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Goldilocks

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  1. Goldilocks
    I have never heard of a hair transplant surgeon taking two strips during the same surgery. There are situations where they may do take a second strip from a different location on subsequent surgeries however. When you are taking out a strip and closing it, you are creating tension on that closure. I would think that two strips would compound the tension, not to mention cause you more discomfort than necessary.
  2. Goldilocks
    I know I am not a hair transplant physician, but I have had two transplants, the second one of which was out of town and was a five hour drive each way. My preference was to leave the day following the surgery, before the swelling and bruising kicked in. For me, the peak of this occurred on days 4-5, which my doctor (and I) had expected. I have to say that I would not have been in any position to enjoy a holiday following surgery. There was too much discomfort, even with the pain tablets, and appearance-wise, I wanted to stay out of public view. I'd rather feel at my best when on holiday. The degree of swelling/bruising you get can depend significantly on whether or not your hair transplant surgeon gives you something like prednisone to prevent it. Following my first surgery, I did not take any and I looked like I had been in a bar brawl! Following my second surgery, I did take it and the swelling/bruising was much less and went away much quicker. I am sure others will be able to offer their thoughts too, but I hope this is helpful.
  3. Goldilocks
    By 3 weeks, the grafts are very secure so it likely isn't a graft. It's likely that some of the scabbing had come apart from the underlying skin but perhaps wasn't quite ready which caused some bleeding. My other explanation is that you had a pimple, which sometimes can have blood inside mixed with puss. Perhaps it popped. This has happened to me a few times, especially following my second hair transplant which I just had two months ago. The pimples started after the first couple of weeks and are still continuing although they have started to settle down.... I am sure others will offer their thoughts on this too, but I hope this is helpful.
  4. Goldilocks
    Definitely normal. The majority of the transplanted hair typically falls out but there will usually be some that stay behind. I don't have percentages but this has been true following both of my surgeries.
  5. Goldilocks
    I wasn't trying to provoke you into an argument so I apologize if you interpreted my post in that way. In all sincerity, it is awful that your first experience was not a positive one. I can only imagine being in that position as I was fortuntate with both of my surgeries and was willing to pay whatever was asked to have them done. By no means am I wealthy, but I was able to prioritize my finances and pay both surgeries in full both times.
  6. Goldilocks
    I'm certainly not going to try to argue with you Sparky. It sounds like you are pretty jaded which is really too bad.
  7. Goldilocks
    I think sometimes we forget that this is a highly specialized field and what you are paying for is the expertise. Not to mention, look at how many staff are working on one patient and all of them need to get paid in addition to the doctor too. Add in the equipment needed, the facilities... It is only fitting that physicians in this field are able to have a very comfortable lifestyle outside of work... They have worked very hard to get where they are; many years of education, specialized training... Just look at how many hours a day are invested in their work too. Sometimes I wonder how they fit in their hobbies with all the patients they see, followups, correspondance, ongoing professional development etc... Of course, there is no excuse for subpar physicians to be in this same elite boat.
  8. Goldilocks
    Great post mahhong! Hi Danielkiwi, In answer to your question about my own surgeries, I had two strip procedures by two different physicians, both of whom are quality physicians found on this site. My first procedure was almost three years ago with Dr. Rahal and my second one was this past April with Dr. Simmons. I must say that my scar revision, which was recommended by Dr. Simmons so that he wouldn't have to make a second scarline, has been healing very well and so far looks quite fine; better than my first scar which was up to 3mm wide in one area. What I have experienced this time around though, is shock loss in the donor area, unlike after my first surgery. This is a little off-putting I have to admit, but I am reassured that the shocked hair will regrow in a few months time. In answer to your second question, if some of the grafts do not grow hair, it would not be obvious at all, unless for some reason there was a whole cluster of them in the same area that did not grow. From my own experience, that did not happen. In fact, my first procedure could have been a stand-alone one, but I went through with a second one to increase the density and refine the shape of the hairline. If there is anything else you'd like to know, please don't hesitate to let me know. I'd be happy to share my experience and even my private online album if you wish. Out of curiosity, who is your surgery scheduled with? And how long are you waiting to take the plunge?
  9. Goldilocks
    Hey there. While I can't answer your questions as I would never shave my head (I'm female by the way), I did want to say that I thought it was interesting how you describe yourself as a risk taker. I compared that to myself, who is NOT a risk taker and have a fear of surgery, but I did end up having hair transplant surgery. Two of them in fact. :eek: I couldn't stand the thought of having my head cut open, nor could I stand the thought of being poked, stitched, sliced, punctured etc but I wanted this so badly that I went through it anyway. So far, I think I am glad I did. (I'm only two months post-op at the moment so I am in the ugly duckling, can't stand to look at my hair in the mirror phase.) I'm not exactly sure what my point with comparing myself to you is, but I did want to reassure you that I am sure most of those of us who have or will be going through hair transplant surgery have had doubts about the success of the procedure and the final results. In my mind, the questions you ask are your rational side talking, which is extremely important when deciding to go through this kind of life changing event. Not everyone seems to have that inner voice and thus they make decisions without thinking it through rationally. Kudos to you for thinking about the "what ifs". I hope you find the answers you are looking for and wish you all the best in your journey.
  10. Goldilocks
    How your scar looks during healing can depend a lot on how well you have been keeping the area clean. After my first transplant, I was so gentle on my donor line and didn't scrub that it was much more scabby than after my second surgery. I suspect that what you are seeing is dried blood. Have you tried soaking your head in warm water for several minutes and then gently scrubbing with your fingertips to loosen the scabs? That may help. It's good that you are seeing your doctor just to be sure though, so kudos to you. Looking worse after the procedure than before is very normal. I am two months post op and have had quite a bit of shock loss so I am much more bare in the recipient area than before the surgery. This is normal! Hang in there!
  11. Goldilocks
    Thanks for the well-wishes. So far so good although I have to admit I'm feeling like an ugly duckling. Good luck with managing your donor area pain. Hopefully the ibuprofen will help.
  12. Goldilocks
    I can tell you that I had quite a bit of soreness in the donor area for several days following the surgery and like you, had an area that was significantly more sensitive and sore than the rest. I am at almost two months post-op and the discomfort is more like numbness now, not so much pain. This discomfort is not actually right on the donor area, but rather above it and almost to the top of my head. It is certainly manageable however. From my own experience, getting the stitches (and in your case, staples) removed should help make the donor area much more comfortable. This was true of both of my surgeries. I would say hang in there, try taking some Advil or other pain reliever and when you see the doctor again, mention your concerns.
  13. Goldilocks
    Sure. Send me your email address and I will share the links with you.
  14. Goldilocks
    Many hair transplant physicians do require shaving and Dr. Rahal is one of them. The physician recommended by Megatron, Dr. Simmons, does not. I have had one surgery by each of these doctors and I can say they are both extremely good at what they do, and even though their methods and techniques vary quite significantly, it is safe to say that you would get a great result from either doctor in all likelihood.
  15. Goldilocks

