UK Patient - HT with DR Feller (2,167 grafts)

[steveyd]

Hi guys,

 

Well, finally, after months of asking tons of questions (some probably a bit daft and worrying about ??downtime', I finally had my procedure with Dr Feller last Friday (Sept 28th) and it was a big success! I had a total of 2,167 grafts into the front.

 

The Holiday:

 

I decided to give myself an extra day in NY, as I'd not been there before, and flew out on the Wednesday, with the procedure booked in for Friday, and return on Sunday night.

 

Ironically, any nervousness towards the op was quelled somewhat by being excited about the trip, and more significantly ??“ being anxious about carrying so many notes over, having decided to pay for the procedure in cash. For the latter, I bought a really good cash wallet, which strapped round my waist underneath my shirt and had a wire running through the strap so no-one could slash it off. Highly recommended!

 

Royal Inn Review:

 

I decided to stay at the Royal Inn motel, a couple of miles down from Fellers. It's a reasonably cheap option ($100 a night), and really does fill the stereotypical ??motel' look. Cosy style chalet rooms overlooking outside carparks, with all the basic functions served up, drinks machines outside. A great one-night stop over if you've just robbed a bank, and I really did feel compelled to hire a downtown hooker to complete the effect! ;o) (PS I didn't, so please don't think that I did!

 

Getting into central NY (eg Manhattan) wasn't too bad, approximately around 1hr 30mins. A few people have suggested getting a cab to Great Neck railway station, which takes you to the Metro at Penn Station. No need ??“ Manhasset railway is literally a 7 or 8mins walk round the corner and on the same line. The other way to get into town is by getting the bus to Flushing and taking the Metro from there. Personally, I'd recommend that for the first trip in as it's quite scenic.

 

Oh ??“ and someone should ask Americans why they design their toilet bowls so low and wide, filling them so close to the rim with water. If you ever see an American walking round with a wet arse, you'll know why!

 

The Procedure:

 

The important bit!

 

After a Thursday of taking in Central Park, Chinatown et al, walking literally 100s of miles, and worrying about my HT cash stashed in my motel room, I made it down to Fellers on Friday morning for the day of the procedure. And I'm pleased to say, it all went spectacularly well!

 

Dr Feller looked at the hairline originally proposed for my frontal region, following the London consultation back in spring. However, he then tried a flatter more fuller hairline, which we both decided would give a far better end result. I've been very fortunate that, having first started losing my hair when I was just 18, I've since managed to retain the vast majority of my hair, only really losing the hairline (I'm 29 now). This meant that Feller would primarily only really be working on bald skin, as the hair behind the hairline is reasonably stable and thick, and allowed him to be perhaps a little more ambitious with the hairline. A good reason perhaps not to rush into an HT too early, so that you have a better idea of future hairloss.

 

However, combating my luckiness is the fact that I have naturally super fine and soft hair. This ultimately meant that Feller would have to go super dense with the transplanted hair ??“ hell, I get bald patches where I'm not losing my hair, such is the fine-ness of the stuff!

 

The Fun Stuff:

 

After agreeing on the hairline, it was time for the procedure and the ??pain'. The first injections you'll get are along the back of your head, which while uncomfortable and will make your eyes water, are not too bad. They're like wasp stings, and after a few, your head does start to get numb, so the rest don't hurt so much.

 

Once all that is done, and the donor area is subsequently removed, it's time for the next bunch of injections in the recipient area, for me along the hairline. The ones taking place near the temples probably hurt the most, while the central ones, are not too bad at all. Once that's all done, you can just doze in the chair while the good doc puts the slits in preparation for your transplanted hair, which are performed by his highly accomplished and friendly technicians.

