El Nino

Just had a look at your pics bonkerstonker and you have very thick and coarse hair which is great for transplants, especially in the crown where hair characteristics play a big part. Also the hair count is very important. Someone with less grafts could get more hair. You are going to be transformed when your HT with Dr. Hasson grows in, congrats.

Good luck! You will be in the best of hands.

This looks about right for the amount of grafts and 10 months post op, my first crown HT wasn't fully matured until about 15 months post op. The crown takes longer than the front. The crown takes up more grafts because it is ball shaped and not flat like the hairline. The hair goes in different directions and exits the scalp at different angles. This makes it much harder than the front to create the illusion of density where you get more of a layering effect with the grafts.

Hi Anouar, As you can see from my pre op pics in January 2008 I still had some native hair in the transplanted area. I do believe that I have now lost this which is why it appears thinner. I also stopped taking finasteride at christmas but now I am back on it. I also think my hair is going through a seasonal shed or I have lost some due to coming off the fin. And I am hoping it comes back in a few months. Hope this helps.

Hey everyone! Please see my signature for a link to my first HT with Dr. Rahal in Jan 2008. I was back in Dr. Rahal's chair last week on Monday the 9th of May. My first transplant (aged 28) concentrated on joining my crown into the mid scalp region and improving my look from the front. The result was great and I enjoyed my hair for 2 years but then I got a bit hair greedy. As you can see from my pics an area approx 15cm2 was left at the lower part of my crown. I hoped that I would improve this area with the use of meds (fin and minox) but it didn't happen. So I have had this area done (aged 31) and also added some density into the previous transplant. The plan was to get 2000 grafts but my donor density was better than expected and I ended up with 2597, excellent, the more the merrier for me. I also got an excellent hair count which consisted of 110 singles, 1567 doubles, 893 triples and 27 quads which equals 6031 hairs. The size of my strip was 21.1cm2. The density is higher in the lower part of my crown and the rest is spread out in my previous transplant. Dr. Rahal used the singles to restore my crown swirl. The whole experience was great and everyone was friendly and professional just like 3 years ago. But anyone who's had a transplant will know the actual procedure is the easy part, it is the waiting which begins now which is tough. Last time I stayed at the Adams Airport Inn which was okay but cost me quite a bit in taxi fares. This time I stayed at the Foxbar Guesthouse which was well equipped and very comfortable. It is also just a 5 mins walk to Dr. Rahal's clinic which is very convenient. The owner is a nice guy and friendly and gave me a lift to the airport. So to confirm I have now received 5400 grafts in a 75cm2 area of my crown, which is a lot. But the crown really is the black hole for grafts and requires a lot more than the front to create the illusion of density. Dr. Rahal said my donor and laxity is good so I still have enough to do the frontal third in the future. Here are my pre and post op pics from my second procedure.

The actual online consultation forms are just for an estimated number of grafts required. After you've done this you can discuss your case in more detail and send more pics if required. But remember, there is only so much the Doc can do with looking at pictures.

Yeah, but they forgot to mention the thousands you'll spend to get it repaired! Do yourself a massive favour and get it done right the first time.

Everyone grows at different rates so there is no set in stone timeline that applies to everyone. But they can be used for a rough guide. For me, seven months was still very early.

Hi storky, The Hospital Group are hacks, stay away from them! Take your time looking through the Doctors recommended on this site.

Have you done any online consultations yet?

Hi Thom, You might have a bit of trouble getting in before August. You should contact Adrian to see if it's possible. You should take as many weeks as possible to recover, are you able to wear a hat for work?

Hi komp, If you still have a lot of native hair then it's highly recommended to take Finasteride even if you have a HT. This will reduce the risk for further HTs. If Finasteride is halting your loss then it is working, only a small minority are lucky to get regrowth. As for choosing a surgeon, research is the key.

Really hard to tell with those pics, you need better ones from a few feet away and one with your hair back. Are you on Finasteride?

A diffuse thinner doesn't have a receding hairline or any definite baldspots. All of their hair on top is thinning.

Do not pick the scabs with fingernails! There's a lot of dirt under them and you will get an infection. It's completely normal for scabs to have hairs attached.

On the top left of the screen. Click on "Find a Prescreened Surgeon".

Thanks Severn. Good luck with your research.

I had sutures and they were easily hidden with my hair. Some of the Doctors insist on shaving the recipient area, Dr. Rahal is one of them. If you can wear a cap at work, then it shouldn't be a problem.

Hi Severn, I had a crown only transplant and my face never swelled at all. The area between my donor and recipient area did a bit, but only for a couple of days. And I had no problem wearing a cap.

Looks great Eman, congrats you deserve it. It's amazing to think your whole front third has been re-created with a HT.

IMO, you would have no problem hiding a strip scar with your thick hair. I also agree with Emperor about the graft numbers.

Not sure about in Oz, but here in the UK you can go to your Doctor and they will book you an appointment with a Dermatologist. Is the area of thinning the same spot you've been twirling your hair? Have you got a pic?

Thanks micky. MPB is genetic and is a lottery. Your thinning could be caused by you playing with your hair. You could see a dermatologist for a diagnosis or wait and see if it progesses. IMO, if the hairloss is in an area where you haven't been twirling your hair then it is likely MPB. You should then use the drugs listed in my last post. They can cause shedding when first used but it is usually temporary and is a sign they are working.

I'm not sure one is better than the other with regards to producing a thin scar. But sutures are a lot more comfortable and easier to take out. It is not possible for hairs to be planted into the scar straight away, but it can be done via FUE when it has healed.

I agree with Leeson.