    Thank you for checking up on my album. I actually just haven't gotten around to adding photos yet. Hopefully I will put some in there soon. :)

  16. Goldilocks
    Since most females don't shave their hair, I'm not sure why strip is such a big deal. The surrounding hair will cover the scar, however fine or wide it is. My first scar ranged from 1-3 mm in width, but no one would ever know, even with my hair parted into pigtails, not to mention, my hair is fairly thin and quite fine in texture. It is also far more economical to go with strip than fue, and you can get more grafts in the same period of time. Isn't strip considered to be the gold standard in hair restoration? How much are you looking to lower your forehead? 1000 grafts doesn't sound like very many, unless you were filling in a small area or only wanted to get your feet wet with hair transplantation to make sure you are going to be satisfied with the texture and direction of that transplanted hair... Have you seen actual patients of the doctor you are going to? Particularly ones with similar hair characteristics to yours? Perhaps that might alleviate some of your concerns... There is no doubt that the recovery time is significant with hair transplantation, especially if you have longer hair. However, aside from the first three to four months being pretty much worse than where you started, you can usually find a way to style your hair as it grows to a length that matches the rest of your hair. Having the front of your hair cut in layers can help tremendously with alleviating the awkwardness of the regrowth stage.
  17. Goldilocks

    Hi Kitty,

     

    I'm glad you decided not to go with the reduction surgery. It really does sound invasive.

     

    Since I have had two hair transplants, I'd be very happy to share my online albums with you if you wish. Just send me your email address and I will give you the links. :)

     

    Good luck! And I look forward to how things go for you!

  18. Goldilocks

    Thanks for the comments in my online album. I think it's safe to say I am photo obsessed although yesterday was the first day I didn't take any pictures. I'm thinking once a week would be sufficient. :P

     

    I wish you all the best with your journey! I'm interested in hearing about it when you decide to move ahead. From what I can tell, it doesn't look like you need any surgery, but of course we need to do what makes us happy. ;)

  19. Goldilocks

    Hi again Tony,

     

    I sent you an email with the links to both of my online albums. :)

     

    You really couldn't go wrong with either doctor in my opinion. Both are fantastic although I have to admit, I got more of a warm fuzzy feeling with Dr. Simmons. I think I just had a better rapport with him, but both are extremely good at what they do. Their methods are both very different as well, so hopefully you take that into consideration too.

     

    I can cover the recipient area pretty well with a "strategic" hairstyle, certainly moreso than my first procedure, however I have had a fair amount of shock loss so it is quite thin. Interestingly, I have shock loss in both the recipient AND donor area, which you will most likely notice in my online albums. For simplicity and the sake of saving time, I am wearing a hat everyday to work since it takes too long to style my hair. On weekends, I don't wear a hat to give my head a break from being covered.

