Follow-up Questions for Dr Feller

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I met with Dr Feller a few weeks ago and had a good conversation. But I realized when I left, there were a few questions I'd neglected to ask and his secretary told me to ask them here. Anyone else is also free to join in, too.

 

1) When I visited True/Dorin this summer, I was told I had about 4000 donor grafts to work with. When I met with you, I was told 2000. Any reasons for the discrepancy?

 

2) I had surgery with MHR 10 years ago and have mini grafts at the hairline that don't look as good as the work you do. If I were to do surgery, would you be able to remove some of them, or would you work around them? In the widow's peak area, would you actually be able to remove 1/4" from the hairline so it's not so low in the middle?

 

3) You mentioned you would need to shave down the center of my hair to get any work done. Do you also need to shave around the donor area? Can you guarantee that after a 2000 graft session that my scar would be the same size or smaller once you're done with it, rather than a bigger scar or a second scar?

 

Thank you!

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Me, via email:

"Basically I was just wanting to tell Dr Feller I'd had a good consult with him, but had a handful of questions I'd forgotten to ask. I wanted to know if he preferred to be emailed directly or talk on the phone, or whether it'd be easier to answer them on the online forum so others could read the answers too."

 

Sharon:

"Just send the questions to the online forum. Thanks again. Sharon"

[multiplier]

Will do. She must have misunderstood.

 

I do think the answers to those questions are somewhat universal and would benefit the community to read also, no?

[Dr. Alan Feller]

This is actually a great question and definitely one for the forums.

 

All doctors have their own take on what donor resources are available. Their are many more variables than one might think. For example, someone who actually went to the trouble to find out the average density of their donor might think they know with accuracy how many grafts are available, BUT, when one figures in skin flexibility, existing scars, dimensions of the skull, positon of the ears, the diminesions of the donor area, etc... the final number is not so clear. Add to that the ability, confidence, and experience of the doctor and you may have quite a range of numbers.

 

Having 4000 grafts in your donor area does not necessarily mean they are all available for harvesting in one session or even multiple sessions. Some areas of the donor area are unreachable (unless FUE is then employed).

 

My guess is that while you were told you have 4000 grafts available by Dr True, I may have been a bit more specific by saying that I can grab half of that in one session given your physiological parameters. Having had surgery in the past most certainly can reduce the amount of grafts available for harvesting in one sitting. Without seeing your chart I would have absolutely no idea off hand.

 

Good question.

 

Dr. F

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Thanks Dr. Feller. The fact that you'd answer those questions for the benefit of the forum speaks well of you and reminds me why your reputation is so good. If more doctors were this forthcoming and transparent, we'd have greater numbers of happy patients.

 

Could you take a look at my other 2 questions and let me know what you think?

 

Thanks!

[multiplier]

Once more just curious if you could have a look at the other questions I posted?