“Just had my first haircut with a new hairdresser who didn’t suspect a thing.”

Cant decide shared his Rahal hair restoration success story with the members of the Hair Restoration Network forums, a free, 3rd-party resource for hair loss sufferers. This story is his; we’ve supplied no clinical photos. All images you see here were supplied by Cant decide in his forum thread.

Cant decide’s hair restoration transformation – no surprise he gave a stellar Rahal hair transplant review

Cant decide started noticing his hair loss at around 25 years old and so did others: “I hate the comments and looks I get when it comes to my hair loss,” Cant decide said. “It made me very self-conscious, resulting in loss of self-esteem.” Cant decide tried Rogaine foam and Propecia to manage his extensive hair loss. Rogaine helped slow it, but Propecia didn’t work.

“I hate the comments and looks I get when it comes to my hair loss”

By the time he was 38, Cant decide was a Norwood 5. He’d had enough of feeling like he had to hide himself under a hat. He wanted a permanent solution. He wanted a hair transplant, and he wanted to find his hair transplant surgeon. “You need to determine who you are most comfortable with and whose vision and approach most closely matches what you are aiming to do.”

For Cant decide, that meant choosing Dr. Rahal.

The Holy Grail of Hair Transplant Stories: “When my wife saw me yesterday, she laughed and said, ‘Your hair is getting out of control.’

Cant decide and Dr. Rahal did decide—on 5200 grafts for his first procedure. Dr. Rahal covered the front of Cant decide’s scalp, giving him a hairline that framed his face. With the rest of the 5200 grafts, Dr. Rahal was able to move Cant decide’s hair all the way back to his crown.

“You WERE bald!”
-rev3

Cant decide’s first hair transplant with Dr. Rahal was a success. Members of the hair loss community congratulated him.

“Your results are amazing, I’m so happy for you! Rahal is exceptional,” one commenter said.

rev3 chimed in: “You WERE bald.”

Most importantly, Cant decide was ecstatic with the decision he’d finally made.

In the course of his forum posts, he hit a personal–and major–milestone when swapping hair transplant stories on the forums: “When my wife saw me yesterday, she laughed and said, ‘Your hair is getting out of control.’”

Did He Have a Successful Hair Transplant? “I’m pretty overjoyed with the results.”

“You’re in great hands” with Dr. Rahal

His crown was still bothering him, though. Dr. Rahal had told Cant decide he still had at least 2500 donor hairs available to work with. Cant decide took the life-changing experience of the first successful hair transplant session with Dr. Rahal and booked another hair transplant surgery to help fill out the crown. Two procedures later, Cant decide had succeeded in making two decisions that changed his life.

His results speak for themselves, but that hasn’t stopped Cant decide from speaking for them. When asked on a scale of 1 to 10 how much a hair transplant has improved his life – not his hair, not his confidence, his entire life – he gave a 9.

His final thoughts? “You’re in great hands” with Dr. Rahal.

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He wanted hair. He wanted the best. He wanted follicular unit extraction. Toronto native ‘Omar’ wanted Rahal.

Put all that together, and it’s no wonder ‘Omar’ chose Rahal.

“If I Could Have A Perfect Hairline, Why Not Have It?”

‘Omar’ before and just six months after his Rahal FUE™, showing his temples full and thick. At only six months, he still has plenty of growth left to look forward to!

Everyone’s experienced having some defect they’re not happy with. Hair loss was bothering me and I didn’t want to feel depressed each time I looked in the mirror. I didn’t want this problem taking my energy; I didn’t want to spend my time worrying about my hair. I figured there’s help out there, why not go and get it? If I could have a perfect hairline, why not have it? Sure, it’s expensive but I work hard, I can make it happen, and I can pay for it.

At 18, He Already Needed A Hair Loss Specialist

How did hair loss affect ‘Omar’? When you start losing your hair young, it affects you every way it can. Even in his teens, ‘Omar’ knew he needed the help of prescription medication or a hair transplant doc… or both.

“My sensitivity may sound ridiculous to some people, but I wanted to get my hair back.”

Hair loss was affecting my confidence and my ego. It was always on my mind. I’m so sensitive about these things that it really upset me. This sensitivity may sound ridiculous to some people but I wanted to get my hair back. Today, I’m really happy with my hairline. Every time I look in the mirror I don’t have to worry. My mind is off my hair. I can concentrate on other things like my career and living life!

I’m 28 years old, I’m single, and I’m a full-time graduate student at the University of Michigan where I’m completing my PhD. I also work for the university as a teaching assistant.

I’m very active and especially busy right now wrapping up my studies. I go to the gym for weight training four or five times a week. I do the things everyone my age does, I meet with friends, and travel one or two times a year.

I first noticed I was losing hair at about 18 or 19. It didn’t look that bad at the time, but I saw that it was getting thinner than when I was younger. That was a big, big change because I always had super-thick, curly hair and suddenly it became thinner and finer on the top of my head—not at the front, not at the hairline. Nobody made any comments but I tend to be a bit of a perfectionist. If there’s a little bit of a problem, I tend to notice before anyone else does.

I started using Rogaine and was more or less happy with it. I was busy with other aspects of my life and my hair didn’t bother me much at that point. Then, when I was 25, I became more concerned. I started noticing more hair loss at the front; at the temples. I wasn’t very pleased about that.
I started taking a pill, Propecia, My hair loss declined after a few months but it didn’t make a huge difference. I figured halting further loss was the best I could do, and that this drug was the only solution to my hair loss problem.

Why Did He Choose Rahal as His Hair Transplant Clinic? Results, Results, Results.

Toronto to Ottawa isn’t that far of a drive, and when he was choosing the hair loss specialist that would fix his receding hairline, he cared about one thing: The end results. Dr. Rahal’s results spoke for themselves.

“Medication can stop hair loss but can’t restore it. Your only chance is a hair transplant. That’s the only way.”

My turning point came when I decided I wanted to repair the damage rather than just stopping further loss. Medications can stop hair loss but can’t restore it, can’t give you perfect hair. To restore hair, your only chance is a hair transplant. That’s the only way.

I looked online for hair replacement surgeons. As I was checking out different doctors and results, I came across Dr. Rahal. I looked at the results he’d achieved with his patients and it was obvious he was good at what he did.

Why follicular unit extraction? “I Didn’t Want To Be Cut”

‘Omar’ had a little problem that needed a big fix. He was looking for artistry, not overkill. Dr. Rahal’s FUE technique made too much sense over strip surgery. This was about precision, not volume.

One thing was very important to me: I didn’t want to be cut. I didn’t want to do traditional FUT where they remove a strip of scalp from your head. I felt my problem was minor and FUT seemed too intrusive. I looked into Dr. Rahal’s follicular unit extraction method where he removes one follicle at a time and transplants them one-by-one. I felt the results of FUT and FUE were very comparable, and FUE was less invasive.

If I’d had more extreme hair loss, maybe I’d have gone with FUT. You get more grafts when you remove a strip of scalp. But for me, FUE was the best choice because I had minor hair loss and I wanted an undetectable procedure. It was important not to have a scar.

Dr. Rahal’s pricing was very good compared to what I’d read on forums. Prices and services—it was a good package overall. That’s why I booked an appointment with him. I went and met him. He’s very nice.

The Procedure: “Simpler Than I Imagined”

‘Omar’ wanted a little more as the session went on. The hallmark of a good hair loss doctor is flexibility and the inability to get flustered. His patient had chosen him for his artistry, and if ‘Omar’ wanted a little more flair, Dr. Rahal was happy to accommodate him.

“Now I have the best head of hair in my life, even better than when I was in my 20s.”

Everything in my procedure went smoothly and was better and more comfortable than I imagined it would be. I knew it was not invasive; that it would be relatively simple. His people were very nice. That shaved the areas they needed to work with. Dr. Rahal removed hair grafts one-by-one for a couple of hours. It went by fast. He was impressed by the quality of the grafts because of the elasticity of my skin. He assured me he was getting good quality grafts.

After he extracted the grafts, they made small incisions in my temple areas to place the grafts. Implanting took longer than extracting, maybe four or five hours. I was chatting with Dr. Rahal and his technicians through the procedure and I asked him to do more than my temple points. I felt doing a little more would blend the transplanted hair in better. He accommodated my wishes and did maybe 100 more grafts.

Everything went well. The first night was a bit uncomfortable but that was to be expected. It was sensitive where grafts were put in, but not where they were removed. You might think extraction is painful but it isn’t. The extraction site healed in a week or so; incision points took three or four weeks to heal fully.

I had a week of mild discomfort and took about a week off work. There was some swelling and I was pretty much out of commission during that time. After that, I was pretty much back to normal, I just had to be careful.

“Best Head of Hair In My Life”

‘Omar’s lowdown on the procedure was to the point. His hair was the best it had ever been. His procedure was a complete success. And most importantly, ‘Omar’ was happy.

Three years after my surgery, I have the best head of hair I’ve had in my life, even better than when I was in my 20′s. It looks better and even feels better now—even the texture is better. All the hairs Dr. Rahal transplanted are in there and growing. I have no complaints. If I ever need to, I’ll go back for more. but for now, thankfully, everything’s OK.

World’s Leading Hair Loss Doctor? ‘Omar’ Thinks So.

‘Omar’ explains why he chose the best: He needed somebody whose results would change his life. The competitive edge Dr. Rahal gives his practice turned a smart choice into a no-brainer.

In my personal experience, Dr. Rahal is one of three, four top surgeons in the world. He’s a real standout. His pricing was very, very competitive. That’s another edge Dr. Rahal has. He gives you a very good price, and he gives you excellent customer service. He’s just there to work with you. He even gave me a discount. His work is definitely up there. Maybe only a few doctors in the world could do what he does, and they charge twice as much! For any person who wants a hair transplant, he’d be the first choice.

“Dr. Rahal is one of three top surgeons in the world… he’s a real standout.”

It was worth the price because it has changed my life. But even if I’d paid $20,000 or $30,000 it would have been worth it. I don’t have that constant nagging annoyance of feeling bad about my hair. Today I’m more confident: More confident with my hair, no longer thinking people will think I’m losing my hair. Now I don’t even care about my hair—it’s not on my mind.

If someone’s hair loss is bothering them, costing them time, and making them feel bad about themselves, they should really consider hair transplantation. It worked for me, it could work for them. Dr. Rahal is a great doctor and as people research surgeons, they should consider him. I have nothing bad to say about him or his services. My experience has been outstanding. I’m very happy with my dealings with Dr. Rahal. He’s a really nice surgeon, he gave me a great deal, and the post-op follow-up was excellent. Three years after my procedure, it’s all going great.

jbny shares a personal Rahal hair restoration review

jbny, a Rahal patient, shared his hair restoration review with the members of the Hair Restoration Network forums, a free, 3rd party resource for hair loss sufferers. This story is his and we’ve supplied no clinical photos. All images you see here were supplied by jbny in his forum thread.

jbny shares his results after seven months — he’s only halfway to the final results!

How did he choose his hair restoration physician? “I’d been researching surgeons for a long, long time.”

“jbny” came to Dr. Rahal as a Norwood 4 and left as a new man in control of his hair loss. With a receding forelock & temples and a balding crown, jbny chose Dr. Rahal as his hair restoration physician after doing plenty of research on hair transplantation and asking as many questions about hair loss and hair restoration surgeons as possible.

He had been suffering from hair loss for many years and browsing the forums casually. “I have been reading these forums for many years. I would like to thank everyone who has contributed for helping me to make my decision about my HT surgery.”

His consultation with Dr. Rahal led jbny to decide on 3500 grafts. That would leave him with 2500 good, viable donor hairs for the future, if he chooses.

jbny’s hair transplant was completed in October 2013. In May 2014, he shared these photos with other members of the hairrestorationnetwork.com forums.

He posted to share his experience, so he could help others as much as the other members had helped him. “I hope that my website will be as helpful to others as many have been to me,” jbny said.

He shared his results at two, three, four, five, and seven months. He only missed the sixth month because he was so busy enjoying his new lifestyle that he didn’t have time to check in. And at only seven months, he still has a lot of growth to go!

From jbny’s own hair restoration journal: “Dr. Rahal is a true artist in his craft. You can tell the moment you walk in the door.”

“Dr. Rahal is a true artist in this craft and you can tell the moment you walk in the door.”

