pkipling

There's no way even the best surgeon can predict with 100% certainty, but there are ways of getting a pretty good idea of how your hair loss will likely progress. Getting a proper evaluation with a top surgeon who takes into account the miniaturization levels of your hair, your family history, your own history with hair loss in regards to when it started, how slow/fast it's progressing, the pattern at which you're losing it, quality of donor hair, etc. is the best way to go about this. They can then formulate a game plan of how to move forward with a hair transplant based on all of this information. Of course, there's no crystal ball that will tell anyone the future, but this is way better than going to a surgeon who dives in blind without taking any of the other factors into account and just gives a recommendation based only on your current situation.

There's no chance of dislodging the grafts after the first 2 weeks, so at 2 months post-op, you should be able to wear any hat you want at that point. Of course, every surgeon is going to have their own set of arbitrary guidelines, so always feel free to get your own surgeon's input if you wish... But I'd say wear whatever you'd like!

As many of you know, there's a lot of variance in the hair transplant industry when it comes to post-op care. Every surgeon seems to have their own unique set of protocols, which can make it quite confusing to navigate - especially if you get a procedure with a surgeon/office who isn't very hands on after the procedure. I always recommend following whatever specific protocol your own surgeon gives you, but for those times when someone is still left wondering what to do, here's a video tutorial of the hair washing protocol we use at Parsa Mohebi Hair Restoration. Use it as a guide or reference point if you wish - and feel free to add your own input for best hair wash practices in the thread as well!

Maybe I'm looking at the pictures wrong, but I definitely see growth that seems on par with what you could expect at 6 months...? If you're seeing any growth at all at 6 months, I think it's way too soon to say the growth is definitively terrible. Remember that the absolute earliest you would see any results at all would be around month 4, and it's not uncommon for some people to be a bit slower than that - which is where you seem to be. Is it possible your expectations are a bit off?

Hi Luke! I'm glad you're keeping a level head about the potential sides and are able it navigate it with such a neutral mindset. Most of the studies I'm aware of report that optimal finasteride dosage/frequency is 1mg/daily. However, that's not to say that .5mg/MWF wouldn't be affective - but you are taking substantially less of the drug. I found one study that said 1mg/every other day is comparable to 1mg/daily - so you one option to consider would be to slowly increase to this level and see how your body responds. That might be the best option based on the data.

Really happy to see you kept a level head about the lost graft, especially since it won't make a visual difference in the slightest. Although what are the chances you'd hit your head during the very narrow window in your life when you really don't wanna hit your head... 🥴

That's a personal preference, but I think it sounds like the perfect way to spend the holidays honestly! What better Christmas gift for yourself than getting a procedure that's going to positively impact your life/self-esteem in a really meaningful way 6-12 months down the road...

It's still a bit early, so don't panic just yet! It definitely doesn't look like a botched procedure, and there is improvement between 5 1/2 and 6 1/2 months - so that's a good sign. The area doesn't looked very densely packed, but hopefully once the hair grows in, your hair type will add to the illusion of density and make it look thicker than it would otherwise. The way your donor area looks at the longer length is very reassuring in that regard, so just stay patient and let's hope for the best!

There really is a lot of variance in the hair transplant industry with what's considered best practices for post-HT care - which makes it really confusing and hard to navigate. Given that a sunburn is one of the only ways you can damage grafts after the 2 week mark though, I think being extra cautious on the longer side of 6 months is ideal. OP - As the others said, it seems like you're probably fine given that you didn't get a sunburn. So while I don't think you should stress or panic, just be a bit more mindful of it moving forward just to be safe. (And as someone who got a bit sunburnt a few weeks ago on a cloudy day, remember not to let your guard down just because it's overcast. Take it from me! Lol)

Every barber/stylist I've ever known has said to not wash your hair daily, as it strips your scalp of a lot of the healthy oils. That said, my scalp has always been rather sensitive, and I have to wash my hair almost daily or else risk it getting itchy and breaking out. So - as a general rule, washing it every other day would be ideal... but also do what works best for you based on some trial and error. If you're going to do it daily, you could try using a milder shampoo every other day so that it's not getting a daily deep clean.

You're off to a great start! Looking forward to seeing how this progresses, as it looks like it'll completely transform your appearance in a really positive way.

