hairlosscpa

Wow man your routine sounds so similar to mine. Thanks so much for the insight. You dont meet many who are using couvre/toppik on the hairline before and after post op and have experience with both.

 

When did you re-introduce concealers? Each of the 10 or so docs I've polled including my own recommend anywhere from the 10 day to 1 month mark as a fair time to re-intro. I will be at 3.5 month mark when anything first touches my recipient.

 

Did you really leave couvre on for 2 weeks at a time? lol I thought I was aggressive going 3 days at times.

 

I think thats the biggest change--ok to use, but no more caking on dermmatch/couvre for multiple days and lighter applications in general. Like you said, it will keep from chasing density that's just not achievable in real life.

Haha, yes 2 weeks! I was a clown. I was in crazy denial about my hairloss that I hid under concealers as long as I could.

I applied Couvre close to 3 weeks post-op. Did not have the luxury to wait 3.5 months due to work commitments. I asked Dr. Vories about concealers and he said its fine once the scabs are gone. I try to avoid applying it as much as I can. Luckily, I work from home 2/3 times a week so I definitely give my scalp some concealer-free days. I really think you're OK applying Couvre at this point. Like others have said, just wash it out daily (preferably with sulfate-free shampoo). I use Mill Creek Botanicals Biotin Shampoo. All natural, no sulfates, safe for daily use. This way its not like I'm applying concealers and then damaging my hair with shampoos haha.

I have been using Couvre for around 5 years now with the combination of Toppik/Caboki, works wonders especially after mastering the hairline. Too much Couvre makes your hair look too chalky and too little you'll overcompensate with the fibers, making your hair look chalky. Hard to strike the perfect balance. I'm 27 now and literally concealers have given me a chance to enjoy my 20s. I tried Dermatch and thought it was useless. Even after many different attempts at application.

I don't think using Couvre will hinder your results. It's just not possible for the cream to penetrate your scalp so deep that it affects the health of your follicles. I do think that leaving it on for days at a time and letting it dry will affect scalp and hair health. I use to leave that stuff on for sometimes close to 2 weeks and it probably did do some damage. Now if I use it, I wash it out that night no matter what I have going on the next morning.

I'm close to 4 months post-op with Dr. Vories and I have noticed some substantial growth. Makes applying concealer for work, especially the hairline area, so much easier. Basically cut down my application time by more than half. However, I know my hair natural will never look as good as it does with concealers , even when fully matured. It's going to be hard to eventually stop using Couvre/Toppik/Caboki as I get older.

Esrec, good luck man. My two cents is hold off as much as you can using concealers again, because even after your transplant matures, it will probably never look as good naturally as it would with your matured results mixed with concealers. You probably know this already considering your expertise with using concealers. Just thought I'd share my experience and thoughts so far.

Sanjar thanks for posting. Stay strong man. If you're up for it could you post some updated pics? It'll help the community to provide better recommendations.

I will also contribute to the fund. Thanks

End a conversation with name calling..? I would have let leindub have the last word because he broached the original question I had wondered. Why do an FUE in a clinic known for FUT's? Until you needlessly chimed in with your insults I was thru with this. I have no dog in this fight but you keep making this personal.

I think the real question is why the clinic would agree to perform or let alone offer FUE? This clearly looks like sub-par work which DD214, you clearly state is due to lack of experience in FUE. If the Doctor, or in this case, Nurse, knows that he/she will not be up to standards, or does not lack the skill or knowledge to perform FUE, should not offer it and stick with FUT only. It is what a reputable clinic would do. I also believe they cannot do FUT, unless you clearly post your results. What I see is a butchered patient. Wouldn't even wish that procedure on my worst enemy.

You're making a big mistake considering this clinic. Please expand your search.

I'm literally disgusted by DD214.

Not getting far away from the growth period now. I'm day 14 so ages off, but i also have purchased some Couvre, for the Christmas period, hair is too short at the minute though.

 

Your strip scar is very thin, hard to see in the photos

Couvre can be great with short hair. You just need to apply very little and try to spread it as much as you can around the scalp, almost like trying to apply a thin light even layer throughout. I feel like then only it looks the most natural. Also make sure the sponge is slightly damp too when applying. I feel like that helps with adding a thin layer more evenly.

Thanks for your comment man!

Attached are my progress photos 3 days shy of 3months post-op. I have attached two images which compares my status from around 10 weeks post-op to now. I have been applying rogaine foam once a day to the crown area for the last 2/3 weeks.

