Lucky Locs

OK- I've added a couple of pre-HT pix into the album so folks can get a better idea of what Dr. Siporin and I are shooting for. Remember, my main goal was to lower my hairline, with the hopeful bonus of filling in the middle and Dr. Siporin also added to the crown and temporal regions. Sometime in the future, I will probably have a 2nd HT to finish off the crown and possibly beef up other areas. As yall can see, i have very fine hair, so that makes it more of a challenge with me. I was surprised with the 2300-2500 range Dr. Siporin had proposed, as i was expecting at least a 1000 more. However, based on his gameplan with an eye toward my MPB future and how this HT develops. Hence why i was so keenly interested with Gorpy and NN's assessment as I"m particularly interested in lowering the hairline and pulling off that "illusion of density" I read so much about on here.

Ok- got the definition between shedding a graft and hairs shedding-nailed that one done! How does one know though when they are actually in the shedding phaase of thier HT before heading into the resting phase? Will i wake up tmrrw morning and see a bunch of small hairs on my pillow?

Balody & Josh: Thanks for your comments- even though the "field" looks immense, I wasnt completely bald or badly thinning- but was starting to thin in the center- my main goal was to fill in the receding temples in front-everything else was hair gravy. I also do have ONE "before" pic on the front page of my blog at the link below- it took great patience to post the slideshow album on here, hence why all pix didnt make it. Bill: Thanks for the comments and behind the scenes assistance! PIc/Album questions: Can i add more pix to this same album, or do i need to create <groan> another album? If i email some of the pix to you, do u have the software where you can blur out the person's face?

Thana, Thanks for the reply! Though I'm still in a vaccum about the post HT stuff, this was a great start! Where/what does emu oil i hear so much about play in? And is there a particluar Vitamin E your referring to? Look forward to hearing how your HT went! and what YOUR post-HT regimen will be!

Am just bumping this thread up cuz i haven't seen a response yet to the question...bonus question: I'm going to be shedding-when will this occur after an HT

Thanks, P40, I got the melon shaved this Sat- Ebenezer is now "retired"! U thought you got yours cut short with a #2...1 1/2 for me! Ahh, but withthe new buzz has come a new problem- it's a friggin winter wonderland up there! When is it safe to color or dye the hair after an HT? I still haven't decided on post-HT treatments yet...still researching and will probably be askin more questions on here about that.

Quick add-on: These are all taken with my Canon digital camera- I know not all of the pix are perfect, but hopefully there are some in here that will give yall enough visual detail to opine away! I'm really looking forward to hearing the feedback, particularly from Nervous Nelly, Gorpy, B-Spot, Spex, EmuSteve and the rest of those who have helped me get to this point. And yes, I do have an email in asking for the numbers breakdown!

