SugarHighs

SugarHighs

 

When you say losing grafts do you mean the grafts never grew or do you mean they grew and then fell out after (sometimes happens but is rare).

 

Thanks

In my opinion, based on the empirical evidence, both things are the case. I have not had this independently looked at by a professional yet, though, so I won't say it's the case with absolute certainty.

I think it is difficult to know the reasons why it worked out like it did. With all due respect to Hariri, I don't think any of us are really qualified to know. There are many highly respected surgeons who use the same motorized punch and achieve great consistent results. Even in Hariri's case which was strip, he did not get the yield/density he was hoping for, although his result looks really good to me. I think this just illustrates that HT is not an exact science. We all get very excited and blown away by the "wow" results that are posted, but they are "wow" because they are not the average HT result, even with top surgeons. Sean, worst case scenario, you can have a small touch up procedure and you will be fine long term. I know it is not what you wanted to do, but it really is not that unusual. Try not to stress over it...you will be all good my friend.

I had a very similar procedure to Sean - 2800+ FUE grafts in one sitting, with Dr Rahal, mototrized FUE tool, and Dr Rahal did not extract all the grafts himself. And I've also had issues with losing grafts at the recipient area.

I agree we shouldn't speculate too much, but at the same time I think it only makes sense we should consider the factors in common.

Hi Sugar,

 

While I have not had a chance to look at all of your pre-op and progress pictures, I'd say 6 months post op is way too soon to worry about gaps and growth overall. I think FUE grafts in particular generally grow a little slower than strip grafts. It wasn't until we started using ACell fine particles that promoted faster growth for our FUE sessions. Hang in there. You have more growth and thickening to occur between 9 months and then again at 12-13 months post op. Best wishes.

Thank you.

Can anyone recommend a mousse, or something which creates a similar look to Rogaine Foam?

I had some luck with the American Crew products, but they are a little heavy and they weigh my hair down, which prevents the hair's natural volume from being apparent. They're also a little more sticky than I would like.

Sugar

I just got a chance to look at your pics...I think everything is looking on track as well..Hang in here man..I had a huge boom from 3-4 months and mine has slowed down too...I can still feel a lot of stubble so I know more is coming though!!

Thanks man! I am hoping for the best for you as well!

Was it denser in the middle at month 4?

Yes, I do feel that it was more dense at month 4 - 4.5 or so. I think the photos support that view, although I do understand that the camera isn't the best.

I'm just wondering if any of the treatment providers would care to offer an opinion?

Spex, Janna, Gille, Jotronic?

If you prefer to PM me, I will keep any discussion private.

Nobody is accusing you of being crazy. You post on here to get peoples opinions and from the pictures you've posted my opinion is that it's a fantastic result. The difference is night and day. You've gone from balding to a solid, full head of hair.

 

I'm not for a second questioning you when you say there's a gap, that you're imagining it or anything of the sort. Of course not. And pics don't always tell the full story but that's usually when the takers/ posters are trying to hide something or distort how things appear in reality.

 

In your case it's the contrary. You've done a really good job of documenting your updates with good, clear pics and I just feel that personally I would be ecstatic with that result given where you've started.

 

Anyhow peace and good growing :cool:

Thanks, Slickers. I really do appreciate *any* and all the feedback I have received. I wasn't trying to be a pain in the neck.

I only meant to illustrate that just because I have some density and growth, it doesn't necessarily mean it looks very good at this point.

Having more density at the sides and temples, and less in the center, has created a bit of an odd look.

I'm doing my best to make the center look thicker, by either using foam or hair product. However I'm finding it looks a lot better pushed forward and covering my hairline at this point, in the way that I did prior the procedure.

I'm hoping things will improve to where I don't have to do that.

Here is another one taken under a bright light. Here I have quite a bit of Rogaine Foam in the hair.

I am not so quick to dismiss SugarHigh’s concern out of hand. Yes, the result so far is mostly excellent. However, he is understandably concerned that the center front, two centimeter square area of his hairline, which he says consists entirely of transplanted follicles, not only has lost the hairs that had grow in but is showing no signs of new growth breaking through. I think Sugar is sharing a reasonable concern without being alarmist. Ultra dense packing can, occasionally, backfire. Whether the next six months proves his concern to have been unfounded, or whether he will need a small touchup session to this area, remains to be seen. I appreciate him sharing both the highs and the lows of his hair restoration journey.

 

Best luck, mate!

Pup,

Thanks for recognizing that a) I'm not crazy / imagining things, and b) that iPhone pictures don't tell the whole story.

Sugar

No worries SH. I have done another comparison with pre op, post op and 4.5 months.

 

I think it shows the area which you are concerned about is a mixture of transplants and native hair. But you still have lots of growth to come as you're only 6 months post op.

 

Hope this helps.

Hi El Nino,

Thank you again for this. I agree the general area is both native hair and new hair. I'm most attunned to the area in the very front center though, which is entirely transplanted hair. I'm hoping for a good deal more maturity here.

Thanks!

Was the middle area of the hairline(inbetween the temples) worked on? What areas are you concerned about exactly.

Yes, we lowered my hairline by about 1cm. So the area in the direct front center was worked on. In fact, I remember Dr. Rahal making a TON of incisions here. This is notable in my post op photos. This very front area, I feel, most makes your hair look dense. So we did a lot of work there, but as far as graft survival, growth, and maturity, I can't really speak to that. The next 6 months will hopefully proove to be fruitful.

Any pictures without Rogaine? I find my hair looks thinning with Rogaine applied. Also I don't think you have posted post-op shots to show what areas were worked on(but forgive me if you have).

In order of "thickness" it looks the thinnest with no products, a little thicker with kirkland minoxidil, and even better with Rog Foam. I've just tried using American Crew forming cream for the first time, and I would say we might have a winner. I am going to let it dry and see what happens.

