bennyt89

For most patients, the first procedure is intimidating, not just because of the surgery, but because of the experience. There are many questions that patients have that can only truly be answered through first hand experience.

 

Once the first result has had time to manifest properly the prospect of a second procedure is more appealing. The second visit may not seem so daunting since a relationship has been formed and returning would be more familiar. The second visit is many times due to fears and concerns about the procedure overall being allayed and the patient is free to explore their "greed" to find perfection.

Thanks Dr. Bhatti. Per my earlier question, is the greed aspect more about adding density to a result that looks thin or unnatural? Or just refining a result that already looks good and taking to to 'great' so to speak?

I went with Dr Bisanga in Belgium just to do my temples and reenforce my hairline (where there are hairs already) and lower it just slightly. I researched a tonne of his before and afters on this site and elsewhere and the density of his results for most of his first time patients was a big reason I went with him also. I don't mind a few years down the line getting another transplant, but I'd be disappointed if all the effort that went into this first procedure have results that looks thin or still balding.

Yes.

 

No one just gets 1 session.

 

Hair greed is real : http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/155746-hair-greed.html

 

Regards

Spex

Thanks Spex, I'd consider you one of the most well informed posters on this board so I put a lot of weight into your opinion.

Do you think the motivation to go for a 2nd session is becuase the first result gives a subpar look that needs addressing to look natural? Or is it more about taking something that looks 'good' to make it look 'great'? If the latter that makes more sense to me about hair greed.

For me, if I spent the money on a HT and go through the discomfort of surgery, flying overseas and the long wait for results for it to produce hair that looks like its thinning or not blending in, which is noticeable to others. And having to go back for another session to get it looking acceptable, then I'd be knocking on my surgeons door asking for some answers.

Yes ironically that video from Spex is what drove me to make this thread. More out of curiosity than anything.

I guess what confuses me is, I've seen lots of before and afters from clinics and patients themselves with similar HL patterns (around that NW 2.5 mark) and some of the end results look incredible and completely natural, if my result turned out anything like that I'd be ecstatic. And these were first time HLT patients as well.

The impression I get though, is that it's rare for someone to be satisfied after their first HT which strikes me as a bit odd given the above.

I had 2,300 grafts with Dr Bisanga in Belgium 2 months ago. I have no visible scarring that I can see anyway, incredibly clean work. Check out my thread in the patient results subforum for photos.

To be specific I'm not referring to 5-10 years down the line when you've experienced further loss, I'm talking right after your first HT you're already planning your next one.

Let's say for example you only have moderate loss in the scheme of things (NW2-3 and less than 3,000 grafts) and you have work just to restore temples and lower hairline. Are you expecting too much that the first go around will give you adequate density and coverage? Or is it almost always a case that you'll have to go for a second to get that?

Acknowledged everyone's needs and goals differ but asking in general, and yes I am using myself as an example. I'm hoping the FUE I had will blend in with my native hair, obviously it will never reach the same density but the illusion of that is what I'm after.

Just hit the 2 month mark a few days ago, after a 2,300 FUE procedure with Dr Bisanga.

The procedure was to restore temples and reenforce/lower hairline just slightly. My understanding is you won't see any real growth until month 3 minimum, i noticed growth in the frontal region which is mostly the native hair that was shaved for the procedure, but their seems to be a bit of a gap in the middle where the hair is a bit more bare.

Not sure what this is, or if I should be concerned or not. Feedback appreciated.

About 7 weeks post op. Been shedding most of the transplanted hairs over the last few weeks. My native hair that was shaved for the procedure has grown in pretty fast.

Hair Transplant surgery is a long process, my FUE was on the smaller side (2,300 grafts) and I was there from 8am until about 5:30pm. if a doctor was to do every single aspect of the surgery himself day in and day out without any techs assstance I doubt it would still be of the same quality. These guys are humans as well, and are suspectible to fatigue and making mistakes especially in an environment which requires their 110% attention at all times.

Would you rather the doctor do everything in light of the above? Or let him do the most important aspects of the surgery (punching of the grafts, incisions in the recepient) and let the trained techs do the remainder to keep him fresh?

Now on the other hand you are well within your rights to ask about the experience levels of the techs and their training, and also what the doctors involvement is on the big day. If it's a case of the techs doing 95% of the work, then I'd be concerned.

I'm 6 weeks post op. Had my temples restored and hairline lowered slightly, so all my grafts are in the front.

I'm in a situation where I have to ride my motorbike to work as a relative is borrowing my

car. The problem is my helmet definitely feels tight and I can feel some friction on the recepient area, after I got home from work my forehead was a bit red but it soon disappeared.

It's not uncomfortable really, but I'm just concerned am I doing damage now and/or impacting future growth?

Problems of having a melon head

My post op instructions say to avoid hairspray for 1 month after surgery. Though no mention of hair gel/wax etc.

What are your thoughts on how long to wait? I also like to use a hairdryer to prop my hair up a bit and make it look thicker, so not sure if there's an acceptable time to wait for that also.

benny,

 

I don't think you did any damage to your grafts for the brief amount of time you were sitting in the sun, and as you said, you did not burn, it was in the morning, etc.

 

You just want to be sure to keep your head covered if you are ever in the sun again and never hurts to use sunblock as well.

