x-tian-230k

steer clear of Bosley. by the looks of the patients id say steer clear from

austin hair graft too. how many grafts do u need? and wat is ur budget?

 

u need to slow ur role! don't run out and do anything. u need to read thru more threads

on this forum and educate urself. u don't need to pull the trigger on chit!

 

this is a BIG decision in ur life and ur donor area is precious so learn a little

before u waste time, money and most importantly grafts u can't get back.

 

there are some very good FUE surgeons in the US but they cost $7-10 a graft.

 

look to travel to europe or maybe even India unless u need very few grafts then

maybe u can justify paying more money to not have to travel. but if u need 2000+

grafts I wud not even consider anyone here in the states but thats just me.

 

but even at $5 a grafts that DOUBLE wat the BEST fue surgeons around the world

are charging and imo the best are outside of the US.

I agree on everything you say except for one point. Dr. Diep is considered on of the best FUE Dr's here in the states. Majority of his clients have done 2000-2500 grafts. Again he is not cheap but if I were going to do FUE, I would consider him. I had my procedure done in late January. I am close to my 1 month post op date and I am healing very well and am very happy with the results thus far....

Just a quick update... Being for asian decent, for the observation of the Lunar New Year traditional culture states that the way you feel, look, and behave during the first day of the year will set precedent on how the rest of the year will go for you. With that being said, on Post Op day 21, I had my first hair cut. My hair was growing out. The donor area in 21 days went from shaved to the skin to about a number 3 on the buzzer. My natural growing hair was getting longer than my implanted hair in my recipient area so I wasn't look so hot. I decided to get a hair cut. I had my stylist (Whom I told I got a transplant so she could be careful) cut the top all the same length (approx #1 on the buzzers) and then had the sides fade from skin to a number 1. I feel like I have healed pretty well because it doesn't even look like I have a transplant. The sides still have slight redness but otherwise everything looks great. No shock loss and no shedding (Knock on wood). The nerve endings are starting to grown back. I still have numbness but day by day I am getting my feeling back in the donor and recipient area.

Anyways, I will post some pictures of my hair cut in a little bit....

Hi there!

 

I've been following your thread (and recedingazn's as well) because I'm just a few days behind you. I had a similar FUE procedure done with Dr Diep on Feb 11 and reading your experiences has been incredibly helpful through the process.

 

Question: I'm on day 8 now, which is the first day I can start washing my hair normally. I still have a lot of crusts in the recipient area and the instructions from the Dr say I can soak my head for 20 mins in the shower and massage them off, but I'm paranoid that this will dislodge the grafts. What was your experience in removing the crusts and do you have any tips?

 

Thanks!

I almost forgot to mention that because I went back to work on day 10 post op, I needed the scabs to be off as quickly as possible so I did this twice a day. In the morning before work and then my evening shower. I did that for the first 3 days.

Hi there!

 

I've been following your thread (and recedingazn's as well) because I'm just a few days behind you. I had a similar FUE procedure done with Dr Diep on Feb 11 and reading your experiences has been incredibly helpful through the process.

 

Question: I'm on day 8 now, which is the first day I can start washing my hair normally. I still have a lot of crusts in the recipient area and the instructions from the Dr say I can soak my head for 20 mins in the shower and massage them off, but I'm paranoid that this will dislodge the grafts. What was your experience in removing the crusts and do you have any tips?

 

Thanks!

Congratulations on your procedure. Its a huge step! So I asked the same questions to my Dr. and forum members. Here is what I chose to do. During my follow up session with Dr. Diep (It was quite late as our schedules did not align, Post Op day 9) he stated to me that around day 3-4, the follicles are set and not going anywhere. HIs instructions are by day 7, you can start with your normal shower routine. With that being said, he is giving us a few extra days buffer. He also stated that if you leave the scabs for long, they could have a negative affect on your growth process. With that being said, around day 10 I started to soak my head under lowered press water in the shower. I did that for about 20 minutes. Then I lathered my hair with organic shampoo and left it on for about 10 minutes. After that I raised my hair with water. By that time the majority of the scabs should be soft and loose. I then gently dryed the donor area with my towel applying slight pressure. My scabs in the donor area fell off quicker than the recipient area because I used more pressure with my towel. With that being said, the way I dried off my recipient area is i put the towel over my head and just pulled it forward using no pressure with my hands but only with the pressure of the towel on my head. By the 3rd or 4th day of doing this, all the scabs were gone.