His experience reading forum posts and blogs from other hair loss sufferers made him decide on a two consultations with Dr. Rahal. Dr. Rahal’s reputation as a “true artist in his craft” cemented his decision: “As many have said before me, [Dr. Rahal] is a true artist in this craft and you can tell the moment you walk in the door,” he wrote in the hair restoration journal provided to all forum members.
As for the surgery itself, Dr. Rahal was confidence-inspiring: “I was quite comfortable and relaxed and ready to get it over with.” jbny was offered a movie or some music to pass the time. He settled on some music, kicked back, and let Dr. Rahal get to work.

After the procedure, the team gave him the full chauffeur service, whisking him away to the guesthouse to recover. (“An amazing place to stay,” jbny says.)

Two Months In and Already Ecstatic

At two months, jbny shared his first real update after surgery. The news was optimistic for two months, and foreshadowed things to come. In a testament to Dr. Rahal’s skill as a surgeon who not only creates the appearance of hair in the recipient area, but preserving the appearance of the donor area, jbny said, “I only included one photo of my donor area simply because there is nothing to see, the scar is nearly undetectable at this point which I am very happy about.”

At Four Months, His Excitement Was Growing with His Hair

“I’m being completely honest when I say that I am extremely happy with whats happening.”

At only four months, he still had plenty of hair growth left to get out of his hair transplant. Nonetheless, his excitement was palpable. “Alright, so I am finally at the 4 month mark and am being completely honest when I say that I am extremely happy with whats happening,” jbny said.

“I have seen a lot of new growth in the past month, and new hairs seem to be popping up all the time,” jbny added.

Other posters were equally enthusiastic. With traditional strip surgery, the appearance of the donor area is always a concern. But two months earlier, jbny had noted Dr. Rahal’s expert preservation of his donor area, a sentiment now echoed by forum user greatjob. “The scar looks phenomenal, completely hidden even though your hair is cut short,” greatjob said.

“Looks great!!” said Cant decide, another Rahal hair transplant patient featured on our site.
Scooter contributed his thoughts: “Wow, quite a change from 3 to 4 months! Looking forward to seeing your 6 month pics for sure.”

“It’s amazing how much I have stopped stressing over what my hair looks like.”

At five months, jbny said, “Every week I am seeing more and more improvement and continue to be extremely happy with the result so far.”

“I used to spend 20-30 minutes just trying to cover up what wasn’t there. Now, I spend about 5 minutes tops every day.”

His comfort level and quality of life was growing, too. His updates came less and less as he was out enjoying himself. “I would feel quite comfortable going out without any concealer on and I have done it… It’s amazing how much I have stopped stressing over what my hair looks like. Before, I used to spend 20-30 minutes just trying to make it look “right” by trying to cover up what wasn’t there. Now, I spend about 5 minutes tops every day.”

hsrp10 summarized it perfectly. “looking really good man and I can relate to what you said, gotta love the freedom!” he said.

“That freedom feeling is what it’s all about,” rev333 agreed.

“My how things have changed.”

He was enthusiastic about his results: “I can hardly believe that 7 months have already passed, and I am completely honest when I say that this was one of the best decisions I have ever made. My life has changed drastically, and the results have greatly surpassed my expectations.”

He’s busy enjoying life, no doubt. With this progress still developing as we post this–not yet at the full year mark–you can check back with jbny and follow more of his hair restoration progress in the future!

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His Only Choice was Hair Restoration. Montreal native Julien shares his real name, his real story, and his real photos with Rahal.

“Trying to hide my hair loss showed everybody I wasn’t comfortable with it. But by not hiding it, I’d be exposing my hairline, which made me awfully uncomfortable.”

Julien know what he wants out of life. A professional career. A long term relationship. A perfect hairline.

I graduated from university about two years ago. I’m 23, pursuing my professional career as a Certified Public Accountant. I’ll graduate in a few months. I have a girlfriend; we’re about to move in together.

I like sports but I don’t have a lot of time to play these days. I go to the gym on a regular basis to stay in shape. For excitement, I like to go to nightclubs, bars, and parties. I like coin collecting, and the stock market interests me a lot.

“I was always the guy with nice hair… until my late teens.”

Julien grew up in Montreal. He had a full head of hair until his late teens, when (like many men), his hair loss started to kick in. Going from any hairstyle he wanted to the idea that he had a “big forehead” was a major blow.

Julien before his hair restoration with Rahal, showing his thinning hair line at the front

I was always the guy with the nice hair. I’d say my hair was a very important feature of my look. Not that I’m a model or anything, but changing your hair can change your appearance more than anything else can.

I started losing my hair when I was a young kid, a teen. By 16 or 17 it was receding. I didn’t think too much of it at the time, I just thought I had a bigger forehead than most people. But I found some photos of my older relatives saw I was going to have their receding hairline unless I did something about it.

I started taking Propecia at 18. The doctor who prescribed it said I was too young for a hair transplant. That was a blessing in disguise; I did more research later on and learned that doctor didn’t have good online reviews, and was pretty much a butcher.

“The time I spent hiding my hair loss really bothered me.”

The more he noticed the hair he lost, the longer he spent trying to hide it. The longer he spent trying to hide it, the more he stressed over it. The more he stressed over it, the more he noticed the hair he’d lost. Julien wanted to break the cycle.

“I ended up spending so much time fixing my hair it would stress me out.”

My hair was receding in the front into an ‘M’ shaped hairline, a widow’s peak. I tried to compensate by pushing it forward on one side, then bringing the other side back to cover the temple. It took a lot of time to cover the empty spots—more time than I wanted to spend.

I really tried hard to cover my hair loss. I’d have some days when I felt OK about my hair, but other days nothing worked and I could see my hair loss from every angle. My friends would say, “No, It’s OK, your hair’s fine, you’re not losing your hair,” but I knew they weren’t telling the truth. I could see it in their eyes.

I ended up spending so much time fixing my hair it would stress me out. I’d spend 20 minutes to fix it and it wouldn’t look the way I wanted it to. The time I spent really bothered me. If it had looked good when I was done, it would have been OK. But I’d try to hide my receding hairline and it only made my hair loss stand out more. And that would project my low self-confidence.

“Concealers… it’s like wearing a cheap wig. I’d rather spend money on a hair transplant.”

Julien wasn’t looking for something that merely hid his hair loss. Decisiveness doesn’t mean taking half measures, it means solving the problem. And that’s what Julien wanted to do.

“Every time I’d have my hair cut I’d notice my hair loss. I hated getting my hair cut.”

Trying to hide something shows everybody you’re not comfortable with it. But by not hiding it, I’d be exposing my hairline, which made me awfully uncomfortable. You’re damned if you do, damned if you don’t.

Every time I’d have my hair cut I’d notice my hair loss the most. I hated getting my hair cut. Hair loss limited my activities and hurt my self-esteem.

Concealers and wigs were totally out the question. I never resorted to using Topik, a concealer that you shake into your hair out of something like a salt shaker. You use it to fill in your bald spots. I’d rather spend money on a hair transplant than use that. It’s like wearing a cheap wig. It’s not permanent. You put it on and go swimming—it washes off in the water. You go for a swim with a girl you’re trying to start something with and you come out of the water with half your hair gone? I’d rather deal with the fact that I’m losing my hair than use Topik.

“When I was using Rogaine and Propecia, the side effects killed my mojo”

Julien felt penned in by the use of drugs as much as he did wigs and concealers. The side effects weren’t for him, the daily regimen wasn’t for him. He wanted a permanent solution.

When I was using Rogaine and Propecia, the side effects killed my mojo, if you know what I mean. For a year and I half, I was taking photos of my head of hair every month to see what the changes were. I realized nothing was getting better, it was staying the same with medications. I wasn’t losing any more hair but it wasn’t regrowing. I was at square one, I was right where I started.

“There came a moment when I decided to do something. I came across Dr. Rahal’s page. I saw his impressive results. I saw fixing my hairline wouldn’t be a big procedure. And he had hairlines down.”

Julien knew that the real problem with his receding hairline wasn’t just the recession it was the hairline, the part of the hair that frames the face, sets off the facial features, and brings out the underlying structure. And he saw that Dr. Rahal had hairlines down pat. There was no other surgeon for him. And with Julien being just a stone’s throw away in Montreal, that cinched it.

“I never found anyone who was unhappy with Dr. Rahal.”

I decided a hair transplant was the way to go. A transplant is real hair. It’s there forever. You don’t have to worry about it coming off. It’s natural hair. People who didn’t know me before wouldn’t know I’d had it done unless I tell them. It’s permanent and natural—it’s your own hair.

There came a moment when I decided to do something. I realized if I want to do something about my hair loss, I’d have to get a transplant done. I saw a lot of pictures of people with low to medium hair loss hairlines on a lot of sites. I went on forums and chatted with the people who’ve had transplants done and they’ll walk you through the whole process and tell you what it’s like. That’s the best way to get the best insight into various doctors and what they are capable of.

You can find websites with a lot of great before and after photos. But you get real, true feedback when you go on forums and blogs and chat with the people who’ve had hair transplants. You go on forums, set up a username, and post a question like, “Has anyone heard of Dr. Rahal?”

People respond. They’ll let you know if they’re happy or unhappy. I never found anyone who was unhappy with Dr. Rahal and that was very encouraging to me. So was the fact that he’s in Canada. The medical system in Canada is very regulated so I felt he had to good.

That’s how I found Dr. Rahal and chose him over other surgeons. I did a lot more research on blogs and forums and came across Dr. Rahal’s page. I saw his page about people he’d worked on with pretty impressive results. I saw fixing my hairline wouldn’t be a very big procedure and that he had hairlines down.

So I saved up for a year and got my hair transplant in August of 2012.

At the time I had my hair transplant surgery, I’d just graduated university and was leaving my part time job, so the timing was perfect. A month and a half later, I started my new full time job so I had a good few weeks to stay at home and play video games. I knew I was going to get a hair transplant done sooner or later and this timing minimized the impact on my life.

The first two weeks, I didn’t want to go out of the house because you have to spray it every two hours, apply oil, and take care of your new hair. I did enjoy the time off, though. After two weeks, I could get back in my daily routine. I still didn’t want to go out as much but I was to go on job interviews within two or three weeks of the surgery.

“My FUT scar’s unnoticeable. Even my hairdresser has a hard time finding it.”

Julien’s conscious of his appearance, and who can blame him? Smart, educated, and good-looking, he wanted to look the part completely. As a man who knows what’s right, Julien’s choice of FUT was to get the most yield he could for his new hairline. As a surgeon who knows what’s right, Dr. Rahal made sure Julien’s operation was undetectable, even to his hairdresser.

I chose Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT), where they remove a section of scalp to harvest follicles for transplanting. Dr. Rahal suggested that method for me. He said he’d get maximum yield that way because there’s less risk of damage to follicles. I also have a very flexible scalp and a generous donor area; I never lost hair at the back of my head. And the scar is unnoticeable. Also, FUT is much more cost efficient than Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE), where they extract and transplant one follicle at a time.

I would have considered FUE if I had less donor area because it leaves no scars. But in my case, FUT was the best option. The scarring is unnoticeable. My girlfriend can’t tell. And even my hairdresser has a hard time finding the scar.

“Simple procedure, world of difference. I guarantee it’s worth it.”

In artistry, subtlety is key. What sets Rahal apart is knowing that hair transplantation isn’t just moving hairs from here to there, it’s what you do with them that counts. And with a simple procedure that brought that artistic flair to Julien’s hairline, it made all the difference to him.

Julien at nine months after his hair restoration with Rahal.

There’s no more ‘M’ shaped hairline, it’s a nice straight line now. It’s very natural, like the hairline I had at 18. There are not peaks and it looks more dense. And I can wear it short now, too, and I don’t have to hide balding spots.

Getting a hair transplant takes time, effort, and expense but I guarantee it’s worth every bit of it. My life would be more difficult if I hadn’t had it done. My friends are just starting to lose some of their hair. I feel I’ve beat hair loss in a way—like I’m ahead of the game. I’ve got a full head of hair!

I had this done quite young, at 22. It’s better to get it done early so it won’t be a big procedure or a big shock. And if I do lose more hair over time, it won’t be a big deal to get a touch-up to fill it in for more density. A touch-up would be pretty subtle and won’t be a big procedure that’ll take time out of my life.

