biolizard

You've got me tilting my head like a barn owl to look at a cropped image of what seems like just-showered hair....and I STILL think it's the best picture of your hair you've posted to date.

 

Take it easy on yourself, man.

I put gel in it to try and control the unnatural 'curly'ness of the recipient hair.

It is by a good margin a much more recent photo than the others I've posted.

The transplant is certainly passable now. I still cannot say I'm in love with it though. It's ok, as long as I'm not trying to go swimming in direct bright sunlight or anything.

I will say that pictures are a funny thing with HT. Can be VERY dependent on camera angle, lighting ect, I can make the same HT look different. In direct sunlight the HT looks the worst and is the most noticeable. Conversely, it looks the best fully dry with some volumizing gel and at night in a restaurant type lighting atmosphere.

To accurately evaluate a HT one really has to see it in person to appreciate the nuanced imperfections. In my opinion, no HT is perfect, I don't care how good the surgeon supposedly is.

Nearly at the 10-11 month mark post 2,000 FUE Update:

I honestly stand by my original stance. I have not had any great new revelations or changes in heart. I said it was a huge, impetuous, mid-life crisis mistake within days after the procedure. Unfortunately for me I realized my mistake too late, like a sobering splash of ice cold water, I knew instantly this was a monumental error in judgement on my part. The depression and self-loathing would follow for months and months afterwards. This will ultimately go down as one of the biggest blunders I've made in my adult life!

I wish every day I would not have done it. I am unable to take Propecia/Fin. As I continue to lose hair (which I will, it's written in your genes) I'm only going to become more and more bizarre in my appearance. I have now backed myself into a proverbial corner with this HT. Not sure how or what I'm going to do 3-8 years down the road as my hair loss continues to advance. Anyway, my advice to everyone is to do what I was unable to do at the period in my life..... That is simply accept yourself. Hair Transplants are almost NEVER the answer! For what it's worth I continue wear a ball cap still to this day nearly everywhere I go. I don't like the way the HT took. My hair is normally straight, but the recipient hair transplant hair grew in with slight somewhat unusual 'curly' look. Looks a little odd to say the least. Even if someone can't immediately tell that I've undergone a HT, I often catch people almost subconsciously doing a 'double take' look at my head when they notice the more 'curly' hair of the recipient area.

Anyway, life goes on. Peace and love to all. ✌️

I can't take the drug. The side effects are horrific! In some unlucky patients they can be permanent. How does permanent impotence sound? Sounds like a living hell in my opinion. The stakes are simply too high for me to take a chance on continuing to ingest a drug like that. Personally, I would rather shave my head. You can even increase you risk of male breast cancer with that drug. I'm not a fan of Fin/Propecia and would like to see better education and more explicit warning labels mandated.

 

I think my expectation is quite high, I'd love a full head of hair again. Reason for wanting it done is that shaving my head makes me look older than I am.

Honestly your expectations may be a tad unrealistic. Even the best HT in the world will not be able to accomplish a "full head of hair" look. It will still look thin, possibly uneven, maybe some redness and scarring permanently to the scalp; and it definitely will not give you your youth back, trust me on that. I had my HT as a result of a 'mid-life crisis'.

Have you tried Finasteride yet? Can you tolerate its side effects? It have been known to cause very long lasting permanent impotence in some unfortunate people. Many experience a significant reduction in libido, often times accompanied by serious depression.

Try the big 3 medications for a while first and see how you respond to them. (Finasteride, minoxidil, ketoconazole)

Do you have any pictures of your donor? Since you've been shaving your head and have admitted that it suits you, why not try SMP? If you're not happy with the results the ink will fade and you can decide from there. If you're mind is made about FUE we'll need some better pictures to really asses you, from the looks of it you're probably headed to Norwood 7 based on your current state and age. Restoration is not impossible but very limited a good strategy will have to be executed perfectly and you'll have to be realistic with your expectations.

Listen to HTsoon, he knows his stuff.

At 44 I had a 2000 FUE HT, and it's been a rough go ever since. Things are just now starting to improve a bit. But damn the Doctor where I went did a terrible shit job of preparing me for the reality of what I was entering into by deciding to follow through with a HT. The recovery is not easy. It's a BIG F* N deal and don't let anyone try and pursuade you otherwise.

With the amount of hair loss you have already experienced, I'm inclined to think you would have to go the FUT route. Are you ok with a strip scar on the back of your head? Educated yourself fully! Do NOT rush into a HT. I generally recommend to most people not to do it. Your only 27, my advice... Just don't do it, and thank me later. Happiness doesn't come from how you look, what you own, or what other people think of you. Trying to base your happiness off those things will lead to frequent discontentment and misery.

