NoTakeBacks

I understand everything you said. All of that was taken into consideration before I got my first HT. I did plenty of research and I've seen plenty of hair transplant results in my time that I would be perfectly happy with. From many different doctors, to all kinds of patients with different hair characteristics: finer, thicker, straighter, curlier, darker, etc. I know a HT will never give me what nature did, but the whole point of going to a reputable and talented surgeon is to mitigate the shortcomings and make it look as natural as possible. What I want (and what I would deem acceptable) is currently possible with current HT procedures. I know it's fixable, but that's more time, grafts and money gone from my life. :\ Not sure how losing hair in the midscalp would make the actual placement of the hairline look more straight, but definitely can understand it will impact perceived density if there is nothing to back it up. I should also note, that I don't have any native hair in the hairline. I diffusely thinned and had none to speak of really. Thanks! I've seen gents with hair transplants that have much thicker hair than myself with great hairlines, and I don't think my caliber is that thick. More that I have high density in my DHT resistant zones. Also, I never leave the house with my hair styled like that. I've been wearing it completely down or down and swept to hide the hairline entirely. Kind of defeats the purpose of a hairline transplant, right? I personally feel I look the best with the hairline exposed. All I want to do is to wear it similar to my pre-ops, or Shatner in the 60's forward and to the side. I do not want to wear my hair like Doohan (if I'm gonna keep the Trek references going) which I currently am...it looks terrible on a person with a higher forehead. Also Bogger, I'm not quite sure I'm ready for FUE unless I'm stripped out and going to FUE into the strip scar. It really depends on what the prognosis is for repair. Of course it's deemed the best option and the procedure is too small to warrant opening the strip. I've already gone FUT, have good laxity (possible reason for the scar) and want to preserve my options for the future. I may be on meds, with no familial NW7 or cases of Vertex loss, but that means jack all and I'm way too young to gamble. Better safe than sorry and save the rest of my donor for maximum yield. Thanks for the input though guys!

Looking real sharp! I think your hair characteristics and color compliment your skin tone. What product(s) do you use to style it?

@Patriot34: I appreciate the detailed post! However, I do have to mention that my "natural hairline" is about halfway to my Vertex by now (if you could even call it a hairline). The hairline you see in the pre-ops are after my first HT with Dr. Feller. So I think that speaks volumes! The first procedure can be found in my profile photo album. Both the Doc and myself agreed the first HT turned out great, but the hairline was a bit high. It was bound to happen as I have a long face and a high forehead. Even with this second HT, I still have a high forehead, but I would NEVER want to go lower. I'm in this for the long haul and preparing for the worst. However, I want the hairline done, finished and forgotten about. Also, the density is quite a bit of an illusion, and it's only gotten weaker since the second procedure. I guess going off Minox for the procedure, the shock of the transplant, and going back on Minox took it's toll. I'll have to see how strong (if at all) any of the native hairs in my midscalp and frontal third will grow back after a year. I should also mention I've been on Minoxidil and Propecia for 2 years now. As for the twos...yeah I've noticed some, especially around the pimple in the last set of pics. I will have to disagree with the lighting however. Yes, one set is always under harsh lighting, but the second set in each update is always in more natural softer light. I will admit I am tough, but in my opinion fair. I tend to go with the thought process of a transplant is only as good when viewed at it's worst. I haven't even taken direct sunlight pics yet. The scar I'll live with for now, but it's visible when my hair is wet and I can't get clipped past a #7-6 fade. @Stig: There may be some validity in the amount of grafts needed! But I would (and will) say the hairline and frontal third turned out great after my first HT with Dr. Feller...other than it being high. @Joesocks202: Thanks for the support. The camera is over two feet away from my head; maybe more. They're just cropped pro DSLR shots. In day to day life I work and pass by people closer than I hold the camera. The transplant has to hold up in close proximity, I will not accept anything less.

I'm not exactly sure how to take your post, or if it's even being directed at me...so apologies if it's not. But I want to make it clear my intention was not "doctor trashing" and I certainly don't try to pass things off as facts. I was simply driving home that it's a motorized tool that vibrates when the motor is active. It was also my understanding that Dr. Feller no longer uses a motorized punch, and I thought Dr. Bhatti also did not. If Dr. Feller still uses motorized punches, anyone is welcome to correct me as they did with Dr. Bhatti. No harm, no foul. I'll just say never mind my ramblings just as I did when I was mistaken before. But just in case, I added a disclaimer with the rest of my OP intact so no one confuses my layman understanding and opinion with facts. This thread really has emotions flying all over the place, huh?

Huh, didn't know that! Nor about Rahal. Never mind then!

NOTE: The following is personal opinion and conjecture; not to be confused with medical fact Yup, it's motorized hence the vibration. From my understanding, the factors you stated are some of the reasons most dedicated HT Surgeons eventually agreed that manual extraction is the best option for FUE and have since passed on motorized punches (including Dr. Feller and Bhatti). In addition, I believe there are some quotes either in this thread or another discussing when a manual punch is used, it's much easier to "feel" the proper depth and tactile feedback of a good score. If I were to personally get FUE, I'd make sure it was some form of manual extraction.

