Thought I'd drop an update now its reached 6.5 months since the op. Took these photos just now from my hotel (work)
No concealers in my hair at all for these pics - I actually think the back is filling in somewhat (remember on my first set of pics Rahal never implanted that far back).
I've noticed lots of shedding from my crown over the past couple of months and now it looks like its filled in somewhat - I'm putting it down to being religious with the rogaine and finasteride (before I was rather slack).
Maybe it will improve more, maybe its an illusion because I've let my hair grow (this is what I think) - the eye see's what it wants to see. Still the shedding can only be a good sign - I no longer panic and I'm probably going to go get the back done still but I will see how it goes over the next 6 months.
I'm getting happier and happier with the temples - one is still a little thin but we are short in the game at this point for me to question it (although I do)
If anyone wants specific pics let me know - I'm happy to take more.
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I would over and over
The fact that I can walk around now without a hat,
The fact that I go swimming in a pool with other people (first time in YEARS),
The fact that I go to restaurants and don't wear a hat,
The fact that I no longer spend forever trying to sprinkle the right amount of concealer to cover my disaster of a hair up and STILL lose my nerve and wear a hat
I no longer stand in front of the mirror and want to cry
14k is insignificant compared to what I have got back in my self esteem. I own an old sailboat (I love the water), it got so bad I refused to jump into the water without a hat on (even if we were offshore), if I dived in, I would come back up with it on - I was unbelievably self conscious even in front of family.
I would do this all over again in a heartbeat. Now I'm swimming again, diving, having a beer without a hat - hell I can run my hands through it!