JustJax

6 months update. Generally very happy with the results, yes in theory potentially more growth as it’s only 6 months, but it’s gone a good way to achieving what I wanted which was to strengthen some weak spots and make the hairline a little more dense and as such, more natural.  I do need to start taking the Finasteride tho. I do think that I possibly lost some further hair in the nearly 7 years since my first HT, so I want to start taking it to now keep what I have. Just trying to get off a few other meds that I’ve been on for the past several months first as I don’t like taking too many meds. 

Hi Jakos, I was planning to post some pictures at the start of next month which will be 6 months since my 2nd HT.  

So it was 2 months post op last Friday and on the weekend I got my hair cut again so I thought I’d share the pics post hair cut. As last time, I only cut the sides and back (0.5 grade) and then just had them hand blend it in with the top. 
 

I have to say I’m so happy with my hair at the moment, although it’s very short look, it’s essentially back to looking (shape wise) how it would have been before the surgery. I have a big holiday in 3 weeks and I was really worried just after the surgery that I might not be looking great by the time the holiday came around but I’m now feeling like most people wouldn’t even think I’ve had anything done unless they looked more closely. 
 

One thing I had quite realised until I actively thought about it this past week, is that the numbness has dissipated almost completely, so when I wash or lightly comb my hair, it feeling much more normal.  
 

Lastly, i want to mention a little styling tip that I remembered from last time. If like me you’ve been advised by your clinic not to use styling products for 6 months, you can make your own styling products with approved items. Basically clinics normally say it’s fine to use aloe vera and sweet almond oil, so I use two pumps of aloe vera and a few drop of almond oil and rub those together and apply to the scalp and hair and it acts as a sort of stylising gel. Great for creating a little shape and reducing the fuzz of dry hair.  

So yesterday was 8 weeks post surgery. Took the pictures below yesterday afternoon. I have to say I’m very happy with how it currently looks given it’s only 2 months in.  Typically this would be the the ugly duckling phase, however as this was a touch up and didn’t involve covering any new areas/further lowering of the hairline, the transplanted hair from the first HT seems to have pretty much covered up the shedding.  I do need another haircut on the sides and back so looking forward to that this weekend. Fingers crossed the redness will continue to improve and come mid May/early June I should hopefully see some of the density start to fill in. 

When did you guys restart using hair conditioner again after your HT? There is nothing mentioned on the post op guide from the clinic specifically about conditioner.  I’m 5.5 weeks post op, so  I’m assuming it’s fine to start using it again?  
 

What conditioner do you guys use or recommend? Appreciate probably thousand of brands but any big name recommendations? I have some Aesop conditioner already but I also have this Head and Shoulders Derma one that I bought a few months ago but wondering whether this might be a bit too harsh? https://www.headandshoulders.co.uk/en-gb/anti-dandruff-products/dandruff-conditioner/dermaxpro-soothing/

2 hours ago, Melvin- Moderator said:

I would say one month is more than enough time to trim and brush the recipient.

Thanks Melvin! 👍

6 hours ago, Gatsby said:

Wow! for one month your hair grows fast and it looks like you have hardly shed at all! All the best! 👌

Thanks, to be honest I think it’s perhaps a little deceiving as it was only a top up procedure so I think a lot of hair I’m seeing in the recipient area is the hair from my original HT, which is giving me coverage that I didn’t have after the first HT, as I lowered my hairline last time. Unlike this time, it became very evident when the shedding happened with the first procedure. If it’s doesn’t get much worse that this then I’ll be very happy. Looking at when I buzzed my hair in March 2020, in about 2 months (early May) I’ll have enough length that it then should unnoticeable. At least I hope so. 

So I’m a month post op and the recipient area it’s getting longer and a bit messy/unruly (see below) looking. My intention soon is to start using aloe vera gel and a few drops of sweet almond oil as a sort of temporary replacement hair styling product (did the same after my first transplant) and I’d like to use a comb just to make it look neater.  What I can’t recall is when I actually started gently combing the recipient hair area post surgery. When did you guys start using a comb on the recipient area? 

