Regular Member monkey Posted June 24, 2010 Regular Member Share Posted June 24, 2010 Been wondering about this. So I made the cardinal mistake of going out in the sun 10 days after surgery and getting a mild burn. 4 months out now and I don't know if I've fudged things up, but it got me thinking... why is sunburn bad? If the grafts are all secured, why should they be burned to death? Surely this would then mean it could happen to any hair folicles, even old ones? My Hairloss Website HT#1 - Dr Pathomvanich - 2900 Grafts HT#2 - Dr Pathomvanich - 1500 Grafts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Sparky Posted June 24, 2010 Senior Member Share Posted June 24, 2010 how is your hair at 4 months? My Hairloss Website http://www.hairtransplantnetwork.com/blog/home-page.asp?WebID=2198 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member monkey Posted June 24, 2010 Author Regular Member Share Posted June 24, 2010 TBH I don't know. I had evil shockloss after surgery, so the new growth I can feel could just be the shocked hair growing back. I guess I won't know until 8 months or so .... it's so annoying though, it was cloudy when I went out, so didn't take the hat - then once I'm out in the open, clouds clear and we're in 42 degrees sunshine Must have had 3 or so x 20 minute exposures ... My Hairloss Website HT#1 - Dr Pathomvanich - 2900 Grafts HT#2 - Dr Pathomvanich - 1500 Grafts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member EpilepticSceptic Posted June 24, 2010 Senior Member Share Posted June 24, 2010 Well, I wish you the best and hope you did no harm. IMO the immediate post-op period is likely the most crucial period that determines whether or not the grafts will survive. Some people have thicker, tougher grafts than others and so maybe for them it doesn't matter as much. I see so many guys getting the surgery and then flying in 3 different jet planes 3000-5000 miles the next day. To me this is just plain crazy! The grafts are still settling and have just been exposed to trauma, and now you are exposing them to the force of a jet airplane traveling at speeds the human body was never meant to endure. Not to mention the stress factor that you're putting your entire body thru doing this, instead of just resting up a few more nights in a hotel at the least. I spent 10 days post-op within driving distance to the clinic, just sleeping alot and eating very good, meditating, etc. I kept the hat on religiously when outside, pulling it up a little every now and then to get fresh air in there. I still keep it on religiously, and I'll be doing that for at least the next 4-5 months. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Sparky Posted June 24, 2010 Senior Member Share Posted June 24, 2010 flying makes absolutly no difference to the grafts, your hardly experiencing any g-force at all, I have way more g-force when I accerate in my car than in a plane. I do keep my hat on when its sunny though and always have it with me just in case. My Hairloss Website http://www.hairtransplantnetwork.com/blog/home-page.asp?WebID=2198 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member monkey Posted June 24, 2010 Author Regular Member Share Posted June 24, 2010 Hopefully being at the 10 day mark, I was at a "safer" point than if it had been earlier. It would suck so much if I did kill them all though - this is my second surgery. The first one was too sparse, so this was to "top it up" - if I come out looking exactly the same, but 1500 grafts down .... damn .... The only thing I have in my favour here is obviously it was within a previously transplanted area, so there was some other hair to give protection. It also wasn't a bad burn, obviously I couldn't feel my head, but my arms were a little "tight" rather than massively red and blistered. I would still like to know though why it's so important the first X weeks / months - what changes after this? My Hairloss Website HT#1 - Dr Pathomvanich - 2900 Grafts HT#2 - Dr Pathomvanich - 1500 Grafts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Glenn Charles Posted June 25, 2010 Share Posted June 25, 2010 You are most likely safe so long as you did not severly burn the scalp in the transplanted areas. Did the area that you burned retun to its normal color shortly after the exposure to the sun? Often the negetive effects of the sun have more to do with skin color and permanant redness than the transplanted follicles not growing. Dr. Glenn Charles is a member of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member monkey Posted June 25, 2010 Author Regular Member Share Posted June 25, 2010 Hi Dr Charles, Well my arms went back to normal colour a day later. My head I couldn't tell you, as it was still red from the surgery (that took about 3 months to clear!) I had found load of "I