punchouts, moving grafts, reshaping the hairline

[multiplier]

I'm getting a second surgery with SMG in January. The current shape of my hairline is a deep dip of the widow's peak and recessed temples. I'd like to round it out a bit more. I'm hoping to have 100+ grafts punched out of the very point of my frontal hairline and re-transplanted to thicken the area behind it. Since I have average donor hair anyway, this seems like a better use of the hair. I never really minded having a receding hairline anyway, it's more the all around diffuse thinning I'm hoping to fix.

 

Anyway, has anyone had surgery where hair was essentially "moved around" successfully to reshape the hairline?

[Blake Bloxham]

Interesting question. I feel like most physicians would rather enhance and work with the existing restoration (opposed to removing and reinserting grafts), but your request would definitely be possible. I've seen plenty of cases on the forums were larger grafts in the frontal hairline were extracted via an FUE-like process, trimmed into follicular units, and reimplanted. Did you speak with SMG about it?

[agenteye]

Hi Multiplier-

 

I agree with Blake.....interesting question/plan of action! I was just curious....do you think 100 grafts is enough to make that big of a difference....in that, are you concerned what's remaining of your donor bank will limit the results you are trying to achieve? Looking at your signature would imply that you've only had about 2000 grafts to date transplanted, which would indicate to me you most likely have plenty more to play with for future transplantation. I can't imagine you'd want to pay to have transplanted hair (that you've already paid for once) relocated to a new area....especially such a small amount?! At any rate, I'm anxious to hear what you and Dr. Shapiro decide. You're in the hands of a really talented physician....as you must already know being a repeat patient and all! :-)

 

Best,

 

 

Mike

[multiplier]

We actually already did it in my previous surgery - we punched out more like 20 grafts and re-used them. Presumably, anyway. I never heard whether there was any trouble re-inserting those particular grafts and don't know how I would monitor whether or not they grew successfully.

 

Re: donor hair, it's impossible to say what the final result would be once it's taxed, but I would rather have thicker hair that's receded, than lower hair that's very diffuse...

 

So has no one had this experience of punching out / reshaping the hairline like this?

[TommyLucchese]

How many grafts will you be getting? I looked at your pics ... 1411 grafts for such a large area seems a bit small to me. Though your 11 month pic does look like a big improvement!

[Dr. Ricardo Mejia]

Photos do not always tell the complete picture . However, the importnt question is if you want more density do more grafts if your donor density allows it. If you are not happy with the frontal hair line and it appears pluggy then by all means, I certainly typically do an fue type plug reduction and recycling. The decision rests on a good consultation of your objectives and examination of your donor density.