I know this is off topic, but I searched the hair loss boards and did not find what I was looking for.  I value the opinions of the members of this forum, so I will ask my question here:

I am looking for a hair transplant doctor in the Northern California area for my husband.  Does anyone have any recommendations?

Has anyone here had a hair transplant or personally know someone who has that can share their experience?

Syren, you are too funny!

Seriously though, Elton John had some top notch work. I am sure his doctor costs a fortune but if you could find out his name, and then be willing to travel.......

Edited to add: Speaking of bad plugs, has anyone seen Nic Cage's hairline lately?

metalgirl wrote: I know this is off topic, but I searched the hair loss boards and did not find what I was looking for.  I value the opinions of the members of this forum.  Has anyone here had a hair transplant or personally know someone who has that can share their experience?

Hey Lisa- I promised never to stick my head into O/Ts but since I know you value my opinions and have been for a very long time, here are my experiences.  I used to work in a hair replacement shop for men.  I've heard many stories.  I've also seen many heads.  There are some happy ones and sad ones too.  But since I am not a transplant doctor, this reply will solely be through the eyes and ears of a non-surgical cosmetician.

Hair transplant is surgically taking hair from the back and sides of the head and transplanting it in bald areas.

First and foremost, prior to any surgery, find out if your hubby is indeed a candidate for the said procedure.  Does he have stubbles or is he completely shiny?

Each hair on the head has a root and a shaft.  When you brush or comb the hair, it is the shaft you are styling.  The root of the hair is a soft, light-colored bulb below the surface of the scalp.  It lies in a casing called the follicle.  At the bottom of the follicle is the papilla, which nourishes the root.  Hair grows when new cells form around
the papilla.  These new cells push up on the old cells, gradually forcing them up out of the follicle.  The old cells are now part of the shaft.  As long as the papilla provides nourishment for
new cells, the hair continues to grow.  The papilla can nourish new cells for years.

I would help him force out those follicles.  This may take time through DHT blocker formulas, scalp treatments, vitamins, etc...  I have seen at a hair show what lasers and Electro-trichogenesis can also do too without surgery.  I do work with clients who want to salvage every single hairs on their heads and it has been successful without surgery.  I have also worked with post-surgical clients.  I have also worked with hopeless-case clients who were not good candidates.

Ok, I gave my penny for your thought and whatever you decide- works for me

-Char

Thanks everyone for your input!

By the way, I think Elton John wears a piece, not transplants. 

I dont no if you still need this. But I have a client that has had a hair tranplant... Hes had about 2 of them in a 10 year period.. The only way you can have a transplant is if you have a very good doner area if you dont you wont get the surg.. My client paid about 2700..

My client said that they take trips out of the skin.. he said this is really like planting grass you no how grass comes in long strips then they role it down into the dirt and wait for it to root well that exactly how this hair thing works.. When you first get it done you have bald spots all over the back of your head... and the top has hair only for a few week the top of the hair then falls out and it takes about 3-6 months for the hair to start growing back but he said it always grows back.. i would say the only thing that sucks is that your hubby will have so many pin size scars on his head.. My client has them it not much but you can tell something was going on his head.. Hope this helps.. If you want the docs name I can get it for you just let me no.. 

Thanks guys for all your help!

Believe me, I tried to convince him to wear a hair piece!  I used to work at a place that specialized in men's hairpieces, so I know they can look very good if done right.

When I suggest a hair piece he gets mad at me and says he's not going to wear a 'squirrel' on his head!  I would love it if he would go for that, as I have taken many classes on hair replacement and could do it for him at wholesale cost. 

I try to tell him that a transplant won't match the density he had when he was 25, but with a hair piece, you could.  When I met him in his 20's, his hair was down to the middle of his back and very thick.  I know he'd love that look again, but oh well....