willingness to share your story and repair journey is invaluable to hundreds of men seeking the same resolve. And you are so humble about it my good friend. Thank you.
Victim,
I think the point that northeast was making, and please NE correct me if I misunderstood, is that there is more to life worth living then our hair. Now please let me be so humble to inform you that I experienced both. MPB and terminal stage lung cancer. I truly believe the reason was so that I could reach out to others who are suffering whether it be hair loss, cancer, or anything else that can beset us in life. My prayer is that you get effective counseling and glad to read that you are taking the steps to get some. You can still call me as one of my undergraduate degrees is in psychology with an emphasis in counseling.
But the larger reason is to share with you first hand how it sometimes takes something like terminal lung cancer in order for us to see that life in itself is precious. Our hair loss is secondary to that. Trust me, once the doctors tell you that you will not survive and the cancer is going to take your life, you begin to see that faith, family, and being a beacon in life is what matters the most. Trust me, I have assisted a number of late stage cancer patients who have passed on. Every one of them lost 100% of their hair from chemo and/or radiation.
Not one of them ever expressed any concern from their hair loss. They all want to live and not die. That's it. Even the women who we would think would be devastated with hair loss from chemo never mention it because they are thinking more about the impact of their death on their family. They say, "if only I could have more time to say the things that I have not said, and do the things that I should have done".
Until we see that life and our loved ones are the true "back drop" in our lives, any of the trials and tribulations that come our way should never take us down the path of desolation, unless we allow them to do so. It is a choice.
Don't turn to drugs and/or alcohol. I also work with homeless teens and homeless vets that live under bridges. And a fair number of them are addicted to meth, heroin, and alcohol. They are on a road to nowhere unless they are willing to forgive and accept themselves in life. Willing to receive help. I always ask them one on one if they want a change. That takes courage when you live in a dark world for years on end. For some, it's the normal. It's sad. And every time I leave to go back home, I thank God that I have a home, a sweet wife, another chance in life.
There are approximately 1800 homeless teen heroin addicts in Portland, OR living on the streets. These are kids man! None of them truly want to be there. But their world is addiction and where they are going to get the next bag of heroin or else they are going to get really sick. They panhandle and then go to the dope man. That's it. They know nothing else.
Trust me, there is more to life than that and until we can really see how bad life can get, do we begin to see our blessings in life. Yes hair loss is hell but cancer, heroin addiction, homelessness is far worse. You have blessings in your life. You just are not willing to see them and count them.
You know when I lost my hair from chemo, my sweet wife told me that I looked good with a bald head. I thought she was just trying to make me feel better but I eventually got used to it. Later I came to grips with my appearance because I would rather be bald and be alive to love my family then to be buried with a full head of hair. When my hair did start growing back, she told me that she liked me better bald with a goatee and she was not lying. Even my barber told me I looked like I was breaking bad!
It's all perspective my friend. When you can forgive yourself and then accept yourself for who you are not what you are, then hair loss is not the main issue in life and it never should be IMHO. As I stated, my hair did eventually grow back but not as thick. I don't care anymore. I care so far more about bringing hope to those individuals who have none. I care more whether my wife is happy or sad. I care more about whether my 14 year old pug dog is suffering with his arthritis. I care more if these homeless teens and Vietnam vets have enough to eat.
Remember, it isn't until the doctor says that you are going to die that you realize that there is more to life worth living than hair loss.
I am always as close as your phone my good friend...
"Gillenator"
Independent Patient Advocate
more.hair@verizon.net
NOTE: I am not a physician and not employed by any doctor/clinic. My opinions are not medical advice nor are they the opinions of the following endorsing physicians: Dr. Bob True & Dr. Bob DorinComment
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Gill you hit it right on the head. Great advise here and thank you for sharing your personal experiences. Recently I read a book titled the miracle of mindfulness. Its a great read for anyone who gets obsessed or finds themselves focused on irrelevant aspects of their life. When we do this, it often leads to anxiety and depression. From there it often snowballs. hair loss for so many can lead them down this path. Much of what DHT and anyone who struggles with hair loss does is get obsessed with the future and what baldness might do to them. Or how its might effect them. Instead life is passing them by. Live in the moment and try to enjoy the good things we are part of.
