RopainNogain

I am in the same position as you. I have had two FUT procedures with the first scar being a non issue and the second procedure producing a scar that is about 1cm wide. In an effort to seek options on revising the scar, I've been to several doctors who have mentioned FUE into the scar as well as a revision. Although FUE into a large scar will help it's appearance, it will not eliminate it's appearance. The density will not be enough to completely mask the scar when your hair is wet or really short. With such a large scar, it's a waste of FUE grafts. At some point I will attempt to revise the scar with hopes of a better outcome. I would be taking additional precautions this go around and limit my activity level in the first month or two. FUE into a thin scar can really make a difference, but you have to attempt to get a thinner scar first. If you go to the right doctor for a revision, I wouldn't worry about the scar getting any worse. If anything, it would get better or remain the same. It's important to take extra precautions and tend to the scar with the proper aftercare. One week after surgery is way too soon to begin physical activity. Lifting weights or putting any type of stress on the scar will result in a stretched scar. Looking down towards the ground or downward bending of the neck even puts pressure on the wound. The scar doesn't reach it's full strength until a full year. Scalp stretching exercises will help the tension the scalp has upon closure, so that may be worth looking into before proceeding with any type of revision. Sutures vs. Staples are two separate closure methods carrying different advantages and disadvantages. The difference between those two options might be worth exploring. Different doctors have different preferences between the outcome of scars using staples vs. sutures. I am of the theory that staples can be left in a bit longer than sutures before they produce an inflammatory response. The longer you can wait to have staples taken out, the longer the scar line has to heal, giving you a better chance at a better outcome. I say theory because I have yet to have a scar revision. I'm waiting for the right time.

Get on Finasteride... see if it works for you. Don't consider a transplant until you know if it works for you. I'm about to be 27 in a few days and have a similar loss pattern. I am on finasteride and just recently started Rogian in the crown. I have retained the front tuft and some of the fringe. I'm thin in the crown. Finasteride should stabilize the pattern for a while. If you can control and retain the back with meds, you can transplant the front. As far as stopping the progression, you'll never really know where it will stop. If you wet your hair and look in the mirror with bright lights, you can see a pattern of where the hair is thinner. This might give you an indication of the pattern. You could get a decent result with a single proceedure. Will you want/ need another procedure... yes.... but a decent result can be accomplished with one pass. Saving the back with meds is the most crutial point at this point.

I think this is an extremely important topic. Many who have had one transplant go into a second with a relaxed attitude. They might think to themselves that everything will be the same as the first procedure because I know what to expect. Could be the case, but with a 2nd procedure comes new risks. Risk of stretched scar and tighter scalp because of 2nd strip taken during FUT. My main concern would be about transection of healthy follicles that are in a natural shedding phase. A hair would not be visible by the doctor during the creation of the recipient sites. Growth times can be lengthier for a 2nd procedure Also, depending on the type of procedure (adding density to an area or construction an entirely new area), new expectations need to be addressed. Adding density to an area will not be as noticeable or as drastic of a result as constructing a bare area.

I'm glad i'm not the only one. I have bought all types of concealers, but somehow after a few days of wearing a certain product I hate it. It's awesome upon first application and then suddenly I end up not liking the product. It's not the product I don't like, it's the hasstle, the fear of dependancy and the little unknown of getting caught. Plus it will make you think your natural hair looks worse than it really is, just becasue of personal perception since "you" know about the concealer and the look it provides when applied vs. not applied. If you apply it all the time, your perception becomes permanently skewed.

Dependant upon if you had shockloss or not, 4 to 5 months is when you will start to see some changes. Changes so slow you might not even notice, but at 6 months you should start looking better and your anxienty will lessen although it will still be present because the growth journey is not over. 6 months is general rule as far as most of the hairs sprouting, but not fully matured yet. As far as i'm concerned, things don't look great until the 8 month mark. If your main concern is to start Rogaine to speed growth, I would advise against that. You'll be taking steps backwards with possible shedding. Just wait it out and your growth will come before you know it.

Dr. Dan McGrath, yes both procedures.

Thanks abcd for the compliment. The picture makes it look better then it does up close, but by no means am I complaining.

Using any type of pomade will help with styling and styling is a requirment when trying to make your hair look it's fullest. I put styling product into my hair once it has air dried or blow dryed out of the shower, then I brush it all back. I let the product dry and then I brush my hair back to increase volume, then I brush it to the side to set the styling in place. I find using a brush works better than a comb

I don't use Rogaine, but I use propecia. Once you start Rogaine, you have to be commited and keep it going. The grafts still grow without Rogaine, so if I was you at 3.5 months, I wouldn't start now.

My buddies know I had a transplant and they never say anything. Some of the comments I get make me think they forgot I had the proceedure in the first place... "If you eventually ever go bald like that guy, you shave it all off" "Once you're older and lose all your hair, you're going to have to shave your head" (bald friend) "Your hair doesn't look bad" (friend who always jokes about my hairloss) Real friends don't care that you're bald, or if you have a full head of hair. It's just another way to poke fun is what I've realized and it doesn't bother me much anymore because the comments are so far and few between. I've gone from my buddy saying 3 years ago "I don't know how to tell you this, but I've been putting Nair in your shampoo" to him now saying "Your hair looks good" Jokes are funny, but when you just have enough confidence to tell them you don't care what they think and I'm going to not do something about it, they don't have more much to say. One of my buddies is slowing thinning and I mentioned it so he is aware and he acts like it isn't... Then I see Nioxin shampoo in his shower and he says it's his moms. Can't fool me, been there, done that... shoot i'm still there.. The fight never ends!!!

Loosing hair at such a young age is very troubling and I'm right there with you. Your result so far is AMAZING. You forget over the months the change, but look at the pictures and it really takes you back. I'm sure you are VERY happy... and if not you should be! From old man to new man that's all I have to say.

I agree with Gillenator's statements entirely. Month 6-12 is where you see the most dramatic change with your transplanted hairs surfacing, but it's not until the 14 to 18 month mark where the transpalnted hairs fully mature with greater texture and calibur. This held true on my first procedure and I am hoping the same holds true for my second procedure as I am almost 15 months post op from the second. Everyone is usuallly a bit different, but the 12 month timeline is an average. The true "final" result isn't until the 18th month in my situation.

If you are talking about FUT, one reason is to allow your scalp elasticity to return to normal so another strip can be taken. Also, it's a good idea to allow time for all your grafts to grow out from the first procedure. A year time period usually satisfies both of these.

I've been using Revivogen shampoo for a little over a month and I have noticed less shedding on my pillow in the mornings so I'm assuming it's helping. Because I've only used it for a month, it could be a biological timing causing me to shed less leaving me to think the shampoo is helping. Who knows. I don't use the direct scalp therapy, just the shampoo.

After two weeks YOU will think that somebody will notice something because you notice it. As long as your hair in the back is long enough to cover you scar that will be one thing that won't be noticed. Regarding the recipient area, most of the scabs fall off by day 14 so you won't have a bloody scalp. Just some redness (aka sunburn), and some sparse little hairs. Most of these hair will shed by the two week mark, but if some are left nobody will notice. Even if somebody thought something was different, they wouldn't know what it was. Especially the thought of a hair transplant. The more hair you have up top the easier it is to hide. Without any hair, two weeks is pushing it, but I think you can still pull it off. Just depends. Only one way to find out. My advice would be to go for it because you will notice, but nobody else will.