Malcolm’s Story
Malcolm Story
1973
I was in my middle twenties when I first began to worry about losing my hair. Although my hair texture was ‘fine’, I had plenty of it. However, as ‘Male Pattern Baldness’ is hereditary I knew that I was destined to lose my hair.
My father had lost most of his hair by the age of 45 and my grandfather on my Mother’s side was completely bald by the time he reached his 40th birthday. Call it what you like, vanity, lack of confidence, insecurity, I wasn’t about to let one of my few redeeming features disappear without a fight, so in 1973 I joined a Hair transplant Clinic, I wanted to know about the surgery before committing myself. The clinic was part of a national group and they had acquired the services of one of the pioneers of the art of Hair transplant Surgery, Dr. Richard Sheil.
It was Richard who trained me as a Counselor all those years ago whilst visiting the UK to train Doctors on behalf of the clinic group. In those days Hair transplant Surgery was very much in its infancy and limited to one type of procedure: ‘Plug Surgery’.
1979
It was during the early part of 1978 that my fears of losing my hair were realized, I began to notice volume loss on the crown of my head. It was January of 1979 that I decided to have my hair transplanted. There is nothing more disconcerting to potential patients, than being counseled by someone who looked as though he needs his clinic’s ’services’. The other side of the spectrum, i.e. having the proverbial ‘good head of hair’ could almost alienate some guys.
From both a career and personal point of view ‘putting my money where my mouth was proved very successful for me.
Apart from my relief at having my hair back (not to mention my confidence), the surgery helped my career enormously. After years of recommending hair transplant surgery to others I had experienced it for myself. With hindsight, my decision to have the surgery was a good one.
From then on I developed a much deeper understanding of the way hair loss can affect other people’s lives.
THE SURGERY RESOLVED MY HAIR LOSS FOR SOME TIME.
1981
A couple of years later I began to lose more hair. This time the hair loss was more towards my front hairline which presented me with a new problem. Whereas before, I was able to disguise ‘the plugs’ with existing hair, it would be considerably more difficult to camouflage the ‘dolls hair’ appearance with plug surgery, especially should I continue with this type of surgery so close to my front hairline. I had found myself with a situation I have witnessed so many times with other patients in more recent years. I was faced with a continuation of hair loss around the original ‘plug’ surgery site. The surgery, initially disguised by other good surrounding hair was becoming apparent. The combination of the limitations of the procedure itself at that time and the memories of the inconvenience and soreness during the lengthy healing period was enough for me to decide.
I DECIDED AGAINST FURTHER PLUG SURGERY AND RESIGNED MY JOB SOON AFTERWARDS. I COULDN’T RECOMMEND SURGERY I WOULD NO LONGER CONSIDER HAVING MYSELF!
1984
As fate would have it, I was living in the United States at the time when the news ‘leaked’ about the ‘hair growth’ drug MINOXIDIL (Regaine) and I had the good fortune to meet one of the Doctors involved in the original research programme. I returned to the UK with prior information about the new drug.
MINOXIDIL, THE HAIR GROWTH DRUG
1986
In 1986, two years before the drug became officially available in the U.K. I was invited to discuss the new treatment on Manchester’s Piccadilly Radio. I demonstrated the benefit of Minoxidil on the scalps of the two young men who had been prescribed the treatment by my company Doctor. Unfortunately, as time was to show, the drug was only partially successful. At best it promoted minimal hair re-growth in younger patients with recent hair loss. Nevertheless, Minoxidil helped in delaying the rate of my own hair loss for some considerable time.
Unfortunately, the benefits of the drug tended to wear off after 2 to 3 years of continuous use.
However, after the limited success of Minoxidil, there developed a considerable resurgence of interest by the major drug companies, to find the ‘long sought-after’ cure for Male Pattern Baldness.
1991 / 1992
I read an article in some obscure Californian magazine about the side affects of another drug, FINASTERIDE (Propecia).