I still have some patchiness in my donor area. Use Couvre and Caboki to conceal it. From what I have read, this appears to be normal.

I feel like I am making decent progress. All questions and comments welcomed! Thanks.

Try applying emu oil and jojoba oil (you can get it off amazon) to the reddish areas. Tremendously helped to calm and moisturize my scalp post-op which ultimately made the redness only existent when I come out of the shower. Can't hurt to try.

you should look into taking vitamin k2 with vitamin d.

Thanks. Why do you recommend vit k2 with d?

Is she still recommended on here?

The work looks very clean and refined!

Couvre worked really well for me 10 days post-op. Toppik/Caboki (hair fibers) looked very fake

No it would not. The tissue is transected, basically a lost follicle.

Your donor looks very similar to mine. Dr. Konior was willing to perform FUE on me (approx 2000 grafts). I ended up going with Vories (2500 grafts). I am 2 months post-op and my donor area does look thin right now but it's all hopefully part of the healing process.

From the pic you first posted I can't see why all doctors minus Vories says its too thin. Maybe due to the much larger area you need covered compared to what I needed.

"I think there is more than enough information to make a well founded decision. Either accept these as facts or disprove them. There should be no middle way. Ultimately, do you think that the patients that visit this site and will be influenced by it will be in good hands in this clinic? Would you have your own procedure at this clinic? "

That is the million dollar question which will put a lot of this "uncertainty" talk into perspective.

How many grafts were used?

That FUE/FUT comparison case study is quite a shocker...

I agree. The FUE results make me sad, especially being 2 months out from my procedure.

Great work! Looks very natural.

Looks great!

What was the FUE punch size used? Thanks.

You had a hair transplants 2 weeks ago, you're going to shed no matter what shampoo you use.

I have been using it for 2 months (right after I got my HT), and like expected, my transplanted hairs did shed. However, I do notice my native hairs are healthier looking and I shed less of them than I use to.

After shampooing, I use a little bit of Mill Creek Biotene H-24 Natural Conditioner which helps to prevent my hair/scalp from drying out.

You can get both products from Amazon or Vitamin Shoppe.

Deionized Water, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Aloe Vera Gel, Decyl Polyglucose Glycerin, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Cocamidopropy Hydroxysultaine, Decyl Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Betaine (Coconut Oil), Panthenol (Provitamin B5), Biotin, Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A), Coltsfoot Extract, Yarrow Extract, Rosemary extract, Sage Extract, Nettles Extract, Birch Leaf Extract, Horsetail Extract, Calcium Pantothenate, Inositol, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Citric Acid, Cysteine HCI, Ethylhexyglycerine Caprylyl Glycol, Essential Oils. pH Balanced. FREE OF: Parabens, Propylene Glycol, Artificial Fragrances

I try to avoid shampoos that have any kind of "sulfates" as their top ingredients. The potency of each ingredient is listed in descending order. Therefore, I would avoid the shampoo since Ammonium Laureth Sulfate is the second ingredient listed.

I use Mill Creek Biotin Shampoo. The ingredients are the following:

Deionized water, biotin, hydrolyzed keratin, peppermint oil, hydrolyzed elastin, niacin, folic acid, panthenol (provitamin B5), *organic aloe vera gel, jojoba oil, inositol, barley extract, sodium C14-16 olefin sulfonate, cocamydropopyl betaine (coconut oil), cocamide MIPA, citric acid, potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate, essential oil blend.

Look at the first 5 ingredients, no sulfates found. Although it does contain sodium C14-16 olefin sulfonate and sodium benzoate, it is listed in the latter half.

Just my opinion, I'm sure the shampoo you listed does what it claims. I would just be concerned of long term daily use.

Although he's in his late 20s, he went from looking like a guy in his mid-30s with amazing hair and some greying to an 18 year old with no loss.

Life is unfair, hah.

Awesome yield. Do you have any pics of the hairline pulled back?

Just a quick update for my 6/7 weeks post-op. I feel like my hair has grown pretty fast for under two months and I believe its due to my regimen noted in my signature below.

Nearly all transplanted hairs have shed. No pain, just slight numbness in the recipient area.

Attached are my pre-op, 6/7 week post-op and 1 immediate post-op pics.

FYI - I have been trimming my back and sides on my own every 2 weeks