Learn to accept yourself and you will be happy. As Seneca wisely points out "A man is as unhappy as he has convinced himself he is"

Here is a clip of Joe Rogan discussing his thoughts on his HT (it may prove useful to you)

Biggest load of BS me....

1."You can go back to work the next day."

I realistically recommend 2 week MINIMUM! ( longer if you can swing it)

2. "May experience some slight swelling." I looked like an alien creature straight out of Star Trek for a about a week.

3. "Slight redness". My skin appears to be permenantly discolored and bumpy texture. Permenant scarring and damage done to my recipient area.

Biolizard you and me are the most nagging people here

True. I have a lot of excess emotion and energy over this. I have to find some place to vent it.

Also, I really want others to not repeat my mistakes. The way I went about this HT was totally wrong. It's funny, but after the fact, I now know everything I wish I would've done. I feel victimized by the slick FUE marketing out there. An FUE is not something that should be entered into lightly.

It is MAJOR life altering SURGERY! And that's often NOT how it's portrayed by the hair transplant marketing machine. The reality is FAR different than what was advertised!

At best I was GROSSLY underinformed, uneducated, and ignorant to exactly the immensity of the journey i was about to embark on. I was in a midlife crisis depression. I made an impetuous decision. I wanted to believe that things were as easy as the advertising made it seem, so I unsuspectingly went through with the HT.

I'm sorry but, signing a sheet the day of surgery, full of fine print and medical-legal mumbo jumbo jargon does NOT count as me being properly 'informed'! I can see all the red flags NOW. At the time I was not able to see them. I do regret this HT and I would hate for someone else to replicate my mistakes.

I've listed on other sites what I wish I would've done: (only learned this after it was too late for me) now I'm stuck just trying to make the best of this bad situation.

And my hair misery will not end soon. It will just change form. Certainly I'll have MANY more problems to contend with soon in the near future as my native hair loss continues to progress. I am unable to take propecia. My HT surgeon NEVER once discussed ANY post op hair regimen. Again I had to do all that research on my own. Research that I should've been required to do PRIOR to a doctor permenantly altering my image. I am really disappointed to find out just how little even many of these 'recommended' docs do to ensure that what the patient wants, is also in the patients best interest. As patients we are frequently ignorant, self conscious, and freaked out about losing our identity and our hair. We are not in a solid state of mind many times. We foolishly trust that some of these 'doctors' will always do what's best for us. That is however, not often the reality of some of the HT industry docs I've experienced and read about.

Here is a list of what I wish I would've done done prior to jumping into this major hair transplant surgery:

- initial HT consultation with at least 2 coalition doctors

- try the big 3 meds first for at least 6 months; pay attention to side effects

- continue researching HT procedures, techniques, results and doctors for 12-18 months

- understand location and cost should not be constraints

- measure donor & recipient density/hair bulk, loss pattern

- consult with dermatologist for any possible reactions

- understand the procedure end to end including surgical process, expectations, common side effects in the skin, healing and care

- consult with psychologist (no joke) to understand if I would be able to handle the change

- consult with coalition HT doctor again and draft a master plan

- see a HT result in person, performed by different doctors; all pictures can lie; lighting and angles deceive

- Look for pictures and posts of good AND bad HTs

- Know your options for HT repair

- shave head and keep it that way for at least 1-2 months, see if you like it

- read bald guys forums for support and tips to maintain a buzzed dome

- After 12-18 months, if ready, try HT and be as conservative as possible

Leftygolfer.....How goes it you ask?...well...

I'm at the 4 month mark exactly.

Still do not not have anything close to resembling a socially acceptable result or look!!! It doesn't appear like it will be socially and cosmetically passable for quite some time. It sucks!

I feel like just taking a razor to it and shaving my entire head bald some days!

It's still red, discolored, and has textural visual abnormalities and irregularities to the recipient area. I just look like an odd ball and I cringe at times seeing myself in the mirror now. It's not cool. I'll try and post a pic to give everyone and idea. I still am required to wear a hat. My family wouldn't say it directly, but I'm certain they would be most embarrassed to be see with me in public without a hat on. Bottom line.....I'm still regretting it. That has not changed!

Fantastic topic, I've seen pretty recently some individuals discuss their "disastrous" situation, but when looking at pictures it's hard to gauge what they're actually talking about, it's absolutely vital to screen patients and educate them properly on how or what thins may look like for the next several months. Far too often you'll see surgeons say you can return to work with no hat after a few days. Whattt are you kidding, scabs don't start coming off until 2 weeks, and if you have sensitive skin it may be reddish for upwards to 6 months, physicians and patients need to really sit down prior to having surgery and go over everything, including why they want to have the surgery, if it's a guy having a midlife crisis or young really bald guy wanting that bieber hairline, these guys may not be suitable candidates due to expectation and or state of mind.