was burned but it seemed oks" ont he forum, but then one chap who said he did the same thing at 10 days and had zero growth! eek! My Hairloss Website HT#1 - Dr Pathomvanich - 2900 Grafts HT#2 - Dr Pathomvanich - 1500 Grafts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Louise Posted June 25, 2010 Senior Member Share Posted June 25, 2010 At 4 months, your hair follicles are likely OK. Dr Simmons cautions patients about being in the sun for the first few months post op. A bad burn in the first few days could damage the grafts but we haven't ever seen this happen. Your recipient area may be more sensitive to the sun now than it was prior to your hair transplant. Sun exposure of a healing area can rarely cause permanent darkening of the skin but you would already be able to see this if it happened to you. If you are concerned it is best to ask your hair transplant doctor directly. Hope this helps. Louise Lead Hair Transplant Technician for Dr. Cam Simmons at the Seager Medical Group Dr. Cam Simmons is a member of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Sparky Posted June 25, 2010 Senior Member Share Posted June 25, 2010 He says he got burnt on day 10 My Hairloss Website http://www.hairtransplantnetwork.com/blog/home-page.asp?WebID=2198 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member monkey Posted June 25, 2010 Author Regular Member Share Posted June 25, 2010 Yeah, it was a case of "ahah, 10 days are up now, I can go out - and it's not sunny, hurrah" Doh! Surgery on Tuesday out on the following Saturday (I guess technically 10 and a half or 11 days) My Hairloss Website HT#1 - Dr Pathomvanich - 2900 Grafts HT#2 - Dr Pathomvanich - 1500 Grafts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member monkey Posted June 28, 2010 Author Regular Member Share Posted June 28, 2010 Ok, had word back from my Dr who says if it was just a mild (up to 1st degree) sunburn then there's no need to worry. Looking at HT1 photos, it seemed not much happened until month 5 anyway - so I guess the hair coming in now is just the shocked hair, and the real growth hasn't started yet. It's gonna be a nervy few months though. However, still doesn't answer the original question .. what is it about sunburn (and only in the early stages) that causes issues? My Hairloss Website HT#1 - Dr Pathomvanich - 2900 Grafts HT#2 - Dr Pathomvanich - 1500 Grafts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Balboa Posted July 1, 2010 Senior Member Share Posted July 1, 2010 i think its the risk to healing process not the grafts once there secured as they are deep under the skin but most people know that sun is not good for skin when it is trying to heal Dr A. Armani 2500 Fue Dec 2008 Proscar X1 Day Monixodil X2 Day Msm Daily Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Albion71 Posted July 9, 2010 Senior Member Share Posted July 9, 2010 I've just asked this question of my surgeon (Transmed) and they've advised not to go out in it for three months. I'm at five weeks post op, and I've been suffering from a few pimples in the recipient area in the last couple of weeks. I did wonder if a bit of mild exposure to the sun - just 5 or 10 minutes late in the afternoon, might help get rid of the pimples. But hey ho, I guess it's best not to risk anything. My hair transplants | 1. Dr Melike Kulahci | 2. Dr William Lindsey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member RCWest Posted July 9, 2010 Senior Member Share Posted July 9, 2010 A mild sunburn probably didn't hurt anything. You didn't get burned deep enough to hurt the actual follicles. A 3rd degree burn on the other hand could cause trouble but that would mean you would have had blistering, peeling skin, etc. Finasteride 1.25 mg. daily Avodart 0.5 mg. daily Spironolactone 50 mg twice daily 5 mg. oral Minoxidil twice daily Biotin 1000 mcg daily Multi Vitamin daily Damn, with all the stuff you put in your hair are you like a negative NW1? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member monkey Posted July 10, 2010 Author Regular Member Share Posted July 10, 2010 I've just asked this question of my surgeon (Transmed) and they've advised not to go out in it for three months. I'm at five weeks post op, and I've been suffering from a few pimples in the recipient area in the last couple of weeks. I did wonder if a bit of mild exposure to the sun - just 5 or 10 minutes late in the afternoon, might help get rid of the pimples. But hey ho, I guess it's best not to risk anything. Well living in Thailand means it's impossible not to go out in the sun. The problem with wearing a hat all the time is, once you've put it on, gone out and got really sweaty - you can't take it off without looking ridiculous (hair all matted together and looks super super thin). Since the sunburn episode of 10 days, I