bluebird00

8 hours ago, BackFromTheBrink said:

I don't think his letter is unreasonable. It does, however, lack specifics on your case and instead talks generally.

The only think I can see that is definitive is that he extracted and implanted 2700 grafts. However, since that is the main concern you have, I'd say he has addressed that.

The implication is that you had less than 2700 incisions since he uses multiple singles in one incision 'almost every day'. Similarly, he presumes there was only one surgery taking place at the time of your surgery.

If I were to guess, it would be that you have not been given specifics about your surgery because he doesn't have them (such as a record of the hair to follicle ratio of the 3 strips). He also may be concerned about you using his words as part of a legal case against him - e.g he could have checked to confirm how many patients were booked on the same day as you, but chose not to do, or not to disclose that for fear of you finding further fault.

While not directly stating it, he also seems to say that there are only 2 senior doctors. Others may be 'shadowing' but would not have interfered with the surgery. It'd be useful to have a definitive statement that only he and Dr. Feller operated on you, but he chose not to take the opportunity to clarify that.

From reading his letter, the only way you'll know for sure is to take him up on his offer of a consultation to ask him the questions you listed above. I don't think that will help you, other than to perhaps set your mind at rest.

You have paid for the surgery, he believes he's delivered what you paid and you were in no way short changed.

While it may not be what your want to hear, nothing is going to change what did or didn't happen in the surgery. You've really just got to decide whether the outcome is worth the cost (monetarily and in donor grafts), the rest is really largely just noise.

8 hours ago, JoeD said:

most (not all) has been answered and the OR report has been transcribed in this thread.

- Graft count: while he did not give specific breakdown, he does essentially say that excess singles from the strip were combined to make multi-grafts behind the hairline, in single incisions. If the exact graft breakdown wasn’t listed in OP report and/or recently by doctor, then I’ve got to assume it wasn’t documented.

-Procedure time: strip needed extending on both sides due to the lower density on the sides, as written on the operative report. That plus repeated popping, vasovagal/syncope (passing out), would account for additional hours.  

- exact role and identity of other “shadowing” doctor: this has not been answered and should be  

- seeking outside/2nd professional opinions: at this point, if you don’t believe what he has told you, then I don’t see any other way, but don’t know how helpful that would be. You could take him up on the offer to come in and discuss face to face or call in on phone for your remaining specific questions. He did also offer for you to record that. 
 

At this point you’ve got a “decent” (not outstanding) result and don’t look like you’re significantly balding.  I think it would be best to just move on and stop torturing yourself over this. 

 

Where is the double packing?

again, where is the double packing?

For some reason, I am not able to edit my original post..

See the attached letter sent to me by Dr. Bloxham via certified mail, along with a thumb drive containing three images uploaded to this post. In this letter, Dr. Bloxham does not provide any new information and merely echoes his previous reply in this thread, with the remainder of the letter devoted to defending his practice.

No specifics about my surgery are provided. These concerns remain outstanding:

·        Dr. Bloxham has not disclosed the identity of the other doctor who operated on me without my informed consent.

·        Despite repeated requests, Dr. Bloxham has not transcribed his handwriting on the operating room report.

·        Dr. Bloxham has not provided a graft breakdown of my surgery (1’s, 2’s, 3’s, 4’s)

·        Dr. Bloxham has not justified the need for 3 separate strip harvests, especially given his YouTube content explaining that strip harvesting for the required amount of grafts is based on a precise formula. Yet, each harvested strip exposed me to additional surgical risks.

·        Despite the thinness of my results and the large amount of tissue removed, Dr. Bloxham insists that 2700 grafts were extracted and implanted, which contradicts his statement at the time of surgery that it was 1700. My new donor density measurements also suggest more than 2700 grafts were harvested and are unaccounted for..

·        Dr. Bloxham has not explained why my surgery took 11 hours, particularly when his YouTube video titled “How Long Does a Hair Transplant Take” indicates it should only take 4-8 hours.

·        Dr. Bloxham merely hints at the use of multiple grafts in a channel opening but does not confirm this technique was used in my procedure.

·        Dr. Bloxham is my doctor, yet is suggesting answers to the outstanding concerns I have with my surgery performed by him be addressed by another doctor.

