Hello All. After a lot of usefull advice from this forum, i went to Dr Feller for my procedure on 2nd June. I booked into the Andrew hotel, which i thought was conveniently located, and pleasant (Check out Lionel the concierge, how friendly and helpfull is he!!)Just over the road from Great neck station on the Long island rail road, so only 40 minutes and $12 return to Penn central in Manhattan, good for all the sights of the city.
We arrived on Sat night (31st May) after a interesting taxi ride in a yellow cab from J.F.K, driven by a Nigerian, who knew N.Y like the back of my hand!! always wanted to go via the Bronx!!, unpacked and was directed by Lionel to a fantastic Asian restaurant 2 blocks down called Elaines. Sunday 1st, got up early and had a good breakfast in a somewhat unusual location, room 201!! check it out when you get there, strange but it works ok. Then off to Manhatten, for all the sights, Empire State building etc, only downside no Budweiser on the Docs orders.
Back to the hotel bout 7pm and off to another "Lionel" Restaurant this one an Italian 1 block down, your US portions are huge, no wonder you guys struggle with your weight!!
Being a bit of a worrier, i walked the route to the Dr,s Surgery, which was only 15 mins walk, as no way was i gonna get my Nigerian friend again, thought Dr Feller might be a bit niffed if i phoned him from the Bronx!!
Monday am, up at 6am, and had a shower and hair wash, put on the button up shirt as recomended, had my 201 breakfast, and took my slow slightly nervous walk. Got there mega early, so had a look round the area before getting to the surgery at 0730. Dr feller arrived at 0745, and straight away got down to discussing what i wanted out of the day, and discussing very matter of factly what he suggested would be best for me. In the end we decided that as i part my hair on the left, DR Feller would plant more grafts on that side , and give the best coverage he could. He then marked up where my new hairline would be, and explained step by step how the day would go. First off was the shaving of top of head and doner strip, and then the anaesthetic in the strip, which i was not looking forward to, but in the end turned out to be a series of mild stings, so nothing to worry about after all. Dr Feller then cut the strip, and off this went to the technicians for dissection, and whilst they were cutting away merrily, Dr Feller cut the slits in my recipient area ready for planting. Again a slightly uncomfortable session, but not up to a visit to a UK dentist!!
Once all the slits were cut the technicians began to plant the grafts, and i got 2700 from my donor, which was slightly disapointing as we had hoped to get 3000+, but as it turned out my donor was slightly sparse over the ears.
So all done by 1430, and back at the Andrew for 1500.
Back at the hotel my head felt numb, so i had no discomfort, and felt up to another night out, and even a bit of tentative sight seeing on Tuesday, with my new cap in place. Tuesday night flight back to the UK was probably the worst bit, but no real discomfort from the donor or recipient, which still seemed numb. Am now sticking to the Dr's aftercare instructions, and will update the site on progress reports. Dr Feller took some pic's which he said he will post, as mine are not all that, but i will put them on later anyway.
Hope you didi'nt all fall asleep through that marathon, but i know that i found these post surgery reports helpfull in my research. All the best.
Clive.

Hello All. After a lot of usefull advice from this forum, i went to Dr Feller for my procedure on 2nd June. I booked into the Andrew hotel, which i thought was conveniently located, and pleasant (Check out Lionel the concierge, how friendly and helpfull is he!!)Just over the road from Great neck station on the Long island rail road, so only 40 minutes and $12 return to Penn central in Manhattan, good for all the sights of the city.
We arrived on Sat night (31st May) after a interesting taxi ride in a yellow cab from J.F.K, driven by a Nigerian, who knew N.Y like the back of my hand!! always wanted to go via the Bronx!!, unpacked and was directed by Lionel to a fantastic Asian restaurant 2 blocks down called Elaines. Sunday 1st, got up early and had a good breakfast in a somewhat unusual location, room 201!! check it out when you get there, strange but it works ok. Then off to Manhatten, for all the sights, Empire State building etc, only downside no Budweiser on the Docs orders.
Back to the hotel bout 7pm and off to another "Lionel" Restaurant this one an Italian 1 block down, your US portions are huge, no wonder you guys struggle with your weight!!
Being a bit of a worrier, i walked the route to the Dr,s Surgery, which was only 15 mins walk, as no way was i gonna get my Nigerian friend again, thought Dr Feller might be a bit niffed if i phoned him from the Bronx!!
Monday am, up at 6am, and had a shower and hair wash, put on the button up shirt as recomended, had my 201 breakfast, and took my slow slightly nervous walk. Got there mega early, so had a look round the area before getting to the surgery at 0730. Dr feller arrived at 0745, and straight away got down to discussing what i wanted out of the day, and discussing very matter of factly what he suggested would be best for me. In the end we decided that as i part my hair on the left, DR Feller would plant more grafts on that side , and give the best coverage he could. He then marked up where my new hairline would be, and explained step by step how the day would go. First off was the shaving of top of head and doner strip, and then the anaesthetic in the strip, which i was not looking forward to, but in the end turned out to be a series of mild stings, so nothing to worry about after all. Dr Feller then cut the strip, and off this went to the technicians for dissection, and whilst they were cutting away merrily, Dr Feller cut the slits in my recipient area ready for planting. Again a slightly uncomfortable session, but not up to a visit to a UK dentist!!
Once all the slits were cut the technicians began to plant the grafts, and i got 2700 from my donor, which was slightly disapointing as we had hoped to get 3000+, but as it turned out my donor was slightly sparse over the ears.
So all done by 1430, and back at the Andrew for 1500.
Back at the hotel my head felt numb, so i had no discomfort, and felt up to another night out, and even a bit of tentative sight seeing on Tuesday, with my new cap in place. Tuesday night flight back to the UK was probably the worst bit, but no real discomfort from the donor or recipient, which still seemed numb. Am now sticking to the Dr's aftercare instructions, and will update the site on progress reports. Dr Feller took some pic's which he said he will post, as mine are not all that, but i will put them on later anyway.
Hope you didi'nt all fall asleep through that marathon, but i know that i found these post surgery reports helpfull in my research. All the best.
Clive.