Good luck. Are you on any meds?

Dude, your hair looks incredible.... If my hair turns out that way I would be totally stoked! Congrats.. Another success story!

Quick update- today I hit the 1 month mark. Recipient area shedding completely stopped as of today. The sad part is, I shed about 95% of the grafts but oh well. Let the waiting time begin!

Lets see a picture....

Hi everyone... For some reason, I have been trying to get on to the forum to post my day 14 Post op but have been having issues... I wonder if it was the website or my internet... Any ways.. The pictures are of day 14... I started on Fin and Rogain I also started to use Vitamin E oil to help with the scarring. I apply a few drops on my fingers, rub my hands together and apply to my scalp. I find that this also helps with the dryness.... Majority of the scabs on the recipient and donor areas are gone. I haven't started to shed nor have I gotten any shock loss. The itchiness in the donor area has started but I heard it is normal. I have used some hydro-cortizone oil to help with that. Also I am starting to get tingling sensation back in my donor area. Its kind of a weird feeling but I am glad that my nerve endings are starting to grow back....

Also in my first picture it may look like my hair line is not even. Its actually pretty symmetrical but i think its the selfie angle I took it....

Shedding is normal and imo good. Makes room for new and better hair to grow, but you might be lucky , either way it's good so no worries

I just realized I hijacked your thread. I thought it was mine that I started. Sorry bud.

I didn't have any shedding whatsoever At day 18 either , it started slowly at day 20. It got worse at week 4. I'm about to hit the 1 month mark and I can say I've lost 95 % of the transplanted hair

Wow are you serious?? You are kind of making me scared a bit... :-( I sure hope that it doesn't happen to me. I really like the look I have now... ANyways, if it does, it does.... Its all part of the process.... I have been taking counter measures to help slow that process down... I started on Fin, Rogain, and use vitamin E oil with an anti-inflammatory. With that being said, I am sure the results will be great. Any shock loss at all in the donor area? I will certainly be keeping my eye out for any changes moving from day 19 thru day 30. ....

Thanks again!

So... yesterday I hit the 20th day mark, and shedding definitely started, oh well, I'm prepared it. I'll update again at the 3 month mark, hopefully by then there's some growth

Thanks for the update. I am at day 18 and I haven't noticed any shedding or shock loss.... Cant wait to see your results...

Dr. Diep is considered one of the best FUE Doctors here in the US.

I just had my procedure done 11 days ago. I spoke with my dr in depth about this. He says that the first 3 days is the mist critical. After that they are set and ready to grow. With that being said washing your hair should be a breeze. Just take a sponge. Lather it up. Have the suds drop on the recipient area. Let it sit for a few and then rinse with water from a bowl. Never direct from the shower head.

gL

People can talk about free market all they want, but we as consumers are allowing these outrageously priced FUE docs to rip us off. Why don't we stick up for ourselves by calling out the docs who are over-charging?

 

We as a group can effect change in this industry..but for some reason when it comes to price nobody wants to come forward and say enough is enough...STOP RIPPING US OFF.

 

$10/hair from Feller and others....I'd say they should be ashamed of themselves, but we're the dumb as___ who agree to pay it.

 

Can anyone recommend a Quality FUE doc in the USA who is more reasonably priced?

I just had my ht procedure 11 days ago. I went with dr diep, whom some say is one of the best Fue dr in the US. With that being said he charges no where near 10 per graft. In the ball park 6-7 dollars. Pm for details. I'm glad to share my experience.

lucky you! I want a consultation in person haha are you taking any meds?

Yes I am most certainly lucky. With that being said, I have been in rogaine for the past 6 years so I will continue with that at day 14 and I have a RX for Propecia so I will start that when I pick up the meds at the pharmacy. I hope I am not pet of that 1% that has side effects. Crossing my fingers. My thought process behind these meds is that I paid a lot of money getting hair back. I want to take all the precautions to keep it. I told myself that if I ever had a second chance at a full head of hair like when I was younger, that I should have taken the meds and rogain at he onset of starting to lose my hair. This is my second chance at not repeating my mistakes in the past.

Thank you so much for your response. It is extremely helpful as I am 8 days behind you. :-). I was just in Dr.Dieps office this afternoon for about 30 mins. It was my post op "in person" check up. I was not able to go see him earlier as my schedule was booked but we were able to skype at post op day 3 and everything looks great. I am healing at a great pace also.

