i will be honest. The consultant did not really put me at ease, it was quite clear I was just another patient to him, I did not feel as though they went out of their way to reassure me that I would be ok, or describe what to expect. I was very emotional, particularly after the first set of anaesthetic injections around the back of my head. I would be lying if I said they didn't hurt. Next came the strip extraction. My head felt numb and like a block of ice and I felt no pain, but all I could focus on was the horrific crunching sound of the procedure, which lasted longer than I expected. I was not offered headphones or anything to calm me. Then came the injections in the forehead to numb the top of the head. These were also painful but quickly numbed my head. Then the Dr made 1500 incisions in my head. I was considerably shaken up by this point. I was told that during the procedure I would be able to watch films or read a book or use my iPad..... Nope! I was in a reclined position so I couldn't do any of that, and to be honest, I wasn't really offered it. Then the painstaking procedure of the technicians planted the grafts into my head began. Hours and hours of feeling like a pin cushion, and nobody warned me about the numb bum! I was then given conflicting information regarding aftercare (from the technicians and then the consultant himself). So it was all a bit confusing. Thank goodness for this website!

I was so relieved to get it over. It was a lot more traumatic than I ever thought it would be. I am 2 days post op now and am improving. The back of my head feels sore and tight it much better than yesterday. I am sleeping on my back with a rolled towel behind my head and trying to avoid any contact with the graft site. I am spraying my head every hour with a special spray and will attempt to gently wash it tomorrow with baby shampoo. I don't know if this surgery will be successful, I am just praying it will give me some confidence back. I just want to be able to leave my house without worrying about being bald. Fingers crossed!