Now is the hardest part of the surgery .. Waiting !!

__________________
JOBI

1417 FUT - Dr. True
1476 FUT - Dr. True
2124 FUT - Dr. True
604 FUE - Dr. True







My views are based on my personal experiences, research and objective observations. I am not a doctor.

Total - 5621 FU's uncut!

Hi Clive

Very helpful report, hope procedure brings you desired growth.
I am flying out for my HT with Dr Feller on the 8th August, a few questions for you:

1. You mentioned flight back was the worst, was that from sitting for hours / pain / bad movie?
2. I plan to have my op. on Friday and return Sunday night (UK monday am), planning to drive myself back from airport - presume no problems with that plan?
3. Have you suffered from much swelling?
4. Did you do your scalp exercises before op?
5. Any other tips would be gratefully received!

All the best

Tubs

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3,500 grafts - Dr Feller - 08/08/08

Tubs

Flight back was worse for me because i am so tall, and at the best of times am uncomfortable on long flights, add to that a 2 hour delay, and it was a bit much. Travelling back sooner rather than later is i.m.o a good thing, as the donor was still pretty numb, and it comes a lot more "Alive" after a couple of days. Driving i would suggest would depend on your distance from the airport, as my head felt very heavy and stiff at the neck, with a doozy of a headache, mainly brought on by having my head in one position for several hours.
The swelling started up yesterday, which was op + 3, and was restricted to my forehead and bridge of my nose. I have slept elevated as recomended by Dr Feller, so think that does help, as today op + 4 the swelling is gone.
Did my scalp exercises for the recomended week before going, but my scalp was fairly loose, so it only got better. If you try to move yours above your ears you will get an idea on how much work you need to do.
Tips, well, i read Spex entry, which was fairly comprehensive, but i must say that a good padded neck pillow was a real boon. Also i personally found that sitting about made me feel worse, than going for a walk, as for me it seemed to move the fluids out of my head, and loosen me up. Also get a hat a lot bigger than you would normally wear!! as the fluid swells your scalp up a couple of sizes.
Hope some of this helps, and i'm sure soon as you meet Dr Feller you will know you made the right decision. Good luck, and don't worry about the injections!!

Clive

Cheers for such quick reply. Its probably about a one hour drive from the airport (actually Monday morning, M25 - maybe 3 hours), taxi it is then!

I am hoping for 4000+, I see from your previous posts that you were hoping for 3000-3500. I assume from strip it is largely about density and laxity, if your donor density was lower than hoped, I presume your laxity didn't allow for a wider strip.

I am probably being too simplistic and estimating the number of graphs is fairly difficult / in-precise.

atb

Tubs

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3,500 grafts - Dr Feller - 08/08/08

Tubs

Seem to be at a bit of a loose end for the next couple of weeks!! so the internet is getting a bashing!!
I think the doctor was hoping that my density would be standard across the entire strip, but as it turned out it was a lot worse in the last couple of inches round the ears, so it was a case of taking as much from the central area as possible, which he did by taking the strip in 3 pieces.
It all boils down to the count at the end of dissection, and Dr Feller will be realistic with you, which is something i wanted from my surgeon. As on previous consultations, one particular UK company told me 1000 grafts would cover my entire front 1/3rd and crown!! Yeah right!!
I think the taxi ride sounds like a better idea, as each person is different, and whilst i felt OK ish you might feel worse, so probably best to err on caution.

All the best
Clive.

Clive

Quite agree with the realistic bit, like everyone I would like as many graphs as possible - but the from everything I have read about Dr Feller he will do the "right" amount for the patient.

Do you plan anymore treatments longer term?

Tubs

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3,500 grafts - Dr Feller - 08/08/08

Tubs

Will give it the required 18 months, to see how much i get, and judging by my dad and maternal grandfather, how much more i lose!! and will make a decision then. But as that well known hair piece wearer said " Never say never again!!"

Clive.

Clive

How are going to get your staples removed - I will be on holiday when my need to be removed.

I spotted this post by Spex which has put my mind at rest (my wife has now "volunteered").

Staple Removal

atb

Tubs

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3,500 grafts - Dr Feller - 08/08/08