Specific questions re: Dr. Scott Alexander

[DonnaB]

I am a woman who is undergoing hair restoration with the above doctor this coming week for scars post surgical complications... I am interested in anyone who has recently had a procedure at his facility particularly regarding discomfort,and how they break up and handle the entire lenghty day. They assure me that I will be comfortable-but I have both professional (I am a medical provider and have occasion to have to do painful procedures on pts that we have to just "talk them through") and personal experiences where I have been lied to about the level of discomfort and under anesthetized or under medicated. So, I am interested in hearing from others about their specific experience in that facility. There is a tendency that if you are a medical professional-they expect you to be able to handle more since you understand exactly what is happening. I find it be the opposite actually... If you do a procedure on someone and then have to have the same procdure--your mind goes to the patient who has tolerated it the worst-not the best and you wonder how you will do in comparison and feel a performance anxiety to be the best... I am traveling from out of town and will have a five hour drive home the next AM (passenger). I still have time to change this if consensus recommends.

[Gorpy]

Hi Donna,

While I have not had a procedure with Dr. Alexander, I can say that overall the procedure is pretty painless. The worst part is the injections for the anesthesia. After that takes effect, there is really no pain. They will give you more if you feel anything. The problem with the initial injections is that there are many of them all over the donar and recipient area. But once that is over you're home free.

 

I actually drove 2 hours home from my procedure the next day. Knowing I was driving, I didn't take any pain medication that next morning. The pain was minimal.

 

As far as breaking up the long day - generally you are on valium, which helps make you more comfortable with the LONG day sitting in the chair. Even though the chair, which is somewhat like a recliner, is comfortable, it is still difficult to sit that long. The valium helps with this. You can watch movies. You take restroom breaks, You get lunch brought to you, etc.

 

Hope that helps.

[tkerr22]

Hi Donna. I had a procedure with Dr.Alexander and I agree with gorpy on everything. The Dr. does have those new memory foam recliner chairs that was pretty comfortable, but you still need to get up and stretch every once and a while and the doc is always willing to give you time if you are feeling uncomfortable. The only pain was during the initial shots to the scalp to numb you, once that was done I drifted in and out of consciousness watching movies.

[DonnaB]

Thanks for your reply. However, you are calmer than I,if you drift off watching movies.I can't sit still for an hour -probably cause I have such a fast paced job and life. I hope he doesn't want to shoot me. -lol

[Gorpy]

Valium works wonders to change your attitude

[Bill - Seemiller]

Donna,

 

Welcome to the forums. What everyone else says above is correct, however, you know yourself better than anyone else and your physiology. I will tell you this, however...no matter which doctor you go to, your experience will be very similar. I will tell you that the most pain you will feel is when they are injecting the anesthetic into you with needles. You will be poked probably about 5-10 times or so in the donor area (sides and back of your head) and poked about 3-5 times in the forehead. Depending on how fast the anesthetic wears off, you may have to get a few more injections throughout the day increasing this number. There have been a couple times where my facial expression changed and made the sound of an "ow" when the injections were going into my head...but on a scale of 0-10, 0 being no pain at all, and 10 being the most excrutiating pain ever, I'd give the injections about a 1-3 depending upon the area. Some just simply pinch more than others. It's basically like getting a shot with a needle. If needles aren't your thing and you have a phobia of them, I recommend you rethink this.

 

They do test the areas to make sure you can't feel anything before they proceed removing the donor strip and before they start making inicisions in your scalp.

 

That being said...I'm like you...I can't STAND sitting for a long time, and I confess, there were times in the day I was uncomfortable. They do give you a lot of flexibility to readjust your position and stand up to take a break as well. You just have to warn them before you move...and you should be ok.

 

So that's the day of the procedure. I will tell you, however, that once you get home, to probably the completion of the next day will be the hardest part where you'll experience some throbbing and pain in the donor area...very minimal in the recipient area if any. Take the pain killers as recommended...they do help.

 

I hope this helps give you a relatively good idea of what you are getting yourself into.

 

Bill

[DonnaB]

Your reply sounds realistic to me. What about the discomfort of trying to sleep because I will have donor sites from upper temples to ears on both sides and the donor site in the back? That leaves my face? or drying to lie gingerly on the donor site?

[Gorpy]

You will want to sleep with your head elevated for the first 5 nights. This helps control the swelling. Prop yourself up with nice soft pillows. And yes, you sleep with your donar area (back of head) on the pillows. Sleeping was the only reason I ever took pain medication after the procedure. I would feel some soreness in back when I would rest my head on the pillow. The pain medication eliminated this pain. Sometime in the middle of the night, the medication would wear off and I'd wake up and have to take some more medication.

[Bill - Seemiller]

Donna,

 

Gorpy is right. Sleeping will be difficult the first 5 nights or so and it will be more difficult to get comfortable. I wouldn't call it painful per say...but certainly there will be some discomfort.

 

You will have to decide if new hair is worth about 5-10 days of this inconvenience. Personally, I chose the inconvienece (3 times actually) to look ultimately better than I did. But the choice is definitely yours and far be it from me to try to convince you or not. It's a personal choice.

 

Bill