So got my first haircut post surgery on Friday (which was 31 days post surgery). Only got the back and sides clippered and then had the barber blend the sides with the top, but with scissors only. He didn’t touch the recipient area.  It was starting to get a bit bulbous on the sides so it was great to get it cleaned up.   My friend was visiting so took the opportunity for him to take go decent pics of the donor area too.  Have to say I’m super happy with the donor area. Was a little worried with 2nd procedure as to what the donor area might look like but clearly I needn’t have worried.  

Btw, I did mention above about not much shedding much, but then yesterday I was putting on some aloe vera gel and I noticed after I wiped it on that I had one or two hairs on my hands, so clearly some shedding happening ..  of course it’s expected, so wasn’t concerned. 

So I can’t believe it’s already been a month.  I was worried a few weeks back that my skin in the recipient area was perhaps a little bumpy and inflamed, but it seems to have settled down and I saw a dermatologist today (for other reasons) and asked her to look at my recipient area and she said while it’s a little red it otherwise looks fine.

I think it’s looking pretty good 4 weeks in.  I can’t say I’ve overly noticed the shedding this time, but not sure if I’ve just missed it while showering or whether perhaps the hair from the earlier transplant just makes it difficult to tell. Shedding was certainly much more obvious with the first HT as I’d lowered my hairline so was very evident once the shedding really kicked in, which it had by this stage last time.  Anyway obviously it’s nice that doesn’t at least appear to be major shedding as it means it’s less noticeable. I’ve actually had quite a few people tell me the buzz cut sits me. I quite like it too, but I do think that one side is still going to land up with less density based on what it looked like once all the scabs come off. I think I’ll def try the buzz cut again perhaps late summer to get a better sense on coverage once it’s growing in.

I am planning to get my sides and back cut this weekend for the first time post HT, so will post some pics on the weekend. 

Lastly just to note that while it looks quite red in the recipient area, it apparently much more less noticeable in daylight and in the office, at least according to work colleagues.  

Pictures are from Wednesday evening, so 4 weeks post op. 

To be fair, I think it is settling down and I’m In hide sight I’m not sure if I do have cobblestoning after all. I think redness and the original hairs growing obese the new transplanted hair make it really difficult to see the scalp plus often the lighting makes it difficult to really see the texture.  Of course it might be that it was inflammation or even a mild infection and the antibiotics (oral tablets and ointment) have helped. Still feels a little itchy, but looking at it today I do feel it’s improving. Just to note the ointment is very greasy and difficult to wash off so all the recent images show the recipient area quite shiny looking, it’s actually a greasy film of ointment that’s there even after I shampoo in the morning and will probably take a few days to wash away the build up once I stop using it (Friday last day). 

Hi Dr Guncel, thanks for the through feedback.  I have reached out to the clinic and they have advised to use the Terramycin (oxytetracycline) ointment that the clinic provided for pimples for a week.  I did also go to see a GP (family doctor) here in the UK and while she was a bit clueless about HT’s and what would be expected at this stage, she gave me a 5 day course of oral Erythromycin as she suggested it would help with any inflammation and possible infection.  
 

Sadly I do think there is definitely somethings gone awry this time, the skin doesn’t just have redness, but it appears bumpy and I think it might be what’s described on here as cobblestoning? I’ve searched the term “bumpy” and that’s where I saw the term cobblestoning, but I’m not exactly clear on what causes it? Can someone explain a little more about how and why cobblestoning normally happens? 

These are a few pics from today after using the ointment since Friday and antibiotics since Saturday.  Does seem less discomfort these past 3 days but it’s still quite itchy.  Will say the last picture is under very harsh light in the bathroom at my hotel.  