Hi Urmat! I think Gillenator's response still stands - even though you're experiencing this stressful period longer than previously mentioned. A few things to note: When you say "But the stop is still rare..." in regards to your progress at 4 months post-op, it indicates that you think you'd have more growth if not for the stress? If so, I want to remind you that the 4th month is the absolute earliest you would see any type of substantial growth, and if you're already seeing good results in the hairline this early, then that's a good sign! As someone with a lifetime of managing anxiety, I understand very well how "stress causes more stress and then we get stressed out about the potential negative affects of the stress which only causes more stress and AHHHHHH" - it can feel overwhelming and like a vicious cycle that never ends. If I were you, I would focus less on how or if the stress is affecting your hair transplant (which it very likely isn't) - and focus more on learning some stress management techniques to deal with the stress itself - not the potential negative affects of the anxiety. Ideally, a therapist would be great for helping with this sort of thing, but if not, there are lots of resources available online to give you some coping mechanisms for how to manage the stress better. Mindfulness techniques, meditation, breathing exercises, etc. are just a few ways that can really help you manage the anxiety in a way that doesn't feel overwhelming. A cornerstone mindset of anxiety is worrying about the future and anticipating negative outcomes.... A simple (yet difficult and also profound) paradigm shift you can make is to start rewriting that narrative, and it starts with being present and mindful. When we find ourselves stressed out about make-believe events in the future, it takes us out of the present moment and leaves us feeling powerless... When the reality is, the more we can stay present and deal with what's in front of us, the more empowered we feel to take on whatever life does throw our way. It's waaaaay easier said than done, but it's possible! See if you can start shifting your thoughts from "Is my stress ruining my hair transplant" and focus instead on "This stress is negatively impacting me in the present moment, so what are some things I can do to reframe it for me so that I find some relief here and now." I hope that helps - and I'm sorry you're going through some things that are causing you such distress. As much as you can, let this hair transplant be a positive experience for you that can help distract you from the stressful experiences and maybe find some relief there. It sounds like you're on the right path!

This is super helpful. A good friend of mine is very open about using Toppik, and we were just talking about it the other day. He often has a really hard line on the hairline, and I think he must be putting it directly on the hairline - so he'll appreciate this video.

Do you have any official pre-op, post-op, and current photos that aren't so zoomed in on a single area? The one photo you posted is low quality, and it's hard to even tell what we're looking at with something that up close. We need a full visual representation in order to give any valuable feedback or input. You can blur your face out if you're concerned with anonymity, but we'd still need to see fuller pictures.

Are you looking for guidance on whether or not you should use Minoxidil? If so, keep in mind that it's not recommended for men over 65, so based on that alone, it doesn't seem like a good idea. At the very least, you would want to discuss this with a doctor and get their input. As for wanting input on getting another procedure, if the last surgeon you had a procedure with told you were "tapped out", then that doesn't seem very promising. If you're unsure on what he meant by that, then I would recommend reaching back out to him for clarification. A surgeon who knows your history and the ins and outs of your scalp is going to be a much more reliable resource for you than any of us could be - especially considering how complicated the history seems to be.

While it's true that a lot of younger people mistakenly think they won't care about what their hair looks like when they're older, I think there's sometimes a bit of truth to that simply in the sense that as we age, we tend to be less bothered by things that maybe really bothered us when we were younger. Whether it's hair loss or any other physical attributes, I think it's very possible that Mel Gibson has reached a point where his hair looks "good enough" to him and he may have no interest in getting any more procedures. Heck - I even know men in their 30s who are completely at peace with their hair loss and wouldn't get a hair transplant by a top surgeon even if it were free. Lol. And as GoliGoliGoli pointed out, with the resources he has, if he wanted to address it, I'm sure he would. And the front really does look great!

The work looks incredible and very clean - and there's no reason to think this will be anything less than a home run for you. Looking forward to seeing how this progresses!

I would imagine that most clinics take time off between Christmas and New Year - but no reputable clinic would just leave someone high and dry who had a procedure right before the holidays. My assumption would be that they would have a game plan in place for how to go about a followup appointment, how to get in touch with the doctor if necessary, and they would cover all their bases to make sure you didn't feel abandoned. It's also something you could discuss with them should you end up booking a procedure right before Christmas.

