Updated: 3683 grafts-Dr.Rahal at the 19th of July

[Baboon]

Hello, I am long time lurker on a another site, mostly been here and read commets. Anyways four years of hesitation has finally come to an end. On Thursday l am getting surgery with Dr.Rahal. l am hoping to get around 4500-5000 grasfts out this strip surgery.

 

 

 

[Baboon]

Hello, I am long time lurker on a another site, mostly been here and read commets. Anyways four years of hesitation has finally come to an end. On Thursday l am getting surgery with Dr.Rahal. l am hoping to get around 4500-5000 grasfts out this strip surgery.

 

 

 

[NervousNelly]

Baboon,

 

Good luck on the upcoming surgery. You'll be in great hands with Rahal. I have 2 questions for you:

 

1. It appears like you have had previous work done. Is that accurate? If so, by whom and when, how much, etc. If not--oops, but it does look like it with the posted photos.

 

2. Did Dr. Rahal suggest 4500-5000 grafts because it seems like a lot for your hairloss pattern? I am always of the belief that you might as well start with a number that will give you some good results because you can always add more. Why do 5000 if you'll be happy with 3000? Know what I'm saying? It could save you a lot of jack.

 

Take care,

 

NN

[Baboon]

Hi NeverousNelly,

 

Yes, l have had a previous strip surgery of 2000 grafts at a clinic called New Hair Clinic. The design and angulation of the hairs in the hairline isn't that natural, but the scar i small.

 

Actually l have consulted with Dr.Armani and Dr. Hasson also and they all qouted me in that range. But l know that the photos makes it show worse than it really is. But the thing is that due to the large area which needs to be treated, l don't think you can overplant in such area. I have stabilzed my hairloss with proscar which l have used for more than four years. I think you could easily used up 3000-4000 grafts only for the hairline and then another 1000 for the area behind. But we'll se what Dr.Rahal says when he see's me in person. I thrust he's etics but l think those numbers are qute resonable. Thank you!

[pushing 40]

With that number of grafts and a surgeon like Dr. Rahal, you'll most assuredly come out of this VERY happy. Your wavy, thick looking hair characteristics should prove really beneficial. As stated, its pretty obvious you had sub par work performed previously; sorry about that. But, again, I think you're going to end up looking fantastic. Good luck and thanks for sharing; it really helps folks out when you share!

[NervousNelly]

Baboon,

 

Whatever the final tally of Fu, you'll look great as Dr. Rahal does excellent work. What I have found with him is that he seems to be the master of creating illusion of density with less grafts. Maybe it is just the photos that I have seen but it seems the case. I would estimate that he'll opt for under 3500 with you if what I see is accurate in the photos. I guess though it all depends on your goals. If you told him this is to be your last and final HT he might push the envelope. I have been wrong once before though so I guess we'll find out in a few days. Good luck.

 

NN

[nobuzz4me]

Baboon,

 

Good luck with the surgery - you have chosen a great doc. Like Nervous Nelly, my hairdar was up and spotted your previous work. It is not that bad, its just that those of us who had HT's are ultra-sensitiv with checking out hairlines.

 

Your donor looks thick and wth your hair type, you will be a showcase patient for Rahal. Keep us posted.

[Bill - Seemiller]

Baboon,

 

You have selected a fine surgeon.

 

You've already answered my question about the previous HT...I agree that the hairline appears a bit pluggy. Dr. Rahal will be able to fix you up nicely.

 

I hope you'll post your experience and pictures for us.

 

Cheers,

 

Bill

[Baboon]

Pushing40, Thank you, yes l agree the previous works was/is really a disaster. I look forward to getting it fixed.

 

NervousNelly, We'll see what Dr.Rahal says when l see's him in person. He and the other doctors has baed those number on these pictures. Anyways i think ti will bre great work! Yes he seems to be able use smaller amount than the others.

 

Nobuzz4me, I think if l didnt had anything done and would had given proscar that time before l had the work my crown would been an issue today, Thank you for your commet!

 

Bill,

Yes, l thinks he's the best actually when it comes to natural, dense hairlines and also producing small scars. I will for sure post reguraly photos of my progress.

[HTinthefuture]

Originally posted by Baboon:

Pushing40, Thank you, yes l agree the previous works was/is really a disaster. I look forward to getting it fixed.

 

NervousNelly, We'll see what Dr.Rahal says when l see's him in person. He and the other doctors has baed those number on these pictures. Anyways i think ti will bre great work! Yes he seems to be able use smaller amount than the others.

 

Nobuzz4me, I think if l didnt had anything done and would had given proscar that time before l had the work my crown would been an issue today, Thank you for your commet!