 

What happens is that these guys now have the procedure and regret having it because they were either in a bad state of mind or did not have realistic expectations. They were not properly assessed and unfortunately, they are not educated until after its too late, now they're left with regret, and mentally perhaps they are not fixable, even if you were to give them the most natural looking result, perhaps it's either not enough for the young guy, or too unnatural and weird looking for the older guy.

 

When doing something cosmetic that will alter yourself, there's a certain degree of normality that goes along with it, much like we felt when we started going bald, we felt like our identity was being taken, now it's the same except opposite, now these guys feel like they can't recognize themselves. It's a bad situation to be in, and I feel for those guys, this could've been avoided with proper research and assessment.

Very well stated HT. I love reading your post, you're so incisive and write so eloquently. Thank you for your post.

I'm not going to rehash my whole story here on this thread (some are familiar my grievances from previous post and threads) , only to say that the of psychological evaluation needs to be seriously addressed within the hair transplant industry.

Ahhhh......redness and bumps.

 

Yes....

 

I know this story very well.

 

My redness still exists several years later - most people don't notice until I point it out; but I of course notice it every day. And if I step out of a hot shower....

 

Well I CAN say it has improved considerably since the initial procedure, but honestly I would not let people see my hairline for 18 months, at which point I consulted with my HT doc and said "I've waited the max time everyone suggests; now it's time for some action."

 

We began with some Kenalog shots which helped some. I also used scar gel for the bumpiness, and alternatively applied an OTC 1% Hydrocortisone steroid cream from CVS pharmacy. I did this off and on for months and months. Still do the Hydrocortisone occasionally and did the scar gel up until a month ago (more on that below!). I don't know how much it really helped the redness versus just time passing and it gradually improving very, very, very slowly - but yet to go away completely. And the bumpiness never really went away to my pleasing. Still, I had nothing to loose but more money, sooo.....

 

Even so, I still was not pleased with the redness or bumpiness. I have for years gone to a medical spa for botox/dysport and IPL treatments, and two months ago I asked the doctor (the medical spa doctor, not my HT doctor) about a solution for the bumpy, scarred texture as well as the redness.

 

She suggested a micro-need procedure for the bumpy, scarred texture. She also said that all the lasers she had in her office (IPL, Fraxel) would damage the hair follicles, but that maybe a V-Beam laser might not affect the follicles and that I should look into that since she knew several doctors in town who had a V-Beam laser. But first I went ahead and scheduled the micro-needle procedure.

 

So a month ago I had the micro-needle procedure for the bumpy, scarred texture with the medical spa doctor. I went ahead and purchased a full facial micro-needle procedure ($225 on special, otherwise $300) and the assistant just needled into my hairline no problem saying she would apply "extra needling" on the transplanted area since that was my primary concern and that the transplanted area would show more trauma as a result. It was essentially a painless procedure, except for a few key points on my eyebrow line where bone is close to skin.

 

Well first off - the micro-needle procedure: OH MY GOD!!!!! :D

 

SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN TEXTURE IN ONLY 1 SESSION of the transplanted area!!!!!

 

AND since she micro-needled my whole face: DAMN AGAIN! My skin looked as fresh as it did when I was in my late 20's/early 30's - very impressive! I've scheduled a second micro-needle session for the holidays as the results are virtually instant, though there is some redness and peeling for the first couple of days. Honestly, I hardly can see any scar or bumpy texture after the first session - not enough to notice even when pointed out. But I just loved the outcome after only 1 session, and what it did for my face I have to say I am SOLD!!!!! If it looks this good after one session, I can't wait to see if there is ANY evidence of bumpy texture or scarred, punctured pores among the hair follicles after the second session, because there is very, very, little left and not anything anyone would think was unnatural - basically it looks like regular scalp texture now, though not "quite" as smooth at my hairline as before I had the transplant - but I had a COMPLETELY SMOOTH forehead, so I am measuring against perfection. Really, it essentially looks almost perfect - and I do mean almost perfect, to a degree that if I didn't have another micro-needle procedure done I think it would be very natural looking.

 

I should also add that the medical spa doctor said that micor-needleing works best when applied to scarred tissue sooner than later, though to be fair my scar tissue was at least several years old and I'm ELATED with the results.

 

The original redness, however, has not disappeared - which the medical spa doctor had said the micro-needle would not improve the redness, so that was to be expected.

 

So last week based upon her advice I had a consultation with a dermatologist with a V-Beam Laser for zapping the area. I had read on the internet two doctors say that a V-Beam laser does not target hair follicles and would leave the hair follicles undamaged. Anyway the technician at the dermatologist's office looked at my hairline and said the same, that the V-beam laser targets the blood vessels but does NOT target hair follicles like other laser treatments such as IPL or Fraxel. The downside is that the technician said I would have to shave the area before treatment - I have long hair, not a pleasant thought after all i've been through, but....if it gets rid of the redness finally I'm more than willing to do it. She also said it would leave the area very bruised for a week, so that I should plan accordingly, maybe even apply some makeup. She said that my redness was light enough that it might only take one treatment (@$200), but she couldn't guarantee it, but that she thought I would have significant improvement with one treatment. So now I'm just trying to figure out a good time for me to go in and get it done.

