teach77

Hi everyone... I'm 11 days out and last night I finally couldn't take the lack of sleep anymore and just slept normally. I definitely slept on part of the recipient area. I have no bleeding and everything looks the same as it did when I went to sleep. Could I have done any damage to the grafts by sleeping this way at this point?

Thanks so much for the replies! I kind of figured I was just be paranoid. It's harder to imagine that healing quickly would be a bad thing.

Thanks for the answer. I was actually wondering if it's bad if the pink does go away quickly. Any ideas on that?

Hi everyone... So now that I am a week post-op, I'm starting to get paranoid and nitpick everything. I'm having what I think is exceptionally good healing...very limited pain, the donor area looks good. In the recipient area, I really haven't lost many scabs, but I didn't have too many to begin with. Here's my question...I know that the doctor told me that the pinkness in the recipient area typically lasts for a long time in people with fair skin. My pinkness is really faded and I'm blonde and relatively fair skinned. Does this mean I'm not getting good blood flow to the area? Or just that I'm a really good healer? I really didn't bleed much during the surgery either so I'm a little nervous. Any ideas? I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!

Thanks so much! I will definitely be posting periodic updates. Hopefully I can fix the lighting so my webcam works a little better than the pics in this post! Just figuring out the new computer...

I'm no expert on this, so I probably shouldn't even comment, but I think it has more to do with the donor scar than the grafts. Unless it's because of the blood rush to the head. You'd definitely know if a graft popped out or dislodged. I had one dislodge the night after my procedure and I had an enormous plasma blister on my head. They fixed it at the office but it leaked a lot. I think that the best that we can do is to follow our doctor's instructions to the best of our ability and try not to get too paranoid about everything. I've definitely started to bend over without thinking and then corrected myself. I am totally paranoid about messing the whole thing up, and I am constantly checking my head to make sure there isn't anything missing or wrong, but I am really trying to have faith in the fact that I went to a good doctor (I used Dr. Dorin as well) and that I am doing everything in my power to keep the grafts healthy. Good luck!

Thanks Blake! I appreciate the positive thoughts.

I won't be redundant since I have posted the basic idea of my story on my profile. I'm 33 years old and had my first HT with Dr. Dorin on 7/20/10. I had been researching hair loss and HTs for several years (this site was a BIG help!) and decided to take the plunge. After consulting with Dr. Dorin in early June, I started taking Propecia in mid-June and scheduled my transplant. We decided on 1500-1600 graft FUT, solely to the frontal 1/3, for a variety of reasons, not least of all the questionability of my further hair loss...my family has a variety of Norwood levels that are pretty inconsistent. I had a fantastic experience with Dr. Dorin and the staff. From the minute I walked in, everyone was friendly and I was quite comfortable. Dr. Dorin gave me 2 Valium, which was an interesting experience! I was given the remote for the TV and then they began the numbing injections to the donor area. They pinched a bit in some places, but overall it was painless. Dr. Dorin removed the strip, again, pain-free, though I didn't care for the hearing the sounds of the cutting into my scalp (next time earphones may be in order). I was comfortable while I waited and walked TV and some of the staff came in to talk with me and crack some jokes. Dr. Dorin came in and prepped my recipient area as we waited to begin. Lunch came in the meanwhile, so I ate and then we got right to work. The technicians doing the implanting were great! They were friendly and had a comedy routine that was quite amusing. I had absolutely no pain...it sort of felt like I had a helmet on my head, but not uncomfortably so. I watched TV and even dozed off for a bit, while they worked. Throughout the entire process I was asked if I was okay many, many times and if wanted or needed a break, which I did not. When it was over, I watched a video on caring for the hair, Dr. Dorin asked if I had any questions and put my cap on for me, and I left. I went to my hotel and checked-in, took a Vicodin (I have no problems taking them on an empty stomach) and slept for several hours. When I woke up, I got something to eat, came back the hotel and checked out my head. I found a circular bump on top of my head, which I thought was a mole that had been previously covered with hair, but then it expanded and the next morning part of it popped (I didn't go near it with my hands) and it leaked plasma. That night I had a lot of trouble sleeping even with the Ambien and the Vicodin. I'd guess it was a combination of the naps I took, plus the pain in the donor area. I went back to the office in the morning to have everything cleaned. The technician was very friendly and accomodating. It turned out that the bump was from one of my grafts dislodging, but she was able to put it right back in. Dr. Dorin talked to me and again asked if I had any questions. I scheduled my appointment to have my sutures out and went on my way. I couldn't have asked for a more positive experience. Dr. Dorin and the staff at True and Dorin are fantastic! After the first 48 hours, I stopped taking the vicodin during the day and switched to advil. At Day 4 after, I am down to one Advil during the day and one Vicodin at night. Last night was the first night I got a full nights sleep and didn't wake with irritation or pain in the donor area and need to take another vicodin. So, I'm please with the recovery at this point. I did have a few odd physiological things that do make me a little concerned about having that illusive "x-factor" First, Dr. Dorin said that I bled the least of any blonde patient he's ever had. I'm hoping this isn't indicative of poor circulation to my scalp. Second, Dr. Dorin and the technicians were all very surprised at how short my follicles are. Apparently the shortest they'd ever seen. What's interesting is that I had just had a periodontist appointment where I was told I have extremely short roots in my 2 front teeth as well. I wonder if it's all connected? I'm trying not to worry about the issues, as no seemed concerned, just kind of surprised. That's my story at this point. I am attaching two pics I took today. I don't think they're very clear, but I can't seem to get the lighting right in my condo. Other than my profile pic, which is oldish but does show the basic extent of my loss, because my old computer got a virus and I never backed up my files...Doh! I'll continue to update as time goes on...