Given the criteria for Ethics & Integrity established for recommendation on this forum, I feel a categorical explanation for each of the concerns is warranted from Dr. Bloxham.

On 3/14/2024 at 5:03 PM, chrisu said:

any updates?

I have received a document and a couple of pictures from Dr. Bloxham via certified mail, but my post update is not quite ready. I thought I would have more time today. Please look out for an update tomorrow after 6 PM EST

On 3/14/2024 at 5:03 PM, chrisu said:

any updates?

Yes, I will post later tonight. Sorry for the delay. 

9 hours ago, FormerFutureKrillin said:

@bluebird00 the above is where you are off course mathematically. This is by no means a safe assumption as your methodology is not correct. No one has a completely homogenous donor, and you cannot extrapolate your average donor density from a single square centimeter measurement in the thickest part of your donor. It is extremely common for density to drop or vary around the occipital areas (above the ears) without any “visible patchiness”.

As an anecdotal example, my donor density is ~30 FU/sq cm lower in certain areas of my donor than it is in the same area in my head that you measured! That is a crazy difference and I have no visible patchiness. It is only detectible by detailed measurements of my donor area at many points. A density difference throughout your donor could either explain or refute the stated graft count. There are plenty of doctors who can give a professional assessment of your donor density at different points.

If you insist on taking the measurements yourself, at the very least you need to measure more than just 1 square cm and in more positions to arrive at a “safe” assumption of your average donor density. It will be very hard to do yourself and the more measurements taken the better, as the reality is your donor density likely gradually changes throughout different positions.

You absolutely have legitimate questions and concerns that should be answered by the doctor, and in my personal opinion the official response here was not sufficient at all to address your legitimate concerns. There is indeed basic information still missing (e.g., what was your graft breakdown in 1s, 2s, 3s etc). But you are losing legitimacy by claiming strongly that you had over 5,000 grafts extracted based on the faulty assumption above.

And just to nip this in the bud, literally no part of me wants to be defending this doctor (just check my post history…), but the point above stands.

The first strip was harvested from the occipital region and that density measured at 85FU/CM2. The low end area of that strip is 46.4 CM2 (46.4 CM2 * 85FU = 3944FU). 

This will likely result in me sporting a Rihanna haircut for a while (if I'm lucky). I'll take measurements from my parietal regions and post them here.

15 hours ago, Al - Moderator said:

 

I'm not trying to depress you or make you feel bad. I think sometimes I come across that way if I start trying to explain things too much. I am certainly not a big fan of the hair transplant industry as a whole. However, long ago I realized that the best way to get rid of the butchers is to point out the better Drs and try to get people to realize that a successful HT is not as simple as just getting more hair on your head. It matters where you go. That's why I've been in this forum for so long and it's why I became a moderator even though I was butchered very badly years ago.

These days I always try to look at both sides. I said in an earlier post that there seems to be a possible discrepancy in the graft count. Whether there actually is or not I don't know as I am only an outside person who has no actual details of what went on. So with that said, looking at it if I was a Dr doing 200+ procedures per year and a patient had a complaint about the cost and graft numbers, but added in that he didn't like the air conditioner or that the graft holding solution looks white, etc, etc, it would sound to me like you are just making complaints trying to get a refund. The actual graft number and cost part of the complaint gets buried in with the other stuff and it appears to not be a true complaint.

That doesn't mean I think your main concerns are not valid. If you were simply doing a review and mentioned things about the air and graft holding then that's fine. It's all part of the review and we can think maybe that air conditioner setup is a bit tacky. But it you are making what you think are valid complaints to the Dr about the actual procedure, leave those opinion parts out.

 

So your main issues are:

1. What was the actual number of grafts and were you overcharged. What you need is a breakdown of the grafts. They should be able to show how many singles, doubles, triples, etc. That's what you should be asking for.

2. Did the grafts grow well. You mentioned some thin areas, but to me it looks like it grew pretty good. I realize it's not as full as you'd like, but that's common and most people go back for a 2nd procedure to add density. The one side that you point out is thin looks like it's just a combing/parting issue and not really thinner, at least to me.

3. Who was the other Dr involved. This may or may not matter (although they should be able to tell you) because it depends on what he did and how much he did. You didn't really give us much info on that unless I missed some parts. So I can't say if it's an issue.