The report claimed that the drug, currently being used to reduce the prostate, significantly lowered the patients Dihydrotestosterone levels as well. These patients, generally men over 55, began to realise that they where showing signs of hair re-growth and a cessation of hair loss.
After further research, scientists had recognised that an enzyme in the blood, 5 Alpha Reductase, converted the male hormone ‘Testosterone’ into another male hormone called Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and it was DHT that was ‘attacking’ the hair on the top scalp. Their research linked in with another very interesting discovery.
The male hormone Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) was the predominant factor in hair loss, not as many had originally thought, lack of blood supply. As one Doctor acquaintance used to tell me, "If I stabbed you on the crown area of your head, you’ll bleed just as badly as if I stabbed you in the front of your head".
Finasteride was also shown not to be ‘dose-related’, in other words, whether you swallow the amount prescribed for prostrate problems – 5mgs daily, or the amount prescribed for hair loss – 1 mg per day, the results where the same. Assuming that the tiny amounts of the drug would not have any detrimental side affects, my company Doctor prescribed the lower strength for me towards the end of 1992. I commenced using small doses of the drug with a topical solution of 4% Minoxidil.
1993
By September 1993 I had been using Finasteride for about 12 months. Sufficient time to have monitored my own results and those of others, prescribed the treatment by my company’s Doctor for their hair loss and thinning hair problems. The drug had been partially effective.
Within a couple of months of commencing treatment I began to notice that my hair had literally stopped falling out. Added to that, I experienced minor short growth along one side of my front hairline. Throughout the remainder of my scalp, the very short and translucent ‘velus hair’ had re-pigmented (turned dark again) but remained short. Unfortunately, that was as good as it got…
My conclusion would seem to tally with other people who had commenced treatment since. The main benefit had been that we all experienced a cessation of hair loss but with very insignificant new growth. One can assume that if used by someone who had just started losing their hair, the problem could be stopped in its tracks and held there for as long as the use of the drug is continued. At the end of September 1993 I opted for the ‘newly introduced’ Hair Transplant ‘Micro’ Surgery to replace the areas where the hair was ‘too far-gone’ for anything, other than surgery to work. I continued using the Finasteride tablets along with 4% Minoxidil.
1994
In 1994 I was present at the International Hair Transplant Conference in Toronto when I learned that one of the Doctors was about to announce the ‘news’ of the ‘NEW’ drug FINASTERIDE to the other Hair Transplant Surgeons.
It suddenly dawned on me, there I was slap bang in the middle of an International Hair Transplant Conference, surrounded by some of the biggest ‘names’ in the profession, most of whom knew little or nothing about the drug – and I had 2 years personal experience of it!
Two months after the 1994 conference, my case history and results etc, were published in the Hair Transplant Forum International. The bi-monthly ‘in-house’ publication is distributed World-wide to the many hundreds of members of the International Society for Hair Restoration Surgery. The journal informs the members of all that is happening in Hair Transplant Surgery, improved techniques, new technology, improved instrumentation etc – it’s all there.
View Minoxidil / Finasteride Combination Document
1997
In March 1997 the forthcoming availability of the so called ‘new drug’ was reported in a respected British newspaper, The Daily Mail. Their headline was "Pill to get your hair back may affect your libido". The newspaper reported that after a 12 month clinical trial conducted on some 1,500 men, just 2% of them had a problem with their sex-drive.
I wrote an article about the possible long-term effects of the drug and submitted it to Hair Transplant forum International. My argument being that it took 5 years for the problem to hit me!
In April 1994 my article "SEX, DRUGS & ROCK’N'ROLL" was published in the Hair Transplant Forum International. Although tongue-in-cheek, the article is funny. Funny that is, when it happens to someone else!
I am presently re-writing the article for public understanding as the original was geared at Doctors. I am also considering changing the title to. "Is it Hello to Hair and Goodbye to Her?"
View Magazine article Document
In September 1998 I had a minor heart attack, after which the blood was restored to my main artery – Result… NO MORE LOSS OF LIBIDO! ;-)
2000
The ‘Choi’ NHI Clinics Implanter.