 

Bill,

Yes, l thinks he's the best actually when it comes to natural, dense hairlines and also producing small scars. I will for sure post reguraly photos of my progress.

 

good luck and keep us posted as to the results and progress. Like you, I am thinking of one in the future (year or two) with Rahal. He seems to do very good work.

[Baboon]

Hello everybody,

 

Just got back from Dr.Rahal where we managed to get 3683 grafts. I took the flight to Ottawa and landed at 16:50 the day before surgery. The customs asked what the purposes for my visit and l showed them the letter of invitation that Dr.Rahal had written and all was good. This was the first time l went through the Canadian customs so that was a surprise with all the questions but it was no problem. I gave Dr.Rahal a call that l had arrived and checked in to the hotel. Dr.Rahal was done with today's surgery so he came and picked me up at the hotel. Almost directly after l started to speak with Rahal felt l that he was a very good guy. He was very friendly and open, all my nervousness disappeared immediately. He showed me where the clinic was so l would get there in time the next morning, some fast food restaurants and some shopping malls. I think it was great of the good doctor to meet up. I felt relaxed knowing all things were in place.

 

At the morning 7:15 I went to the clinic and met up with Adrian, Dr.Rahal's patient coordinator, which gave me a smile as soon as l walked through the door. Adrian is also a great guy, we sated down and chatted about things and went through the various forms that has to be filled out. I then meet with Dr.Rahal again, he almost directly started draw a hairline on my head. I think he adjusted my hairline almost 5 or six time to get it perfect. As you can see in photos l had previously approx 2000 mini grafts from a clinic called New Hair Clinic. It's quite obvious what sub par work they did, especially if you look at the hairline design which somewhat strange. I had some two and three hairs from the last surgery which we discussed if would keep or remove them. We agreed to keep them and see how it looks when hair has grown in. I then meet the rest of team, Dave, Fiona, Amy, Barbara and Linda to name a few of staff (they are more but l can't remember of their names are. sorry..=)). They were in total more than twelve people working with only my case, which is quite impressing.

 

At approx 9:00 we got started with the surgery and Dr.Rahal started to shave some of donor area to be able to cut out the strip. Then there was the best part NUMBING SHOTS, WHEEYAA!!! I remember the last time l had surgery the numbing shot hurted as hell and was then quite drugged as well. This time it was more of a bee sticking; it was a lot better than what l remember last time. Dr.Rahal commented on how good my scalp elastic was. It was as soft as cutting in butter he said. I started quite early doing the scalp exercises which sure helped a lot!! So, do you scalp exercises a couple of times a day if you are going to have strip surgery, because it makes a lot difference.

 

The technicians started to dissect the strip and in the mean time Dr.Rahal started making the slits. Dr.Rahal planted at 70 grafts/cm2 at the hairline and the dropping off as went towards the middle of my head. We hoped to get 4000 grafts but since my density in donor area is average and l had a scar from the previous surgery l were pleased that we got anyway 3683 grafts! We decide to plant them all at the front third of the scalp instead of sprinkling some grafts at the crown. I'll come back at a later date to fix the crown. We later decide it would be better to punch out some of the old two and three graft and to higher the hairline for more natural design. We'll see how that looks when the hair has grown in, perhaps l have to remove some more of the old grafts. The punched out grafts were then dissected and replanted.

 

All of the technicians were very friendly and chatty. We talked about everything from how Canada is divided into two parts based on which language they speak, what the average house cost in Canada is and so on. The time really flied by and at 6:30 the surgery was done! I felt great that surgery was done. It wasn't too bad since I had couple of brakes during the day, whenever l felt to. My neck got rather stiff at the end so we took some short brakes to adjust the chair.

After l got a surgical cap on the good doctor drove me to a Thai place for some food, you get some food during the day but you are somehow hungry even you just have laid still in a chair. He then drove me to the hotel. I had my surgery on Thursday and for every of the following days, even on Saturday and Sunday Dr.Rahal checked upon me, either gave me a call or came and picked me up. I felt that l was in very safe hands; l always had Dr.Rahal cellular phone number if there should have been any problems. The aftercare and the support l got was of world class, me and Dr.Rahal had lengthy talks about his view of placement technique. All my questions were answered without any rejections.

