ArochaHair

Hi HTSoon, Your question made me rethink what it was that we're all looking at. After doing some digging I found out that the patient had two procedures, not one, and so what we're looking at is a combined total of 3186 grafts. The first procedure was 2105 grafts and the photos below represent not just the hairline placement but also some blending into the areas behind the hairline for additional density. This second set of photos was taken roughly one year later when the patient returned for a check up and a second procedure to get maximum density for the hairline only was discussed and implemented. 1081 follicular units were transplanted for this purpose. The final results shown in the initial post of this thread represents 1.5 years after the second surgery and 2.5 years since the first. I hope this is more clear and we apologize for the misunderstanding.

Traditionally electrolysis is not very effective for lighter color hair and works best on dark coarse hair. Even then, you need several trips to the clinic to have an effectively permanent solution. FUE can indeed leave scarring but when a small punch is used it is quite difficult to see, if at all, and then it is usually only visible with close inspection. If you have a darker skin tone this might lead to slightly more visible scarring but it is impossible to lay a blanket statement on what you can expect as a final result. All of this is conjecture however as you should send photos to a qualified doctor to get a better idea of what is and is not possible.

This patient came to see Dr. Arocha because he was concerned about the patchy growth in his beard. Using the ARTAS robot by Restoration Robotics, Dr. Arocha was able to extract 1658 grafts in one procedure. Dr. Arocha filled in the areas lacking facial hair with the goal of creating a more consistent field of growth. The result is shown at six months.

Before anything you should consult with your clinic. In general, this is not unusual and it only takes mild encouragement through the use of hot water from your shower or even the use of vitamin E oil to help lift the scabs. This will be a lingering but very minor issue from time to time over the next few months as the donor area continues to heal. If you had some sort of tricophytic closure then the hairs, as they emerge through the scar tissue, can create small scabs and you may even wake up in the morning with small spots of blood on your pillow case. It is normal and does not indicate anything adverse. But again, consult your clinic.

Hi Mickey85, You are correct, the graft numbers are important in determining the relevance of this case. Our apologies for this not being included earlier. The photos you see represent 1658 grafts extracted for the day with of course the subsequent images showing the healing immediately one day after and then six months later.

Hi Scooter, Thank you for sharing your results. It is always great to see patients return to update the members with their progress. Dr. Arocha is pleased with your outcome as well:) You look fantastic!

Contrary to what has been said, the conference is not open to just anyone. The conference is only open to hair transplant doctors and their staff, guest patients that are involved in the live patient viewing portion of the conference, and exhibitors. The ISHRS does not allow guest patients to roam the halls of the conference and attend presentations, nor is this allowed for exhibitors. Regarding punch size, you'll be fine at .75mm regarding visible scarring, or the lack thereof. Generally this is the case for punch sizes up to .9mm but exceptions exist above and below this range.

Mosd, While it is always great to continue learning after you receive a hair transplant it is imperative that you follow the post surgery guidance of your doctor first and foremost. This isn't meant to lessen the value of the advice given in this thread already but your doctor's advice should be the advice you follow.

Since you are already home there is only one thing you can do at this point. Move on. Nothing you worry about will change a thing. In fact, the more you worry the worse your overall recovery could be. Why make it worse? Not a single thought you are worrying about hasn't been thought of by anyone else so not only are you not alone, you are in a crowded group of people that has travelled the same road. Assuming you went to a doctor with a good reputation there is no reason at this point to assume that you won't have a fine outcome:)

There is also the possibility of the grafts transplanted not being immune to the effects of DHT. This can happen as well and is not dependent on the type of method used for placement (FUE or FUT). Hair can be taken from the middle of the safe donor zone and the hairs can still be DHT sensitive and so your friend's loss may simply be continuing unabated, since he's not using medication to halt further hair loss. Dr. Rassman once had this to stay about this phenomenon:

Electrolysis can be effective but it does nothing to address any potential scarring you may have in the recipient area and this is where FUE is the better option. You are removing the graft, and any scar tissue that resulted in the placement. This will effectively allow you to relocate the offending grafts but as Mr. Gio stated, the survival rate of grafts transplanted multiple times may not be very high but multiple variables affect the final outcome. Sometimes when FUE is used to remove previously transplanted grafts a few can still survive the process and regrow so one pass might not be enough to remove them all but even with the majority removed you will enjoy a much more natural appearance that may alleviate your daily anxieties.

The pinkness means it is still healing but how the skin will heal in the end is an unknown. There are a lot of variables that go into this. Have you spoken to your doctor? I would recommend you not apply anything topical steroids of anything else for that matter before you speak with your doctor. If you have and aren't satisfied with the response you get then consider speaking to a dermatologist.

Being only one month into your recovery you're going to experience some issues that will make you question your decision. This is normal. Shock loss does not refer to permanent loss. It can be temporary for the more permanent hairs and permanent for the non-terminal hairs, if that makes sense. The hairs transplanted from your previous surgeries are susceptible to shock too but they'll most likely come back just fine. The recipient area being shaved was a move by your doctor to help prevent permanent damage of these previously transplanted hairs so be patient, speak to your clinic, and document your progress.

Hi 911fan, Turbo or RS? Carerra? I'm a fan too:) You are right, the presentation regarding the growth is not entirely transparent and the issue of the hair being wet in the before photos and dry in the after photos does not help matters. The point to take away from this series of photos however should have more to do with how effective ARTAS is becoming in matching the donor aesthetics of typical high quality manual punch extractions. Dr. Arocha performs both manual punch extraction and ARTAS extraction and he was very pleased to see how the latest updates to ARTAS have improved the usefulness of the robot. Smaller punches, smaller extractions and all with excellent graft integrity.