buccap

thank you

Hi, I'd like some advice on a a small-moderate fue session. I'm thinking about getting around 400-500 grafts on one side of my previously transplanted side of my frontal hairline to add some density. I'm curious about the chance of shock loss and what the healing characteristics and down time are for such a procedure? My understanding is that the down time and healing "window" is considerably less than the fut method. Any advice would be appreciated.

I'm guessing it's more comman than people think, but I'm only going by what I've heard here.

Well, I guess I have to come to the conclusion, from the responses to my thread, that nerve damage can be a consequence of any surgery. Therefore, since ht is a surgery, one should be aware of the very real chances the they'll have some sort of long-time post surgical complications. Consequently, although I'm pleased with my outcome, I would strongly councel anyone asking for ht advice to weigh the pro's and con's of having more hair vs. the pro's and con's of having possible long term scalp discomfort. Again, I'm hoping my situation changes, but after 15 months I'm not really hopeful:confused:

Hmm..., TTP mentioned jaw surgery and you, mentioned knee surgery. Those were probably surgeries of necessity, unlike a ht, which is superficial and selective. While I see your analogies about possible nerve damage complications, and I get it because I've also had surgeries on my knee, I guess I'm disappointed with my situation because these possible compications were not really brought up with any of the consultations that I had with the different surgeons I visited, if at all. And yes, I know all the info was in the disclaimer that I signed and everything, but again, I feel that the possible complications were really understated. "Yes, cutting skin in surgeries can cause nerve damage but it's extremely rare!" from what I was told by my surgeon, and they've never seen it happen, too. All I want to know is if my situation might resolve over more time, and if it won't, is there anything I can do? Would any surgeon/moderator/guest like to adivise or join in?

Well, I hope it's not permanent. Although I'm concerned about the slight numbness on the top of my head, I'm more concerned about the tenderness of my scar. There is specifically one area on the scar that is very tender and the tissue is very soft in that area, almost as if the tissue hasn't healed, and sometimes it's difficult to sleep on that area. Now I know that this isn't normal after 15 months, but I'd like to know if my window of healing has completely passed? Anyone? Any doctors on this board who'd like to comment or advise?

Thanks for all the replies to my post. To answer some questions, I was told that my scalp is somewhat tight, I can't remember what he gave it on a number scale, so that probably does have something to do with my situation. Also, from what I've researched on my dr, he does take a bit of a conservative approach, which I don't mind because it helps financially and it does give me a wait and see approach down the road to get more work done Iif I choose In fact, he did inform me that he'd like to reserve the right to work on me in a couple of years to fill in the bridge between the hairline and crown which would probably thin, which it is. I guess the bottom line is that I never did get a substantial amount of grafts to start with, I want more density in my hairline, (greed- most balding people would be happy with what I have), and I want to chase the balding pattern and possibly fill in the crown area, but I'm concerned that if the tenderness and numbness don't go away... Thanks again and any more input would be appreciated

Well, the scar isn't huge or terrible, it may be 1.5-2 mm in width, which is still acceptable, especially at the length that I wear my hair, but it isn't as undetectable as the first procedure. I guess that my issue is that it still feels a bit tight and it's still sensative to run a comb down, and yes, I did see my dr. this past summer and he thought that my discomfort would subside. Also, he did offer to do a free revision, but we both agreed that cutting my head open again probably wouldn't make that much of an improvement, especially if I was thinking about getting another procedure. As to why I went back a second time is that I went in a class 4v, the dr. told me he'd only be able to get around 1400 grafts and ended up with around 1800. Thus he filled in the hairline and temples. Consequently, I knew that I might need another procedure somewhere down the road, especially if I wanted to fill in the crown, so I went in for around a 700 graft touch up and wound up with around 1000 grafts . Now, however, I'm thinking about getting the crown done, along with adding more density to my hairline, and the dr is reasonably sure that he can minimize the scar, too.