Its not easy to do but for crying out loud, you have to try. Nothing drives me more insane than when someone is dealing with an issue and never puts any plan in motion. worrying does nothing but create more worries. Regarding hair loss, Set a plan, put it in autopilot, and focus on other positive things in your life. Or better yet, accept hair loss for what it is and move on.
Gill, again thank you. And yes, I more than anyone will be eager to share the results from this BHT. Just letting time do its thing right now....Comment
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#of grafts
Thanks NE guy,
You are pretty much home. I am doing my whole scar with beard hair with Cole soon. Hope I get results like you did. My scars just over a year old so I am doing everything I can do get scar as flat and smooth as possible before I go. Had multiple cortizone shots and 1 session of vbeam. Going to do 3 more vbeams to get the red out and maybe 1 last round of steroids to flatten for sure and giving it a go.Comment
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hair systems
Victim,
I wouldnt rush to judge on hair systems. Ive seen in person amazing results. Completely undetectable. At least give it a try. There is no permanent negative drawbacks. If it looks like crap or you dont like it just take it off.Comment
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Northeast,
You're a good man hands down and it is so encouraging to read your posts. You say it like it is and yet you're humble in spirit...that inspires me brother!
jetfan,
Wish you much success and nice to see that you're putting everything on your side before your upcoming procedure.
Hope you will share some pics like NorthEastGuy is doing so that it brings additional hope and resolve to many guys in need of the same type of repair.
There are far more guys in need of repair who are surfing these forums then actively posting.
The impact of transparency and success from both of you guys is far more reaching then we would ever imagine!"Gillenator"
Independent Patient Advocate
more.hair@verizon.net
NOTE: I am not a physician and not employed by any doctor/clinic. My opinions are not medical advice nor are they the opinions of the following endorsing physicians: Dr. Bob True & Dr. Bob DorinComment
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Jetfan.... I'm guessing you researched the safety of V beam? What did the clinic say? can you share what they get per session? I'm pretty sure it is a pulse dye laser which should be safe on hair born skin. Obviously your first concern would be doing damage to the hair follicles. I do know it helps with the redness mostly and may change the texture a little. I contacted the palomar group who has the 1540 erbium non ablative laser. They confirmed it is safe for the scalp and will not harm the hair follicles.Comment
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my pics
Gillenator,
You're absolutely right there are surely far more men seeking repair and guys like ejj and neguy are courageous and selfless for doing that. I will do the same.
Before you implore my sense morality and responsibility to post pics you may want to look in the mirror. You are on this site and are paid by HT docs and promote strip surgeries. Which in my guess at least 50% end in failure, disappointment or life altering scars both mental and physical. This victim guy on here and countless others have suicidal thoughts and never regain their sense of self after these surgeries. It has the highest rate of suicide than any other plastic surgery procedure in the world. Tons of men hiding in shame and in wigs for the rest of their lives. Its hard to see you here playing the compassionate voice of reason when youre promoting strip surgeries and being paid by the docs. I know you fancy yourself a religious man and it sounds like you do want to help people here, but the best advice you can give is to encourage people not to do this at all. Its very hypocritical of you.
Make no mistake some man on here swayed by your expertise is going to get a strip surgery then end up desperate for repair combing through websites and pics to be repaired and you will have had a hand in his demise. Some other man may be swayed by your advice and have an absolutely flawless transplant but thats not the likelihood especially in the long run. Regardless its an unnecesary procedure that has an extreme likelihood in failure. 10 good transplants dont outweigh the 10 tortured souls who end up desperate and scarred for life.
I have no doubt that you have done a lot of good in your life and believe you are not doing anything wrong. Id suggest you take a long deep look at yourself and what youre doing on this site.
I will make deal with you. I will post all my pics starting now and through my entire repair win lose or draw if you start advocating FUE or against doing strip. Sound like a deal?Comment
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NEguy,
Did a ton of vbeam research. Im 1 of those guys who gets red scars. I broke both bones in my forearm playing football 25 years ago and its still a bit red. I never got a 100% it wont harm hair follicles but I think Ive taken some good precautions. I did 3 test patches on the scar first and had 3 gorgeous derm ladies holding all my hair away from the scar and holding guards above the hair as well. Kind of embaressing. I did my first full vbeam 6 weeks ago and it reduced the redness a bit and had no hairloss. Planning on 3 more. Then gonna give Cole a crack with the beard hair. In your case you look so good now I wouldn't risk it especially with all that hair in your scar. You look awesome. And with 891 beard hair on the way your home free.
