sidbtz

Hi there,

I am considering getting SMP in my FUT scar. Has anyone had this done with Rahal? Or just SMP in the scar? Would appreciate any thoughts? 

Thanks,

Sid 

Hi all,

I had FUT about a month ago.

I finding that my scalp is pretty dry as is the donor area. The doc suggested using olive oil, is there anything else I should use?

Also is there any creams or anything I should use in the donor area? To help with healing? It's still a bit sensitive to touch.

Thanks,

Sid

Thanks Shera

Hi all,

I had FUT done with a coalition doc on the 31st. Overall it's been a great experience. Couldn't have done it without HTN. Will post my pics etc soon.

Wondering in terms of removing scabs, the doc said I should try to rub lightly on the grafts to remove the scabs after day 7. I am now at day 11 and I know most say the grafts are permanent after 10 days but I am still apprehensive about rubbing on the grafts.

How important is it to rub the scabs off? I heard they usually fall off within 10-14 days. Will letting them naturally fall off affect growth? Will not rubbing them off be harmful?

Thanks in advance,

Sid

Thanks all. Great feedback.

Is there a primer somewhere about density? I've seen some online simulators talk about density as choosing between "full look" and "bald". What's typical in terms of grafts per cm2 to get a somewhat dense look?

Thanks,

Sid

Hi AB,

Congrats on the procedure. It looks like some of the grafts were taken from the side of your cheek and not just under the jaw? Is this the case? Is that okay in terms of the risk of facial scarring? Seems like a choice between having facial hair and head hair?

Thanks,

Sod

Thanks Spex. Yes, I hear you. It seems like it's a real risk, although it's quite rare.

Thanks, just saw this. I guess it's a risk that we have to be willing to take. I've personally had a lot of bad luck with other medical procedures where there is low risk and I end up in the 1 percent category, experiencing the adverse effect. I am scheduled to get FUT soon and really concerned about this.

Hi guys,

I booked my HT with a coalition doc in a little over a week. However, I am having cold feet after just having found a few posts on here and elsewhere about some people experiencing chronic pain/headaches for weeks/months or years in the donor area after having an HT. Some had to use antidepressants and strong pain meds like Lyrica for long periods of time/indefinitely. Many of the cases I found here seem to be after FUE but I think it’s possible with FUT as well.

Examples on here:

http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/142085-terrible-pain-donor-area-after-fue-procedure-11.html

http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/185340-donor-pain-continues-over-2-years-after-fue.html

http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/180284-continued-donor-area-pain-11-months-post-fue-any-advice.html

http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/142085-terrible-pain-donor-area-after-fue-procedure.htm

http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/163310-need-help-post-op-pain-nerve-damage.html

http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/183963-i-need-help-i-cannot-take-anymore.html

Not sure if I am allowed to post these but these are from other sites:

https://www.realself.com/question/dubai-ae-chronicle-pain-15-months-after-hair-transplant

Pain after Hair Transplant - Neurology - MedHelp

https://www.realself.com/question/indian-ak-nerve-pain-donor-area-after-hair-transplant-after-nerve-pain

I read that this is due to Occipital neuralgia/neuopathic pain, where the occipital nerve in the donor area is cut and or damaged and doesn’t heal properly following FUT/FUE. I have also read that this may be caused by trauma to the occipital nerve during the administration of anesthesia.

Has anyone on here had FUT and experienced pain or headaches that lasted months/years/continue to experience it?

It seems like the risk is very low judging by the number of cases here/online but I don’t think there are any stats out there on this. I’ve had a lot of bad luck in the past with other medical procedures, so I know it’s possible to be a rare/exceptional case. I know going to a reputable doc reduces some risk but Is this just a risk of surgery I need to take? Am I blowing it out of proportion? If the risk is there, anything is possible right?

Thanks in advance,

Sid

London,

 

The pain you're describing in the donor area is something called "post-FUE neuralgia." Essentially, it's neuropathic or nerve pain in the donor area secondary to FUE extraction.

 

Here's what happens: the traditional donor area is a network of superficial nerves and blood vessels. When you cut and remove tissue from this area, damage to the blood vessels and nerves occurs. When you remove a unified piece of tissue from a controlled area (IE a strip), the amount of damage, and the effects from this, is limited. This is why some people complain of temporary numbness in localized regions of the scalp or shock loss (from vascular/blood supply damage) temporarily occurring around the donor scar. However, the complaints are usually localized because the area of damage is localized.

