Duckie

akuma, please share with us Dr Path's explanation to your HT results. hope everything's fine with you!

Dear TommyL,

Thanks for your comments! I have looked up female patients, but I think I haven't met enough HT patients in real life to be confident of HT - time I start seeking them out in my country for a meet up!

I always wonder if the patch at my crown is just natural (because I naturally have thinner and lesser hair) or I have genetic balding, the slow kind..that may not show within 3 months Though it does appear that the patch has gotten obvious this year!

Thanks Gasto! but which question were you trying to help me answer?

Hi everyone. Please help me out here. Initially I was intending to do HT to correct my very high hairline (from birth I've had a high hairline and very little bits of hair). Recently, I think I'm thinning out in the crown, though I don't seem to experience any hairloss, just the two or three strands of hair that falls out whenever I shower or when I'm working for a long time at the desk.

Please check my photos out at http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/166117-taking-surgical-plunge-please-help.html

Your opinions mean a lot to me as I'm really concerned. I am only 24, and a woman.

I think I may be balding in the centre. Not many members have replied to my thread... if you come across this, please tell me what you think!

Hey guys! I have a few more questions and I hope you could help!

iv) Has anyone done an extensive long term study of HT patients? Say 10 years on, are HT patients more susceptible to hairloss because of the stress caused by HT operation?

v) Has anyone not been able to grow the shock-loss hair back from HT operation?

Asking because I don't suffer from hair loss. I am considering HT purely for cosmetic reasons - to lower my hairline. I don't want to go for HT and then have it cause me to suffer from hair loss. However, I am quick sick of living with a huge forehead.

Thanks in advance for helping!

Duckie,

 

Welcome to our discussion forum and social community. Dr. Pathomvanich is an excellent physician and will take good care of you.

 

50 FU/cm2 is typically plenty of hair for most people. I recently responded to a similar question on another topic so I recommend clicking here for a more detailed explanation of what these numbers mean and optimal density, etc.

 

Regarding "plucking" of hairs, I wouldn't recommend it. While an accidental plucking once in awhile most likely won't cause any damage to the route, continual pulling on the hair can cause damage to the root and cause permanent hair loss. This includes conditions lke trichotillomania and traction alopecia.

 

I hope this helps.

 

Best wishes,

 

Bill

Hey Bill

Thanks for helping out!

Our hair falls off according to our natural hair-growing cycle. But it will regrow again because the of the hair bulb that resides beneath the skin. What I want to understand is -

i) When hair falls out, does it always falls out with the root still intact beneath the skin? Or does it fall out sometimes along with the root? How do we tell?

ii) When we pluck off a hair strand, do we pluck it out in its entirety such that the hair will no longer grow? From the articles your provided, seems like this is a yes/no answer, depending on how much you yank it out. Asking because I recently plucked out a white hair - they say if you pluck out your white hair it won't grow again because you yank it out (by the root).

If it helps, I've been taking He Shou Wu lately - a chinese medicine that's been known to keep white hairs away.

Reverse Gray Hair with He Shou Wu

Hey Akuma, as someone preparing to lower my hairline, I'm def watching over this thread. I haven't got the time to research about the period it takes for transplanted hairs to grow yet - but there have been members who mentioned that transplanted hair takes 18months or more to be 100% grown out for some patients. Maybe good to read some scientific studies on this.

I know there are a lot of members reading your thread - hope you don't mind if I use this space to promote some teething questions I have about HT on Taking the Surgical Plunge - Please help! - Forum By and for Hair Loss Patients

There is a wengazi who had posted some irrelevant comments on my thread. Not good when people are seeking help here! Can we block such members?

hey guys. Today is 1 year, and 2 months and I'm afraid it hasnt improved much.

 

I've attached some pictures.

 

Again, I held the frontal hairs down to compare fairly to the temples, there is a big difference. The frontal has not matured up much at all. I dont think there is going to be any maturing from now on.

 

There are still hairs that are thin and wiggly. Looks like they are struggling to grow or something. All the thickened hairs are stiff and straight.

 

 

I guess this is my final result for my frontal scalp. I cant comb the hair back because the hairline isn't even and has some gaps.

 

 

Comments?

i'm so sorry you're going through this akuma. have you checked back with the doc?

50 grafts per cm will look very dense. Don't forget that each graft has an average of 2 hairs so what you will get is about 100 hairs per sq cm.

 

I think if you were to attempt a greater density there would be a risk of a poorer yield.

thanks for replying matt! what are your HT experiences? Do you have any knowledge on Question 3 about hair being plucked out?

My consultation is next Wednesday. The stigmatism with my contacts blur up my vision constantly. And my glasses are so thick that it hurts my neck to wear them for long periods of time. I sure hope I'm a candidate.

I'm delighted to discover that this website also has a forum on lasik - another sad sad issue I've been dealing with lately. Aaron1234! I share the same fate! I've gone through 2 doctors this week who told me I'm not eligible for lasik - too myopic and get this - naturally too-THICK cornea. Doctor number 2 was afraid that lassik may stress my too-THICK cornea into gutatas.

