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pkipling

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Everything posted by pkipling

  1. Personally, I commend you for trusting your gut and not moving forward with something you were unsure of. Stay patient, and keep reminding yourself that there really is no rush. Time always moves by faster than we realize, so even if you don't get a procedure for another 18 months, it will be here before you know it. Stay optimistic, keep researching, and keep listening to your gut/instincts!
  2. Never listen to the outlying reddit cases! Lol. If the dermatologist says it will go away after the course, then I would choose to focus on that and not let your brain get taken over by the worst case scenario. I'd stay focused on getting your skin cleared up now, finish the medication, and give your body a few months to bounce back before jumping to any conclusions.
  3. I would say that most likely, you'll be looking back to normal after 6 months - and hopefully with some significant growth under your belt. For reference, I'm attaching my photos, and the bottom left photo is me at 6 months post-op. (Top right is 4 months, and bottom right is 12 months.)
  4. It all seems to be healing really well! And you're right in that you shouldn't be able to see any results right now anyway. Month three is the earliest the grafts would even begin to grow, so even if they start now, you won't see the effects of that growth for a few more weeks or so. Hoping you're an early grower and start to see some quick improvement... (But also don't be discouraged if that doesn't happen.) The best thing to do is to try and put it out of your head and resist the temptation to obsessively look in the mirror for results 5 times a day...
  5. That mindset might seem counterintuitive to some, but I think reaching a point of acceptance with something like this (like you're doing) is quite healthy. As easy it is to say to be patient and hold out hope, I think a part of me would also want to surrender to the possibility, at least, of this not having the outcome you were hoping for... Which will set you up with a clearer head to be able to figure out how to move forward once the final outcome is here. I hate that this hasn't been what you were expecting/hoping for, but hopefully you get some answers that can lead to a successful procedure in the future should you want to do it again with a different surgeon. We'll keep hoping for some late growth for you, regardless!
  6. Happy to see all the resounding NOs here already. I went in with this same exact mindset when I had my first consultation with Dr. Mohebi, and he very quickly shut it down and explained why it would be a terrible idea and would not be an option. Lol. So I surrendered to his guidance and expertise, and we worked together to create a hairline that we both were happy with. And to be completely honest, in hindsight, I probably would be even happier with the initial/slightly higher hairline he initially proposed for me! We went a tad lower than he originally recommended because I just couldn't wrap my brain around not lowering it as much as possible... And while I have no complaints, his expert opinion/first suggestion was probably the slightly better route.
  7. While it's definitely possible, I imagine it would be somewhat tricky to pull off successfully (much like temple points require a particularly skilled surgeon), so you'd want to take that into consideration. And as Gatsby mentioned, it's really going to come down to what best suits you and your face and will look the most natural... All of which are things you would discuss with the surgeon when they're designing different options for you. If you find someone who can do it and it would look natural on you, it's definitely worth considering! I've always loved the way they look.
  8. Nope. The complete opposite, actually. Every single time it comes up in conversation, the response is always enthusiastic and inquisitive... Usually a combination of A) shocked that they had no idea, B) wanting to see photos and asking tons of questions, C) and usually bringing up how they or someone they know either also had a procedure or really wants to get one. I was so nervous when I first got my HT that people would find out, and it felt like a dark secret I was carrying around for a while... And I was so relieved to learn that all my fears were completely unfounded when I started telling friends about it and they were all soooo supportive. I'm sure there are always some judgmental people lurking around who might have a negative opinion or two, but I've yet to run into them in regards to this... And even if I did, I'm so happy/confident with my decision to do this that I can't imagine even caring for a second what anyone thought. If anything, I've become somewhat happy to talk about it when it comes up in conversation.
  9. You'll wanna sleep on a slight incline after the procedure as well to help prevent swelling, so I'd go ahead and figure that out ahead of time. I just stacked pillows methodically to give myself an incline, but they also make incline pillows specifically designed for this purpose. I used one after I had a nose procedure a couple of years ago and it made sleeping much easier. Your doctor will likely give you a list of things to get - and some surgeons even send you home with things as well. If you're planning on venturing out during the first week and want to remain somewhat inconspicuous, I'd recommend a snapback hat with a high crown that you can wear on little outings. These hats specifically allow you adjust them loose enough that you can carefully place them on your head and wear them high enough without any portion of the hat coming into contact with the grafts. A lot of guys are very conservative/cautious when it comes to this and avoid hats altogether, which is totally fine/valid - but if you're looking for a covering option, that's a safe way to go - especially if you need to be out and about out of necessity and need a way to block your scalp from the sun.
  10. I think you're definitely doing the right thing by waiting and trying all other avenues before rushing into a HT... Although, based on the current state of your hair, if it does end up being a viable option for you, I would definitely recommend it. Was your consultation in person? If so, did they give any feedback on your donor area? It looks great in the photos, which would be a big point in your favor considering you'd likely need followup procedures down the road. And since you like to keep your hair longer anyway, you could experiment with Toppik, as Davidn suggested. I don't have personal experience with it, but a lot of guys swear by it, and it may give you just enough coverage that it takes any urgency of a hair transplant off the table for a bit.
