Bosley Hair Loss Blog

Thoughts on my Second Hair Restoration Procedure

After my first hair restoration procedure, I was unsure if I would do it again.  As I have mentioned elsewhere, I think I was mentally unprepared for the surgery.  I was very casual going into it, with very little expectation and, to be frank, not much thought.  It seemed like a good opportunity, so I hopped on-board.  Afterwards, I realized that this is, in fact, a cosmetic surgical procedure.  Non-invasive, out-patient and proven to be sure, but a surgery nonetheless.  It takes some time to see results, and it takes a little more time after that for the transplanted hair to ‘settle’ into its new home.  So within that first year, I thought that it was a good experience, but most likely not one I would repeat.

Then a couple of things happened.  The first was the magic balm of time.  As a second and third year went by, the period of time I spent dealing with the effects of the procedure were put into some perspective.  It no longer seemed like quite the traumatic experience I thought it was.  Or, more properly speaking, I realized how much of that trauma was self-inflicted (read: unnecessary) due to my lack of experience with the procedure.

The other thing that happened was that my native hair continued to fall out.  After my first procedure I decided not to start taking any medication to prevent further hair loss (Rogaine, Propecia, Proscar, etc.).  This was due to my bad experience with Rogaine, and my desire to have kids in the near future (although I know that there is no real proof that Propecia/Proscar have negative effects on male fertility, I opted not to risk it).  So although I know why I made the decision to avoid these, I did see my hair continue to thin.  Basically, I got to a point where my transplanted hair was all there, but almost all of my original hair was gone.
Now, I realize that this means that without my hair restoration procedure, I’d basically be totally bald by now (thank goodness I’m not). However, when the opportunity to have a second procedure came up, I decided that I wanted to take it.  This time around, I want to add back some of the thickness I lost, and I need to get pro-active about keeping the hair I have.  I’m thinking I’ll try Rogaine foam.

Celebration!

Today is a special day. Of course, today, the Fourth of July, is the day in which we celebrate our national independence. However, July 4 is an extremely special day for another reason. Why? Because it's the one year anniversary of Battle Against Bald.

Yes friends, it has been one year since Seth first started his journey to restore his natural hair line via a Bosley hair restoration procedure. A few hundred entries and a plethora of new hair later, Battle Against Bald turns one year old. A lot has happened in just one short year. First was Seth's Bosley procedure, which ended quite successfully for Seth. Then came Torrance, who battled hair loss in every way possible and underwent a Bosley procedure as well. While Seth's results have topped off, Torrance is only in the fourth month of his procedure, which is when the most significant hair restoration results become visible. Stay tuned as the hair restoration excitement continues.

And now, for your viewing pleasure, a spectacular 4th of July fireworks show.

 

More video: Seth's hair restoration procedure

This just in! More footage from my Bosley hair restoration procedure is now available. You've already seen video from my Bosley consultation, then my  consultation with Dr. Winans, filmed during the morning of my procedure. Now here's the good stuff—video from the actual Bosley hair restoration procedure. This is the meat and potatoes, folks. However, I must warn you that, at times, what you'll witness is not for those with weak stomaches.

The first three videos, which I've embedded below, detail the set-up of my procedure where the nurses prepped me for the procedure and set my expectations for the day to come. Enjoy and stay tuned for more footage from my  hair restoration procedure.

Hair restoration video—final episodes

Here's the final two episodes from the morning of Seth's Bosley hair restoration procedure. In the first episode, Dr. Winans describes the specifics of Seth's hair restoration, most important being the pain and discomfort associated with hair restoration. Additionally, the first episode ends with Dr. Winans answering a question many potential hair restoration patients ask: will your hair will continue to fall out after hair restoration? The answer is no, the transplanted hairs will not fall out, they are permanent. However, unless you're taking Propecia, you will continue to lose non-transplanted hairs after the restoration procedure. In the second video, Dr. Winans explains exactly what Seth can expect to experience during the first few days after his hair transplantation.

Enjoy!

Saying Farewell

Well, I have officially come to the end of my Bosley adventure.  It was 9 months ago today that I went in for my Bosley procedure, and now I can see the full effect of my hair restoration.

What can I say about my experience? 

First off, I am happy with the results.  There’s no question I have more hair now than I did when I started.  I have a stronger hairline and a thicker, fuller head of hair. 

I’ve found that my hair is wavier than I remember – and this makes the overall pattern of the hair on my head act in a slightly funny way.  Sometimes it doesn’t look as full as I’d like; other times it looks really good.  If my hair were more straight, I might not have these issues.  As it turns out, I’ll probably continue to keep my hair relatively short, as I think it still looks best at a shorter length (and it’s easier to take care of).

