SuperC

My surgeon recommended sleeping at a 45º angle for the first 5 days, and then continuing beyond that point if I was still experiencing swelling.

After 5 days, I switched from using a wedge pillow to just a thick pillow and lying on my back all night with a protective cap on, and did this for another week or so until the scabs had fallen off.

I underwent electrolysis to remove facial hair. In my case, my electrologist recommended the galvanic method. It is slow and rather painful, but very effective.

Your technician may recommend another method, such as thermolysis or a blend. I would just make sure to ask how effective and efficient the treatment options are for your hair type before choosing, because often times many sessions are required to eliminate all hair and prevent regrowth.

Please read:

https://hairtransplantnetwork.com/how-long-does-it-take-hair-transplant-grow

I just searched with Google Maps and called around to find mine. Are you not able to find one in your area?

I'd also read up on the different electrolysis methods and figure out which you think is best for your situation, and be sure to ask anywhere you call to see what they offer and recommend.

There may be reasons that a repair should be done sooner than later if you are certain you won't like the result, but aside from that, I would wait and see how your results turn out. You may be pleasantly surprised.

I literally just use cheap, store-brand stuff from Walmart. 🤷🏻‍♀️

8 minutes ago, wprevil said:

Yeah youre right. I just wanted to know if others have had this issue

Almost certainly! The problem is that it doesn't mean your issue is the same as theirs.

Even if no one has ever experienced this, it doesn't mean you should worry. However, even is this common, it doesn't mean it's not worth seeing a doctor, you know?

If you feel there might be a serious medical issue, or even if the pain is unmanageable in the short term, please go see a medical professional. They can help so much more than anyone here.

2 minutes ago, bigred said:

I understand that, however the crown still needs to be done regardless due to it being pretty much bald. 

[...]

I guess, I'm worried about the donor areas being able to support the crown.

Yep, I gotcha. I really don't know about the donor area. There is likely still time for that to rebound a bit more as well, though I believe it usually happens more quickly than the recipient area.

4 minutes ago, bigred said:

I don't have a lot of hope for the frontal area as the gaps/space between the hairs... because in the spaces I can't see any signs of there being a graft there so I don't see how it would fill in.

At 6 months, you might not, but it doesn't mean they aren't there.

If you have any clear photos from right after the procedure, you could compare with those and perhaps assess a bit further. But regardless, there's no telling for sure until enough time as passed. That's all I was trying to convey.  

I was addressing your concern regarding density. At only 6 months post-op, it's still likely that your transplanted area(s) will fill in further. I would wait until a full year has passed before worrying about a second procedure in the same area.

46 minutes ago, bigred said:

I had a transplant approx 6 months ago, in the frontal regional towards the midpoint of the scalp. Approx 3k Grafts. I need to have a 2nd transplant to do the crown, but I honestly think that more would be needed in the front region to achieve better density, as I personally think it looks a bit scarce.

https://hairtransplantnetwork.com/how-long-does-it-take-hair-transplant-grow 

5 minutes ago, roch88 said:

So you started rinsing your recipient area with baby shampoo after 2days?

Yes, just spraying it gentle with baby shampoo, then spraying gently with a bottle of warm water. Don't touch it at all, and let it air dry.  

6 minutes ago, roch88 said:

This time I went with a diff doc for the FUE procedure. He suggested doing with the shaving foam. 

Which doctor was this?

Saline spray helps keep the grafted area clean throughout the day. It can also reduce itchiness and assist with breaking down scabs as they begin to loosen after the first week.

28 minutes ago, Hair-here said:

How much does it really matter?

Like many things, I think this is just about best practice to mitigate risk and increase comfort. However, probably most people will not have any serious issues if they don't do this.

That said, I don't know why a clinic wouldn't encourage taking all practical measures during recovery. My clinic gave me very detailed instructions for post-op care and I followed every letter of it, because it seems foolish to invest the time and money into such a life-changing procedure only to be lazy or too relaxed about protecting that investment during recovery.

I've never heard anyone recommend using shaving cream.

My clinic put me on an antibiotic and advised rinsing with warm water and baby shampoo daily, as well as keeping the scalp moist with saline, which can also help keep bacterial growth under control.

Could someone help me understand what the light-colored bumps are all over the recipient area? I don't see this with every surgeon, just some, and yet no one ever seems to mention it.

