Regular Member GreaseDJ Posted July 31, 2011 Regular Member Share Posted July 31, 2011 Hello everyone! Dr. Cooley completed my 1st HT 3 days ago, and I have finally gotten around to updating my site and uploading pictures. Check out my Hair Transplant Website for lots more photos and info. I traveled to Charlotte July, 26th to meet with Dr. Cooley and discuss final plans and make sure my expectations were in line with reality. Dr. Cooley is a great guy and very easy to talk to. This man is the real deal. He stood by the recommendation that 2000 grafts would look great. I had budgeted to go as high as 3000 grafts and he agreed to be flexible and take out more than 2000 if possible and work a little farther back into my existing hair. After the final consultation, I headed over to the hotel. The hotel that Dr. Cooley's office uses for out of town patients is stellar. The patient consultant, Lollie, told me that they always have about 2 patients staying there on most days and that they always treat his patients well. Totally true. When checking in, the staff noted that everything was paid in advance and very warmly set up the early morning shuttle for the next day. They said if I needed anything, let them know- Dr. Cooley's patients are their VIPs. That felt great. It was still the afternoon so I took a quick trip to the mall to grab a button up shirt for procedure day and then took in a movie to kill time. About 9:00 went to sleep with the alarm set for 5:30 to get up and get ready for procedure. I woke up early and scrubbed down in the shower with Hibiclens and got into my stylish sweatpants and headed down for a big breakfast. The hotel picked me up at 6:45 sharp and we made the long 3 minute trek to Dr. Cooley's office. One of the techs, Stephanie, greeted me at the door and double checked the consent forms and, most importantly, helped me make out my movie list and lunch order. Dr. Cooley then came in and went over our plan one more time, gave me some valium, demerol and other fun stuff and then took the "before" photos. We got into the surgery room and gave me the Versed intravenously and prepped for excision. Dr. Cooley uses a very cool vibrating/massaging thing that distracts you from the needle that gives the local anesthetic. I have heard plenty of people talk here about that being the worst part and I can honestly say, I hardly felt any of the injections all day. I was conscious through the excision but very relaxed and wasn't bothered at all. It went by very quickly and the next thing I knew, Dr. Cooley was making the recipient incisions. Next he and the lead tech, Brandi, were placing grafts while 8 other techs prepared the FUs. Dr. Cooley was in the room placing with Brandi nearly the whole day. When he had to step out for a while, another experienced tech, Amy pitched in. From start to finish, I was there 11.5 hours. It seemed to fly by and everyone was so great I actually enjoyed my time there. Dr. Cooley ended up extracting 2508 FUs and covered an are of approximately 50 cm2 for a density averaging 50fu/cm2. I think I had slightly higher than average hairs per FU. The breakdown is: 1s - 413 2s - 1030 3s - 837 4/5s - 228 for a total of 2508 grafts and 5896 hairs. Dr. Cooley said the donor was closed with "no tension at all" which made me very happy. He used Acell in the wound. The next day a friend in the medical profession looked at it and said "That looks like a wound that has been healing for 2 weeks not 24 hours" so needless to say, I am thrilled and hope it continues to heal well. As it is now, I have a hard time finding it just to put the antibiotic on. I couldn't believe how clean everything looked when he was finished. No bleeding, everything just looked neat and tidy. I couldn't have been happier. After being so worried in the weeks building up to this day, I couldn't have wished for a smoother procedure. My Hair Loss Web Site - 2,508 FUs + ACell Matristem with Dr. Jerry E. Cooley, Charlotte, NC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member RCWest Posted July 31, 2011 Senior Member Share Posted July 31, 2011 Dr. Cooley is an awesome guy. You were well taken care of and it should look really good in a year. Did you help design that hairline or did Dr. Cooley? I ask because most people want to frame their face with a hairline close to their original one, not with temple recession. 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 GreaseDJ Posted July 31, 2011 Author Regular Member Share Posted July 31, 2011 Dr. Cooley is an awesome guy. You were well taken care of and it should look really good in a year. Did you help design that hairline or did Dr. Cooley? I ask because most people want to frame their face with a hairline close to their original one, not with temple recession. Dr. Cooley designed and I fully approved. I think the post op photos show a nice rounded frontal hairline and don't really see it as temple recession. To be honest that hairline is the same rounded shape I had when I was 14 yrs old, just in a mature position. You don't like it? My Hair Loss Web Site - 2,508 FUs + ACell Matristem with Dr. Jerry E. Cooley, Charlotte, NC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Levrais Posted July 31, 2011 Senior Member Share Posted July 31, 2011 The hairline looks age appropriate to me. 5700 FUE in 3 procedures with Dr. Bisanga View my patient website: http://www.hairtransplantnetwork.com/blog/home-page.asp?WebID=1874 