It's been around 15 months since I had a strip procedure of around 1000 grafts and the top of my head is still a bit numb, and the scar at my donar area is still sensative. I'm wondering if these issues will eventually go away over time or if these are going to be permanent post-surgical affects since it has been around 15 months? I also wonder if the reason that the scar area is so sensative is because of scar stretching? However, let me brief you a bit on my tp history. Before this session, I originally had about an 1800 graft session on my frontal hairline and temples. After about a year, I was underwhelmed about the results and went in for a touch up of about a 1000 grafts. Thus, since the first scar came out perfect with the tricho closure, and the post surgical effects went away within that year, I thought that the second procedure would be no problem, but apparently that didn't happen. Anyway, even though I digressed, does anyone have any helpful advice on this situation? By the way, My clinic is highly recommended on this board in case you're wondering, and I don't want to mention the name since I'm contemplating some more touch up work as well as some work on my crown, but I'm not sure that's a great idea unless my current issues subside. Thanks.

Thanks for the reponse, and I did have the two layer closure both times. So I guess for the third procedure I would ask the dr. to get the most grafts he could possibly harvest in order to get the most possible, optimal scar whether it's with the tricho or standard closure. Thanks again.

I agree with you Sparky, I wouldn't risk getting a scar repaired that's probably only 1.5 mm wide at the most. I was just wondering why he didn't do the tricho in the first place instead of offering to repair the scar after the fact. My other thought was that since I could use some more work anyway, and since I had a non-tricho method done last time, would having the next prodedure using the tricho method give me an ultimate result as the first procedure did or would it still leave me with a linear scar that's possibly 2-3 mm wide if every procedure produces a wider scar? In other words, I know that noone has a crystal ball, but has anyone had or any dr. had experiences or seen examples of people/patient healing results after three procedures with trich-nontricho-tricho?

I'm a bit confused about multiple procedures and scarring. I've read on this site a few times that the more procedures one has, the wider the scar becomes. However, in my situation I've had two fut's. The first one I had a tricho closure and the scar healed great. Probably couldn't find it unless I shaved my head. However, my second procedure was quite a bit smaller, just to fill in density in the hairline, but the dr. did not use thr tricho closure stating that he wouldn't get as many grafts if he did. Thus he did the standard closure. Consequently, I can now notice a fine linear scar that is noticable if you really look for it, although it is acceptable and my stylist said it's not an issue because he doesn't notice it and doesn't cut my hair that short anyway. My dr. also told me he'd repair the scar at no charge if it really bothered me. Therefore, this is my question. Why didn't he just do the tricho after the procedure if he's offering to "fix" it anyway? Also, If I did go in for a repair, which I probably don't need according to my stylist, why not just go for some more grafts and fill in some crown work, which I could use, and then have the tricho closure? Since I had the standard closure the second time around would using the tricho for a third procedure or a repair give me the great, ultimate result I had from the first procedure? I hope this thread makes sense, and I did ave a coolition dr. do my procedures. Thanks.

Have you thought about using your credit card or tryed getting qualified for credit at a clinic that offers surgery credit through Capital One, I think it is? It seems that with the $3500 you have saved, plus any extra money you can get qualified for would be beneficial. Thus, most decent clinics will charge at least $4.00 per graft. In my opinion, for your third procedure, you'd probably want to get as many grafts as you can. Do it right man. What I did on my first and second procedures was to put the tab on one credit card, then, after a month, applied for another card that had a 15 month, no interest, no transfer fee, and transferred to that while making my monthly payments. Then, when that expired, I paid off the remaining balance from my home equity line of credit which is currently at 2.75%, and it can also be written off on my taxes. I'm not sure what your credit situation is, but if it's halfway decent you can be very creative. Many clinics do offer financing and the rates vary dependant on your credit. Check out the NYC dr.s that I mentioned before, get a consultation, and apply for credit before your divorce goes through so it's still in good shape. Remember, though, these are just my suggestions, please don't jump into surgery without doing aggressive research just because you may qualify for more money. Also, even if you can't come up with more money, $3500. will only get you around 875 grafts, probably not worth getting your head sliced open for. Good luck.

What about NYC doctors? Isn't Philly only about an hour drive from the city? There's Bernstein, True and Dorin, and Feller just to name a few. They all seem to have excellent reputations, and some of these dr.'s will give free consultations. If travel expense is a consideration this sounds like something you may want to consider? Check them out online. They're all recommended by this site. It's at least worth looking into. Good luck with your situation.

what does anyone think should be the minimal # of grafts for a strip procedure? Just wondering in case I need to get more work done.