An unusual HT side effect

[HairlossSucks]

Hi everyone! Long time reader, first time poster here :-) First of all would like to thank everyone on this forum for contributing, this place has given me invaluable information which has kept me from doing some very bad mistakes which I would have regretted. Anyway, onto my story!

 

My story starts out as usual, a very unhappy hair loss suafferer who decided to do something about it. I did everything by the book (thanks in no part to this place), and ended up doing the transplant with a very reputable HT doctor recommended by the IAHRS. The whole experience was excellent and am so far pleased. One thing I'd like to note is that immediately after the operation the doctor was slightly worried about the circulation in one area at the front of the scalp (he said it's the area where bones at the top of the skull join). He gave me additional medication (Cialis i believe) to improve circulation, and was happy with the improvement done one day later during the post op examination. All was fine until a rare-ish side effect popped up a few days post op...

 

I had been washing my scalp post-op once every day with cold water under very low pressure, as per doctor instructions. Drying the scalp involved very gently tapping the area with a new tissue paper. On the third day post op, after washing my scalp I noticed tissue fluid seeping from three grafts. This fluid is not blood, but rather transparent and yellowish. I tried to gently dry this fluid as much as possible. However, more fluid kept coming out no matter how much I dried out. This fluid seepage eventually developed into the pattern seen in the pictures below, which felt hard as any other scab. Perhaps coincidentally (I wouldnt know), this dried pattern happens to cover the same patch which the doctor was originally worried about.

 

Fast forward 9 days (day 12 post op), and I'm really worried about this patch, since although other scabs are gradually flaking away, the troublesome areas are still hard as ever. Keep in mind that these grafts had been covered for 9-10 days! Hence, after consultation with the doc, and considerable amounts of baby oil and alloe vera gel, I managed to remove these scabs. To my discomfort, these scabs came off and took basically most of the hairs they had been covering (these were hairs I assume right?! not grafts?). However, at least this patch could breathe again!

 

Fast forward again to the present day (I am now one month post op), and most of my transplanted hair has fallen off (normal). Moreover, my native hair has started growing again (great). However, the great source of my distress remains this patch. It has remained pink in colour (the colour difference of this patch and the rest of the transplanted area is noticeable). Moreover, little to no hair activity has resumed, and remains mostly bald, save for one or two hairs. Looking at my before pics, it is clear that I had some hair in this area which is yet to resurface. Also, this area lacks sensation (the donor area almost feels better!), and feels and looks bumpy (as some one who suffered acne). Sorry for the lack of current pics, however I think I explained the situation well. Should post new current pics by tomorrow!

 

Questions:

 

* What would a graft look like? Am I right in assuming that it would be a 2cm-ish long white tissue strand? Basically I would have immediately noticed if it had been a graft that came out when removing the scab correct?

* From this info, do you think that the covering of these grafts with the scab damaged the grafts? Is it possible that native hairs have been damaged too? Do I have to worry that this patch will remain bald? I'm constantly worrying about this area! Im worrying that I was desperately unlucky and an unusual complication ruined a portion of my scalp.

* My scalp is currently not in the best of shape, and feels bumpy in the aformentioned area, with little holes visible all over the transplanted area. I'm sure the doctor used the latest techniques available (as I said, he's very reputable), so should I rest assured that these irregularities eventually heal with time? It's only been a month, so there's healing left to do. However, terms such as cobblestoning and pitting are always at the back of my mind. Am I right in stating that this permanent mark does not happen with the latest techniques?

 

Thank you so much for your time! Any reassurrances (or if necessary, guidance and information) would be immensely appreciated!

 

scab 1 -> Imageshack - p10205172.jpg

scab 2 -> Imageshack - p10205142.jpg

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Everthing looks pretty normal from the 2 pics u posted , The rivering cracks everthing healing and drying out, , the yellow blood plasma stuff also now dried out. seems some ppl get this more than others.