Follow my major repair

[Lounk61]

Not really happy with any of this. More tired than anything. You can do all the research possible and things can still turn out lousy. No guarantees. Hope I'll make the right decision. If I go through with it I'll know in year from now. Thanks for your input.

[topcat]

Lounk I would suggest having 500 maybe 1000 at the most. If you like what you see than go back and have that bigger number. I think it's safe sound advice, do it over 2 years. Surely you can add another 12 months as insurance for avoiding potential disaster.

DO NOT HAVE 5000 it's too big in my opinion.

[Lounk61]

I hear ya Topcat and know how you feel about this. As far as knowing how things will come out, after doing much research I feel the results with other bht clients from Arvinds clinic have been very reasonable with the amounts of grafts I'm looking at. There is always a risk reward decision. Again, I don't have time on my side so 12 months or 2 years is a lot of time to me but I understand where you are coming from and appreciate you opinion and concern. I have not decided yet but am leaning towards getting this done. December would be the earliest as the hair from my last ht strip procedure combo fue that was done at the end of December and is growing in and the scar area is still healing. No more strip procedures for me. Your situation keeps looking better and better. Congratz.

[caphead]

Still makes me nervous but you're right. If they can do more they will. Just glad I'm not going to have any more strip procedures. Fue should be easier to handle and faster recovery. Still not 100% sure I'm going to do this but I'm leaning towards it sometime the beginning of December. They ask for a $500 deposit to hold the spot and that's refundable or you can change the dates if you notify them 30 days before so I'm ok with that. Even got a couple of calls from the clinic in India to discuss it with me. That felt good. Umar in CA would have cost me 60k for 7500 grafts. Arvinds cost is half of that. He charges $4 up to 3000 grafts and $3,50 after that for fue. I've had consults with many docs including Bisanga, Cole, and Umar and more. They all charge $8 or more per fue graft. Drag I have to travel to India. Did a lot of research and Arvind is a pioneer in bht so I'm comfortable with his work. In the end I still have to be lucky and hope it all turns out ok. I will post before and after pictures when I'm all done no matter how it comes out. Feel it will be helpful to the community.

Also, we have to remember that the top hair restoration doctors-especially experts in repair utilizing beard/body hair are in great demand and as such, continuously booked up -at these rates.

However, you might want to check pricing again. Also, my advise is to get as much done as you can now...and then get on with your life. bbc

[PayDay]

I personally would not put Umar on your short list. There seem to be a few Umar cheerleaders on this and other sites, but he's not really one of the A listers so to speak. I don't know much about Dr. Arvind, but he seems pretty well respected as does Dr. Bisanga.

Be carful of posters who have very few posts and seem to post about the same doctor all of the time. Speak to patients of the doctor you are considering and don't just go by posters on these forums.

[caphead]

You sound worried.

Not really happy with any of this. More tired than anything. You can do all the research possible and things can still turn out lousy. No guarantees. Hope I'll make the right decision. If I go through with it I'll know in year from now. Thanks for your input.

You sound worried. I've been there. That is why I suggested you turn it over to Dr. Umar. He does the most difficult of the difficult. It is right there for you...you can drive there. Just turn it over to him and let it go. just my advise. I wish you well.

bbc

[caphead]

pardon me for interjecting here

I personally would not put Umar on your short list. There seem to be a few Umar cheerleaders on this and other sites, but he's not really one of the A listers so to speak. I don't know much about Dr. Arvind, but he seems pretty well respected as does Dr. Bisanga.

Be carful of posters who have very few posts and seem to post about the same doctor all of the time. Speak to patients of the doctor you are considering and don't just go by posters on these forums.

I have posted here and on other sites and even contacted Spencer. I commenced well over 2 years.

I too was apprehensive. I was in the same boat as Lounk61 and sought suggestions. I took it in; thought it through, and made the decision to go with Dr. Umar and I'm glad I did.