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member NEWHAIRPLEASE Posted July 31, 2011 Senior Member Share Posted July 31, 2011 Looks very good and refined. Newhairplease!! Dr Rahal in January 19, 2012:) 4808 FUT grafts- 941 singles, 2809 doubles, 1031 triples, 27 quads My Hairloss Website Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Janna Posted July 31, 2011 Senior Member Share Posted July 31, 2011 Shapiro Medical and Dr Cooley's clinic have exchanged a lot of info with each other so your detailed write up sounds much like one of SMG's patients. Glad you had a great experience. Wouldn't have expected anything less. Dr Cooley and staff are great. Looks to me your result will be outstanding. You received a ton of three hair grafts...good for you. Hope you keep us posted of your progress. Patient Care Services & UK Patient Advisor for Shapiro Medical Dr. Ron Shapiro, Dr. Paul Shapiro and Dr. David Josephitis are members of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians. http://shapiromedical.com/info@shapiromedical.com http://shapiromedical.com/contact/request-a-consultation/janna@shapiromedical.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member GreaseDJ Posted July 31, 2011 Author Regular Member Share Posted July 31, 2011 Thanks all! I plan to keep documenting and updating as much as I can. This forum has been a wonderful source of education and inspiration for me and I hope my experience can help others. My Hair Loss Web Site - 2,508 FUs + ACell Matristem with Dr. Jerry E. Cooley, Charlotte, NC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Ahairdown Posted July 31, 2011 Senior Member Share Posted July 31, 2011 Great write up! Congrats on the procedure. Cooley was on my top three list and I wouldn't hesitate to use him in the future, the man is on the cuttting edge! Grow and heal well! Dr Arocha 3626 FU's H1: 508 H2: 1741 H3: 1377 My Hairloss Website: http://www.hairtransplantnetwork.com/blog/home-page.asp?WebID=2127 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member GreaseDJ Posted July 31, 2011 Author Regular Member Share Posted July 31, 2011 Thank you, Ahairdown! My Hair Loss Web Site - 2,508 FUs + ACell Matristem with Dr. Jerry E. Cooley, Charlotte, NC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member aaron1234 Posted July 31, 2011 Senior Member Share Posted July 31, 2011 Glad to hear ACell worked well on your donor scar. Looking forward to following your progress. Cooley does great work and I think you'll be pleased with your outcome! Dr. G: 1,000 grafts (FUT) 2008 Dr. Paul Shapiro: 2,348 grafts (FUT) 2009 ~ 1,999 grafts (FUT) 2011 ~ 300 grafts (Scar Reduction) 2013 Dr. Konior: 771 grafts (FUT) 2015 ~ 558 grafts (FUT) 2017 ~ 1,124 grafts (FUE) 2020 My Hair Transplant Journey with Shapiro Medical Group Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Ahairdown Posted July 31, 2011 Senior Member Share Posted July 31, 2011 Did he use Acell in the sheet or powder format? Also, did he use any of it on the grafts or just the donor? Acell fascinates me, seems like ground breaking stuff and it's too bad more physicians aren't using it. Cooley is the man! We need more pics of the donor bro come on don't tease us Dr Arocha 3626 FU's H1: 508 H2: 1741 H3: 1377 My Hairloss Website: http://www.hairtransplantnetwork.com/blog/home-page.asp?WebID=2127 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member GreaseDJ Posted July 31, 2011 Author Regular Member Share Posted July 31, 2011 To be honest I am not sure how he applied in the donor. I know for sure the grafts were bathed in it and he also injected it all over the recipient area as he worked. I will try to get more pictures of the scar tonight in addition to the ones in the blog, but I am finding it difficult since it is really hard to find. (Partly because it is so clean and healing so well, partly because the hair around it is so thick and partly because the tricho closure was done so well.) My Hair Loss Web Site - 2,508 FUs + ACell Matristem with Dr. Jerry E. Cooley, Charlotte, NC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member GreaseDJ Posted July 31, 2011 Author Regular Member Share Posted July 31, 2011 We need more pics of the donor bro come on don't tease us Ok - ask and ye shall receive. Here you go. Anything in particular that you would like to see? Scar at 96 hours post up: My Hair Loss Web Site - 2,508 FUs + ACell Matristem with Dr. Jerry E. Cooley, Charlotte, NC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Ahairdown Posted July 31, 2011 Senior Member Share Posted July 31, 2011 Nice! I agree it looks like it's been healing for weeks. No redness either! Does he use absorbable sutures or do you have to go back in and have them removed? Dr Arocha 3626 FU's H1: 508 H2: 1741 H3: 1377 My Hairloss Website: http://www.hairtransplantnetwork.com/blog/home-page.asp?WebID=2127 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member GreaseDJ Posted July 31, 2011 Author Regular Member Share Posted July 31, 2011 Not absorbable. Regular ones. I appreciate that since the regular ones seem to do a better job of keeping everything tight (just my uneducated opinion.) I could go back to have them removed, but I don't want to make a 5.5 hour round trip from Raleigh to Charlotte and back for something so simple. I have a friend whose husband is a nurse and he is going to take them out. He should have fun too- my partner tried counting and stopped when he got to 100. I am stitched up good! My Hair Loss Web Site - 2,508 FUs + ACell Matristem with Dr. Jerry E. Cooley, Charlotte, NC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member RCWest Posted July 31, 2011 Senior Member Share Posted July 31, 2011 No offense meant GreaseDJ, I DO like the hairline. Their isn't any receeded look, I was just looking at the wrong pic! 