Hard to tell. Indent you a pm some time ago btw.

 

In the pics your rscipient looks good and it appears to possible be some native hair in te front center that is thinning.

This is possible, too. However when I look at my pre-op design vs 4-5-6 month photos, it seems the recipient area has thinned also.

Here's another photo, taken with the same camera, on May 26th. This is fresh out of the shower with a capful of Foam (half in the back and half at the hair line).

I'm not seeing much resemblance between this and my current hair line.

i see the scalp

but still think this is an incredible transformation

 

so if you decide that you need a few more grafts to beef up the hairline density

in 6 months GO FOR IT

 

i wouldn't call this a repair case in any stretch of the imagination

 

aside: why would the doctor recommend minoxidil for the hairline transplant

 

research shows it helps with MPB not hairline

 

maybe stop using it there since it probably kicked these hairs into their next cycle

Hi Rev,

I am not really concerned with whether it's called a repair or not. However I was advised that the hair line would be at 60 FU/cm sq, and I am not sure that is the density where this is trending. I am going to give it the full year of course - what other choice do I have?

As far as minox, I was instructed by Dr.Rahal's patient care team to apply minoxidil to both the crown and recipient area, twice per day, for one year.

Hi SH,

 

I have done a comparison pic to try and make it easier to compare. But your pics are poor quality and are in different lighting conditions. Do you have any pre op pics?

 

I also found that liquid minox made my hair greasy and look worse after applying it. But the foam minox made my hair looked fuller and better. Have you tried the foam?

 

This is 6 weeks, 4.5 months, 5.75 months and 6 months I think.

Hi El Nino,

Thanks for this! My pre op pics are located here: Hair Restoration Site for Sugar

The thinning that I am most concerned about is at the very front center area - from about the middle of my left eyebrow to the middle of my right eyebrow, and going back about 1cm. the pre-op photos show that this is entirely transplanted hair.

I don't have the best camera up here at my apartment, however when I get back to my storage in about 2-3 weeks, I will be able to show this area in much more detail.

The hair here was pretty dense last month, with or without foam, and now it's lost that density, and I can see a ton of bare scalp. Foam helps a little, but not too much.

Hi Matt,

Thanks for replying. I realize it's not the best camera, and, in a few weeks I'll have access to my 10MP Nikon, and will be able to post much clearer photos.

I also considered that I may have shed native hair, but the thinning areas, which are mainly at the right and left temples, and at the very front, are all transplanted areas. I can open two photo windows on my computer and see the immediate post ops pics as matched up to the current photos, to be sure of this.

I understand that I should go through the entire timeline, and I'm cognizant of the fact that things should improve, but what gives me pause is that each week the area gets thinner. This is something very observable in the mirror and after showers.

Now, if the recipient area appeared thin, but was *improving* I wouldn't be concerned. But it's not improving, it's gotten thinner. Again - I realize it's not the best camera - but seriously can you not see a decline in density between the early June photos and today's photos?

I notice it - in the photos, in the mirror, and also to the touch.

For some additional perspective, please see these photos taken June 6th, and June 10th respectively. Photos are taken with the same camera under similar lighting.

Here are a few more. I would appreciate the opinions of anyone, but in particular the professionals...Spex, Matt, Janna, Doctors? Any thoughts?

All the photos are dry hair with liquid minoxidil applied a few hours before, except for the last 2 which are minox freshly applied.

Hi Folks,

I'm posting some 6 month photos.

I'd like to be positive and optimistic, but my new hairline has gotten a little thinner each week, and when I look at myself in the mirror now, I can see approximately 1cm of my scalp clear through the thin hairs.

At pretty much any angle of the hairline my scalp is visible.

I'm hoping this won't continue, and that I'll be able to see an improvement, but at this point I'm resigned to the fact that I may be a hair line repair candidate.

I'm now wearing my hair forward when I go out, much like I did pre-op. It's simply not thick enough to wear back without a ton of scalp visibility - especially in natural light.

It's not the best camera, but the same one I used for other photos.

Transplanted hair regrows like hair that is being regrown by Finasteride or Minoxidil. It starts growing back fine, then sheds and comes back a bit thicker, then sheds, and keeps doing this until it is back to normal caliber. The grafts are probably just going through another phase of maturing. I wouldn't judge the results until 12-18 months.

So hair that sprouts during the 3rd-4th month sheds several times over the 12-18th month period? I had never heard that.

I assumed that once the hair sprouts, it grows and matures but doesn't shed. Is this not correct? ?

i haven't had a hair transplant but now i use

NIOXIN scalp treatment number 2 for fine hair

 

it is a styling product in mousse form that creates incredible thickness

apply like a mousse

let dry

then brush out

and

WOW!

 

NOT SURE IF THIS PRODUCT IS ALLOWED AFTER HT though

 

but provides a denseness that will have people comment

Cool, I may try this product, thanks!!

Sugar,

I started around that same time with American Crew Fiber. Kind of a dull shine, adds body, good hold, get mine in 3 oz sizes off ebay for about $10 with free ship. They have another called Pomade, more shiny and wet, not good with my curly hair. Happy growing, Hoy Doy.

Thanks Hoydoy. I have wavy hair, so I may try the Pomade. I have the AC fiber, but I feel it's too hard and doesn't spread easily enough.

I used to use Aquage Transforming Paste which provides AMAZING hold and thickening, but it is very sticky and messy and I think suits thicker hair.

Also been experimenting with AC Forming Cream which is really good stuff, but a little sticky as well.

I am wondering what is a good hair product for someone who is 6 months post op from a hairline procedure?

Most importantly, I am looking for something that provides thickening, and that also that gives hold.

Thanks,

Sugar