2,000 grafts with Dr. Paul Shapiro

[aaron1234]

It was great meeting you Multiplier! And I hope I was able to help answer your questions. Being a couple weeks post-op I can tell you that the first few weeks are not very fun but they are short-lived. And going with SMG you are great hands. They are straight shooters for sure.

 

Thanks bonker! It actually only feels like my 2nd transplant since my very first one (not with Dr. Paul) didn't qualify to count as a true HT.

[Janna]

One month post op looking good, Aaron. Thanks for keeping such a thorough documentation of your progress. We really appreciate it.

[aaron1234]

My pleasure Janna. Can't believe it has already been one month!

[Cant decide]

Looking good bud. All the best!!

[aaron1234]

The great thing about keeping a blog with your HT journey is that every month feels like another milestone.

 

I’m smack dab in the middle of the ugly duckling phase and I’ve always felt that the two month mark is the worst of it. I’ve healed substantially but have not recovered my shocked hair yet. My hair looks thinner now then before the last procedure, so I’m sure I’ve got a little shock loss in the recipient and donor areas. I’m hoping the shocked hair returns in the next month or two.

 

Yesterday, I shaved my sides and back down to a #5. It’s a little too short to hide my healing scar right now. It was better two days ago. Dammit!

 

I’ve still been on 10MG of prednisone (every other day) and will finish it this week. I think this has made a real difference in my healing – which is slower then most guys.

 

I have used dermmatch and nanogen only 4 times since the surgery, and after each time I washed it out at night. I’ve got another week before my job starts back up again. Hopefully – when that day comes - I can rely on the nanogen fibers for the top and use dermmatch only for the scar.

 

I’ve included two sets of pics. One set of indoor pics with moderate lighting, and another set with my head in the window to get some natural light. In the latter set, you get a better picture of the thin look I’m sporting right now. Hopefully, in the next few months my hair will be able to better withstand the sun and harsh lighting.

 

P.S. For some reason the webblog wasn't working. Couldn't upload my pictures!

[bonkerstonker]

Yes you've defo got shockloss bro but if my weak hairs returned in 4 months yours definitely will. This is it for you mate I can see you disappearing in ten months never to return.

[orlhair1]

Aaron, you will be fine.....looks like a little shock loss, but in another month you will be growing back and your new grafts will be sprouting out. It won't take long from your haircut for your hair to grow some and fully cover your scar which will get better each week as well......hang in there dude....it only gets better from here.

[aaron1234]

@bonker: Thanks bud. Yes, your blog is giving me hope! I think for me it's a wicked combo of shock loss and possibly short hair length. But I don't plan on abandoning the forum just yet!

 

@orlhair: Appreciate it. Yes, I know I have better days ahead. For some reason I'm feeling that there is more at stake with this procedure though. I'm putting extra pressure on it. Your case is looking great. You've healed soooo well. JEALOUS!

[orlhair1]

Thanks Aaron.....I went back and looked at your pre op and post op pics......when these grafts grow in on top of what you already had it is going to look great.....your hair looked good before and with 2000 more grafts it is going to look great......don't put to much pressure on yourself.

[hairthere]

aaron, I feel your pain, and you know the drill, but here's some reassurance anyway: once I hit the five-month mark I could not believe how much my appearance was changing from day to day. And once it starts to happen it is drastic, especially since this was not the first procedure. But man, those few months leading up were rough. Hang in there bro!

[aaron1234]

Thanks hairthere. Yeah, been there and done that, right? You get great results with a procedure and forget that the months leading up to it can be rough. The thing that helps me relax the most (and I bet this was true in your case as well) is to remember that I went a fantastic clinic and doctor - also, that I have been through the doldrums before and came out strong.

 

The good news right now is that I am already feeling stubble. A lot of it. You can't really see much of it now, but my head is getting more prickly everyday.

[hairthere]

Yeah man, I just turned 6 months and feel a ton of stubble happening. My scalp has also been awfully sore today...not sure if the new growth has anything to do with it...

[aaron1234]

I am now 3 months post op. I have recovered quite well this past month. All of the redness in the recipient area has gone down and my native hair (including the formerly transplanted hair) has regained some of its strength. I might have begun to recover some of the shocked hairs as well, but it’s hard to say for certain. I can also feel quite a bit of stubble growing even though I can’t really see it yet.

 

My hair is pretty much covering the donor scar now, though it’s spotty in some areas. The scar has stretched a bit in some places and it remains quite red. This is not a surprise given my fair complexion. Fortunately, I don’t have to cover the scar with dermmatch anymore even though it might be noticeable to someone looking for it.

 

I have been using a little nanogen for the front and dermmatch/nanogen for the crown. I have been washing them out at night.

 

I’m glad to be out of the ugly duckling stage. It simply blows and you forget how nasty it was when you get the great results a couple months after. I’m excited for the next few months!

 

On another note, I recently had a mole removed above my right ear. The biopsy came back and said it was a pre-cancerous mild dysplastic nevus. I would have never noticed the mole but thankfully Dr. Paul pointed it out before my last procedure. He said it looked suspicious and that I should get it checked out. He was right and I’m grateful to have a hair transplant surgeon who knows a bit more than just how to design hairlines.

[orlhair1]

Looking good Aaron. I really could not see the scar at all in your pictures. I see a big improvement since your last post. Nice to be further along and like you said beyond that bad stage. By your next update you will have some nice growth to show!! Thanks for the update.

[hairthere]

Aaron, You're right on track bro. With the hair you already have those 2k grafts are going to look awesome. Just keep in mind it's a long haul. Now that I am 7 months post op the thickening is really noticeable from day to day and I still feel a bunch of new growth just beginning to push through. Glad Dr. Shapiro caught that mole too, btw. Good growing!

[aaron1234]

@orlhair. Thanks bud! Yeah, my last four month update provided a real change in the right direction. Here's hoping that I get some deja vu with this round.

 

@hairthere, thanks! I know it's the long haul for sure but thank God the worst part of it is behind me. I'm curious to see if my growth times change given that it's my third procedure.

[deitel130]

It's coming along good, i think the end result will be a huge difference.

[aaron1234]

I’m now at 4 months post-op. Things have been coming along nicely. I’m not sure how much of the improvement I'm seeing now is from new growth, shocked hair returning, length of hair, or all of the above. It’s hard for me to see much stubble but I definitely feel it there. I remember hairthere was once referring to his scalp feeling sore due to new growth – I hadn’t felt that before with my prior procedures but I am now a bit.

 

I’ve decided to let my hair grow out long. I might try a new style – not sure what yet but I’ll experiment over the next few months. So unfortunately the consistency I’ve had with my monthly pics will be changing soon. Hopefully I’ll land on something cool that really works for me.

 

My biggest growth spurt last time was from month 4 to month 5. Here’s hoping I follow the same schedule again!

[orlhair1]

Aaron, your hair is looking good and healthy, whatever the combination is. That knew stubble you feel should be growing good moving forward.

[aaron1234]

Thx orlhair! I'm already getting excited for the fifth month update!

[Severn]

That looks really good man. However, I'm sure that you are in the earliest stages. I personally could feel great about those results even if it didn't get any better, which of course it will.

[aaron1234]

Thanks Severn. I feel like I'm basically back to where I was before the last procedure. Can't wait to see what the next few months bring!

[balody]

things are really starting to look nice Aaron,really happy for you mate :cool:

[aaron1234]

Thanks balody... the fun is just beginning! I'm still waiting to see the pics from your latest.

[balody]

Mate, I'm at 4.5 months and things are starting to happen!

I promise i'll post some pics at the 6 month mark.