What completely upsets me about doing HT research...

Hi all, I've been doing research on HT for years...but more so in the past year than ever before. I've been on this forum, and have been lurking in others, and these are the biggest problems I face with doing research:

1) You finally find a small handful of doctors who appear to be the "best in the country." They have sparkling reviews. Then, you read other reviews that appear very legitimate who basically portray these same exact doctors as the biggest scumbags/hackjobs of the universe. So, that's 50% saying they're the best in the world, and 50% saying they're nightmares.

2) You read about the reason why it is so hard to tie in a specific doctor and find a negative review about them -- these doctors aggressively pay or threaten to get negative reviews pulled off the internet. Whether that is true or not, I don't know, but it adds to the frustration of doing research and attempting to get good opinions from real customers who aren't fake accounts created from the doctor's office, or the doctor's cousin.

3) Strip vs. FUE - I feel like I've been reading and doing SO much research on this topic and have gone absolutely nowhere in deciding which is better for me. The opinions for and against these two procedures are SO strong that I can't even say one has better overall sentiment than the other.

As of now, I'm still in NJ and have really been narrowing my decision down to Dr. Feller in NY. I was hardcore against the strip procedure because I refuse to live a life where I can never have a short haircut in the back due to a big glaring scar, but I keep reading how it seems to be the best way to go....not to mention, FUE would be $20,000+ since I'd need so much work done, it just feels so hopeless. I just feel so confused and like I'm spinning my wheels doing research and getting nowhere.

Any advice on how to deal with just getting some research done, or clouding out some of the things I've been reading?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by m261978

Any advice on how to deal with just getting some research done, or clouding out some of the things I've been reading?

---

Here is my take on what little I know about your situation... You say you need a lot of work done but that does not tell me where you are on the chart below, how long you have had that pattern or how old you are. All three of those things matter.

http://www.americanhairloss.org/img/...rwoodscale.gif


You also have not mentioned if you have tried treating your hair loss or not. If you truly do need a lot of work done, it would be best to spend a couple of years trying to arrest your hair loss with medications - and possibly grow some lost hair back.

If you really do need a lot of work done, it might be best to wait for the better treatments that are probably coming within the next few years.

Two offices classified me as a 6 on that chart. Almost age 34.

Been using Rogaine for over 10 years.

Yeah, the pros and cons of FUT and FUE. I tell you what man, the scar from the strip isn't that bad. I've had 4 HTs done and the scar isn't visible now. I remember not having the best scar after my 2nd HT but my last doctor did a good job fixing it. However, I have to say my hair is coarse and dark and I'm not a NW6. I cut my hair very short in the back -I cut my own hair with a clipper- using #1 attachment (3mm or 1/8") and it's not bad at all.

My doctor insists that more grafts are wasted in an FUE than in an FUT. Way more. So, you're paying more for an FUE graft but losing like 1/3 of them. And then you get others who insist FUE is the way to do it.
So yeah, it really sucks and it's hard to make a decision.

BTW, was watching the soccer game yesterday between Manchester U. and Wigan A. and the camera zoomed in on Rooney and I saw a good close-up of him for the first time after his HT and man, that SOB's hair looks perfect. His hairline looks solid and way better than mine looks after 4 HTs even though his hair loss was way worse than mine. I'm really pissed off. Anybody knows how many grafts he had and whether he had an FUE or FUT?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by VictimOfDHT

My doctor insists that more grafts are wasted in an FUE than in an FUT. Way more. So, you're paying more for an FUE graft but losing like 1/3 of them. And then you get others who insist FUE is the way to do it.
So yeah, it really sucks and it's hard to make a decision.

---

This is what is really getting to me and I don't know which path is the right one to take.

Glad your scarring is so minimal -- I've been looking at post-op and long term pics of those scars on the internet and they look like a freakshow...I'm really hoping that isn't the average case.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by m261978

Two offices classified me as a 6 on that chart. Almost age 34.

---

To be painfully honest, I think you are better off waiting for better treatments to become available. Wearing hair is really not so bad. I did it for many years.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by m261978

Been using Rogaine for over 10 years.

---

If you are a Norwood 6, neither Rogaine or Propecia are going to make an appreciable difference. So there is not much point in continuing Rogaine or considering Propecia now.

Tracy is right.... don't do anything regarding surgery. If your a Norwood 6 your better off wearing a piece or shaving down to a number 0 or 1. Maybe even grow a goutee. Save yourself the $$$! There are so many of us who if we could would not even start the process.....You just need to be a certain patient to be a good canditate for a HT.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tracy C

If you are a Norwood 6, neither Rogaine or Propecia are going to make an appreciable difference. So there is not much point in continuing Rogaine or considering Propecia now.

---

I completely agree - I just went off Rogaine recently. It has done absolutely nothing as I have been watching it all wither away over the past few years, even with Rogaine 2x per day every single day...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by northeastguy

Tracy is right.... don't do anything regarding surgery. If your a Norwood 6 your better off wearing a piece or shaving down to a number 0 or 1. Maybe even grow a goutee. Save yourself the $$$! There are so many of us who if we could would not even start the process.....You just need to be a certain patient to be a good canditate for a HT.

---

At this point I'm willing to risk it. I only want this for my younger years anyway. It looks so shitty that I'll do anything at this point. I'm currently shaving with a #00000 razor (down to the skin) and I've had enough of this style... I'm definitely at least getting a consultation to see what this next place says, if anything.

On a side note, this particular thread is really inspiring to me. This guy started off with the same exact growth that I currently have and those results are amazing...although his doctor doesn't seem to be on the IAHRS. (sorry if we're not allowed to link out, I wasn't sure if this was ok)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by m261978

At this point I'm willing to risk it.