Hey all, it’s day 13 post op from an 2nd 913 graft procedure and I’ve having some pain in the recipient area that’s worrying me. It’s a combination of occasional mild burning sensation, itch/tingle, mild headache, general feeling of tightness.  Feels in some ways like it’s been worse since yesterday and today. I did go a little firmer on Saturday and Sunday to get the scabs off, nothing crazy but maybe that’s caused a little inflammation?
 

I’ve been worrying slightly I might have some sort of infection.  Since the 3 days post op I’ve been feeling cold/almost getting the chills occasionally and had a low temp of 35.5 or 35.5-36c a number of times and I spoke to a doctor/GP in the UK and said it’s likely I just picked up some mild viral infection and that it should go away in a 2-3 weeks.  But now with this increase in pain I’m convinced something isn’t right. I’m trying to think back to 2016 and my first HT but I can’t recall if it was like this back then. I keep obsessively taking pics to check for infection. I think it looks okay, but it’s difficult to tell and different lighting or glare from the light doesn’t help to get a proper sense.  
 

what do you guys think?  Just to note I had quite a lot of redness with my first HT.  pics below all taken today but in different locations and lighting. 
 

Thanks Tater, that’s reassuring to read. I think I’ll wear a disposable shower cap underneath just for hygiene reasons.  

So on Thursday this week, I’ve visiting an office that’s essentially a building site currently and I’ll need to wear a hard hat for about an hour while inside.  By this time I will be 15 days post surgery.  I’ve done some searching on here and suggestion is that should be fine by then to wear a hard hat, but i’ll likely be borrowing a hard hat, so I as thinking I would put a shower cap on first and then the hard hat? Any reason I shouldn’t or any concerns on wearing the hard had 15 days out? 

Well it’s day 13 or day 12 post surgery and after a gentle, but thorough shampooing this morning, I’m almost scab free 🙌. I think after tomorrow’s wash it should be clear.  

I’m fairly happy with how it looks, although grafts on my right (left in the images) seems a bit odd in terms of direction, but if I look closer I think that’s the grafts with multiple hairs so I’m trusting they are just confused 😂 and it’ll be fine.  It’ll be interesting to see what it looks like after the shedding starts and I’m at the usual ugly duckling phase. As I haven’t lowered my hair line further this time and this is just extra density/filling in some weak areas, I’m hoping the hair from the 1st HT will cover up the area and it won’t really be noticeable.

Although I said in a previous post that the itching in the donor area had subsided, I think I spoke too soon. It’s not too bad but it’s happening back and fore and I think it being so short and bristle makes it’s more uncomfortable when you lay down. Also getting some discomfort (mild sort of burning sensation, itching) in the recipient area. I have been stressing the past few days that it’s down to a possible infection, but I think (as per usual) it’s just me overly worrying and funnily enough, looking back in this forum, I posted a thread in 2016 where I had the same sensation at this stage.  Looking at todays pics, I think the scalp looks relatively good considering it’s only 12 post surgery, so I’m putting the discomfort down to just healing/nerves repairing as per the first HT. 

Lastly, looking forward to sleeping this evening without the neck pillow. Asmed guidance suggests the neck pillow and elevated sleeping for 10 days so I’m already past that, but last night I figured I’d sleep with the pillow for one last time as I still has some scabs on the side and didn’t want any potential drag/pull on the hairs if slept a little on the side.  On the pillow, I have to say the new (well new to me) pillow that Asmed give you is brilliant. The one they gave me in the clinic for the first night was the inflatable one that I also got to take home during my first procedure and it’s not really that comfortable, but they now give you a memory foam one in your “care package” and it’s so good. Going to give it a good wash and keep it for travelling etc. 
 

On 2/12/2023 at 5:15 PM, Stewie said:

2 weeks since having my surgery. Shedding a lot this week already so decided to buzz it down today to around 1-2mm to tidy it up. Can tell how brittle most of the hair is now and falling out as you rub your hands through it. Role on month 4 onwards ha 

Hi Stewie, looking good. Can I ask, it’s only 2 weeks post surgery and you say that you buzz cut it down to tidy it up. I thought most clinics advised against using clippers on the donor and recipient area for several weeks? 