“For anybody considering Dr. Rahal, I’d say he’s the best choice when it comes to hairlines”

Julien advises others to do their research. He’s confident they’ll come to the same conclusion. If you want a hair transplant, there’s plenty of choices. If you want that hair transplant done right, if you want the perfect hairline, there’s only one choice: Rahal.

“For anybody considering Dr. Rahal, I’d say he’s the best choice.”

My advice for others? Do your research for sure. If you need a hair transplant, I’d 100% suggest you have it done. It’s the only thing that will make a substantial difference. Rogaine isn’t going to make your hair grow back. Propecia, same thing; any regrowth will be marginal. The only thing that’ll get the job done is a hair transplant. Once you have it done, you’ll realize it’s a good decision.

For anybody considering Dr. Rahal, I’d say he’s the best choice when it comes to hairlines. My scar is barely visible. Dr. Rahal obviously cares about the whole process. He takes his time to make sure everything is going smoothly. The staff checks in on me on a regular basis to make sure everything’s great.

Julien before and after his hair restoration. The Montreal man wanted a hair line as youthful and successful as he was.

In fact, Dr. Rahal makes the whole process easy. It’s like you’re buying a whole package, not just getting the surgery part. He takes care of everything. For example, Dr. Rahal’s office has a guest house can stay in before and after surgery. They show that they care, everything from A to Z. I’m very grateful to Dr. Rahal. He did a great job. I’m very happy with my results. If I ever need it, I’ll come back for a touch-up.

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Theluckyllama (aka exante) shares his Rahal Hair Transplant Diary and Photos

Theluckyllama, a Rahal patient, shared his hair transplant photos with the members of the Hair Restoration Network forums, a free, 3rd party resource for hair loss sufferers to share their hair transplant stories. He also posted his diary to our site under the name exante. This story is his and we’ve supplied no clinical photos. All images you see here were supplied by Theluckyllama/exante in his forum thread and hair transplant diary.

Theluckyllama ten months after his FUE procedure with Dr. Rahal

Theluckyllama had been losing his hair since he was 18. With a deep receding frontal area that left him with only a forelock, Theluckyllama couldn’t style his hair the way he wanted to. With his 30th birthday coming up, he decided to do something about it.

FUE was the way to go.

In February of 2013, Theluckyllama underwent a 2600 graft FUE procedure with Dr. Rahal. On his personal blog (under the name exante), he wrote “I got home last night after 6 days in Ottawa getting a long awaited HT with Dr. Rahal & his team. To put it simply my experience was amazing. Every member of Dr. Rahal’s team is not only professional and incredible at what they all do, but they’re wonderful people who do everything they can to make your surgery as comfortable as possible.”

He’d heard about the VIP guest house from other’s hair transplant stories on the forums. It made travelling a cinch.

“If you’re going to go to Ottawa to get your HT done, there’s no better place to stay.”

Rahal’s commitment to patient services leads a lot of out-of-town patients to decide to stay at the guesthouse, and Theluckyllama was no different. Many of our travelling patients benefit from recovering privately. Without hotel guests to make them feel like their standing out, and other patients sharing the same hair transplant experience, Theluckyllama felt comfortable and welcomed.

Just like his review of everybody on the Rahal team, Theluckyllama felt that the Rahal guest house delivered: “I came down expecting to feel like I was all on my own, but having that camaraderie with another HT patient and bonding while at the house was freakin fantastic.”

“If you’re going to go to Ottawa to get your HT done, there’s no better place to stay. It provides you with a no judgement atmosphere where you can socialize with other patients of Dr. Rahal. And let me tell you, having that camaraderie is fantastic.”

“It’s about 3 minutes from Dr Rahal’s office on foot, and I can not mention enough how great it is to be able to get up early and go to the clinic for a worry free cleaning days after your surgery, without worrying about transportation or cabs. Mahesh the owner is an incredible guy that made sure I had every need looked after while I stayed there. It’s worth every penny!”

“My Work Looks Amazing. It’s Going to be a Masterpiece.”

“For those of you guys who question the validity of FUE, I am happy to be the person to evaporate that mentality. Dr. Rahal & Team are truly masters of the game.”

At five months, Theluckyllama posted a small update: “I hit 5 months exactly yesterday, so I thought I would snap a couple photos real quick. This is with some product in my hair (which I am uber stoked about). Can still not quite believe the transformation in the last 2 months. With month 6-8 coming, I expect it will be even better, and quite honestly if this was the final result, I would still be thrilled!”

“I can not say enough positive things about Dr. Rahal and his staff. My work looks amazing and as the doc said himself it’s going to be a ‘Masterpiece’.”

Other members of the forum were supportive of Theluckyllama. Shampoo was the first to respond, saying “Congrats. Dr. Rahal does outstanding work. Happy growing!”

agenteye joined in: “Congrats buddy. You were in good hands indeed. That is a CRAZY number of 4′s [four-hair follicles] that you got out of your procedure! Those with the 3′s you got will help you out TREMENDOUSLY! Before you know it you will have a full head!”

Theluckyllama, aka exante, only five months after his Rahal FUE hair transplant

Theluckyllama signed off that update with: “For those of you guys who question the validity of FUE, I am happy to be the person to evaporate that mentality. Dr. Rahal & Team are truly masters of the game.”

Nearly a year later, he was showing what a successful hair transplant really looks like

If his half-year update was impressive, Theluckyllama hadn’t shown anybody yet. At 10 months, he posted another update. “It’s been a long while since I updated. I’m now at 10 months and I really can’t say anything except my life has been transformed,” he said, completely satisfied with his incredibly successful hair transplant. He shared more photos, including the ones at the beginning of this article.

Theluckyllama showing what real results look like — five months was impressive, but it was nothing compared to this!

“Believe me when I tell you that I feel like my appearance has completely transformed. I can now wear my hair in a number of styles, and I have been trying out different haircuts. Dr. Rahal did such an amazing job that my temple area actually naturally curls the way it used to.”

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He Didn’t Lose a Lot of Hair, But He Lost a Lot of Confidence. To Get His Hair–And His Confidence–Back, He Turned to Hair Transplants. Toronto Patient ‘Aaron’ Talks About His Reasons.

Most people wait too long to have hair replacement surgery. Their small problem only gets bigger.

‘Aaron’ after his FUE hair transplant with Dr. Rahal

When I saw I was losing my hair, I started losing self-confidence. I didn’t like it, I didn’t feel good about it. My hair loss was always on my mind and it always bothered me. I had self-esteem issues going on.

“Today, after hair replacement surgery, I feel good.”

I saw a problem and made a preemptive strike. Today, after hair replacement surgery, I feel good. I keep saying I’m so glad something was available to solve my problem and the results are amazing. It makes me feel really, really good. It was done well, perfect timing, and I feel good about it. I’m glad I went to Dr. Rahal.

I’m married with two young children. I’m 33 years old and live in Toronto. I own a web development and design business. I run the business; my job is sales and business development. I’m very active doing everything from playing hockey to traveling. My wife, kids, and I often go to Florida on vacation.

How Did He Select His Hair Transplant Clinic? Results: “Dr. Rahal Did the Best Work”

For ‘Aaron’, finding the right hair transplant clinic was the tough part. Once he’d seen the results, the making the decision was easy. Dr. Rahal’s results were the best, so Dr. Rahal was going to do ‘Aaron’s hair transplant.

When I was 25, I realized I was losing hair. It bothered me. When I noticed my hair loss, I did online research about hair replacement surgery. I got in touch with Dr. Rahal because I saw he did the best work, better than other surgeons. He had more photos of his patients on his website than others did, nad his post-surgery results looked the best.

My hair loss was mostly in the front, in my hairline. It probably didn’t look bad to others but I definitely noticed it. I didn’t like losing my hair and as soon as it started to bother me, I found a way to take care of the problem.

Small Hair Loss, Big Problem

For ‘Aaron’, even a little bit of hair loss was a big problem. Which meant that even a small procedure was going to be a big improvement.

I was really just starting to lose my hair so hair replacement surgery was a small procedure, smaller than most Dr. Rahal does. Having surgery was more or less a preemptive strike–I saw a problem, acted on it, and fixed it. It bothered me for a year or two. It was very minor but it was enough to get my attention and find a solution.

My surgery was perfect timing. I think many people who’re losing hair wait too long instead of acting right away. Their problem becomes a bigger problem.

Why Go With Follicular Unit Extraction? ‘Aaron’ says “FUE is the future of hair transplanting.”

If he was going to go to the best doctor, he was going to go for the best procedure. A minimally-invasive, faster-healing, virtually undetectable method of hair restoration was the only way to go, and that meant follicular unit extraction. ‘Aaron’ knew he’d have to pay a little more, but FUE was the only way to go.

It was something I had to do. For me, it was important to find the best surgeon. If you’re going to spend that kind of money you want the best.

‘Aaron’s donor area after FUE… even with short hair it’s still totally undetectable.

I chose FUE. It was more expensive but 100% worth it. I like to keep my hair very short in the back and it’s impossible to tell I’ve had FUE. I wanted to keep my hair short and not have any scarring that you get with FUT. I think everybody should do FUE, not FUT. It’s more money, of course, but FUE is the future of hair transplanting.

It’s real magic and the results are amazing. Today, my hair is natural and couldn’t be any better than it is. It’s perfect.

If You Can’t Cure the Baldness Gene, “The Best Thing You Can Do For Yourself is Look Normal Again”

‘Aaron’ felt uncomfortable in his own skin. He envisioned a future where baldness was preventable and curable. But he lived in the present, where hair restoration was the only solution.

“I live in Toronto and I drove all the way to Ottawa and back. That says a lot about my belief in Dr. Rahal–he’s the best.”

Hair replacement surgery is the best thing you can do for yourself. It’s not like plastic surgery where you’re trying to change how you look; what you’re doing is making yourself look normal again. You’re trying to keep what you have. I’ve seen so many men who don’t have good hair in the front. I wish science could find a way to fix the baldness gene, but it would put Dr. Rahal out of business! I’m sure in the future, baldness will be preventable. You’re supposed to have what God gave you; we’re not supposed to go bald!

I never discussed my hair problem or solution with anyone outside my family. I don’t like to discuss it with others. But I’d definitely recommend Dr. Rahal; I’d certainly tell a friend to go to him. I did the research and had the procedure. I live in Toronto and I drove all the way to Ottawa and back twice–one for a consultation and once for the procedure. It’s over 200 miles each way. That says a lot about my belief in Dr. Rahal–he’s the best. I met with him and discussed everything about hair replacement. That knowledge was important to me and I’m glad I did it.

Small Procedure, Big Results

For a little bit of hair loss, he needed a small procedure. But that gave him the big result to deal with large problem. In the end, nobody could tell he had it done, and that’s what ‘Aaron’ wanted.

The procedure was excellent. It was not painful, maybe a little uncomfortable the week after. Then I was waiting for my hair to start growing. I was getting immediate results within three months. Everything was great and still is.

I’m 120% happy. I don’t know if anybody could have done anything better. This is the best possible outcome. The density of my hair is high and the area where hair was replaced was small. Dr. Rahal did such high density transplanting, nobody could ever tell I’d had it done, especially because there’s no scar in the back. My family and I know, but nobody else does. I’m glad I went to Dr. Rahal; everything’s good!

A hair transplant patient from California opens up about his Rahal experience.

My real name is Matthew Langford. My full-face photos are on Dr. Rahal’s blog. My blog name is ‘Patiently Waiting.’ I’m one guy in one town in California. And I’m happy to talk with others who’re considering going to Dr. Rahal.

I am very open about having had hair transplant surgery. It’s easier to simply tell people than to keep it a secret. It’s not a big deal. And with a first-class doctor like Dr. Rahal, I have nothing to be ashamed of.

California native Matthew Langford’s before and after photos: At our clinic before his procedure, and one year later

Hair surgery has definitely helped me stop worrying about my appearance. I’m not always looking in the mirror. It’s been a good thing and it feels good to have my hairline back.

He looked twice his age.

He felt like he was the right age. But he didn’t look how he felt. And for Matthew, that was a big problem.

“I tried Rogaine and, to be honest, I don’t think it works. I decided I’d rather have surgery — that’s the only thing that corrects hair loss.”

