Here are pics related to my first post of yesterday. Sorry that I don't have an immediate post-op pics.

I didn't realize how bad the shock loss was until I looked at the pre-op picture. I have been hiding under a hat or just plain hiding for 2 months. Going non-hat requires a 45 minute make up session which makes me into a bald guy instead of a bald guy with a red head. Toppik is not the answer - it requires some hair to that the fibers can attach. As mentioned before, I had no shock loss with prior procedures, so at least I had hair. How do you explain to people that you have hair one month and none the next?

I may be overreacting, but seeing the pre-op pics has really put me in a tailspin.

3 Month Update

The recipient area is somewhat encouraging. It looks like there is some growth - whether this is shocked native hair, shocked previously transplanted hair, or recently transplanted hair - but it does look less shiny. The redness is still annoying as I continue with regular applications of the aloe gel.

The jury is still out on the donor area - not much change in the last 30 days. The scar seems to have faded somewhat and there appears to be some minor growth in the shocked area. The doctor said that growth hear will not likely start till month 4, so you know where my panic point is.

4 Month Update

After aloe vera gel, valisone and time, the redness in the recipient area has been greatly diminished. There has been growth (good thing because of the shock loss) and I can only hope that there is more to come.

The donor area does not appear to be a concern any longer. I had a hard time exposing the area for the picture due to the significant number of short hairs in the area.

Overall this has been an encouraging month. I do hope that the recipient area will continue to thicken over the next few months.

The updated pictures are titled "4 Month" and may take some effort to find due the random placing of the new system.
Hoping for growth!

7 Month Update

I haven't posted pics for a couple of months (thanks to a job change and a pending move), but I must say that I am really pleased with the progress.

The donor area shock loss as grown in very nicely and is no longer an issue.

The new growth in the front has been pleasantly dense. The color has been darker than my previous frontal hair and I have used highlights to lessen the effect.

The beginning was truly scary (excessive scabbing) but the progress to date has been worth the trauma. I do realize that future crown work may be required due to the shape of the recipient area, but I will deal with this when the time comes, knowing that I have a great source of information when the time is right.

I can't help but feel that I have dodged bullets with two Bosley surgeries and a procedure at the Seager clinic after Dr Seager's passing. Even after 7 months, I am still hoping to get more hair out of this!

Bayer

Hello Bayer,
Thanks for posting your pictures. I have to tell you I'm a little surprised at the level of redness and what appear to be scabs at the 24 day point. Also, at the 48 day point. Redness is common but scabs at that time are quite unusual.

3500 grafts is a lot of grafts for a relatively small area, so I can understand that you would get quite a bit of shock loss.

Do you have any post op pics (like one or two days)?

Thanks

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2700 Total Grafts w/ Keene 9/28/05
663 one's = 663
1116 two's = 2232
721 three's = 2163
200 four's = 800
Hair Count = 5858

1000 Total Grafts w/Keene 2/08/07
Mostly combined FU's for 2600+ hairs

My Photo Album

See me at Dr. Keene's Gallery

Please tell us you meant to type 24 / 48 hours post op; not days. If its days, somemthing is slightly amiss.

Sorry, days it is.

Wasn't concerned immediately post-op, so I neglected to take pics.

Emailed the doc late today to see if he will send me his.

Don't know if have existing hair in the area made it harder for the scabs to release - a lot of them seemed snarled in my hair. One thing that finally helped was reading info from Rassman or Bernstein (can't remember which) saying to wear a shower cap to bed over wet hair.

Bayer,

Thanks for posting your pics. As everyone else said, I was surprised too seeing your 21 and 48 DAY pictures and the number of scabs that were still present. Did your doctor not give you adequate post op instructions? If you were working the scabs by massaging the scalp with your fingertips the way you are supposed to starting around day 5 or 6, the scabs would have been gone close to day 10, latest day 14 or so. Everyone is different, however, it's extremely unusual to have scabs that far out from surgery UNLESS you were too cautious. This MIGHT have something to do with the level of shockloss you've acquired, but check with your doctor to see what he thinks.

THAT being said...I don't believe you have anything to worry about long term. Shockloss sucks, but it's temporary and your hair will come back....not to mention all the new hair in 6-8 months (12 month maturation).

Regarding how to explain the shockloss (having hair, then you don't)...I have found that most people don't ask. But if they do, well, you can tell them whatever you want...not sure what I would have said...maybe just that I lost more hair since the last time they saw me. Or you could shave your head and people probably won't notice since they'll assume the lack of hair is because of shaving your head. It's really up to you.

But...the REAL question is...what do you tell people when you go from being bald to having a mop on your head . But isn't that a problem worth having?

Bill

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

Remember, true beauty radiates from within, not from the skin.

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

Another way to get rid of stubborn scabs is to place a little neosporin on them at night and in the morning they'll be extremely soft. They'll come off with your morning shampoo.

__________________
____________
2700 Total Grafts w/ Keene 9/28/05
663 one's = 663
1116 two's = 2232
721 three's = 2163
200 four's = 800
Hair Count = 5858

1000 Total Grafts w/Keene 2/08/07
Mostly combined FU's for 2600+ hairs

My Photo Album

See me at Dr. Keene's Gallery

Hi

Same comment as above..These cannot be the proper timelines. I am at 2 weeks post op with 2124 and I have no more scabs and very little pinkness. I realize people heal differently but this seems just way to long?

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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!

As much as I wish that these were not correct timelines, trust me they are. Hence my concern.

Bayer

Bayer,

I'll echo what the others have said.............just move forward and try to get the scabs off as best you can.

My shocked hair from HT #2 started coming back just over the 2 month mark...........everyone differs.

I may have missed an earlier post but who did your surgery?

__________________
Hairbank

1st HT 1-18-05 - 1200 FUT's
2nd HT 2-15-06 - 3886 FUT's Dr. Wong
3rd HT 4-24-08 - 2415 FUT's Dr. Wong

GRAND TOTAL: 7501 GRAFTS

current regimen: 1.25mg finasteride every other day

My Hair Loss Weblog

Disclaimer: I'm not a Doctor (and have never played one on TV ) and have no medical training. Any information I share here is in an effort to help those who don't like hair loss.

Hairbank- Bayer went to Dr. McKenzie ("Seager passed away, but I went with his successor, Mark McKenzie")

Bayer-

I am a little shocked by your pictures and hope that you have received an adequate response from the doctor. Can you tell us what he said? Like Bill asked, What were your post op instructions?

Your two month pic looks similar to what most other's pics that I have seen look after two weeks. I would hide too. I feel bad for you, but it looks like you have made it to a point where you don't need to hide any longer.

I am happy that you are here and you will receive plenty of support from the members here. Let us know what the doctor said as we are all a little curious.

Keep your head up and happy growing!!
Eman

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done and done!! Check it out...