I doubt I will get as good a result as you as my scar is 5 to 12mm. Awesome I know...but if I could get to a 3 or 4 clip with say 800 grafts 3 times a year apart I would sign up for that fate. Im not up for a revision I have a ridiculously loose scalp and am prone to scar stretching and my donor is pretty week. I dont think my donor hair could take another full blown cut.Comment
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One really has to appreciate the honesty in this thread.
Good luck to all the repair patients.Comment
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I think if you hit that scar with 3 sessions your going to do a lot better than a 4 guard. The first session will tell it all. you'll get a good idea of what to expect from the following 2. Keep in mind that beard hair has a larger diameter than scalp so your going to get much more coverage. I'm not sure why you don't think you'll get similar results.... no reason you shouldn't.
again, thanks for the support. very much appreciated.Comment
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scar width?
Thx NE guy,
I hope so. The following docs told me "no way" hair would grow in that scar:
Bernstein
Hasson
Feller
So it kind of makes me less optimistic. When I look at your pics I want to cancel the vbeams and just go do this tomorrow! If I could get somewhere between a 2 and 4 clip even if it took 3 or 4 years I would be ecstatic. Doesnt even have to look perfect just enought to move on from this would be just fine with me!Comment
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I just put a side by side image together for our recent patient who had a rather large scar from necrosis (tissue death). He is not photo release, so I can't currently post the image. In the email I just sent, I'm going to see if he will allow me to post the photo. Beard hair is growing in this area very well at only 7 months post-op. Dr. Cole went with a low density the first pass to play it safe. I have no doubt Dr. Cole could get beard hair to grow in your scar tissue. I remember you from when you came in for your consultation. Don't let naysayers lower your expectations.
35YrsAfter also posts as CITNews and works at Dr. Cole's office
forhair.com
Cole Hair Transplant
1070 Powers Place
Alpharetta, Georgia 30009
Phone 678-566-1011
email 35YrsAfter at chuck@forhair.com
The contents of my posts are my opinions and not medical advice
Please feel free to call or email me with any questions. Ask for ChuckComment
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jetfan,
Well thanks for the kind words and also for expressing your convictions regarding FUE. Yet I will need to also state the "facts" regarding what I do relative to this area of hair restoration whether we are discussing FUHT or FUE.
Let me first make it clear to you that I do not promote FUHT or FUE. I do not favor one over the other. IMHO, they both have their place. You show one post or thread where I am "promoting FUHT". You can't because they don't exist. I truly believe both methods still have benefits depending on each individual patient's case which includes their "goals and objectives". Anyone who comes out with a terrible strip scar is obviously a nightmare I agree however most patients who do their homework including carefully choosing the right surgeon do not come out with those bad scars including myself. Yet your choice of words never consider what others want, only what you think.
I have to date been through four separate FUHT procedures and still only have one thin and acceptable strip scar and was able to view it in its entirety when I lost all of my hair. I say acceptable to me because my decisions and goals are quite different from yours. And there are countless other FUHT patients with great results who are of the same opinion as myself. And BTW, I never intend to wear my hair cropt or buzzed at any point in my life, and whether you realize it or not, there are still many men that feel the same way, especially those 35 years of age and older.
The issue you are wrestling with is that because your strip scars were terrible by your own words not mine, you immediately take the position that FUHT is immoral. You are wrong about that and it's okay with me that you disagree. Who do you think you are to play judge and jury and impose your own convictions on the rest of us? Myself and tons of other patients would rather have FUHT than FUE and that's our decision, not yours. Get it?
But of course you are going to feel the way you do. An extremely high percent of patients who have unbearable scarring from FUHT are going to have that opinion. But what you don't get and may never get is that there are many of us FUHT patients that are very happy with our results and could not give a hoot about the linear scar in the back of our heads because again we never intend to buzz our scalps, and the strip scar is very fine and ok to us. Quite frankly, we don't care what you think about our goals. You have no right to push your opinions on others by tagging it with accusations and demeaning statements. That only displays your immaturity.
