bananas

Thanks for the reply youngsuccess, but are these harsh "chemicals" in this lotion or are these simply just added ingredients as in hair thickeners, etc.? Just curious.

Hi, I'm around 8 months after my last procedure and my hair has come in pretty fast, but I'm noticing it's starting to come in wavey, and I have a huge curl on my hairline, almost like a cow lick. Consequently I read an article in a men's magazine stating that using a hair relaxer might help eliminate this. Thus I went out and bought Rusk's Str8 anti frizz- anti curl lotion, only because that's what happened to be in my local drug store. After shampooing the instructions say to rub in about a nickle sized portion, massage into wet hair, wait 5 minutes, and then blow dry. The activation of the main ingredient, thermplex, along with the heat from the hair dryer work together and straightens the hair. I'm not trying to promote this product but I'm just wondering if anyone knows if something like this is safe to use, and can I keep using it because it does seem to work, although I've only used it once. I certainly don't want to use anything that will harm my existing hair or transplants. Thanks for any advice.

Thanks for the detailed info, although I was hoping that wouldn't be the case. However, I guess I'll find out if this is true in my case within the next few months. Thanks again.

anyone else...

Well Sparky, I had very good surgeons. In fact they are well respected coolition surgeons from the same practice, and the first scar was undetectable. Did you get poor results from your first scar, too?

Hi, I would like some input on 2nd ht scars. Do they heal as well as virgin ht scars? My first ht was around 1800 grafts and the donar area was taken using the standard max. length. It healed beautifully. Even after around 5 months it was totally unnoticable, and I could use a #2 guard cut if I desired. Also, after the donar site was shaved during my 2nd procedure by my Dr.,the techs were totally impressed by the quality of the scar. Consequently, a year later, I went for a 2nd tp that was was quite smaller, less than 1,000 grafts. Therefore, the donar scar was narrower and shorter in length. However, it's been about 6 months since round 2 and I still see a noticable scar with not much hair grown in from the trycho. procedure. I guess I'm comparing my healing progress with the last procedure and I'm just a bit concerned that the outcome won't be as good even though my surgeon told me the scar would probably come out the same or even better. does anyone have any advice on this matter?

I was also a bit "underwhelmed" by my first procedure of around 1800 grafts to my frontal area, and I have to tell you that it wasn't something I jumped right into. I'm in my late forties, have a beautiful wife whose ten years younger and we have two young boys together, I live in the far northeastern part of the country where the economics aren't great and one must travel to see a coalition Dr. So, having a transplant wasn't something that I needed to attract women. However, I've stayed in graet shape, I have good genetics (except the hair loss), and even without the ht I looked at least five years younger; therefore, this was something I just wanted to do for myself. Thus, since my first ht didn't achieve my goals, I went back to my surgeon, who worked out a plan with me. We decided that 700 grafts would do it, but a bit more than 900 grafts came out to add more density and fill in areas that didn't take the first time around. So far, after a little more than three months growth, things are spurting in very well. In fact, the other day, a lady at a party came up to me randomly and said, "You know something, you're a good looking guy!" That comment right there was worth any doubt I ever had, even though my second procedure is just taking off.

Could you tell me how many grafts were transplanted into the crown area? Also, I agree that this patient got a lot of coverage for the amount of grafts Dr. Dorin worked with, but it looks as though this patient has a thick caliber of hair. Not everyone could get away with this.

To TTP and Balboa. I too had the same issues with my ht expectations, especially with the hair density growing thicker and fuller on one side. I was also told by my doctor and several members on this board to give it time and it would even out. However, when I went for my 10 month check-up it became quite clear that the thin side of my head was never going to fill in, and I also was never really given a clear reason why. Thus my Dr. recommended that I get a touch-up procedure to fill in the sparse growth on the thin side. So, 11 months after my 1st procedure I got a touch-up in June. Things have gone well as I opted for a smaller strip session. My donar area has already healed quite well and not much shock loss either. Cosequently, I hope things work out for you guys, but I was told from the beginning that some people are happy with one pass but generally it will take more than one session to reach your goals. I had already committed myself with the first session, I liked my Dr., and he is highly recommended on this board. Only time will tell.

Thank you Dr. Charles for taking the time to reply. You're input is truly appreciated.

Thanks for your input kaounis and Lastchance. This is somewhat of a curious subject, and you both have different views on this. I'm hoping and pretty confident that everything will grow in ok because I went to a top-notch coolition surgeon, but I am still wondering if anyone else has noticed this issue or has any knoweledge about this issue. Thanks.

Hi guys. As I stated on a recent post, I had a touch-up of about 1K grafts on my hairline of mostly 1's and 2's. I also had noted that it seemed that some of the grafts were already starting to shed. I was wondering if there's a possibility that the single grafts in the frontal hairline were more vulnerable to shed earlier than the 2's that are feathered behind them. At least that's what appears to be happening now, or what I think is happening now. Is there any evidence that this is a possibility? By the way, I'm at day 9 post op.

Hi guys. As I stated on a recent post, I had a touch-up of about 1K grafts on my hairline of mostly 1's and 2's. I also had noted that it seemed that some of the grafts were already starting to shed. I was wondering if there's a possibility that the single grafts in the frontal hairline were more vulnerable to shed earlier than the 2's that are feathered behind them. At least that's what appears to be happening now, or what I think is happening now. Is there any evidence that this is a possibility? By the way, I'm at day 9 post op.

Thanks to all who have contributed. There wasn't any bleeding, so I hope that was a good sign. Hopefully I am an early shedder. Also, since this is day 7, should I be safe to shower and shampoo with my fingers? For some reason I feel that I showered to early on my last procedure at day 5 and possibly compromised some of the grafts. Maybe my shower was too powerful?