Funny that you ask the question about using the clippers. I asked him the same question. He said at 2 weeks you can get your hair cut.

Again, I am in the Same boat as recedingazn. Dr Dieps work speaks for itself. Thus far I am very happy with the progress. I am relatively pain free. My procedure was 14 hrs and Dr Diep was very engaged. His staff is great to work with. Being as busy as he is, I felt like he still made time to talk to me over Skype and wanted to see me in person to ensure my recovery was on track. I would rate my experience as 5 out of 5 since I am local and all of my needs/concerns/questions/ and expectations have been met.

Good luck to the both of us!

@ x-tian-230k, this worked very well for me (not sure if it will for you) but around day 8 I used the sponge (not the yellow side but the one with "spikes") I used it in the *Donor area*, I combed from top to bottom *very* gently (very very gently cant stress this enough) this removed most my scabs that day, there might be some stubborn scabs but do not force them out, they will fall out by themselves. I think by day 10 -11 I was scab free in the donor area.

 

If you mean the scabs/crust in the recipient area (looks like super thick dandruff) that is much harder to remove, after day 7 you need to start massaging your scalp in circles (after soaking it for 20 min or so) I couldn't get all of it in one go, had to try the same the next day and the third time I tried they were all gone. But be prepared to shed some hair with the crust, I was told it was normal.

 

This is both my recipient and donor area @ day 19. Donor still looks reddish and I think I developed a pimple in the donor . Also the transplanted hair is now shorter than my native so it looks weird. but shedding has remained minimal thus far

 

recipient and donor @ 19 days post op.

 

View image: 19 1

 

 

View image: 19 2

 

I'm waiting not for the Dr to tell me when can I buzz my hair to even it out, but so far so good

 

I've received a couple PMs asking me if the Dr is good.

 

Long story short:

 

- This is my first HT so I cant compare to any other Drs.

-I'm very pleased with the results so far.

-Can't tell if the yield will be good, I think I need to wait til month 5-7 to be sure. Ill update for sure!

-Dr was cool and procedure was painless (I fell asleep almost for the entire procedure).

-People cant tell I had anything done.

-I love my hairline design.

-Price was ok, It's an expensive procedure and I know there are cheaper options, but I've suffered with hairloss so I decided Ic ant go cheap with this, after all we just have so much donor supply.

 

If you ask me to rate my experience I would say 4.7/5. Just because I'm from abroad and I can only communicate via email and they take some time to answer your questions via e-mail. But so far so good

Picture looks awesome! Can you let me know your techniques for getting rid of your scabs in the recipient area?

Again seeing your results I am excited too!

Hi!

 

Sorry for the lack of updates, I've been busy keeping up with work.

 

View image: IMG 4273

 

Anyways, this is 17 days post-op... I shed some hair around day 10 while removing the crust (I was told it's normal). But since then I've shed very little, I will probably shed in the next few weeks though... who knows.

 

No one knows I did surgery so far... and Im loving the results! I can finally go out without a cap (its been sooo longg since last time I did that without being concern of my reciding hairline :'( ...) So faar I can say this has been the best decision I've ever made.

 

To answer some questions, yes he is a REALLY busy doctor, I tried booking him back on October .. got my appointment til January 21st (so thats good if you ask me).

 

I'm jsut waiting for the shedding to come or maybe I will be one of the lucky ones who wont shed (knock on wood). Oh I restarted rogaine 2 weeks post op and started with 0.25 mg Propecia ED 10 days post op (I was hesitant but ultimately decided to go for it). So far no noticeable sides and shedding is minimal (5 hairs max during hair wash).

 

I can finally feel I'm winning the war against hairloss after 10+ years of living with this condition Let's see what happens in the next year

 

Oh and my transplanted hair is shorter than my native hair, but I can definitely tell its growing and catching up

Thanks joe!

You don't need mineral oil exclusively (or any oil or gel for that matter). I used to just stick my head under the shower stream for a few minutes and leave the shampoo on, rinse then repeat. Once I stepped out of the shower I'd take my town and lay it on top of my scalp then pull it forward. The scabs that are ready to come off will. The ones that are not ready will be ready during one of the next attempts.