 

 

 

I appreciate you addressing my concerns, but I'm still perplexed as to why you questioned my intent. It seemed crude and unnecessary, and I am bewildered by what prompted you to say that. I understand you tried to explain, but it came across as a gut reaction.

Perhaps the way it was expressed was poorly worded? If someone as knowledgeable and helpful as you interpreted it that way, it's likely others did too. I appreciate your effort to explain this to me, even if it was a bit clumsy. Is there a way I could phrase my request for feedback to avoid appearing 'tacky' or as if I'm seeking a refund? I know you mean well, given the time and thought you put into your response. I would like to bridge the gap so we can discuss the facts of the case without hostile remarks about my intent. How can we work together on this?

18 hours ago, Melvin- Admin said:

I agree. It would be better if he addressed these concerns. Looks like he sent some official document addressing these concerns. My issue is with OP using what anonymous users say on a forum as official expert advice. I may be an admin, but im not a doctor, I do not provide expert medical advice, nor does anyone else here. If he’s not receiving a response from his doctor, logically the next step is to consult with another doctor. 

The total area of the 3 strips harvested is between 56 cm² and 61.8 cm². This is derived from the surgery report and transcribed as follows:

1st strip: 29 cm * (1.6-1.8 cm) = 46.4 cm² - 52.2 cm²
2nd strip: 3 cm * 1.6 cm = 4.8 cm²
3rd strip: 3 cm * 1.6 cm = 4.8 cm²

I have shaved my donor area just below my FUT scar as shown in this picture, which allows me to perform an accurate count of 85 follicular units in a 1 cm x 1 cm square.

I used GIMP, a professional-level photo editor, to perform this count. As I do not have any patchiness in my donor area, we can safely conclude that my donor density is on average 85 FU/cm² throughout.

Using simple math, the number of follicular units that were harvested can be easily determined. If there are 85 follicular units per square centimeter, and the total area of the 3 strips harvested is between 56 cm² and 61.8 cm², then the math works out as below: 56 cm² * 85 FU/cm² = 4760 follicular units on the low end, and 61.8 cm² * 85 FU/cm² = 5253 follicular units on the high end.

Please let me know if that does not make sense to you. None of the information above is derived from anonymous forum users; it is derived from the surgery report and meticulously counted from the photographic evidence I captured of my donor area using GIMP.

15 hours ago, Melvin- Admin said:

If you want a professional opinion and answer, that’s exactly what you need to do. Yes, it might cost some money, but it’s small price in the grand scheme. Your goal is not to find a doctor who will agree with you. The goal is to find a doctor who will tell you the truth, whether that is them agreeing with Dr. Bloxham or disagreeing no one knows. 

I'm not sure why you keep suggesting I see another doctor, especially since we already have one who knows my case better than anyone else. What information could another doctor provide that Dr. Bloxham can’t? Have you had any contact with him by the way? Are we expecting a response?

Just to make sure we are all on the same page, have you had a chance to see the images of my grafts? No problem at all if you haven’t. According to the report, 59 squares, the same size as shown in the attached image, were removed from the back of my head, each containing 85 grafts, totaling 5015 grafts extracted. However, the report indicates that only 2700 grafts were implanted. So, where are the rest of the grafts? Here is a link to a similar case with an operating room report: 

Scroll down to see the operating room report and the extraction size. 27.7 x 2.1 = The total area is 58.17 square centimeters. In that case, 5000 grafts were extracted, and all were implanted. My extraction area was 59 square centimeters. Why were 5000 grafts extracted from me but only 2700 (or 1700) implanted?

1 hour ago, Al - Moderator said:

 

I'm not on any side of this. I wasn't there, so I don't know any of the details. However I want to respond to a few things because I think a lot of what you are complaining about makes it seem like you are trying to find something to complain about or perhaps you just didn't understand what was going on at the time.

 

You are not going to see it because it's happening while the techs are placing the grafts. What happens is when they push a graft in the pressure from widening the incision hole to implant the graft pops a graft next to it back out and they need to push that graft back in. Then reimplanting that graft pops another one out, and so on. It gets frustrating and time consuming to finally get them all in. Once they are all in they may apply a little bit of pressure all over your had to make sure thy are in tight. After a short time the blood around the grafts will start getting thicker and sticky and will hold them in place, so by the time you leave you will not be able to see anything that they were talking about. An 11 hour surgery seems to indicate they were taking a long time to get everything done and that could be part of it.