Would a bandana be sufficient cover from the sun? I had a full head bandana provided by the clinic, a black one. It just occurred to me randomly that I spent about 10 or 15 minutes under the sun in Singapore (which is quite hot) while I was trying to flag a taxi to the airport.

This was Day 3 after the surgery. The bandana was on the whole time, but any chance sun could make its way in?

I see you're in Australia and it's summer there. Is the sun very strong at 10am?

Basically the skin tends to be extra sensitive after a transplant and more susceptible to burning and burning can potentially harm grafts. If you don't feel that you have burnt at all then no need to worry.

 

Are you wearing a hat outdoors normally?

I 100% didn't burn, so that's reassuring.

You're absolutely fine, no harm done at all...:cool:

Thanks, did you see my other post above about the sun exposure? Keen to get your

thoughts on that too.

Grafts will be fully secure by now. You're safe to do what you're doing and you're right that the hairs are shedding as to be expected. You can't do a lot to harm the grafts at this stage. Avoiding sun exposure is the main thing now.

Thanks Matt. On the topic of sun exposure, ironically today I was at my doctor getting a top up prescription of Fin, I was waiting to be picked up out the front and didn't realise I was standing under the direct sun, it would've been an an absolute maximum 10 minutes but probably less. No sunburn obviously and it was only 10 in the morning. Would that be an issue?

My hair was combed forward so covering the recepient as well. I know Gillenator knows quite a bit about this.

Gonna bump this thread rather than creating a new one. I've got a bad case of flaky skin on my forehead right near the hairline and creeping up into the recepient area.

So I've been using Aloe Vera on my forehead, but was hesitant to put any on the recepient 3 weeks post surgery. Would it be ok to use this?

I'm at a point where all scabs are off and it's just the transplanted hair left. I've been very gently massaging my recepient and scalp with coconut oil due to dryness, and noticed all the little hairs on my fingers and it's noticeably more bare than it was before.

So I'm assuming this is part of the normal shed. But it's ok for me to be making contact with the recepient at this stage right? No risk of impacting any potential growth at all?

How realistic is it that 0.25 per day of Fin could make you unable to have children?

I've been on Fin for close to 7 years now with no real sides ever. But this is something that has sprung to mind... especially since the FDA I believe revised the side effect warning to also include infertility even after stopping the drug (very happy to be corrected on this).

Is it something worth worrying over? Or is it one of those less than 1% odds like with a lot of drugs when it comes to significant sides..

Even pre HT I've always had very dry skin, especially after showering. Nothing moisturiser can't fix.

However I have this right on the edge of the newly constructed hairline where there are transplanted hairs still waiting to shed. Is it ok to use moisturiser around this area to combat the dryness?

If not any other suggestions of products to use? And would the dryness have any impact whatsoever on the final result?

Edit: forgot to add I'm almost 3 weeks post op. There's just the transplanted hair left in the recepient.

Hi Benny,

It does seem a bit early - however others report starting the shed 4 to 6 weeks post Op. So proves everyone's bodies reacts slightly differently. Key thing I would say is that you don't mention any blood and you don't have any bulbs attached. Day 10 appears to be the key date when all grafts should have anchored securely. I started to shed very early and 95% of the transplanted were gone very quickly. I wonder if there is a correlation between an early shed and early regrowth? Lets hope so

Take Care and happy growing.

How many days post surgery did you start shedding? Out of curiosity

My understanding was that it begins around the 2 week mark. As of about day 11 I noticed the transplanted hair starting to shed, whenever I wash I would usually find small hairs on my finger, not attached to anything and no bulb on the end just small hairs by themselves about the size of an eyelash or smaller (obviously the transplanted hair).

I noticed today the recepient area though still full of transplanted hair, is definitely a bit more bare than it was say 4 or 5 days ago. Is this normal to be shedding the transplanted hair this early?

Donor area 12 days post op. Most of the grafts were extracted from the side of my head and a smaller amount from the back.

Really impressed how little scarring there is, to be honest I can't notice any personally. I'm sure a more trained eye could pinpoint some but seems like really clean work.

Recepient area 12 days post op. All scabs have now come off.

what did the doc say about the crust/scab with the hair that came off? is that a graft or just scabs/deadskin etc

Said it's completely normal and the root is firmly inside.

Was there any heavy bleeding from it?...if not, it's probably not an issue.

No bleeding or pain whatsoever.

I sent the photo to my doc and it says it's just raw skin and no problem. (This was the biggest and most stubborn scab on the recepient so naturally was the last to come off)

Hmm, not sure what to make of that. If you must know if these are grafts, I suggest saving the structures and showing your doc if you get the chance to see him.

 

Definitely don't touch or pick at the area. Just keep the attitude of letting nature do it's thing. Everything will fall off when it's ready. I've seen cases where some dudes are battling crusts for over a month after the HT, but they just let it be, and ended up with an amazing result. Here's a good example:

 

http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/184961-konior-hairline-restoration-6.html

My doc is overseas so not possible. I did send him the photo though of mine and he said it's normal for the hairs to be attached to the crusts. He's a well respected doctor on these forums so I'll take his word for it. After a quick google search it seems to be a very common occurrence in a lot of patients. And mine came off after gentle massaging, definitely no picking.

And as others have said, even if not it's not even 1% of the total grafts planted so it's not going to have any noticeable cosmetic effect.