  11. Ohhhh this looks like it's going to be a phenomenal outcome! Not only does the work look extremely clean, but you seem to have really solid, reasonable expectations for what you want to achieve, and I'm excited to see the vision come to life for you. Looking forward to more updates as the months roll by. Great start to the new year for suuuuure.
  12. It does look a bit sparse to me in certain areas, but it's hard to say if it's enough to mean that you're not a good candidate for a HT in the future. However, since you're on accutane, I don't think now is the best time to assess this if I'm being honest - particularly since thinning hair is listed as a potential side effect of taking it. If I were you, I'd wait until a few months after you stop taking the medication before I'd give this too much thought. Congrats on getting the acne cleared up, btw! That's gotta be a huge relief.
  13. Ahhh YES, definitely go get a haircut. A nice, low fade would be ideal... Or anything to even it out. That's gonna make you feel way better and more confident about it, and will give you a more accurate depiction of how things are healing. Also, don't be surprised if it takes a few months before the donor evens itself back out. While it technically heals pretty fast, it can still take a few months for the density to start to look more even - particularly if there's any temporary shock loss in that area. Mine got increasingly better over the first 8 months or so after my HT.
  14. I agree with StillAlive that you may see an increased illusion of density even with a slightly different hairstyle. It's worth consulting with a stylist who could give their input on a different cut and/or styling products that would improve the overall appearance... Because even as it is right now, your hair seems to be in great shape! You may see a lot of improvement just by making a few cut and styling tweaks. As for dermatologist vs HT surgeon... Even if you don't want to get a hair transplant, I still think it's a better idea to get a consultation with a reputable hair transplant rather than a dermatologist. To me, it's the difference between going to a GP and a specialist. The dermatologist is going to be really well-versed in overall skin/scalp health, addressing any underlying skin conditions that could contribute to hair fall, etc... But I personally believe a *qualified* and *reputable* hair transplant surgeon is going to know the ins and outs of hair loss and the best ways to address it more so than a dermatologist would... And you can be upfront with them about wanting a HT to be a last resort. If you find a trustworthy surgeon, they'll be able to guide you regardless of if that guidance leads to a hair transplant or not.
  15. I was just about to make a post about this, because I started perming my hair last year. I get bored easily and am always trying to switch things up, and my hair has always been super straight, soooo it's been a fun way to play with different looks. I view experimenting with different hairstyles the same way I view experimenting with different clothes. If you wanna try out new looks for yourself, I say go for it if you're a good candidate. Of course, putting any chemical on our hair is technically going to "damage/compromise" it, but if done correctly, there's no reason we can't do all the things to transplanted hair that we do to native hair. Since my hair transplant, I've bleached it, had it chemically relaxed, permed it, curled it, etc. (all with Dr. Mohebi's blessing and approval)... And should any hair get damaged due to over-treating it, it just grows out and new, healthy hair will follow to take its place. (And again, if you're going to a professional who knows how to work within the confines of healthy treatment, proper chemicals, timing, etc., then there should be almost no risk of damage... And especially not permanent damage.) And not to refute what others are saying about it damaging the hair shafts, but from my experience and having close friends who are very successful hair stylists, I really do think it comes down to how knowledgeable the stylist is, and I think it's extremely low risk when done correctly. Some may think it looks like broccoli, but I love it and get tons of compliments on it - and literally nobody knows it's not natural and are shocked when I tell them it's a perm (just like they're shocked when they find out I've had a hair transplant), sooo... to each their own. Lol.
  16. As a general rule, I think it's always a good idea for anyone getting a hair transplant to mentally prepare for eventually needing a second one down the road for exactly the reason you mentioned: Hair loss is progressive and there will likely be future hair loss that you might want to address one day. The difference is whether or not that's enough to deter you from getting one. I think if you're able to accept that as a simple reality of hair restoration, it may help you reframe it in your mind in a way that it doesn't feel so negative. If you don't end up needing a second one, then it's icing on the cake... But it's always important to properly manage expectations.
  17. A couple points in regards to the donor area after FUE: A lot of this is going to depend on your personal standards. I feel like I healed pretty well in the donor area, and from what I hear from friends and barbers, even when I get a really short fade, they don't think anything looks different or alarming. However, I can look at the donor area and tell that it's a little more sparse than it was before my procedure - which makes sense considering there are 2,000 less grafts there than there were before. So as long as I'm measuring by normal societal standards and what other people's eyes see, it probably looks great! However, for any of us experienced with HTs, we might notice a little... "something". I go back and forth with how I prefer to cut my hair on the back and sides. I'll still do a really short/high fade from time to time and be okay with it, but for the most part, I've realized I'm most comfortable/confident when I do a short/lower fade that starts getting a tad longer in the donor region. (Meaning it's still a no guard at the bottom, but the fade starts lower on the scalp.) It looks like you get a higher fade - and so with that in mind, there's a chance that you can keep getting this same haircut and nobody will think anything looks off except for maybe you. In which case, you could just put those thoughts aside and proceed as normal... OR you could just tweak your haircut a bit and find something that works for your scalp, depending on how it ultimately ends up looking. I think it's unreasonable to think we can remove thousands of grafts in the back and it look exactly the same as an untouched scalp, so I would always go into a procedure being okay with it likely ending up looking a little bit different - which doesn't necessarily mean bad. As long as you're at peace with that, then it's really a non-issue when compared to the joy/satisfaction of having a successful hair transplant - especially in the hairline!
