1411 Graft FUT with Dr Paul Shapiro

[multiplier]

As promised in this thread, here's a summary of my experience at SMG yesterday —

 

I arrived at 8:30am for some preliminary paperwork. Afterword, I followed Dr Paul into his office to discuss specifics, take photos and outline our recipient area.

 

What he told me were things I'd already come to terms with years ago: donor density is moderate and, ultimately, 2 procedures spaced apart would be ideal in order to first clean up the large scar from my previous MHR surgery in 2000. For now, we'd be focusing on the frontal third. I told him since I was 36, I actually enjoyed the grey streaks and receded hairline as being appropriate to my age, and have actually received compliments along those lines. So we agreed to be economical about graft placement and avoid lowering the hairline or filling in temple points. In short, I'm a candidate, just not a 5-star candidate, and my goals are realistic.

 

In the surgery room itself, I had a beautiful view of some lakes and was surrounded by very friendly techs who put me at ease. First we used magic markers to indicate graft placement and I took a Prednisone, antibiotic and Valium.

 

The next while was spent getting multiple injections in the forehead and donor area. The pain was very minimal, nothing more than light pinpricks. A handheld vibrator was also applied during the shots which distracted me, mentally, from the injections. I numbed incredibly fast which the techs and doctor said was a good sign.

 

After another Valium, I turned over on my stomach and the actual extraction took place, the part I'd dreaded the most. I thought I would feel pinching, pressure and a scary sound almost like velcro ripping. But what I felt was… pretty much nothing. I joked with the techs to distract myself, and before I knew it, that part was done. Everyone worked like a well-oilled machine. One of the techs said she'd been doing it for 20 years which also put me at ease.

 

I was even invited to stand up and look through the microscopes at how the individual grafts looked which pretty fascinating.

 

Back in the chair, we fired up a bunch of seasons of Curb Your Enthusiasm and Arrested Development on the TV which are always guaranteed to put me in a good mood (especially on Valium!). Dr. Paul began making incisions strategically all over my recipient area which was, like everything else, mercifully painless. Thanks to the various tumescent/anesthetic injections, the sensation was that I was wearing a tight plastic hat and my brow felt a bit tight. Colored dyes were also placed throughout the recipient area to indicate how grafts would be distributed: 1s, 2s, 3s, etc. I believe I dozed off for about 45 minutes soon after.

 

At lunchtime, they brought me a Chinese meal and I couldn't believe how fast time was passing. My forehead and eyelids felt a bit thick from the injections and pills, but I felt nice and numb.

 

Dr Paul then spoke to me about yield. As I mentioned in the previous thread, the only letdown is that due to my average density, existing (unnecessarily large) scar and some previous shockloss exacerbated by Accutane, we would have to settle for about 75% of the yield we'd shot for -- 1400 instead of 2000. This is because Dr Paul chose to minimize the height of the scar this time (while widening it) in order to make it easier to excise more uniformly in the future. So 9 months from now, it should be easier to extract 2000-2500 from the improved scar, rather than try to do it all at once and end up with a larger, stretchier scar.

 

As I said, a letdown at first, but part of the larger strategy. Brick by brick.

 

So from 1:00pm to 4:30pm, the techs took turns splitting grafts and placing them accordingly while Dr Paul supervised. We joked around a lot and occasionally I played on my iPhone to pass the time. It was a little tough to sit still so long, but worth it. Before I knew it, my suture was cleaned up and my recipient area was looking clean. As someone who worries a hell of a lot, I felt surprisingly good.

 

Overall, the SMG approach to surgery was a lot more communicative, precise and forward-thinking than the experience with MHR 10 years ago, and if I'd known it would be so different, I would've pursued surgery with SMG a few years back. Feeling especially thankful for the HRN forums right now, too, for everyone's support.

 

Right now I'm back at the hotel, feeling fine, icing my forehead every once in awhile and applying Graftcyte every half-hour for better healing. Will try to visit some museums in downtown Minneapolis today while sneaking some Graftcyte during bathroom breaks.

 

I feel strangely proud of myself for breaking from the jobless, wifeless, New York-less existence I recently stepped out and beginning to take control over stuff like hairloss which was affecting my confidence. It's a first step to rebuilding as a single person and moving forward.

 

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that in 8-9 months things are looking good and I'll be ready for the other procedure to cover the mid-vertex and crown. Once that's done, I hope to be rid of the Toppik-caked combover I've had these past few years and have a decent hairstyle, even if it's not super dense, which in all honesty, it never was, even in my youth. I appreciate everyone's encouragement so far. Let me know if you have questions.