 

 

That would be extremely long for 1700 grafts. It's even long for 2700 grafts which makes me lean towards the 2700 graft number. Again, I wasn't there, but to me the length of time indicates a much larger session than 1700.

 

This is one where I think you are just mentioning something to try to find a complaint. The operating room needs to be able to be cool, but this is mainly going to be an issue in the Summer probably. It could be that the simplest way to keep that room cooler is to have an extra air conditioner. That doesn't seem odd to me. The fact that they didn't need to use it... well it was November in NY, maybe they didn't need to use it.

 

Here's another example where I think you are just trying to find a complaint. Do you really think they said "Oh today we are working on bluebird, let's not do our usual graft holding procedures and just use a paper cup and not care." I mean really. They've been doing successful HTs for years. There are several different types of holding solution. Whatever one they've been using must be working for them. If you never had a HT before why would you think the color or cup they put the grafts in is odd if you have noting to compare to?

 

As far as another Dr working on you, you didn't say what parts or how much he did. If it was a Tech and he didn't say he was a Dr would you feel the same? I guess that depends on what parts he was doing, but without that info I can't know if it was OK or not for him to be doing it rather than Dr Bloxham. He could have been doing Tech work. But even besides that, if it was an 11 hour surgery, maybe it's not a bad idea to get another Dr to help out a bit if he's free. When I was at True & Dorin before Dr True retired he would occasionally come in and see what was going on if he was finished with his patient or if he was only doing consultations that day and was done and we were still going. I never saw an issue with that. In fact I liked that another Dr was having a look.

 

 

I feel like there's a disconnect in how my words are being interpreted. These are all legitimate concerns of mine. I'm trying to piece together everything to help understand what happened to the grafts that were extracted but never implanted. Reading your reply, which suggests that I am 'just looking for something to complain about,' was genuinely disheartening, especially coming from you. I know you mean well, so how can we work together to bridge this disconnect?

On 3/9/2024 at 1:31 PM, Melvin- Admin said:

I’m giving a plausible explanation. I’m not saying this is what happened. But that is why i’m telling him to consult with a surgeon in person. I believe patients should try to work with the clinic first, rather than try to do so on a public forum. You’re making assumptions yourself, who said the doctor was doing slits for training? These are speculations. 

You are asking me to consult with another surgeon, one who would publicly disagree with Dr. Bloxham. This would involve costs (consultation fees) and time, and finding a surgeon willing to publicly criticize and/or disagree with a colleague is highly unlikely. So, what’s the point?

Why can’t Dr. Bloxham help me understand what happened? I want him to publicly address all the concerns raised in my initial post. He is more than capable of doing this, yet he has avoided doing so. Please refer to my recent edit, which includes donor density photos suggesting that even more grafts are missing. I have also attached my donor density images to this reply:

A total area of 59 cm² was removed from the back of my head, indicating that approximately 5015 grafts were extracted, based on a calculation of 85 FU/cm² × 59 cm². The operating room report states that 2700 grafts were implanted. Assuming this is accurate, then have I incurred a permanent loss of 2315 grafts? If only 1700 grafts were implanted, then have I incurred a permanent loss of 3315 grafts?

I'd still like all the other issues addressed, What was my donor density as recorded by Dr. Bloxham? What happened to all of the grafts that were extracted but not implanted? And who was the other doctor that operated on me against my informed consent? 

6 hours ago, Melvin- Admin said:

I respect our senior members opinion and valued contributors. However, opinions based on photos from forum users is not something you want to stick and run with. You need to consult with another physician. Go in person, if they agree with you. Take Dr. Bloxham up on his offer and call him. I believe the best way forward is having an open line of communication. What are your ultimate goals? How can Dr. Bloxham meet these goals? 