  18. It seems like you're definitely on the right track, particularly with having realistic expectations. That's something that's key to any successful hair restoration journey, but especially true for people like yourself experiencing more advanced hair loss. As a general rule, I think it's always a good idea to at least give finasteride a shot to see how you respond to it, however, as SoSoz pointed out - at this point, I'm not sure what good it would do you considering you've already lost the vast majority of you hair in the front/mid-scalp. Finasteride is most effective as a preventative measure, so I would imagine that that ship has sailed - but it's something you could always run by the surgeons you end up getting consultations with. Keep browsing the forum and staying active, and you'll naturally start compiling a list of surgeons that you feel drawn to, particularly by seeking out patient results who had similar hair loss to yours and who have results that you admire.
  19. This is very impressive, especially for 6 months! (And leave it to us hair transplant patients for being so particular about our hair and not wanting to wet it. Lol.)
  20. This is something that only you can answer, as we all have different mindsets around how hair loss effects us. Some guys have significant hair loss and are at complete peace with it. That said, I do think there's some validity in the approach of focusing on the front to properly frame the face, and then either using fibers in the crown (if you have enough hair there for them to latch onto) OR using a hair piece of some sort in that area? (I'm not knowledgeable on hair pieces, but I've seen guys post them here before and they've definitely improved over the years and can look really good.
  21. Whether or not a hair transplant would be "worth it" in your case is going to come down to personal preference, and I think getting a couple consultations under your belt to gather more info would be a great place to start evaluating things. I agree with Doron that growing your hair out for a couple of weeks will really help give you and any potential surgeons some good insight as to what sort of results are possible for you as well. Your hair loss is fairly advanced, and so I think the biggest factor will be managing your expectations and deciding for yourself if "what's possible" is "enough" to satisfy you... And then weighing the pros and cons between your "best case scenario outcome" and sticking with your current buzzed look. As a general rule, if you've found a way to be happy with how things are now and are content with having the buzzed look (which seems to suit you based on the photos!), and it turns out that your results won't meet your standards, then it's probably best to leave it alone. But if you're unsatisfied with it as-is and you feel like you'd be happy and satisfied with an outcome that leaves you at an NW3 (for instance), then it's worth considering. First things first... I'd grow my hair out and get a consultation or two under my belt with some qualified surgeons and reevaluate then once you have more info!
  22. As the answers in this thread point out, I think it ultimately comes down to personal preference/comfort level/surgeon recommendations. Can you just casually throw a hat on after the procedure without damaging the grafts? Absolutely not. However, is it possible to get a loose-fitting, snap back hat with a high brim and gently place it on your head in such a way that the hat makes absolutely no contact with grafts? YES. I wore a hat the day after the procedure, and I assure you, it wasn't a risky decision. In fact, it was actually the safest way for me to be outside walking my dog, going to the clinic for a followup, etc. because I needed to make sure I didn't have any sun exposure. It's also a valid point that ultimately, we give too much power to what other people think - and I agree that if you don't have access to the right kind of hat, then it's not worth the risk of damaging the grafts just to avoid any weird looks. No matter what you choose, just be mindful not to damage any of the grafts by letting them make direct contact with anything that could move them around. Although also keep in mind that after the first 72 hours, the chances of you dislodging them start to decrease quite considerably.
  23. I don't think it's unreasonable for you to want to address this. The hair loss isn't severe - and by many standards, you don't have anything to worry about - but whether or not to address hair loss is a very subjective decision, and if it bothers you, it bothers you. The important thing is that you're being mindful not to rush into anything and are doing the proper legwork to make sure it is indeed a good decision for you. As far as surgeons in the UK, someone you could reach out to would be Dr. Farjo in London. In fact, here's a recent thread he posted of a patient whose situation was very similar to yours. (Late 20s, receding hairline, small-ish procedure, etc.) Glad you found this forum, and good luck on this journey!
  24. I experienced this as well for a few weeks post-op, and while I tried different things to calm the area (ointments, ice, ibuprofen, etc.) nothing seemed to really be extremely effective unfortunately - though they did help soothe the area and make it slightly more tolerable. The ointment helped soothe the surface level of my scalp, and the ice would numb it a bit to provide some relief - but as Gillenator mentioned, since much of this type of pain is nerve-related, for me the only thing I could really do was wait it out.
  25. I can't read the full description/breakdown, but this procedure looks like quite the feat! That is a lot of grafts for a single session (unsure of how many days this took), and looks like it will be a phenomenal transformation. I'm looking forward to seeing how this turns out for you!
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