I think it is important to keep something in mind here fellas. This version of SMP is not new. It is only new to us in North America. Milena has been performing this procedure for a few years in Italy and she has a long list of clients. If this was not what it appears to be then there would be plenty of evidence to refute what is being presented. I have yet to see a single case of this ink turning color (blue or green) and there are plenty of cases to look at. I have only seen cases of where it is working as claimed and then when it fades it does eventually disappear as I showed in my previous thread.
I'd also like to get something else cleared up. This is not a "tattoo". The ink is obviously different as is the application. The needles are different (smaller?) and the machine is different. The machine is purchased from a company that sells to all kinds of clients that perform similar makeup applications (eyebrows, lips, etc.) but Milena has had a custom circuit board designed that is proprietary for her purposes. The depth of application is more shallow (.5mm) than tattooing and it will not fade into a blotch and from what I have seen thus far it will not change color either.
Regarding Milena Lardi, I feel that she and her husband/business partner are good people. They've been in the cosmetic micro-pigmentation business since 1992. They started doing scalp micropigmentation a few years ago. Their machine and technique are being used by the dermatology department at the San Raffaele Hospital in Milan (a 1400 bed facility) where, if I understand correctly, burn victims benefit from Milena's SMP. Milena also works with the hospital by performing pro-bono areola reconstruction for breast cancer survivors and the work is outstanding.
Who can benefit from this?
1. Those patients that are so diffused even in their donor zones that surgery of any kind is a non-option. Filling in the top of the scalp as well as the donor zone, with a buzz cut, can be quite good.
2. Those that have had surgery in the past but are either tapped out or just don't want to go in for more work and need a top up of density can also benefit. For instance, my left part line is a bit wider than I'd like as an ideal and I've considered having Dr. Wong run a few grafts down this line for added density but I decided to let Milena have a go and it did help to tighten this area up a bit. It was only minor work so I did not have a miraculous before/after transformation and in fact others around me may find it challenging to see any real difference but it is something that I notice and I'm pleased with it.
3. Those that have not had surgery can benefit if they aren't ready for surgery and only have minor needs. Dr. Hasson has had a thinning crown for years. Ten years ago he started finasteride and it reversed the loss enough that he opted not to have Dr. Wong fill it. It hasn't been an issue since but he did lie down on the table (at Dr. Wong's suggestion) and allow Milena to fill it in. It worked but it is not a miracle. Instead of high density coverage he has a mild semi-permanent light Toppik effect. This can also work for those patients that have not lost enough hair to justify surgery but have lost enough hair to be noticeable. By filling in between the existing hairs the result can be quite good. I saw this on a patient in Italy back in March when I first met Milena. I know this patient personally so I know what the looked like before the treatment.
4. Patients with scarring. This does not only apply to hair transplant scars but to any scarring. The challenge here is that the physical make up of scar tissue is vastly different from skin tissue and the ink can "take" differently. Scar tissue requires a test application to see how it works. If the scar tissue is softer then the ink can spread somewhat and create a larger than intended dot. This isn't because the ink is failing but rather because the tissue is more permeable and the ink finds it's way into more nooks and crannies so to speak. Harder scar tissue works better. It takes ten days however for the test patch to be evaluated and if the result is positive then a full pass can be performed with a secondary pass as a touch up performed the next day.
If one falls under a more aggressive Norwood level and there is little to no hair in the recipient area then this is not a miracle cure. There is no third dimension to the result (actual hair standing up on the scalp) so if one gets too close and takes more than a passing glance at a patient's head then they may notice something that is "off" about the result. I can't say whether or not it would be obvious that there is ink where there should be hair but to one that knows anything about hair restoration it would be easier to pick out. To the casual observer from five to ten feet away it may be fine.
Finally, just because I had this done and even Dr. Hasson had it done does not mean that everyone else should rush to do the same and it should not be taken as an official endorsement, yet. What I do to myself has nothing to do with what anyone else should think of this. My reasoning was simple. The amount of work done is insignificant compared to what I've already undergone via surgery and if it was a failure for whatever reason (I could not think of any to be honest) then it would not be visible to anyone around me. I know this won't turn blue on my head and I know it won't be permanent so I saw no real risk.
As I learn more I'll share more.
