gillenator

The post-op blues always seems to be the most challenging aspect of having the procedure. It is still very early and the best thing to do is to simply wait and the growth will continue...

CBantoy, I also highly recommend that you go back to the physician who prescribed Propecia for you and explain your situation. As others have mentioned, possibly cutting back on your daily regimen may resolve the side-effects and may not. But this is why you want to consult the advice of your doctor. Hope you are able to get this situation resolved.

I think shaving the donor area or even the recipient area will depend on how large of a session your proposed FUE procedure would be. There are some docs that say they can do FUE unshaven yet typically they are referring to the entire zone being shaved down. In smaller sessions they can buzz down some confined areas for their extractions versus shaving the entire zone. The idea is to have at least 3 inches or so in length of your donor zone hair. They then shave a small area and allow the top layer of hair to hang over where they shaved and took extractions. It's the same principle when a strip is taken to hide the sutures. The hair above the sutures hangs back over them so you cannot see the sutures. You will probably need more than just a few days for the scabbing to heal in the recipient area. The best thing to do is to contact some of these surgeons to see what your options are regarding shaving for the procedure.

The yield percentage refers to what actually grows not what was implanted. There is no such thing as 100% yield in either method FUHT or FUE. And when you get into larger sessions, yes a 10% difference can be huge. And I agree that the method is only as good as the competency and efficiency of the surgeon who is practicing it.

The thin trees versus thick trees is what I am referring to regarding hair caliber or what some docs refer to as hair shaft diameter. The larger degree of coarseness, the better coverage attained. Some docs have stated that hair caliber is the single most important factor considered in attaining the illusion of coverage. And I also agree that a wider contrast between complexion and hair color is ultimately more challenging to the individual. The thing about FUE is that the larger FUs typically will require a larger punch size to extract than the single hair bearing FU. And this is why IMHO that the averages are lower for FUE than FUHT.

But if you have a good degree of hair caliber, that overrides density of thinner caliber hair...

Results are what count...

The overall average is 2.15 - 2.3 hairs per graft per individual. But depending on the case such as the rebuilding of a hairline, many more single hair grafts are going to be used which would bring the average per graft downward. Let's also define the graft as an uninterrupted natural occurring FU in the scalp. The best way to ascertain the average with FUHT is to have the overall strip evaluated for the total number of FUs along with the total number of hair shafts to determine the overall average from the typical donor region.

I agree. By the time it is noticeable to the naked eye, it has already progressed to a stage of diffusion. Miniaturization and diffusion are completely two different things.

Soundgrower, Very sorry to hear of your two strokes and especially considering how health conscious that you are. My younger brother passed away last December 18, 2014 related to major cardiac issues and like you, he had high blood pressure. Yet he was a heavy smoker and consumed too much alcohol. His diet was poor and it all caught up with him at the young age of 58. He never went to the doctor and never had any physical exams much to our beckoning. The good thing is that you are on top of your health and seeing a doctor on a regular basis. As far as the procedure goes, I believe that most doctors would want you to wait until things like your blood pressure are at a manageable level. So I wish you well and trust that the medications will continue to stabilize some of these issues and then possible you will be able to have the procedure that you desire. Best wishes to you! Vox, Had no idea that you sustained a heart attack earlier this year and wish you the same good health my friend!...

Even the best reputable docs will have cases that do not turn out well. And every case is different and must be evaluated on their individual factors. So we must look at the overall track record, consistency of results across the board and there are many that do outstanding work IMHO.

Not sure if you switched to Avodart because of the shedding that Propecia induced. If so, talk with your doctor and see if he would prefer you to stick with Propecia for an adequate period of time. And I agree that it is not abnormal for an individual to experience a shed from the "initial" use of these meds. The same thing can occur with the initial use of minoxidil and dutasteride. Regardless, I hope you will end up getting some good efficiency in curbing your hair loss.

bio, You also have some good growth at 3.5 months post-op. Try some rich quality aloe vera cream on your recipient area and you would be surprised at how that will improve the redness.. Congrats on your recent procedure...

I would define recently as hair lost in the past 12 months. And although the chances of your hair returning to its state more than 12 months ago is not likely, anything that we can do to slow down future progression is highly advisable.

Doctors look for definite patterns of hair shaft variations. While it is true that we all have some variations in our scalps, there are definite strong or measurable differentials in hair shaft diameter in the areas where MPB is impacting.

You never want to be your decision on price but rather the quality of the surgeon's work. And I would never recommend Bosley. Simply do a search on them and you can judge for yourself. The lowest priced surgeons usually have the worst results so you get what you pay for...:rolleyes:

In four decades I have never seen a scalp that bloody post-op and definitely not the norm. Were you on any blood thinners by chance? The 10 week photos show that you healed very well!... Let us know how things go for you once you get into the fourth month and more post-op to see how your regrowth is going.

It sounds like the graft hair came off with the crusts. And I agree to wait until 10 days or so post-op before removing them...

Looks very promising for 3.5 months post-op!...

My concern would be the potential toxins in the Botox fluid so close in proximity the recipient area...:rolleyes:

Tokoloshe, Please allow me to answer your last question first. It is more advisable to wait for any scar to heal completely (at least one year) before grafting into it. The reason for this is two-fold. Any area that is under trauma like a scar is going to present a problem for new growth. In fact, this is the primary reason why shock loss of existing hair occurs. It's how the scalp and the underlying follicles respond to trauma. Follicles tend to retreat into the resting phase as they are subjected to trauma. It takes time for trauma to subside even though the area may look completely healed. And second, there needs to be adequate blood flow restored to the area being grafted especially scar tissue. Obviously the blood flow and blood supply is going to be compromised with scar tissue that is developed during the healing process. The blood supply takes time to develop and does not happen in a matter of several months. Lastly, dense packing a scar does not produce very good yields generally speaking. And this again relates to trauma. The more incisions that are made and the closer they are in proximity to each other, the higher corresponding level of trauma induced. The higher level of trauma, the less likelihood that the grafts will produce a decent level of regrowth or yield. Do you have a post-op photo of your own hairline that you can show us?

This is such a controversial subject because you have to take into account the skill and proficiency of both the surgeon as well as the techs who typically perform the dissection of the grafts. And no it is not possible too see a dormant stage follicle with FUE.

You know a funny thing happened to me after my first HT in 1996. I decided to pitch my hair system immediately post-op after wearing it for 11 years and it was a full system front-to-back. I realized that as hard as it was to not wear it post-op, I would at some point have to part with it. Later, several of my colleagues approached me and in confidence shared with me that they knew all along that I was wearing a hairpiece. In a way it surprised me and in a way it did not. The nice thing was that when my grafts grew in, the same guys came to me and told me how nice my transplant looked. And I truly believe that will be the experience of other guys who are trying to make the transition from hair system to their own hair growing once again... Hair systems have come a long way since the 90's and as Dr. Beehner stated, clips are better suited than polyfuse. And I agree that it is a good idea to take it off whenever possible as the new grafts grow in. Just be sure to go to a reputable surgeon so when the grafts do grow in, they look good and natural...

You may get more recent feedback from some of the European based forums.

Just my opinion but I think it depends on the type and strength of the minoxidil being considered. For men, you can either use the liquid form which comes at a lower strength than the 5% Rogaine Foam product. Rogaine Foam is only recommended to use once daily...