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/

Thanks Melvin! 👍

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?