Hair-loss story and 2500 FUT with Dr Feller

[krisl]

Guys thanks so much for all the replies, was really great to wake up to them and have a read through.

 

rock1225 - I suffered from pretty bad shock loss and I had to contend with people who knew I had it done, saying to me it looks worse than before. It was a pain to have to keep reminding them that this was normal. The 2nd picture in that series with the red background was how bad it looked - very wispy and thin. But within two weeks of that being taken the transformation was starting, so it's true what they say about getting over the first three months. Just forget about it if you can and you'll look in the mirror one morning and just go 'whoa...something's happening here...'

 

tacolinowest - haha, cheers dude! And good luck! You've chosen someone who has a proven track record.

 

spex - thanks for that mate

 

agenteye - thanks a lot for that, really appreciated. Exactly, I can't believe this still has to mature! I've been so used to having thinning hair, that I'd happily take this, so to think that it's going to be completely thick in a few months is unbelievable. My brother couldn't even look at me on Skype he was so jealous! He's already saving up the dollar ;D Look forward to updating my progress in due course...

Edited April 3, 2013 by krisl

[chrisdav]

krisl,

 

Your hair is looking great at 5 months. It is still early and you will be due for more growth and maturing yet- so it is not the finished result by any means.

 

That might give you an idea:

 

http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/148161-what-exactly-hair-transplant-growth-timeline.html

 

Keep us posted.

[krisl]

Great thread, thanks for sharing chrisdav

[krisl]

So it's been just over six months, and surprisingly, this has been the most difficult period. Having a hair line again has meant that I've begun spending up 15-30mins styling my hair in the mirror before I go out! Whereas before there wasn't much I could do, now it's so tantalisingly close that I just wish it was fuller instead of this in-between stage.

 

Also, what has surprised me is how quickly you get used to it. Last month I was loving it - constantly amazed at the transformation. This month though I've settled into the look, and have begun to have my first taste of what hair-greed is. I really, really can't wait for it to fully grow and even then, I can imagine wanting a bit more. Terrible, but from I've read, unfortunately quite natural.

 

Now having to find myself a good hair-dresser, and strange having to think about hair styles again. One thing though, people have been amazed at how it looks - and friends who hadn't seen me in a few weeks, mention that it looks thicker than when they last saw me, so things are happening quite quickly. I take great satisfaction from telling them this is only the half-way mark

 

I know I said I wouldn't judge it till at least the 8 month stage, but with it looking like this, it's very hard not to. Next update will be in a couple months!

 

p.s. The transplanted hair is very curly - does this blend in eventually?

[tacolinowest]

lookin fantastic at the half way point, im 1 week post op with feller myself and its gonna be a long ride i see, cant wait to see your next update

[irishsailor]

Looking good so far fella. My hair took over a yr before it straightened out. All normal nothing to worry about

[Eman]

The transplanted hair will calm down and blend over time--once it matures. Mine took about a year to do so, but now it matches the native hair.

[TakingThePlunge]

Excellent 6 month results! My hair was super wiry for at least a year but eventually blended perfectly with my native hair.

[krisl]

Thanks for the replies everyone - that's what I thought, good to know this is definitely the case.

 

Will be in touch with an update and more pictures at the end of June

[tacolinowest]

end of june ?

[krisl]

Yeah, want to give it to the 8 month mark. If there's a big change by the end of the month I'll post something up...

[krisl]

Just a quick update to keep things ticking along.

 

I haven't noticed much change over the last month, which has made me feel that things have started to slow down a bit, only for me to see friends I hadn't seen in a few weeks who have re-assured me that there is definitely a lot of growth still happening.

 

Because the hairline is shaped now, it's all about the thickening and maturing, which you don't notice on a day to day basis.

 

I remember Dr Feller saying to me on the day "You'll forget what it was like." I couldn't believe it, Of course I'll remember what it was like! But sure enough as the weeks go by, you do become used to this look, and because once upon a time we did have this look before, we very easily settle back into it, and the (good) 'problems' that arise with it i.e. adding an extra 20mins before going out to style/re-style your hair over and over again.

 

So all good, and looking forward to sharing the 8 month mark, though can't imagine much of a change to now.

[agenteye]

It looks SO GOOD, buddy! 'Course, you already know that!! Congrats on a successful result. I'm a few weeks behind you to my 7-Month mark, and the hair is definitely just starting to thicken a bit for me. Looking forward to your 8 month progress update!!

 

Best,

 

Mike

[tacolinowest]

lookin good, yes not much change since last month however your still only a little over half way, on a scale from 1 to 10 how happy are you with your results so far?

[krisl]

Hey guys, sorry for the late response - lots of work on at the minute.

 

Mike - cheers dude! Appreciate that. It's ups and downs at the minute (though very few downs), as I come to terms with what I can and cannot do with my hair. There's that initial amazement at what's happening, then there's the impatience (for some impatience probably comes first), so it's a case of being patient and trusting in the process and seeing what happens.

