female transplant with Dr. Charles

[Carol]

I am a 47 year old female with a family history (older sister and mother) of thinning hair. I have been wearing a hair club system for the past year. I decided it would be less expensive to have a hair transplant than to be paying them indefinitely. I did some research and could not find a surgeon on the west coast of Florida where I live. I decided to go with Dr. Charles in Boca Raton. I emailed him my photos and he called me that same evening. He answered all my questions and explained all the possible results.

On the day of the procedure, Dr. Charles sat down with me and we discussed what exactly I wanted to achieve and how many grafts he felt could do it. He did not try to oversell me and I decided on his recommendation of 1500 grafts. I have a decent hair line so I just needed an overall filling in.

Dr. Charles had given me some valium to relax me and by the time the procedure began I was ready to take a nap. They also had me choose some movies to watch during the procedure.

The procedure began about 10:30 and by 12:30, Dr. Charles had taken the donor tissue, sutured the donor area, placed the graft incisions and his staff had finished preparing the grafts. It was time for lunch.

At 1 PM the staff began placing the grafts and by 3 PM, they were done. The only thing I felt was some pin pricks at the start of the procedure when Dr. Charles administered the numbing medication.

Following the procedure, Dr. Charles explained the post surgical care as well as giving me the instructions in writing. He told me everything to expect over the next few days and they have all been accurate. I had some soreness around the donor site, and some numbness on the graft site (should diminish over time).

I had the procedure done on a Thursday so that I would have the weekend to recuperate (definitely recommend that). I went back to work on Monday, wearing my hair club hair piece (I had been wearing a hat up until then).

Now I have to just wait. Dr. Charles and his staff were highly competent, professional and friendly. I look forward to good results but won't really know for a few months. I will continue to post as things progress.

[Carol]

I am a 47 year old female with a family history (older sister and mother) of thinning hair. I have been wearing a hair club system for the past year. I decided it would be less expensive to have a hair transplant than to be paying them indefinitely. I did some research and could not find a surgeon on the west coast of Florida where I live. I decided to go with Dr. Charles in Boca Raton. I emailed him my photos and he called me that same evening. He answered all my questions and explained all the possible results.

On the day of the procedure, Dr. Charles sat down with me and we discussed what exactly I wanted to achieve and how many grafts he felt could do it. He did not try to oversell me and I decided on his recommendation of 1500 grafts. I have a decent hair line so I just needed an overall filling in.

Dr. Charles had given me some valium to relax me and by the time the procedure began I was ready to take a nap. They also had me choose some movies to watch during the procedure.

The procedure began about 10:30 and by 12:30, Dr. Charles had taken the donor tissue, sutured the donor area, placed the graft incisions and his staff had finished preparing the grafts. It was time for lunch.

At 1 PM the staff began placing the grafts and by 3 PM, they were done. The only thing I felt was some pin pricks at the start of the procedure when Dr. Charles administered the numbing medication.

Following the procedure, Dr. Charles explained the post surgical care as well as giving me the instructions in writing. He told me everything to expect over the next few days and they have all been accurate. I had some soreness around the donor site, and some numbness on the graft site (should diminish over time).

I had the procedure done on a Thursday so that I would have the weekend to recuperate (definitely recommend that). I went back to work on Monday, wearing my hair club hair piece (I had been wearing a hat up until then).

Now I have to just wait. Dr. Charles and his staff were highly competent, professional and friendly. I look forward to good results but won't really know for a few months. I will continue to post as things progress.

[tkotko]

Good luck Carol.....Dr Charles definitely is thorough and legitimately seems to care. I had my procedure with him several years ago. I'm sure the women who view this forum will be extremely interested in your progress....

[Guest]

Carol, I'm pulling for you 100%. Please keep us posted!

[angel706]

Congratulations, Carol! I certainly hope for good results for you. I had appx. 1500 grafts placed in the temple areas on 2/9, and at 5 1/2 months out am starting to see good results (my regrowth started sprouting at about 3 months, and is becoming more apparent as the weeks pass).

 

One concern I had after reading your post...what did your doc say about wearing the hair piece so soon after the transplant? Did you discuss it with him? I've heard different docs have different opinions about wearing them, particularly before all the scabs have healed. After all, you made a pretty big investment, you certainly want to treat it with care.

 

I hope you have great results and suffer minimal shock loss (you know we ladies have a greater tendency toward that in the first month or two). Best of luck to you as you enter the waiting period.

[Carol]

Angel, thanks for your concern. I specifically discussed this with Dr. Charles on my initial consultation and following the procedure. I had clips placed in the hair piece so that it attaches gently to my existing hair and I remove it in the evening. Since I was a hair club member, they had shaved my hair to adhere the hair piece. I only have what has regrown since my decision to have a hair transplant - about 2 months worth. I am a working professional and couldn't possibly go to work without wearing it. This was a critical issue for me. I am being very careful with placing it and taking it off whenever possible. Dr. Charles agreed that this shouldn't be a problem. I hope he's right. He has had other patients that have had similar issues.