Florence

Update. Coming up to 9 month post OP.

Thank you all for your responses. If someone is curious, or if it may inform others when reading, my doc confirmed its just a hair shaft with some dried skin.

Thanks everyone. I don't worry about loosing one graft out of so many, but I wonder why it would come out now, nearly two months after HT. I thought that after two weeks or so grafts are fully secure.

Thanks @Melvin- Moderator I am relieved now. Is it otherwise possible to loose a graft (for whatever reason) more than a month after HT, loose it in the sense that it never grows any hair ever? If yes, would this hurt, bleed, etc?

Thank you both! @Melvin- Moderator do you mean this is a graft (not just hair), its out and won't produce hair in future?

Hi all, nearly two months following my HT when going through my growing hair, this fell out (see pic). Is it a graft that never took in or? It didn't hurt, it didn't bleed, but also doesn't look like the rest of tiny hairs that shed. Background; I had 6100 grafts done with FUE over two days at Hattingen (my report was published here). In ugly-duckling phase now. I had a buzz cut at Hattingen clinic about a month following my HT. Will do another buzz cut in a week or two. Find it looking better. Some transplanted hair is growing in length (I see it along the hairline), some shed, some is just sitting there, not growing, not shedding. Now concerned with what might be a graft that never took in and that it falls out nearly two months post OP. Is that common, an indicator of something? Thanks!

Isn't it too early to think of it as final result after only six months? Not defending the doc, but maybe that's why he won't speak to you now, because he wants to wait (but I suppose he could tell you this himself, to wait).

Thanks @JC71. Could I contact you in private, please? Thanks.

Here are some photos from the clinic, pre and post op, and eleven days after. Shedding already began already in week two.

Yes, its very discreet, I did not see any mention/signs outside that it is a hair restoration clinic. Its a beautiful modern house overlooking the green hills and forests.

Hi all, I am 39-year-old, with relatively slow progressing hair loss that began some nearly 15 years ago or more. I had over 6000 grafts done in a two-day FUE session at Hattingen in Switzerland. The choice of clinic for me personally was an easy one. Since I live in Germany, clinics in Belgium and Switzerland were always preferred due to practical reasons and being able to drive there. I never considered locations further away. The idea of flying pre- and post-op, etc., never appealed to me personally. I met with Dr Sever Muresanu some six years ago in Germany. From the first meeting, Dr Muresanu came across as straight talking, no sales-pitch, objective surgeon. I met a few other top names in the region (you probably know who they are in the countries mentioned), but always felt most comfortable with Dr Muresanu, his evaluation of my hair loss, the opportunities he presented, his plans for my hair re-growth, etc. I initially thought I would do FUT but was also given the choice of FUE. From what I know, Hattingen is very selective with big FUEs. I was told I had an above average donor area and hair quality and can choose either method. Dr Muresanu suggested FUE (which I favoured anyway) with the premise that I probably won’t need another one down the line and if I do, I have enough grafts left. The Hattingen clinic is in a small village in Switzerland, some 30 min drive from Zurich and close to German border, very discreet, beautiful modern house with a view. The procedure took two days, very long days, with a whole team engaged and led by Dr Laura Muresanu, Dr Sever's wife. From what they told me, and from what I could see coming in for regular post-op hair wash, that week there were three patients including me, two two-days and one one-day procedure. Starting with the most difficult aspect of it; it’s having to stay in one position for long periods of time during the extraction phase. Short breaks are allowed but soon after, after half an hour or so, you start feeling stiff again. Otherwise, the procedure was, as I or anyone else who did their research, as expected. No surprises there. I don’t know how other clinics work, but the whole Hattingen team works like a Swiss clock. Lunch and snacks were also provided, but I had zero appetite on both days. I did drink a lot of water and consequently had to go to the loo quite often. But it was great to stand up and stretch a bit. I did think I would be able to watch TV for example, or even do some work on my laptop, but with so many people standing around you, it was not possible. I stayed in the area close to the clinic for a week post-op and went in every day since for a hair wash, checkup and consultation. Personally, it was important for me to have that post-op contact live, rather than be far away and consult via messages, phone, or a camera. Swelling was quite extensive, as is expected after 6000 grafts and a two-day procedure. It’s still lingering on, getting to the lower parts of my face, but its nearly gone. No pain though, except that tightness and pulling sensation. I was given a post-op kit for self-care including written out explanation of post care and some tips for expectation management. I read online about different methods of post-op care and different surgeons/clinics seem to have different views of it. For example, I thought that new grafts are not to be touched for a few days. Not necessarily the case. Hattingen team washed my hair every day from day one. In the first few days after washing, they would put non-adhesive pads on which I was to keep moist with saline solution (later with water) and a bandana over it. With a doctor’s OK, I would pull over a loose hoodie over the bandana to look, well, more everyday 🙂 After five days, I was told I don’t need non-adhesive pads, no bandana, I can sleep normally, and I can wear a loose hat when I go out if I want to. I do still sleep with a neck pillow though, as I am that scared about damaging grafts during sleep. Below are some pics pre-op, and in the days post-op. Soon will start the dreaded loss of new hairs and then the waiting game. I think I will choose to keep the hair quite short over the next six-eight months and let it grow once there is really a genuine growth. Because I saw so many guys keeping their hair long even during the “ugly duckling phase”, I assumed trimming and keeping the hair short is not advised for some reason. But it can be kept short indeed. Thanks for reading. Hope this helps someone.

Hi all, My hair transplant is approaching fast and for some reason I seem to be nervous about two parts. Pre-op anesthetic injection and post-op swelling. How painful is the injection and does the swelling part hurt, or it just looks bad? My doc told me that the swelling tends to come and go within 24 hours, but I read online that it can linger on for 2-3 days. What is your experience with both? Thanks a lot!

I am planning to be away for four weeks; two weeks sick leave and two weeks holiday. Just easier to get my work off the radar during those first 4-5 weeks. And then I can start wearing a hat anyway.

Thank you both for your input. Much appreciate.

Do you mean out of work for two weeks? I am having FUE, so does that mean swelling also goes away quicker than with FUT?