 

To be honest, Dr Feller and his staff are so friendly, chatty, enthusiastic and encouraging, that there really is so little to worry about. Personally, I probably felt the most discomfort in the last hour or so ??“ kind of a dull headache pain, like knuckles being pressed into my temples. But it was over long before I felt I might need to leap up, scream and jump out of the window in some kind of pain-defying act of salvation

 

The Hairline:

 

When I saw the results and the density of my new hairline, I was overwhelmed. I'd literally been given a hairline probably pretty close to the one I had when I was about 18. Dr Feller was extremely thrilled with his work, but not as thrilled as I was! Unfortunately, I don't think the post-op pics quite give a true indication of the results ??“ the injections had given immediate rise to some swelling on the top of my forehead, which distorted and elongated the shape of my head. I do have a naturally high forehead, but in the pics I probably look like a Mekon who's just headbutted the doorway!

 

Post-Op:

 

After the op, I went back to the Royal Inn, and popped a Vicodin that Feller had given me. Fortunately, I never got any post-op pain at all, and that proved to be the first and last painkiller I took. In fact, I actually felt very nauseous and restless on Friday night (kind of like a fever without the fever), which could easily have been a reaction to the pill, or more likely, a shock reaction to the surgery. But by Saturday late morning, that had subsided, and I even mustered the energy to go down to Coney Island for the day. However, that I regretted cos it took me nearly 3 hours to get there, and the island was quite disappointing in that it felt a bit quiet and rundown down there.

 

As for other post-op experiences, my donor area has been itching madly ever since. The flight on the way home was a nightmare! I think the first time I got to wash my hair by gently pouring a cup of water over my head felt even better than the first time I had my first ??“ no, let's not go there

 

So...

 

All in all, I'm over the moon with everything and I can't thank Dr Feller, his staff, and Spex enough for all the work, advice and help I've been given. And also, all the guys on the forums too, such as PB, Beachboy, Stevo, 1664, BadHairUK and everyone else for their invaluable tips and assurances. Great stuff. Really appreciated.

 

I think for anyone losing their hair, going to Spex (who like Dr Feller, is an absolute top bloke) is the first thing to do ??“ can't recommend it highly enough.

 

The only downside to everything is trying to convince someone like my mum of why I went through with it. I kept knowledge of my HT down to an absolute bare minimum, and if I could've got away with telling my mother, I would have. My mother still views the HT as a vanity thing, and it's near-impossible to explain the psychological implications and backbone to hairloss. She's happy that I'm happy, but unless you have first-hand experience, I don't think everyone can fully understand and appreciate the effects on your life that hairloss can have. I don't really want to be made to feel guilty or a bit crap for going through with something that will almost certainly have a truly massive positive effect on my life, and something that has caused me huge distress throughout my 20s. But to be fair, she's not been too bad ??“ we've just agreed not to talk about anymore, which can only be a good thing.

 

Anyway, I've waffled on way too much! I'll size up my pics and get ??em posted as soon as I can!

 

Cheers guys, Dr Feller and Spex and once again ??“ thanks for all the help!

[steveyd]

Hi guys,

 

Well, finally, after months of asking tons of questions (some probably a bit daft and worrying about ??downtime', I finally had my procedure with Dr Feller last Friday (Sept 28th) and it was a big success! I had a total of 2,167 grafts into the front.

 

The Holiday:

 

I decided to give myself an extra day in NY, as I'd not been there before, and flew out on the Wednesday, with the procedure booked in for Friday, and return on Sunday night.

 

Ironically, any nervousness towards the op was quelled somewhat by being excited about the trip, and more significantly ??“ being anxious about carrying so many notes over, having decided to pay for the procedure in cash. For the latter, I bought a really good cash wallet, which strapped round my waist underneath my shirt and had a wire running through the strap so no-one could slash it off. Highly recommended!

 

Royal Inn Review:

 

I decided to stay at the Royal Inn motel, a couple of miles down from Fellers. It's a reasonably cheap option ($100 a night), and really does fill the stereotypical ??motel' look. Cosy style chalet rooms overlooking outside carparks, with all the basic functions served up, drinks machines outside. A great one-night stop over if you've just robbed a bank, and I really did feel compelled to hire a downtown hooker to complete the effect! ;o) (PS I didn't, so please don't think that I did!

