Updated Photos of NervousNelly

[Bill - Seemiller]

NN,

 

Good luck my brother...you will be in good hands. I hope you get a chance to meet up with B Spot. I wish I could be there to offer my encouragement as well.

 

I look forward to reading a detailed report and seeing some post op photos.

 

I encourage you also to consider creating a hair loss weblog.

 

Bill

[NervousNelly]

Hey Everyone,

 

Finally done. Had the surgery today with Dr. Ron Shapiro. Things went very well. We ended up getting appox. 2900 fu. Slighly less than planned for but he was also able to excise a lot of an old scar from previous work(with other doc 17 yrs ago) and this limited the graft count because it was a bad scar. Moreover, all grafts were placed in frontal zone which is what I wanted so I am stoked about that since it is quite dense packed and with my native hair should be super. So far I am extremely happy about the way things went and have nothing but good things to say about the staff. Special thanks to all that helped me out. I am going to have my wife snap a few photos and try to post shortly for you guys/gals. Also I will answer any questions that you might have. Hair count was given to me but I can't remember. Will get in future the exact breakdown but it was around 5800 I believe.

 

I do have to say that it is amazing what goes on there. Believe it or not there were 10 staff cutting the grafts and then had 3 placing and occasionally rotating. Far cry from some of the stories I have heard from other clinics. Even Matt Zupan their consultant came in to check on me several times. Finally did get a chance to meet Janna and she is super sweet and a real looker. I'm married but still can look and sorry guys she is married also.

 

If you have never met Dr. Shapiro you should. He is a very down to earth guy and quite interesting and willing to talk or show you anything you'd like along the process. It is very easy to tell that he has a true passion about what it is he is doing. He took a long time while figuring on the hairline and placement and several times stopped to keep checking it out. He spent a good deal of time at the end with the stick and place but he definitely is integrally apart of the entire process.

 

I don't currently have any pain but feel super tight everywhere. I expected that and know it is normal.

 

Kind of tired and need some sleep. Check out the new photos.

 

Take care all.

 

NN

[rp1979]

Wow, you finally did it, NervousNelly. Looks great!

 

Why did you decide to shave only a certain part of the recipient? How long did your surgery take and do you know how long was your strip? Curious to know.

 

Anyways, Thanks for sharing. Heal well.

 

Originally posted by NervousNelly:

Finally did get a chance to meet Janna and she is super sweet and a real looker. I'm married but still can look and sorry guys she is married also.

 

[NervousNelly]

rp1979,

 

Thanks for the comments. I chose to only shave a certain area of the recipient site because for the work that I needed, it was the most crucial and now I have a little hair to comb back and hide the work when I go back to the office in 10 days.(especially with the use of toppik or maderma.) Dr. Shapiro was very confident that he could easily do all that he wanted because of the high magnification loops that he wears. It is quite dense packed considering he left some native hair. The strip was 29 cm but as I said, approx 9 or so was old scar that he eliminated. I was stoked about that even though it lessened the hair count. He told me that had it not have been for the scar he would likely have gotten 3500fu.

 

NN

[NervousNelly]

I just wanted to add that I have always thought of this as a likely 2 step process, so I can alsways add to the hairline as needed and then concentrate on the crown and mid scalp more. Dr. Shapiro was very confident that I definitely have another large session in me and possible a 3rd.

 

NN

[PowerRanger]

Hi NervousNelly!!! It's PowerRanger! Do you remember me? I just got back from a long contracting assignment and have a couple of days off and I decide to come back to forum and check things out. I just saw your photos. It looks very clean eventhough I was squeemish since I don't like to see blood and cuts.

 

Wow I have all these questions to ask you about your experience and surgery with Dr. Shapiro I honestly don't know where to begin...

 

Anyways... I'm taking your advice and researching the hell out of everything. I guess the first question I want to ask is about shaving the transplanted area.. Well.. when you say loop magnification is that the "flat" longated eye-glass looking things like what electronic technicians use when they soder tiny semiconductors onto circuit boards?... or are they the binocular type things?

 

Do you know how much the loop magnifies? I mean I'm debating right now if shaving is best. I guess in theory Dr. Shapiro could have done the whole thing without shaving right? And I assume that you don't want to shave is because you don't want people to know you had a HT?

 

Anyways... it's late now but I have more questions to ask you about your experience if you don't mind.

 

Thank you again for everything and for helping me out. I wish all the best and talk to you again soon.

 

PowerRanger

[the B spot]

You get some sleep buddy!!!!!

 

I will talk to you tomorrow!!!!!

 

I am very happy for you--- I know your going to very happy with the way things turn out.

 

I'll call you tomorrow sometime---- but for now---- GO TO SLEEP BUDDY!!!!!!!!

 

J

[NervousNelly]

Power Ranger,

 

Ofcourse I remember you. I am very happy for you that you got your money back and now have some time to spend researching things a little better. There truly is a difference between the surgeons and when it comes to cosmetic surgery, you owe it to yourself to go to one of the elite. Why not? They cost essentially the same as the lesser docs and you will have to live with the results the rest of your life. Now I'm not going to be "raw, raw Shapiro" quite yet until I see the final results a year or so from now but it was a very good experience and the work is definitely refined.

