uncjim

Way to go ccexxp1. Congratulations. You and I have repair in common. My old procedures weren't strip, but plug extractions, like divots, leaving me with a moth eaten donor area. I assume, being 1990, yours was strip..yes? Fortunately, Dr. Wong was able to harvest enough hair (in spite of the depleted donor area) to make mine a successful repair. Only a few old plugs needed to be removed. The rest were hidden with FUs. I was lucky there also. It sounds as if what you needed was more extensive and therefore more difficult. All the best for quick healing and a great outcome. UNC

..6788 grafts includes another 1610 grafts on January 24, 2008. Of course, why should you know that when the curtain has yet to rise. Thanks again. Jim

Richie, 6788 grafts to be exact..but who's counting! Thanks for the kind words..much appreciated. I just checked out your Dr. Feller crown work and it looks top notch. It's nice to see post op work close up like you've displayed. Nothing is more valuable for prospective patients who are struggling with a decision...BRAVO! UNC

I do appreciate that. Thank you My Friend.

Hairbank, Thanks. By the time I reached Vancouver, my temples had receded so badly that I had that out of whack look that gives guys with toupees away, as the center of my pluggy hairline was fairly low. I remember asking the first surgeon that worked on me (or should I say butcher that worked on me) to go a little lower than he had intended and I had regretted it ever since. Fortunately it has worked out as Dr.Wong planted the grafts just below the center point of my hairline (and behind), camouflaging the plugs completely. The bringing forward of the sides of the hairline and temples balanced everything out. Looking forward to your "temple touch up". Jim

Hairbank, Yeah, you should be Psyched...quite frankly! I just finished going through your history (getting caught up on my HT reading, if ya' know what I mean) and your results really are compelling. I think diffuse thinners are probably the toughest and your history is a real showcase. Your strategy for what will hopefully be your last session with The Master sounds right on. As far as haircut advice, that's a tough one as it's such a personal decision. I walked around with a head full of scabs after my procedures not giving my hair length a second thought. The decision to "come clean" with everyone that I knew after about 25 years of hiding was what worked for me. The Congratulations on what will undoubtedly complete the transition from bald to non bald. I look forward to following your progress. UNC P.S. Bill, your future plan of shaving down and walking around with the staples exposed is very "Jotronic" ...BEEOOTIFUL!

Thank you Jorge1977. Before my first surgery with Dr.Wong, I was told by another surgeon that work wasn't performed in that area. That was quite the disappointment. I realized that work was done there when I saw Jotronic's image on the internet. Once I got in the chair and Dr.Wong penciled out where the temple grafts would be placed, I was shocked at how aggressive he was. The rest is history. Thanks again. UNC

I Thank You Spex.

Thank you My Friend.

Man, here I am walking around all these years thinking I was The Man! If you don't mind a little feedback..That is F-ing insane! WHEW!!..anyway.. I know there are top doctors out there doing scar revisions. I'm sure that the issue is laxity, whether you have enough to make one scar or not. Possibly each one could be improved if one scar is not possible, either by your strategy or improving each one using Trico closure. Of course, getting an up close and personal with a top doctor would be in order (unless you've already done that). Dr. Wong got the hair above the nape of the neck. If you look at the image of my donor area, you can see some staples above it. The area above is also loaded with circular scars but easily coverable because there's a lot more hair there and it is coarser. I have no doubt that if I didn't have the plug scars up there, I would have had at least an additional 40% yield. UNC

Wylie, Yeah, I'll accept the rave. The reason for the success is varied. I had a great doctor in Dr. Wong, excellent hair characteristics (thickly shafted) and above average laxity. As far as ever returning, it ain't gonna happen. All of the circular scars in the donor area now have grafts. If they take (I'd be shocked if they don't) I'll be thrilled. If not, we gave it our best. Beside, if I attempted to return after all the surgeries I've had (3 with Dr.Wong and 9 with less notable surgeons) either my family would disown me or the clinic would lock their door (just kidding..a little HT humor there). UNC

Richie, Thanks for the kind and supportive words. To be honest, the repair portion hasn't been a heartache, just the opposite. It's been a dream come true. It's a funny thing, I did what I felt was right way back when in getting the plug surgeries. In spite of the mess created, I was able to cover the bad work pretty well using hair spray. So to the outside world, I don't think many gave my appearance a second thought. It's unfortunate that HT technique was so crude back then, but it was what it was and I chose to go there. What's incredible is that things have improved to the point that they have and I've been fortunate to have been able to benefit. Thanks for replying. UNC

Hi Wylie, Here's a picture of my hairline before and after two surgeries by Dr. Wong. The old plugs are totally hidden. As a matter of fact, when I was in Vancouver recently, Doug (of Hasson and Wong) took a comb and ran it through the hairline and exclaimed "Where's the old work?" That was a good moment for me. The surgeries were that successful. Thanks for the words of encouragement on the donor area. UNC

Jason, Thank you..doing and feeling well. I'm at the 11 week stage, you know, searching for scraps. It's never easy in spite of having gone through the process before. Bart my friend! Thanks for the welcome. Yes, the last time we talked was just after a bunch of strangers had run their fingers through my hair as I was seated under a spot light. That was quite the event put on by Ferko and the Boys. I hope all's well. Hairbank, Thanks for the kind words. I guess we have something in common in that we both know how to pick a great HT doctor. You're results are phenomenal.