 

Getting into central NY (eg Manhattan) wasn't too bad, approximately around 1hr 30mins. A few people have suggested getting a cab to Great Neck railway station, which takes you to the Metro at Penn Station. No need ??“ Manhasset railway is literally a 7 or 8mins walk round the corner and on the same line. The other way to get into town is by getting the bus to Flushing and taking the Metro from there. Personally, I'd recommend that for the first trip in as it's quite scenic.

 

Oh ??“ and someone should ask Americans why they design their toilet bowls so low and wide, filling them so close to the rim with water. If you ever see an American walking round with a wet arse, you'll know why!

 

The Procedure:

 

The important bit!

 

After a Thursday of taking in Central Park, Chinatown et al, walking literally 100s of miles, and worrying about my HT cash stashed in my motel room, I made it down to Fellers on Friday morning for the day of the procedure. And I'm pleased to say, it all went spectacularly well!

 

Dr Feller looked at the hairline originally proposed for my frontal region, following the London consultation back in spring. However, he then tried a flatter more fuller hairline, which we both decided would give a far better end result. I've been very fortunate that, having first started losing my hair when I was just 18, I've since managed to retain the vast majority of my hair, only really losing the hairline (I'm 29 now). This meant that Feller would primarily only really be working on bald skin, as the hair behind the hairline is reasonably stable and thick, and allowed him to be perhaps a little more ambitious with the hairline. A good reason perhaps not to rush into an HT too early, so that you have a better idea of future hairloss.

 

However, combating my luckiness is the fact that I have naturally super fine and soft hair. This ultimately meant that Feller would have to go super dense with the transplanted hair ??“ hell, I get bald patches where I'm not losing my hair, such is the fine-ness of the stuff!

 

The Fun Stuff:

 

After agreeing on the hairline, it was time for the procedure and the ??pain'. The first injections you'll get are along the back of your head, which while uncomfortable and will make your eyes water, are not too bad. They're like wasp stings, and after a few, your head does start to get numb, so the rest don't hurt so much.

 

Once all that is done, and the donor area is subsequently removed, it's time for the next bunch of injections in the recipient area, for me along the hairline. The ones taking place near the temples probably hurt the most, while the central ones, are not too bad at all. Once that's all done, you can just doze in the chair while the good doc puts the slits in preparation for your transplanted hair, which are performed by his highly accomplished and friendly technicians.

 

To be honest, Dr Feller and his staff are so friendly, chatty, enthusiastic and encouraging, that there really is so little to worry about. Personally, I probably felt the most discomfort in the last hour or so ??“ kind of a dull headache pain, like knuckles being pressed into my temples. But it was over long before I felt I might need to leap up, scream and jump out of the window in some kind of pain-defying act of salvation

 

The Hairline:

 

When I saw the results and the density of my new hairline, I was overwhelmed. I'd literally been given a hairline probably pretty close to the one I had when I was about 18. Dr Feller was extremely thrilled with his work, but not as thrilled as I was! Unfortunately, I don't think the post-op pics quite give a true indication of the results ??“ the injections had given immediate rise to some swelling on the top of my forehead, which distorted and elongated the shape of my head. I do have a naturally high forehead, but in the pics I probably look like a Mekon who's just headbutted the doorway!

 

Post-Op:

 

After the op, I went back to the Royal Inn, and popped a Vicodin that Feller had given me. Fortunately, I never got any post-op pain at all, and that proved to be the first and last painkiller I took. In fact, I actually felt very nauseous and restless on Friday night (kind of like a fever without the fever), which could easily have been a reaction to the pill, or more likely, a shock reaction to the surgery. But by Saturday late morning, that had subsided, and I even mustered the energy to go down to Coney Island for the day. However, that I regretted cos it took me nearly 3 hours to get there, and the island was quite disappointing in that it felt a bit quiet and rundown down there.