     

    The donor site is healing pretty well. My donor scar from my first surgery ranged from 1 to 3 mm in width so Dr. Simmons did a scar revision for my second procedure. In other words, he excised my first scar when taking the new donor strip with the idea that I wouldn't have a second donor scar, and that my scar would hopefully be narrower this time around. I guess time will tell. Hopefully the deep layer sutures that he used to close up the site will have helped. As far as doing fue in the scar, I have heard of people having success with that, but of course there is always the risk that when you transplant into the scar tissue, the blood supply isn't sufficient to get a really good growth yield. That is definitely worth asking about at any consultations you go to.

     

    I know that many doctors recommend that you keep your hair a bit longer prior to a strip surgery, so you will likely want to do the same, especially since you are concerned about the smiley face problem. Alternatively, maybe you could just put some of those crafty googly eyes to complete the smile into a whole face. :P

     

    It's great that you have family in Ottawa and can take advantage of the convenience of seeing Dr. Rahal while you are there. I live in Ottawa so it was awesome to have a world renowned surgeon in my own local area. It made the followup very easy.

     

    There I go again writing a novel! I hope that my online album is helpful to you. As always, let me know if you have any other questions.

     

    Sincerely,

     

    Kim     

  20. Goldilocks

    Hi there agdc,

     

     

    Thanks for your comment on my profile and your interest in my situation. I'll do my best to respond to your post.

     

    I have to say that I look at many women's foreheads and see that they come in all shapes and sizes as well as always comparing mine to theirs, much like men probably look at other men's hair. It really is amazing how similar men and women are in terms of their views of themselves.

     

    In answer to your questions, my second transplant was done by Dr. Cam Simmons in Toronto, Ontario. I chose a different doctor for the second procedure as I liked the idea of not having to shave any of my hair except for the donor area, and I also liked the technique Dr. Simmons uses (stick-and-place as well as using "chubby" grafts to preserve hairs that are in the telogen phase.)

     

    After my first experience, I really didn't want to go through it again, not because the doctor wasn't great, or that my experience at the clinic was bad. It was moreso because of the recovery and having had both the recipient and donor areas shaved. It made it tremendously difficult to camouflage the surgery so I wore a hat for a while until I could style my hair decently. I also had a significant amount of pain and discomfort during recovery and difficulty sleeping for the first two weeks while the sutures were still in. It also took months for the numbness to go away. Looking back, I realize now that I was too stubborn to take the pain medication I was given. In retrospect, I should have like I did with my second procedure. It made a tremendous difference I have to say! I obviously "forgot" about the discomfort of the first surgery so I went ahead and had another in April of this year (approx 2 and a half years following the first).

     

    I decided to have a second procedure because I wanted to change the shape of my forehead to make it more feminine and also add density to the existing transplant. I have very fine hair so it's more difficult to get good coverage with just one surgery. Having said that, Dr. Simmons designed me a hairline that has peaks and valleys, and a small widow's peak so that it is more irregular which is characteristic of a women's hairlines. My first one was quite straight.

     

    Gosh, I seem to have written a novel! Anyway, I would be happy to share my online album with you privately if you send me your email address. Bill keeps trying to get me to post my albums publicly, but I am just not that comfortable doing that...at least not yet.

     

      

  21. Goldilocks

    Hey Megatron! Just wanted to say I have been following your hair transplant with great interest as I too had one done by Dr. Simmons (about a month ago actually). I'm glad to hear that the infection you had is under control and that you are going to see better days ahead as the new hairs sprout! I noticed in your blog you had made a comment about the lack of pictures of donor areas; I had noticed this too and as such, I've been photographing mine every day for the last month so I can see how it evolves and fades. Hang in there!

  22. Goldilocks
    My understanding is that many people will not see their full result until the 12 month mark, and some even closer to 16 or 18 months. The timeline varies so significantly from person to person that it would be hard to say when anyone in particular would achieve their final result. Glad to hear the results are nice so far though! Hang in there for at least a couple more months and see where you are then. Have you been taking pictures under the same conditions for reference by any chance?
  23. Goldilocks
    I completely agree with this. By no means would I base your decision purely on what you see or read online. I was just thinking that as a first step, it might be nice to do a handful of online consultations. From there, you can decide who you might like to go see in person. That's what I did and it worked out great for me.
  24. Goldilocks
    Congratulations on your hair transplant! Based on your three month photos, I'd say you look to be where I would expect. Like you, I still had pinkiness on my scalp at the third month mark after my first procedure as my skin is quite fair also. The good news is it should still continue to fade. Keep us posted on your progress!
  25. Goldilocks
    Wouldn't a hair restoration physician be able to measure the degree of miniaturization and compare the findings from time A to time B? I wouldn't think however that you could reasonably predict the expected rate of balding since it probably isn't linear. :rolleyes:
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