First off, a huge thank you to all the forum members on here who have contributed so much information regarding their HT journeys-without that input, i don't think I would've forged ahead with my own hair transplant. A special big thank you to Pat, founder of our community, and also for all his visits to various clinics and HT doctors- which enabled all of us to make our decisions a bit more easier as to whether an HT, and who our HT doctor choice might be. It was becasue of Pat's visit and subsequent writeup of Dr. Siporin that i discovered Dr. Siporin's practice. Also, another big, hearty thank you goes to Bill, who seems to LIVE on these boards- patiently answering questions and providing insight into the complex world of hair transplant ummm...stuff! On Thursday, Dec 20th, 2007 I had a 2300 graft procedure done with Dr. Siporin. Ironically, with the hectic schedule i had in December, I didn't have time to fret or worry about the surgery itself. I travelled to Los Angeles a day before the procedure to relax, have a pre-op meeting with Dr. Siporin, sign the documents, and pick up any prescriptions and supplies that i might need for my 4 day stay in LA after the surgery. That list that Spex created (the neck-rest pillow, getting scripts filled, etc) was a blessing- i felt armed and ready when i hit the chair Thursday morning.Spex: can i add a suggestion to the list? I would also advise those who are "scratchers" to cut and file their fingernails down- i did this and i think it helped immensely as i wanted to scratch due to the itchiness i was experiencing, but instead resorted to the vigorous massaging with my fingers! (side note: I am in awe of some of you who obviously had computer access and wrote up about your procedures the next day! I was physically fine, but could not have imagined writing up about my procedure so soon after it!) Hopefully the pix of my pre and immediate post-op look will give an idea of what was my MPB and what Dr. Siporin and I were hoping to achieve. Like the pre-surgery visit from the day before, Dr. Siporin drew his lines on my forehead of where we were going to lower my hairline, and his techs, led my Yami and Israel, prepped me with the numbing shots in the donor area. OK, about the numbing shots- for me, it was pretty painless-i equate it with someone poking me with a pin in my head about 16 times- more of an annoying "ouch" than any real pain. I should also mention that becuase of my rather animated, hyper personality, it was quickly assessed that i be given another Valium to "chill me down"(sic). I mention this because after the numbing shots, i only vaguely recall what happened next- my next clear thought was that everyone had moved away from me and was working at the microscope areas- turns out Dr. Siporin had removed my donor strip- AND I DIDN"T FEEL A THING! I was quite shocked my all this, and as i was gently turned over to face upright for the recipient incisions, I already knew i was in good hands! Ok, besides lovering my hairline, Dr. S. also wanted to fill in the center, hence why i agreed to have the recipient area shaved. If I'm using the term correctly here, it seems my ultra fine hair and my MPB made me a "diffuse thinner". I have also in the last few years developed a bald spot in the crown. For me though, the biggest hair hurdle i had was the receding temples-i already have a high forehead, having those triangular recessions is what most troubled me and affected my confidence level. I don't want the hairline of a 22 year old, I just don't want such a wide patch of real estate of bare areas dominating my facial features and appearance. Dr. Siporin's goal was then multi-fold: lower my hairline, fill in the center, and fill in most of my crown area with the 2300 grafts. Oh, and do a little side work on the left and right temple areas. Again, i only have vague memories of the actual incision cuts. I seem to recall some slightly annoying "scratches" occuring, but nothing resembling what any of us would define as pain- I guess the painkillers and numbing shots did their job also! Everybody broke for lunch, where I had a tasty quesedilla, and i loaded up the DVD player witht he movies i rented the day before. As a few members on here have recommended, i stayed away from comedies or horror or action stories- anything that might make me "jump" suddenly, and went with the Great Female British acting trifecta of Helen Mirren (The Queen) and Judi Dench & Kate Blanchett (Notes on a Scandal)- both movies I and the staff enjoyed quite immensely! Yami and Izzy (israel) performed the insertion of the grafts. This was the hardest part for me. Why? Not because of any pain (again, only slight annoying "pecks" to the head), but becuase this was the longest and tedious part of the procedure. My sciatica (sp?) actually started acting up near the end, giving me a serious case of restless leg syndrome- this is where they gave me a shot of something (that sucker DID hurt- it was "thick") but in a few minutes, my sciatica had calmed down, and we were able to finish the insertion of the grafts. At 5pm (been there since 8am), i was all done! My friend, who travelled with me, picked me up from the clinic, and back to the hotel we went. I don't recall much of Thursday night, except that i slept with my head elevated, Friday was also a blur. I can report that other than an annoying throbbing, I felt no pain. Saturday, we changed hotels, and actually visited a friend that night in Santa Monica. Sunday, did some shopping, WINDOW shopped on Rodeo Drive, and joined some more friends for a bit and a couple of beers. All this time i was wearing a loose fitting cap. The notorious swellling was really only predominant Friday evening/Saturday day. Wasn't all that bad actually! I also appeared to have not incurred any of the redness or pinkness I've heard about. Monday, after having Dr. Siporin take a post-op check of me, flew back home to San Fran. The only problems that I have really encountered was what i thought was a crusty, scabbing itchiness and some hairs falling out, but actually turned out to be dried flaky skin of hairs that have apparently done their job and leaving the dome. A week later, on New Years Eve, I had one of my docs up here remove the triglyo stitching- of course i forgot to have them take pix of the donor scar! So as it stands now, I am 2 weeks plus form the surgery. As this essay shows, I had very few problems. Dr. Siporin and his staff were great, and Dr. Siporin, who thought i might be "difficult" becuase of all the knowledge and nervous energy i had before, is a first rate surgeon and answered all my questions in that calm, laid back, reassuring casual manner that us Californians are known for! I still can't believe that a chunk of my scalp was removed while i was awake, and i didn't feel a thing! I also credit my excellent healing skills to a vitmin regimen that was prescribed to me for another medical procedure that i had earlier this year- I am highly skepticle of all that vitamin stuff, as is my friend- but on two occasions now, i have healed quicker and more effieciently than in previousmedical procedures. We are convinced this regimen actually does work! I was able to return to classes and work stuff much, much sooner than originally anticipated. I hope this looooong HT essay will help reassure and assist others when they are reaearching HT surgery, and at least based on the surgery itself, i do highly recommend Dr. Siporin. Now..........the waiting.....

