louie

Raymond Konior, MD.

coalition member Elite Coalition Member
Hair transplant patient

louie

louie

About

Well I first noticed thinning in the front in my early 20's.  I sometimes wonder how much of that had to do with how much BS I did with my "rocker" hair style back in the late 80's lol, but oh well.  I actually had a consultation with Bosley when I was around 21 which was in 1994.  They of course were more than willing to do a transplant, but thank god I did not go through with it at that time since I thinned out a lot since then.  I have always taken care of myself, eating well and working out religiously, so it really sucked to be losing my hair.  No matter how good my diet was and how much I worked out, losing my hair was nothing I could control.  I always tried to avoid a hair transplant, hoping that one day there would be some medical miracle that would fix everything for me.  Well when I was 29 I thought I found a sort of "miracle" and got suckered into what was basically just a rug.  I regretted it almost immediately due to the unnaturalness of it.  I had it on my head for about 3 days and panicked and had it removed.  The problem was by not waiting a while to let my hair grow out so I could cut the hair I had and remove it more easily, it ended up pulling a lot of my natural hair out with it.  The weak hairs in the front never grew back, so it ended up making things worse.  This also resulted in a very uneven hairline in front.  I always thought it would grow back and got immediately on Rogaine and Propecia, but after a few years I finally admitted to myself that it's not coming back and I F'ed it up.  There were a lot of sleepless nights over that realization.  If I did not have such an odd shaped head I would just sport the shaved head look, but I just look goofy with a bald or buzz cut look.  I finally came to the conclusion that the only thing that really works and would fix or at least even out my hair line would be a hair transplant.  My first choice was back to Bosley, so I made an appointment for a consultation.  The weekend before my appointment I decided to do some searching online one Sunday morning to see what information was out there and came across this website.  I spent a whole Sunday afternoon reading all I could on the forum, especially about Dr Konior.  Monday morning the first thing I did was call Bosley and cancel my appointment and immediately made one with Dr Konior.  I could not do it for a few weeks due to his schedule, but I figured it was a lot better to wait and do more research than jump into something I would regret like I already did with the "rug".  I met Dr Konior prepared with a list of questions that I could not find answers to online.  He answered everything and examined my head and we discussed realistic expectations.  I was not looking for miracles or the hairline of an 18 year old.  I mostly wanted more density and to even out the front hairline.  Also to bring it down a bit.  We also discussed about holding off on my thinning in the crown area for now.  Dr Konior and Tom were both very helpful with questions that later came up when I emailed them.  I ended up not going through with the procedure for 2 years after I had the initial consultation mostly due to my work schedule and waiting to late to try to schedule something with Dr Konior during the xmas holidays.  Seems like a popular time.  I figured around the xmas holiday is the best time to take a long vacation (3 weeks in my case) and not have too many questions from coworkers and friends on what I'm doing or where I'm going.  The weird thing about when I was not able to do it the first 2 years was that I was sort of relieved in a way, but after a few weeks disappointed that I would have to wait another year.  I have always had major concerns about going through with this and then regretting it, especially after what I went through with the "rug".  After reading a lot more online about other peoples experiences and seeing a lot of before and after pics, it really set me more at ease with the whole thing.  The numerous emails back and forth to Tom and Dr. Konior really helped too.  Well here I am, I still can't believe I actually finally had it done, and after the last week at work before the vacation/procedure, I thought I was going to have to put it off again.  All that stress with work really cut down on the stress of the actual procedure that I had for weeks leading up to the big date.  Even the night before I slept fine and was actually looking forward to finally getting it done.  Now I wish I could just jump forward a few months.

Regarding the actual procedure, it could not have been more relaxing.  Everyone at Dr Konior's office really put me at ease with everything.  It was a long day and I slept through at least 80% of the whole procedure.  I arrived at 6:30am and I think the last time I looked at the clock when things were done was around 8:45pm.  I was slated for 2000 grafts and Dr Konior said he ended up with around 2600, which amazed me.  I was hoping for a couple hundred more but did not expect that much.  The month and a half of scalp exercises I did prior to the procedure might have helped with that.

I just typed this up sort of quick so I will probably edit it and will add more pics as time goes on.


My Surgical Treatments to Date

12/14/2009 - 1 Strip Session 2600 grafts

My Non Surgical Treatments

Rogaine for a couple years but stopped due to the hassle

Propecia since around 1999 and still on

A "rug" for about 3 days and removed

Bald Class

Bald class 4

Norwood class 4

Characterized by further frontal hair loss and enlargement of vertex, but there is still a solid band of hair across the top (mid-scalp) separating front and vertex.

Loss of self esteem.  I felt I looked a lot older than I was and felt.

Well if everything goes as planned with my hair transplant, I'm sure this will be the treatment that has worked the best.

So far, but it's only been 1 week.

Depends on your age and level of hair loss.

I will let you know in a few months.

Do a lot of research.  Do not base your decision on the cost or "deal".  This is definitely something you do not want to take a cheap route.

Back to patient reviews

My Latest journal entries

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louie
Bald class: 4
Procedure 1

7 Months I'm finally getting these pics posted. I took these pics back at the 7 month mark, in both bright light and more natural light. 

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louie
Bald class: 4
Procedure 1

8 Months I took these pics a week or so ago.  Hard to believe its been 8 months.  Not sure if I am noticing a huge difference from month to month now.  Maybe I will start to take pics every 2 months or so.  The one dry pic in natual light looks pretty good, like I have a full head of hair.  So far I am happy.  I think it definitely looks better than where I was at before.

