SC - thanks for the kind word. I think I've been on some form or another of finasteride for a few years now (propecia, proscar, finasteride). I guess it's still working - I'd almost be afraid to go off of it now... I didn't get on it until after my 2nd or 3rd HT - I'm sure my hairloss continued well after the first HT. I also use generic %5 minoxidil about 4-5 times a week at night. Not knoing really what to expect from a HT and having a really low self-esteem at the time, I initially just wanted to "get my hair back". The first HT more less help provide a stable base for future work - my hair on top was miniaturized and a mess before. I think the most recent HTs have been tweaking and fine-tuning more or less. I think hairloss can be a lifelong battle. something you can't win with one short procedure, especially if genetically programmed to head toward a higher NW status. Rome was not built in one day...
attached are 5 month update shots. there are a variety of pictures under different lighting and close to 360 degrees. I'll try to style my hair different for the 6 months updates... anyways below is the url for the picts (about 25 uploaded for 5 month update)...
SC - not sure... I did see that it got some kind of FDA approval for hair regrowth... I'm not sure what exactly it could do with most of my hair on top being the result of HTs... is it possible it could it bring back previously hair or do those grafts just die off? interesting question... I have used a massaging type brush (before I had any HTs) before that supposedly increased blood flow through the scalp - not sure if that really helped or not... I actually did find it again recently to try to help a couple small areas where I suspect I had some shock grow faster... verdict is still out on that one... I was surprised the thing still worked... I would think it's in a totally different category as the lasercomb though...
orrible* - I apologize it took so long to respond and get my next updates online. I appreciate your kind words and support. i believe FitLocks had said I had areas up front prior to HT#5 that were around 80 grafts cm2 so some areas may be a little higher now... not sure how many grafts I have left but I think I recall Dr. Cole saying I had enough for another procedure.
FIT Club - that's a good question - at this point it's hard to tell - I'm coming up on 7 months post-op and am hoping I still have 5 months of growth left. I wouldn't seriously evaluate my progress until at least 12 months have passed. things from ht#5 really have come in nicely so far - I actually had a really good hair day today and actually wondered if even adding more grafts to the lowered hairline would mess it up and make it less natural looking - it's totally looking natural - I'd hate to mess it up by being too much of a perfectionist. but if I had to take a stab at what future HT goals might be if I was actually at 12+ months now (which I'm not), goals possibly could look something like:
-thicken up lowered hairline and temples a tad
-thicken back-to-mid top a tad
-fill in donor with BHT
again, let me re-iterate I'm almost afraid to do anymore work although the above recipient area goals would be minor. I sometimes worry about my donor thinning out too much and what I may look like in 10+ years (I'll be 37 this year). I also sometimes think about what if the meds quit working and I lose more hair in the back/crown area how bad could I look. so it's hard to tell what a future HT could look like. honestly, I'm just not sure at this time... I'd have to think hard about it... ask me again in at least another 5+ months
wassup, you are doing great! i think it's time to sit back and enjoy your hair for a while...but just one thing, don't stop showing us updated photos...i always enjoy and feel very proud about Dr. Cole's work on you. your results have given me and many other patients a great inspiration and confident about the work of IHTI.
btw, a little bird whispered me that you have new photos to show us, well dude...this is the thread for them
ForHair - yeah I guess I forgot to mention I had uploaded some 6 month picts... I'll try to get some 7 month picts uploaded in another week or so... I'll be 7 months post-op on the 15th... anyways the longer picts are pre-haircut. the shorter ones were taken the next day after the cut... I think a #5 guard was used on the shorter hair picts but may be closer to a #4 on the sides as the stylist used no guard and a comb to touch up and blend it in.