---

No no not now. We are too close to having better treatments available. If you were no more than a Norwood 4 I would likely have a different feeling about this - but a Norwood 6... That's a lot of real estate... I wasn't joking when I said wearing hair is not so bad. I was totally serious.

I have an idea. Why don't you watch the show this Sunday and call in and have a talk with Spencer about it. It will likely do you a lot of good.

Key to that guys success was his intent to keep a short hair style..... gives the elusion of more hair. His results are fantastic. If this is the look your hoping for, Definatley go with FUE..... do not do Strip. Dr B is located in Brussels. There are some very good FUE MD's in the states. If you do your homework, you'll know who they are. Do not carry to much weight in the opinions of people who rip MD's and never had work done by them. Photo's photo's photo's....how long has the Doc done FUE? How many has he done? what is his graft survival rate? Can you meet a patient? These are questions to ask...


Tracy...... What treatments are you refering too?

Tracy, thanks for your input, it does make a lot of sense and I'm not quick to make a decision that I'll regret...so I am definitely taking your stuff to heart. You must be talking about cloning and multiplication, right? I've been reading up on that. Seems like I keep hearing "it's coming soon" but it never seems to materialize...also, I'm afraid of what the introductory cost of that will be, I'm going to guess that it will far exceed what FUE costs (?)

northeastguy: Honestly, if my results even looked halfway as good as that guy, I'd be happy. I'd just keep it at that length. All I care about is for the top to be an even density with the sides and back. I have no delusions at all about having ridiculous density like I did when I was 19. Even when shaved with a #00000, it is painfully obvious that the top lost a lot and the sides have that light gray tint. My sides and back just have so much and it grows ridiculously fast. I have to actually shave it once a day, or every 2 days, the most.

As for the FUE dots, I always had a feeling that I would not have that problem...I heal very well and I have mediterranean skin.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tracy C

Wearing hair is really not so bad. I did it for many years.

---

Tracy, do you think that the ease and efficacy of wearing hair is comparable for men and women? I would think that it's much easier for women since men (especially mature ones) are dealing with much shorter hair (and thus more detectable hairpieces), but I admittedly have no experience in that realm.

What upsets me is people that get paid by HT surgeons come here and tell you the truth the way it suits them/their masters .

It makes decision making very difficult for genuine people like myself that come here looking for unbiased opinions :(

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by m261978

Hi all, I've been doing research on HT for years...but more so in the past year than ever before. I've been on this forum, and have been lurking in others, and these are the biggest problems I face with doing research:

---

I totally felt the same.....and guess what I gave up. I got know where.

A lot of surgeons and their representatives also can take a while to get back to you and then you have further questions and then again you have to wait for their reply. I just had endless questions cropping up that I wanted answered.

I also came across some pushy representative of an IAHRS surgeon that put me off, seemed to be after my money every week.

I am trying to cope with a shaved head and hoping for some new treatment to come out.

I would at least wait to see what Replicel's results are before committing to a HT as Replicel may have a cure soon, they are announcing results of clinical trials in the next few weeks.

Sausage, I hope your right regarding Replicel. I'm just not holding my breath. Lifes to short and I want to get on with it...

BTW, i did buy a little stock so I've got my fingers crossed a little tighter than normal :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gmonasco

Tracy, do you think that the ease and efficacy of wearing hair is comparable for men and women? I would think that it's much easier for women...

---

I wouldn't say it's easier for women so much as it is more acceptable for women. I would suspect that it would be easier for a man who is a Norwood 6 or 7 because the pattern of loss is relatively well defined and they are typically slick bald at that stage. When you have a wacky pattern of mixed density like I have, what else can you do but wear full wigs - and I did so for many years just so I could leave the house to go to work. I absolutely hated wearing full wigs. They are terrible. As I got hair back I graduated from full wigs to pull-through toppers. Toppers are kind of like toupées in that they are only partial hair pieces. Some glue on or tape on like a toupée and others clip on or use the pull-through method. Toppers are not perfect but they are a lot more stealthy and comfortable than full wigs. It is usually easier for a woman to conceal that she is wearing a topper because women usually do not loose their hair lines - though their hair lines do weeken. You cannot conceal a full wig easily - if at all.

I wore hair systems for 11 years before my first HT procedure in 1996. I hated wearing them because most men lose in their frontal zone which includes loss of hairline. That was the toughest part for me every morning and/or whenever I washed my system which was attached to my scalp. In the beginning, it took hours to master the right techniques and then I had to use lots of hair spray to hold that look in place.

Women are very talented at creating hair styles and typically wear their length longer which enables them to pull their hair in different directions. That's very helpful in covering areas of thinning or balding. Many of them learn how to create volume with an air brush. Things that many guys simply do not have skill in. Many guys comb their hair straight back which helps create illusionary volume and coverage.

Many women thin in the Ludwig pattern of hairloss which produces thinning throughout the scalp verses the recessionary patterns of loss that most men take on. Toppik works great in thinning areas as many of us know.

m261978 I completely agree with you. Its hard because there is a lot of money in the HT industry meaning that people will do anything to get you in that chair...

But with most research there is always contradictive information and the fact that we are human means we all heal different...

I wrote a post which may help you on picking a surgeon this may provide a little guidance...

My opinion is getting in contact with people on the any forum and meet them in person who has had a HT and who are in the same boat as you... Nevertheless, results will vary but atleast if you pick the same doctor you could hope it turns out well for you.

Good luck buddy...