 

Yes, I have chosen not to shave the entire reciepient area but might have if Dr. Shapiro insisted. He was very open to discussing things and felt that it was not necessary in my case. He did like the concept of shaving the central core because my hair was thinner in this area anyways and it was a major area of focus. He dense packed that area quite extensively. It will limit the see thru look. Even at this stage (immediate post op) you can't tell that I had previous work and do not see any evidence of old plugginess. That is remarkable really.

 

The reason for my decision not to shave was ofcourse so that I can return to work in 10 days unnoticeable. Other than my wife I didn't tell anyone. However, my sweet wife is not a good liar and fessed up to her mother about our road trip when she got a couple questions. That probably means my father in law will find out, then my sister in law and from there...everyone. LOL. So is life. No big deal. I have in the past stated that I will be open about my results if they turn out good. I would like to elliminate the negative stigma around HT's. Don't be surprise to see a full face shot some day. Might not show my physique like Bill as I don't have near the muscle. LOL

 

The loops that I am referring to are both types. Primarily I believe that Dr. Shapiro was wearing the binocular type with I believe as high as 10x magnification, but he was changing what he was wearing a couple of times. He is a perfectionist. The ladies doing the implants themselves wore more of a flat type lens.

 

Feel free to ask as many questions as you need to as this is what you should be doing prior to jumping into things again. We may not be able to bail you out more than once. Just kidding my friend.

 

 

 

Bspot,

 

You are a great support system buddy. For all of you other posters, B spot and I tried to hook up on my journey out to Minneapolis from Michigan. He was only 10 minutes off the highway and even offered to meet at 11:00 PM (after the Bears game ofcourse--"the Bears"). Due to a combination of my wife feeling it necessary to deposit some money at a local casino and Bspot being in an area where his cell wouldn't pick up, it didn't happen, but what a gesture that was..I truly appreciate your willingness to help me. We got to chat for several minutes and it was comforting to know that I was being reassured of my decision and to have a friend (whom I've never met) be so kind and helpful. Thanks a tonne B and I truly appreciate everything that you have helped me with along this arduous journey. Yes I do hope to talk to you tomorrow.

 

 

NN

 

P.S. For those noticing, yes it is just after 4:00 AM and I am posting because I couldn't sleep. Not due to pain at all, but I had the hiccups (probably due to the fact that I didn't hydrate yesterday like normal since I didn't want to have to keep getting out of the chair during surgery. So far only 1/2 vicadin as pain is minimal at best. Hope that continues.

[Guest]

Nervous Nelly, I have watched your journey since i became a member.

 

You took your time, did your research, asked questions, answered questions & helped many along the way!

 

Now that it is done, you can sit back & relax & wait for what is yet to come.

 

And try not to drive your wife crazy with every hair that comes in like I do! : )

 

Although now that I am closing in on 4 months, she is the one staring at my new hairline with amazement!

 

Very very exciting!

 

As I had said before Shapairo is a good choice of surgeon & the work looks clean & dense.

 

Happy growing Nervouse Nelly, Your a good man & you deserve it!

 

Regards,

[MrJobi]

All aboard the waiting train!!!!

 

One seat in the back for the patient fomerly known as Nervous Nelly!!!

 

Cheers mate!!!

[irish homer]

all the best NN. Hope you become a hairy beast

IH

[NervousNelly]

Thanks guys for the comments. Today after my 1st washing things even look that much better. Essentially no redness and if it wasn't sunny I could go without a hat. How cool. Great stuff.

 

NN

[PowerRanger]

Hi NervousNelly! How are you feeling today?

 

I forgot to congratulate in my post since I was so excited for you. So Congratulations!

 

I wanted to ask how are you sleeping at night? Is it ok to sleep on the donor closure? If you get grafts put on the temples are you allowed to sleep on the side of your face? The thing I am potentially worried about is that I tend to roll around ALOT while I sleep, which I take is probably not a good thing when you got a transplant, is that correct? How am I suppose to overcome this?

 

Also are you allowed to wear a bicycle helmet after a transplant?

 

Oh yes... are you allowed to drink light beer after a transplant?

 

And when you are taking a shower and pouring water over the transplant hair, can that water be soapy water to clean the scalp a bit better?

 

Thank you very much again! Hope you are feeling well.

 

 

 

Hi FOLICA, how are you doing? Thanks again!!

 

 

 

-PowerRanger

[Mp96]

Congratulations Not so Nervous!!! Happy growing and goodluck to you!!

[Bill - Seemiller]

NN,

 

So you finally did it!!! Congratulations man! Your immediately post op results look great!

 

That's pretty awesome that B Spot was able to be there to support you as well - I'm sure that made the experience even better knowing you had a comrade in arms there with you, especially one who is very knowledgeable and who has been through the hoop a few times.

 

Kudos to you B Spot for being such a support system!

 

I only wish I could have been there as well!

