mastertakana

i am considering bosley or hcm(hair club for men) surgery. My concerns are quality, durablility and cost. Has anyone had recent experience with hair follicle transplants? Any info would be appreciated. I dont want to look like a damn patch quilt. I most likely won't go through with it becuase i think it may be alittle selfish, but as the years go by it gets much more appealing. Im 29 now and would like it in the next 1-2 years.


thx

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All I know the time it is gettin dread
Need alot of trees up in my head

Blackthorn

I love Google and when I saw your post I thought for sure there has to be something out there that can help you. Going to a Bosley or any such service provider is sort of like going to the casino. 999 times out of 1000 you're going to lose money and end up unhappy with the results.

Look at it this way -- if any of these methods or techniques really worked -- every guy out there would have hair that looked like ** INSERT YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE STARS NAME HERE **.

Don't roll the dice with these any of these people. Talk to your family Dr. to see if there are treatment options that may help you. If it comes to one of these solutions -- I suggest you go for the MICHALEL JORDAN, Telly Savalis, Yule Brenner look

Read this quotes below and then for more stories like this check out the link:

Bosley Medical Violations

Quote # 2 -- the more I read the more I feel like posting here.

Quote #3 - If you still need more then check out the site at the link above.

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What are you willing to give up in order to get what you want?

majik_6

Honestly hair transplants are a big thing that you really need to research before making any decisions. It's a procedure that can restore a balding man's confidence (and hairline) but it's not perfect and it's not without risks.

If you're experiencing hair loss, check out some of the wonderful hairloss forums on the big ol' web. See if your thinning/recession matches the patterns of Male Pattern Baldness.

If you haven't already, check into some of the MUCH less invasive treatments. The only two PROVEN treatments right now are Finasteride (commercially known as Propecia) and Minoxidil (commercially known as Rogaine). These are two good products that can slow down, halt, or (occasionally) reverse hairloss.

Hair restoration surgery is not the be taken as the first step. It's a relatively safe surgery (as far as cosmetic surgeries go) but it's still surgery with real risks and rewards.

First off though, I would recommend looking past the doctors you hear advertised on TV and check out some of the more talented surgeons that you don't hear as much about. There are a select few surgeons who are very talented at restoring some semblance of coverage and density to those who have experienced hair loss. However, it's not a cure and it's not cheap. Most people who want good results end up doing multiple surgeries (either to keep up with further loss or to refine hairlines or add additional density).

**edit** I just noticed you mentioned Hair Club for Men. It's not a surgery center, it's actually a hairpiece company. And from what I've heard a lot of people don't care for their services and results.

I'm not trying to discourage you from having the surgery (it's something that I eventually plan to do if my hair continues it's current path) but I do advise taking the time to research surgeons and techniques. Learn about the new techniques (Follicular Unit Tranplants, Follicular Unit Extraction, Lateral Slit Technique) and learn to identify the inadequacies of old-school methods (Plugs grafts, Micro/Mini Grafts, Scalp Lifts, Scalp Reductions, Flap Surgery, etc).

Sorry to be so long winded, but this is a topic that I do a decent amount of reading and research on.

Some examples of top-class hair surgeons (not to say that these are the only talented ones, just some that I respect and thought of off the top of my head):

http://hassonandwong.com/

http://www.wolfhair.com/

http://www.forhair.com/bio.htm

Good luck on figuring this whole thing out. If you have any questions or just want some support/opinions/resources/etc feel free to message me.

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it's all about self-indulgence

Ustwo

My father is doing the hair club thing (the weave not the surgery) and I have to say it looks great and more than once he has been called my brother. The downside is the expense, I forget what it costs but I want to say $400 a MONTH, but that may be wrong.

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majik_6

I'm not sure of the exact numbers but it is VERY expensive!

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it's all about self-indulgence

maleficent

I don't know about Propecia, but for a few years after high school, while he was in college, my brother started getting an expanding forehead. Sine he was covered under my parents insurance, a doctor put him on Rogaine, the prescription. And it worked great...