 

 

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Strip size: 1.2cm width x 17cm length & 1.0 cm width x 9.5cm length

 

1’s- 331

2’s – 846

3’s – 216

4’s – 18

 

Total: 1411 grafts, 2743 hairs

 

 

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[multiplier]

One dumb question - how do I create a hairloss Blog like others have? I thought I did it last night in my Valium haze, but think I screwed it up

[haircut]

Congratulations on finding SMG. Best of luck with the next few months, not that you need it :-)

[orlhair1]

Glad that everything went well for you overall. Even though you have to break it up into two procedures, it will be so worth it in the long run. You will also have a big difference with those 1,400 grafts where they were placed. The folks at SMG are really great and I am not surprised at all with your experience. I hope you heal quickly. Things are on the upswing for you now!

[aaron1234]

Great write up multiplier. And of course, the work looks like the usual work Dr. Paul's puts out - which is great! Your surgical experience basically sounds identical to mine.

 

I like the placement of the grafts for you. You should get better density than usual for that amount of grafts since they weren't spread out over too large an area - and you should have a natural mature hairline in a few months.

 

Starting a blog shouldn't be hard... but I did it so long ago I forgot how I set it all up. I'm sure one of mods could give you hand with that. Definitely keep us posted. The next few months will be tough but hang in there.

[Cant decide]

I am fully expecting a nice result here.

 

Congrats!

[multiplier]

Thanks a lot guys.

 

@aaron: meeting you in person at SMG, post-op, and seeing your progress definitely helped me make up my mind. I've never been under any delusions that it would take a few surgeries to get me where I want to be (this surgery only focused on the frontal third), and I'm already wishing I could fast-forward to next summer for the next procedure

 

It was really a relief to deal with a doc who considered every angle and every contingency that would determine my future progress, rather than the nonchalant assembly-line treatment I felt at MHR. I was also pleased to hear that stretching exercises made Dr Paul's work easier. I'd been pretty diligent about them, but somehow I always thought they were just a formality.

[Levrais]

Multiplier,

I also had just less than 1500 grafts to the front the first go around and noticed a very nice change. With the clinic you chose, your grafts are likely to grow well and make a big difference.

[NEWHAIRPLEASE]

Multiplier

You have a great story. I hope nothing but the best for you! You sound lime a solid guy and I think your in store for good things! The blog is easy. Follow the steps on signing in, it should walk you through it. Also, what made you decide on SMG? I know they are great, just wondering because they were in my top 3 but I went with Dr Rahal. So I was just wondering why different people choose different surgeons.

[multiplier]

Multiplier,

I also had just less than 1500 grafts to the front the first go around and noticed a very nice change. With the clinic you chose, your grafts are likely to grow well and make a big difference.

 

Thanks man, that's a relief to hear. Like most people I wish I could get everything done at once and get it over with, but I'll be patient these next 9 months or so before I come back to Shapiro for another pass.

[Levrais]

Thanks man, that's a relief to hear. Like most people I wish I could get everything done at once and get it over with, but I'll be patient these next 9 months or so before I come back to Shapiro for another pass.

 

I'm not going to say that time will go by fast, lol, but it will go by and you will get there.

[multiplier]

Also, what made you decide on SMG? I know they are great, just wondering because they were in my top 3 but I went with Dr Rahal. So I was just wondering why different people choose different surgeons.

 

Well, even after my first MHR procedure back in 2000, I kept up with various forum discussions about different HT doctors who came and went, but Shapiro's always floated to the top and was always mentioned with utmost respect. Same after his brother Paul came aboard. So I think I kept that in the back of my mind.

 

And here, 10 years later, the clinic is still producing solid work with a great reputation most doctors would envy. That is not an easy thing to maintain in an industry that can be controversial.

 

Not to mention, the Shapiro team of techs are not fly-by-night people, they are local, experienced, and very involved with the procedure. I think both Shapiro brothers are very careful and thoughtful about their work and that credibility is obvious when you meet them in person. They look at the big picture, they take a comprehensive view, they analyze your density scientifically. They're pretty forthcoming about traits that make you a good (or not good) candidate.

[Janna]

Very nice detailed write up. Thanks for sharing your experience. I've sent your photos but let me know if there's anything else you need. We look forward to following your progress.

[aaron1234]

@aaron: meeting you in person at SMG, post-op, and seeing your progress definitely helped me make up my mind. I've never been under any delusions that it would take a few surgeries to get me where I want to be (this surgery only focused on the frontal third), and I'm already wishing I could fast-forward to next summer for the next procedure

 

I'm glad to have helped. And the fact that you have realistic expectations will help you in the waiting process. You choose a great clinic/doc. Just hang tight. Good days are ahead.

 

It was really a relief to deal with a doc who considered every angle and every contingency that would determine my future progress, rather than the nonchalant assembly-line treatment I felt at MHR.

 

That is also my experience with Dr. Paul. He's not just a paint-by-numbers hair surgeon. He takes into consideration all external factors that your physiology brings to the table. i.e., that nasty pre-cancerous mole of mine he caught, my sensitive skin, and slow healing tendencies, etc.