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 GreaseDJ Posted July 31, 2011 Author Regular Member Share Posted July 31, 2011 No offense meant GreaseDJ, I DO like the hairline. Their isn't any receeded look, I was just looking at the wrong pic! No offense taken! I guess you were looking at the before pic. :-) I was hoping we were fixing the receded look, not creating one :-) No worries, friend. My Hair Loss Web Site - 2,508 FUs + ACell Matristem with Dr. Jerry E. Cooley, Charlotte, NC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member aaron1234 Posted July 31, 2011 Senior Member Share Posted July 31, 2011 Holy cow that's amazingly fast healing for the scar. Gotta love the ACell. Dr. G: 1,000 grafts (FUT) 2008 Dr. Paul Shapiro: 2,348 grafts (FUT) 2009 ~ 1,999 grafts (FUT) 2011 ~ 300 grafts (Scar Reduction) 2013 Dr. Konior: 771 grafts (FUT) 2015 ~ 558 grafts (FUT) 2017 ~ 1,124 grafts (FUE) 2020 My Hair Transplant Journey with Shapiro Medical Group Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member GreaseDJ Posted July 31, 2011 Author Regular Member Share Posted July 31, 2011 (edited) Holy cow that's amazingly fast healing for the scar. Gotta love the ACell. It has been like that since the day after the procedure. I am sure it has nothing to do with the Acell. I think it is just that I am a genetically superior human being with amazing self regeneration ability. Ok, ok... it is the Acell Edited August 1, 2011 by GreaseDJ My Hair Loss Web Site - 2,508 FUs + ACell Matristem with Dr. Jerry E. Cooley, Charlotte, NC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member aaron1234 Posted August 1, 2011 Senior Member Share Posted August 1, 2011 Haha, that could be true too! I've heard lots of anecdotal evidence from multiple docs that ACell can really help with the healing. You are the proof. Dr. G: 1,000 grafts (FUT) 2008 Dr. Paul Shapiro: 2,348 grafts (FUT) 2009 ~ 1,999 grafts (FUT) 2011 ~ 300 grafts (Scar Reduction) 2013 Dr. Konior: 771 grafts (FUT) 2015 ~ 558 grafts (FUT) 2017 ~ 1,124 grafts (FUE) 2020 My Hair Transplant Journey with Shapiro Medical Group Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member GreaseDJ Posted August 1, 2011 Author Regular Member Share Posted August 1, 2011 Haha, that could be true too! I've heard lots of anecdotal evidence from multiple docs that ACell can really help with the healing. You are the proof. Let's just hope that the injections in the recipient area as well as each FU being bathed in Acell will have the same positive effect. My Hair Loss Web Site - 2,508 FUs + ACell Matristem with Dr. Jerry E. Cooley, Charlotte, NC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member GreaseDJ Posted August 4, 2011 Author Regular Member Share Posted August 4, 2011 Wow. It has been a week and finally got to massage the grafts with my fingertips. I don't think anything has ever felt so good. I didnt have any scabbing at all which was nice, but it still was good to finally gently touch those grafts. I took this week off work and go back on Monday. Now my dilemma- I haven't shed any hairs so it looks kinda silly to have the fuzzy first few inches of hairline.... do I buzz the rest of my head to match? or do I just try to cover with existing hair the best I can? When do the hairs usually shed? I would hate to buzz down the rest of my hair and then shed the grafted area a week later :-) My Hair Loss Web Site - 2,508 FUs + ACell Matristem with Dr. Jerry E. Cooley, Charlotte, NC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Levrais Posted August 4, 2011 Senior Member Share Posted August 4, 2011 Grease, I am asking myself the same question. Im 3 weeks post op and so far Ive kept the longer native hair but shortened it a little to have somewhat less of a contrast. They say shedding is usually complete by week 3 but in my case last time around it was more like week 4 or 5. I look forward to seeing what you decide to do 5700 FUE in 3 procedures with Dr. Bisanga View my patient website: http://www.hairtransplantnetwork.com/blog/home-page.asp?WebID=1874 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member GreaseDJ Posted August 4, 2011 Author Regular Member Share Posted August 4, 2011 Frustrating, eh! So far I haven't lost a single hair, but it is only day 8... Anyone know a good psychic that could advise on the future shedding? My Hair Loss Web Site - 2,508 FUs + ACell Matristem with Dr. Jerry E. Cooley, Charlotte, NC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Levrais Posted August 4, 2011 Senior Member Share Posted August 4, 2011 I would just plan on most (but not all) of the grafts shedding somewhere around week 4. There are a few people who never shed but that is extremely rare. If you end up in the rare group that will be nice but prepare for the worst to be safe. People still buzz to one length though. It can still look good. 5700 FUE in 3 procedures with Dr. Bisanga View my patient website: http://www.hairtransplantnetwork.com/blog/home-page.asp?WebID=1874 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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