My hair began thinning in my mid-20’s. The top was thinning but not too badly. The main problem was my hairline and I was very nervous about it. If I’d been in my late 40’s or 50’s it wouldn’t have bothered me but I felt I was too young for the amount of hair loss I had. It hurt my confidence. Looks aren’t everything but I had the finances, I was the right age, and I didn’t want to go through my 20’s, 30’s, and 40’s losing more hair.

I tried Rogaine and, to be honest, I don’t think it works. There are more drugs to combat hair loss but I wasn’t going that route: if you’re going to lose hair, you’re going to lose it. I didn’t want to alter my hormones or put chemicals in my body. And I didn’t want long-term negative effects of hair-restoring drugs. I decided I’d rather have surgery — that’s the only thing that corrects hair loss.

Matthew stopped looking for a hair transplant doctor in California. “I didn’t want to go all the way to Canada, but…”

Matthew didn’t want to travel for his hair transplant. California is a long way from Canada. But looking for a hair transplant doctor in California proved fruitless compared to Dr. Rahal’s results.

I did a lot of research on hair replacement surgery for about two years. I Googled every which way. I looked at online photos of many doctors’ work and I just wasn’t impressed. Honestly, I didn’t want to go all the way to Canada – I’m in California, USA and he’s in Ottawa, Canada. But from the results I saw, and the patients I communicated with, I decided Dr. Rahal’s the one I wanted.

I went with FUT, Follicular Unit Transplantation. Dr. Rahal removed a strip of scalp from my donor zone at the back of my head to get hair follicles to transplant. Part of my decision to go with FUT was cost. FUT is less expensive than other procedures.

Dr. Rahal said, “No.”

Matthew is one of many patients who were swayed by Dr. Rahal’s confidence, knowledge, and expertise. He explains the value of needing to hear ‘no’ even when you want to hear a ‘yes’.

“Dr. Rahal is a first-class surgeon. He and his people make you really comfortable. They answer all your questions start to finish.”

I wanted to be more aggressive with my hairline and fill in my temples but Dr. Rahal said no. And he was right. I tell others, “Don’t doubt Dr. Rahal; just trust him and let him do his thing because he knows what he’s doing.” I’m extremely happy with the results.

Dr. Rahal’s clinic is a well-oiled machine. From the time you come in until you leave, they’re super-efficient. Dr. Rahal works very strategically to make the most of the hair you have and the way he transplants it. The way he places follicles makes your hair look thicker than it is.

I try to encourage future patients. Dr. Rahal is a first-class surgeon. He and his people make you really comfortable. They answer all your questions start to finish. My surgery took six hours but I was completely comfortable and relaxed. The surgery was the easiest part. There was a little discomfort here and there but they take care of it. The next few days are a little tougher but tolerable. In the big scheme, hair replacement isn’t a big deal if you’re healthy.

“I get a lot of compliments.”

So, how is Matthew handling the results of his hair transplant with Dr. Rahal? As well as you’d expect… amazingly!

I’m very pleased and happy with the results. I get a lot of compliments. Friends can’t believe how natural it looks. I know I’ll need more hair replacement in the future. There are other clinics but Dr. Rahal’s one of the top guys in the world. I’ll go back to him when I need to.

Matthew after his hair restoration procedure, out enjoying life.

Talking Hair Transplant with New York City native ‘Dave’

What made him decide to get a hair transplant? New York City native ‘Dave’ had a milder case of hair loss. But it was enough to make him self-conscious about his appearance. He had the desire and the means to do something about it. Today, he’s got full confidence—and a full head of hair.

Before & After Hair Transplant: New York City native ‘Dave’ shows his new Rahal Hairline™.

But when I hit 30, I decided to do something permanent about my hair loss. My hair loss was about a Norwood 3. My big thing was to fill in my temple area. It wasn’t so much that I was terribly insecure about my hair. For some guys it’s a big thing like, “I got my life back.” For me it was kind of wanting to regain my mature hairline. And I wanted to stop feeling self-conscious about putting my hair a certain way because the hair loss would show. Now I feel liberated.

After surgery, I can’t believe I have all this hair on my head, back and front. I look at my head and think, “Wow, this whole thing is amazing – my head is like a little science experiment, moving hair from one place to another and have it actually take root and grow! The gap in my temple area is gone. I’m glad to have more styling options and not have to feel self-conscious about combing my hair one way or another.

My advice for others is, if you have the desire and the means to have a hair transplant, you should. Life is short and it really is possible to get your hair back. I believe if you look good, you feel good. If getting a transplant helps you look better you will feel better. I look good and I feel good. And my hair transplant is permanent!

Like Many Men Looking for Hair Restoration, He Really Wanted to Restore His Lifestyle

‘Dave’s an active, busy guy. He has his studies, his career, his sports—his life. And that’s just what hair loss was impacting. Until we helped him take it back.

Today, I’m in my early 30s and back in school in New York City studying theater acting training. Theater is the base of the acting art; if you learn acting for theater, it gives you flexibility to go into TV or film acting. I’m exploring all the acting genres and even language styles. It’s a pretty rigorous course of study.

I like to be active and outdoors. I love outdoors sports: Surfing, running, baseball, tennis. I speak three languages and I travel a lot.

A Smart Decision

Dave’s decision was based on research, forethought… and decisiveness. Once he’d made up his mind, Rahal was the smart, easy, and only decision for his hair restoration procedure.

“I’m going into the acting profession and I thought, ‘Why not do this?’”

I didn’t really come to a turning point, it was more the idea of turning 30 and thinking my hair loss was pretty minimal, and it was a decision I’d considered for a while. I’d researched it for four or five years. I first considered it about five years ago. I got educated about the extent of my loss, how many grafts I’d need, that sort of thing. I was never certain I’d go through with it.

I say to myself sometimes, I can’t believe I actually had a hair transplant. But once I learned more about it, and talked to friends, I found they either had hair transplants themselves, or are concerned about hair loss and are on Propecia and Rogaine.

I’m going into the acting profession and I thought, “Why not do this?”

Hair loss didn’t cause me terrible anxiety or depression. It was more that I’ve researched the options and chose Dr. Rahal. He proposed a plan to restore my hairline before I lost more hair and I said, “Well, let’s go for it.”

Now that it’s grown in, it looks great. Right now it’s pretty short but as it grows in more it’ll be even better. It’s exciting to see hair grow where there wasn’t hair before, having my new hairline grow in. Every few weeks, I look in the mirror and see new hair; that’s fun!

Dr. Rahal is a safe bet, and hair transplantation works. If you want to do it, you should do it, whether you’re really desperate or just want your old hairline back. It seemed like a smart thing to do. Do did choosing Dr. Rahal who has a great track record.

‘Dave’ Did His Research

Like a lot of men considering hair restoration, he wanted to find the best. That meant putting time into research. He didn’t just want a solution, he wanted a permanent solution that looked great. That’s how he chose Rahal.

“When I met Dr. Rahal, he was very personable. You can tell he’s someone who loves what he’s doing.”

I had minimal hair loss and was on the younger side, but I was attracted to the idea of a full head of hair; full results. Some doctors’ work looks like a glorified comb-over. I’d rather have kept it as it was than have a result like that. So that was my decision to choose Dr. Rahal. I did a lot of research, read a lot of reading on forums, reading patients’ experiences.

When I met Dr. Rahal, he was very personable and humble. You can tell he’s someone who loves what he’s doing and has a lot of confidence in his work. I felt like this throughout the whole process. His office is like a well-oiled machine.

A Simple, Comfortable Procedure

‘Dave’s procedure was easy enough. Recovering was even easier thanks to Rahal’s team of representatives, who were there to help him by sharing their own experiences.

I was surprised how easy the procedure was. It was so quick, really a piece of cake. Dr. Rahal and his team were so personable. Doing my research, I came to Dr. Rahal’s website and saw his work on people’s hairlines. His work really stands out from other doctors.

For the procedure, you arrive at Dr. Rahal’s offices and meet with Dr. Rahal. You discuss your goals and questions. He draws in your new hairline and off you go. They take photos and take you into the operating room. It’s all very easy. They give you medication to chill you out. I slept through most of the procedure. There was no pain. The first night they gave me pain pills, and I didn’t even take them because I had no pain. Dr. Rahal used a machine that vibrates while you’re being injected. That tricks your mind, takes your attention off the shot.

After surgery, I went through what I call the ugly duckling phase. I had moments like everyone has. I didn’t look that good, I had a shaved head, I wondered if I’d made a mistake, thought maybe I shouldn’t have done this, hoped it really would grow. I had worries, that sort of thing. But talking to some of Dr. Rahal’s representatives who had had hair transplants themselves, I felt better right away.

Beside the Peak the Temples No Longer Lie in Ruin

‘Dave’s biggest concern was his widow’s peak that stood out prominently thanks to the hair at his temples miniaturizing and receding. Rahal’s specialization in temple points and temple angle closure meant that when the hairs started sprouting, ‘Dave’ got a hairline that worked for his facial features and bone structure.

Concerned about his widow’s peak and temple recession, ‘Dave’ sought Rahal’s experience. The work looked great from any angle.

I had kind of a widow’s peak but it was really the corners, the hair in the temple area that had receded quite a bit. I got about 2500 grafts. Dr. Rahal did my temple points as well. He paid great attention to detail and gave me back my youthful look.

I didn’t obsess on my hair loss but looking in the mirror, it seemed like my temples looked so bald and so big. It’s not a great feeling. For example, I’d come out of the ocean and my hair looked flat and thin in places. I’d get occasional reminders and think, “Oh, that really sucks.” After my transplant, it’s great that I just don’t have to think about these things anymore.

I’d consulted other well-known doctors who either didn’t have much experience working in that temple area. I understand that’s a difficult area to transplant and have it look natural. It came in great and Dr. Rahal restored a full, youthful look.

Then my hair started to grow and fill in pretty quickly, within three months or so. Meanwhile, I got very busy with school. It happened so quickly. Two weeks would go by and I’d look in the mirror. “Oh my God,” I’d say to myself. “Look at all the hair that’s grown in!”

After six and a half months, my hair’s about 45% grown in. I have a full, mature hairline now. My friends joke, “You’re only 45% grown in? We don’t even want to dream what it’ll be like at 100%!” They’re impressed with the density and thickness that wasn’t there before. They’re stunned.

For An FUE Hair Transplant, New York to Ottawa Wasn’t a Problem

‘Dave’ settled on a follicular unit extraction, or FUE, hair transplant. New York City to Ottawa wasn’t much of a distance for ‘Dave’ to get access to the top hair transplant doc, one of few to offer specialization in FUE in North America.

“FUE gave me options. It’s less invasive and easier to come to terms with.”

Hair transplanting is no longer about hair plugs. Dr. Rahal does Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE). He takes individual hairs from the back of your head and places them in balding areas in a calculated way. It looks very natural.

I was considering Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) where a strip of scalp is removed from the back of the head. I hadn’t even considered FUE. But the more I thought about the process, I wasn’t comfortable with the idea of having strips of my scalp out. I thought, “With my minimal hair loss, am I really going to cut into the back of my head to fill in these little areas?”

As I became more serious about going forward, and saw Dr. Rahal’s results with FUE, I realized the FUE style was what I wanted, even though FUE is more expensive. It wouldn’t leave a scar, and (back to acting) I wanted to be able to shave my head for an acting part without feeling self-conscious about having a scar. FUE gave me options. It’s less invasive and easier to come to terms with. I don’t think I could have done the FUT strip method.

‘Dave’s Final Thoughts

So what did ‘Dave’ take away from his procedure? His new hairline, of course, but also his goals, his new lifestyle, and his youth. Would he recommend it to anybody? In a heartbeat.

I’ve achieved my goal: To reestablish my hairline. I didn’t want to alter or change anything. I wanted to get back the original, natural hairline. Other surgeons don’t get the density right; in terms of shape and density, Dr. Rahal does a great job. Nobody can tell I’ve had a hair transplant. Nobody would ever know if I didn’t tell them.

If you’re considering having a hair transplant, it’s good to do a lot of research on doctors, transplant methods, and even the different tools they use. You want to be sure you’re making a good decision and trust your doctor. I felt like I was in really good hands with Dr. Rahal and I can tell you that what they say on the Rahal website is true.

Agenteye shares his FUT hair transplant review

Agenteye, aka Mike, is an actual Rahal patient. He provided his FUT hair transplant review with the members of the Hair Transplant Network forums, a free, 3rd party resource for hair loss sufferers. This story is his, and all images you see here were supplied by Agenteye in his forum threads.

