2500 Graft Strip Surgery with Dr Feller 28th October 2011

[irishsailor]

Hello everyone,

 

Well just arrived back in the UK today from my surgery at Great Neck, New York with Dr Feller.

I have been a silent member on here for a couple of months now and have been using this site for the last 18months doing my research gaining fantastic knowledge along the way. I never wanted to write on here til I had my op with Dr Feller.

I had an op almost 4 yrs ago with the Hospital Group in the UK, the results i got where nothing like I was expecting and my confidence dropped even more than prior to my first HT due to the fact that now I was paranoid about not just losing my hair, everyone around me now knew i had a bad HT as well. Compared to alot of the op's that you read about on here from guys in the UK, I got away quite lightly as it was only 1000 grafts but still enough to produce a very pluggy look along my hairline with a scar that was too high up at the back in a frown shape rather than the happy smiling face if you get what i mean.

 

Fortunately i came across spex on here and the rest as they say is history. The man is a total legend, supporting me like the other guys from the UK and supporting me step by step right up to the day of my Op. I spent most of this year in Afghanistan and Spex was kind enough to sort everything out for me as I was a little busy over there.

 

I flew out on the 27th Oct from the UK for my op on the 28th with Dr Feller, and will now set my own web page up and keep an account of my journey and hopefully give something back to the community that have supported me over the last 18 months and helped me make what i believe to be a very good choice in having my second HT with Dr Feller.

 

The day itself was fantastic from being met at the door by Dr Feller to the staff ordering my cab to get me safely back to the hotel. You could see this was a well oiled machine, Dr feller certainly has a good bed side manner and put me at ease straight away. He knew my history with hospital group and made sure that every step that was conducted through the day was explained to me in full. The techs were fantastic as well during the day, we always seem to praise the doc's but the techs do a fantastic job as well.

 

I've been feeling abit under the weather since I got back but will endeavour to add some more at a later date.

 

Spex, thanks again for sorting everything out. Definately made a good choice with Dr Feller, he was a top bloke.

 

Just like to thanks everyone on here for all the info I have been able to sieve from the site.

 

Now comes the hard part, i'm not the best with technology, I think I have set my web page up as a signature block so pics so far should be attached to it. I will also speak to spex, as the Doc said he would forward the pre and post pics he took during the course of the day.

[TakingThePlunge]

irishsailor,

 

Welcome! Thank you for sharing your experience with Dr. Feller. He is a master of his craft and I'm looking forward to following your transformation.

 

Happy Growing!

[jessie1]

Welcome to the forum Irishsailor

 

Nice write up...

 

We both have a few things in common;

Both UK lads, both had a strip surgery with The Hospital Group 4 years ago, both of us ended up with a higher than normal strip scar, both of us took a confidence knock and finally we both had a HT with Dr Feller.......

 

Oh, and not to forget that we are both mediocre on the technology front!!!

 

Couple of quick questions if I may,

 

1) did Dr Feller manage to use the same donor scar or have you got another bearing in mind that your

scar was higher that the norm, albeit just inside the safety zone if it's anything similar to mine.

 

2) what surface area was covered. It looks like quite a large area, going by the pics, for 2500 grafts. What density were you provided with?

 

3) what was the graft breakdown: singles, doubles, trebles etc.

 

Welcome to the forum and all the best to you mate.

 

Until anybody has suffered at the hands of the Hospital Group or similar, it's difficult trying to comprehend the psychological turmoil. But all credit to you for mustering up the confidence to move on and put your faith in someone else.

 

All the very best,

 

Jessie

Edited November 3, 2011 by jessie1
Must proof read!

[irishsailor]

Taking the plunge,

 

Thanks for the kind words.

 

Jessie1.

 

Yeah there seems to be a view of us on here that had bad experiences with the Hospital Group. To answer your questions.

1. Dr Feller was able to get rid most of the scar that was made by the hospital group, i wasn't too worried about having 2 scars as i can get away with a buzz 3 normally back and sides.

2. I'm waiting for the results and breakdown of grafts from Feller, just got back yesterday so will post the results when I have them.

3. It was a large area covered, but I did have a lot of native hair in the area, it's just my head was shaved down and looks like I had no hair there to start with. When I receive the pre and post pics taken that day I shall post them with all the breakdown of the grafts.

 

Thanks again.

[orlhair1]

Thanks for sharing your story. Everything looks great and you were certainly in great hands with Dr. Feller. Heal well and keep us posted.

[chrisdav]

Hello Irish Sailor. Where you from in the UK and where did you get your previous transplant in UK?

[irishsailor]

Orlhair,

 

Thanks for taking the time to read, thanks:)

[irishsailor]

Hi Chrisdav,

 

I'm living over in Surrey now. My previous HT was with the Hospital Group in the UK:mad:

Certainly made an error in judgement, but with HT this time i did my research and believe i have made the right choice in Dr Feller:)

[chrisdav]

Yes, you have made an excellent choice. I had my surgery about 17 days agao with Dr Feller and had poor surgery in the UK from Norton and Fueclinics.