I'm very apprehensive about implanted contacts. But I'm sick of living with my thick glasses and fumbling to get out of bed when I am about to drift off to sleep wearing my soft lens.

Dear all

I have decided to take the surgical plunge to correct my high hairline. I have some last minute questions to ask before I wire money over to Dr Path in Bangkok. Appreciate if you could answer my questions based on your post-op experience.

i) I was told that each of us have about 70-100 grafts per cm sq of our scalp; but Dr Path will only do 50 grafts per cm sq for transplanted hair. My whole rationale for correcting my high highline is so that as a woman, I could tie up all my hair into a beautiful ponytail (which I can't now without looking like I've lost hair in the front). I am worried that because it's only gonna be 50 grafts per cm sq, my transplanted hair will look obviously less dense than the rest of my head, and it'll be obvious when I tie my hair up. Will it??

Dr Oravan was kind to help me meet an actual HT patient at their clinic. But he was a man, and he kept his hair short - so his transplanted hair looked like it blended in with the rest of his original hairs. But I'm not sure if it'll still look beautiful if I keep my hair long/tie it up.

ii) Are you happy with the results of your eyebrow transplants?

iii) What happens if I accidentally pluck out my transplanted hair after it's grown out? I know that the whole rationale with HT is that when the transplanted hair first fall off after operation, the bulb still says within the skin - when the transplanted hair breaks through and starts growing, it's because the bulb had remained within the skin. But if I accidentally pluck out my hair, do I not pluck it out by the bulb - and therefore no hair will grow? I am asking because I notice that when I sometimes accidentally pluck out a hair strand, there is a thick bulb-like end to the hair strand.

Thank you for taking the time to help me!

hI DUCKIE !! sorry about the late response...

 

The cost is on the scaling discount 100 baht/graft for 1000 grafts,90 baht/graft for 1000-1500 grafts,85 baht/graft for grafts over 1600.X-Change rate varies daily average 30 baht= 1 USD.

 

Ofcourse tis is last years price...i dont think he put it up though. How much did she quote you? Yeah Oravan is pretty good. Usually I always contact her when I need assistance or suggestions.

Hey Tom! Thanks for replying! Yes, I was quoted 85 baht for 2000 grafts. But she also quoted me 150 baht/graft for eyebrow transplants (of est. 400 grafts), which is quite a crazy price I think. How is your transplant with Dr Path coming along? I'm thinking of visiting Dr Pong in chiang mai because of my price concern, but I can't decide which doctor is better. I've come across a patient on this forum with some not-so-desired results with Dr Path, but that's not to say that I'm tending towards Dr Pong too...>.<

I assume you meant USD? Hm, in that case I think Dr Path's charges really approach that of US standards.

I got my first transplant from Dr. Pong 14 months ago. Yesyerday I a second surgery withr DR. Panine(a coalition member.) He said that my transplant was great and that the scar was the best it can possibly be. Have trust in Dr. Pong, I would of probably went back but I'm in the USA now so it's to far to travel even with his lower prices.

Hello Jimmy - could you share with me how many grafts you did with Dr Panine, and how much you paid? Thank you!

Hello Botak - may I know if you were Dr Pong's patient? How did you know such info about him?

I visited Dr Path's clinic last wk. Did not get a chance to meet him, but saw his wife, Dr Oravan instead. She quoted me 85 baht/graft. >.< And double the price for eyebrow transplants.

Hi vanman

 

Tks for all the advice. Luckily, i am more of a "cola" guy than a "beer" person. Lol... Its my 3rd day and still feeling sore at the donor. I am trying to limit the intake of the painkiller; dun wanna depends too much on them.

 

Seems like dr pong is really a busy surgeon. He even does ht for his patient on a sunday. Btw, when will you be returning to him for your next?

Tarepanda - do you think the fact that Dr Pong does HT even on Sundays will affect his ability to perform during each HT? Not enough rest etc. I just went to see Dr Path and his charges are really very high. Considering flying over to Chiang Mai ( I live in Sg) to visit Dr Pong. Not sure which doctor I should pick for my first HT...

no i haven't tried minoxidil or propecia.

 

 

 

I think it was 85 baht per graft.

 

My hair is improving I think, but i am not sure because it is soo slow. Maybe it not even improving at all. Hard to tell. I think something went wrong in my hair transplant case.

 

In the worst case scenario that my grafts dont grow in, what are my options?

Dear Aukuma - thank you for replying to quickly! Yes, I think Dr Oravan quoted me 85 baht per graft too >.< Though she quoted me a higher price for eyebrow transplant...I'm wonder if I could write to her to ask for a discount? It really doesn't make sense to charge me a different price for eyebrows...

I think the Path's website promises that you could go back to him if your grafts don't grow in. I don't know what's the legal aspect of holding him account to his website promise though. That's the problem with medical tourism! Let me know and I hope you're doing better!

Hi All,

 

I underwent a HT with Dr. Damkerng Pathomvanich on 5/01/12 and so far so good.

No pain during or after HT so far, only a bit of discomfort but nothing you can't deal with.

 

I would like to say that Dr. Path and his team are terrific - Friendly, knowledgeable and very professional - What else can you ask for ? I highly recommend them.