Until he graduated from college, got a job, and Rogaine was no longer covered under his insurance plan... so he stopped using it... and within a pretty short time, all the hair that Rogaine grew, was gone.... Rogaine is pretty much a lifetime committment from what I understand.

Bald is sexy, guys, celebrate your shiney heads and be free of cleaning the hair out of the shower drain...

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Ustwo

I got an update on the price, its not $400 a month.

Its $500.

*cough*

__________________
Agents of the enemies who hold office in our own government, who attempt to eliminate our "freedoms" and our "right to know" are posting among us, I fear.....on this very forum. - host

Obama - Know a Man by the friends he keeps.

majik_6

Yeah hair loss treatments are rarely covered under insurance anymore and it's most definitely a life time commitment (if one wants to keep the hair they've gained/maintained) however, there are cheaper options available.

Minoxidil is now an over-the-counter solution, and there are generics available for half the price of actual Rogaine (which can run between 15 and 30 bucks per month).

Propecia also isn't cheap. What I do to save a little money is I actually have a prescription for Proscar. Proscar is a tablet used for Benign Prostate Hyperplacia. It's a 5mg dose of Finasteride (Propecia is a 1mg dose). The tablets can be quartered to acheive a lower dose and I end up spending about $20 a month instead of the $55 plus that Propecia would run. I did a good bit of research before trying this though, to make sure it would be safe, so as I've recommended before: whatever you're wanting to try make sure that you do your homework and understand the risks that can come with the treatments.

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it's all about self-indulgence

Ustwo

Being that my hair is making a rapid retreat, I can comment that this is only half true. While some women think bald is sexy, (and while I'm not bald the writting is on the wall) others do not. Conversely women who do think bald is sexy don't have a problem with men with hair. Overall you ARE better off with hair as both 'groups' will be attracted to you.

I've never heard a woman say 'hes not my type' because he had a full head of hair, I have heard this when the guy was bald.

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Agents of the enemies who hold office in our own government, who attempt to eliminate our "freedoms" and our "right to know" are posting among us, I fear.....on this very forum. - host

Obama - Know a Man by the friends he keeps.

Daniel_

Buy a hat?

(sorry).

Whatever you do - don't end up looking like Etlon John..... Urgh!

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bobillydylan

Well said!there are a lot of women out there that like the bald look as much as there are women who like the long haired look, go with what you have got, stop being paranoid about something that is natural. Be greatful its only your hair your loseing and not your health!

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Yes and only if my own true love was waiting,
And i could hear her heart a softly pounding,
Yes and only if she was lying by me!
Then i would lie in my bed once again.

mastertakana

Thanks for all your input everybody. I am trying to be less vain about it lately. Very good advice.

__________________
All I know the time it is gettin dread
Need alot of trees up in my head

Borla

Honestly, I wouldn't sweat it too much dude. Easy for me to say since I still have 98% of my hair, and am in my late 20's, but if mine goes I'm letting it. I've found that most women say having hair or not is not much of an issue, as long as a guy doesn't try to comb it over. If it is really coming out bad, just cut it super short.

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Coimhéad fearg fhear na foighde!!!!

Nazggul

If you are going to do the surgery, you are probably better off going to a plastic surgeon. They don't all do it, but some do. I would imagine it wouldn't be the mill type of operation that a Bosley or HCM would be.

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"If something has to give then it always will."

-- Editors

ManWithAPlan

as far as i know, hair plugs (from a plastic surgeon) are the most reliable solution, but even those get rejected by your body sometimes.

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In the end we are but wisps

majik_6

Just curious to see if you'd made any progress/decisions about this?

I've been doing a lot more research on the hairloss/replacement topic lately, and I'm currently studying the benefits of a hair piece if I indeed go slick bald quite young. There's a lot of providers out there that are making affordable, attractive pieces these days.

The way I see it, hopefully my medications will keep me where I am for a few years (which isn't a bad place to be), but if not a hair piece could hold me over until there's much more advanced means of surgical hair restoration!

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it's all about self-indulgence

mastertakana

Right now I am not considering surgery anymore, due to differences in quality and cost. For the time being, I am taking no action, except for diet and exercise, which helps a little.