When I read that Lounk61: consulted with Dr. Umar, might very well go to India to get procedures with Dr. Arvid, because of the disparity in pricing, and was still anxious about his decision; I interjected. I might add again that Dr. Umar takes the toughest of the tough repair cases and performs admirably. In some instances, look what he's working with when one has limited or no available head donor or all stripped out with head scarring-like me. To use your term, I think he is an "A lister" in my own personal real experience with him doing my repair. bbc

[PayDay]

To say, "just turn it over to him and let it go" is worrying in itself. Read and learn as much as you can. Do not just allow anonymous posters to help guide you in one direction or another. Look at posting history and see if the poster seems to be affiliated with one doctor or another. Meet with patients and be sure the doctors reputation is really earned, not just hyped on the internet.

[caphead]

To say, "just turn it over to him and let it go" is worrying in itself. Read and learn as much as you can. Do not just allow anonymous posters to help guide you in one direction or another. Look at posting history and see if the poster seems to be affiliated with one doctor or another. Meet with patients and be sure the doctors reputation is really earned, not just hyped on the internet.

I don't think that is where Lounk61 is currently. From my understanding, as Lounk61 has suggested, he has done the investigation and research. He has pointed out that he would go to Dr. Umar but due to higher costs, might very well go to Dr. Arvid-in India. I wished to share my personal experience with him as I have been exactly where he is now-a repair patient-trying to figure out where to go and what to do. I have personal experience with Dr. Umar. I do not have such experience with Dr. Arvid. Having such personal experience with Dr. Umar's work, I feel quite confident in my opinion-that if he turns his repair over to Dr. Umar, Lounk61 will be in very good hands. bbc

[Lounk61]

Caphead what do you mean when you say I might want to check my pricing again? Do you know something I don't? And as for Dr Umar, I've seen him personally and have seen and spoken to a few of his clients who have had extensive bht work. So I have confidence he could do a good job with me and in his assessment of my situation and needs. It's just a cost issue with him. I asked him for a discount but he wouldn't do it. I'm happy for you that he has helped you. I have confidence in Dr Arvinds skills also but am not comfortable traveling to India. Much rather stay in the states but Arvind would be 20k cheaper for the work being done on me and that's a good chunk of change. And payday, even with all of my research and knowledge I've gained and personal experience with ht over the years, I do not trust 100% in any Dr. It's still a risk reward situation and I hope that I make a good educated decision and it turns out ok. I thank you both for your input.

[topcat]

Here is my 8 month update after my 3 procedure. All the procedures have been relatively small in size and using a high percentage of beard and body hair. I normally use concealer but the picture below is with no concealer at all. The first one I have taken which is close to my normal hair style as opposed to the ones posted showing it straight back in previous postings.

Taking into account where I started from the progress so far has been excellent.

[topcat]

I have heard from many in the industry that if they looked they could find white dotting. Even with having spent quite a deal of time outside in the sun with a tan only accentuating any scarring I say you would be very hard pressed unless you were using some type of magnification which is not the normal way a person would be observed. I also believe in my case the hair blends in very well.

[topcat]

Just want to post some photos with the sides shaved as that is where the scalp fue’s were harvested good for others to see that are considering a fue procedure. When I believe small hand punches are the best approach I say that for a reason and it’s not some new idea that just popped into my head.

I really like this look and will probably go higher in the weeks to come with shaving the sides. It makes it appear that I have even more hair on top and gets rid of all the grey on the side. I have had 2 random comments from people over the last few weeks that I look like I’m getting younger which is always nice to hear. I think it’s a combination of fat loss , getting rid of the grey and more hair on top. Also I will add that regardless of how much time I am out in the sun my skin looks very good and is very tight even around the eyes. Just want to make the point that skin is more about diet in my opinion.

I can see taking even more scalp hair at this point the only visible scar is that vertical one near the temple area and it’s so thin I don’t even give it a second thought.

[topcat]

Shaved to the bone :-)

[Stevie R]

I have to say topcat that is pretty darn impressive, how many FUEs to you think were taken from that particular area? Also your hair looks great man, if you have the donor I think you could hit those scars up and get to a 1 guard easy with your hair color an all, I know though you are not as concerned about it as you have stated before but I personally would like to see you go for it just so you can silence so many that attack your common sensical argumentation about how deceitful this industry is. Thanks for the picture topcat you have no doubt helped countless people fixing this mistake and getting on with their lives, directly and indirectly.