I think we're all in agreement that seeing a doctor to get an official evaluation would be a great idea. Even though it looks like it's clearing up, there was something considerably off about the procedure, and I'd at least want to have a dermatologist or my PCP look at it in person. I really don't understand why your HT surgeon said it was normal. As far as the HT goes, all you can do now is wait and hope for the best. Should you need another procedure in the future, use this forum as a proper resource to help make sure you're choosing a top level surgeon who won't leave your scalp in the condition it was in - and then have the nerve to tell you it was nothing to worry about.

It's looking great! Also - in my experience, the donor area even improved over time, so that harvested look you're seeing could also very likely start to balance out once everything stabilizes a bit more. You could probably even cut it even shorter in the future.

For me, deciding on my hairline was a collaborative effort between me and @Parsa Mohebi, MD - but with me mostly deferring to him and valuing his expert opinion on the matter. I went in with an idea of what I wanted, and he not only told me why he wouldn't cosign that hairline for me, but educated me on why. When designing a hairline, he takes in a lot of different factors, such as race/ethnicity, age, projected hair loss, hair type, etc. I went in thinking I wanted a super low and linear hairline, which he was very quick to point out why it wasn't a good idea. He then designed his ideal hairline for me (around 1800 grafts, if I remember correctly), and while I loved it, it was still a little higher than I wanted and I asked him if we could compromise and make it just a tad lower. He obliged, insisting that it would still look good - but that would be as low as he would go. In short, I think it's best to trust the surgeon's input. In all honesty, there are times when I think I would've been even more satisfied with the initial hairline he wanted to give me... Which is saying a lot considering how happy I am with what we ended up with. But yeah - if you trust the surgeon, then trust their input. They're the experts for a reason.

As a general rule, if you pulled actual grafts out of your scalp, there would be pain and bleeding... Not to mention that even by Day 7, those grafts are quite secure and while it's possible to dislodge them at that point, it would be more difficult than you realize. If it wasn't painful and didn't bleed, then they were most certainly not lost grafts. The area you're seeing is probably just the hairs themselves that you pulled out prematurely, which isn't an issue at all. On a side note, it's only been about 2 weeks since your hair transplant, and it's way too early to jump to any conclusions - and I promise you it's not going to do your mental or emotional health any good to scrutinize every aspect of the procedure this early on. I don't know the details of your case, your surgeon, etc. - but it will really help you to trust yourself that you put in the work to choose a reputable surgeon and to let yourself just relax and let the process continue to unfold. The hardest part about a hair transplant for many people is the waiting period between the procedure and when the results start to come in... Which won't be for another 3 1/2 months at the earliest. I understand the concern about the potential lost grafts, but try to resist the temptation to start obsessing over how this is going to turn out. Trust me when I tell you it won't do you any good. The best any of us can do in the first few months after the procedure is to try and put it out of our minds altogether, and then let yourself be pleasantly surprised when you look in the mirror one day and see some serious progress.

The answer may vary from clinic to clinic, so don't be alarmed if you get different answers, buuuut I feel very confident saying that it's more than safe for you to do so. The grafts are very anchored and secure at this point (and have been since around Week 2), and the only thing to be mindful of is to not irritate the skin. I actually started buzzing my full scalp a couple weeks after the procedure for the very same reason. The donor is likely already healed, so the only downside is the redness in the recipient area being fully exposed. I was able to wear a hat most of the time though anyway to cover that up, and when I couldn't wear a hat, it just looked like mild sunburn and nothing too alarming.

Great work! And the longer hair really suits him and seems to add an increased illusion of density to the final result. It definitely made him look waaaay younger too.

While I think you're overthinking it in regards to the clinic not being able to focus (or bringing in the "B-Team" lol) by having it done too close to Christmas, I think you're reasoning is very sound about scheduling your appointment in the winter - for all the reasons you mentioned. And depending on what your work/holiday time is like, getting it done mid-December could work out perfectly with your vacation time as well. But if you're choosing a reputable clinic, I think you'll get their undivided attention and care no matter when you get it done. On a side note, I had an emergency hernia repair surgery when I was 19 on December 23rd - and I felt very cared for and attended to the entire time. If anything, everyone was in the Christmas spirit and seemed to make it even more special for me... So who knows - it may be even more of a positive experience by having it done then!