I am heading towards getting SMP!!!

[sausage]

Yo Guys,

I have been on this forum for a few years ranting and raving, having dilemma after dilemma.....but now I think I am going to make a move......I am likely to book SMP in the coming week.

SMP, when I first came across it 4 or 5 years ago I thought it was complete madness. I completely dismissed it straight away and never thought about again until about a month or 2 ago. Someone I know had it done which opened up my eyes to it and helped make it more acceptable in my mind.

I have researched into it as much as possible, tried to understand how it should be done ie. density, tone, hairline shape and have a good idea of what I want. At first I wanted to keep my hair buzzed with hair clippers as I was scared to go any shorter at the thought I would be a complete, all over slaphead. But I recently used a beard rotary shaver on my head and instantly realised it looked ok and instantly realised that hair has to be this short for SMP to look right. Hair this short looks like a 2D shadow which is exactly what SMP is.

I got an eyeliner pencil and scribbled it on my head and then smudged it all over my head, creating full coverage and outlining the hairline. It really is a bloody good way to get a feeling of how SMP will look. It actually looked pretty natural although it was just charcoal all over my head. I could see how I looked much better with it.

I am confident that if done correctly SMP will look natural and will make a difference in my self esteem.....I hope. You can never be sure. It is down to the guy doing my SMP to get the tone, density and shape how I want it.

I was massively skeptical of SMP at first but am warming to it and a week away from booking something.

This is my bald head:



This is my head with Eyeline pencil smudged over it:

[Californication]

I too thought it was a ridiculous idea...until I went on the forum (for HIS) and saw that the success rate seemed pretty awesome with amount of people happy. If you can be content with the shaved look then imo SMP is the way to go at least until something better comes along.

I'm guessing you've elected to go the permanent route as from what I've seen, there are way too many questions about the temporary that haven't been answered yet.

[sausage]

I too thought it was a ridiculous idea...until I went on the forum (for HIS) and saw that the success rate seemed pretty awesome with amount of people happy. If you can be content with the shaved look then imo SMP is the way to go at least until something better comes along.

I'm guessing you've elected to go the permanent route as from what I've seen, there are way too many questions about the temporary that haven't been answered yet.

TBH the temporary one confuses the hell out of me.....

It only lasts something like 6-10 months and costs £2000 + flights etc etc. It's just not worth that. It's only worth getting as a prelude to getting permanent SMP.

I am confused as to why both Spex and Jotronic have jumped on it seeing as they are hair transplant specialists, we can all take a guess why they are promoting temporary SMP now £££££££££££££££££££££££££££££.

I especially found it very odd that Spex had temporary SMP into his scar, a scar which you could not even see as he always has his hair grown out + WHY get temporary SMP into a scar which can last for as little as 6 months. It was a completely pointless exercise in my view.

Don't get me wrong, permanent SMP has its uncertainties. His Hair say that their pigments won't turn blue and no1 that has had the treatment has ever had their treatment turn blue but they have only been going for 10 or so years so you can never be that sure of what will happen in the future.......but that's the risk I take. I can always get it lasered and then re-done or as we all hope in 10 or so years from now a proper cure may arrive so actual hair can be put over the top.

The main worry for now is hoping that the tattooist does a good job and the SMP settles realistically.

[35YrsAfter]

TBH the temporary one confuses the hell out of me.....

It only lasts something like 6-10 months and costs £2000 + flights etc etc. It's just not worth that. It's only worth getting as a prelude to getting permanent SMP.

I am confused as to why both Spex and Jotronic have jumped on it seeing as they are hair transplant specialists, we can all take a guess why they are promoting temporary SMP now £££££££££££££££££££££££££££££.

I especially found it very odd that Spex had temporary SMP into his scar, a scar which you could not even see as he always has his hair grown out + WHY get temporary SMP into a scar which can last for as little as 6 months. It was a completely pointless exercise in my view.

Don't get me wrong, permanent SMP has its uncertainties. His Hair say that their pigments won't turn blue and no1 that has had the treatment has ever had their treatment turn blue but they have only been going for 10 or so years so you can never be that sure of what will happen in the future.......but that's the risk I take. I can always get it lasered and then re-done or as we all hope in 10 or so years from now a proper cure may arrive so actual hair can be put over the top.

