Battle Against Bald | A Battle Against Hair Loss Through Hair Restoration

Seth Talks About His Post-Operation Recovery

Seth talks about the hours and days immediately following his procedure and the care taken and expectations set by the Bosley staff. This video is episode 7 in our series following Seth and Michael through the process of their Bosley Hair restoration procedure.

Kevin's Second Bosley Procedure

The second time for anything is normally easier I find, and hair restoration is no exception. The perhaps most interesting observation I could give however from my second procedure is that while the experience was somewhat easier, the difference was hardly noticeable. But for the right reasons however!

Reflecting back on my second Bosley restoration procedure that I underwent two days ago, with 1,333 hairs quietly adjusting to their new home and hopefully starting to settle in with ease, I am left with one major observation of the experience- by being mentally prepared for anything, hair restoration included, the experience can almost feel like a non-event. 

Looking back at how similar I have found both restoration procedures to be, I see now just how well the marketing material and senior counselor had prepared me for the first procedure, essentially making the actual day of the procedure and days thereafter take place with no unexpected events or surprises for me. Perhaps not everybody reads through all the marketing materials and pre-procedure guidelines as well as I did, but if I was to give advice to a potential new restoration candidate I would suggest this is well worth the effort, as I believe knowing exactly what was happening, on the day and afterward, has certainly made both procedures pretty stress-free events for me.

So with four months and twenty-seven days behind me now, and of course two restoration procedures with some three thousand hairs that now compliment my hairline – has it been worth it?  Heck yeah! Feeling good about my appearance is something that I believe has created a good foundation for my relationships, confidence and general sense of well-being. My hairline is an important part of that appearance. Waking up this morning and looking at the increased density of my hair felt good!

- Kevin

Lights, Camera, Action!

I've decided hair restoration is very much like having children. Before your first kid, everybody tells you the same thing - sleep as much as you can and enjoy every free moment, as after your first kid you will never remember your life before.

Similarly, before my hair restoration I used to fuss about trying to conceal my glaring widow's peak as best I could with daily styling, and never failed to feel a pang of frustration with the impossibility of making my hairline conform to my younger days. Now, in the early months post-Bosley procedure, despite not being anywhere near full length as yet, the restored hair easily enables me to style to a "regular" hairline, and quite simply, I can't really imagine my life before the restoration procedure. Like kids, my hair restoration has proved to be a life-transforming event!

The inconvenience over the past few weeks has been non-existent. Probably the only lingering "task" which I now unconsciously perform is a light massage of the restoration area while washing my hair in the shower every day. Besides that, there is nothing I've done except watch my new hair grow (although it still feels like my old familiar hair now returned to it's rightful place on my hairline).

As has been the case since my first visit to Bosley, the order of events and timing of them has been exactly as detailed by their team and post-procedure written material.  “Awareness” that something was brewing just below my skin surface turned into a mild case of an odd itch from time to time, and the odd pimple here and there appeared along with a tiny hair peeking out. Slowly a rough-shaven look of “new” hair (of course it’s hair from my previous pre-restoration life!) transformed into what now is an evenly spread growing hairline.

As I’ve mentioned in previous blogs, and can now comfortable re-enforce, there is simply no real reason why anybody should not consider a restoration procedure with Bosley. From a practical perspective, the only real negative in my mind is that it costs money (but hey, nothing in life is free right!), and the outcome is more than worthwhile- as I mentioned above, its life transforming!  Well-done Bosley on pioneering the science behind this procedure and making it such a positive experience for me in every respect!

- Kevin

Hair restoration, what hair restoration?

The amazing thing about time, I think, is how it passes. Those things which were such a big deal at a particular point in time in your life, consuming much of your thoughts on any given day during that time, can move on so quickly into perhaps just a thought or two a day, triggered by the oddest of events. As I have now reached day forty-three following my hair restoration procedure, I find this particular series of events in my life no different. 

Many of the milestones have largely passed with my restoration. It feels like ages ago that I was staring in the mirror many times a day marveling at my new hairline, and the feeling of self-awareness, which resulted in my reaching for my cap when leaving home or adjusting my hair to carefully cover signs of the restoration to the eye of a stranger.