 

Has your head scabbed much?

[irishsailor]

I almost went to Norton, i have been shocked by the work they carried out on some of the guys on here. Well seems like we got it right in the end. Eh?

My head hasnt scabbed that much, followed to instructions and have washed my hair as per the instructions, so far so good:)

[chrisdav]

Yes should be good results,you been washing yours once or twice a day?

[irishsailor]

Chrisdav,

 

Im 6 days post op now, so gone back to normal washing of my hair. Been doing it twice a day, plus just running soapy water over the area keeping it from drying up to much.

 

Spex,

 

Many thanks mate, big thank you for everything you did for me. Just not looking forward to the waiting game now, but all good things come to those who wait i suppose. Just wait til next year when the hair greed kicks in:)

[irishsailor]

Question for anyone really. How aggressive after a week should you be with washing your hair? I've been following the instructions to the letter, but just a little unsure if i should just be gently massaging the recipient area at the 1 week mark or normal washing. I believe the grafts should be fully secured in place now. Just a little worried about scrubbing the scabs in case i may do some damage

 

Thanks Steve.

[chrisdav]

It does surprise me how diverse post operative care is from surgeon to surgeon.

[irishsailor]

I did get a good comprehensive set of instructions, just think i'm probably being a little too cautious:)

[irishsailor]

Thanks Spex,

 

Just on the off chance do you know if the doc is back yet? was just wondering if it's poss to get the breakdown of my grafts and pics that he took on the day.

 

Many thanks

[irishsailor]

Some phots taken on the day of my HT by Dr Feller. It's not til you look at your phots you see how bad a state your hair is really in

[irishsailor]

Spex,

 

Thanks mate, just over 2 weeks post HT now and you cant really notice the scar at the back. My recipient area has cleared up with no redness whatsoever. Been able to get out without wearing a cap already. All good!!

[grwelshy]

Hi , Hope you dont mind me messaging in your thread.. Your Hair is very similar to my own. I have also been told 2500 FUE . Which I am going to have early 2012.. With your "patch" at the front will you be using minoxidil ? I am also from the UK. Have had a consulation with thehospitalgroup as well as several turkish clinics.. After research I will no longer go with thehospitalgroup.

[irishsailor]

Hi there,

 

I haven't been using minoxidil before and to be honest i'm still not sure whether to use it now after my HT. I got myself on propecia a year ago, not sure if you know about this drug, but it effectively stops or slows down the balding process. I would never tell anyone where to go for their HT, however this site is a fantastic place to gather information. I got in contact with a guy called spex and he was fantastic and sorted everything out for me. He will offer unbiased advice and just really wants to helps guys try and not make the same mistakes he made along the way. If you scroll up you will see a couple of messages he sent me, if you click on them and go to his website he will be able to support and help you make a choice you will be happy with. Also there is a list on this site of recommended surgeons who are renowned for outstanding work.

Research is the key, like most guys on here i learned the hard way. Never let distance get in the way too, I travelled to New York to have my second HT, and it was the best decision i ever made.

 

Hope this helps:)

[grwelshy]

Hi there,

 

I haven't been using minoxidil before and to be honest i'm still not sure whether to use it now after my HT. I got myself on propecia a year ago, not sure if you know about this drug, but it effectively stops or slows down the balding process. I would never tell anyone where to go for their HT, however this site is a fantastic place to gather information. I got in contact with a guy called spex and he was fantastic and sorted everything out for me. He will offer unbiased advice and just really wants to helps guys try and not make the same mistakes he made along the way. If you scroll up you will see a couple of messages he sent me, if you click on them and go to his website he will be able to support and help you make a choice you will be happy with. Also there is a list on this site of recommended surgeons who are renowned for outstanding work.

Research is the key, like most guys on here i learned the hard way. Never let distance get in the way too, I travelled to New York to have my second HT, and it was the best decision i ever made.

 

Hope this helps:)

 

Thank You.. I will speak with spex. I was told about propecia. But also of its side affects.

 

Thanks again. Hope all grows well

[irishsailor]

Glad to help, please don't read into all the horror stories, i'm not saying there is no side effects, but it is aprrox only 2% of people. I have been on it for a yr with no probs and it certainly has helped me save my native hair, which is what we all want to achieve:)

[NEWHAIRPLEASE]

Irish

Good luck and grow well!! Excellent surgeon with proven results!!

[irishsailor]

Newhairplease,

 

Thanks for the kind words. Regards

[irishsailor]

Hi all, hope you have all had a great christmas with friends and family!!

 

Over the last couple of weeks i have started getting a little itchy in the recipient area with some redness and spots was wondering could this be new hairs coming throw already? Just looked at the pics i took at the end of month one and there seems to be definatley things happening in the last month.

Just wanted to share some pics and see if anyone had any comments:)

The first pic was taken only 3 weeks ago