It was early February 2000 when I got a phone call from my good friend and mentor, Dr. Richard Shiell. He suggested I took a very close look at what was to me, an entirely new method of hair restoration surgery. He told me of an instrument called the ‘Choi’ Implanter.
The NHI Clinics ‘Choi’ which closely resembles a hypodermic needle, allows the operator to literally ‘inject’ individual hairs, root, hair shaft and all into a bald or thinning scalp.
Unlike the conventional ‘incision / slit’ method, where the Surgeon makes an incision with a scalpel and inserts micro grafts containing two to three hairs into the scalp, the NHI Clinics ‘Choi’ permits up to 8000 individual hairs to be planted in one single session. What’s more, because it is a needle as opposed to a scalpel, the hairs can be placed much closer together. This means that there is no need to return for an additional procedure at a later date in order to achieve good volume. Added to that, there is no scabbing whatsoever and minimal bleeding. In fact the normal healing period for micro surgery, typically 10 to 14 days, can be reduced by half with this method.
To say that I was impressed with the ‘Choi Implanter’ is an understatement. I found the surgeon’s facilities, not to mention their caring attitude toward the patients needs, second to none.
I have since counseled and sent a good number of patients to Athens for the Choi method of hair restoration surgery. Without exception, these patients have been delighted with both their surgery and the care they have received, which is why so many have offered to talk to others about their experience.
In conclusion, most people who have previously had hair restoration surgery tend to feel that they would have been much happier with their results had they achieved more volume. The NHI Clinics ‘Choi Implanter’ allows for just that.
2001
In May 2001, I had my own hairline thickened and lowered with the NHI Clinics Choi (as shown in my advertising). The team were able to transplant the hair at about 6mm in length – not possible with other procedures, which gave me a ‘head start’ – if you’ll forgive the pun! This greatly disguised any sign of surgery during the healing period. A real confidence building experience!
2002
In June 2002, I took medical journalist, Peter Harris and TV cameraman, Brian Sterling to Athens for the weekend during time which they both underwent the NHI Clinics Choi procedure.
Peter, who was for some 25 years the Medical Correspondent of the Manchester Evening News was absolutely delighted with the results. Who better than a Medical Journalist to give you his personal and professional views on the Choi methods?
We filmed them during and after their Choi sessions. Brian Sterling, our video producer is also a national TV cameraman, more used to standing behind the camera rather than in front of one. He had the smaller 3,000-hair session. We also had patients Norman Lambert and Lee Purchase with us. Both are interviewed on our video during and since their procedures in Athens.
Lee is a young man who had fallen into the ‘hair-system’ trap. That’s when someone responds to an advert for hair loss and is then demonstrated a new type of ‘hair system’ in such a way that it only becomes apparent after the system is fused to the “victims” head with an adhesive, that it’s a glorified hairpiece.
2003
Moved to live in Athens. It made sense.
Now the patients stay with me as my guest in NHI Clinics Glyfada, just outside of Athens. You can’t imagine the atmosphere here, when I’ve got a bunch of guests talking about a subject that many of them would never discuss, even with close friends, their hair loss.
The biggest buzz of all is seeing a man who, who arrived with a nervous smile on his face, leave with a broad grin, a suntan, no pain and no more worries about hair loss.
October: Visited the New York ISHRS (international Society of Hair Restoration Surgery).
Quite an enlightening experience in many respects and a good opportunity to meet with Richard Shiell again.
2004 to Present
New found life-style, new friends and a regular flow of house guests I welcome each month.
I now have a superb network of guys around me who act as spokesmen for the Choi method of hair transplant surgery. Guys who have had the ‘Choi’ and who meet up with other hair loss sufferers on my behalf.
Why not give us a call on +44 90)845 766 0087 or complete the inquiry form to the right and find out today how NHI Clinics and the CHOI procedure can change your life.
MM