 

In FUE, the opposite approach is taken. Although each cut, piece of tissue removed, and tissue damaged is much smaller, it's spread out and occurs on a much bigger scale. This means that instead of caused localized damage to a few blood vessels or a few nerves, the damage occurs over a much larger area and dozens, hundreds, or thousands of small nerve endings are affected. In the cases of diffuse vascular damage, this can result in a big -- but temporary -- shock loss throughout the donor area and some localized areas of necrosis (skin death). In the case of diffuse nerve damage, this results in the very classic pain you're describing.

 

Now, I share this not to scare you or to be critical of the FUE technique, but simply to let you know that this is a real thing that has been observed before. Frankly, I've never seen permanently in patients I've seen in person, but I have heard reports of it lingering online -- much like you describe here.

 

I think seeing your GP is a great idea. You may want to relay to him that you've heard the pain you're experiencing may be neuropathic pain secondary to the thousands of small insults made to the peripheral nerves in the donor area. There are medications specifically to treat this type of pain -- as it does occur in other instances -- so this may be something your doctor brings up and discusses.

 

I really hope this helps.

Dr.Blake, is it still possible to have neuropathic pain from FUT? Have there been any cases where someone has had long term chronic pain in the FUT donor?

It is 9 days post op and as you can see I have been working the crusts off (Dr Path recommended the use of virgin olive oil) so now the hair looks a bit more fluffy I guess.

 

I think I am fully healed at this stage (except for the donor area of course) so now it is just a case of removing the rest of the crusts over the next few days and also for the discoloration of my skin to subside.

 

As I have said, next year I plan on adding more density through a second procedure.

 

I am looking forward to having the sutures removed in the next few days as I find them extremely irritating, but I have read pretty much everyone finds that the case.

Any updates Bravo?

Has anyone got SMP with Dr.Rahal in Ottawa, Canada?

Thanks,

Sid

Hi all,

I've been using Derrmatch for a few years now but I just found out that it has talc/talcum powder in it. Talc in large quantities has been discussed as a potential carcinogen which can cause cancer. I know the research on Talc isn't conclusive at this time but as we know with medical literature/corporations/industries, these things are often suppressed for profits and the truth sometimes comes out years after (if ever).

Wondering if there are any other alternatives to Derrmatch, other than Couvre? I think Nanogen used to sell a similar product but I can't seem to find it anymore.

Thoughts?

Thanks,

Sid

Thanks for clarifying guys, appreciate it.

Hi all,

I tried to find the answer to this on the forum but haven't been able to. I am a bit confused about FUE. Is it possible to get grafts beyond the safe donor area in FUE, like the grafts above the safe donor zone (grafts which are not possible with FUT)? If so, how are these grafts not DHT resistant?

Thanks,

Sid

I think I am going to go with Dr.Path, get about 3000 grafts, then consider BHT for a second round, depending on how the first round goes.

Thanks Harin. Yes, I am hoping for a buzzed look. I have pretty good beard coverage, I think I am going to combine beard hair with donor and maybe add SMP.

Thanks HTsoon, I’ve contacted those guys.

Yes I would need multiple procedures and this is not possible given my donor. Guess my logic is, if the HT can recreate the hairline to some degree, with SMP I could have a bit of a buzzed look. I used to buzz when I had more hair and I liked that look. Guess, worst case scenario, I’ll have a shaved head look with the SMP, but hopefully with transplanted hair in the front, SMP won’t look too fake.

1978matt, I feel like SMP alone is too much of a risk, I’ve seen so may examples online where the hairline looks like a tattoo, the rest of the head usually looks okay.

Pathan, I am in a similar situation as you. Your results looks pretty good. Keep us updated.

HTsoon, I live in Toronto Canada, would some of the HT surgeons be able to do a miniaturization test? None of the surgeons I consulted in person made note of this. I suppose if miniaturization is the issue, neither FUT or FUE would be a viable option?

I was told with FUT I could get the most return, and there is a greater chance of the grafts surviving versus FUE. The scarring is a concern. Although, I’ve seen some decent examples of SMP in the donor scar, with guys keeping their hair short, but these are after all just pictures and I have not seen anyone in person. Isn’t the risk of failure greater with FUE?

