Post by : BigT
Hi guys - this is my first post on this board, great to find a UK based one with many UK posters. I have found a couple of the US boards very helpfull over the last two years of research and hope by posting my experiences/pics/answering Qs i can give a little back.

Background: i am 25 now, some loss in teens, receding speeded up at 22/23, considered Advanced Hair Studio (wig) - 1st advice: avoid with a bargrpole it is an average wig, they pestered me with unsolicited calls, laser therapy doesn't work (its the minoxidl that has an effect) they are starting to advertise on UK TV, dont go there.

Dermatologist gave me prescription for propecia two years ago and i started it in may2004. It has slowed and bordering on stopped my loss, without major sides. I have since added nizoral 2% shampoo,saw palmetto, zinc, copper, EFAs, multivit-min to my regimen. Consulted with a couple of UK surgeons as i started considering HT end of 2004 but wasn't convinced, particulary because i had found the forums by then thank goodness. Spoke with some of the respected docs in US and knew this was way forward if i was to go the HT route. Wanted to give meds chance so in no rush. Met Spex last autum and impressed with Dr Fellers work but knew not everyone can be quite as lucky (in the END, i respectfully point out Spex i know it was a long journey for you).

Still didn't rush in but knew i wanted to do something so contacted Spex regarding having a small 'postage stamp' session of FUE with Dr Feller. Spex set this up with the pics of my hairline he had and although at first Dr Feller thought i might need more grafts he agreed to a smaller session. I want to fill in a section of hair on the right side of the frontal forelock as the recession is asymmetrical and worse on the right (norwood 2.5? in general).

The HT: was on Friday just gone 10th march, on Spex advice flew out on thursday, surgery friday, stayed saturday for cheaper flight back sunday. Hotel in Manhattan, basic but made sure i had private bath/shower and an extra pillow for sleepiing upright night of surgery. Flight, taxis,buses,trains all went smoothly throughout. I would def recomend getting the train to Great Neck from Penn Station, you want the LIRR to Port Washington that stops at every station(off-peak), also if you are having FUE get it back as well to save $$$ (Dr Feller recommends strip patients get a cab back to hotel). Allow 1hour 20 mins door to door depending on how close your hotel is to Penn Station (34thst i think).

I arrived quite early, i talked over what i wanted done with Dr Feller, he was exactly on my wavelength, concerned the line drawn was what i wanted and we altered the plan to get it right. We took some pre-op pics and got started. Buzzed down and Dr Feller numbed the donor. He had difficulty scoring/extracting the FUEs at first because my skin was very hard (due to previous scarring non-HT related) but he got round it and things became easier. It is def hard work lying totally still for long periods with nowhere to put your arms, and def go to the toilet before you start FUE! However the grafts were coming out fine and we reached approx 400. recipient was numbed up, didnt have to buzz it, and Dr Feller did the most important part of the process making the angles for the recipient incisions. The techs then popped the grafts back in and more pics were taken. I got my post-op instructions but as the doc said it is basically common sense.

Train back to hotel and ate then slept as wiped out. Had a third pillow to stay upright and if you twist a towel round your neck it helps lock your head in place. Had some discharge from donor but not too much and only on first night which is normal. Took one pain killer from doc, no more needed. First hair wash next day at lunchtime, best to sit in bath, wet hair at back/sides laver in shampoo and then put suds in cup and poor over/near recipint whilst shielding it with one hand. Been washing like this for first 5 days.

Donor looks very good, my family have said they couldn't see the extraction sites to be honest. Recipint starting to lose some scabs/hairs i think. Too early to tell re redness of scalp or amount of grafted hairs shed. My scalp is numb in recipint and moving back on right side but should be temporary. Plan to wash with fingers on grafts at day 8 or 9 to remove scabs remaining, then return to normal shower at 10/11 days. Will then use Aloe vera on recipient (already doing so on donor) for any redness and will have a haircut in the back/sides with a grade 1 to blend in the rest of my hair to the donor (which im v.confident will look fine by then). Should be back to normal (except for some unshed hairs in recipint) at 14 days post-op, fingers crossed.

I would like to thank Dr Feller and all the staff for making my experience as comfy as poss, and also thank Dr Feller for his generosity as i received more grafts than i was charged for originally. Spex has promised to post some pics for me in this thread, so cheers and over to you mate! I would also like to apologise if i have rambled on for too long! Will answer any Qs as best i can. Cheers and good luck.






Regards
Spex

__________________
Best
SPEX

Consultant for Dr. Feller, Coalition Member and Dr. Lindsey, Coalition Member.

