TMM

Not sure if I've ever commented on your threads before, but looking really really good. I'm just shy of 4 months post op and had an equal amount of grafts implanted into my hairline. Your pictures and updates are a great frame of reference- I had a similar pattern of recession. I hope I'm where you are at 9 months!

Looks awesome. I know we can't see your face in the pictures, but it's certainly made you look MUCH younger. Congrats.

HUGE improvement in this most recent photo. Looks really good, you must be thrilled.

The crusting on my head lasted about as long as yours, maybe longer. I'd say 25% of the grafts shed when massaging the crusts away, then over the following weeks the rest shed. Leading me to where I am today at 2 months, looking terrible. But to answer your question, no my scalp wasn't smooth when the crusts fell off- I still had a decent amount of spiky grafts left in place. It worried me initially and I contacted my clinic as I just wanted to progress to the next stage and wondered what was going on. I'd say there's a lot of variation and either result is relatively normal.

If your hair is short now then you'll have no problem. I'm 2 months out and because my hair has been long all my life anytime someone sees me it becomes the topic of conversation. Because I'm still in that 'ugly duckling' stage I'm wearing a hat 80% of the time. I'm getting so tired of it.

I'm pretty sure the person you quoted is sharing purely anecdotal evidence/statistics with you. I think the idea that Rogaine or Minoxidil causes permanent hair loss comes from men who are in the early stages of hair loss, begin to use it and then discontinue use after they see some shedding and never regain that hair they would/did loose due to MPB.

Looks really, really good. I had FUE with Rahal early Feburary and I'm also wondering if you plan to continue the minoxidil past the 1 year mark.

96% of the population are within 10-16% of the average basal metabolic rate [1]. While the idea that people have a large variation in basal metabolic rate is pervasive, it's not true. What I was trying to mention before is that many drugs that are responsible for people gaining weight don't do so though slowing down metabolism but by increasing peoples appetites leading to overeating. I'm sorry to seem preachy, there's just a lot of unfounded negativity about this drug and I think it's important that all the facts be laid out. In my opinion it's really unlikely that the 4lbs you've gained is a result of finesteride. I haven't stopped you from documenting your experience, I just provided a counter to your assertions.

Looks amazing.

Firstly, I'd just like to point out by your own logic almost no drug would be reasonable to take. It's a very normal thing for manufactures to sponsor clinical trials. As other have pointed out the study cited here was not sponsored by the manufacturer. Secondly, calories in calories out. Drugs like antidepressants and corticosteroids don't just break science and magically create fat out of nothing. They cause fatigue and increase appetite an over eating. Even people with proper thyroid conditions can only blame around 15lbs on the issue- you're not just going to balloon up. You're talking about 4lbs. It might be possible that this has something to do with the drug, but watch what you're eating and exercise a little harder. 4lbs is not a difficult amount of weight to loose. You care enough about your appearance to be on the drug in the first place- you can put a little more effort forward to correct this.

I used a neck pillow given to me by my doctor. I also didn't touch the recipient area for the full 2 weeks as I was instructed. While I might have had this concern about touching the grafts during sleep prior to the surgery, afterwards I never thought about it. I spent 8 hours in a chair for the procedure. I slept at a 45 degree angle the first 5 nights. I never had to worry about fighting the urge to itch my head as there was just no way I was going to jeopardize the outcome. I spent all this money, took time off work for recovery. The idea of this surgery has consumed all my attention for a long while- and thats a powerful thing. I really wouldn't worry about accidentally scratching your grafts, your subconscious will power is enough.

I always assumed he got a hair transplant as I'm not familiar with 'systems'. He was actually one of my inspirations as we have a similar face shape/hair style.

This is how I've always styled my hair, and how I hope too once my hair grows out. I don't really see why it'd be an issue. I mean Enrique did it.

This looks great. I had a similar amount of grafts done 3 weeks ago- hoping to be where you are in 6 months.

That gash blows. Looking really good though, congrats.

Shit this looks amazing. Do you have any plans to stop the minoxidil or do you figure you're on it for life?

I'm at my 2-week post op, I've been directed to begin using Minoxidil for at least the first year. I'm just a little nervous about starting. I used it in the past on my hairline and saw little effect- no major shed and some minor fuzz. I take Dr. Rahal's advice seriously- I've already purchased the stuff and in all likely hood will being using it. Just looking for some reassurance from others who have followed this direction in the past- also is there anyone who stopped using it after a year and is still satisfied with their results? I wish the science of how this drug worked was more clear.

I understand what you mean, but I almost want them shed so that I can be at the next step already. I mean, I knew it was an inevitability. I'll try soaking my head tonight though. Thanks!

Read these forms for quite sometime, finally decided to make an account. I'm two weeks post op and have followed all the instructions my surgeon gave me to a t. Today was the first day I was told I could massage the recipient area and let the shower run over it. I had assumed from the look of them that the moment I stepped under the water all the scabs would rise off- they look like they would crumble and flake under my touch. But it doesn't seem to be the case. They're much harder than they looked, and none really broke free. Massaging them just feels like I'm shifting little tectonic plates of scab. It sucks seeing many others post op images with nearly all the scabbing gone by this point. I suppose I'm just looking for reassurance that this is normal.