As the newly transplanted hair began to fall out, despite the knowledge that it was an expected course of events, I found myself trying not to promote the process at all. I almost stopped wearing headgear for fear of agitating the process, and I avoided the gentle rub of my fingers while I shampooed my hair in the shower. But as soon as I made peace with the reality that this was an unstoppable process, my awareness of it quickly diminished.

So here I am, almost back at square one. Most of the transplanted hair is gone, only barely noticeable signs of the procedure remain, and I have no discomfort or post-procedure symptoms of any significance.

So has it been worth it so far? Well quite simply, I have no idea. If I look at the downside, well pretty much all of that is in the bag. The so-called invasive surgery is done, and to be honest I can hardly even find the scar any more, and there is certainly no discomfort. Unless I decide to become a skinhead, which after having a hair restoration procedure I must admit seems as likely in my case as my becoming an Olympic athlete, then I have nothing to worry about. Any other so-called downside was temporary and has now passed.

So where’s the upside? Well, we wait, watch and hope, I guess. The good news, though, is I’m not really worried about it, and so far everything has gone as expected, so why should I have reason to doubt the upside? So for now it’s back to life as I knew it before the procedure, except with the odd pleasant thought from time to time, usually when noticing a fellow citizen's great-looking hairline, that I too may enjoy a return to that treat when the growing wonder under my scalp begins to make its much awaited appearance!

-Kevin

The Eve of Kevin's Bosley Procedure

Life is crazy – if you had said to me 10-years ago that I would be pondering how a day in a doctor’s chair having hair restoration was going to feel, I would have laughed and said you’ve got the wrong guy.  Yet here I am, excited and pretty relaxed for what lies ahead in the coming week.  And yes, a little nervous!

I was looking at my “M” hairline in the mirror today, and have to confess I look forward to a return to what will feel like normality.  There is a wealth of information that is provided by Bosley, and pretty much any question that I have had, and I would guess most folks have, is answered in the material.  Now it becomes that waiting and wondering time, will it come out as “thick” and “natural looking” as I hope?  Here’s hoping that mine is the textbook perfect procedure!

I'll keep you posted on the details of my experience. In the meantime, you can read more about why I decided to give the Bosley procedure a shot.

-Kevin

For downtown LA'ers, Bosley consultations can happen in the privacy of your home

For the downtown-dwelling Los Angelinos, getting a Bosley hair restoration consultation no longer requires a drive out to Beverly Hills. Steve Costomiris, a senior counselor for Bosley for nearly eight years, offers his service right from the comfort of your home, office or other convenient meeting place.

A consultation would include a discussion of your thinning hair and some possible solutions, including medications, laser therapy and, of course, hair transplantation surgery. If you're living in the downtown LA area, contact Steve for a consultation today by calling (626) 644-3578, or by emailing stevec@bosley.com.

Hair Restoration Results - 9 Months after Bosley Procedure

For those of you wondering if hair restoration works please see the comparison photos below. You'll notice that I don't have the head of young man, but it's clear that I do have more hair. This is old news to dedicated Battle Against Bald readers, but I had 1900 grafts, which is pretty standard for first-time hair transplantation patients. That said, If I were to go through another hair restoration procedure I might actually look as if I were 20 again.

Below are pictures comparing hair growth after my hair transplantation. The first one was taken 36 days after my hair restoration procedure, and the second is of my hairline 270 days after my hair transplantation.

Q: How and can you pick which hair restoration surgeon performs your transplant?

I got an excellent question from a reader who asks: “how did you pick the doctor that did your procedure, or was he picked for you?... how do you find out which doctor is going to give you the best natural look possible?”

First off, there is going to be a determination made based on geography. I went to Dr. Winans largely because he’s in Seattle, which was the closest Bosley clinic to where I lived. So the first thing to do is determine where you can realistically have your hair restoration procedure done.

There will also be considerations based on time frame. Because my hair transplant was sponsored by Bosley, I had to work with the clinic’s schedule – and it all worked out in such a way that Dr. Winans was my doctor. If you have limited flexibility in terms of travel and scheduling, you might have a little less control over which hair transplant surgeon you get to work with. On the other hand, if you can be flexible with your scheduling and are willing to travel, you’ll be more than likely able to work with the doctor of your choice.