 

ANYWAY, the point of all this is that there IS HOPE.

 

ALSO, I DO NOT AGREE with all the other posters on here saying that that the redness and bumpiness will improve and that you will be happy as a bug in rug in only 6 months. Sorry, if you have anywhere near the amount of redness or bumpy texture that I have endured and you feel like me, you will not be happy.

 

However, I read your post a few weeks ago when I was researching V-Beam lasers online and could certainly sympathize with you. I didn't want to write anything at that time because I wanted to see how happy I was with the micro-needle as well as first go in for a consultation at the dermatologist's office over the V-Beam laser, which I did on Tuesday of this week.

 

I have suffered for almost 4 years now feeling mostly unhappy with my HT results - though there are times when I look at it in a certain light and think, "Well, it doesn't look bad in this light - best it's looked in a long time," and then other hand at night I walk into the bathroom and turn on the light (a fluorescent light, which I find makes the HT look its worst) and look in the mirror and think, "Jesus F-ing Christ! Looks like S-t!!!"

 

I have very mixed feelings.

 

BUT I can honestly say that the micro-needle procedure is the first fully, almost instantly, satisfying result I've experienced in 4 years.

 

And now my hopes are ever raised for the V-Beam, though I DO have some trepidation about damaging hair follicles, but if what everyone has said is true, it should not be an issue - so I'll let you know after I go for it.

 

As for "manning up"...well, we each have to deal with things our own way. I'm not sure whose luckier - those who grow old and ugly with age, or those who die young and never know the withering pain of Age setting upon us slowly, coldly, methodical in intent to enshroud us in His cloak of death.

 

Yeah, I find poetry brusquely manly. ^^

 

Though I defer to Dylan Thomas as the master poet on the subject...Well the Welsh (and the Irish) DO know a bit about suffering.

 

But anyway, relax, breathe. At least give it some time before freaking out. And look into micro-needling. I don't know how long you need to wait before getting a micro-needle procedure (or V-Beam Laser for that matter), but I would think it wouldn't need to be too long if the hair follicles are essentially firmly rooted after only 10 days. But best you check with several doctors on that.

 

But I can say that if had known micro-needle would have improved the texture so well, I would have done it as soon as it was deemed safe. Even if it will improve on its own after a year or two, why wait? And get the full facial and feel like you're in your 20's again, then hit the gym!!!

 

TY Harry for taking your time to write this up! Amazing job with great info.! Hearing from someone else who has lived with this 'redness/bumpiness' (or probably more accurately described in my case as a noticeable discoloration and textural abnormalities) problem for years helps give perspective to my issues.

I just can sense that after a four months of this redness/bumpiness that there is really NO way that it appears it is ever going to go completely away and resolve. Too much trauma was done to the tissue to 'fully' heal back to entirely undetectable. There will liklely always remain some trace indicator and permenant discoloration and texture irregularities to the recipient area. I defy myself to peer into a mirror without taking notice and silently reprimanding myself for what I've done. Especially after being in a hot shower like you said previously. It becomes very red after showers. I could be back up for Santas sleigh in case Rudolph can't go for any reason. LOL.

I haven't left the house without a hat, not even once. Nor will I.

I honestly doubt I will ever love this HT. Really just wanted my youth back more than anything. A FUE or any HT is a poor substitute for a fountain of youth. Now I just look 'odd' to myself. When I walk past the mirror, it's like at initial glance, I'm looking at an imposter. It's a strange feeling to try and describe to get someone to understand. My new hairline is totally unfamiliar, even when I was a younger man I did not have this low of a hairline. It just look different," not me," and it bothers me.

Which is sad because my exit strategy was a buzz down with a 1 or no guard. That's one reason I opted for the FUE. Now with that awkward unfortunate looking redness discoloration slight bumpy texture to my forehead scalp recipient area, it will make my inevitable exit strategy much more difficult and very noticeable. By the time I'm ready to buzz down and throw in the towel with regards to my hair, I doubt I may really care much about saving the follicles or damaging them I think. So V beam and micro needles all sounds like good options. Thank you very much for those suggestions.

Ultimately Im sure grow to accept this and hopefully forgive myself. But, I sincerely feel at least on some level I will remain regretful of my decision to go the HT route. Acceptance of who I am and accepting the natural aging process with dignity would have been my best option. However, I lack self confidence and was self conscious of my aging, age related hair loss, and losing my youth, losing my looks.