 

Others have used mineral oil as well as olive oil, vitamin E oil and aloe vera gel. The idea is to apply this to the scalp and let it sit for several minutes to soak in and saturate the scab tissue. It helps to lift the scabs up and they eventually can separate from the recipient site. Once you leave it on for up to half an hour or so you can take your shower and rinse everything off.

 

That said, you should consult with your clinic and follow THEIR guidelines for when and how to remove the scabs. Some clinics feel you shouldn't touch the recipient site for a full month so it just goes to show you that different clinics have different approaches to patient care and how the recovery should be addressed.

Mineral oil and soaking it in underwater in a warm tub/bath. They all seem to all go at once in about three days.

So can you please get a little bit more specific? Mineral oil. Apply it after, during or before soaking? As for the soaking. Any specific length of time?

Hello Everyone,

I am Post Op day 9 and majority of the scabs in my donor site are gone. Now the scabs in the recipient cite are starting to flake and dry up. The scalp area is starting to become dry. I want to ask for those who have gone through this how you dealt with trying to remove the recipient site scabs. What techniques have you used. Anyways, thanks for your help!

I greatly appreciate it..

Christian

Any updates?

Question for you. When did you start to get sensation back on your scalp? At day 8 the top of my scalp and where the majority of my donor follicles were harvested is relatively numb. I'm scarred I won't get the sensation back. :-(

looking good, i have my 1 year post op with dr. diep tomorrow and i could not be any happier.

 

your results will be great and dr. diep is a GREAT surgeon. i have been receiving compliments left and right on how good my results look.

 

at around day 10 i started to gently rub the scabs with hot water when i showered and slowly shampooed the scabs away. you definitely want to them start getting them off at the 10 day mark.

So I am post op day 7. The swelling in my eyes and face have subsided considerably. There is still slight swelling but its MUCH better than days 1-5. According to the paperwork send home with me, starting tomorrow I can go to my regular shower routine using my own shampoo. It also states that I can soak my head in water for 15-20 minutes to loosen the scabs. I am a little iffy about soaking my head in water I don't want the follicles to loosen up and fall out. The top of my head and the back of my head where the majority of the follicles were harvested still feels tight and numb. Otherwise, I feel good, I am in minimal pain, and I am excited for my next 7 days....

Thank you for your response. I cannot comment on any other surgeon but what I can say about Dr. Diep is that he is VERY hands on. All his tech did was prep me, clean off the harvested follicals and place them. Dr Diep spent 5-6 hrs harvesting the follicals, and a sigjnifant time designing my hairline along with every single incision point for the follicals.

Again thank you for your input. I will absolutely keep everyone update with my progress.

I think Dr Diep is as good of FUE surgeon as we have in the US. His rates however for FUE are quite high compared to the other top FUE surgeons.

 

As BUSA mentioned it is tough to justify this additional cost when you can simply coordinate your procedure out of the country and relax at your hotel for a week after the procedure. You are still in a much better place financially with comparable or often better results.

 

My opinion is that Americans are very reluctant to travel abroad (which clinics are aware of) and the US FUE surgeons capitalize on this this by charging rates that are as much as $5-$10/graft. All the top docs in Europe are charging $2.50-$5/graft and have more experience and better or comparable results.

 

The involvement of techs tends to be more prominent in the US as well. On top of paying more for the procedure you have a tech driven experience despite paying top dollar for the surgeon that you have elected to do the procedure with.

 

Diep is also very hands on so he is one of the few that at least can justify the higher rates. Diep is a great surgeon and I think you will have fantastic results and I don't want to detract from your thread.

 

Best of Luck!! Please keep us posted on your results.

My Sincerest apologies. It must be the meds or lack there of. I will take the statement that the FUT method will yield better results. What I truly meant was you can get allot more follicles in one procedure and will be cheaper with the FUT method. You would have to have multiple procedures for the FUE method to get the same amount of follicles.

Sorry again.

Please keep in mind that I had the FUE method performed which is very labor intensive for Dr. Diep. From your statements, you would need multiple procedures if you were going to go FUE. The strip method could yield you better results in less time and less money.

Trust me when I tell you that you do not want to be doing any traveling after your procedure. Even though I am in little pain, its mentally taxing and I am very glad that my home is close by where I can rest and heal.

As always, good luck with your journey. This is a life changing procedure for me. As most of you know, confidence goes right down the tubes when you start to loose your hair/looks. I am hoping to have a better quality of life moving forward.

Thanks again!