Concerned with density at 5 months post op

[sr0d]

I received my transplant from Dr. Keene on January 3rd of this year. I was expecting alot more density at 5 1/2 months out. Do new hairs continue to sprout up or is it that the hairs you have just get thicker?

 

To me the last month has been the most difficult because I really thought it would fill in and I get a lot of weird looks because it is right up front on my forehead. I have contemplated shaving it down (as I have before) and wait until I see more density.

 

Can someone look at my pics and let me know if this is normal growth and/or if shaving it down is a typical alternative for people until more density is there?

Edited May 15, 2012 by sr0d
Mistake in title

[gillenator]

Well I certaily can understand how you feel. You may be a later bloomer my friend. I trust you meant Dr. Sharon Keene right?

 

Sometimes, you just never know. You could hit the 7-9 month period and see lots of new growth.

 

i would definitely give it more time.

 

Also get you doc's opinion on applying Rogaine (minoxidil) to the recipient area and see if that helps jump start more grafts in the telogen phase which is the dormant phase of the growth cycle.

 

If it were me, I would not yet cut the hair. If people have eye drift, try to ignore it.

 

I wish you the very best. Get back to us in a few months and see if things improve for you.

[sr0d]

Thanks for the reply gillenator. I catch a number of your posts on this forum and you always have some good knowledge. I was very close to shaving it down but my wife said I just need to leave it alone because I could be cutting the little hairs that are sprouting and not giving them a chance to grown.

 

I have been using rogaine foam ever since I got the procedure done. Trust me I have been taking hair supplements, bought expensive thickening shampoo, etc etc. I am just really bummed out right now with the whole thing. I have done so much research and really pondered doing this for years. I thought for sure that by 5 months I would be happy with my results and now I just wish I would've went with the bald look.

 

Another thing that is weird is that the place where the hairs were transplanted have always had a red hue. In other words there seems to be a lot of blood flowing to the area and you can especially see it after I have sweated from a workout. I wonder if I might have lost a lot of graphs and this is an indication of that. I really don't know. I am meeting with Dr. Sharon Keene later this week to get her opinion on things.

 

Have there been any other late bloomers out there? I would love to hear if there are other experiences similar to mine. Also if things don't pan out is there a way to reverse a hair transplant? I really would prefer a bald forehead instead of a forehead with low density hairs. It would be one thing if there were in the back of my head but its really tough because it is right front and center.

 

Thanks again for any other replies.

[gillenator]

You are very welcome sr0d, any time. I also agree with your wife's comments.

 

Listen my friend. I did not know you were doing all of the other things. Honestly, I would just let time do it's thing.

 

Introducing all of the other supplements may be holding back some of the transplanted follicles in the dormant phase. You may be experiencing post-op shock not of the hair falling out, but the follicles having all of these supplements in your system. Just my opinion.

 

If it were me, I would just chill. I would also consider stopping the minoxidil at this point. I had no idea that you were in fact using it immediately post-op. Did you wait for several weeks until complete healing of the scalp took place?

 

IMHO, we do not need to keep applying minoxidil to the recipient area indefinitely. Only to get the grafts going.

 

It cannot hurt to let time takes its course. Just allow the follicles to cycle through on their own. You just might find that time will take care of the problem without all of the other topicals and supplements.

 

Just resume the lifestyle you had before and forget about your HT for now. The added stress and fear that has been building inside may be also holding back those follicles in the resting phase.

 

Does any of this sound like your wife speaking? Just kidding, I am married too to a real sweetheart!

[NEWHAIRPLEASE]

Give it some more time. I know that's easier said than done because I catch myself thinking the samethings.like at 5 months I'm gonna be so happy. Well frankly that's really stupid. You are only at 50 percent at 5 months. Give it time. I know it's hard. I'm 4 months and things are really starting to get crazy for me. Crazy good!!!

[TakingThePlunge]

sr0d,

 

Glad to hear that you are meeting with Dr. Keene. Be sure to let us know what she says. At 5 months post-op you've got a lot more to come. It's still too early to make any calls. Try to hang in there and see what develops.

 

I grew slowly. Check out the 20 week pics from my first HT and compare them to the one year photos. I saw big changes around 10 months.

[RodG]

Hi,

 

By my count your just over 4 months post operation (unless you've made a mistake with the date) and its my understanding that you've only just started because the hair is dormant for 3 - 4 months. The hair initially grows in like baby hair but thickens and matures.

 

Sit back, don't stress and wait for the result to grow in.

 

Good luck Rod

[aaron1234]

5 months is nothing. You've got a long way to go.

 

And for the live of God don't shave your hair down. Transplanted hair needs some length to have its fullest effect.

[sr0d]

Hi all...thanks for all the responses. Reading them put my mind at ease and special thanks to Taking the Plunge! I saw your hair blog and it gave me a lot of hope...your hair turned out great.

 

I also miscalculated the month. I was actually in month 4 and now just shy of month 5. I have seen a little more density and new hairs are sprouting up here and there. See updated pics.

 

There does seem to be a bit of patchyness but I'm confident it will grow out soon. I go see my barber later this week and have contemplated whether I cut it down supershort to match the growth or should I leave it long to cover up the growth. Also what do you guys think of the density.

 

THanks again guys!

[RodG]

Hi,

 

Nothing to be worried about at this stage. I saw a bit of growth at 4.5months for my first HT. if at 6 months your disappointed u should discuss with the clinic.

 

Cheers Rod

[sr0d]

Hey thanks Rod. I met with Dr. Keene and she said I might just be a late bloomer. She also said that all the hairs I will ever grow will come out by 6 months so this reaffirms your post about the 6 month mark.

 

Does this mean right at 6 months or when the 6th month is complete?

[RodG]

Hi,

 

I've read a lot of information on this forum and my understanding there are variations in growth times for all members. In my case I could tell a difference at 4.5 months, it was quite easier to see the fine baby hair growing thru because I was so bald. I'm currently 4 months post op from my second HT and because I already have about 30 - 35 follicles per sec I'm finding that its more difficult to see the fine hairs.

 

Just sit back and wait for the six months to conclude and then start worrying if you don't see any improvement.

 

Good luck,

 

Rod

[gillenator]

Hey Rod, I wish you the best with your second pass for growth and coverage. I have seen a number of guys start with a bald surface area and hair quality really plays a huge role in this.

 

Sr0d,

 

It's more the range of time post-op whereby most patients see the most growth occur. For many patients it is usually in the 5th to the 9th month post-op period that I have observed the regrowth to be the most noticable.