So it’s day 11 or 10 days post surgery.  I wasn’t planning to go into the office at all this week, but something came up so I had to go in for a meeting today. I was a bit annoyed as I am still a bit scabby and ideally wanted to be scab free before I was seeing people again, but I had to suck it up and at least it’s Friday so I knew the office would be quieter.  Anyway, upside is I got one of my team to take some side and rear pics which are difficult shots for me to do living on my own.  Also took a shot of the front myself but with office lighting. 

I appreciate I only had 913 grafts so it’s probably not a surprise to most, but I really wasn’t expecting the donor area to heal this fast. One of my biggest concerns about a 2 nd procedure was what the donor area would look like, so buzzing it looks so good.  As mentioned above and you can see, recipient area is still reasonably scabby, but now I’m day 10-11, so I’m going to shampoo it a little firmer tomorrow in the hopes that I get quite a few scabs off. Really want to be completely scab free by Monday as I’m travelling for work on Monday and seeing quite a few people Mon-Thu. 

So my clinic (and I know a number of others) recommend Bepanthol cream to be applied to the recipient area for 15-20 mins before washing daily during the first 10-14 days.  After that period, does anyone use it as a general moisturiser (I.e post hair wash and apply but don’t wash it off) for the recipient and donor area? 

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Okay so it’s day 10 or 9 days post surgery if that makes sense.  Struggling a bit today, recipient area feels quite dry and tight and almost feels a little sunburnt so having a little discomfort.  Probably a 2 on the pain scale, so not really enough for any pain killers. Feel like I want to apply some moisturiser to soothe it.  Also keep obsessively taking pics and then looking and worrying if it’s getting infected and that I think that’s being triggered by the tightness and mild discomfort.. did I have similar tightness and discomfort at this stage before? Can’t really remember.  I’m probably being silly but I’m quite an anxious person when it comes to health things so that doesn’t help. 🥴

As you can see below, I’m still reasonably scabby. I know by day 10 it should be almost scab free. But like during my first HT, I was again very anxious washing it myself so probably should have been firmer over the past few days.  As you can see the donor area is now pretty much clear and I have to say I’m shocked how good it looks. Donor area was pretty itchy and some occasional pain but that seems to have dissipated today.  Although it’s difficult to compare to first HT because i’m in different location/lightning, but I do feel like recipient area is less red this time. But maybe I’m deluding myself. 🤷‍♂️
 

4 hours ago, IMM1979 said:

had my procedure done at Asmed in April 2022. I paid the premium for Koray, but according to my understanding, he just handles the incisions so technicians understand how/where to place the grafts. the rest of the work is still done by others. Given how many botched cases Asmed has had since 2018, I am guessing it is because he was not involved in those procedures at all (unless I am missing something). 

No idea. I didn’t realise until this time around that there was an option to have it cheaper by just having his team do it all. I can’t only speak for my experience and I was pretty happy with my first procedure, obviously to early for me to say what my outcome from this procedure will be.  At least you seem to have had a good result? 

4 hours ago, SeanToman said:

Just wondering, how much did it cost per graft?

It’s €3 per graft.  I understand from one of the other patients there is a lower rate of €1.90 per graft if you opt for the techs do all three stages and I guess Dr Koray just does the initial hair design. 

I’m looking to order some aloe vera gel to help soothe the donor area and help with the itching. Can anyone in the UK recommend a brand, possibly one on Amazon?

2 minutes ago, mister_25 said:

Surgery Day 1 - Day of Surgery

Surgery Day 2 - Second Day of Surgery

Post Op Day 1 - Day 1 Post Operation

So if the clinic has guidance to do something e.g sleeping with neck cushions for 10 or days, would you say you count day 1 as first post surgery day or the day of the surgery? 

As per the title, do people consider surgery day as ‘Day 1’ or do you consider ‘Day 1’ as the following day?