transplant nightmare

[Anonymous38]

Hi Jack

I empathize and relate to your story. Vanity, one of the seven deadly sins. It got me too and not a day goes by that I regret having done a hair transplant. How are you doing now?

[Rell]

Hey Jack I'm new to this site and it took the longest for me to face reality. I'm a 23 year old male and my hair is thinning out on the top of my head as well as my crown..I have absolutely have no history of baldness in my family. I don't know why this happening to me..it's very depressing..especially when my parents actually noticed it. I was actually considering getting a hair transplant one day because I've always wanted to grow out dreads but I fear for whatever reason my hair could fall out even if I did manage for my hair to fill in. I just wanted to say your story has made me think twice about getting something like that done and that I can really relate to how it feels to feel like a complete outcast because of this issue. It's really cool to know theres a place like this people can come share their experiences.

[DAVE52]

Hi, How much Saw Palmetto do you take and or recommend>

None
I know nothing of saw palmetto and think it's a waste of time
If it actually grew or mainained hair the world would know about it

[UnBald]

Hi, How much Saw Palmetto do you take and or recommend>

[Mr. 4000]

Jack speaks intelligently
unless are prepared to go back for numorous procedures and are clear that cutting your hair short is not in the plans in the future then by all means go for it
But, and I had 1 procedure 10 yrs ago, I would suggets the buzz cut first to see how yopu look and feel about it and try to embrace the short hair look.
It's cheaper, and in the longer run , if the HT doesn't work out the way YOU expected it to, it will be less emotionally and psychologically scarring than what the HT has left you with
My procedure doesn't look bad , as hair loss has progressed I know have a bald crown and the front 1/2 to 1/3 isn't as dense as I would like it to be .
I can cut my back and sides short # 2 and # 3 with no signs of the scar but the top just is n't as dense enough for my liking .
Because of this I am now an emotional wreck
I have sleepless nights 'cause I dread waking up in the morning to try and " sty;e " what hair I have

Hair loss is all "IN" the head not on the head - something I haven't been able to come to terms with and because of this the last 10 years have pure hell for me

I am now goign back to the shrink to deal with anxiety , stress that this is causing me . AGAIN

I feel for your situation Dave, There are many in your situation or will be in your situation in the future. There are many that need a transplant right after there first causing more trauma and more damage in a short time. The cycle continues.......

I didn't listen to the higher powers and just deal with my natural look which looking back was fine. It is clearly in the head....

Most people don't care about what you look like as much as one would like to think, they are too bust caring about what they look like.

[Don'tDoIt]

My experience was similar to that of Mr.4000. The doctor who recommended and performed my hair transplant glossed over any negative possibilities. He assured me that I would never notice the strip scar. He assured me that the hairline in front would look natural. He failed on both these matters. The strip scar is a problem and the hairline does not look natural.

Those of you who are considering a hair transplant, please realize that Jack, Mr 4000 and I are just the tip of the iceberg. There are a lot of unhappy persons out here who have had hair transplants and then deeply regretted having the procedure.

Be careful. Be realistic in your expectations. Be very skeptical about claims made by hair transplant surgeons and their staff. If in doubt, Don'tDoIt.

[Mr. 4000]

I do not want to name the surgeon for the following reasons:

He did virtually everything he could to talk me out of the procedure. Only after he was positive that I understood what to reasonably expect did he perform it. He made me wait months, discussed alternatives such as my just cropping all my hair short, and essentially tried to make me go away. I convinced him that I fully understood that the procedure would not provide me with a full head of hair and that I understood that my own naturally growing hair would continue to thin. Finally about 6 months after I first saw him did he perform the procedure. He could have done nothing more other than refusing to perform the procedure. This is called an "elective procedure" for a reason, however. I elected to have it done and I had covinced the doctor that my expectations were realistic. The fault is mine. I was young, desperate, and although I convinced both the doctor and myself that my expectations for the procedure were realistic, they were not.

I wish I could say the same about my doctor. He didn't once mention any alternatives, never mentioned that I may not be a good candidate. Never mentioned that he may have limitations doing the procedure.

