Hi Brando,
Most of the redness is gone, and I can better see all of the grafts that Dr. Cooley meticulously put in. Looks good. Looks like a 5 o'clock shadow in all of the places where I was bald (the temples and hairline).
I've been wearing a hat since the day of the surgery, but I only wear a hat when I have to go out. You can put saran wrap on the inside of the hat (or stick a piece over your hair to cover the grafts) so this way the hat does not stick or disturb the grafts. For the first two nights I wore a surgeon's cap with saran wrap underneath when I went to bed to prevent myself from rolling my head all over my pillow or itching my head by mistake.
I spray tap water (with some special medication mixed in it) on my head about four times a day. Dr. Cooley had me start applying Rogaine to the grafts twice daily on the third day until finished.
I am able to take a bath and pour water over my head, but I am still not allowed to use the shower stream on my head.
I still have slight throbbing of pain in my donor area. I have dissolvable sutures and it only throbs when I apply pressure where the suture is knotted. I have no swelling.
No shock loss yet. I think I am recovering pretty good. I am excited about the results I see right now, but I know the transplanted hair will fall out in a few weeks and then I have to see what actually regrows.
You're in good hands with Dr. Cooley. I think he did an excellent job, and he has a great staff. Initially I was scheduled for 1500 grafts, but he had 1600 grafts in the end and spent the extra time putting all of them in. The procedure lasted from 8:30 AM to about 6 PM.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Brian