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Hello All... I had an HT about 4 months back and had been researching on the subject for about an year before I took the plunge. The one aspect that baffled me most was the way different doctors showcased their results. Some pics were shot in virtually no light, some in dull lighting and quite a few in angles where the results weren't quite clear. It is clear that some doctors resorted to using illusion through intelligent photographic techniques to deceive people Now, the question I have is, is there a specific basic standard defined within the HT space on lighting, angles etc., which the surgeons use to showcase their work? If there isn't any, wouldn't defining a standard help in helping anyone judge surgeons' quality of work? This thought just came up when I was browsing through some results, do share your thoughts... Thanks...

Hello... I am at around 4 months post my HT. Things have been going on fine till now and all the grafts that were planted have shed. Now, I am at a stage where I am starting to see some growth (the growth has been slow, but steady). Recently, I noticed that some hair (not really sure if they are native hair or the transplanted hair) have grown out with a bend towards the end. They look real different from rest of the hair. Some of them look real skewed and it appears as if some pressure was placed on the part that has a bend. Is such an occurrence normal? If its of any significance, I was real gentle with my grafts and I had some grafts left till about the end 2 month period Appreciate your expert comments...

Initially, I thought I read your post wrong about three HTs in a span of just about a month's time. I am no expert, however, 3 HTs in such a short span sounds real strange. Just curious, did your doc give any reasons behind his planning 3 HTs the way he has? As David has pointed out, the best you can do now is schedule a consultation with Dr Madhu in Hyderabad and plan your next steps carefully. For some reason, I am not able to access the images... Best Wishes..

RSS - The donor scar doesn't go away in 2 weeks but it wouldn't be easily visible unless you part some hair surrounding the donor area to have a close look. You usually remove the stitches/staples by around the 10th day. And, you will feel some slight sensation around your donor till about a month. On the recipient area, you will see redness and experience numbness. You may also experience swelling around the recipient and even on your face for the first few days following your procedure For the first few weeks days post the surgery, I was asked to wash my hair using extremely clean water and avoid going out too much in the sun. If I had to venture out, I was asked to use a hat for protection. I guess the emphasis on clean water is to make sure the grafts don't catch any infection. Also, I am not sure if the salty nature of the beach water would have any impact on grafts. If I were you, I would give myself one more week before venturing out, just to be doubly sure

Hi Bobby250, I don't know a thing about the doc you've mentioned. However, the one piece of advice I would like to give is never rush into a HT and never decide on a doctor based on only the price factor. I took close to an year analyzing and researching options before I took the plunge. Take time to research before the procedure than regretting your decision post a HT gone wrong And, I couldn't help but laugh when I read that the price quadruples if you ask about the number of grafts

If you include the aftermath, I guess HT is one of the most suspenseful and painful (not entirely physical) procedures. I have seen patients who have had heart or brain surgeries less stressful and less worried when compared to a poor HT patient The actual procedure itself is relatively pain free though...

michaelh - It may sound strange, from my own experience and that of some friends of mine, most people never seem to notice (or want to believe) that they are thinning. And, before you realize, the damage has been done and it becomes too late As a couple of others have pointed out, I guess points 2 and 3 make more sense. Its always better to try out non surgical treatments before you take the plunge. Waiting till you get completely bald sounds like waiting till its too late. I would start earlier...

Hi... I guess 21 is too young an age for a HT, though there could be exceptions. Are you on any medication for hair loss right now? I have known people trying out medication to stabilize the loss, wait for a few years till they reach the mid 20s and they go for a HT. Experts here could help with the correct suggestions Apart from the cost, do consider other important aspects like the doctor's quality of work, other patients' results and his general reputation. This community is a treasure trove of information. Research thoroughly before you rush into your HT so that you don't regret your decision later. All the best! You may find this post useful When Young Men Lose Hair Before Age 21

Pretty much similar experiences here. Am at about 3 months post my HT and I still feel some numbness, though about 80-90 % of the original feeling is gone. I read somewhere about someone experiencing numbness even after an year post the procedure. I would assume such an experience isn't too common though...

The only pain I experienced was during the injection pricks. During the procedure, there were a few times when I felt some pain when the grafts were being placed. I quickly pointed out to the doctor and his team and I was immediately given a shot of anesthetic and that did the trick. No more pain thereafter Post the HT, its the discomfort that causes real trouble. The donor stitches really bother you when you attempt sleeping on your back. Even after they are removed, you subconsciously avoid sleeping on your back due to the discomfort at the donor area. And, then there is the numbness with both the donor and the recipient areas. Though this isn't much of a discomfort, you still feel strange...

zo1279 - I guess I inadvertently found a solution though this isn't advisable. You might've read one should start washing the recipient area slowly with circular motion with your fingers starting the 10th or the 12th day of your procedure. In my case, I was too paranoid about losing my grafts that I wasn't applying enough pressure on the recipient and as a result still had some grafts till around the end of 2 months I took a few weeks off and then managed to work from home for another couple. But, to somehow look normal, I started using a concealer when I started going to my workplace. Since the recipient area wont have lots of hair (my recipient was shaved before the procedure) I had to be very careful in using the correct quantity of concealer... just enough to make the recipient area appear as if its just thinning and that people don't smell anything fishy. The concealer was really helpful in that sense. I still get a 'second' look from people just to empathize with my thinning hair. No one has managed to find out my concealer usage afaik. But, I did felt strange for the first few days of my concealer usage. I felt self conscious, you somehow feel that everyone is watching you But, you get used to it over time And, one final small piece of advise. As I found out from my own experience, its always lesser the better when it comes to concealer usage. The correct quantity also blends well and looks real. Also, when you apply it yourself, you somehow wont get the correct quantity, its always trial-and-error. If you can get someone to apply it for you, nothing like it. Hope these tips help...