I had about 1K grafts transplanted to thicken my hairline about 7 days ago, but noticed on about day 2 or 3 that there was one spot on my hairline that already has seemed to have shed some grafts since there's nothing there and it's a bit pinkish in color, but not painful or bloody. I think I've followed all of my Dr.'s instructions to a T, but I'm a little discouraged by this issue since it's in one of the areas that was thin from my previous transplant. I've been wearing a ball cap that the Dr. fitted for me and I'm wondering if that had something to do with it by possibly rubbing the area too much? On another note, his instructions said nothing about sex, and I never really thought to ask, thus, as you may have guessed, I had sex after the first couple of days from the procedure. However, my wife sat on top and I didn't let her come close to my head, and I don't believe that I strained anything in the process. I also believe that the problemic area was noticable before the act. So, the bottom line, is it too premature to shed some grafts after the first few days, and is it possible that they'll grow back? Also, is sex ok as long as I don't strain my donar area or touch my head? Really. I'm serious. Thanks for any input, although I know I'm setting myself up for some pretty serious shots.

I had about 1K grafts transplanted to thicken my hairline about 7 days ago, but noticed on about day 2 or 3 that there was one spot on my hairline that already has seemed to have shed some grafts since there's nothing there and it's a bit pinkish in color, but not painful or bloody. I think I've followed all of my Dr.'s instructions to a T, but I'm a little discouraged by this issue since it's in one of the areas that was thin from my previous transplant. I've been wearing a ball cap that the Dr. fitted for me and I'm wondering if that had something to do with it by possibly rubbing the area too much? On another note, his instructions said nothing about sex, and I never really thought to ask, thus, as you may have guessed, I had sex after the first couple of days from the procedure. However, my wife sat on top and I didn't let her come close to my head, and I don't believe that I strained anything in the process. I also believe that the problemic area was noticable before the act. So, the bottom line, is it too premature to shed some grafts after the first few days, and is it possible that they'll grow back? Also, is sex ok as long as I don't strain my donar area or touch my head? Really. I'm serious. Thanks for any input, although I know I'm setting myself up for some pretty serious shots.

Thanks.

I guess I got a bit off track with my last posts, but what I initially wanted to know was if 800 grafts spread out on my fronl 1/3 and hairline would be noticable. I had about 2K grafts to build up my hairline and frontal 1/3 about a year ago, but it's still a bit thin and sparse in places. Also, what are the chances of developing shock loss with such a minimal amount of grafts?

I guess I got a bit off track with my last posts, but what I initially wanted to know was if 800 grafts spread out on my fronl 1/3 and hairline would be noticable. I had about 2K grafts to build up my hairline and frontal 1/3 about a year ago, but it's still a bit thin and sparse in places. Also, what are the chances of developing shock loss with such a minimal amount of grafts?

Funny Mr.Jobi. However, even though it's literally a pain, I don't feel-no pun- that it took me 12 months to heal. It really hasn't even been 12 months since my last surgery. In fact, the donar area feels fine, it's the recipient area that still feels a bit numb in places. Therefore, my issue wouldn't be with the donar area healing anyway. But it is true that you have to be a lot more careful with strip, although I was chopping wood 10 days after surgery once the sutures were removed and my scar is barely noticable. Therefore, it's somewhat of a judgemnt call on my part to go fue or fut. I guess that I have to judge the comparisons between the more discomfort and down time with fut or the basically pain free procedure with less down time but more than twice as much money with fue. I just figure for a savings of about $2500+ strip seems like a bargain, otherwise, if I had, or was willing to spend the extra $, I would probably go fue.

Mr. Jobi, It took you 12 months to recuperate? I'm not sure if that's the norm. My strip only took me a few months, maybe 4-5 to recuperate and have my scar basically undetectable. I'm actually looking at a cost comparison. I'm leaning towards strip there's a lot I could do with the extra $2500. in savings for the couple of months of discomfort. Anyone else want to add to this?

Regardless if I go fut or fue to make my hairline denser,(around 800 grafts), what do you think the chances are that I'll receive shock loss in the recipient area going with fue, or both recipient and donar areas going with fut? I would hope that such a minimal amount of grafts wouldn't cause much concern?

Thanks for the advice guys. However, one of my issues is the price. It's hard to justify paying twice as much for the fue than strip, but saving donar hair does make sense plus the short down time, especially in the summer. By the way, I don't quite understand the shaving part. I wear my hair in the back anywhere from half an inch to sometimes two inches. I don't understand how the shaving wouldn't be noticable? What part of the back of my head would the dr. get the relativaly small number of grafts from?

I'm considering a second touch-up procedure of less than 1k grafts, probably 700-800. I've already had a strip procedure of a about 2k around a year ago. Therefore, I guess that my question is should I go with fut since I already have the scar, or should I go fue for such a small procedure? I've been told by my Dr. that in the fue procedure I'll pay more but heal faster as opposed to paying about half the fee and going through the discomfort of the strip method. I've also been informed that the Dr. will need to shave a section of the back of my head in the fue procedure, but my Dr. said if I grow my hair long enough it won't be noticable. I'm leaning toward the strip method again since I already have an unnoticable scar, but I'm not crazy about the discomfort I went through with my last procedure, although everything is fine now. Therefore, I would like to here from people that have had similar situations or from anyone knowledgable about the pros and cons of this dilemma.

What about the guy who played "Puddy," Elaine's boyfriend on the old Sienfeld series. I see that he's on a new show on CBS, Monday nights, and I think that it's called "Rules of Engagement." I just happened to be watching an old Sienfeld episode and noticed that he was thinning and receeding a bit in the frontal area. However, on the new show, his hairline seeems lower and thicker. He seems to have had something done?