RopainNogain

I'm going to go for a revision eventually. If it works great, if it doesn't, I might consider FUE into the scar to camouflage it. I'm probably pushing a NW6 pattern so I don't want to waste FUE grafts for a scar if I could use them up top. I returned to work 3 days after my 2nd procedure. Staring at a desk and computer with my chin pointed towards my chest didn't help me out. I'll take more time off and be more careful the 3rd go around. Hope for the best. Welcome to hair transplants right...

You're welcome. Yeah I have a few pics although they aren't of the best quality. I will post them soon when I get access to them. Let me guess, your first scar was perfect or at least acceptable... Then this go around you are wondering what the heck is going on?

That looks like a stretched scar to me. That's exactly what my scar looked like at 4 months post op. I was hoping for shock loss, but now at 7 months the redness has faded and the stretched scar is confirmed. Best to forget about it reevaluate in 8 months. If you were in the gym during the first 2 months, that's most likely the culprit. Don't believe the rumors of returning to the gym within weeks after surgery. Some might be fine, but those are the lucky ones. I hate to tell you what you don't want to hear, but unfortunately that's stretch back.

Propecia seems to be a longer term commitment as far as I’m concerned. Once you start to take it, you can begin to shed. With some luck these shed hairs will return, but if you shed these healthy hairs, then go for a transplant, you risk damaging a good follicle with the implant of a graft. This makes that implanted graft almost pointless if it replaces a perfectly good follicle. I was on propecia about 1 or 2 weeks before my first transplant, everything went fine, yet I continued the use of it and still am today. Guess this is why I hear about beginning propecia 6-12 months before a transplant. If you can't continue I wouldn't consider starting for a minimal amount of time. But the best advice is ask your doctor. 1st FUT surgery (being on propecia about 2 weeks) No donor area shockloss 2nd FUT surgery (being on propecia about 15 months) donor area shockloss My experience is that it doesn’t cut down on shockloss (donor area wise), but we are all different. My conclusion: who knows? You seemed more concerned about the recipient area, but I figured this example will give you an understanding that donor area shockloss is also a possibility and propecia didn’t prohibit it. Also, I would revisit that 4,000 graft number and get a clear cut understanding of what you should expect from that. And he told you one procedure to reach the 4,000 number or he didn’t say? I would be surprised if he could do it in one go around.

I have the same pattern loss as you do. I thought I was looking at the top of my head for a second. (pre surgery) I have the small forelock patch remaining and the very thin middle with the same pattern in the crown. I am 25 and have had two strip procedures. First was 2,500 grafts and the most recent was 2,400 grafts. I am about 4.5 months post op from the second. If you have any questions about advice or what to expect I can answer those for you. It really comes down to your goals. Decent coverage will mean you need at least 5,000 grafts if not more. (If you are serious about adressing the crown) You won't have a full head thick of hair, but if you want a hairline and something to make ya look 25 again your on the right track with your expectations. I don't want to scare you with the 5,000 graft number. 4,000 grafts will improve your situation greatly, but you'll be left wanting more. I jumped in at age 23 and said it can't be any worse, so I just went for the strip method. Was it the right choice? Idk yet. I'm trying to recover from donor area shock loss. Research will tell you it's a rare occurrence, but don't believe it. Surgery number one was perfectly fine, but surgery number two left a good amount of shock loss. I'm waiting for it to return. I'm crossing my fingers! If you can get the amount of grafts needed for sufficient coverage, go FUE. Plus if you are considering one procedure until they come out with another approved treatment (hopefully soon), then it sounds to me that you have a good plan. Get the opinions of several Dr.s before you commit to a "plan" Have you consulted with any doctors yet? Let me know if you have any questions and good luck!