Now in an extremely high percent of the cases where strip scars came out bad, it is without a doubt related to the incompetence of the surgeon. In a smaller percent it's the physiology of the patient which may very well be the case of Victim. Yet some of those individuals that went to an incompetent doctor never take any responsibility for making that poor uninformed choice. And I am not trying to attempt to condemn your own decisions however "if" your strip scars came out thin and fine like many of us, your opinions would be very different, and you know it.
Look, before FUE was ever an option, the dialogue in the online communities was more related to end results, and who did the best work, dense packing, etc, etc. Oh sure, every now and then when someone's results were poor and had visible scarring, the dialogue was then confined to bashing the doctor who did the procedure. But rarely if ever did anyone bash FUHT methods because FUE was not known except in Australia. A very small number of guys would bash doing "any" hair HT procedures and call all HT doctors bad. They simply blame their own ignorance on the industry as a whole.
And the other very important fact that you fail to comment on is the fact that there are plenty of very poor FUE results! Again, it is more attributable to the competence of the surgeon but then should the patient who got a bad FUE result bash FUE like you bash FUHT? That's crazy! Get a reality check.
By the way, you falsely accuse me of promoting surgery to others yet my posts are overwhelming informing patients to wait, use caution, or not do the procedure at all. And I also told Victim "not to do any more surgery" and it does not matter whether it's FUHT or FUE.
Now, another clarification. You don't have a clue what I do in this industry. And I don't get paid to push HTs either. I am a independent advocate and I spend an extremely high percent of my time offline as well as online helping patients in need of repair. REPAIR. Why in the world do you think that I reached out to Victim many times which takes endless hours of typing time to try and help him in his suffering? You don't see me jumping on other threads trying to surf for business as you imply and I detest your accusations. They have no merit and you know it. Just read my posts on "any thread" or topic.
I am here to help those in dilemma, PERIOD. I know who I am. I sleep with a good conscience. I have no problem looking in the mirror buddy.
And by the way, the five doctors at my signature "endorse" what I do to help other patients. I don't earn a salary. I don't earn commissions or bonuses. I am not employed by any of them. But they are men of high integrity and they do have the patient's best interest in mind, every time, and they have my highest respect. And for your information, they all do both FUHT and FUE. They offer both methods.
I am not in this for the money because if I was, don't you think I have the background and ability to get rich in this industry "if" I wanted to? Get real man. The only and I repeat the only reason they support me is so that I never have to charge any patient for my help and/or support. I have been doing this for a long time, ten years next month, and I have never charged anyone one red cent for it, and I never will. When I take on a case, I have to get written consents, copies of B4 and after pics, there's a fair amount of phone and mail expense involved.
Now why don't you put your money where your mouth is and come to my office so you can see for yourself firsthand what I do rather then just ignorantly and falsely make your baseless accusations? I promise to show you my bank account and the tax return that I file for my advocacy. What you will discover is that I take in a mere $1150 per month to cover my overhead. That's it buddy. And I will show you every tax return for the past ten years so that you will also see that my words are true.
And just what do you think these other "doctor reps" make including their bonuses if any? Ever think about that? Yet they are in fact employees of the clinic and I will guarantee you that they make far, far more money "in salary", and other incentives.
Got any other questions? Now look, obviously I am a little peeved right now having to spend my time explaining to you and anyone else who thinks I may be here to "sell" HTs. But every now and then someone who got whacked from their own decision, not mine, decides to take their aggression out on someone else who is sincerely trying to help other hair loss sufferers so that they can get on with their life. What I do in these forums has the same motives whether I am helping someone dying from cancer or someone addicted and homeless. You don't see anyone else doing it for free do you?
If I offended you, I am sorry, yet you types get under my skin sometimes.
You know I do believe in God but please realize it's not you."Gillenator"
Independent Patient Advocate
more.hair@verizon.net
NOTE: I am not a physician and not employed by any doctor/clinic. My opinions are not medical advice nor are they the opinions of the following endorsing physicians: Dr. Bob True & Dr. Bob DorinComment
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