The main worry for now is hoping that the tattooist does a good job and the SMP settles realistically.

Concerns remain regarding the color of a permanent tattoo changing over time. Also, what if your hair goes gray and you end up with permanent dark dots?

You definitely need an artist to do this procedure.

[FlightTL]

All the best



I would certainly do it, but I'm so lazy I only get a hair cut once in 2 months......

[sausage]

Concerns remain regarding the color of a permanent tattoo changing over time. Also, what if your hair goes gray and you end up with permanent dark dots?

You definitely need an artist to do this procedure.

True. SMP has not been around for long so no1 can say for sure if it will change colour over time, although HISHAIR seem to be confident that it won't change colour.

I have had a tattoo done at a typical high street tattooist and have had the tattoo for 10 years and it is still as black as black can be and hasn't faded. The inks used on the high street do supposedly change colour over time.

The inks used by HIS are different and are designed not to change colour.

I go into this with the risk that somewhere down the line it may change colour. If that does happen. 1. I am going to have a light shade of pigment, this should be easier to remove than the dark SMP's some people go for. I think tattoo removal is not hugely successful right now as it struggles to remove everything but may improve in 10, 20, 30 years time. Removal and then reapplying a new tattoo would be an option 2. If it turns blue, then I would envisage that would be a long way away and by then a proper cure may be out and I can cover the tattoo with hair.


In terms of my existing hair turning grey:

-My Dad is 60 and he is not grey yet, so based on family history that should be ok.

-My treatment will be light so I would not have thought that my existing hair going grey would make much of a difference. Hair shaved to the bone gives off a light shadow appearance anyhow.


And all in all, I don't have any other options.

But I say to people, look at peoples hair shaved to the bone, it is practically a 2D shadow which is what SMP is. If done right this should look natural. Just go for a subtle, light blending with slightly receded hairline. Sorted.

[35YrsAfter]

If done right this should look natural. Just go for a subtle, light blending with slightly receded hairline. Sorted.

To quote you; "If done right", is the key. The SMP spreading dots simply don't look natural. One of our patients had this procedure and his original SMP hairline was one of the classics from the SMP marketing websites, too low. He later had about an inch width of the SMP removed in the front and some of his natural skin pigment went as well. A new technology allows for smaller "dots". Smaller dots is of course a good thing but it's only part of the equation. You need an artist to do the work. Someone who understands color and has the talent to accurately recreate what occurs in nature... hair emerging from the scalp.

You don't want people staring at the top of your head. Most people don't know how to recreate what occurs in nature, but most people are experts at spotting a poor simulation. I want you to avoid disappointment.

There is a great video on You Tube in Italian that illustrates the better alternative to SMP. I have attached an image. Do some research and don't settle for anything but the best.

35YrsAfter also posts as CITNews and works at Dr. Cole's office
Cole Hair Transplant
1045 Powers Place
Alpharetta, Georgia 30009
Phone 678-566-1011
Please feel free to call or email me with any questions.

[sausage]

To quote you; "If done right", is the key. The SMP spreading dots simply don't look natural. One of our patients had this procedure and his original SMP hairline was one of the classics from the SMP marketing websites, too low. He later had about an inch width of the SMP removed in the front and some of his natural skin pigment went as well. A new technology allows for smaller "dots". Smaller dots is of course a good thing but it's only part of the equation. You need an artist to do the work. Someone who understands color and has the talent to accurately recreate what occurs in nature... hair emerging from the scalp.

You don't want people staring at the top of your head. Most people don't know how to recreate what occurs in nature, but most people are experts at spotting a poor simulation. I want you to avoid disappointment.

There is a great video on You Tube in Italian that illustrates the better alternative to SMP. I have attached an image. Do some research and don't settle for anything but the best.

I will see it before I make a decision. If I don't think it looks natural then I won't get it done.

I am fairly confident I know what I want to achieve and I know what looks realistic. I am sensible enough to know where my hairline should be and what shade the colour should be.


Just look at Zidane's hair shaved very short, his hair is practically 2D. Get the shade right, get the hairline right, and it will have the same effect that hair has shaved down.

The lighter the better as the dots will blend with the skin creating a shadow instead of dark dots which tend to stand out too large and defined.