Lesson learned for me. I seriously doubt I will ever opt for any further augmentations of my appearance in the future.

This is a very-very good list biolizard, I would only add two things:

- start with a psychologist first and understand where the dissatisfaction with yourself stems from, and why do you want to have a HT.

- be sure to understand the difference between wanting hair and wanting a HT

- wait at least five years because IMO there are some really promising stuff in the research pipelines.

 

I especially like the addition on having someone contemplate the seemingly subtle (at first glance) difference between just desiring to have your hair back....vs....wanting a hair transplant.

There is however in reality a BIG difference between the two that an inexperienced, gullible insecure person, in a poor state of mind, like myself will not usually spend adequate time pondering.

The other thing I think that was particularly true in my case was ...do you really even want just your hair back at all?

Allow me to explain. My desire for a HT came on the heels of an accumulation of unfortunate events simulataneously occurring in my life.

For instance:

-things not going well at work,

-my wife and I were having martial difficulties, she was keeping frequent company of another male 'friend' which I disapproved of.

-We had a 17 year old son hooked into drugs which landed him in whole heap of legal trouble surrounding that, not to mention the stress of having a kid sneaking and doing illegal drugs in your house while you were gone,

-my mothers health was failing(I'm very close with my mom)

-in summation I had A LOT of stress and was getting depressed and the kicker is it happened so insidiously I didn't really realize it while I was in it until it was too late.

******In other words I was eyeball deep in the clutches of a huge depressive MID LIFE CRISIS EPISODE!!

FUE to the rescue?!?!

I got uber excited about this newfangled FUE procedure I heard about. It was expensive but

I justified and rationalized the expense of the HT by telling myself after all I'm going through I deserve this.

The hard cold facts was however much more complex than just getting my hair back with a HT. No no.... what I wanted was NOT a hair transplant at all.

I really wanted my YOUTH back!!

Hindsight being 20/20, in reality I pined for the days of my carefree youth. A time in my life when I didn't have the concerns of the life crushing stressor I listed above.

A hair transplant does NOT give you your youth back; I can vouch for that. I may get a little bit more hair on my head for a time period, but I'm still the aging middle age man I see in the mirror. The HT has not changed that and cannot realistically be expected to change that.

Ultimately through many hours of reflection and introspection I have come to realize perhaps what I needed most was a psychologist NOT a HT doctor. I needed to address the problems in my life with the help of a qualified therapist, I needed to learn to accept the aging process with grace and dignity. Instead I opted to try and become someone else in a sense by altering my appearance. Altering myself on the outside to create a more youthful vision of myself. The HT so far has only added to my stress. In time I have no doubt I will grow to accept and make peace with what I have done. I'm working through that process now. I'm trying to learn to forgive myself for the human mistakes I have made and accept who I am NOW (after the HT) as a person. Though I will say It's sometimes hard to just let this go, to just be myself, when most days I have trouble even figuring out who I really am and what I really want out of life. Sorry to get so philosophical. Lol. Ok think I'll end it here. Thank you for reading.

 

The only think I'm glad about is that, no matter how things turn out, I won't have to deal with a strip scar. Although on the other hand, if it wasn't for FUE and all the scarless miracle transformation bullshit advertisement that lured me in I would have never went for a FUT operation no matter how bad my hairloss was.

 

I haven't thought about it in this way before, but you sir are exactly correct with this statement.

FUE is both a blessing and a curse. I feel I too am somewhat of a victim of the FUE HT slick marketing machine as a whole. The wonderful new progressive, scarless, minimally invasive, back to work in 3 days office 'procedure'. It all sounded so good. In hind sight, The alarm bells should've been ringing loudly in my head, "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is." But for some reason, this normally very skeptical guy decide to foolishly proceed. Insecurity and vanity got the best of me. I thought at the time I had done my research and was knew what was going on, but looking back on it I was dreadfully ignorant to exactly the enormity of commitment I was entering into. I was a dumb ass for doing the HT the way I did. I desire for others to learn from my mistake and NOT repeat them. I wouldn't wish what I've gone through the last 4 months on anyone. Do Not rush into any HT!!

With all the hindsight I have now, here's an exhaustive list of things I wish I had done:

- initial HT consultation with at least 2 coalition doctors

- try the big 3 meds first for at least 6 months; pay attention to side effects

- continue researching HT procedures, techniques, results and doctors for 12-18 months

- understand location and cost should not be constraints

- measure donor & recipient density/hair bulk, loss pattern

- consult with dermatologist for any possible reactions

- understand the procedure end to end including surgical process, expectations, common side effects in the skin, healing and care

- consult with psychologist (no joke) to understand if I would be able to handle the change

- consult with coalition HT doctor again and draft a master plan

- see a HT result in person, performed by different doctors; all pictures can lie; lighting and angles deceive

- Look for pictures and posts of good AND bad HTs

- Know your options for HT repair

- shave head and keep it that way for at least 1-2 months, see if you like it

- read bald guys forums for support and tips to maintain a buzzed dome

- After 12-18 months, if ready, try HT and be as conservative as possible

I would've never ever had the FUT strip scar surgery. So I heard about and very rashly rushed in this FUE. Everything sounded so wonderful with it, it had me thinking why in the heck should I tolerated balding with this amazing new hair loss correction technology out there.