 

But my heart and soul was with you buddy...that's what counts right?

 

Healing is your next order of business followed by waiting...seemingly endless waiting!

 

Keep us posted bro.

 

Bill

[Guest]

Hi FOLICA, how are you doing? Thanks again!!

 

 

 

-PowerRanger

 

PowerRanger, I am great thanks for asking!

Glad to see you are back!

 

I'll try to answer a couple of your qustions since I am almost 4 months post op.

 

1) It is a little difficult to sleep on the donor area at least until the stitches or staples are out. No one said this was easy, it can be very uncomfortable for a while.

One of the prices you pay when you get a hairtransplant.

You will half to endure a couple of weeks of this.

 

2) Bicycle helmet is probably not ok for awile. When the grafts are fresh there is a chance of pulling them out when putting on or taking off a tight fitting helmet.

Also there will probably be some swelling of the donor area & it may take weeks before your helmet will fit again.

 

3) Drinking beer, Most doctors recommend that you don't drink alcohol for a week or so. Probably because it thins your blood & may cause bleeding of the recipient area.

I for one broke that rule & had a beer from day 1 on with no problem's.

But then again go with what the Doctor tell s you.

 

 

4) Soapy water is good from day 2 on at least twice a day in the donor area. just put a liitle mild shampoo in a cup and mix it with

water & dump it over your head.

 

Any more questions just ask,

 

Nice to have you aboard PowerRanger!

[NervousNelly]

For those of you looking for the numbers of everything:

 

Total graft count 2862

Total hairs 5495

 

 

1hairs--916

2hairs--1349

3hairs--507

4hairs--90

 

 

Recipient area is estimated at 65-70cm2

Therefore density planted is approx. 40-45FU/cm2

Estimated frontal 1/3rd density with native hair and old work should be 55-65FU/cm2

 

Total length of strip was 28cm

Total width of strip was 1.2cm

Total length of old scar removed 8cm

Approx. width of scar removed .5cm

 

I believe that the total time of the surgery was just over 8 hours.

 

 

Estimated grafts left 4000-5000. He was quite confident in these figures.

[Bill - Seemiller]

NN,

 

Thanks for providing the graft/hair count breakdown!

 

You are going to look great!

 

Bill

[Gorpy]

NN,

As expected, it is great looking work. This will work really well for you.

I'm excited for you bud!

[NervousNelly]

Thanks for the kind words and support Bill,Gorp, Mp96, Folica and Power Ranger.

 

Has anyone else ever experienced hiccups as a side effect? I wake up 2-3 times a night so far because of having hiccups. They are nothing major but just a little annoying. Dr. Shapiro stated that in approx. 1-2% of people get them and it is believed that it might be the tightening of the scalp has an effect on the phrenic nerve which controls the diaphragm and leads to hiccups. This is a very minor issue and actually has lessened already but just curious?

 

Essentially pain free however with just a little tightness. Have gone out a couple of times without hat already. Being tall helps too though, but the redness really is not a factor anymore. Pretty cool.

 

NN

[Janna]

NN,

 

You've made it home safely, great. It was very good to meet you and work on you. You were an excellent patient (also one of the nicest guys around!).

 

I hope you have the time to update your post op pictures soon. Your immediate post op pics look a little redder than what I'm used to seeing.

 

I know you'll do a wonder job of documenting your progress. I'll be sure to follow along with your journey. Best of luck from all of us here at SMG!!!

[NervousNelly]

Janna,

 

Thanks so much. As I am trying to document everything as accurately as possible for the benefit of all readers I did wonder about the immediate post op pics and should I post. So that all is clear, the redness truly diminished the very next day. We went late with the surgery and my wife took photo after I was moving around a lot. Possibly because of the amount of brain tissue that I possess, there is also more blood flow to the area? I'll go with this.

 

I will get some new photos up soon. There is almost no redness and besides fear of the sun, I could go without a hat. I'm impressed with how quickly that happened.

 

NN

[Bill - Seemiller]

NN,

 

Hiccups are a rare side effect as Dr. Shapiro has shared with you. I personally did not get them. Did you try drinking water upside down to get rid of them? . Just don't try standing on your head .

 

Glad to know you are recovering well.

 

Bill

[NervousNelly]

You couldn't resist could you Bill. LOL No inversion table for awhile as I am trying to be a good patient and heal well.

 

I have actually not done much. I can't understand how they say that some people can go back to work the next day. I suppose if you sit on your ass in a private room and do very little. As a Chiropractor I couldn't imagine doing what I do any sooner than the 10 days I have scheduled off. I mean I feel great and could do it if I had to but I would be concerned of aggrevating things and not healing well. Good thing I didn't plan this around a ski trip as initially thought.

 

 

NN

[Guest]

NN, Going back to work the next day would be crazy!

I did mine on a Thursday & went back to work on Monday.

 

Your job would be especially difficult trying to minipulate people's bodies while having a swollen forehead & swollen donor area during the first 5 days or so.

 

So the 10 days you took off is optimal!

 

Happy Growing!