Agenteye shared these photos in his FUT hair transplant review for the Hair Transplant Network

Mike did his research and chose Rahal

“I decided to cancel my procedure with the other clinic, and book my flight to Ottawa.”

Mike came to us as, in his words, “a solid Norwood 4.” He was 31, approaching 32, and fed up with his lack of hair… and his lack of options. The only choice he felt he could exercise were hair styles and hair coloring to hide his male pattern baldness. The options were limited by his hair, not his desire.

And what he desired was change.

Mike did his research and made a shortlist of doctors he wanted to visit. His big concern was getting it done; approaching 32, he felt he’d waited long enough. Dr. Rahal was at the top of his list, but another doctor was available sooner.

Initially, he booked with the other doctor, because when he decided he’d waited long enough, he’d really waited long enough. But when Chad, Mike’s senior counselor from Rahal, called to tell him Dr. Rahal had opened his books and had an earlier appointment, “I decided to cancel my procedure with the other clinic, and book my flight to Ottawa,” Mike said.

Mike found the Rahal community invaluable

“It was invaluable (at least for me) to have that kind of support after a surgical procedure.”

Miked started his hair restoration journey when he checked into Dr. Rahal’s guesthouse at Brookline. His take on the sense of community that imparted?

“YOU SHARE THE HOUSE WITH OTHERS WHO JUST WENT THROUGH WHAT YOU DID. It was invaluable (at least for me) to have that kind of support after a surgical procedure, and the guys that were there while I stayed there were really great!” Mike said.

For the procedure itself, Mike was scheduled for 4500 grafts. He describes the procedure:

“Dr. Rahal began to remove my donor strip. This part of the procedure went REALLY quick… Dr. Rahal definitely knows what he is doing here. He made it seem effortless, I was stitched up and ready for graft punching in no time.”

“I was told to choose a couple of movies to watch, as the long part of the procedure was up ahead of me. After the movies were selected, the Rahal Team brought me lunch (which you select prior to the commencement of your procedure). After I had eaten my sandwich, the technicians made sure I was comfortable again, started the first film, and began transplanting the hair into the freshly created sites. I happened to get through the entire movie of “Munich” and “What Happens in Vegas” just as the last hairs went into my head. PERFECT TIMING.”

All told, Mike received 4737 grafts, a little more than he expected.

Mike gave regular updates on his hair transplant progress

“I no longer feel the need to wear a hat every time I leave my house.”

The next few months, Mike kept the forums updated on his hair transplant progress under the Agenteye username. Regular updates at 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 months out from the procedure.

Over that same time, we were also kept up-to-date with his personal development and the part that his hair transplant played in that, such as his enrollment in nursing school, and the 4.0 GPA he achieved.

The user feedback was universal acclaim for Mike:

“Looks great buddy. I still give it 10/10,” Slickers said.

“Looking good! Looks totally natural,” rev333 commented.

“agent you look great!” echoed Number47.

“Congrats!! Happy for you and I look forward to your continued posts. They are very uplifting to many on here,” added Cant decide, another Rahal patient.

Mike’s final thoughts? “I no longer feel the need to wear a hat every time I leave my house. My family and friends still can’t believe it, and when we look back at old photos, it really reminds us all of where I started from.”

“It really makes me grateful that I did my research and made the decision to go through with this. It is easily one of the best things I have ever done for myself.”

If you go to the forums looking for help, you’ll find a user named Agenteye. And once you see the sense of community that Rahal cultivates, you’ll know him as your friend, Mike.

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Toronto financial professional ‘Greg’ discusses his reasons for getting an FUT procedure with Rahal.

His hair loss was affecting his job performance and he wanted to solve it… without chemicals. That meant hair transplants. 

Before & after his hair transplant—Toronto professional ‘Greg’s Rahal FUT result

I’m 38 years old and work in the financial sector in Toronto. I’m married; my wife and I have a baby girl. Dr. Rahal did my hair transplant surgery about 10 months ago.

Like everybody else, I want to look good, but I was losing my hair fast. Over a period of about 10 years, I gradually lost hair in my temple area. Then, early last year, my hair loss really accelerated and I began to thin rapidly between the temples.

“Stress can really speed up hair loss”

‘Greg’ traced his hair loss back to stress. A career. A child. A family. All of that meant that sooner or later, he’d be turning to a hair transplant clinic so that he’d look his age instead of a decade older.

“At 38, I didn’t want to look like I was 48.”

Between my job and our new child, I have a lot of stress and I think it aggravated my hair loss situation. If you’re genetically predisposed to losing your hair, and you have a lot of stress, it can really speed up the loss.

I’m not vain but, at 38, I didn’t want to look like I was 48. There was no denying it: Hair loss made me look 10 years older and it started to concern me at my job. I work with customers and want to look experienced, but I don’t want to look old. I was getting depressed and losing self-confidence.

My wife was pregnant and I didn’t want hair growth chems around a baby

What made ‘Greg’ seek out a hair transplant doctor was the fact that Propecia isn’t recommended if you’re a woman who’s pregnant, or who can become pregnant. With ‘Greg’s wife expecting, ‘Greg’ wanted to do not only what was best for himself, but for his family.

“My wife was pregnant and I didn’t want to have Propecia in our home with a baby on the way.”

I tried drugs including Rogaine and Propecia and I really started having a lot of anxiety, a lot of fears about everything in general. I went online and learned one of Propecia’s side effects can be anxiety. Maybe my anxiety was coincidental but it was enough to make me say, “forget it.”

What’s more is that my wife was pregnant and I didn’t want to have chemicals in our home with a baby on the way. Hair growth chemicals change your body’s chemistry, and I didn’t want that around my pregnant wife.

My biggest concern before surgery was I didn’t want anybody to know I’d had a hair transplant. I didn’t want people to think of me as being vain. Fortunately, I was able to take three weeks off work and stayed home after surgery while things healed.

What made him choose Rahal as his hair transplant clinic? “Dr. Rahal’s one of only 4 or 5 top hair transplant doctors in the world.”

For ‘Greg’, choosing Dr. Rahal was the only solution. Dr. Rahal’s excellent reputation and cool confidence were the major draws. As a fellow Canadian in Ontario, that put ‘Greg’ only hours away from Dr. Rahal, and the convenience was the clincher.

“Dr. Rahal’s one of four or five doctors in the world who have excellent reputations.”

It was easy for me to decide to go to Dr. Rahal. Researching online, he’s one of only four or five doctors in the world who have excellent reputations. Dr. Rahal’s done thousands of these surgeries and I haven’t read about even one person having an issue with his work.

I saw some before and after pictures of his patients on his website and I read his patients’ stories. I liked that he was close by in Canada. I met Dr. Rahal and he’s a nice guy. He was totally upfront with me about my situation: He told me I’d probably have to have surgery again in the future because of my ongoing hair loss. He’s a confident guy with a bit of a calm swagger about him, and that’s something you want in a doctor you have work on you!

Dr. Rahal removed a strip of scalp from the back of my head to harvest hair follicles, then transplanted them into the front where my hair had thinned. I had let my hair grow long before surgery, so I was able to hide the surgery site right away by combing and styling my hair over it. Today, I’m 10 months post-op and I have a full head of hair. Nobody knows I’ve had a hair transplant. They say, “Something’s different about you,” but nobody knows I had surgery.

“I’d easily spend that much just on entertainment”

To ‘Greg’, it’s money well spent. For him, the quality of life he’d get from investing in a hair transplant meant more than dropping dollars on restaurants and entertainment. So how does a financial professional summarize all that? “It’s the best investment I’ve ever made.”

“It’s the best investment I’ve ever made.”

This surgery cost me $10,000 but it’s easy to justify that expense: You can easily spend that much on entertainment and dining at restaurants. And my hair transplant will last me the rest of my life. This is the best investment I’ve ever made. I don’t worry about my hair any more, or worry what others think of it. I don’t look in the mirror and wonder, “How am I going to fix this?”

My advice for others? If you’re thinking about it, just do it. Borrow the money if you need to. Hair transplantation is the only viable solution. Chemicals just postpone the day you’ll have a hair transplant. Dr. Rahal’s great and his team is very professional. It’s a very well-run organization.

Whenever I see someone on the street who’s losing their hair, I want to go up to them and say, “Look, get a hair transplant.” I’m that much of a believer. With today’s hair transplant techniques, nobody can tell you’ve had it done. My hair looks great and nobody knows.

“Just had my first haircut with a new hairdresser who didn’t suspect a thing.”

Cant decide shared his Rahal hair restoration success story with the members of the Hair Restoration Network forums, a free, 3rd-party resource for hair loss sufferers. This story is his; we’ve supplied no clinical photos. All images you see here were supplied by Cant decide in his forum thread.

Cant decide’s hair restoration transformation – no surprise he gave a stellar Rahal hair transplant review

Cant decide started noticing his hair loss at around 25 years old and so did others: “I hate the comments and looks I get when it comes to my hair loss,” Cant decide said. “It made me very self-conscious, resulting in loss of self-esteem.” Cant decide tried Rogaine foam and Propecia to manage his extensive hair loss. Rogaine helped slow it, but Propecia didn’t work.

“I hate the comments and looks I get when it comes to my hair loss”

By the time he was 38, Cant decide was a Norwood 5. He’d had enough of feeling like he had to hide himself under a hat. He wanted a permanent solution. He wanted a hair transplant, and he wanted to find his hair transplant surgeon. “You need to determine who you are most comfortable with and whose vision and approach most closely matches what you are aiming to do.”

For Cant decide, that meant choosing Dr. Rahal.

The Holy Grail of Hair Transplant Stories: “When my wife saw me yesterday, she laughed and said, ‘Your hair is getting out of control.’

Cant decide and Dr. Rahal did decide—on 5200 grafts for his first procedure. Dr. Rahal covered the front of Cant decide’s scalp, giving him a hairline that framed his face. With the rest of the 5200 grafts, Dr. Rahal was able to move Cant decide’s hair all the way back to his crown.

“You WERE bald!”
-rev3

Cant decide’s first hair transplant with Dr. Rahal was a success. Members of the hair loss community congratulated him.

“Your results are amazing, I’m so happy for you! Rahal is exceptional,” one commenter said.

rev3 chimed in: “You WERE bald.”

Most importantly, Cant decide was ecstatic with the decision he’d finally made.

In the course of his forum posts, he hit a personal–and major–milestone when swapping hair transplant stories on the forums: “When my wife saw me yesterday, she laughed and said, ‘Your hair is getting out of control.’”

Did He Have a Successful Hair Transplant? “I’m pretty overjoyed with the results.”

“You’re in great hands” with Dr. Rahal

His crown was still bothering him, though. Dr. Rahal had told Cant decide he still had at least 2500 donor hairs available to work with. Cant decide took the life-changing experience of the first successful hair transplant session with Dr. Rahal and booked another hair transplant surgery to help fill out the crown. Two procedures later, Cant decide had succeeded in making two decisions that changed his life.

His results speak for themselves, but that hasn’t stopped Cant decide from speaking for them. When asked on a scale of 1 to 10 how much a hair transplant has improved his life – not his hair, not his confidence, his entire life – he gave a 9.

His final thoughts? “You’re in great hands” with Dr. Rahal.

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Every week, Rahal showcases a successful Rahal FUE™ patient to the most discerning eyes: Members of hair restoration forums who share decades of hair transplant experience between them. These patients have different backgrounds, ages, types of hair loss, and needs. What they have in common is the Rahal FUE™ technique they’ve used to restore their confidence and gain control of their hair loss.

2158 graft Rahal FUE™ on a Norwood 3 patient, 12 months post-op

This 45-year-old patient came to us with a prominent widow’s peak and recession pushing deep into his front area, leaving the signature island of hair forelock. He was looking for Rahal FUE™ to fill in the temples and bring the hairline down to a more youthful, natural look.

See the full before and after at the Hair Transplant Network and Bald Truth Talk!

1569 graft Rahal FUE™ on a Norwood 3 patient, 12 months post-op

This patient in his 40s came to us as with frontal hair loss that would have left him with a wreathe of hair over top of his head, leaving his forehead looking large and exposed. With 1569 grafts for a total of 3060 hairs, he was given the results you see here.

See the full before and after at the Hair Transplant Network and Bald Truth Talk!

