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.

A doctor’s view on an acceptable result and a young patient’s view are quite different. Placing 2,000 grafts up front to frame the face will give you an ecstatic feeling because you haven't experienced a framed face for a while. BUT it will do just that. Frame the face. You won't have the desired density and further down the line you will want to have another procedure to fill in the mid scalp and work towards the crown. Ask yourself, how many young guys are walking around with a framed face but nothing behind it? The whole reason to get a transplant is to look and feel normal in society. As time moves forward, you might think I just want to be normal and shave it all off. That’s more normal than tattoos on my head and some thin hair. You’ll be at step one all over again. Being young at such a high norwood level is detrimental to your mental well being. I know as I am one. It’s crazy when you see older men complaining about mild temple recession. If I was married with a family and had mild temple recession I wouldn’t care at all. Us young guys in the dating world hate to have any disadvantage such early in life. On the other hand, you seem like you have realistic expectations since you want to use SMP to compliment the transplant. Maybe FUE with temporary SMP would be a viable option, so you have the option to buzz down later if you so wish, without permanent tattoos all over your head. Shaving down with permanent tattoos on your scalp just seems a little odd, but that's just my opinion. H&W are exclusivley strip, while SMG offer both strip and FUE.

Regarding the second procedure... YES it will be additional $$$, not included in the first proceudure's pricing. 30-40 grafts per sq. cm will give you an acceptable look but it will look thin in certain lighting. The misconception that a hair transplant will replace what you lost is not 100% accurate. At least he told you that you will most likely want/ need another pass. Lot to think about, but I wouldn't do anything until you are financially able to accomplish the goal you want.

If you are Norwood 2 then I would not consider a transplant at this time. If you were to get an evaluation from a few doctors, I would only use that for informative purposes. Get on Finasteride and wait it out. If you think waiting out while taking Finasteride is going to be difficult, let me tell you, the transplant roller coaster is even harder. The younger you are the more intense the roller coaster. See how you respond to medical therapy and revisit in a year or two. I'm 26 and have had two procedures, but I was more advanced in my hairloss. My hairline is conservative and about a NW2 and I'm more than happy, so NW2 isn't THAT bad. Shoot i'm probably too young to of had a procedure, but I did. Only time will tell, but that's the biggest unknown factor while playing the game. Research into what can really be accomplished. I'm sure some doctors will tell you that they can reconstruct your hairline with a certain number of grafts. They would be right, BUT is that new hairline going to be as dense as you expected, will it match your natural density to the point where you are satisfied with the result.... good questions to ask before considering surgery. There are many other questions as well, but your main question is should I get on Finasteride and the answer is YES.

Do you have any pictures? What stage of loss are you currently at?

I’m looking for a little bit of guidance for my hair restoration journey… I have had two prior FUT procedures. I just turned 26 yrs old and I am a NW5 with signs of progressing to NW6. My first procedure of 2,500 grafts left me with a very acceptable fine scar, but the second procedure of 2,400 grafts has left me with a very unacceptable scar aprox. 1cm in width. The widest points are on the sides right behind and above the ears. (see pictures). I am in search of my next step which is most likely a scar revision. Two surgeons have told me my scalp is flexible even after two surgeries so I have some donor reserves left for some future grafting via FUT or FUE. I've been told aprox. 500 FUE grafts would camouflage the scar but I believe that number is too low for adequate coverage and a waste of donor at my age and situation. I would much rather attempt to do an revision first, trying to get some grafts with the revision (if possible) and not too risky OR just going for a revision and obtaining a greater number of grafts at a later date via FUT again OR maybe FUE exclusively if my scar turns out acceptable. Another question: Am I at too much risk undergoing procedures at the younger age of 26 even though my progression is already at the NW5, fringing on the NW6 with my miniaturization pattern around the fringes? The only good thing is I have acceptable donor hair, guessing around the 8,000 FU range. I’m not a 19 yr. old with receding temples wanting a 2,000 graft hairline reconstruction. I was told I would need another 2,000 grafts to make an acceptable difference in the crown, but I'm hesitant to even entertain that amount of grafts in that crown region at this time. I'm contemplating starting Rogaine foam to see where that takes me. Hopefully it can regrow some in the crown and hold me for a few more yrs. If I can get 100 grafts out of the scar during the revision, I’m thinking of placing those in the hairline area to refine naturalness. I also plan on being a bit more careful post to give the best chance of healing with fine scar. I have surgeons recommending more grafts to add density since I have such a high NW level and I have pretty good donor, then I have common sense telling me not to be really really careful in listening to the recommendations. My level of baldness would be acceptable at about 35-40 yrs of age, but not at the age of 26. I want the best result now, but I don't want to do it at the risk of exhausing donor for the future. Techniques are always changing. I'm running into the major problem of the future WHAT IF? All opinions welcome...

The redness can be explained as sunburn, but the new hair in the temples giving you a new hairline look might be the only give away. If you really want to pull it off, shave your hair really really short or shave with a razor. Then let it grow to the required length for your procedure. When you return after your procedure, explain any new hair as "oh I just let my hair grow out a little bit" Because you've been sporting the shaven look for a while it will be believable. I know a guy who shaves his head short and you can tell he is balding, but he let it grow out almost an inch and it appeared that he had way more hair. He hadn't had any transplant or anything. Length of hair has a big influence on the appearance of thickness. 95% of people don't even know what's involved in a hair transplant. They don't even know the hair comes from the back of the head (especially FUE method), I think you'll be fine if you try and hide it.

Yes, I use the applicator. I just press slightly on the disk using 5-10 circle motions. I make several passes in the same area to get coverage. It takes a few sweeps to get the desired result, but it beats waiting for the stuff to dry and it's a lot less messy. You have to let your hair lay down in its natural pattern. Mine lays forward so I brush it towards the front, apply the DermMatch from back to front following the natural pattern, then I comb my hair straight back and then style. I then do the finishing touches and detailing. I just find that this method spreads more naturally and evenly.

Has anyone applied DermMatch dry without wetting the applicator? I applied DermMatch to just the hair in the crown and midscalp (not directly to scalp). I’d have to say that after a few passes of painting per say, it looked pretty good. I threw in some gel for styling and the thickening illusion looked awesome. I did a few more brush strokes of dry DermMatch for final touch ups and it was complete. Maybe this is a possible solution for anyone concerned about scalp heath and scared to apply directly to the scalp. I have some hair in the crown due to a light coverage hair transplant, but it is thin so concealers are required when I’m going for the full look. Does anyone else have any tips for DermMatch or the combination of concealers? (especially for the crown)

These hairs grow this way due to trauma the graft goes through when being transplanted. Some of this is unavoidable, but nonetheless can be heavily minimized. On average the hair should straighten out after 12 months post op. Sometimes they never straighten out and you should have been made aware of this prior to your procedure in your consent form. Compare your graft to your fingernail. If you cause any trauma to your fingernail, it grows back a little ridged, but smoothes out after time. Now your grafts growing crooked sounds like some recipient sites were not properly angled by the doctor or the grafts not placed properly, unless you are using crooked and twisted/ spiral interchangeably and maybe I misunderstood your point. Are the majority of your grafts wavy or is it just a small percentage you can see in the hairline?

Have you tried propecia/ finasteride? You don't look like you are ready for a hair transplant IMO. Have you tried concealer for that area? If you have a hairline and some native hair, I would consider concealer for sure if it bothers you that much.