Hi fellow bretherin, I had a transplant of 900 grafts about 10 years ago at NHI with Dr. Andrews. He no longer works there and has moved on to Bosely. Anyway, at first I was stoked just to see the hair grow in etc.. After a year I just stopped looking close at it.

Had a girlfriend during the last 8 years, she knew and no bggie. Having being single for almost a year now I have been noticing the women looking strangely at me, and in more intimate situations, really inspecting me. Very humiliating.

I finally did look closer with double mirrors etc.. and to my amazement the transplant really looks blotched when looking down on it from an upper angle which I never had without double mirroring. All of the implants are pitted, almost like pluggines but reversed. Standard face level it looks ok more or less.

I went back to NHI and consulted with Dr. Pak and then separately with Dr. Rassman. They didn't seem too bothered with the results but did offer me a procedure of 300 grafts at no charge to "camouflage" in front of it, and maybe put a few of those in the affected area as well. They wouldn't admit that this is the cause of a bad procedure, rather attributed it to the way I heal. Baloney!

I've read up on this, even through Bernstein/Rassmans papers and found the reasons for this are bad preparation of the folicule ( leaving too much epithelium on the folicule, and/or placing it too deep in the scalp ) Either way, the surgeon should have been more diligent about quality control.

I am not convinced it will do the trick, especially with the up-close inspections. Since I have noticed this, I'm extremely self concious and paraniod. I've researched and there is no way to "fix" this. It will be this way forever.

Do you guys have any advice for me as how to proceed with this? I don't know what to do. I really don't want to go legal with this, or if I even can, but I have just recently "discovered" this and I'm kinda freaking out here. All this time everyone else could see it but I couldn't.

I have attached an image of the result here.

Attached Images

hairline3.jpg (31.5 KB, 292 views)

Hi fellow bretherin, I had a transplant of 900 grafts about 10 years ago at NHI with Dr. Andrews. He no longer works there and has moved on to Bosely. Anyway, at first I was stoked just to see the hair grow in etc.. After a year I just stopped looking close at it.

Had a girlfriend during the last 8 years, she knew and no bggie. Having being single for almost a year now I have been noticing the women looking strangely at me, and in more intimate situations, really inspecting me. Very humiliating.

I finally did look closer with double mirrors etc.. and to my amazement the transplant really looks blotched when looking down on it from an upper angle which I never had without double mirroring. All of the implants are pitted, almost like pluggines but reversed. Standard face level it looks ok more or less.

I went back to NHI and consulted with Dr. Pak and then separately with Dr. Rassman. They didn't seem too bothered with the results but did offer me a procedure of 300 grafts at no charge to "camouflage" in front of it, and maybe put a few of those in the affected area as well. They wouldn't admit that this is the cause of a bad procedure, rather attributed it to the way I heal. Baloney!

I've read up on this, even through Bernstein/Rassmans papers and found the reasons for this are bad preparation of the folicule ( leaving too much epithelium on the folicule, and/or placing it too deep in the scalp ) Either way, the surgeon should have been more diligent about quality control.

I am not convinced it will do the trick, especially with the up-close inspections. Since I have noticed this, I'm extremely self concious and paraniod. I've researched and there is no way to "fix" this. It will be this way forever.

Do you guys have any advice for me as how to proceed with this? I don't know what to do. I really don't want to go legal with this, or if I even can, but I have just recently "discovered" this and I'm kinda freaking out here. All this time everyone else could see it but I couldn't.

I have attached an image of the result here.

Rambler, It would be a good idea to start with more pictures of your affected area so you can get the very best advice from the other members here, and I can assure you because I've seen and heard of worse repair cases than yours that you should be able to get that covered up very nicely. The blades to make incisions for the grafts today don't leave marks!

rambler,

as its753 said, some pictures showing you hair zoomed out will give a better perspective of your situation; also as its said, today, even bad hts can be repaired buy the top docs; also if you are not already, i would get on finasteride to prevent future loss

Ha ha. I had to laugh when I read that part. I can just picture the job interview.

BOSELY: We want experience. We are looking for an experienced butcher.

DR ANDREWS: Well I've been hacking patients apart for over 10 years now. Take a look at this picture of patient # 13. See that wide, uneven donor scar that goes out of the safe area. That is typical of my work.

BOSELY: Good, good. What about the recipient areas though?

DR ANDREWS: Here's a picture of patient #34. Look at that pluggy hairline I gave him.

BOSELY: Very nice.

DR ANDREWS: Yes. And I even had him convinced it was state of the art. I told him all this bull about how double and triple follicular units are the new way to go.

BOTH: (laughing)

BOSELY: But what about pitting? I want to see some pitting.

DR ANDREWS: Ah. Then take a look at these pictures of patients #18 and 24. These guys can't hide those pit scars even in the dark.

BOSELY: Excellent! You're hired. When can you start?

Rambler,

I'm sorry to hear about your situation.

As our members already stated, additional photos would be helpful.

However, it sounds like what you are describing is "pitting" which indeed comes as a result of poor quality work. It sounds like the incisions made were not the right size for the grafts. And considering it was 10 years ago, I am guessing minigrafting was used which is an outdated technique.

Dr. Rassman is correct however, that camoflauging the area is one means of hair transplant repair. It sounds typical for cases such as yours assuming you don't have old school plugs which may need to be removed if they are extremely obvious.

It was nice of both surgeons to offer you a small free session to camoflauge the area. Though I don't know much about Dr. Pak, I deeply respect Dr. Rassman's medical advice and do not believe he would steer you wrong.

I hope this helps,

Bill

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To learn about how I restored my hair, view my my hair loss website.

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

Thanks for the replies. I think the pic I posted shows pretty clearly what the problem is, but I have uploaded a couple more. This is just one side, but both sides are the same.

Pic 1
Pic 2

Did you digitally sharpen those pictures for any reason?

That might make it look worse.

Just askin'.

Looks to me to be a case of "dolls' hair" (aka pitting, I suppose); but, given the options you have, and how great various docs are at repairs, I wouldn't fret too much as I think your problem is very much solvable!

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*A Follicles Dying Wish To Clinics*

1 top-down, 1 portrait, 1 side-shot, 1 hairline....4 photos. No flash.

Follicles have asked for centuries, in ten languages, as many times so as to confuse a mathematician.

Enough is enough! Give me documentation or give me death!

JM, no I didn't alter these photos in any way except to crop out the specific area. Here are a couple more ( sorry they're a bit large in weight ) that shows it in natural light and from a normal "face view" where it isn't so bad.

Natural Light
Normal face view
Normal face view 2

I know the pittedness is more pronounced when pulling the hair back or in incandescent lighting .. and up close of course.

thanatopsis_awry, You say the problem is "solveable". Ok so maybe a cover up procedure will camouflage it a bit but I will still be stuck with the pitted ones and forever.

Maybe a lot of guys are just thrilled to have hair in an area where it wasn't before but I expect better results than this. I will never again be comfortable with a woman up close. I would rather have a balding "normal scalp".

Dr. Rassman brought in an employee in my recent consul with absolutely perfect results, and Dr. Pak has had 2 very excellent procedures, and they were done at about the same time I had mine. Seeing these didn't make me feel better, it made me even more pissed off. I paid the same as everyone else and did not get the same results.