wore a hat for the next month or so whenever I went out - but after this, I did stop. Of course I keep sun exposure to a minimum, but even the local supermarket is a 15 minute walk (in 40 degrees, lol). Saying that though, my HT this time was inside existing hair, so I guess I have a lot more protection from the current hair over someone who is doing it to totally bald scalp. Hopefully at 6-8 months I can come back to this thread and tell everyone I'm totally fine - so ppl in the future won't need to worry so much My Hairloss Website HT#1 - Dr Pathomvanich - 2900 Grafts HT#2 - Dr Pathomvanich - 1500 Grafts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Atomic Posted July 10, 2010 Senior Member Share Posted July 10, 2010 While u may not have done any damage to the 10 day old grafts it is still not recommended to let your scalp get burned. The scalp is sensitive to the sun & skin cancer of the scalp is fairly common especially in fair skinned people with thinning hair. I know it looks good to tan your scalp because it really cuts down the contrast betwwen hair & scalp. But you really should cover up & protect your scalp from the sun in the future. I think you will be fine otherwise. Good luck! Atomic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member monkey Posted July 24, 2010 Author Regular Member Share Posted July 24, 2010 (edited) Well slightly worrying now - at 4 and a half months, and whilst I was positive before as I could feel growth, now I'm not sure... I checked earlier for the "hole" that was one of the reasons I had gone for HT2, and it's still there with no growth at all. This leads me to believe that the growth I have been feeling could just be the shockloss hair returning, rather than the new hair growing. Nuts.... Edited July 24, 2010 by monkey My Hairloss Website HT#1 - Dr Pathomvanich - 2900 Grafts HT#2 - Dr Pathomvanich - 1500 Grafts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member monkey Posted July 27, 2010 Author Regular Member Share Posted July 27, 2010 Went to see Dr P today who said "No problem, unless you got a third degree burn you will be fine" - I pushed the point that it was only 10 days (well technically 11) after surgery that it happened and he said "Yes, still, no problem! Don't worry... 15 or so minutes in the sun won't do anything, the follicles are well below inside the skin." He then did a check of the hairs as I said I couldn't feel much and again was told "Don't worry, 4 months is very early - you will only just be starting to sprout." and that he could see some baby hairs. As I'm sure we all would be, I'm still sceptical - but as there is nothing else I can do, and he did seem very positive - I'm just going to have to wait it out. Looking at HT1 photos, a lot had happened at the 6 month mark - so I reckon I'll just wait it out until then before I start to panic I'll get the HT2 photos in the next few days and start updating my site for that one too My Hairloss Website HT#1 - Dr Pathomvanich - 2900 Grafts HT#2 - Dr Pathomvanich - 1500 Grafts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member monkey Posted August 1, 2010 Author Regular Member Share Posted August 1, 2010 I guess I should really be writing this in my blog, but as the thread is here.... In the name of sanity (or perhaps INsanity) - I decided today to go and retrace my steps and time exactly how long everything took , lol, a little crazy I know, but I was there anyway, so it wasn't so big a deal It went like this: From shade to sun to shade > 5 minutes 15 minute rest From shade to sun to shade > 3 minutes 5-10 minute rest From shade to sun to shade > 2 minutes 20 minute rest From shade to sun to shade > 3-5 minutes For some reason I thought it was a lot more, but it seems my mind was playing tricks on me. So overall, never more than 5 minutes in the sun - I guess I am worrying over nothing .... My Hairloss Website HT#1 - Dr Pathomvanich - 2900 Grafts HT#2 - Dr Pathomvanich - 1500 Grafts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Hairsterical Posted July 19, 2011 Regular Member Share Posted July 19, 2011 Hi Monkey- Just wondering how everything turned out for you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Sigildark Posted July 20, 2011 Regular Member Share Posted July 20, 2011 I see so many guys getting the surgery and then flying in 3 different jet planes 3000-5000 miles the next day. To me this is just plain crazy! The grafts are still settling and have just been exposed to trauma, and now you are exposing them to the force of a jet airplane traveling at speeds the human body was never meant to endure. it's not like he's hanging his head out the window or flying an old biplane head out in the open Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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