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PeterRabit

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  1. PeterRabit
    Overall not much has changed... again. I am seeing a lot more growth on my right corner hairline and not much has happened on the left side still. Starting to let the hair grow out and see how the scar covers up.

    Hairline: Not getting nearly has many red spots/pimples which honestly is a bit disapointing because I am not near the fullness I was hoping for and this makes me feel like I'm not going to see that much further new growth. I guess we will have to wait and see. I know that I'm only four months in and there is some time yet but I suppose I was banking on seeing a bit more by now. I do feel like the top of my head is looking thicker, which is a good thing. But that's not nearly as important to me as my actual hairline.

     

    Donor Area:The donor area scar is still a bit visible but doesn't stand out as much so that's a good thing. Hopefully the scar will continue to thin and allow for me to have more options with haircuts in the future but only time will tell.

    Overall I'm not ecstatic nor am I freaking out. I guess I am moving along "normally" by this point. Praying for more significant results by month 6 otherwise I might have to start seriously considering another HT with a different surgeon.
  2. PeterRabit
    WEEK 6 POST OPERATION:

    Ok then, just checking in (bi-weekly as promised). Not much difference since my last entry.

     

    DONOR AREA: The donor scar is still healing/scabbing but per the instructions of Dr. Gaffney I'm going to start using "Scarguard MD" twice daily for the next couple months to help ensure a better looking scar. The future updates I will have my hair buzzed shorter just so that the application of medication will be easier. I am happy that, for the most part, the scar is farely undetectable with my hair being as short as it is (less then 1").

    RECIPIENT AREA: Not much to report on here. Still looking thinner than even before the surgery (in my opinion). Still waiting on the Pre-Op photos from my surgeon's office. I am constantly having to pop white-heads which I assume are new hairs beginning to grow (at least that's what I am hoping! lol). I do see new hairs growing a the hairline in the corners (more on my right side than left as of now). I do know from all the research that new hair typically isn't even visible until Post Week 10 so seeing something this early has raised my hopes.

    All in all I won't be completely satisfied until I see "real results." Which unfortunately is at least a few months out, if not closer to a year. I'm crossing my fingers that I will be one of the lucky ones and see more results quicker. But who knows?

    Also additionally I have added Nioxin (2) Shampoo and Conditioner and will be doing Nizoral 2x a week. Continuing Finestrade 1mg Daily and Minoxidil 5% Foam 2x Daily (Generic for both).
  3. PeterRabit
    Procedure: FUT Surgery (3000 Grafts).

    Goals: Fullness and hairline.

    Surgeon: Dr. Jon W. Gaffney (Samson Hair Restoration group in Sherman Oaks, CA)

    Age: 28 years old

    Norwood Scale: Between 2A & 3

    Procedure Date: 5/11/2015

     

    DAY ONE: The procedure went well. It took MUCH longer than I had anticipated. I knew we were going to have close to an 8 hour day due to the number of grafts. But it turned out to be closer to a 10-12 hour day. The way I looked at it in the end though was I'd rather them take their time and do a great job than rush it. Plus I know it was partially my own fault since after the initial numbing treatment for the donor area my blood pressure dropped a bit. I psyched myself out and got light headed. But once I realized how I was reacting I got into a better head-space and we were able to move forward. So that cost us probably a delay of a half hour to and hour (not 100% sure). Dr. Gaffney seemed very attentive and confident in his work. He even bragged that he had done over 15,000 Hair Transplant procedures (which sounded good to me). After doing some research I did find that he worked with Bosley for some time and other Hair Restoration clinics. But discovered zero reviews which was a bit of a concern. Although no bad reviews is good thing too. I was hoping to get lucky and go above goal but unfortunately we got exactly 3000 The post charge instructions were given to me and everyone was very nice and comforting. There was little to no pain but it was uncomfortable. There is a lot of pressure and your head feels super heavy with all the numbing properties. They asked me to sleep sitting up for the first 3 nights to avoid pulling on the sutures or possibly dislodging any grafts. I ended up doing 5-6 nights just to play it safe.

     

    WEEKS 1 & 2 POST OP: LOTS of numbness near and around donor area. Scabbing in recipient area. Consisten Neosporin application of donor area to help promote healing and limit scarring. Not a lot of shedding (as of yet). Being super cautious with my head but excited to have new hair soon (hopefully) and finally be able to do more than one hairstyle! Had some bleeding from the suture area but no sign of infection at this time and I just applied some pressure with sterile gauze for a few minutes and that seemed to do the trick.