Had the FUE not even existed, then I would've been sparred this whole HT ordeal.

TY for the pics and keeping us updated on your progress. That kind of info is invaluable.

I see the recipient area is still discolored compared to the surrounding skin.

I'm around 3 1/2 months and my recipient area is really discolored with a bumpy texture too. Bugs the hell out of me. I think I may grow my hair out a little bit and see if that conceals the ugly reddened recipient skin area better.

Here is a recent pic of mine for you to do a comparison. You can see why I'm not super thrilled with the way I currently look either.

Stop. Deep Breath. Calm Down.

 

Let's put this into perspective. It takes 12-18 months to see the finished product of a hair transplant. Best case scenario you are just 1/4 of the way there. If you are lucky enough to have a job that allows you to wear a hat, then be thankful and buy some cool-looking hats (you can order a bunch of styles etc. from Zappos and send back whatever you don't like with no shipping charges!).

 

The redness can linger for 4-6 months from my experience. You can try some Emu oil or vitamin E oil to lessen it. The hairline design is likely just fine. It's tough to tell what it will really look like; right now you are just seeing a 2D red outline. Real growing hair will make it appear much different and give you styling options.

 

If you feel like you're losing it, check back here and freak out all you want. A few posters will tell you to stop whining, but ignore them. The truth is every person who has done a HT has been in your shoes and felt the extreme emotions (doubt, fear, regret) that come along with it. At some point you will be happy that it's looking better, and then feel all that doubt again (probably around 9 months). Trust me, I've had 5 HTs, and it's the same rollercoaster every time.

Super advice! Eloquently and succinctly worded. I need to read that once a day to keep from losing what's left of my neurotic mind!

I know I know I know. ......You guys all make super solid points. And points I need to reread from time to time.

I realize my personality and natural temperament are really NOT well suited for what in going through.

You guys are all probably right. It seems I try and keep calm and keep calm, maintain....but beneath the surface my insecurities and uncertainties are seething and boiling. Until I just hit these manic freak out 'doomsday' episodes.

I do apologize for tying up forum threads with what I'm certain is perceived as (justifably so) my whining, but mentally I am struggling with this process. I have no one to turn to that can even come close to relating to what I'm going through. I do not personally know of anyone that has had a HT.

I promise I'm not a bad guy, just struggling with insecurity and body image issue.

Here is a recent pic for those who asked.

I have seen other videos of FUE's on YouTube and such. Haven't really come across hardly anyone with a recipient area as red bumpy and discolored as mine is at 4 months out. I mean, 4 months, if the skin was going to heal back to a normal color I would think it would've done so by now? Just so discouraging to see my skin/scalp so damaged.

Since I realize I'm may not be thinking rationally at times, as I'm quite often going through these periods of anxiety, depression and unhappiness with my HT, often venting my frustrations publicly on the forums with my HT; I'm really not naming the doctor at this time. In the interested of being 'fair' to them and not wanting to impugn them, I'm going to wait at least a year for more 'final' results before I explicitly name the doctor and post a series of further photos and videos.

Hopefully things will improve like you guys said above? I'd love to chill out, and I do try, but having this purple-red discoloration highlighted on the front of my head makes everything so noticable and obvious. And I hate standing out like that!

I think I may grow the hair out a bit. Maybe that will help conceal the bumpy damages discolored skin on the recipient area. Idk? Or maybe I should just shave it down with no guard. That may lessen the noticability of the transition between native and thin recipient hair? Idk what to do or what style to wear my hair to best to handle this complication. For now though the baseball cap is my very best'est friend.

I'm exactly at 3 1/2 to 4 month post op. I had a 2000 graft FUE. I hate my results. Still very displeased! My dissatisfaction with the HT only seems to intensfy more and more each passing week. I'm convinced that I will remain indignant and displeased with this atrocity called FUE done to my scalp.

Im now nearly certain that this FUE was the worst mistake of my life!

I've been overall VERY dissatisfied with nearly everything about this abomination that was done to my head. Not a single day doesn't go by that I don't say to myself this was the biggest stupidest mistake of my life!

I'd kill to just have my old hair and normal scalp back.

