badger_01

don't worry...the scabs don't fall off in any particular pattern. If you look at some previous posts of mine, I had really bad crusting and it come off looking like the roots of a tree . When the cursting comes off, it separates itself from the scalp but is still stuck to the hair sometimes. Thats what you're seeing when you run your fingers through your hair. When you're shampooing and your hair is wet you should be able to VERY GENTLY work out the crusting. Bill has some good instructions on how to do this, in his FAQ. Most of the crusts will be on their way out shortly, followed by the transplanted hair .

thanks for all the info guys. The products do say they're recommended for use after HTs...but you can never trust marketing. I've been using concealers for a couple of years now with no adverse effects...but its re-assuring to hear from people who've used it after their own HTs.

i'm really impressed with your results at only 4 months. I'm sure you;re going to be ecstatic in another couple more!

I know alot of people use concealers after their HTs. I'm about 7 weeks post-op and finally ditched the hat, so i've been using dermatch on the scar and toppik on the recipient area. I figure I'm going to have to keep using them until the recipient area grows in. I do wash it off every night. Any concerns with long term use, as far as retarding the growth of the grafts?

I know alot of people use concealers after their HTs. I'm about 7 weeks post-op and finally ditched the hat, so i've been using dermatch on the scar and toppik on the recipient area. I figure I'm going to have to keep using them until the recipient area grows in. I do wash it off every night. Any concerns with long term use, as far as retarding the growth of the grafts?

i agree with thana...get on propecia immediately and use a concealer like toppik while you're waiting for the propecia to take effect. Put off the HT for a couple of years and continue doing your research

man...was i sad to see the hairs go ...i'm at 6.5 weeks now and my hair looks like crap..pretty standard but it really makes me appreciate how bald i was ..and how much new hair i can look forward to in a few months.

congrats on the great results! Thanks for sharing your journey with us

fusion, My experience was that the donor area felt pretty good after the stitches were out, at the 10-day mark. My doc told me to try to avoid looking down too much and to keep my chin up, to prevent stretching the scar. The first night was the only night with alot of discomfort, everything gets better from day 2, but the tightness lasted pretty much until the stitches were out, for me.

Looks like you're healing nicely. As I'm sure you've already read, shock loss is very common and is only temporary. Try not to think about it...thats the hard part. At 1 month out you've still got a ways to go..i should know..I'm in the same boat

meat, I agree with clive and ramius, but the best thing you could do is to find a dermatologist in your area. That will put your mind at ease and identify any condition that may be causing hairloss. If you're thinning hair is due to MPB, then you're at the right place and by getting on some meds now, you can do something about it early!. Good luck!

I'm sure there is a small percentage of ppl who went to great doctors that didn't get the result they were looking for. Most of the time this has to do with expectations. If you have realistic expectations and choose a great doctors, you'll be happy.

I think you're in the right ball-park for hte number of grafs. As far as expectations go, keep in mind that your transplanted hair can never be as thick as your native hair, though some of the top-class surgeons are able to create the appearance of fullness. As far as your other questions go, they really vary from person to person. I had minimal swelling for a couple of days..nothing that would deter me from travel..some ppl get it really bad though. As for looking "normal" after the op, this depends on a number of factors. Search on the forum and you'll find pointers to some great threads.

thanks for the responses guys! I've been hat free since the weekend and it really doesn't look that bad. I even had someone compliment me on my "new look". I just hope that any imminent shock-loss leaves me with enough coverage on top.

i'd use a combination of dermmatch and toppik. I find that concealers are less conspicuous on the crown area than in the front. Practice a few times and u should be able to come up with something that looks natural. And remember...less is more, when it comes to concealers

wow..i'm relatively new here and handn't followed your story. I just saw your transformation and I was blown away...Bill is right..u r a legend! The temples look great..the icing on the cake!

wantego, here is the "why are you wearing a hat to work thread" excuses thread

i'd agree...wait until after the wedding if you can. Stuff comes up and you may need to improvise at some point. If you can't postpone, just have some toppik and dermmatch on hand..that stuff works reasonably well with some practice.

I'm 5 weeks post op. About 70% of the transplanted hair has fallen out and i haven't had any noticeable shock loss yet. I've been getting by with wearing a hat to work so far, telling anyone who asked that i got cut by a cabinet on my scalp (stolen from the "excuses" thread on this forum ). I have a presentation next week and am pretty content to ditch the hat because with some toppik and dermmatch my hair in its current state looks presentable. I am really worried about shock loss hitting in a few weeks though. I know there's a lot of you who've traveled down this path already. Any words of advice? To de-hat or not to de-hat, that is the question ? PS > My blog has pics of my hair at 4 weeks, which is pretty similar to what it looks like now. I use dermatch to cover the scar and light "dusting" of toppik to add density

I'm 5 weeks post op. About 70% of the transplanted hair has fallen out and i haven't had any noticeable shock loss yet. I've been getting by with wearing a hat to work so far, telling anyone who asked that i got cut by a cabinet on my scalp (stolen from the "excuses" thread on this forum ). I have a presentation next week and am pretty content to ditch the hat because with some toppik and dermmatch my hair in its current state looks presentable. I am really worried about shock loss hitting in a few weeks though. I know there's a lot of you who've traveled down this path already. Any words of advice? To de-hat or not to de-hat, that is the question ? PS > My blog has pics of my hair at 4 weeks, which is pretty similar to what it looks like now. I use dermatch to cover the scar and light "dusting" of toppik to add density

sorry..wrong message board

sorry wrong msgboard

Fantastic results. Congrats Arrie and congrats to Dr Shapiro as well!

Congrats on your HT. 4000 grafts will make a big difference. Good luck and grow well!

pjt..thats the millon dollar question. If you look through this forum you'll find many ppl who've tried a variety of things to help speed up growth. The truth is that each person is different and what works for one person may not work for the other..and since everyone has different growth rates, the products we use may have nothing to do with speeding up growth. As for the shockloss, try not to think about it. Its completely natural and will come back. Try some toppik or dermmatch to help add some body to what you've lost. Look at MikeN's blog http://www.hairtransplantnetwork.com/blog/journal.asp?CopyID=1384&WebID=585 He had a lot of shockloss and was really concerned. It took a while but its all coming back now.