[DAVE52]

Jack speaks intelligently
unless are prepared to go back for numorous procedures and are clear that cutting your hair short is not in the plans in the future then by all means go for it
But, and I had 1 procedure 10 yrs ago, I would suggets the buzz cut first to see how yopu look and feel about it and try to embrace the short hair look.
It's cheaper, and in the longer run , if the HT doesn't work out the way YOU expected it to, it will be less emotionally and psychologically scarring than what the HT has left you with
My procedure doesn't look bad , as hair loss has progressed I know have a bald crown and the front 1/2 to 1/3 isn't as dense as I would like it to be .
I can cut my back and sides short # 2 and # 3 with no signs of the scar but the top just is n't as dense enough for my liking .
Because of this I am now an emotional wreck
I have sleepless nights 'cause I dread waking up in the morning to try and " sty;e " what hair I have

Hair loss is all "IN" the head not on the head - something I haven't been able to come to terms with and because of this the last 10 years have pure hell for me

I am now goign back to the shrink to deal with anxiety , stress that this is causing me . AGAIN

[Jack21]

if you're conflicted DONT DO IT!

You're hiding under a ball cap, I spent years hiding under concealers or a hat. I have never seen a ht that looked reasonable. Even the photographs that drs post as "sucess stories" look bad to me. If you have very thick hair in the donor area obviously the scar will be hidden at a shorter length. I had to grow my hair past a # 5 guard for it to not be visible. At that length my hair was already wavy and with the thin transplanted hair on top and with a balding crown it looked horrendous. I looked like a balding guy trying to cover up his balding. The doctor told me NOT to expect anything close to full coverage. He told me not to expect to look like I had 5 years before. I deluded myself into believing that I would be the exception - after all my balding wasn't that bad, just diffuse thinning. As I've written it was OK for the first couple of years because I just put toppik and couvre in it. Then it reached the point where my hair on top was simply to thin to support the toppik and the couvre just looked like I was painting my scalp - which in essence I was. I've made some bad decisions in my life but only one that I regret every single day of my life. I shave my head. I don't mind the shaved head look at all. What I do mind is the giant scar which runs from ear to ear. Balding is not enjoyable, but there are things in life that we cannot change. Balding is not something you have a choice in as those commercials would have you believe. Ultimately you will end up either sporting a scraggly, balding head of hair that cannot be neatened by being cut short b/c of scars or you can be proactive and shave your head (or cut it very short) before you have a giant scar across the back of your scalp. I used to wear a hair piece as I've mentioned in other threads. I used to "talk" to other guys who bought from the same place. 90% of them wore toupees because of the scars and poor results of hair transplants. Don't do it yourself. There is great online support available for guys who are having a tough time transitioning to having a shaved head. I represent nobody but myself. I am not trying to sell you a product. I come here day in and day out because I don't want one more young guy to have to go through the misery that I did.

Wow i am more confused than ever, some people on this site say their scar is un-noticeable but everyone who has replied to this particular question is anti-ht. I am 33 yrs old have been balding since 25-26 i am missing at least 3 to four inches of my hairline. I wear a hat everywhere i go. I have missed out on so much of life to the point i seriously would pay anything to look somewhat normal again. Never wanted to go the hairpiece route and was seriously thinking about a ht either strip or fue. After reading your response and others i have no idea of what to do. I do have questions hopefully u or others can answer: 1. How come most of the surgeons or doctors on this site say the scars of today are virtually invisible or very very small as they constitute big long scars to earlier trasplants and their procedures. 2. Is anyone ever satisfied with the results from their ht and was it a fue or strip procedure? 3. What after the ht do u as the patient have to do to receive the best results and what are the absolute no-no's. Also is their a surgeon or dr. who has great results in illinois or should i consider going elsewhere. Or as jack and others state live with it, but i truly truly hate living my life under a hat.