     

    WEEK 5 POST-OP: My sutures were removed approximately 2-3 weeks ago. Long donor line from ear to ear. All the scabbing in my recipient area is pretty much gone now. I do think I am suffering from a bit of "Shock-Loss" but from what I've read that should grow back. Plus this could have just been the normal shedding that takes place post-surgery. I can't really tell at this time. Otherwise everything seems to be going good so far. I still have a lot of numbness mostly in the crown area above the suture line but it's much better than it was a few weeks ago. There is still some tightness along the donor area and minor scabbing but otherwise it feels good. I do hope it thins out some more and settles. At the moment the scar is more visible than I was hoping but I know I'm still very early on in the healing process and it should get better.

    I am seeing some new growth but I don't know as of yet how full it will be. I will try and update at least bi-weekly photos of my progress. I am excited yet scared because after I had the surgery I tried to do some research into the surgeon. I did find that he had worked for Bosley, but other than that no real reviews. Which I guess is as much a good thing as a bad thing. The tech staff and surgeon seemed very happy with how the first day went with the procedure and instilled some confidence that this will turn out great. Plus I went with a high graft count even though I was not completely balding or terribly balding. I was thinning noticably.

    I will try and find some pre-op photos and attach them when I get the opportunity.
  4. PeterRabit
    Overall not much has changed. I am keeping my donor area hair short to continue application of the Scarguard medication. I am going to start letting the top and hairline grown out and in a few weeks will begin going to the barber to help make it look clean.

    Hairline: Still getting LOTS of red spots and pimples (white heads) throughout my recipient area. Never thought I'd be so happy to see pimples but from what I have read those should hopefully be new hairs coming in! Been seeing very little change otherwise which is better than NO change I suppose. The front center of my hairline still looks thinner than before I received the surgery so that's a bit disconcerting. But the mid-top and corner-hairlines look decent for only 8 Weeks Post OP. I know that this is still early on Post-OP I shouldn't really be expecting anything but that's an expectation much easier said than done. Hopefully on the week 10 or 12 Update we will see something more obvious/substantial.

     

    Donor Area: I think the medication has been definitely helping with pigmentation of the scar and will hopefully pay-off in the end. It defeinitely looks gross with the white film over the scar and the fact that it makes it stand out beyond belief. Going to do it for approximately 8-12 weeks and I think I started about 2-3 weeks ago. So not much longer. Then I'll begin to start letting that hair grow out and we will see at which length of hair the scar becomes less and less visible.

    Starting next week I will be going back to doing the Laser Therapy 2x a Week and hopefully that will help with obtaining some early growth. Otherwise just doing the Nioxin Shampoo & Conditioner everyday, Nizoral 1-2x a Week, Minoxidil Foam 2x Daily, Finestride Daily.

    Good luck to all!!
  5. PeterRabit
    Hello all, sorry for the delayed update but since every two weeks was yielding such small results I figured I'd drop it down to every 4 weeks for the sake of (hopefully) seeing more progress in each post.

    Hairline: The red spots and pimples have died down considerably. I feel like I'm definitely seeing more growth in the mid-top of the head than the actual hairline. Although I do see a lot of new hairs coming in on my corners, mostly my right side corner. Hopefully that will begin to grow in thicker in the next couple months because it was my primary goal/concern. Starting 3 weeks ago I am letting the top start to grow out so maybe with more length to the top it will appear thicker.

     

    Donor Area: Note when looking at the photographs for my Donor Scar my hair is close to a Zero in length so it looks probably worse that it really is. I am still using the Scarguard MD on my donor area for another 2 weeks (for a total of 8 weeks). If it looks like the skin is peeling, it's not that's just the medication. I think the medication has been helping with keeping the scar flat and protecting it while it heals. I am now starting to let my hair grow out in the back so hopefully in a few weeks/months it will be all but invisible. I have read that the scar can take up to a year to fully heal and this out.

     

    Overall: Not too much to report other than I do see new hairs growing in and it is appearing thicker in the top of the scalp. Scar doesn't look horrible but it doesn't look great either. I am excited, anxious and scared about what the next few months will bring since this is the first sign of how the end results are going to be. I am also a bit concerned because I got more than I expected in terms of sun exposure this past Saturday. Fortunately I don't think it really burned but still I know we are suppose to limit exposure.

    Thanks for checking in with me and hoping you all are having excellent results!

    Good luck to all!!
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