2808 graft Rahal FUE™ on a Norwood 5 patient, 6 months post-op

This 53-year-old Norwood 5 came to us looking to achieve Rahal’s natural-looking, youthful hairline. He chose to get Rahal FUE™, with an original estimate of 2500 grafts. He ended up receiving 2808 grafts for a total of 4691 hairs: 1017 single-hair grafts, 1450 2-hair grafts, 250 3-hair grafts, and 6 4-hair grafts.

He was so satisfied that he booked a second procedure for another estimated 2000 grafts.

See the full before and after at the Hair Transplant Network and Bald Truth Talk!

3721 graft Rahal FUE™ on a Norwood 4 patient, 3 years post-op

This 30 year old patient came to us as Norwood 4 with severe balding in the crown. He had two Rahal FUE procedures with us. First he wanted his crown restored; the first procedure for 2107 grafts (115 1′s, 987 2′s, 1003 3′s, and 2 4′s) treated his crown.

Several months later, he got his 2nd Rahal FUE treatment for 1614 grafts (525 1′s, 893 2′s, 190 3′s, and 6 4′s) to restore his frontal hairline.

See the full before and after at the Hair Transplant Network and Bald Truth Talk!

2158 graft Rahal FUE™ on a Norwood 3 patient, 6 months post-op

This 33-year-old patient came to us with pronounced thinning in the front hairline, resulting in a thinning look extending back to his midscalp. This patient opted for Rahal FUE™ to add 1848 grafts for 4113 hairs total to his front hairline.

See the full before and after at the Hair Transplant Network and Bald Truth Talk!

He wanted hair. He wanted the best. He wanted follicular unit extraction. Toronto native ‘Omar’ wanted Rahal.

Put all that together, and it’s no wonder ‘Omar’ chose Rahal.

“If I Could Have A Perfect Hairline, Why Not Have It?”

‘Omar’ before and just six months after his Rahal FUE™, showing his temples full and thick. At only six months, he still has plenty of growth left to look forward to!

I’m a perfectionist. It’s just my personality. In my work and at school, I always want the best grades. I’m like that with my hair. I wanted a perfect hairline. A lot of people don’t have the courage to go through a transplant but I wanted it so badly I was willing to do it.

Everyone’s experienced having some defect they’re not happy with. Hair loss was bothering me and I didn’t want to feel depressed each time I looked in the mirror. I didn’t want this problem taking my energy; I didn’t want to spend my time worrying about my hair. I figured there’s help out there, why not go and get it? If I could have a perfect hairline, why not have it? Sure, it’s expensive but I work hard, I can make it happen, and I can pay for it.

At 18, He Already Needed A Hair Loss Specialist

How did hair loss affect ‘Omar’? When you start losing your hair young, it affects you every way it can. Even in his teens, ‘Omar’ knew he needed the help of prescription medication or a hair transplant doc… or both.

“My sensitivity may sound ridiculous to some people, but I wanted to get my hair back.”

Hair loss was affecting my confidence and my ego. It was always on my mind. I’m so sensitive about these things that it really upset me. This sensitivity may sound ridiculous to some people but I wanted to get my hair back. Today, I’m really happy with my hairline. Every time I look in the mirror I don’t have to worry. My mind is off my hair. I can concentrate on other things like my career and living life!

I’m 28 years old, I’m single, and I’m a full-time graduate student at the University of Michigan where I’m completing my PhD. I also work for the university as a teaching assistant.

I’m very active and especially busy right now wrapping up my studies. I go to the gym for weight training four or five times a week. I do the things everyone my age does, I meet with friends, and travel one or two times a year.

I first noticed I was losing hair at about 18 or 19. It didn’t look that bad at the time, but I saw that it was getting thinner than when I was younger. That was a big, big change because I always had super-thick, curly hair and suddenly it became thinner and finer on the top of my head—not at the front, not at the hairline. Nobody made any comments but I tend to be a bit of a perfectionist. If there’s a little bit of a problem, I tend to notice before anyone else does.

I started using Rogaine and was more or less happy with it. I was busy with other aspects of my life and my hair didn’t bother me much at that point. Then, when I was 25, I became more concerned. I started noticing more hair loss at the front; at the temples. I wasn’t very pleased about that.
I started taking a pill, Propecia, My hair loss declined after a few months but it didn’t make a huge difference. I figured halting further loss was the best I could do, and that this drug was the only solution to my hair loss problem.

Why Did He Choose Rahal as His Hair Transplant Clinic? Results, Results, Results.

Toronto to Ottawa isn’t that far of a drive, and when he was choosing the hair loss specialist that would fix his receding hairline, he cared about one thing: The end results. Dr. Rahal’s results spoke for themselves.

“Medication can stop hair loss but can’t restore it. Your only chance is a hair transplant. That’s the only way.”

My turning point came when I decided I wanted to repair the damage rather than just stopping further loss. Medications can stop hair loss but can’t restore it, can’t give you perfect hair. To restore hair, your only chance is a hair transplant. That’s the only way.

I looked online for hair replacement surgeons. As I was checking out different doctors and results, I came across Dr. Rahal. I looked at the results he’d achieved with his patients and it was obvious he was good at what he did.

Why follicular unit extraction? “I Didn’t Want To Be Cut”

‘Omar’ had a little problem that needed a big fix. He was looking for artistry, not overkill. Dr. Rahal’s FUE technique made too much sense over strip surgery. This was about precision, not volume.

One thing was very important to me: I didn’t want to be cut. I didn’t want to do traditional FUT where they remove a strip of scalp from your head. I felt my problem was minor and FUT seemed too intrusive. I looked into Dr. Rahal’s follicular unit extraction method where he removes one follicle at a time and transplants them one-by-one. I felt the results of FUT and FUE were very comparable, and FUE was less invasive.

If I’d had more extreme hair loss, maybe I’d have gone with FUT. You get more grafts when you remove a strip of scalp. But for me, FUE was the best choice because I had minor hair loss and I wanted an undetectable procedure. It was important not to have a scar.

Dr. Rahal’s pricing was very good compared to what I’d read on forums. Prices and services—it was a good package overall. That’s why I booked an appointment with him. I went and met him. He’s very nice.

The Procedure: “Simpler Than I Imagined”

‘Omar’ wanted a little more as the session went on. The hallmark of a good hair loss doctor is flexibility and the inability to get flustered. His patient had chosen him for his artistry, and if ‘Omar’ wanted a little more flair, Dr. Rahal was happy to accommodate him.

“Now I have the best head of hair in my life, even better than when I was in my 20s.”

Everything in my procedure went smoothly and was better and more comfortable than I imagined it would be. I knew it was not invasive; that it would be relatively simple. His people were very nice. That shaved the areas they needed to work with. Dr. Rahal removed hair grafts one-by-one for a couple of hours. It went by fast. He was impressed by the quality of the grafts because of the elasticity of my skin. He assured me he was getting good quality grafts.

After he extracted the grafts, they made small incisions in my temple areas to place the grafts. Implanting took longer than extracting, maybe four or five hours. I was chatting with Dr. Rahal and his technicians through the procedure and I asked him to do more than my temple points. I felt doing a little more would blend the transplanted hair in better. He accommodated my wishes and did maybe 100 more grafts.

Everything went well. The first night was a bit uncomfortable but that was to be expected. It was sensitive where grafts were put in, but not where they were removed. You might think extraction is painful but it isn’t. The extraction site healed in a week or so; incision points took three or four weeks to heal fully.

I had a week of mild discomfort and took about a week off work. There was some swelling and I was pretty much out of commission during that time. After that, I was pretty much back to normal, I just had to be careful.

“Best Head of Hair In My Life”

‘Omar’s lowdown on the procedure was to the point. His hair was the best it had ever been. His procedure was a complete success. And most importantly, ‘Omar’ was happy.

Three years after my surgery, I have the best head of hair I’ve had in my life, even better than when I was in my 20’s. It looks better and even feels better now—even the texture is better. All the hairs Dr. Rahal transplanted are in there and growing. I have no complaints. If I ever need to, I’ll go back for more. but for now, thankfully, everything’s OK.

World’s Leading Hair Loss Doctor? ‘Omar’ Thinks So.

‘Omar’ explains why he chose the best: He needed somebody whose results would change his life. The competitive edge Dr. Rahal gives his practice turned a smart choice into a no-brainer.

In my personal experience, Dr. Rahal is one of three, four top surgeons in the world. He’s a real standout. His pricing was very, very competitive. That’s another edge Dr. Rahal has. He gives you a very good price, and he gives you excellent customer service. He’s just there to work with you. He even gave me a discount. His work is definitely up there. Maybe only a few doctors in the world could do what he does, and they charge twice as much! For any person who wants a hair transplant, he’d be the first choice.

“Dr. Rahal is one of three top surgeons in the world… he’s a real standout.”

It was worth the price because it has changed my life. But even if I’d paid $20,000 or $30,000 it would have been worth it. I don’t have that constant nagging annoyance of feeling bad about my hair. Today I’m more confident: More confident with my hair, no longer thinking people will think I’m losing my hair. Now I don’t even care about my hair—it’s not on my mind.

If someone’s hair loss is bothering them, costing them time, and making them feel bad about themselves, they should really consider hair transplantation. It worked for me, it could work for them. Dr. Rahal is a great doctor and as people research surgeons, they should consider him. I have nothing bad to say about him or his services. My experience has been outstanding. I’m very happy with my dealings with Dr. Rahal. He’s a really nice surgeon, he gave me a great deal, and the post-op follow-up was excellent. Three years after my procedure, it’s all going great.

jbny shares a personal Rahal hair restoration review

jbny, a Rahal patient, shared his hair restoration review with the members of the Hair Restoration Network forums, a free, 3rd party resource for hair loss sufferers. This story is his and we’ve supplied no clinical photos. All images you see here were supplied by jbny in his forum threads.

jbny shares his results after seven months — he’s only halfway to the final results!

How did he choose his hair restoration physician? “I’d been researching surgeons for a long, long time.”

“jbny” came to Dr. Rahal as a Norwood 4 and left as a new man in control of his hair loss. With a receding forelock & temples and a balding crown, jbny chose Dr. Rahal as his hair restoration physician after doing plenty of research on hair transplantation and asking as many questions about hair loss and hair restoration surgeons as possible.

He had been suffering from hair loss for many years and browsing the forums casually. “I have been reading these forums for many years. I would like to thank everyone who has contributed for helping me to make my decision about my HT surgery.”

His consultation with Dr. Rahal led jbny to decide on 3500 grafts. That would leave him with 2500 good, viable donor hairs for the future, if he chooses.

jbny’s hair transplant was completed in October 2013. In May 2014, he shared these photos with other members of the hairrestorationnetwork.com forums.

He posted to share his experience, so he could help others as much as the other members had helped him. “I hope that my website will be as helpful to others as many have been to me,” jbny said.

He shared his results at two, three, four, five, and seven months. He only missed the sixth month because he was so busy enjoying his new lifestyle that he didn’t have time to check in. And at only seven months, he still has a lot of growth to go!

From jbny’s own hair restoration journal: “Dr. Rahal is a true artist in his craft. You can tell the moment you walk in the door.”

“Dr. Rahal is a true artist in this craft and you can tell the moment you walk in the door.”

His experience reading forum posts and blogs from other hair loss sufferers made him decide on a two consultations with Dr. Rahal. Dr. Rahal’s reputation as a “true artist in his craft” cemented his decision: “As many have said before me, [Dr. Rahal] is a true artist in this craft and you can tell the moment you walk in the door,” he wrote in the hair restoration journal provided to all forum members.
As for the surgery itself, Dr. Rahal was confidence-inspiring: “I was quite comfortable and relaxed and ready to get it over with.” jbny was offered a movie or some music to pass the time. He settled on some music, kicked back, and let Dr. Rahal get to work.

After the procedure, the team gave him the full chauffeur service, whisking him away to the guesthouse to recover. (“An amazing place to stay,” jbny says.)

Two Months In and Already Ecstatic

At two months, jbny shared his first real update after surgery. The news was optimistic for two months, and foreshadowed things to come. In a testament to Dr. Rahal’s skill as a surgeon who not only creates the appearance of hair in the recipient area, but preserving the appearance of the donor area, jbny said, “I only included one photo of my donor area simply because there is nothing to see, the scar is nearly undetectable at this point which I am very happy about.”