I’ve looked into hair systems but it just seems like an expensive huge life long hassle.

I was thinking of full on SMP but the hairlines seem really fake. But if the front/hairline can be built, then SMP can potentially compliment it.

BadBeat, good point, I didn’t realize that. Do you think FUE is better due to FUT scarring?

Thanks again,

Sid

Triple7 I have shaved my head in the past but the shaved head/beard really doesn't suit me and the industry that I work in. Hairthere, that looks decent. Since I probably will have to continue to keep my hair short due to poor density, I am worried about the scar. It seems like SMP may be a good option. I am guessing SMP in the donor scar is a better option for my skin tone/darker skin tones? What has been your experience. Thanks guys.

Hi all,

I think I am at a Norwood 7 (attached pics--I usually use a trimmer at level 4 and keep it short, in the pic I had not trimmed my hair in about a week and a half). I've been told that it may be possible to obtain 3000-3500 grafts by 3 recommended physicians on here, which can be used to recreate the hairline/frame my face. For the remainder, some felt it would be possible to do SMP and keep my hair short (I already keep it short), as the hairline will not be dense. SMP would also be used to cover the scar.

I know I won't ever be able to get full coverage with my limited/weak donor and extensive balding. But I feel SMP may be an option, if the hairline can be recreated to certain degree. I find the SMP hairlines look really fake. And FUT can add some texture, which SMP lacks.

This seems to be a decent example: https://tophairlosstreatments.com/fue-and-smp-combination.

A bit more about me, I am 31, have been using Rogaine for about 5 years on/off, used Propecia for 5 months but stopped due to pretty bad sexual sides.

I can't seem to find too many examples of SMP after HT on here, have many people done it?

Any thoughts, would really appreciate some feedback?

Thanks,

Sid

Yes, I also saw him for a free consult. He was terrible, unprofessional and all over the place, answering his phone twice during our meeting. He offered me a $2000 discount, if I took a spot a couple of weeks away and tried to pressure me into it. Then he proceeded to insult me by saying, I probably can't afford an HT and hence I am not accepting his offer. Money was definitely not the issue. Meanwhile I kept telling him I wanted to sleep on it and give it some thought. Then he called his hair systems sales person and offered the phone to me, without asking me if I wanted to talk to her. Avoid this piece of shit.

Hi friends, i am Karthikeyan,age 30 from india,tamilnadu.i did my hair transplantation surgery on 25/12/2015 by dr.kapil dua and his team at ak clinics Bangalore(extended clinic name of kosmoderma skin and hair clinic).

 

I would like to express my views about my hair transplantation surgery in this blog.

 

After completion of one year post op,i am not happy with the result and noticed poor density.initially i met with dr.kapil dua thru Skype about my hair transplantation surgery. he suggested to go for 4000 hair follicular unit ,which means that around 2200 grafts to cover front hair line.on day of surgery and one year post op,i don't feel any discomfort.

 

But result wise i am very disappointed. Herewith i attached before and after photo. I gained below 50% results.i lost my money,harvested hairs at back side,more than that l lost my one year priceless time.who will give all those things.

 

I think,this bad result due to only 30-40% of work done by dr.kapil dua and remaining 70-60 % of work done by his team or technician. hair implants 100% done by technician.on the whole which yields poor result.

 

I had seen my hair growth monthly wise.after completion of 7 th month,i met with dr.kapil dua on skype about hair transplantation growth. i expressed my views. he said that "your hair growth is good and you have full of hairs".i said that" density wise i am not happy".doctor said that"you have to wait for another 4or 5 months for better result.today it is 13 month,pl see the result.

 

Thereafter, i don't want to contact with doctor.

 

Actually hair transplantation is a good technique,but in the bad hands,my story will be the result.

 

Dear Friends,do lot of research and decide doctor without considering ads.

 

I am not recommended, dr.kapil dua for hair trasplation surgery based on my experience.

 

i need your support.

 

Finally, thanks for this network , opportunity to share my feelings and thought.

 

Thanks and regards karthikeyan.

Really sorry that this happened to you. Was it 4000 grafts? FUT or FUE?