Recession

Well I've finally reached the one year mark and I could hardly be in a more different frame of mind than I was this time last year. Looking back it was an incredibly stressful thing to go through but, thanks to the encouragement and information that I received on this forum, I was never really in any doubt that I was making the right decision. There's been a lot of water under the bridge since then and it's been an emotional roller-coaster to say the least (I could set a record for cliches here) but it's definitely been worth it and I couldn't be happier with the results. I've been very straight with my family and closest friends all along and the encouragement that I've received has been a great help as have the kind comments of the board members here. As I mentioned in my blog, I would never have gone through with the surgery if it weren't for the honesty of those who have shared their knowledge and experience in such a generous way. My clinic has advised me that I won't see the full results for another six months but I'm really pleased with the way I look now so any improvement would just be a bonus.

Another landmark in the journey. I'm really happy that the pimple stage appears to be finally behind me but I fear that I may have lost some grafts where I had the worst of the cystic acne. As a result there are a few gaps here and there and ideally I would have liked a bit more coverage in the middle of the hairline. I understand that I've probably reached the end of the growing phase now but I'm hoping that, as the transplanted hairs mature and thicken, those gaps will begin to fill in. By the way, I've styled my hair in the pics the same way as before the surgery so that the changes are clear to see.

Hi Folks, I've hit the four month mark and I'm very happy with the way thing are going so far. I'm really looking forward to seeing further improvement over the coming months. I've added an update to my blog where you can see some pics.

Looking back over my diary notes, it was a huge relief when I had the nylon stitches (all 14 of them) removed on Day 7....I wouldn't say that I suffered too much from itchiness but there was certainly much less discomfort afterwards and it was a whole lot easier to sleep. I also second wb280's suggestion...nothing like a pretty girl to take your mind off things...oh, and a few beers...for medicinal purposes only of course

magicaltimes, Congrats on your surgery and I'm happy that you are pleased with the results so far...it looks great, yet more fine work from Dr. Path. I hope you find time to put together a website so that you can keep us updated on your progress. Recession.

Thanks for the update....you've shown great honesty in your comments and your perspective is admirable. I'm sorry that you are disappointed with your results and, like everyone else, I really hope that the next few months bring some surprises and that you end up with a result that you are happy with. I'm three months post op with Dr Path and wondering how it's all going to work out. Threads like this are as important as the good news stories, particularly since you've not attempted to turn your story into a crusade against your surgeon or the procedure in general. It's important for me and others who have recently undergone transplants and for those who are considering surgery to moderate our expectations. Optimism is all very well but I don't think it's being pessimistic to allow oneself be prepared for a result that falls short of what might be considered to be the industry standard. And equally, a balanced appraisal of a disappointing outcome should not be viewed as a slight on the industry or on a surgeon's ability. I look forward to hearing the next chapters of your story. Recession.

That looks great, and such a huge difference...you must be really pleased. I'm three months post op with Dr. Path and wondering which way it's going to go but your results at this early stage are very encouraging. Thanks for posting and keep us updated. Recession.

Hi Allan, I've been through the mill with acne since week five and still suffering but I'm dealing with it and still optimistic of a good outcome. Have a look at the latest entry on my website and best of luck.

Well I’ve reached the three month mark, the first landmark I guess and it’s been a bit of a rollercoaster trip so far. When I last updated my blog, I was three weeks post op and was very pleased with the whole experience up to that point. There’s been a lot of water under the bridge since then and there have been a number of challenges along the way. The first challenge was to conceal the signs of the surgery and, in common with most Irish people, my fair skin tone meant that there was quite a contrast between my natural skin colour and the redness in the recipient area. I played with a change of hairstyle for a while but, in the end, I decided that the least conspicuous option would be to use a cosmetic concealer. It took a while to find the right type and tone of concealer but I eventually settled on an option that seemed to work. It wasn’t by any means a perfect solution. I think most people knew that something strange was going on with my hairline but they couldn’t quite put their finger on it and that was good enough for me. In the midst of this I also began to develop folliculitis in the recipient area about four to five weeks after the surgery. This was somewhat earlier than I thought was normal but, as someone who’s suffered with acne for most of his life, it wasn’t really all that unexpected. I wrote to the clinic and they explained that when they remove the donor hair they bring along the sebum producing gland that lubricates the hair so, when the hair root is in the resting phase, sometimes the oil cannot come out and this can cause some acne. On their recommendation, I got a prescription for some Fusidin cream. I also started to use Nizoral shampoo a few times each week and, although neither of these has eradicated the acne, they have managed to control the problem and ensure that any outbreak is brought under control as quickly as possible. I’ve been assured by the clinic that this is a temporary problem and will resolve itself once all of the hairs have broken through the skin. I should mention though that some of the more aggressive and painful pimples have bled in the final phase before they’ve begun to heal and I’ve noticed that, on at least one occasion, a hair has come way when I’ve tried to stem the flow. I don’t know if the root came out also but, if it did, then I guess it’s possible to loose a graft through folliculitis long after they are supposed to be locked in place. And now to the important bit…the hair. I noticed that quite a few of the transplanted hairs failed to shed during the week three to week eight period and, as many of these were located at the front of the new hairline, it made the whole concealment effort a little more difficult. The folliculitis that I’ve already mentioned started to increase noticeably over the last few weeks, and for a very good reason which was unapparent until I took some photographs and transferred them to my computer for a better look. It seems that, in addition to the hairs that failed to shed and some native hairs that have grown back, I have a whole new group of little hairs pushing up through my skin and making their way out into the big bad world. At this stage it’s difficult to judge just how successful it’s going to be but so far the signs are encouraging. I've updated my blog to include some close-up pics so that you can get an idea of how many hairs are growing and the stage of their growth. These pics were taken under flash and without any concealer so my skin does not normally look that bad. Anyway, here’s hoping that the next few months will see the arrival of more little budding hairs and a growth spurt for those that have already appeared on the scene.