 

Again time flied by and whoops it was Monday and it was time for me to go home. I spend quite some time at Dr.Rahals office since my flight were was at 18:35 and l had to check out from the hotel at 12. I got the chance to meet two of Dr.Rahals patients, one guy which were 8 months post op. He had a great density in the hairline already at only 8 months. If my result turns out was good as him l will be very happy. Then there were a guy who was at 1.5 year post op he had also a great result but his density was little to small for my taste but again the design of the hairline was marvellous! Also it was impossible to find his scar, usually you can find small patches in the donor area where you can see that something was done, but in this case it wasn't possible! Even Dr.Rahal had a hard time finding his scar; during the time l was there he didn't manage to find it for me!

 

It was time for me to go home, but it felt sad since everybody was so nice, l whish l stayed a few extra days and visited some parts of the town, l will do that next time l go in.

 

One of Dr.Rahals staff drove me to the airport made sure that got in to the right check in desk. I went through security check and they didn't ask me to remove my hat, if they did Dr.Rahal had prepared a certificate to handle such inquires. I was in waiting hall when l suddenly remembered it was time to apply some more Vitamin E oil to my grafted area, unfortunately l hade put all of that in my bag. I called Dr.Rahal which thought it would be best to apply some since l had a 16 hours flight home. I then went back to the check in desk where one of Dr.Rahals staff had dropped me off. Shortly after my conversation with Dr.Rahal, she was there again and she had brought with her a bottle of vitamin E oil. To get one of your staff to deliver just a bottle of vitamin E oil speaks volume of which level of care Dr.Rahal and all of his staff put in to make you feel comfortable.

 

Thank you Dr.Rahal and all of you staff it was truly a pleasure meeting you all. It feels that the five years that l have spend researching has finally paid off!! Now the waiting time begins, l will try to make regular updates as my hair progress down the road.

 

I have updatated my gallery with pics!

 

/Baboon

[Bill - Seemiller]

Baboon,

 

Thanks for sharing your experience.

 

Dr. Rahal is a class act. 3683 grafts in the frontal area will give you some very nice results!

 

Keep us posted on your progress.

 

Bill

[Baboon]

Bill,

Thanks alot! Yes, l agree Dr.Rahal is a fine surgeon. I didn't reliaze how bad to old work was until l saw the post op pictures that Dr.Rahal took in his office. The left side was really pluggy and unnatrual. Luckly l found Dr.Rahal who did a great job fixing it. Hopefully the front thrid are done now and l can concentrate on the crown next time. I will keep you guys poste for sure!

[NervousNelly]

It's amazing looking work once again. I'm glad for you.

 

Pictures can be deceiving as your earlier photos didn't display the poor prior HT results that you had. This will definitely make for a much anticipated improvement. Good luck with the healing.

 

NN

[nobuzz4me]

Congrats on the procedure which will give you a natural hairline back! Dr. Rahal seems to be top notch, did he touch your old scars from before in the donor or strip a virgin area?

[Baboon]

NN,

 

Thank you, yes there was a need for that amount of grafts if you what l mean..

 

Nobuzz,

 

Thanks,

 

Yes, Dr.Rahal cut out the old scar and at same time managed to get over 3600 grafts which l thinks is really good. We'll see, maybe l go back next year to remove some more of the old grafts.

[Mp96]

DO you have pics?

[Baboon]

Hey fellas,

 

I have updated my gallery with 3,5 weeks progress photos. Check them out and tell me what you think

 

Baboon

[Bill - Seemiller]

Baboon,

 

Everything appears normal for 5 weeks post op. I noticed your other thread stated that you see new hairs popping? I won't say it's impossible, but it's more likely that what you are seeing is the tip of a hair that broke off it's follicle (this is normal). I say this only because you are still in the normal shedding phase.

 

That being said...if you are experiencing early growth...hallelujiah! But the ride has only just begun. Most likely you will have to wait a few more months before you see any real activity going on.

 

Keep us posted my friend,

 

Bill

[Baboon]

Bill,

 

Yes, perhaps its to eraly to be growth already, but l have kept a great deal of the new hair. Either way it sure does look promising. Thank you and l will keep you posted

 

Baboon

[NervousNelly]

Baboon,

 

Things look great. Hopefully you are one of the lucky ones that does hold on to the little suckers. Good luck.

 

NN

[kg007]

Looks neat. What was the reason you chose Dr. Rahal over Dr. Hasson and Dr. Armani?

[Baboon]

NN,

 

Thank you for your kind comments, yes l sure hope that l keep most of the grafts.

 

Kg007,

 

I think they all three of them are good strip surgeons. Dr.Armani is sometimes too aggressive and unetichal in his thinking. Dr.Hasson doesn'r produce in my mindset that narual hairlines. I think Dr.Rahal does the best hairlines in terms of naturalness which was my most prominent goal. As a bonus he's the cheapest..

[kg007]

Well it looks pretty good and dense. Happy growing!