Thanks all for responding..It was really reassuring. I was a little concerned about the lumps' coming off that too with some hair. Now, I understand it is normal. Since my last post, I have had several such experiences, each time less number of lumps coming off than the previous wash and now, finally none. Its now time for the sleeping grafts to sprout out Hairthere - Yes, sad to see all new hair go away. There should be a way invented to retain all hair and the same look you have just a week post HT It would look perfect! Frank - Yes, its after two months. I guess I had been a little too gentle with my hair wash all this while. I started using tips of my fingers only after a month and that too I was too gentle, before that, I was just using my palm to gently pat/wash the recipient area. I guess I should've started applying some pressure earlier than I have

Hello All, I am at 2 months post my HT. My doc had advised me to be gentle with my recipient area for about a fortnight and then wash the are with circular motion using your fingers. From what I have read, this is common practice Now, since a week, I could see and feel areas in my recipient area and those close-by where dandruff like flakes have gotten accumulated. And, they aren't easily removable as I have repeatedly found many such areas even after a thorough shampoo wash. When I use a little force, I could see small lumps of such flakes come off, but I also found some grafts/old hair (I guess most were the recipient grafts) attached to them. Is this a normal occurrence? Is this experience due to my being too gentle on the grafts while I started washing them resulting in them getting accumulated along with flakes? Is there any need to worry? Any pointers appreciated. Thanks I added a small image of the lump I had mentioned in my post. Apologies for the poor quality, it was clicked using an average mobile cam...

Thanks everyone for the responses. I shall post my experiences with concealers soon...

Hi, I have a history of migraines. I had been suffering for close to a couple of years before I took medical help and since then I have been feeling better with extremely low number of attacks. I recently underwent a HT about 2 months back and I haven't experienced any migraine attack since the procedure. This is just my experience, however, I am sure migraine patterns, causes and triggers differ from person to person. Having a quick word with your doctor would do no harm All the best with your HT!

Thanks for your comments. I found a couple of pots online on concealer usage after a HT. can-i-use-toppik-after-a-hair-transplant and is-toppik-causing-my-hair-loss-to-speed-up. I guess the general opinion is that its safe to start using any concealer after about a month after your HT to be sure it doesn't harm your grafts ,though I have read about doctors advising usage even after a week's/ten days' time I read about Toppik resulting in green colored sweat :confused: when you are working out or out in the sun. Has anyone experienced such a situation? Does Naonogen behave the sane way? Also, how REAL does your hair look after the application? Can someone standing close to you figure out something fishy happening with your hair?! I have only seen demo videos, does it look good under real harsh lights too?

Hello All, Its been a month and a half since my HT. I was experiencing a receding hairline and most hair was placed on the front portion of my head. I had a haircut about ten days back in an effort to make rest of my hair about the same length with respect to the transplanted hair. However, since I didn't want the scar at the back to reveal itself, I had to stop short cutting my hair too short. I have been thinking of using a concealer till the time the new hair grows to a decent length. Now, to my questions, 1. Is there any harm in using a concealer after about 45 days after a HT? (if at all I can use it after a HT) 2. Will the concealer harm/hinder the growth of new grafts that have been transplanted in anyway? 3. Also, does one also purchase a locking mist/liquid with the concealer? I see it getting sold separately To more generic questions on concealers in general, 1. Based on user experiences, which are the best brands? Are Toppik, Nanogen and Dermmatch the top three popular and used brands? And, which is the most widely used? DO all brands behave the same way in conditions such as excess sweat/windy conditions etc? 2. How much of supply would someone need to use the concealer for about a month's time? I appreciate your expert comments. Thank you for your help Note - Since this post also covers generic questions on concealers, I have posted the same thread under 'Non Surgical treatments' section

Hello All, Its been a month and a half since my HT. I was experiencing a receding hairline and most hair was placed on the front portion of my head. I had a haircut about ten days back in an effort to make rest of my hair about the same length with respect to the transplanted hair. However, since I didn't want the scar at the back to reveal itself, I had to stop short cutting my hair too short. I have been thinking of using a concealer till the time the new hair grows to a decent length. Now, to my questions, 1. Is there any harm in using a concealer after about 45 days after a HT? (if at all I can use it after a HT) 2. Will the concealer harm/hinder the growth of new grafts that have been transplanted in anyway? To more generic questions on concealers in general, 1. Based on user experiences, which are the best brands? Are Toppik, Nanogen and Dermmatch the top three popular and used brands? And, which is the most widely used? DO all brands behave the same way in conditions such as excess sweat/windy conditions etc? 2. How much of supply would someone need to use the concealer for about a month's time? 3. Also, does one also purchase a locking mist/liquid with the concealer? I see it getting sold separately I appreciate your expert comments. Thank you for your help Note - Since this post also covers generic questions on concealers, I have posted the same thread under 'Non Surgical treatments' section