 

As for other post-op experiences, my donor area has been itching madly ever since. The flight on the way home was a nightmare! I think the first time I got to wash my hair by gently pouring a cup of water over my head felt even better than the first time I had my first ??“ no, let's not go there

 

So...

 

All in all, I'm over the moon with everything and I can't thank Dr Feller, his staff, and Spex enough for all the work, advice and help I've been given. And also, all the guys on the forums too, such as PB, Beachboy, Stevo, 1664, BadHairUK and everyone else for their invaluable tips and assurances. Great stuff. Really appreciated.

 

I think for anyone losing their hair, going to Spex (who like Dr Feller, is an absolute top bloke) is the first thing to do ??“ can't recommend it highly enough.

 

The only downside to everything is trying to convince someone like my mum of why I went through with it. I kept knowledge of my HT down to an absolute bare minimum, and if I could've got away with telling my mother, I would have. My mother still views the HT as a vanity thing, and it's near-impossible to explain the psychological implications and backbone to hairloss. She's happy that I'm happy, but unless you have first-hand experience, I don't think everyone can fully understand and appreciate the effects on your life that hairloss can have. I don't really want to be made to feel guilty or a bit crap for going through with something that will almost certainly have a truly massive positive effect on my life, and something that has caused me huge distress throughout my 20s. But to be fair, she's not been too bad ??“ we've just agreed not to talk about anymore, which can only be a good thing.

 

Anyway, I've waffled on way too much! I'll size up my pics and get ??em posted as soon as I can!

 

Cheers guys, Dr Feller and Spex and once again ??“ thanks for all the help!

[PLEASE GROW PLEASE]

LOOKS REAL NICE

[dazza uk]

Looks great mate

[balody]

good informative post fellow londoner,congrats.oh and about that hooker..thousands of miles from home,alone,belt full of cash.....yeah right

[balody]

oh and the sideburns look fine,these yanks got no style

[steveyd]

Cheers for the comments guys!

 

But lose my sideburns??? How about you grow a pair to match mine?

 

Dunno about being the only white guy in Coney Island, more like the only guy. Where was everybody? Beautiful sunny day, lovely sandy beach...place was deserted. Even the Warriors didn't come out to play. I thought the place was a popular destination

 

Might have to take you up on the offer of those Great Neck hookers next time...

 

Oh - and I forgot - the highlight of the trip: night of the op, lying in bed, and all-time '80s comedy classic 'Major League' being shown on cable. Bag of munchies, I was in heaven...

[Bill - Seemiller]

Michael,

 

I know you like to make jokes, but I will not tolerate racist comments in our forum community as they are offensive.

 

I have modified your above post.

 

Please be careful!

 

Stevewd,

 

Congratulations on your recent HT and for selecting a first-rate hair restoration physician. Your immediately post op looks terrific!

 

Heal and grow well!

 

Bill

[steveyd]

Hey guys, just thought I'd give this a little bump to let you know of my progress. I'm 6 weeks post-op now, and everything's healed nicely. I don't think I've quite shed all the grafts yet - it's hard to tell. Some in the centre is my hair which was buzzed down, and I think there's a couple of the new hairs which have already poked through. Scar at the back still itches slightly.

 

I've also grown my hair fairly long on top, which styles reasonably easy over the recipient area. So really I am just kinda getting on with life, not even thinking about the HT. Guess that's the way it should be!

 

Was planning to post some pics at the 3month stage, but may do some earlier.

[Bill - Seemiller]

Steve,

 

Thanks for the update. AT just under 1 month post op - I imagine some of the grafts are still holding in. Most likely they will shed.

 

I'm glad you are not thinking too much about your hair at this point. You have some time before the hair starts to regrow so you have the right perspective.

 

Keep us posted on your progress,

 

Bill

[gazzasgoin2]

Hi Steve, the work looks really good and it looks like you have a thick head of hair behind the new hairline. You should be happy for a long time.

[steveyd]

Cheers for the comments guys