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@ Delphi.... gotta say, I had to go back to older SMP threads because I remember some guy using your username beating down the process! It's nice to see people keep an open mind on new options. For me the main issue I had with SMP was the "forever" factor. Factor in what options one has if he doesn't like the outcome and I just wouldn't do it. Then comes a similar technique that fades over a course of a couple years with a more realistic look with the ability to enhance an outcome, I'm listening again....Leave a comment:
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@Delphi, lol hostile? Look if you can't handle mine or topcat's opinion well too bad for you. I personally have no opinion and have not researched it, but if there were risks I don't know if we would know them as this is something new, at least to the English speaking world with the tats disappearing over time an all. I hope it works, I will just have to wait and see, I even said I am confident it will work. It definitely looks good, it seems to fade over time, but is it safe? Now what is hostile about asking questions? Can you answer that? And so what if topcat was hostile, why does it concern you? Also, it never hurts to sit back and wait a little longer, if whatever you are gonna do is legit, I think this is topcat's point. All I am saying is that I will wait, but I may well do it 2-3 years from now.Leave a comment:
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You suffer from a very special brand of paranoia Topcat. What always seems to happen is that every time you perceive someone is "disagreeing" with your agenda you state that they MUST be working for the "industry". Funny thing is that I never disagreed with you on SMP. We have the exact point of view so I have no clue why you're trying to twist the issue. I've posted many times that I think you would have to be a fool to have SMP. However, I find this new process interesting and since I'm an open minded person I would like to learn more about it. You're hostility and insane paranoia always gets the best of you Topcat. You would rather get in the way of people being helped just to prove your argument, which is a very dangerous.Leave a comment:
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Delphi I honestly believe you either work in the industry or for the forum. That is probably the biggest dirty little secret of this industry. It's meant to manipulate information and sway minds and it's present on all of the forums.
If you do not have donor hair to waste on a scar then I would agree don't waste it. Better to avoid the scar in the first place and if that means you are not a candidate for a HT then just live with it.Leave a comment:
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Stevie, Dephi refers to a poster that brings a different point of view to the forum as a dick and now an asshole and then he wants others to believe that the person with the different point of view is the hostile one. Eventually people will figure it all out on their own.Leave a comment:
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There's nothing wrong in urging caution Steve R, the issue is that Topcat is hostile, just for the sake of being hostile. You don't always have to be an asshole to get your point across in this world. You're a bit on the hostile side yourself, so you might not agree with this point, but If you knew anything about my posting history you would know the I am one person who was completely against having your scalp tattooed. Now I might be changing my tune, after learning more about this newer process. Topcat doesn't bring balance, you have to be a balanced person yourself to know how to really bring balance to a situation His bias eclipses his "message" and weakens his position. He might mean well, but delivery is half the battle, and his delivery makes him come off as someone with an agenda who's only concern is making his point at the expense of others.Leave a comment:
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Well I hope your right Northeastguy, it sure looks good on a scar when done right...Leave a comment:
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As for Iron from tatoo's causing cancer, I've never read about it but would be open to examples. Excess iron is filtered out by the Kidneys and liver but this is mostly the case with ingested iron. In the case of Tatoo's and more specifically smp or Trico, I am under the impression the ink fading is more the result of the skin sheading over time (as it is continuosly doing). Doesn't appear that the trico method places the ink as deep as a traditional tatoo. I'm assuming the make-up of the ink is also differant??
Personally I think this technique will play a big role in this industry. Used and performed properly, it provides an additional factor to the final look that might give someone with diminished supply a little more density....Or the person with scars a better blended result to go along with thier FUE's.Leave a comment:
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@Delphi, I see no problem with topcat urging caution and asking questions, perhaps if some of us had HT docs like this we wouldn't be in the situation. I think I can speak for topcat to say that we both hope the SMP will not be a health problem I am almost convinced it won't, but then again I have not done the research. Spex seems like an alright dude and legitimately wants to help but that is hard to tell in this industry sometimes. Perhaps people can sound a bit pissed or derogatory on these forums but there is no need to get your panties in a tangle I am pretty sure all the posters on here just want to find help for themselves and everyone else. Also, to all you guys saying FUE doesn't help...well that is not true at all just look at this
http://www.hairlossexperiences.com/v...35&forum_id=17 or this http://www.hairlossexperiences.com/v...52&forum_id=17, and others I have seen that had better results have been taken down for some reason. Now, all those scars are fairly small I guess, but many have smaller scars, mine is smaller than all these guys scars and I think it is misleading and wrong to suggest that SMP is the only way to fix a scar. I have seen many on here use body hair or beard and you can't tell especially if the scar is small, just look at IWANTMYHEADSHAVEDBACK on the Hairloss Help forum. That is not to say that SMP does not work, it definitely does whether with Milena or others Italian clinics but is it safe? I hope so, but don't mislead dudes on here that are nervously watching the forums thinking that they only have one option....if this is safe I will combine the two, if I need to.Leave a comment:
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