Thanks Spex..good to be back.

Bill, Thanks for the words of encouragement. UNC

I hope this finds guys in my situation. For those of you that don't understand what you're seeing here, years ago (pre-strip) hair was transplanted as large circular bundles called plugs. This left many of us with almost naked donor areas. Dr. Wong inserted grafts into the circular scars that resulted from the plug extraction. It's my hope that once grown, the grafts will allow me to have my hair cut normally. While I don't expect the density that I once had, I expect to be able to loose the long hair I've used for many years as camouflage. UNC

I hope this finds guys in my situation. For those of you that don't understand what you're seeing here, years ago (pre-strip) hair was transplanted as large circular bundles called plugs. This left many of us with almost naked donor areas. Dr. Wong inserted grafts into the circular scars that resulted from the plug extraction. It's my hope that once grown, the grafts will allow me to have my hair cut normally. While I don't expect the density that I once had, I expect to be able to loose the long hair I've used for many years as camouflage. UNC

I've noticed that temple reconstruction is a subject that's being discussed more regularly these days. When I had my initial work done by Dr. Wong back in 2002, I think Hasson and Wong may have been the only clinic performing surgery in this ever important area. Things appear to have changed, which is a very good thing. Below is a chronology of my Elvis Temple evolution. On the far left is before Hasson and Wong, next is after my first surgery with Dr.Wong ( November 19, 2002) followed by the second (February 11, 2004). The far right displays the beefing up of the area performed on January 24, 2008. The "part side" of my head is pretty thin. The grafts were inserted to bring me back to that Troy Donahue look (you kids can Google the guy) that I had years ago. UNC

I've noticed that temple reconstruction is a subject that's being discussed more regularly these days. When I had my initial work done by Dr. Wong back in 2002, I think Hasson and Wong may have been the only clinic performing surgery in this ever important area. Things appear to have changed, which is a very good thing. Below is a chronology of my Elvis Temple evolution. On the far left is before Hasson and Wong, next is after my first surgery with Dr.Wong ( November 19, 2002) followed by the second (February 11, 2004). The far right displays the beefing up of the area performed on January 24, 2008. The "part side" of my head is pretty thin. The grafts were inserted to bring me back to that Troy Donahue look (you kids can Google the guy) that I had years ago. UNC

Hi All, After a 4 year hiatus, I returned to Hasson and Wong on January 24th for a final repair. My sole purpose was to fill in the nape of the neck area that was pretty well destroyed due to ancient plug surgery. This was done. I also had the crown and temples beefed up. This was something that I hadn't intended but, having traveled cross country from Connecticut, and realizing that, yeah, this was it, I became inspired. Anyway, I'll be sharing with the community as things progress. What I would like to display now though, is what my hairline looks like today versus how I looked before any surgery with Dr. Wong. In spite of the fact that I live with the new hair everyday, it's still hard for me to fathom the transformation. The old plugs are totally, and forever hidden. UNC

Hi All, After a 4 year hiatus, I returned to Hasson and Wong on January 24th for a final repair. My sole purpose was to fill in the nape of the neck area that was pretty well destroyed due to ancient plug surgery. This was done. I also had the crown and temples beefed up. This was something that I hadn't intended but, having traveled cross country from Connecticut, and realizing that, yeah, this was it, I became inspired. Anyway, I'll be sharing with the community as things progress. What I would like to display now though, is what my hairline looks like today versus how I looked before any surgery with Dr. Wong. In spite of the fact that I live with the new hair everyday, it's still hard for me to fathom the transformation. The old plugs are totally, and forever hidden. UNC

Yeah..me, and on this page.

Rug, Bactroban is an over the counter anti-bacterial ointment. Good Stuff. UNC

There are a few things that I've learned since my second FU surgery that appear to be fairly common. 1. The healing (and subsequent loss of redness) is far more rapid than the first surgery. 2. The growth is, more often than not, slower than the first surgery. I would have thought just the opposite because of the more rapid healing, but it hasn't been the case. 3. The crown is often the last area to heal and to show growth. I'm finding this particularly interesting in that it is the last virgin area remaining on my head, and at this point (3 1/2 months post op), is the least healed. Bactroban is helping dramatically. For those of you considering a return, or crown work, I hope this info may be of value. UNC