To answer your question, I need two things:

First, an explanation for the misconduct surrounding my surgery:

Who was the other doctor who operated on me without my consent?
Where are the missing grafts? Based on the combined area of the donor strips (59 cm²), I should have had at least 4000 grafts extracted. So, where are they?
Why were three strips taken, and why was my surgery extended to 11 hours, which is twice the normal duration?
Dr. Bloxham told me at the time of surgery that 1700 grafts were transplanted, as supported by all my photographic evidence. So, why did I have to pay for 2700 grafts?
Why is Dr. Bloxham avoiding discussing my case, both in private (he has avoided transcribing his own handwriting in my OR report, which is just bizarre) and now publicly?

Second, a full refund. I feel completely violated and used as a training tool by Dr. Bloxham, seemingly for practice by another doctor and likely by other technicians. I can only believe that the misconduct of my surgery is due to this, and thus a full refund is in order.

9 hours ago, Chair said:

as soon as I can DM you I will. Are your DM’s activated? 

Yep 

1 hour ago, Melvin- Admin said:

I think you need to be very careful about getting a consensus from anonymous posters on a forum. Just because an anonymous user says “doesn’t look like _grafts” doesn’t make it true. If you have a legitimate discrepancy. The best way forward is to consult with another top hair restoration physician. 

Thank you for your input, Melvin. Let's not dismiss the evidence I have presented or the opinions of 'random' users, especially Britanium, a moderator here, who stated, "3 strips taken in one procedure 😳 no, that's far from usual," and "I'm unsure, but I will say I definitely don't think it's 2700 from what I can see."

We are no longer in the '70s, where photographic evidence was blurry and limited to Polaroids. I have provided high-resolution photos documenting every stage of my journey, from the day of surgery, clearly showing all the implanted grafts, to the subsequent days, weeks, months, and years, up until January 2024. Given the undeniable visibility and countability of the grafts in these images, it's rational to assert that the actual number of implanted grafts significantly contradicts the claimed 2700. This isn’t just an online speculation, it’s a fact supported by clear, photographic evidence. Furthermore, Dr. Blake Bloxham has not adequately addressed the operating room report and has failed to answer my questions. His lack of participation in this public discussion, and the nature of his replies, come off as empty, insulting, and unprofessional.

Edit:

Correction: Britanium is a senior member, not a moderator. 

Just now, Chair said:

Unfortunately I cannot direct message you. But was there really someone else working on your head other than Blake? I’m not shocked 

Yes.. I believe it was Dr. Powell, though I'm not certain.

4 minutes ago, Dr Blake Bloxham said:

Hello everyone. 

 

 Bluebird, 

 I'm not sure what more I can say or add at this point. As I have been explaining and demonstrating to you for the past 3 months, your belief that you only received 1,700 grafts is simply untrue. You did, in fact, receive 2,700 grafts and I even went back in and extended the original length of the strip to ensure we achieved -- and even exceeded -- the quoted number of grafts. All of the other comments about things you believe may have been "off" or untoward about your procedure are, again, simply untrue. I have invited you back to the office many times so we can review all of this in-person; I still not only strongly recommend and encourage you to come in, but I will also (with that patient's permission) allow you to observe a live procedure and interact with the technicians and any observing doctors so you can see exactly what happens during an FUT case just like your own. You have declined these offers so far, but it stands in perpetuity. I will make myself and everything related to your case available at any time. 

I know you have now posted your concerns throughout the internet for other patients to review as well, but I further invite you to visit other reputable hair transplant doctors for a professional review of your case. You are more than welcome to put me on speaker phone during that visit should the doctor have any questions. I think you will find they agree with our assessment. Should you change your mind or find some time in your schedule and come to visit, you are more than welcome to video record the entire follow-up and put that online as well.

 I did just finish reviewing everything related to your case a final time and put all my thoughts in a letter for your records.

 Thank you, 

 Dr. Blake Bloxham 

Feller & Bloxham Medical, PC 

Dr. Bloxham,

Thank you for responding. However, my main concern, the discrepancy in the number of grafts, remains unaddressed. There is a consensus here that only 1700 grafts were implanted during my procedure, contradicting the reported 2700 grafts. Additionally, I have yet to receive a clear explanation about the operating room report, specifically who the other surgeon operating alongside you was, and what happened to the 1000 grafts that were apparently not implanted. This lack of clarity and direct communication compels me to express my concerns publicly. I must also clarify that I have never been invited to observe a surgery before today, nor do I have any desire to witness one conducted by you. My primary aim is to understand the specifics of my case, which, as it currently stands, is baffling and unresolved. Again, my questions have not been addressed. Could you please respond to the questions in my initial post?

