HAIR TRANSPLANT FORUM

Hi Forum,

This question goes out to anyone and everyone who has experienced a transplant with Dr. Cole:

I am having my first transplant with Dr. Cole in only a couple weeks. I'm probably a Norwood III. He's going to lower the recessions and sprinkle some around the whole crown and top of the hair to add thickness and better match the sides. When I keep it short, it doesn't look that bad and most people in my life think I'm crazy for having anything done.

That being said...my surgery is in mid-December 07...and I have a vacation planned for the end of March 08. What type of results can I expect by then? Based on everyone's experience, am I naive to think that I'll be able to wear my hair a little longer on vacation or will my hair still be in the stubly stage??? Will any shock loss be recovered by then???

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
Spinner

Spinner wrote:
"When I keep it short, it doesn't look that bad and most people in my life think I'm crazy for having anything done."

My wife never seemed to mind my appearance even though I was a victim of 1979 4mm open donor plug grafting. The point is, my appearance bothered me, so I did something about it. I have had 4 surgeries with Dr. Cole beginning in Dec. 05 and the latest Nov. 07. My hair has greatly improved. My results video is on the forhair.com home page (tab on the right - BHT repair)

Everyone is different with regards to results timing. Dr. Cole has a great hair care product line, (Hair Cycle) I am convinced helped me get quicker growth. The Hair Cycle Biotin spray is used post-op on the recipient area. The ingredients speed healing and stimulate cell growth. Eighteen hours after your surgery, you can shampoo the recipient area by GENTLY patting the grafts in the shower and rinsing by holding your hand over the shower head to soften the water flow. I only use Hair Cycle shampoo. The ingredients of the Hair Cycle line attack hair loss from all currently known angles and stimulate the anagen (hair growth) phase of the follicle. This is the only line of hair care products that I have ever used that prevents my scalp from itching. It has also reduced the amount of hair in my brush by about 70%. I have been using these products for 2 years and they have not lost any of their effectiveness.

I use Rogaine foam and Hair Cycle Products but I am not taking Propecia or any other oral meds.

Spinner wrote:
That being said...my surgery is in mid-December 07...and I have a vacation planned for the end of March 08. What type of results can I expect by then? Based on everyone's experience, am I naive to think that I'll be able to wear my hair a little longer on vacation or will my hair still be in the stubly stage??? Will any shock loss be recovered by then???

All of my surgeries have been by CIT. I have not had any shock loss, and my scalp generally looks normal (no redness or crusts) after about 9-14 days post-op. Everyone is different. A few guys don't get growth for 7-8 months. The average is around 3 months. The previous surgery I had started growing at just under 2 months!

How many grafts are you going to have placed? Are you using all scalp hair? Are you going to have CIT or strip?

Thank you so much for your response. I definitely plan on using all of the recommended products to encourage growth. I am going to have the CIT procedure and right now I am supposed to receive 750 grafts, however if the Dr. can safely place more, he will. I would like this procedure to last me several years. I've found that in the 5 or 6 years that I've been on Propecia, I've had very little additional hair loss, so I'm optimistic that this one procedure will last.

I'll try to post some before and after pics for the forum to enjoy....

Spinner

thank you Spinner and good luck.
please keep us updated with photos...