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louie
Bald class: 4
Procedure 1

5 Months I took these pics back at the 5 month mark, but just getting them up here now.  Same type of pics as before. Nothing much new to add.  I think its a little thicker.  I am able to cut my hair shorter now and all the same lenght on top. 

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louie
Bald class: 4
Procedure 1

6 Months Just took these pics last weekend.  Again same as before.  I still need to get a styled pic and one with nothing in it.  I am using some aloe and combing it back to show more of whats happening.  I did find an old pic I remember taking a week or 2 before the procedure.  It's very revealing of where I was when I started.  It's hard to tell myself cause its a slow process, but when I look at this before pic I really see a difference. I will add some styled pics and pics without anything in my hair.  These pics make the hair look thinner due to the aloe and bright light, but I think they give a better view of where I am at.

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louie
Bald class: 4
Procedure 1

4 Months I took these pics back at the 4 month mark.  Cell phone cam again.  Nothing much to say at this point.  I can see more hair so thats good.  I just hope things keep thickening up more.  Still hard to take the donor area pics by myself.  I have not gone as short as I want yet in the back and sides due to the possible visiblity of the donor area but I think I will go down one number on the clipper next time I cut it.  I also dont quite cut all the hair on top yet the same lenght, but some of the hair I used to grow long to try and cover up some of the bald/thin areas, I cut shorter now.  When I style it like I normally do, it looks a lot better and more even than before, so I am happy so far.  If I remember, I will take some styled pics next time.

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louie
Bald class: 4
Procedure 1

3 months 13 weeks I took these pics around the 3 month mark but I am just getting them up here now.  Again with the cell phone.  The donor area is hard to get taking the pic myself. Well I'm starting to see some hair.  I first noticed hair around the 2.5 month mark.  So far I'm happy with the area the hair is growing in.  I just hope more hairs pop up and things thicken up.  Otherwise no issues.  No more spots of blood on the donor line either.  Donor line seems a little lighter.  Last time I cut my hair I used the 3/4" clipper thing, not sure what its called and I don't know the number off hand.  I am worried going too short at this point since the donor line is still red, even though it's hard to tell in the pics.  I might try the 1/2" one next time.  For now I'll just keep waiting and hoping for more hair over the next few months.  It's still early at 3 months.

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louie
Bald class: 4
Procedure 1

2 Weeks It's hard to believe it's been 2 weeks already.  I had the last of the staples removed today.  It feels so much better now.  Easier to clean and I hope more comfortable sleeping now.  I still plan to sleep one more night or 2 in the recliner though, with the neck pillow.  All the staples came out pretty painlessly.  Dr Konior said everything looks great and I did a good job at keeping things clean, and the donor cut moist with neopsorine.  It looks like the pics are still not the best.  I can not really see how good the pics look until later when I get them on my computer.  I will probably take the pics at longer intervals from now on, mostly at the month marks.  I go back to work in 1 week and plan to trim my hair a little, it's the longest its been in years, but I'm a little nervous cutting it too short and making the donor line visible.  Right now I don't think anyone would see it, but I work in an office environment with bright florescent lights so I can't go too short yet. 

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louie
Bald class: 4
Procedure 1

10 days later Nothing much has changed since the 8 day mark.  The donor sides are still a little tender when applying neosporine around the remaining staples, but not as much as before.  I can't wait to get the rest of the staples out.  I have some slight itchiness around the staples in the back.  I have been gently washing the grafts with my hand and applying aloe.  I think the rest of the crusts will be gone in the next few days.  Still sleeping in the recliner with a neck pillow.  I notice a little tightness if I bend my head far and look down.  I'm trying not to move my head at extreme angles, left, right, or down.

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louie
Bald class: 4
Procedure 1

8 Days Later Here I am at the 8 day mark.  I had half the staples removed yesterday.  Only 1 pinched, rest I hardly felt.  I did not do any soaking in warm water before I went like some guys recommend, but I had plenty of Neosporine slathered on to keep things moist.  Dr said things looked great and I did a very good job at keeping things clean.  I cleaned my head 3 times a day... just a cup of soapy water poured over the grafts, and gently with shampoo and fingers on the donor area.  I go back in 1 week to get the rest of the staples out.  I can't wait.  I think I will just keep sleeping in the recliner with the neck pillow until then.  I noticed a lot of the redness is gone but still some scabs visible.  I am still only using a cup of soapy water to pour over the grafts a few times a day to clean, but I did gently put some aloe on the grafts tonight after the final cleaning for the day due to it being so dry and the skin flaky.  The Dr said I could gently wash the grafts more with my fingers, but since I'm still a little nervous he said it won't hurt to wait a few more days.  Again, this is my first procedure and I have reasonable goals... even out the hairline and fill things in more up front.  I will more than likely have another procedure in the future to fill in the crown and maybe bring the hairline down a tad, but honestly, compared to what I started with, if everything comes in as planned I would be pretty content with just that.  I have always had a high hairline.

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louie
Bald class: 4
Procedure 1

5 Days Later I was lucky in that I had very minimal swelling in my forehead that was not noticeable.  I think that had a lot to do with sleeping in a recliner every night with a neck pillow since I had the procedure done.  I also took the Methylprednisolone starting the day after even though I was told to only take it if I had swelling.  I did not use any ice.

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louie
Bald class: 4
Procedure 1

The Morning After I was told not to touch or wash my head till I went back a few days later and they will do the first washing.

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louie
Bald class: 4
Procedure 1

3 Days Later These were take after the first cleaning done at the Dr's office.  Felt better and cut down a lot on the itchiness.