I am not a medical professional and my words should not be taken as medical advice. All opinions and views shared are my own. "Research-Research-Research"

My Hair Loss Blog with Pictures

Post by : BigT
Hi guys - this is my first post on this board, great to find a UK based one with many UK posters. I have found a couple of the US boards very helpfull over the last two years of research and hope by posting my experiences/pics/answering Qs i can give a little back.

Background: i am 25 now, some loss in teens, receding speeded up at 22/23, considered Advanced Hair Studio (wig) - 1st advice: avoid with a bargrpole it is an average wig, they pestered me with unsolicited calls, laser therapy doesn't work (its the minoxidl that has an effect) they are starting to advertise on UK TV, dont go there.

Dermatologist gave me prescription for propecia two years ago and i started it in may2004. It has slowed and bordering on stopped my loss, without major sides. I have since added nizoral 2% shampoo,saw palmetto, zinc, copper, EFAs, multivit-min to my regimen. Consulted with a couple of UK surgeons as i started considering HT end of 2004 but wasn't convinced, particulary because i had found the forums by then thank goodness. Spoke with some of the respected docs in US and knew this was way forward if i was to go the HT route. Wanted to give meds chance so in no rush. Met Spex last autum and impressed with Dr Fellers work but knew not everyone can be quite as lucky (in the END, i respectfully point out Spex i know it was a long journey for you).

Still didn't rush in but knew i wanted to do something so contacted Spex regarding having a small 'postage stamp' session of FUE with Dr Feller. Spex set this up with the pics of my hairline he had and although at first Dr Feller thought i might need more grafts he agreed to a smaller session. I want to fill in a section of hair on the right side of the frontal forelock as the recession is asymmetrical and worse on the right (norwood 2.5? in general).

The HT: was on Friday just gone 10th march, on Spex advice flew out on thursday, surgery friday, stayed saturday for cheaper flight back sunday. Hotel in Manhattan, basic but made sure i had private bath/shower and an extra pillow for sleepiing upright night of surgery. Flight, taxis,buses,trains all went smoothly throughout. I would def recomend getting the train to Great Neck from Penn Station, you want the LIRR to Port Washington that stops at every station(off-peak), also if you are having FUE get it back as well to save $$$ (Dr Feller recommends strip patients get a cab back to hotel). Allow 1hour 20 mins door to door depending on how close your hotel is to Penn Station (34thst i think).

I arrived quite early, i talked over what i wanted done with Dr Feller, he was exactly on my wavelength, concerned the line drawn was what i wanted and we altered the plan to get it right. We took some pre-op pics and got started. Buzzed down and Dr Feller numbed the donor. He had difficulty scoring/extracting the FUEs at first because my skin was very hard (due to previous scarring non-HT related) but he got round it and things became easier. It is def hard work lying totally still for long periods with nowhere to put your arms, and def go to the toilet before you start FUE! However the grafts were coming out fine and we reached approx 400. recipient was numbed up, didnt have to buzz it, and Dr Feller did the most important part of the process making the angles for the recipient incisions. The techs then popped the grafts back in and more pics were taken. I got my post-op instructions but as the doc said it is basically common sense.

Train back to hotel and ate then slept as wiped out. Had a third pillow to stay upright and if you twist a towel round your neck it helps lock your head in place. Had some discharge from donor but not too much and only on first night which is normal. Took one pain killer from doc, no more needed. First hair wash next day at lunchtime, best to sit in bath, wet hair at back/sides laver in shampoo and then put suds in cup and poor over/near recipint whilst shielding it with one hand. Been washing like this for first 5 days.

Donor looks very good, my family have said they couldn't see the extraction sites to be honest. Recipint starting to lose some scabs/hairs i think. Too early to tell re redness of scalp or amount of grafted hairs shed. My scalp is numb in recipint and moving back on right side but should be temporary. Plan to wash with fingers on grafts at day 8 or 9 to remove scabs remaining, then return to normal shower at 10/11 days. Will then use Aloe vera on recipient (already doing so on donor) for any redness and will have a haircut in the back/sides with a grade 1 to blend in the rest of my hair to the donor (which im v.confident will look fine by then). Should be back to normal (except for some unshed hairs in recipint) at 14 days post-op, fingers crossed.

I would like to thank Dr Feller and all the staff for making my experience as comfy as poss, and also thank Dr Feller for his generosity as i received more grafts than i was charged for originally. Spex has promised to post some pics for me in this thread, so cheers and over to you mate! I would also like to apologise if i have rambled on for too long! Will answer any Qs as best i can. Cheers and good luck.






Regards
Spex

__________________
Best
SPEX

Consultant for Dr. Feller, Coalition Member and Dr. Lindsey, Coalition Member.

I am not a medical professional and my words should not be taken as medical advice. All opinions and views shared are my own. "Research-Research-Research"

My Hair Loss Blog with Pictures