For me, I didn’t have any concerns with Dr. Winans because he has a fantastic reputation; also, all Bosley physicians are certified and approved by Bosley – so I had confidence that his standards and skills were excellent. And, of course, I’ve been very happy with the results.

My recommendation, in order to make sure you are comfortable with the doctor you will be seeing, would be as follows: first, determine the physical location(s) where you can get your hair restoration procedure. Next, find out which doctors work out of this location. Finally, you have the power to interview with each doctor, look at examples of their work, and if possible, get referrals from past patients. This may take a little time, but you will be able to rest assured that you have made the best possible choice for yourself.

Good luck with your Battle!

BattleAgainstBald, Bosley and The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch

Believe it or not, I got a last minute opportunity to be on "The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch. Donny's doing a show on (I believe) hair loss and the hair loss business. He was interested in Bosley, and interested in my blog.

So, I got the call last Friday, and got on a plane on Monday. We taped the show at CNBC studios Tuesday morning, and I flew back to the West Coast that night. It was a lot of fun - I like the show, and Mr. Deutsch was a very cordial and smart guy. I'm on a segment with the CEO and Medical Director of Bosley. He also had a few other people there, and while I didn't get to see them tape their segments, I did get to talk to them. I'll be writing some additional entries this week about them - one guy was there to talk about the laser comb (big developments on that front), and the founder of Bald Guyz grooming products was also there.

We don't know exactly when the show is going to air, but it could be tonight (Wednesday, Jan. 31st) on CNBC. Check local listings for times.

Hair Restoration - What will people think?

A common concern for prospective hair restoration patients  is  how the procedure will impact their social relationships with friends, family, and co-workers. In short,  some Battle Against Bald readers are asking:

1. Will people notice I had a hair restoration surgery?
2. Will people judge me for having a cosmetic hair transplantation?
3. Do I have to tell people I had a hair transplant?

I briefly addressed some of these concerns in my Embrace Your Hair Restoration entry, but going into more detail might be helpful. Keep in mind some of this is my personal opinion, influenced by my experience with hair restoration.

Regarding the first question, the reality is that most people will notice something.  Since I've been very open about my restoration from the beginning, people are constantly wanting to look at my head and check my progress.  Other people, who I don't see very often, are starting to comment - but they usually also know that I'd gotten the procedure.  Most people report a gradual increase in comments like "There's something different about you," "Have you lost weight?" etc.

Second, you always run the risk of people judging you for having a hair restoration, but that goes with anything.  Some people are simply judgmental by nature.  And perhaps in your own mind you've thought negatively about someone undergoing a cosmetic procedure.  As I mentioned above, my theory is just embrace it.  Don't be shy or embarrassed about it - be happy.  Let people know.  In my experience, I've received nothing but positive accolades. People are interested in the progress of my transplant and somewhat envious as well. I have yet to have a stranger accuse me of having a  hair transplant, probably because the hair re-growth occurs gradually and my new hair line looks so natural.  I have had a couple of guys give me some negative comments on the blog - but these tend to come from the "militant" branch of the 'Bald is Beautiful' crowd.  Some of these guys are anti-anti-balding - and honestly, I don't criticize them for their decision.  However, it's a very individual choice, and some of us want to do something about our hair loss.  So to summarize - there will probably be very few people who will reaclly judge you, if they do they'll forget about it (probably sooner, rather than later), and - most importantly - if you're happy with your appearance and feel better about yourself, who cares what someone else might think?

Finally, you certainly don't have to tell people you had a hair restoration if you don't want to. However, in my opinion, it doesn't hurt to tell the people close to you.  After all, the folks who know you best will more than likely notice when the transplanted follicles begin to fill your balding head.  Also, the first few days following the procedure you're required to where a special baseball cap, which protects your scalp from the elements. The hat isn't horrible,  mind you, but it's no designer hat either; however, after a few days you're allowed to where the hat of your choice.  And the first two weeks after the surgery, there are some  signs of the procedure on your scalp.  You can deal with this by arranging vacation time after your procedure, etc. - but there will probably be at least a few people who will need to be "in on the secret."

I hope this helps - and keep the hair restoration and hair loss questions coming.