[hair leaving]

Wow i am more confused than ever, some people on this site say their scar is un-noticeable but everyone who has replied to this particular question is anti-ht. I am 33 yrs old have been balding since 25-26 i am missing at least 3 to four inches of my hairline. I wear a hat everywhere i go. I have missed out on so much of life to the point i seriously would pay anything to look somewhat normal again. Never wanted to go the hairpiece route and was seriously thinking about a ht either strip or fue. After reading your response and others i have no idea of what to do. I do have questions hopefully u or others can answer: 1. How come most of the surgeons or doctors on this site say the scars of today are virtually invisible or very very small as they constitute big long scars to earlier trasplants and their procedures. 2. Is anyone ever satisfied with the results from their ht and was it a fue or strip procedure? 3. What after the ht do u as the patient have to do to receive the best results and what are the absolute no-no's. Also is their a surgeon or dr. who has great results in illinois or should i consider going elsewhere. Or as jack and others state live with it, but i truly truly hate living my life under a hat.

[Jack21]

I really think though that the problem lies IN your head, and not ON it.



I think that you are quite right. Getting used to having a shaved head takes time. I don't think that balding is easy on anyone, but it is certainly blown out of all proportion by people like me.

[Alex Kurniawan]

thanks JB

Thank JB.

You are right.
take care.

I just wanted to mention you dodged a bullit!

Any girl that didn't want to marry you because of your hair or lack there of..

Your better off without her..

You lucky SOB!!!!

Life is always a question of perspective..

Either the glass is half full or half empty..

Only each individual can decide what their perspective on life is going to be..

I always say a day above ground....no matter what goes on is a good day!

I suggest a toast to the glass being half full!

JB

[Jack21]

This message has been removed by the author

Jack I think like most of us you're blowing this way out of proportion. You look fine with a shaved head. I see dudes like you with shaved heads walking down the street all the time. So I don't understand either why you don't think you are attractive or why you have received these comments from women.

I think there's more to this story than you're letting on, perhaps that you yourself don't even notice because you're so caught up in your insecurity. There has to be another reason why you would receive such comments, as it's certainly not due to how you look. Perhaps it is due to women picking up your insecurity. My bet is that you subcommunicate this insecurity so strongly that it's distracting.

Perhaps it's due to the scar. If that's the case then look into options of reducing it or just get a tattoo over it. You were in the army, people will understand if you have a military tat on the back of your head.

I really think though that the problem lies IN your head, and not ON it. I think you should see a therapist about this.

You look completely normal with your head shaved, if not attractive. You're letting your insecurity dominate your life, and that's not healthy.

[JonB.]

Dear MADE and Jack,



I am 35 years old and not married. A girl that I like so much turned me down because I have no hair!! Forget about the fact that I am a lecturer at a University and earning well. I dont drink. smoke, party. I describe myself as the 'boy next door' BUT can you believe that women these days are more concerned about how much hair you have on top than what great characterisitics you have?



best wishes

I just wanted to mention you dodged a bullit!

Any girl that didn't want to marry you because of your hair or lack there of..

Your better off without her..

You lucky SOB!!!!

Life is always a question of perspective..

Either the glass is half full or half empty..

Only each individual can decide what their perspective on life is going to be..

I always say a day above ground....no matter what goes on is a good day!

I suggest a toast to the glass being half full!

JB

[Username1234]

Jack I think like most of us you're blowing this way out of proportion. You look fine with a shaved head. I see dudes like you with shaved heads walking down the street all the time. So I don't understand either why you don't think you are attractive or why you have received these comments from women.

I think there's more to this story than you're letting on, perhaps that you yourself don't even notice because you're so caught up in your insecurity. There has to be another reason why you would receive such comments, as it's certainly not due to how you look. Perhaps it is due to women picking up your insecurity. My bet is that you subcommunicate this insecurity so strongly that it's distracting.

Perhaps it's due to the scar. If that's the case then look into options of reducing it or just get a tattoo over it. You were in the army, people will understand if you have a military tat on the back of your head.

I really think though that the problem lies IN your head, and not ON it. I think you should see a therapist about this.

You look completely normal with your head shaved, if not attractive. You're letting your insecurity dominate your life, and that's not healthy.