Is it the extracted graft tissue not being dissected and discarded, but implanted into the recipient area with the follicles? if so, how does this effect the scalp surface after healing?

Edit: I forgot to mention, the work looks great! What a massive transformation this will be!

I've never heard that Minoxidil contains any addictive substances, and a quick Google search returns no strong evidence to the contrary. If you discontinue use later, however, you may lose any "gains" you had as a direct result of the medication.

There's no harm in waiting until your growth has matured before deciding if Minoxidil is right for you. Personally, I wanted to see what my results would look like on their own before deciding to start Minoxidil. Otherwise, I felt like I'd be too afraid to discontinue use later. Now that I'm almost 10 months post-op and satisfied with my results, I have no reason to start Minoxidil and, thus, nothing to fear.

After 13 months? Not unless you've seriously injured yourself.

Your transplanted hair is now just as durable and resilient as the rest of your hair.

Either way, keep your head out of the sun.

Neither. These aren't generally considered effective treatments for hair restoration.

Are you on any medications, such as Minoxidil or Finasteride? Typically, the best approach is to stabilize your hair loss via medication and then, if desired, restore thinning areas by way of a hair transplant.

On 4/24/2024 at 12:20 AM, LDya4EydFkuc said:

I look at reviews and usually find a review so bad it scares me off from that doctor.  I can’t seem to find anyone that everyone agrees is good.

The perfect surgeon doesn't exist. It's up to you to choose the one you feel is right for your situation.

I'd also like to know who the surgeon is.

This sounds like a strange recommendation. Generally, once the scabs have been removed, it's best to let things be.

6 minutes ago, Hair-here said:

I would be open to a doctor visit but what exactly are they looking or testing for? I’ve been to a dermatologist and he didn’t notice anything atypical about my hair or scalp that would explain poor growth. But also a dermatologist might not have a lot of experience with hair transplants. 

Not sure.  I just don't see any reason why you wouldn't have far better growth with your previous procedure. It's uniformly poor, as opposed to being patchy or anything. This suggests to me that there might be a more fundamental issue impacting growth, but I'm certainly no doctor.

If it were me, I'd ask my primary care physician about it and follow their advice, including running any tests or ordering bloodwork as they see fit. Get as much information as you can, you know? Good call on speaking with a dermatologist, by the way. Perhaps get a second opinion from another dermatologist who knows more about hair and hair transplants.

Have you talked to a medical doctor? It may be wise to get checked out for any sorts of medical conditions that affect growth before going in for another transplant.

2 hours ago, Tripp said:

Going off at a slight tangent here but was the facetime consult worth it? I'm at an early stage with hair slowly receding at my temples. I corresponded via email and told her my situation and she said it would likely be a combination of fin and minoxidil. I'm curious though if she can really give a decent assessment over a video call?

Yes, the call was absolutely worth it for me.

I'd already submitted high-quality photos for her to review prior to the call, so our time was spent covering my most important questions. I felt like I was getting answers straight from one of the most highly-regarded hair restoration surgeons in the country, if not the world.

She was actually the first surgeon I spoke with during my research phase. Talking to her really set a high standard for me beyond that point, and as patients in this business, we really need to keep our standards quite high.

Anyone considering paying what Dr. Nadimi charges probably isn't worried about $200 anyhow. It's really nothing in the grand scheme — the cost of about 20 grafts — and I wouldn't personally schedule a procedure with someone I'd not spoken with directly, so I'd say it's definitely worth it.

1 hour ago, BlackAmish111 said:

And then offered for me to speak to Rahal himself for a "$75 fee". Does that sound expert level to you? Or more of a money machine.

It sounds like a business run by someone whose time is valuable. Costs tend to increase with skill level, as well as demand, though there's not always a correlation.

For instance, last year I paid $200 USD just for a quick FaceTime call with Dr. Sahar Nadimi of the Chicago Hair Institute. She's widely regarded as one of the very best in the business. I doubt many folks would say that was just a money grab. Her time is valuable and I was willing to pay for it.

It's unfortunate that you didn't get the good news you were hoping for. Really, that sucks.  There's certainly no harm in getting a second or third opinion, and there are lots of other surgeons who might be better equipped to address your unique situation. I just don't know that complaining about the cost of a consultation really helps your argument.