My recipient scalp area is badly discolored scarred and reddish. The hairs that are growing in the recipient area look thin and much less dense. It's like 'yes there are some extra hairs growing in an area that was previously hairless' BUT does it look good? HELL NO! It looks bizarre the hairline was not drawn evenly the skin scalp appears permenant lay discolored and disfigured ...and frankly it looks like shit now to put it bluntly!

I really wanted desperately to have a discrete FUE HT. Now I look like an odd ball freak!!

I absolutely will NOT go anywhere without a baseball cap on my head. My life and self confidence has been crushed following this FUE HT.

The doctor free hand drew on an asymmetrical hair line. The badly discolored recipient area is EXTREMELY noticable and makes me resemble a burn victim weirdo. Plus I have very poor growth in the recipient area. I hate myself for what I have allowed to be done to me all in the name of vanity. Now I'm destined to walk the rest of my days forever regretful only to be reminded of my folly every single time I gaze into a mirror. Such an abject existence!

Before this FUE I was merely self conscious about my male pattern baldness....now I'm positively disgraced, angry, dispirited and embarrassed beyond anything I've ever experienced.

A bad HT is 1000 times worse than being bald!!! I wish I could undo the damage that was done to my me and my self image.

TLDR: it been almost 4 months. My results are terrible. I'm becoming a neurotic mess taking the fast lane to panic freak out mode! If this keeps up for the first time in my life I may have to take antidepressants.

I'm exactly at 3 1/2 to 4 month post op. I had a 2000 graft FUE. I've posted photos if you want to take a look. I hate my results.

Worst mistake of my life was going through with this HT!

I've been overall VERY dissatisfied with nearly everything about this abomination that was done to my head. Not a single day doesn't go by that I don't say to myself this was the biggest stupidest mistake of my life!

I'd kill to just have my old hair and normal scalp back.

My recipient scalp area is badly discolored scarred and reddish. The hairs that are growing in the recipient area look thin and much less dense. It's like 'yes there are some extra hairs growing in an area that was previously hairless' BUT does it look good? HELL NO! It looks bizarre the hairline was not drawn evenly the skin scalp appears permenant lay discolored and disfigured ...and frankly it looks like shit now to put it bluntly!

I really wanted desperately to have a discrete FUE HT. Now I look like an odd ball freak!!

I absolutely will NOT go anywhere without a baseball cap on my head. My life and self confidence has been crushed following this FUE HT.

The doctor free hand drew on an asymmetrical hair line. The badly discolored recipient area is EXTREMELY noticable and makes me resemble a burn victim weirdo. Plus I have very poor growth in the recipient area. I hate myself for what I have allowed to be done to me all in the name of vanity. Now I'm destined to walk the rest of my days forever regretful only to be reminded of my folly every single time I gaze into a mirror. Such an abject existence!

Before this FUE I was merely self conscious about my male pattern baldness....now I'm positively disgraced, angry, dispirited and embarrassed beyond anything I've ever experienced.

A bad HT is 1000 times worse than being bald!!! I wish I could undo the damage that was done to my me and my self image.

I'm 3.5 months postop as well. My recipient area is still red, as I noticed your recipient remain discolored and red like mine. I wish my skin would return to completely normal color as that's bugging the heck out of me right now. Hope you get satisfactory results, still way early at only 3-4 months.

He has the right attitude, and his experiments are invaluable, this video further solidified my belief in minoxidil, it may not remove DHT from your body, but it maintains the hair you have even if it doesn't regrow your hair, this video provides proof. That's why if you don't take finasteride you should at least take minoxidil cause it's proven to work and it's definitely better than nothing.

I totally agree HTsoon. (I've read quite a bit of your post and often find myself in agreement with your points) I can't take fin but I am diligent in my twice daily Rogaine foam routine. Also, Joe Rogan has made statements in the past about how Rogaine helped him maintain his hair for a good while longer following his hair transplant. He eventually gave up the battle (as many have to do) and just shaved it down bald. We all have our breaking points of what and how much we will endur on our quest for hair. Joe seems perfectly happy and accepting of himself now that he is bald.

Your right about Sam B having a great attitude about this whole hair journey. I would give a lot in order to have his relaxed approach to hair transplants. HOWEVER, he never has had to contend with bad results from what I've seen. All His results were good, and his healing was good. Myself on the other hand, a different story. My recipient area is badly discolored and scarred and bumpy now. My recipient head looks like 'burn victim' bullshit now and it drives me into a neurotic tailspin most days. I haven't found an effective strategy to combat my overwhelming self consciousness. Again id love to possess some of Sam B insouciance!

Minoxidil has dramatically slowed down my hairloss, lipogaine is they minoxidil I use I find it had the best formula and carrier, people discount minoxidil as being useless, but it works, here's a video to show you how much it works, the guy in the video was under the belief that minoxidil was not working cause he was still losing hair, as soon as he stopped he literally lost all of the hair the minoxidil was maintaining within 6 months

I love Sam B videos. He does a nice job and he isn't afraid to use himself as a Guinea pig for the benefit of the viewer.