Hi Joey, You're not alone...I'm in exactly the same position; two months post surgery and getting lots of pimples in the recipient area. I wrote to my surgeon's clinic recently and received the following reply: "Folliculitis or pimples can be found occasionally after surgery because when we remove the donor hair we bring along the sebum producing gland that will lubricate your hair. When the hair root is in the resting phase sometime the oil cannot come out so it will be like pimple or acne on your face. Once the hair start to exit the scalp this problem will be gone. The folliculitis is normal. Wet warm compress for 15 minutes three times a day and apply antibiotic ointment will improve the condition. If any large pustule you can use a clean forceps or tweezers to pop up the pimples. Then apply an antibiotic cream like Fusidic acid or bactroban ointment. This should be available in most pharmacies. You can expect more pimples to appear in the next 4-6 weeks. So do not panic. They will subside with measures I suggested". I decided to try the compress thing for a while but it wasn't really helping. In fact the pimples were so bad by last Monday that I went to my local GP and got a prescription for some Fusidin Cream as recommended by the clinic. Four days later and the whole area is under control and clearing up nicely. As the clinic mentioned, there are likely to be more pimples over the next few weeks once the hairs start to break through but I feel a lot better now that I've got an antibiotic cream to get me through it.

In my case, I had made it clear during my consultation and all subsequent correspondence that I would prefer not to be shaved. However, on the day of the surgery, we agreed on a compromise that they would only shave the baby hairs at the front as these were not likely to survive much longer in any case. I'm 25 days on from my surgery now so I guess I'll find out over the next couple of weeks just how much, if any, of my native hair will be lost. If you're interested, you can keep an eye on my website for more updates.

Hi folks, I've just arrived home after twelve nights away in Thailand, during which time I had my first HT with Dr. Pathomvanich and his team. Overall I would have to say that it was a very positive experience and I'm looking forward to seeing how it all turns out further down the road. The final count for my hairline and temples was 626 single hair grafts, 1,786 two hair grafts and 462 three hair grafts. This resulted in a grand total of 2,874 grafts and 5,584 hairs. I kept a diary during my stay there but have only got around to publishing the details now. I've published seperate entries for each day that I wrote in my diary and I feel that this provides a much better representation of how I felt on a day by day basis rather than trying to reinterpret the whole experience with the benefit of hindsight. I've detailed the daily developments up to a week after surgery and I'm going to leave it at that for now as there's not likely to be very much happening for the next few days. I will add another update once the grafts have been shed and I've been able to get a clearer picture of how successfully I can cover up the surgery when I return to work in the new year. I'm particularly interested to see just how red or pink the recipient area is after the grafts have gone and whether the grafts in the temple areas actually fall out at all. I was told by Dr. Path that these grafts may continue to grow so that will have an added impact on my approach to covering up the procedure. Anyway, many thanks if you find the time to have a look and I hope it helps anyone who has yet to take the plunge. Recession.

Hi wb280, Thanks for the advice. I agree completely about deciding to just go for it. In my case, I don't absolutely have to get it done right now as I still have a somewhat passable hairline and I can get by without too much comment on my hairloss. However, over the last couple of years, it's become very obvious to me that, if I don't do something about it soon, I will be bald and that's not something I can ever imagine for myself. That knowledge alone is enough to fuel my determination to take the plunge now rather than let the issue fester. As for my concerns about the surgery, I've not been worrying about it too much...just the odd sudden realisation now and then. As it happens, my dad is having heart bypass surgery on the day before I leave so that's occupying my thoughts right now rather than my own situation.

I'm now just 18 days away from my surgery with Dr. Pathomvanich and the doubts are already starting to creep in....not in a big way, just every now and then. Not sure what I'll be like on the day but I'm sure I'll be having a few of those "what the hell am I doing here" moments :eek:. To be entirely honest, I'm more worried about the blood tests than anything else. It's been four years since my last HIV test and it doesn't get any easier. As far as transferring money is concerned, I've already transferred the deposit and will send the balance early next week. I'm planning to send enough money to cover the larger of the two estimates that I was given during my consultation (I was given an estimate with and without grafts in the temple areas). At the current exchange rates, there should also be enough money there for an extra 200 grafts, just in case. I plan on posting the details of the surgery and my progress.

Yeah, no problem...I met with Dr. Kiely just over a year ago in early November