2 hours ago, asterix0 said:

"49.3 sq cm with a follicular unit density of 34 FU/cm²"

 

OP that math indicates 1700 grafts, this is the report that Dr. Bloxham provided to you?

It is in the report.

1676 total FU's
Average Width = (1.6 cm + 1.8 cm )/ 2 = 1.7 cm
Total Area (Length x Width) = 29 cm x 1.7 cm = 49.3 cm
Total FU's (area x FU/cm2) = 49.3 CM * 34 FU/CM2 = 1676 FU's

edit: this is for the initial strip. Two additional strips were harvested. This also assumes 34 FU from 1676 grafts. I don't think that's accurate. Should be more like 54 FU. 

Steeeve, 

I'm not sure how to reply directly to you on this forum. I believe I have only one long scar because Dr. Bloxham extracted from both the left and right sides of my initial extraction site. In some of these images, you can see how the scar extends past my ear on both sides. The scar isn't noticeable since I always have long hair. However, I'm unsure how it would look if I had short hair.

jjalay,

I believe it was Dr. Powell, though I'm not entirely sure. I hope Dr. Bloxham can answer that question here.

I will authorize Dr. Bloxham to discuss my case publicly, provided that my face is blurred and my personal information, such as my name, date of birth, and address, is not disclosed. Thank you for agreeing to keep this discussion public. I am eager to learn more about the details of my operation.

Thank you for your response and the explanation regarding graft density. I must admit, I don't quite understand your explanation and will need to conduct some research on my own. Additionally, I've received your private message inquiring about the date of my surgery, which was November 17, 2021. I had hoped Dr. Bloxham would clarify these issues. However, if he insists that he implanted 2700 grafts, a figure seemingly contested by all observations based on my images, I'm uncertain of the value of his input in this case. Nonetheless, I remain optimistic and look forward to understanding what he is sending me in the mail. It's perplexing though, that he has chosen to send this package via certified mail when he has previously communicated official reports to me via email. If possible, could we please keep this discussion public? Thank you for your consideration.

In November 2021, I underwent a hair transplant procedure performed by Dr. Blake Bloxham, for which I paid $14,000 USD for 1700 grafts using the FUT method. Initially, during an email consultation, Dr. Bloxham estimated that the operation would involve between 2300 and 2500 grafts.

Nine months after the operation, I started realizing that my left side was not filling in. I gave it several more months, and now, 27 months later, there's no improvement. It just never filled in like my right side did. Please refer to the images in this thread, labeled ‘A1’. The most recent images are from January, 2024.

Upon sharing my experience online, users pointed out that I had been overcharged for the 1700 grafts implanted, noting that Dr. Bloxham's website lists the cost for a 1700 graft FUT procedure as $10,500. Assuming 1700 grafts were implanted, I should be owed a $3500 refund for the overpayment.

I addressed this billing discrepancy in an email to Dr. Bloxham on February 18, 2024. He responded that after reviewing all documentation related to my case, and having Dr. Feller independently review it as well, they both concluded that my belief of being overcharged or given fewer grafts than reported was incorrect.

Confused by his response, I requested the operating room report and counted the grafts using GIMP. Refer to the preview imaged named A2 attached to this post. I am happy to send the .xcf file as well. However, this forum does not support the .xcf format. If you would like to see the file, please send me a PM and I will provide it.

Before discussing the count, it's worth noting that Dr. Bloxham, post-surgery, informed me that he had implanted 1700 grafts. The .xcf file shows a final count of 1243. This excludes the far left and right sides, which I estimate contain 225 grafts each, reasonably putting my procedure at 1700 grafts implanted, not 2700. I presented this to Dr. Bloxham, who remained firm on 2700 grafts having been implanted.

Upon receiving the operating room report from Dr. Bloxham, I was unable to decipher his handwriting. The report is named A5 and attached to this post.  I have requested a transcription of this report three times. He recently informed me that he is compiling further information to send to me via certified mail, the contents of which I will share in an update to this post.