 

Tacolinowest - early days mate. I don't want to be rating it till the process has come to its conclusion, and even then a rating seems wrong. How can you gage this? It's different for everyone. We lose perspective. Two months ago I was at a '10' - I had hair - the first time in years. I've become used to that now and I'm looking for the 'next level'. So it's about being comfortable in whatever the process brings.

[krisl]

Hey everyone,

 

So the 8-month mark has been and gone, and it's a hard one to describe. I've spoken to Spex about this in the last week, as my overall feeling was, if I'm being honest, of slight disappointment.

 

I had set this stage as the first time I could really gage how it's come along. But looking back, I'd say the mark that really blew me away was around the 6-month stage. My hairline had begun to be formed, and it was all very exciting. So looking forward I imagined my hair to be a lot thicker than it is now.

 

Spex gave me good advice, and it was to assess how far I've come altogether, rather than where I 'should' be. Looking at the pictures side-by-side of where I was pre-op and where I am now left me stunned. You really do forget. I can't believe how bald I was going. So compared to then, it has been a massive success.

 

I guess the only battle is with my own personal goals. I would like it to be a lot thicker on the sides, and you can see from the photos that it's still quite thin in those areas. I'm hoping that in the next few months they'll thicken up considerably, but I'm already preparing myself for this to be unlikely. Fingers crossed.

 

Happy to hear everyone else's honest opinions.

[agenteye]

Krisl-

 

You shouldn't be disappointed in the least buddy, you look terrific. Not only was your transplant a huge success compared to your before photos......but you're only 8 months out and have a full year more for the characteristics of your transplanted hair to change (for the better). I also am at the 8-month mark, so not much advice to offer in the way of a "predecessor"....but what I can tell you is that I have talked to MULTIPLE guys on here who assured me that their real density started to come between month 10 and month 13. Trust me, as someone who isn't entirely thrilled with his own density at 7 1/2 months, I definitely asked around.

 

Chin up for sure!! Everything looks great already, and it's going to continue to get better. I would certainly be thrilled if I were you.....I mean that sincerely!

 

Mike

[krisl]

Thanks Mike, and I think you're absolutely right - I think I almost made myself think that the 8-month mark was it, and everything subsequent to that is minor. From what others have said, there's still plenty more to come, so it's a case of relaxing and trusting in the process.

 

And looking at the the before and after pictures at the minute have made me re-assess how far I've come!!

[agenteye]

Hahaha, agreed! Although it doesn't make the "process" any less frustrating/annoying. The only thing that comforts me is the evidence of the progression of growth from what science tells us, and listening to the many thousands who have come before us. I am pretty optimistic (and have seen enough before and after pictures) to know that there are big things in store for us still......we're just getting going! =)

 

Congratulations again. You really should be thrilled with your result already!

[tacolinowest]

ithink that given it was only 2500 grafts its a great out come, imo this is more or less it, it might get a little better but the boom is over, it has deff maid a big difference in you appearance, but if i was you id be a happy camper, its not an over the moon transformation , but what you can expect from a good doc with 2500 grafts, witch is a great transformation, if mine comes out like yours i will be happy

[tacolinowest]

what are family and friends saying?

[Spanker]

It is kind of what I would expect for 2500 grafts. I think if you goals were for it to be dense you should have shrunk the area covered. You could probably fit another 2K in your frontal half at the 14 month mark and it would make a huge difference. Not sure what your lifetime donor supply is.

[FriskyDingo]

I think these results are great! I'm one month post-HT procedure with a very similar pattern of hair loss prior to surgery, and will be really happy if I have anything close to your results at the 8 month mark. One can't help but be hyper-critical and over-scrutinize the face one sees in the mirror everyday (I'm the poster boy for this, really), but to an impartial observer the difference is really apparent.

[TommyLucchese]

I'm coming up to that 1 year mark now (end of July) and my hair now is so much better than it was in March.

 

Really....don't underestimate the importance each extra month down the road makes. I'm looking forward to some extra improvement up to the 18 month mark too.

[krisl]

Cheers everyone, good to read through your replies.

 

Tacolinowest - family and friends are stunned to be honest, at least those who don't have the benefit of seeing me everyday. The ones who see me sporadically all say how much thicker it looks, and those who haven't seen me since pre-op can't quite figure out what's happened, other than I'm 'looking really well'

 

Spanker - Dr Feller said I've got a good amount of donor supply, but I'm in no rush. I'll see how it pans out, and I definitely won't be planning another one until I see the full benefits of this one.

 

FriskyDonor - cheers mate, and grow well! It's a long road - DM me anytime if you fancy a chat about it.

 

TommyLucchese - thanks for that dude, good to hear. It's something that I've needed to be reminded of - this is by no means the end of the process, and there is still plenty of maturing to come. Am gonna go and check out your pics now!