Afterparty76

Does scalp elasticity hit a limit or can it continue to improve as you continue with stretches and time? Just trying to understand if I dont go with expansion, can I still reach an elasticity point where I can do the last FUT to maximize grafts or is there a limit of what I can do manually which defaults my option to FUE?

Hello, I've had 3 previous FUT procedures roughly in the 2k range of grafts. I'm down to roughly 4-5inch remaining donor area and currently looking at 1 remaining FUT. I've done the typical scalp stretching exercises and loosened up the scalp in the back. My surgeon recommended I consult with a separate surgeon for a tissue expansion to aid in elasticity near the back ear area. I'm struggling to find content on this and other sites that verify if this recommendation is valid. The procedure is very expensive compared to a hair transplant, and would take roughly 6months prior to the actual hair transplant to be ready. My general questions/thoughts: 1) Is a tissue expansion really improving my potential outcome vs just continuing to stretch my scalp manually for FUT? 2) If I cannot attain elasticity to a good margin manually, should I just do FUE and what is the comparison in grafts you can obtain? 3) Have any of you gone through a tissue expansion and felt it was worth the added time, pain, and cost? My concerns are mostly around wanting to know if this is truly a significant benefit based on my final donor availability, or if it might be a cost grab that is unnecessary. I appreciate any advice/thoughts you can offer.

Not sure which stories you are claiming to be anecdotal. I would suggest caution to anyone who is going on the medication. While it works for its intended purpose the threat of the sexual side effects is not fake and is proven through many studies. I personally used it at 0.25mg daily for 1.5 years and decided to quite because I was 21 and experiencing sexual side effects. You can clearly tell when you are 21 and have absolutely no problems and then after taking a medication you clearly have a problem. The effects went away about 4 months after stopping. Just be sure that if you decide to take this medication that you monitor yourself.

Hey Slush, your progress is looking great. I'm coming up on 6 weeks post-op with Alexander and I also cannot wait for growth. I've been able to conceal decently well with a combination of toppik/caboki. I dont use a lot, just enough to cover shock loss around the scar and create a bit of conceal up top until the shaved area grows back. You mentioned small baby hairs in the recipient areas, I'm been seeing a few as well, but I cannot tell if they are just returning original hairs or new transplanted hairs. Best of luck with your continued growth, hopefully in a few months we will be through this phase.

Hey sorry for the delayed reply. I decided to get a HT on 2/17 and currently healing/growing. As for opinions, it sounds like finasteride could be a good option at your age and thinning. As I and others mentioned, if you start to experience the sides you should stop. I've read of people saying persist through and the sides go away...I wouldnt trust this as there are other reports of permanent sides. What you currently are facing is a long term battle with your hair loss. Consider options in order of lesser risk/impact to your life (rogaine, toppik/caboki, finasteride, shave (Y/N?), hair transplant). The order of those are my opinion as I faced the decision. I wish you luck and understand it is difficult especially when your age/looks dont match your hair. (I relate)

It is a good word of caution. While the % impacted is low and most have taken medication for years without negative impacts, there are still those that will suffer worse impacts. In my personal experience I was on finasteride for a little over a year, was in my mid 20s, and could tell the side effects were drug caused. I decided to stop use and all sides went away so it wasnt too bad in my situation. Considering that several hair surgeons recommend this as one of the major 3 solutions/options for hair improvement, I hope they also ensure they give people the full information to make a good decision.

While it would be great to completely hide impacted areas, I dont think that is the goal. These steps are to camouflage the issue areas. You noted yourself above that it would require a right angle or someone be very close and around you consistently to notice that something is "different." Isn't that the true goal at this point? Some of us do not wish to go to work with an obvious red recipient area and scar line with shock loss around it.

Hi Slush, I'm actually doing pretty much the same thing as you currently. I return to work this next week after having 2 weeks off for the procedure. Due to me having very fine hair they preferred to shave the recipient area to ensure good execution. They also had to trim/shave a bit of the back donor region since my hair wouldnt stay up in the rubber bands. This ended up with my hair longer toward the back of my head, super short and early shedding in the recipient front area, and then miss-matched length in the back. I decided to get a haircut where I had them 4 blade the back and blend up into the side and then 3 blade the entire top to even on the length. I am using caboki on the top and in the FUT scar area to camouflage. It does a pretty impressive job, but isnt perfect. My biggest challenge for the next several weeks is the donor area since I have shock loss under the scar line and it is somewhat difficult to apply caboki to this area. Hope you heal well and grow fast!

Not sure about the scar yet. They had to cut my hair in the back a bit since I have fine hair that wouldnt keep tied up when they were removing the strip. It feels much better with the sutures removed and I hope it continues to heal well.

Thanks! I'll be returning back to work soon and currently want the growth to go into overdrive. One thing I'm surprised about is how quickly my numbness is dissipating.

I experienced the same layer of crusting over the recipient area, but mine was on day 3-4. I actually was at first cautious not to touch it since I didnt know if it was scabbing or crusting. Day 4-5 I would softly remove crusting post wash. Washing with the warm water softens the crust making it easier to remove. The part that made me feel comfortable that it was just a crust layer was when I saw all the hairs under it. I believe many people on this forum recommend gently removing the crust to avoid dryness and cracking.

No the recommendations were from comments and posts on these forums. The witch hazel has no alcohol and I only used the aloe vera one time and didnt like the reaction so I stopped it completely. You are right to call caution on the aloe since it is hard to notice true impact since the areas are numb.

Once the crust had fallen off I used witch hazel on the donor and recipient areas to help reduce redness and aid in healing. Just padded it lightly. The aloe I tried using was the standard aloe vera from Banana Boat.

Hi Everyone, I wanted to provide some detail about my recent HT with Dr. Alexander: Surgery occurred on 2/17 utilizing the strip method and grafting 2600 to my frontal hairline. The procedure was painless and executed in one day. I performed my research both for surgeon selection and preparations/decision making utilizing the resources on this forum along with other online sources. A few call-outs that helped me in preparation: -Utilized Spex's instructions on pre and post op care (http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/185763-run-up-hair-transplant-surgery.html) -Ensured I filled my prescription ahead of the surgery to ensure reduced pain and comfort on the first night. -Witch Hazel and coconut oil worked for me while aloe did not. Aloe left a layer of sticky residue which was difficult to rinse gently. -Crusting formed quickly (first 3 days) and broke up quickly. Worked wonders to softly remove after warm shower. My current progress point is that I am actually undergoing the shedding phase pretty early. Recipient area is flaking slightly and breaking off the follicles. Now starts the waiting game. Spex should be able to post the before/after pictures for the procedure. Let me know if you have questions. Thanks!

Looks like you have done an excellent job with research and preparation. I would definitely support you paying active attention to side effects if you decide to start finasteride. Many people push this since it is one of the 3 proven options for hair loss, but it has its risks. I was doing 1.25mg/day for 1 year and experienced some side effects that should not happen naturally at my age. Luckily stopping the treatment reversed the side effects. Best of luck to you!