 I’m a little concerned about the crown of my head. If I were to go back for a second procedure, I would probably pay some attention to that area – although Dr. Winans (and everyone at Bosley) recommends that clients be in their 40’s – 50’s before they try to restore hair on the crown.  I feel as though I will most likely continue balding there, and sooner or later it might look bad if I have a lot of hair on the rest of my scalp, but not on the crown.

A few people have observed that I still look as though my hair is thinning.  I would have to concede that this is true, and I would probably need a second Bosley procedure to restore my hair to a completely full look.  However, I’m happy with the improvement.  As I say, I don’t think there’s any question that I have a lot more hair than I did.  This is where individual circumstance and personal preference come into play: what is o.k. for you?  What are your personal hair restoration goals?  These are questions you need to ask yourself if you are considering hair restoration. 

At the end of the day, I recommend hair restoration surgery for those who are looking for (what I consider to be) the best available permanent solution for combating hair loss.  You must be able to afford a sizable investment, and you must be willing to spend some time being patient and caring for your head correctly.  However, if you are unhappy with your hair loss and want to change it, you have to weigh the investment of money and a little time vs. a lifetime of permanent hair.

 I’m also curious/interested in the development of hair cloning.  I’m told that this will be available anywhere from 1 to 5 years from now – and while the reality of how this works remains to be seen, I’m optimistic that it will be a radical step forward in the science of hair restoration.

So there it all is, for everyone to see - the ups and downs, the trials and tribulations, and the ultimate results of my Bosley hair restoration procedure.  I will continue to post entries about hair loss and hair restoration; I’ll also eventually get more video on the blog showing my actual procedure.  And, of course, I’m here to answer questions about the hair restoration process, and provide support and feedback for Bosley patients.  I may experiment with other treatments, such as the LaserComb; if so, I’ll be sure to post entries and photos to let you know how it goes.

Thanks for sticking with me so far, and stay tuned for more news and notes from Battle Against Bald, including an introduction to Torrance, a Battle Against Bald reader and our new hair restoration patient blogger.

 

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.

Defending My Hair Restoration Results

  262 Days After Bosley Hair Restoration Procedure 
   

Earlier this week a Battle Against  Bald reader, Mike, made a comment related to my hair restoration results comparison and thought I still looked bald. In defense of my newly restored hair I proclaimed that it was simply a bad picture and decided to post another top shot of my head without the bright Florida sun beaming on my scalp.

Thoughts?

Hair Restoration Results 260 Days After the Procedure

  260 Days After Bosley Hair Restoration Procedure 

Here's the most recent progress since I received my Bosley hair transplantation surgery almost 9 months ago.  I'm much happier with this look, as opposed to last week's picture,  primarily because I got a hair cut and the hair restoration results are more notable when my hair isn't a long and sloppy mess.

Like before, not much has changed in the past few weeks in respect to prominent hair growth. However, I do notice that my hairline does continue to evolve and take a more natural shape. Most importantly, you'll notice that there isn't any difference between the new hair at the front of my head and the rest of the hair surrounding my once bald frontal area.

Comparison of Hair Restoration Results

It has been over a month since I last compared the results from my Bosley hair restoration procedure. That being said, I figured it was time to post another entry showing how my hairline has evolved since my hair transplantation procedure. I have received a  few negative comments saying that I'm still bald, but from the pictures below it's obvious that hair restoration does work.  I know I don't have a full head of hair, or look like I did when I was 19, but there's no question that I have more hair than I did before my hair restoration surgery.

Below are pictures comparing hair growth after my hair transplantation. The first one was taken at 36 days after my hair restoration procedure, where as the second is of my hairline  252 days  after my hair transplantation.

8 Months After My Hair Restoration Procedure

  252 Days After Bosley Hair Restoration Procedure 

One of my readers, who goes by the name Editor, left a comment in the chat window asking for an update on the progress of my hair restoration.  It has been about two weeks since my last update and it has been difficult to post updates because not much has changed since day 239.

That being said, I'm still very happy with the positive results of my Bosley procedure. It has been more than 8 months since I first received  the hair transplantation and the folks at Bosley were right, the most significant results appear during months 4 and 7.

Editor also asked how life in Florida is and if I have been busy. Put simply, Florida is treating me well, and, yes, life has been busy. Between settling into a new place and a new job this has been nothing close to a vacation, though it has been a fun transition nonetheless.