Late add to this thread: What i thought was a scabbing problem actually turned out to be the very issue in this thread: flaking. As other members have stated, what assured me was that there was no pain or blood-just hairs with dead "flaky" skin on them that came out. Hence this thread was verrrrry helpful to me this past week! This emu oil thing seems like the next logical step for me to take!

Was wondering if someone could answer what IS the difference between shedding hairs and shedding grafts? How does a patient know when he is sheeding one and not the other? Also what are the typical times that sheeding starts and how long does it last (the shedding)?

I just recently had my first HT done a couple of weeks ago- will post about the experience in another thread. I've got the blog started, will try to get the photo album going tonite. I have assorted random questions post HT that I havent seen here yet: When is it ok to color one's hair again? I've got too much of the salt and not enough pepper showing now. I elected to have the recipent area shaved to make it easier for the HT doc- But am now left with a Ebenezer Scrooge look- want to "buzz cut (?) the sides- ala GI Jane- so Ebenezer can retire! When is is safe to go get a haircut? and how short can i go? (I keep seeing references to a #2 cut). I see a lot of posts on here about pre and post HT treatments and regimens- I took nothing prior to my Ht, but am curious now as to what i can take, post HT to facilitate and stimulate growth of the transplanted grafts. I've seen many on here: Emu oil, Rogaine foam, Proscar,fin, msm, Revita, etc. How does one pick and choose? I'm wanting to aviod Rogaine if I can- and am hoping one of the above-mentioned or something other might help facilitate happy follicle growth! thanks for any helpful/useful input!

I just recently had my first HT done a couple of weeks ago- will post about the experience in another thread. I've got the blog started, will try to get the photo album going tonite. I have assorted random questions post HT that I havent seen here yet: When is it ok to color one's hair again? I've got too much of the salt and not enough pepper showing now. I elected to have the recipent area shaved to make it easier for the HT doc- But am now left with a Ebenezer Scrooge look- want to "buzz cut (?) the sides- ala GI Jane- so Ebenezer can retire! When is is safe to go get a haircut? and how short can i go? (I keep seeing references to a #2 cut). I see a lot of posts on here about pre and post HT treatments and regimens- I took nothing prior to my Ht, but am curious now as to what i can take, post HT to facilitate and stimulate growth of the transplanted grafts. I've seen many on here: Emu oil, Rogaine foam, Proscar,fin, msm, Revita, etc. How does one pick and choose? I'm wanting to aviod Rogaine if I can- and am hoping one of the above-mentioned or something other might help facilitate happy follicle growth! thanks for any helpful/useful input!

If there is one area where i get completely confused, it is in this part of the forum. Mostly due to the difficulty of figuring out what's what, brand vs generic name, the amount 5% or 1%, what one does, what one doesn't, how this works with that, etc etc etc.. Based on the above, i still can't tell which products might be right for me: What is MSM? What is Fin? Dermmatch? Toppick? Revita, Proscar? Nizerol? Propecia? Emu oil? My suggestion then, with this buildup I've typed, is if someone, or someones, could greate an HT Glossary of meds/products that us HT folks need to know about and/or use. If i had the knowledge, i would do it myself, but I'm a relative newbie- so best if something like this is done by someone more experienced. An example I'm thinking of could look something like this: GraftCyte Concentrated Spray- Containing Copper peptide Micronutrient. Used to stimulate growth immediately after HT surgery. optimizes Healing Envioronment, Effectively Manages Crusting & Improves Patient Comfort. Part of HT doctors post-op package. Discontinue when bottle is finished. This example I'm familiar with becuase it's what I'm using right now- hence why i was able to write about it like i did. I'm STILL trying to decide what to use next after the spray is finished. What do my fellow follicle friends think of a glossary of terms idea?

I can also add from very recent personal experience, Dr. Ken Siporin- who IS in West Los Angeles/Beverly Hills, but does not charge that high a rate as the one you quoted for that other doc.

Just a few more days to the cutting and harvesting! I havent seen this topic really covered, so hope yall can help out. I am a VERY light sleeper, AND a tosser & turner. This combination i would think does not bode well for me for my 1st nite after the HT surgery and subsequent nites. My question is- what can i expect pain/discomfort wise the first few days after the HT? HOW do i sleep on a donor scarred head? Oddly enough, this has been my biggest concern about the procedure!