At Four Months, His Excitement Was Growing with His Hair

“I’m being completely honest when I say that I am extremely happy with whats happening.”

At only four months, he still had plenty of hair growth left to get out of his hair transplant. Nonetheless, his excitement was palpable. “Alright, so I am finally at the 4 month mark and am being completely honest when I say that I am extremely happy with whats happening,” jbny said.

“I have seen a lot of new growth in the past month, and new hairs seem to be popping up all the time,” jbny added.

Other posters were equally enthusiastic. With traditional strip surgery, the appearance of the donor area is always a concern. But two months earlier, jbny had noted Dr. Rahal’s expert preservation of his donor area, a sentiment now echoed by forum user greatjob. “The scar looks phenomenal, completely hidden even though your hair is cut short,” greatjob said.

“Looks great!!” said Cant decide, another Rahal hair transplant patient featured on our site.
Scooter contributed his thoughts: “Wow, quite a change from 3 to 4 months! Looking forward to seeing your 6 month pics for sure.”

“It’s amazing how much I have stopped stressing over what my hair looks like.”

At five months, jbny said, “Every week I am seeing more and more improvement and continue to be extremely happy with the result so far.”

“I used to spend 20-30 minutes just trying to cover up what wasn’t there. Now, I spend about 5 minutes tops every day.”

His comfort level and quality of life was growing, too. His updates came less and less as he was out enjoying himself. “I would feel quite comfortable going out without any concealer on and I have done it… It’s amazing how much I have stopped stressing over what my hair looks like. Before, I used to spend 20-30 minutes just trying to make it look “right” by trying to cover up what wasn’t there. Now, I spend about 5 minutes tops every day.”

hsrp10 summarized it perfectly. “looking really good man and I can relate to what you said, gotta love the freedom!” he said.

“That freedom feeling is what it’s all about,” rev333 agreed.

“My how things have changed.”

He was enthusiastic about his results: “I can hardly believe that 7 months have already passed, and I am completely honest when I say that this was one of the best decisions I have ever made. My life has changed drastically, and the results have greatly surpassed my expectations.”

He’s busy enjoying life, no doubt. With this progress still developing as we post this–not yet at the full year mark–you can check back with jbny and follow more of his hair restoration progress in the future!

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Theluckyllama (aka exante) shares his Rahal Hair Transplant Diary and Photos

Theluckyllama, a Rahal patient, shared his hair transplant photos with the members of the Hair Restoration Network forums, a free, 3rd party resource for hair loss sufferers to share their hair transplant stories. He also posted his diary to our site under the name exante. This story is his and we’ve supplied no clinical photos. All images you see here were supplied by Theluckyllama/exante in his forum thread and hair transplant diary.

Theluckyllama ten months after his FUE procedure with Dr. Rahal

Theluckyllama had been losing his hair since he was 18. With a deep receding frontal area that left him with only a forelock, Theluckyllama couldn’t style his hair the way he wanted to. With his 30th birthday coming up, he decided to do something about it.

FUE was the way to go.

In February of 2013, Theluckyllama underwent a 2600 graft FUE procedure with Dr. Rahal. On his personal blog (under the name exante), he wrote “I got home last night after 6 days in Ottawa getting a long awaited HT with Dr. Rahal & his team. To put it simply my experience was amazing. Every member of Dr. Rahal’s team is not only professional and incredible at what they all do, but they’re wonderful people who do everything they can to make your surgery as comfortable as possible.”

He’d heard about the VIP guest house from other’s hair transplant stories on the forums. It made travelling a cinch.

“If you’re going to go to Ottawa to get your HT done, there’s no better place to stay.”

Rahal’s commitment to patient services leads a lot of out-of-town patients to decide to stay at the guesthouse, and Theluckyllama was no different. Many of our travelling patients benefit from recovering privately. Without hotel guests to make them feel like their standing out, and other patients sharing the same hair transplant experience, Theluckyllama felt comfortable and welcomed.

Just like his review of everybody on the Rahal team, Theluckyllama felt that the Rahal guest house delivered: “I came down expecting to feel like I was all on my own, but having that camaraderie with another HT patient and bonding while at the house was freakin fantastic.”

“If you’re going to go to Ottawa to get your HT done, there’s no better place to stay. It provides you with a no judgement atmosphere where you can socialize with other patients of Dr. Rahal. And let me tell you, having that camaraderie is fantastic.”

“It’s about 3 minutes from Dr Rahal’s office on foot, and I can not mention enough how great it is to be able to get up early and go to the clinic for a worry free cleaning days after your surgery, without worrying about transportation or cabs. Mahesh the owner is an incredible guy that made sure I had every need looked after while I stayed there. It’s worth every penny!”

“My Work Looks Amazing. It’s Going to be a Masterpiece.”

“For those of you guys who question the validity of FUE, I am happy to be the person to evaporate that mentality. Dr. Rahal & Team are truly masters of the game.”

At five months, Theluckyllama posted a small update: “I hit 5 months exactly yesterday, so I thought I would snap a couple photos real quick. This is with some product in my hair (which I am uber stoked about). Can still not quite believe the transformation in the last 2 months. With month 6-8 coming, I expect it will be even better, and quite honestly if this was the final result, I would still be thrilled!”

“I can not say enough positive things about Dr. Rahal and his staff. My work looks amazing and as the doc said himself it’s going to be a ‘Masterpiece’.”

Other members of the forum were supportive of Theluckyllama. Shampoo was the first to respond, saying “Congrats. Dr. Rahal does outstanding work. Happy growing!”

agenteye joined in: “Congrats buddy. You were in good hands indeed. That is a CRAZY number of 4’s [four-hair follicles] that you got out of your procedure! Those with the 3’s you got will help you out TREMENDOUSLY! Before you know it you will have a full head!”

Theluckyllama, aka exante, only five months after his Rahal FUE hair transplant

Theluckyllama signed off that update with: “For those of you guys who question the validity of FUE, I am happy to be the person to evaporate that mentality. Dr. Rahal & Team are truly masters of the game.”

Nearly a year later, he was showing what a successful hair transplant really looks like

If his half-year update was impressive, Theluckyllama hadn’t shown anybody yet. At 10 months, he posted another update. “It’s been a long while since I updated. I’m now at 10 months and I really can’t say anything except my life has been transformed,” he said, completely satisfied with his incredibly successful hair transplant. He shared more photos, including the ones at the beginning of this article.

Theluckyllama showing what real results look like — five months was impressive, but it was nothing compared to this!

“Believe me when I tell you that I feel like my appearance has completely transformed. I can now wear my hair in a number of styles, and I have been trying out different haircuts. Dr. Rahal did such an amazing job that my temple area actually naturally curls the way it used to.”

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He Didn’t Lose a Lot of Hair, But He Lost a Lot of Confidence. To Get His Hair–And His Confidence–Back, He Turned to Hair Transplants. Toronto Patient ‘Aaron’ Talks About His Reasons.

Most people wait too long to have hair replacement surgery. Their small problem only gets bigger.

‘Aaron’ after his FUE hair transplant with Dr. Rahal

When I saw I was losing my hair, I started losing self-confidence. I didn’t like it, I didn’t feel good about it. My hair loss was always on my mind and it always bothered me. I had self-esteem issues going on.

“Today, after hair replacement surgery, I feel good.”

I saw a problem and made a preemptive strike. Today, after hair replacement surgery, I feel good. I keep saying I’m so glad something was available to solve my problem and the results are amazing. It makes me feel really, really good. It was done well, perfect timing, and I feel good about it. I’m glad I went to Dr. Rahal.

I’m married with two young children. I’m 33 years old and live in Toronto. I own a web development and design business. I run the business; my job is sales and business development. I’m very active doing everything from playing hockey to traveling. My wife, kids, and I often go to Florida on vacation.

How Did He Select His Hair Transplant Clinic? Results: “Dr. Rahal Did the Best Work”

For ‘Aaron’, finding the right hair transplant clinic was the tough part. Once he’d seen the results, the making the decision was easy. Dr. Rahal’s results were the best, so Dr. Rahal was going to do ‘Aaron’s hair transplant.

When I was 25, I realized I was losing hair. It bothered me. When I noticed my hair loss, I did online research about hair replacement surgery. I got in touch with Dr. Rahal because I saw he did the best work, better than other surgeons. He had more photos of his patients on his website than others did, nad his post-surgery results looked the best.

My hair loss was mostly in the front, in my hairline. It probably didn’t look bad to others but I definitely noticed it. I didn’t like losing my hair and as soon as it started to bother me, I found a way to take care of the problem.

Small Hair Loss, Big Problem

For ‘Aaron’, even a little bit of hair loss was a big problem. Which meant that even a small procedure was going to be a big improvement.

I was really just starting to lose my hair so hair replacement surgery was a small procedure, smaller than most Dr. Rahal does. Having surgery was more or less a preemptive strike–I saw a problem, acted on it, and fixed it. It bothered me for a year or two. It was very minor but it was enough to get my attention and find a solution.

My surgery was perfect timing. I think many people who’re losing hair wait too long instead of acting right away. Their problem becomes a bigger problem.

Why Go With Follicular Unit Extraction? ‘Aaron’ says “FUE is the future of hair transplanting.”

If he was going to go to the best doctor, he was going to go for the best procedure. A minimally-invasive, faster-healing, virtually undetectable method of hair restoration was the only way to go, and that meant follicular unit extraction. ‘Aaron’ knew he’d have to pay a little more, but FUE was the only way to go.

It was something I had to do. For me, it was important to find the best surgeon. If you’re going to spend that kind of money you want the best.

‘Aaron’s donor area after FUE… even with short hair it’s still totally undetectable.

I chose FUE. It was more expensive but 100% worth it. I like to keep my hair very short in the back and it’s impossible to tell I’ve had FUE. I wanted to keep my hair short and not have any scarring that you get with FUT. I think everybody should do FUE, not FUT. It’s more money, of course, but FUE is the future of hair transplanting.

It’s real magic and the results are amazing. Today, my hair is natural and couldn’t be any better than it is. It’s perfect.

If You Can’t Cure the Baldness Gene, “The Best Thing You Can Do For Yourself is Look Normal Again”

‘Aaron’ felt uncomfortable in his own skin. He envisioned a future where baldness was preventable and curable. But he lived in the present, where hair restoration was the only solution.

“I live in Toronto and I drove all the way to Ottawa and back. That says a lot about my belief in Dr. Rahal–he’s the best.”

Hair replacement surgery is the best thing you can do for yourself. It’s not like plastic surgery where you’re trying to change how you look; what you’re doing is making yourself look normal again. You’re trying to keep what you have. I’ve seen so many men who don’t have good hair in the front. I wish science could find a way to fix the baldness gene, but it would put Dr. Rahal out of business! I’m sure in the future, baldness will be preventable. You’re supposed to have what God gave you; we’re not supposed to go bald!

I never discussed my hair problem or solution with anyone outside my family. I don’t like to discuss it with others. But I’d definitely recommend Dr. Rahal; I’d certainly tell a friend to go to him. I did the research and had the procedure. I live in Toronto and I drove all the way to Ottawa and back twice–one for a consultation and once for the procedure. It’s over 200 miles each way. That says a lot about my belief in Dr. Rahal–he’s the best. I met with him and discussed everything about hair replacement. That knowledge was important to me and I’m glad I did it.

Small Procedure, Big Results

For a little bit of hair loss, he needed a small procedure. But that gave him the big result to deal with large problem. In the end, nobody could tell he had it done, and that’s what ‘Aaron’ wanted.

The procedure was excellent. It was not painful, maybe a little uncomfortable the week after. Then I was waiting for my hair to start growing. I was getting immediate results within three months. Everything was great and still is.

I’m 120% happy. I don’t know if anybody could have done anything better. This is the best possible outcome. The density of my hair is high and the area where hair was replaced was small. Dr. Rahal did such high density transplanting, nobody could ever tell I’d had it done, especially because there’s no scar in the back. My family and I know, but nobody else does. I’m glad I went to Dr. Rahal; everything’s good!

A hair transplant patient from California opens up about his Rahal experience.

My real name is Matthew Langford. My full-face photos are on Dr. Rahal’s blog. My blog name is ‘Patiently Waiting.’ I’m one guy in one town in California. And I’m happy to talk with others who’re considering going to Dr. Rahal.