I remain confused about what happened here. So, I hope you guys can help me understand by answering my questions:

The operation lasted 11 hours. Is this duration normal for a 1700 or 2700 FUT procedure?

Three strips were harvested, with two strips taken after I was initially stapled up, due to an insufficient number of grafts from the first strip. Is this normal? Isn't there a way to plan how large of a strip should be extracted and how many grafts it will yield, to avoid extracting additional strips?

Another doctor performed parts of my surgery. I had my eyes closed throughout most of it, but there were instances where the other doctor was hovering above me as surgery was being performed and I could hear Dr. Bloxham far away from me, definitely out of reach. I don’t recall the other doctor’s name, but he did mention he has his own practice in Florida. I never objected to him operating on me at the time, but I wasn’t happy about it because I paid for surgery to be performed by Dr. Bloxham. I am aware that no doctor can perform a hair transplant on his own. But I also was not aware that this other doctor would perform at least parts of the surgery.

The report documents the strip size as 49.3 sq cm with a follicular unit density of 34 FU/cm², which seems quite large. I don’t know if this is the first strip? All three combined? Based on the dimensions of the strip(s) taken, what should the graft yield have been from a strip of this size? Is the extraction consistent with 1700 or 2700 grafts?

The report mentions a high incidence of popping, which doesn't align with my observations. One of the technicians mentioned a graft popping out, but that was it. The images I shared here show all grafts secured. Do grafts pop out randomly, and could this go unnoticed?

Lastly, is it possible that 2700 grafts were actually implanted? If you agree with my count that only 1700 grafts were implanted, and the operating room report indicates 2700 were extracted, have I lost 1000 grafts somewhere? How could this happen?

EDIT 3/7/2024:
I almost forgot to add... I recall there were 6-8 'follicle fairies' (employees who extracted follicles from my strips), which seems like a high number. Given that the other doctor operating on me appeared to be in training, could some of these staff members have been his trainees? Was my case essentially used for training purposes? Could it be that I lost 1000 grafts due to the inexperienced staff handling the extraction process?

Additionally, I noticed the operating room had a window AC unit, which seems unusual for an operating room, and it was not turned on. Dr. Bloxham stated it was cold enough in the room, but this detail strikes me as odd.

I also remember that my extracted follicles were stored in small paper and wax cups containing a whitish liquid. Although I didn't experience any infections, I'm questioning whether this storage method is normal. If it's not, could this have contributed to any graft loss? I'm still trying to understand how only 1700 or fewer grafts were implanted when 2700 or more were extracted. Is it possible that I've incurred a permanent loss of 1000 or more grafts?

EDIT 3/7/2024(2):
Could somebody help confirm the details listed in the report? My understanding is that 2700 grafts were taken from a strip area of 59 cm2, which is the total area of the three strips combined, indicating a native donor density of 45 FU/cm2. However, if only 1700 grafts were actually extracted, this would imply a density of 29 FU/cm2. Neither of these donor densities seems possible, given that the average for most people is around 80 FU/cm2. This discrepancy not only raises questions about the whereabouts of more than 1000 grafts but also suggests that potentially even more grafts are unaccounted for, possibly mishandled. Can anybody shed more light on these numbers?

EDIT 3/10/2024: 
To calculate my donor density, I cut out a 1 cm² box from a white piece of paper, shaved the area below my FUT scar, and took a photograph. My donor density is 85 FU/cm². Refer to my most recent images (D1 (1), (2), (3)). According to the operating room report, a total area of 59 cm² was removed from the back of my head, indicating that approximately 5015 grafts were extracted, based on a calculation of 85 FU/cm² × 59 cm².

The operating room report states that 2700 grafts were implanted. Assuming this is accurate, then have I incurred a permanent loss of 2315 grafts? If only 1700 grafts were implanted, then have I incurred a permanent loss of 3315 grafts? 

Again, this is all assuming the combined strip size indicated in the operating room report is accurate. I want to believe there are errors in the report because, if not, then it seems that I have suffered a serious and permanent loss of the donor area that cannot be replaced.

Dr. Bloxham, could you please help me understand the details of my operating room report, as I have expressed concerns about it above? Additionally, could you explain what occurred during my surgery and identify the other doctor involved in the operation?