I think the chance of 'permanent' or very persistent long last effects are the result of people being stubborn and continuing the drug even in the face of side effects.

I'm 43 I recently had a FUE HT. I'm unable to take Fin. I'm doing Rogaine foam, Keto shampoo, and biotin supplement. We are both at that age where our testosterone levels NATURALLY decrease. To be further, augmenting this natural decrease in testosterone with medication is a recipe for disaster.

Dude, listen to your body, it's trying to tell you it does not like Fin. When you ignore what your body is trying to tell you, that's when you get into serious trouble. Time to discontinue Fin while you are still ahead.

You do NOT want to develop PFS! (Post Finasteride Syndrome). This will wreck your life. But don't take my word for it. Read for yourself ... Check out the web site Propeciahelp.com

Chap, we're all here looking to pay big bucks to get a cosmetic surgeon to stick some dead protein on our heads so we can preen at ourselves in the mirror like a 5-year-old in their Snow White costume. Any spirit of suck-it-up-and-get-on-with-it manliness has long since departed these shores.

 

Also, you know, probably not such great advice to give to a guy who is obviously upset and depressed.

LMAO!

Now that's hilarious.

So true, if I was inclined to just 'be a man' about it, then I would've (and should've) just buzzed my hair down and skipped the stupid ugly FUE I had. Such a mistake getting this HT.

Biolizard,

 

although I do not know how bad your situation is and how many months have passed since your op, If you truly feel your healing is subpar I can only advise you to state your concerns to the clinic that did your procedures and if you are not getting any help than go see a dermatologist,

 

My recipient area looked like crap for more than 3 months when I turned to a trusted HT doc and a dermatologist who properly assessed me. since then I can see major improvements in color and bumpiness.

It's been 2 1/2 months. Not sure how it's "suppose" to look. But many other people's FUE I saw on YouTube at the 2 month mark didn't look like mine.

I honestly would prefer to see a qualified dermatologist at this point and get his opinion on what has transpired. He may say that it's ok, maybe he will give me antibiotics, or some cream. I've read somewhere that rubbing Vit E oil on it would help with the scarring, so I started doing that. But that's not as good as being evaluated by a dermatologist.

It just seems to me that after 2 months time, the skin area should've had plenty enough time to heal back to normal if it was going to.

Good advice. I will make an appointment with a dermatologist and get their assessment and recommendations Thank you.

I agree... you do need to calm down...not for us, but for yourself. Worrying will bring you no closer to the outcome or resolution you desire. Try and take a step back.....

 

I take no issue with you being panicked, I understand it. The difference between electice and non-elective surgery is most often mental vs physical. The former is usually more difficult. We've all suffered.. I've had some of my darkest hours due to my hair loss...I dont judge your panic, if anything, you're just being vulnerable. In the end, You maybe trusted the doctor more than you should have... we can all debate the merit in that.

 

I think you'd agree if you were as thorough on the front end as you've been since, you'd be content with your decision. But remember, its early in the game... this is still a good doctor and no matter how bad the outcome it'll still be an improvement. Next time you'll do things a little differently... I think we can all say that about most things.

 

Try and stay positive and be patient.

I like this advice. And this is the kind of post I need to see too, to help me with my own ability to cope right now.

I have never once been on medication for any psychological condition. Never been clinically depressed. I would deem myself mentally rock solid prior to this FUE HT ! But seriously this FUE HT has brought me to my f*ing knees mentally! I've never experienced anything that has shaken me like this.

I'm ashamed to admit but in my darkest hours I've even grappled with ridiculous notions of suicide. I know it's stupid, but I can't help the thoughts that pop into my head. What can say other than that since my HT, I have become depressed. That's just the way it is right now for me.

I've never had such a demoralizing blow to my self imaging and right there on my face and forehead for the world to judge me!

OMG! My recipient area is badly red purple discolored, scaly, bumpy, and I swear I can't imagine it ever getting to the point that it will be undetectable from the surrounding area of normal skin. It's scarred damaged tissue it would appear to be. I'm struggling to come to terms with this fact.

This dreaded red line across my forehead just mocks me every time I glance in a mirror. A daily reminder of this mistake I made.

But what can you do really? The only thing I can do is wear a hat to conceal my embarrassment and this also avoids questions and judgement. In addition, try and stay as positive as I can.

I've definitely learned that even a mediocre FUE HT is WAY WORSE than just being bald! My advice to anyone seeking a HT is to take more time than I did and consider all the risk carefully. Don't jump into this like I did. I should've just accept my the aging process and balding with dignity,