I am very open about having had hair transplant surgery. It’s easier to simply tell people than to keep it a secret. It’s not a big deal. And with a first-class doctor like Dr. Rahal, I have nothing to be ashamed of.

California native Matthew Langford’s before and after photos: At our clinic before his procedure, and one year later

Hair surgery has definitely helped me stop worrying about my appearance. I’m not always looking in the mirror. It’s been a good thing and it feels good to have my hairline back.

He looked twice his age.

He felt like he was the right age. But he didn’t look how he felt. And for Matthew, that was a big problem.

“I tried Rogaine and, to be honest, I don’t think it works. I decided I’d rather have surgery — that’s the only thing that corrects hair loss.”

My hair began thinning in my mid-20’s. The top was thinning but not too badly. The main problem was my hairline and I was very nervous about it. If I’d been in my late 40’s or 50’s it wouldn’t have bothered me but I felt I was too young for the amount of hair loss I had. It hurt my confidence. Looks aren’t everything but I had the finances, I was the right age, and I didn’t want to go through my 20’s, 30’s, and 40’s losing more hair.

I tried Rogaine and, to be honest, I don’t think it works. There are more drugs to combat hair loss but I wasn’t going that route: if you’re going to lose hair, you’re going to lose it. I didn’t want to alter my hormones or put chemicals in my body. And I didn’t want long-term negative effects of hair-restoring drugs. I decided I’d rather have surgery — that’s the only thing that corrects hair loss.

Matthew stopped looking for a hair transplant doctor in California. “I didn’t want to go all the way to Canada, but…”

Matthew didn’t want to travel for his hair transplant. California is a long way from Canada. But looking for a hair transplant doctor in California proved fruitless compared to Dr. Rahal’s results.

I did a lot of research on hair replacement surgery for about two years. I Googled every which way. I looked at online photos of many doctors’ work and I just wasn’t impressed. Honestly, I didn’t want to go all the way to Canada – I’m in California, USA and he’s in Ottawa, Canada. But from the results I saw, and the patients I communicated with, I decided Dr. Rahal’s the one I wanted.

I went with FUT, Follicular Unit Transplantation. Dr. Rahal removed a strip of scalp from my donor zone at the back of my head to get hair follicles to transplant. Part of my decision to go with FUT was cost. FUT is less expensive than other procedures.

Dr. Rahal said, “No.”

Matthew is one of many patients who were swayed by Dr. Rahal’s confidence, knowledge, and expertise. He explains the value of needing to hear ‘no’ even when you want to hear a ‘yes’.

“Dr. Rahal is a first-class surgeon. He and his people make you really comfortable. They answer all your questions start to finish.”

I wanted to be more aggressive with my hairline and fill in my temples but Dr. Rahal said no. And he was right. I tell others, “Don’t doubt Dr. Rahal; just trust him and let him do his thing because he knows what he’s doing.” I’m extremely happy with the results.

Dr. Rahal’s clinic is a well-oiled machine. From the time you come in until you leave, they’re super-efficient. Dr. Rahal works very strategically to make the most of the hair you have and the way he transplants it. The way he places follicles makes your hair look thicker than it is.

I try to encourage future patients. Dr. Rahal is a first-class surgeon. He and his people make you really comfortable. They answer all your questions start to finish. My surgery took six hours but I was completely comfortable and relaxed. The surgery was the easiest part. There was a little discomfort here and there but they take care of it. The next few days are a little tougher but tolerable. In the big scheme, hair replacement isn’t a big deal if you’re healthy.

“I get a lot of compliments.”

So, how is Matthew handling the results of his hair transplant with Dr. Rahal? As well as you’d expect… amazingly!

I’m very pleased and happy with the results. I get a lot of compliments. Friends can’t believe how natural it looks. I know I’ll need more hair replacement in the future. There are other clinics but Dr. Rahal’s one of the top guys in the world. I’ll go back to him when I need to.

Matthew after his hair restoration procedure, out enjoying life.

Talking Hair Transplant with Los Angeles native ‘Dave’

What made him decide to get a hair transplant? Los Angeles native ‘Dave’ had a milder case of hair loss. But it was enough to make him self-conscious about his appearance. He had the desire and the means to do something about it. Today, he’s got full confidence—and a full head of hair.

Before & After Hair Transplant: Los Angeles native ‘Dave’ shows his new Rahal Hairline™.

But when I hit 30, I decided to do something permanent about my hair loss. My hair loss was about a Norwood 3. My big thing was to fill in my temple area. It wasn’t so much that I was terribly insecure about my hair. For some guys it’s a big thing like, “I got my life back.” For me it was kind of wanting to regain my mature hairline. And I wanted to stop feeling self-conscious about putting my hair a certain way because the hair loss would show. Now I feel liberated.

After surgery, I can’t believe I have all this hair on my head, back and front. I look at my head and think, “Wow, this whole thing is amazing – my head is like a little science experiment, moving hair from one place to another and have it actually take root and grow! The gap in my temple area is gone. I’m glad to have more styling options and not have to feel self-conscious about combing my hair one way or another.

My advice for others is, if you have the desire and the means to have a hair transplant, you should. Life is short and it really is possible to get your hair back. I believe if you look good, you feel good. If getting a transplant helps you look better you will feel better. I look good and I feel good. And my hair transplant is permanent!

A Smart Decision

Dave’s decision was based on research, forethought… and decisiveness. Once he’d made up his mind, Rahal was the smart, easy, and only decision for his hair restoration procedure.

“Dr. Rahal is a safe bet, and hair transplantation works. If you want to do it, you should do it.”

I didn’t really come to a turning point, it was more the idea of turning 30 and thinking my hair loss was pretty minimal, and it was a decision I’d considered for a while. I’d researched it for four or five years. I first considered it about five years ago. I got educated about the extent of my loss, how many grafts I’d need, that sort of thing. I was never certain I’d go through with it.

I say to myself sometimes, I can’t believe I actually had a hair transplant. But once I learned more about it, and talked to friends, I found they either had hair transplants themselves, or are concerned about hair loss and are on Propecia and Rogaine.

Hair loss didn’t cause me terrible anxiety or depression. It was more that I’ve researched the options and chose Dr. Rahal. He proposed a plan to restore my hairline before I lost more hair and I said, “Well, let’s go for it.”

Now that it’s grown in, it looks great. Right now it’s pretty short but as it grows in more it’ll be even better. It’s exciting to see hair grow where there wasn’t hair before, having my new hairline grow in. Every few weeks, I look in the mirror and see new hair; that’s fun!

Dr. Rahal is a safe bet, and hair transplantation works. If you want to do it, you should do it, whether you’re really desperate or just want your old hairline back. It seemed like a smart thing to do. Do did choosing Dr. Rahal who has a great track record.

‘Dave’ Did His Research

Like a lot of men considering hair restoration, he wanted to find the best. That meant putting time into research. He didn’t just want a solution, he wanted a permanent solution that looked great. That’s how he chose Rahal.

“When I met Dr. Rahal, he was very personable. You can tell he’s someone who loves what he’s doing.”

I had minimal hair loss and was on the younger side, but I was attracted to the idea of a full head of hair; full results. Some doctors’ work looks like a glorified comb-over. I’d rather have kept it as it was than have a result like that. So that was my decision to choose Dr. Rahal. I did a lot of research, read a lot of reading on forums, reading patients’ experiences.

When I met Dr. Rahal, he was very personable and humble. You can tell he’s someone who loves what he’s doing and has a lot of confidence in his work. I felt like this throughout the whole process. His office is like a well-oiled machine.

A Simple, Comfortable Procedure

‘Dave’s procedure was easy enough. Recovering was even easier thanks to Rahal’s team of representatives, who were there to help him by sharing their own experiences.

I was surprised how easy the procedure was. It was so quick, really a piece of cake. Dr. Rahal and his team were so personable. Doing my research, I came to Dr. Rahal’s website and saw his work on people’s hairlines. His work really stands out from other doctors.

For the procedure, you arrive at Dr. Rahal’s offices and meet with Dr. Rahal. You discuss your goals and questions. He draws in your new hairline and off you go. They take photos and take you into the operating room. It’s all very easy. They give you medication to chill you out. I slept through most of the procedure. There was no pain. The first night they gave me pain pills, and I didn’t even take them because I had no pain. Dr. Rahal used a machine that vibrates while you’re being injected. That tricks your mind, takes your attention off the shot.

After surgery, I went through what I call the ugly duckling phase. I had moments like everyone has. I didn’t look that good, I had a shaved head, I wondered if I’d made a mistake, thought maybe I shouldn’t have done this, hoped it really would grow. I had worries, that sort of thing. But talking to some of Dr. Rahal’s representatives who had had hair transplants themselves, I felt better right away.

Beside the Peak the Temples No Longer Lie in Ruin

‘Dave’s biggest concern was his widow’s peak that stood out prominently thanks to the hair at his temples miniaturizing and receding. Rahal’s specialization in temple points and temple angle closure meant that when the hairs started sprouting, ‘Dave’ got a hairline that worked for his facial features and bone structure.

Concerned about his widow’s peak and temple recession, ‘Dave’ sought Rahal’s experience. The work looked great from any angle.

I had kind of a widow’s peak but it was really the corners, the hair in the temple area that had receded quite a bit. I got about 2500 grafts. Dr. Rahal did my temple points as well. He paid great attention to detail and gave me back my youthful look.

I didn’t obsess on my hair loss but looking in the mirror, it seemed like my temples looked so bald and so big. It’s not a great feeling. For example, I’d come out of the ocean and my hair looked flat and thin in places. I’d get occasional reminders and think, “Oh, that really sucks.” After my transplant, it’s great that I just don’t have to think about these things anymore.

I’d consulted other well-known doctors who either didn’t have much experience working in that temple area. I understand that’s a difficult area to transplant and have it look natural. It came in great and Dr. Rahal restored a full, youthful look.

Then my hair started to grow and fill in pretty quickly, within three months or so. Meanwhile, I got very busy with school. It happened so quickly. Two weeks would go by and I’d look in the mirror. “Oh my God,” I’d say to myself. “Look at all the hair that’s grown in!”

After six and a half months, my hair’s about 45% grown in. I have a full, mature hairline now. My friends joke, “You’re only 45% grown in? We don’t even want to dream what it’ll be like at 100%!” They’re impressed with the density and thickness that wasn’t there before. They’re stunned.

For An FUE Hair Transplant, Los Angeles to Ottawa Wasn’t a Problem

‘Dave’ settled on a follicular unit extraction, or FUE, hair transplant. Los Angeles to Ottawa wasn’t much of a distance for ‘Dave’ to get access to the top hair transplant doc, one of few to offer specialization in FUE in North America.

“FUE gave me options. It’s less invasive and easier to come to terms with.”

Hair transplanting is no longer about hair plugs. Dr. Rahal does Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE). He takes individual hairs from the back of your head and places them in balding areas in a calculated way. It looks very natural.

I was considering Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) where a strip of scalp is removed from the back of the head. I hadn’t even considered FUE. But the more I thought about the process, I wasn’t comfortable with the idea of having strips of my scalp out. I thought, “With my minimal hair loss, am I really going to cut into the back of my head to fill in these little areas?”

As I became more serious about going forward, and saw Dr. Rahal’s results with FUE, I realized the FUE style was what I wanted, even though FUE is more expensive. It wouldn’t leave a scar, and I wanted to be able to shave my head without feeling self-conscious about having a scar. FUE gave me options. It’s less invasive and easier to come to terms with. I don’t think I could have done the FUT strip method.

‘Dave’s Final Thoughts

So what did ‘Dave’ take away from his procedure? His new hairline, of course, but also his goals, his new lifestyle, and his youth. Would he recommend it to anybody? In a heartbeat.

I’ve achieved my goal: To reestablish my hairline. I didn’t want to alter or change anything. I wanted to get back the original, natural hairline. Other surgeons don’t get the density right; in terms of shape and density, Dr. Rahal does a great job. Nobody can tell I’ve had a hair transplant. Nobody would ever know if I didn’t tell them.

If you’re considering having a hair transplant, it’s good to do a lot of research on doctors, transplant methods, and even the different tools they use. You want to be sure you’re making a good decision and trust your doctor. I felt like I was in really good hands with Dr. Rahal and I can tell you that what they say on the Rahal website is true.