Patient Confident's hair transplant review

About

My hair started thinning around 25 years old. It was in the crown area and not in the front. I could never see the thinning but when I would see it in the mirror it made my heart sink. I have strong genes and unfortunately this is one of the genetic codes I could not get around. Due to a major accident I have a massive scar on my head that is completely covered up by my hair. As my hair thinned it became more and more disfiguring. I take very good care of my body and have a lot of pride in my looks so this was horrifying day by day.

It so happens that I have the most incredible girlfriend in the world. She started looking into hair transplant surgery and I realized that it was not a scam. We started out by going to Dr. DeYarmon in San Diego and it was like going to a used car salesman. When we started discussing price he told me that it would be around $10, 000-$14,000 for 3,000-4,000 grafts (at the time I didn't know the difference). When I said that I could only come up with $6,000 at the moment he told me that he would do it but would not give a specific amount that would be transplanted, just that it would be fuller. When asked how much "fuller" he said fuller and walked out of the room leaving me with his "assistant". I felt terrible and knew that he would do a lackluster job if he was so uncompassionate. Essentially it was good cop, bad cop between him and his assistant. Him being the bad cop.

My lady did not stop though. She found Dr. Carman in La Jolla, CA and when I sat down with him he explained the whole process and what would be best over the period of my life since I am young and even though I am taking finastride I will probably lose a little more. He explained every one of my questions compassionately and made me feel completely comfortable. His staff was extremely professional and some of the nicest people you could meet.

The day came and Dr. Carman did 2,344 grafts. It was a painless procedure, but the astonishing part was not only Dr. Carman's expertise but he did not shave my head so I can return to work and his flawless stitching (I'll let the photos speak for themselves). If I did not point out the donor site that day to you, no one would have been able to see it. Also, there was practically no redness or bleeding whatsoever.

It has only been a week so I will keep you updated with photos each month, but I can not emphasize enough Dr. Carman's expertise and professionalism from cradle to grave with this process. Dr. Carman has a background in plastic surgery and it shows all the way through in his attention to detail.

I know a lot of guys out there are reading this because they have come to their cross roads in life. A feeling of helplessness and despair. Where each day goes by and you know it is going to be worse then the last because (let's be frank, baldness is not sexy…maybe a shaved head is for some but baldness with hair around the sides is not). It is not something you have to be resigned too. This is legitimate enough that it has restored my confidence enough to know that it is going to get better from here.

And to Pat that started this site, let me thank you from all of us that have read from this site. This legitimized something that a lot of us went to the computer in hopes of finding SOMETHING, ANYTHING to slow that process. We all give you our deepest thanks.

My Surgical Treatments to Date

1 hair transplantof 2,344 grafts with Dr. Carman in La Jolla, CA.

My Non Surgical Treatments

Finastride and Rogain. Eating right and taking care of myself with proper nutrition and vitamins.

Bald Class

Norwood stage 3 Vertex

In terms of the receding hairline, stage 3 vertex balding is a less drastic version of stage 3.
However, people experiencing stage 3 vertex balding will also begin losing hair on the crown of their head. This often starts as one small bald spot.

It was absolutely devastating to me. Due to a large scar atop my head that my hair completely covers it means the difference between me being very handsome (yes, I said very! lol) and absolutely disfigured.

Rogaine and finastride slowed the process for about 2 years. I have had my first HT and even the little hairs transplanted have made a huge difference (as they have not fallen out yet) but it gives me hope again.

So far I am very happy even though it is still in the early stages. I am astounded at Dr Carman's expertise with the donor site. I have many scars over my body (I'm an adventurer and it takes a toll) and without questions his stitching is the best I've ever had and I would put money that his could rank at the top with any doctor. Kudos Dr Carman!

Rogaine & Finastride helps. When it is time take a look at hair transplants sooner then later. Even if you don't use it right away at least it will be there when/if you do. I am a strong believer in the adage that an ounce of prevention is worth more then 5 pounds of the cure.

So far so good. It has given me hope again. I enjoy knowing that I may be able to go outside the house without a cap or bandana. It is hard to take your lady out to eat somewhere nice or enter a board meeting knowing that people are focusing on one flaw.

Just like anything else, ask questions from professionals and people that have went through it. Get prepared and if you have to use it then you are good to go, if not even better because it will be no sweat off your brow in lieu of hair falling from it.

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My Latest journal entries

Confident

Bald class: 3V

Procedure 1

9 months afterwards I guess these are pretty self explanatory. There is an absolute huge difference. I'm happy with the results. I will probably go for a second round, because you tend to start forgetting the miracle that is happening and hoping for every little bit of your head to be covered. I can say that I am truly ecstatic about the results.

5 1 2 MonthsYEAAHH!!!! So here I am at 5 1/2 months and I am astounded. I mean I check it out everyday (you have to check out the return on your investment :) and I try and determine if the incredible amount of growth (more and more every morning) is something that has just manifested in my mind because I want it so bad or if this is reality. I think after looking at these compared to even the four month mark that leaps and bounds are happening here. I just have to go back to Dr. Carmen's work and the scar from the donor being absolutely outstanding work. I mean this is a short SHORT haircut with a boxed off backing and you can see hardly anything! I am reminded of one thing here Dr. Carmen not only being as nice and professional but what he told me. Dr. Carmen said "You won't have as much hair as when you were 18 (by the way it is growing back, I would venture to say that will be the only part he was wrong on :) but it will be like slowly turning back the clock." That is exactly what is happening here and the way I feel is better then any lotto I could win. The term euphoric does not do it justice. Anyone that has any questions or comments, let me know. I can honestly say without this site I probably wouldn't have been able to make these choices. Dr. Carmen said (and anyone could see why) that when people get their full head of hair back that you usually you do not see them again being that they want to completely forget that it was ever balding and do not speak about it; an out of site out of mind sort of thing. I do not plan to do that and I hope those guys that do this give feedback on their doctors, experience and so on. It is not only the right thing to do but their duty. To all the guys that gave me advice from this site thank you and for those who plan to, this is a great adventure and the excitement is just waiting for you.

4 Months

Toppik Photo's Hey Everyone! So here I am on month 4 and it has been growing a lot. I'm not sure if this photo does it any justice but you can see a major difference in person. I am certainly going in the right direction though and really look forward to 9 months to a year.

6 Weeks So here is week 6, and the waiting game is always the hardest part (so I've read). There are little hairs coming back though and it is a great feeling. I do have to mention something though as a forewarning. Shockloss at around week 3 is very disheartening, but it does pass. That week and a half that it happens though is like being sucker punched...but once the hairs start coming back (however small they are) it brings back a certain confidence. I will say one thing, if I ever could be a spokesperson though I would say that Toppik is that product that I would plug. This stuff is INCREDIBLE. I will update this blog this week with a photo with it on. No one knows that I have hairloss with it on..I highly recommend it. It is slow and steady but my girlfriend (who puts the Toppik on for me everyday, so no other person's opinion is more valid) is really excited as every day she updates me with the amount of hair that is filling in. I will say for all the guys out there that if you are reading this because your heart sinks when you look at your head and people look at your hairline and then to your face, that this is a great investment. There is hope so research the doctors (I will testify to doctor Carman and his staff) and I don't give kudos to people that don't earn it. Him, his assistants and Pam (the office manager, who is just great person) were incredible. I will keep all of you guys informed! I want to thank all the guys before me that wrote blogs as I kind of though this was a scam and there was no real hope. If it wasn't for you guys I wouldn't of taken these steps.