 

I am a Norwood 6 and only the top of my scalp was addressed - The crown area remained untounched as I think I can live with it. At this stage I haven't decided (nor discussed) if there will be a HT#2, I keep my options open.

 

I received 4163 grafts / 11515 hairs

# 1 hair grafts: 296

# 2 or 3 hair grafts: 3091

# 4 to 5 hair grafts: 776

 

Today I'm on day 6 post op and had the stitches removed which feels great. Looking fwd to being able to shampoo normally in a few days.

 

Last but not least, I would like to thank all the founders and all the members of this forum for sharing experiences and knowledge which I have greatly benefited from.

 

Thanks,

 

Bald28

 

PS: Will create a blog so that you can follow the HT progress.

Hey! could I check w you how much you paid for your HT with Dr Path? I'd just been to his clinic for a consultation and I was quoted USD3/graft! (est. 2400 grafts)

My temples have grown in and thickened fully around 6 months after surgery. But my scalp transplanted area rested for many months and only started to grow at around 8 months and is still thickening ( its been 1 year now). There is still new hairs sprouting and thickening. Its a slower process than the temples.

 

I got my surgery done in Thailand with Dr Pat.

 

Has this happened to anyone? Is it cause scalp hair grow slower than sides of the head side since its the highest point in the body (hence less blood flow)? which translates into slower growth?

 

The scalp was more densely packed than the temples, I read somewhere that densely packed areas have less blood flow. So maybe this is why the slowed growth?

 

2 months after my surgery, all the transplant scalp hair had fallen out. But around 50% of my temple hairs stayed. Basically scalp hair fell out sooner and is taking longer to grow back. Temples didn't fall out as quickly, but grew back quickly and thickened quickly. Scalp hair seems to have had a longer "no growth sleeep time", whereas temples had less sleep time. Is this all due to blood flow? or something else?

 

Please let me know whats going on.

 

Thanks

Hey Akuma - could I check w you how much you paid for your HT with Dr Path?? I'd just been to his clinic and I was quoted quite a hefty sum for 2400 grafts!!

hello! i have just been to Dr Pathomvanich for a consultation, though it was Dr Oravan who gave me the estimated number of grafts I'd need (2400). She quoted me quite a hefty price though! As I got confused with the exchange rate, I didn't ask for a discount! How much did you pay with Dr Path??

I really want a HT, but I'm now fretting about the price!

is Dr Path not considered of the same level as Dr Feller, Rahal, Hasson and Wong? (I live in Singapore and I'm having problems deciding which surgeon to go to for my HT)

heya, when i say 6weeks to look normal, it was because my hair was really short at the point of HT. and they had shaved a "BOX" shape patch at the back of my head as the donor area. you can imagine how wierd it looks. not forgetting that the donor hair will be placed in the hairline area above your forehead, hence it will be quite noticeable if you haven already kept some fringe.

 

the 6 weeks is inclusive of healing, hair growing and scrub falling off. i guess once the scrub falls off, you'll look pretty normal already. the difference is slight and the transplanted hair will eventually fall off.

 

its just a matter of time to "heal" for the procedure. that is when it gets really noticeable. what i suggest is that you tell your boss that you're taking 2.5weeks of leave to settle some personal stuff. have your procedure over the weekend. and your 2.5weeks leave starts on a monday. just optimise your time. first 10days of the op, leave your hair alone. after that, try to soak your head to soften the scrubs and gently massage the area when you shower. it will fall off in no time.

 

my hairline area was alittle pinkish after the scrub had fallen off. but its not that obvious. i crap out some excuse for the stupid patch behind my hair. after a week or 2, nobody even bothers about it anymore.

 

however, it would be best if you are fine being honest to your colleagues. it will save you lots of unnecessary stress.

Hey thanks for your reply! I hope you're doing much better now! Could you share why you chose Dr Donald pls?

i am from singapore too and i find it really difficult to find a excellent HT surgeon in singapore. i think all the HT surgeon in spore don't do HT as their full time profession. most are aesthetic/ cosmetic/ plastic surgeons doing HT.

 

i just had my HT with Dr Pong from Chiang Mai, and yes, he does only strip. I am not sure of the results now as i am only 2 months post op.

Hello Tarepanda! Pls share your post-op photos and review of Dr Pong soon! You're helping out one Singaporean here! I hope you're doing fine btw

hello! i'm really glad you replied. have been slacking on the HT research so haven't been checking in...could you share with me why you went to donald ng?

you mentioned you need 6 weeks to look "normal"? so how did you look during these 6 weeks? it's impossible in my job to get 6 weeks off days!

I went for a consultation with Eileen Tan and was really peeved when she told me she couldn't even lower my hairline by 1cm and she was basically very dismissive of my problems.

I would much rather fly to Thailand since they've got 2 doctors who are famous for great results and at much affordable prices; but I don't want to go for FUT (which is what Dr Pathomvanich and Dr Pong only do) and I'd much rather have the protection of Singapore law.

If you need so much down time for FUE (as you mentioned, 6 weeks) then probably it's the same as FUT, isn't it?