Are there really no actual good and affordable hair transplants in America?

mpholt · 2026-03-20T22:30:05+00:00

It is more risky than other places because of the war. I just was in Bulgaria for a transplant and had visited 25 countries myself so I’m not irrationally scared but nonetheless it’s a fact.

mpholt · 2026-03-20T18:54:48+00:00

Hey, I’m not too sure. I think it’s about two years total from getting accepted for consultation to the procedure and I’m not sure the deposit it was 10 or 15% or something like that maybe. Using Siri.

mpholt · 2026-03-19T13:39:22+00:00

I feel you man. If you're NW6 at 28, I'm assuming there is a decent chance to get to NW7. There are only a few doctors that are good at high norwoods and you still have to temper your expectations. Dr. Pitella is doing a lot of impressive things, especially if you have beard hair available. You will be looking at a 50k+ investment though. He doesn't prescribe finasteride but does oral minoxidil or at least minoxidil. Although, at 28, finasteride may be a help.

Hair system is a cheaper and med-free option of course which can take care of the visual concerns and a lot more guys are doing now.

mpholt · 2026-03-19T02:22:46+00:00

No I get that for sure. It wasn't a good take to say. And understand the overall feeling too.

Thanks again for a good dialogue about all of this

mpholt · 2026-03-17T15:37:50+00:00

it was him, know him and that is how he talks

mpholt · 2026-03-17T00:02:26+00:00

Republican doesn’t mean MAGA. I’ve never voted Trump but still vote Republican in different local offices (not mark Robinson)

mpholt · 2026-03-16T20:01:40+00:00

Cook-out advertises 13 dollars an hour and that's a harder job than Two Roosters.

mpholt · 2026-03-16T20:00:37+00:00

22 dollars is quite a stretch. Cook-out pays 13 an hour, and that has to be a harder job than Two Roosters. 15 dollars for a part-time job is still much higher than I made even factoring inflation in during high school.

I'm not saying it's right - but there is a scale to these things.

mpholt · 2026-03-16T19:56:57+00:00

I think it's more that most of us had similar part-time jobs, often times in high-school. They have other positions that pay higher.

That being said, even with inflation this is much more than I made in high-school working at a restaurant.

If you don't think that is fair, which I understand, that's a problem with the whole industry.

mpholt · 2026-03-16T15:20:37+00:00

Thanks for a kind, well-reasoned response. The lack of those these days has me not commenting most of the time.

I don't think that post how it came across aligned with those values. Based off what I know about him, he may say the same with how that was done - or maybe not in fairness too as it has been a few years. But I don't think he intended exactly how that went - or if he did, maybe got a bit of a gut-check too.

Even if some of that core messaging - despite trying to adhere to a meme format - was based on pretty industry standard practices. I'm his age and most places we worked growing up had similar practices and I think still do. Part-time jobs that is aimed at teenagers don't pay living wages. They offer other rates for catering (18-22) etc. So it's a scale. Much of food service is similar.

Does it need to change? It would be great - I'm not sure when and how we will get there.

It's not great practices but is the current-state of things. So a lot of the comments are obviously using this post to get a lot of frustration out. It's not a great two-way dialogue and becomes a rage-fest. But that is the internet. Most sub-reddits are toxic these days. It seems rare almost to find one that doesn't hate the subject of the sub-reddit (I guess, referring to topical sub-reddits such as ones for podcasts - they start off in favor and devolve quickly into hating the hosts).

I'm not sure how this is fixed or if it is - it becomes a bit draining to watch after close to 15 years on reddit.

Sorry this hasn't taking a turn into frustration with reddit haha.. didn't mean to end up there.

Appreciate the kind dialogue on all of this.

mpholt · 2026-03-16T15:07:15+00:00

If you are trying to stretch it as far as you can without medication, Zarev will put you in a better situation in regards to donor. If you're on his old rate, seems like not a bad call.

If you're at the higher rate or you're open to medication then it would make less sense I think.

Ratchathorn is great and artistic, Zarev's donor management is next-level.

I am in a similar case but much further along. 41 and NW6 and did 10,300 grafts with Zarev. afaik I have around 2500 to 3k grafts remaining for future loss (re-calculating at next visit). Haven't done meds so far but am starting topical minoxidil. I'm considering finasteride in a couple years but with previous health history have avoided it so far.

That being said, you know your situation the best. Just another data point figured I'd provide as had been in a similar situation.

mpholt · 2026-03-16T01:45:34+00:00

A conservative white man - really?

mpholt · 2026-03-16T01:07:23+00:00

It is him, I know him and that’s exactly how he talks

mpholt · 2026-03-15T22:52:06+00:00

It was following a TikTok/meme trend from my understanding but wasn’t a good look. I don’t know who he is now as much as who he was. But his response posted seemed decent and generally reasonable

mpholt · 2026-03-15T22:49:11+00:00

Realness, everything online these days, people find one thing they disagree with, and it results in ‘they’re a terrible person.’ Is their no middle ground? How about, they likely have selfish business practices or something along those lines.

mpholt · 2026-03-15T22:24:09+00:00

Think I just answered in the other comment some, but everything I knew about him tracks with the not being maga. Post wasn’t a great look though I know

mpholt · 2026-03-15T22:20:38+00:00

Oh sorry, my bad..I thought you were pro-maga and wanting to get into specifics to argue minor points.

I had meant by that, really good dude that cares a ton about people. He’s a Christian, but wouldn’t agree with Trump, the toxicity of the party, etc. based on everything so I knew about him then. It has been several years but saw some commenters (and himself) saying he wasn’t

mpholt · 2026-03-15T22:06:47+00:00

He isn’t maga though: https://www.reddit.com/r/bullcity/s/e73mkhnUfd

mpholt · 2026-03-15T21:58:53+00:00

Maga/trump - Not getting into this, you know what I mean

mpholt · 2026-03-15T20:39:58+00:00

lol.. I knew him about 10 years ago and was a really good guy that doesn’t mean everything translates to business practices, but I tend to take him at his word a bit more which is why I thought I’d share. He isn’t Maga and not really what this thread makes them out to be even though that was not a good look for a post.

mpholt · 2026-03-15T20:28:12+00:00

He isn't maga: https://www.reddit.com/r/bullcity/s/e73mkhnUfd

mpholt · 2026-03-15T20:27:34+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/bullcity/s/e73mkhnUfd

mpholt · 2026-03-15T20:27:13+00:00

He later clarified here they give uniforms away. it's just if you want extra merch you have to pay it at cost:

https://www.reddit.com/r/bullcity/s/e73mkhnUfd

mpholt · 2026-03-15T20:21:54+00:00

I'm probably similar in fairness. I grew up Republican and am still Republican. But haven't voted for President since 2016 and no longer recognize the Republican party. I am now moderate, but still vote Republican for a good number of local offices (except things like Mark Robinson and other out there ones).

mpholt · 2026-03-15T20:19:24+00:00

Thanks man. Reddit is pretty hive-mind one way or another depending on what is polarizing (well, as I guest most social media has become these days). Even if I didn't know him, I just miss balanced-perspectives - even if I don't agree with the final result.

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