Hmmm...I'm going to throw in my $.02 and try in a completely different direction. What has me wondering are the marked transplant areas. The actual FUs transplanted on the left descend PAST the areas marked off. Possibly a result of additional grafts available in the strip? Whereas on the right you can see there is an area marked further back into the native hair that was not touched. Also, there is a shaved/bald area towards said native hair where no FUs seem to have been implanted. Is it possible the remainder of the procedure had to wait or be stopped? Or rather it needed to be split into two sittings/procedures? FUT left, FUE right. (Also part of me wants to say FUE to both, just to be contrary and that it was a trick question all along!)

@Sean: Thank you! I've lurked your thread(s) in the past and know you've been through quite a bit, so I hope you eventually reach your goal as well. Also thank you for your service. @Stagger and Swooping: I'm living with the results, so I get where the comments are coming from. The only thing I would like to differentiate is the term "plugginess" that is thrown around. To me a pluggy hairline would be one that consists of multi-follicular units or larger. IE: Big plugs of hair. I know it's dicing semantics and me being a pedant, but I'd say with me it's more the spacing/density of yield and the uniformity of placement that gives it an odd look. They are single FUs, it just looks like they run along a singular plane with very little to no macro irregularities, or not enough micro-deviation. I think my left side doesn't look as noticeably "man-made" so maybe it's the yield/density throwing the planned design off. I'm obviously not a HT Surgeon, so maybe I'm way off on the terminology and theory of said design. Regardless of the cause (and if I may so eloquently put it): Somethin' ain't right.

Thanks all. I'm just trying to make it through the next few months to have a solid idea of what the end results will look like. Depending on the progress or lack of progress I might skip a month or two worth of updates until it's worth posting. The waiting and anticipation is the worst. As is not being able to enjoy the very thing the procedure sought to create: a hairline.

Wow...I don't know how I missed this. This is an incredibly natural and dense result! I hope you're loving it Squatch.

This thread also interests me. First procedure I scarred well and could cut to #4 guard or even a #-3-4 fade. This second, I can barely make a #7, and it's also visible when my hair is wet. Even if I forego clippers and have it tightly scissored, when wet it blatantly stands out as it's a completely hairless band. The latter is what makes me the most sad... With that said (and if you don't mind me jumping on the bandwagon of questions) Dr. Lindsey, do you recall the graft count used for the FUE repair pictured in the second video? Or rather, what would you say the graft count range most of the repairs you've done fall into? Even just a ballpark; I won't hold you to any specifics! Thanks!

The lighting is the same. I take all my pictures in the same two spots for consistency. One under florescent lighting, and one with softer more natural light. I always try to be balanced. Agreed that overall it could look softer and more varied. At least the side in the fourth picture (my left) is better off. Scar is the same. No magical scar shrinking faeries have visited me while I slumber.

8 Month Update: Some progress since last month. Keeping my fingers crossed that it'll steadily continue for the next 4. Florescent: Soft Lighting: While the overall density is an issue, the main problem areas still continue to be the "forelock" and my right (left side in the pictures). It's like looking at a puzzle that has yet to be completed. I can see what the end result should look like and what was planned...it's just not there. Perfect storm of my hair caliber not helping out and the lack of density. @Tav1: Yes I've been in contact the entire time. Have to wait out the full 12 months or so. All the best!

To be fair, I believe the point Dr. F was trying to make is that during an FUE procedure (even under high magnification), what may appear as a single FU breaking the epidermis may actually be a multi FU with only one visibly active follicle. Whereas with FUSS, you can dissect the strip under microscope aided magnification; including a back light, etc. I'm sure some transection and FUs are discarded even under those circumstances, but microscopic aid would help to mitigate the amount. I also can't attest to what is and isn't visible under microscopic observation, or if technicians are trained to spot and differentiate dormant FUs (single vs multiple), but I'd have to think a microscope would give the best chance! Whereas FUE specifically targets follicles that can be seen, and inherently comes with both pros and cons. One, it's easier to see the caliber, etc. of the follicle in it's natural state right on the patients scalp, but it also brings to the table what is NOT visible down in the dermis. However, if the FU is exactly what it seems, then I'd warrant the person performing the transplant would have a great idea of what it'll look like when implanted. This is just my understanding though! Not at all! Sadly the issue is not every FUT scar will turn out just so.

Extremely good planning; very ethical. Doesn't look unnatural at any stage. Saved him from being a 5/5A at 27. His hairline as of this year looks very natural at that density. Usually it's pretty hard to construct a natural looking hairline with so few grafts. If it didn't progress so rapidly and into the crown he'd be golden. Agreed!

Excellent job Doc! Even with the hair starting to straighten out the density is really impressive. She must have great donor characteristics! What I most like is the macro irregularities in your design of the hairline. Really goes well with her hair caliber.

This is something I always wondered as well. It's a great advantage in my eyes, over those who have the diffuse "a" patterns (like myself) and obviously higher norwood. Either way, great result!