__________________
All I know the time it is gettin dread
Need alot of trees up in my head

majik_6

Diet and exercise are always a good start!

One thing I'd mention: A lot of people make the mistake of not getting on any medications until it "gets more noticable". I did that, and now have bad enough loss that my chances of ever having decent coverage with my natural hair (sans surgery) are pretty much nil.

I'm not saying to jump on the pill/lotion bandwagon (it can be pretty expensive, and has some risks), but do keep an eye out for future loss...it sneaks up on you FAST!

That being said, I think it is a good idea to wait before committing to a lifetime of surgery just to "catch up" to what you would have set yourself up for with the first surgery (hair does recede from behind transplants, usually requiring more surgery to keep up the appearance).

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it's all about self-indulgence

zensheep

I'm 21 years old and I currently have thinning hair. I wouldn't call it balding, but it's definitely thinning. It bugs me but I think I've gotten over the fact that I'm going to be balding fairly soon and I'm just going with the flow. Invasive surgery or a lifetime of drug taking aren't really what I want to do with my life at the moment. I have my hair fairly long right now but over the past two years I've buzzed it and it looks fine. If it gets any worse anytime soon I'll just keep it permanently buzzed and go from there. And hey, it cuts down on the cost of haircuts

Coll Storm

Sounds like my story from last summer. I think about July or so.

I decided on a whim to cut my hair shorter than normal. I usually had my hair spiked with hair gel/glue and decided to try something different, so instead of going to the barber, I went and took the clippers and guard number four and went to work.

Much to my dismay... I noticed that there was thinning hair. I went from having thick hair a year before, to thinning hair a year later.

I went to the doctor and he told me Propecia would be my best best; but wasn't sure if I was actually going bald or not. ( No family history )

So, I took propecia; but it was to expensive for me and decided to stop. I then started to do it...

I went from the number four guard with the razor... to the number 1 guard within four weeks. The fifth week, I took the razor to my head and shaved it all off.

I've been totally bald for a little more than a year now. I actually get mixed comments. Most of my friends would love to see my spiked hair grow out; but to be honest... I'm bald and loving it.

I'm saving more money with not buying shampoo, gel, the barbers, combs, ect.. ect...

Yes, I'm bald and damn proud of it!!!!

SaltPork

Be bald and be proud!! I noticed I was in danger of the dreaded combover (it was closing fast) so I did the logical thing, I shaved my hair down to about 1/8". It's awesome! Very low maint. and I look great, so everyone tells me. They say I look better without hair. I take it as a compliment.

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It was like that when I got here....I swear.

Uncle Pony

I do the same thing. I started doing it in Panama back in 1994 (the fucking jungle is a miserable place ) and have done it every summer since. I let it grow out some every winter and keep it cut to a short high and tight.


Anyway, wouldn't you continue to go bald over the years? It isn't like hair transplants stop the balding process. If you didn't keep going all the time you'd end up looking like a complete retard.

mastertakana

[QUOTE=majik_6]Diet and exercise are always a good start!

QUOTE]

Yeah, I don't expect my hair to start growing back, but I feel better in general. I really believe that I slowed my hair loss, with diet and exercise. About 3 years ago my hairloss had reached the point where you could see all the way across the top of me head

I am 6'3" inches and I weighed 260lbs around that time. Since then I have dropped my weight to 230, by jogging, trail cycling, and anything else I could think of. I don't have much photo evidence, but I am pretty sure that the thinning started to slow towards the back of the top of my head. I don't think it had any effect on the rate of thinning at the front

But any improvement was definately needed and I feel that I got the best I could without drugs or scalpels.

Also, if anyone chooses to try this method, you can't lose. If your balding, why not get the rest of your body in better shape. Plus, pussy is so much better after some lifting or runnning, I feel like a sex starved beast.

So, if you are in my shoes, and you are 25+ lbs overweight, you'll feel better if you get more exercise, and the top of your head will seem less important.

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All I know the time it is gettin dread
Need alot of trees up in my head