Dr Rahal FUE, January 2013

[NoTakeBacks]

I totally get your disappointment and worries, the waiting game is the worst! I wish there was a way to get a glimpse into the future to assuage our nerves. But alas, science hasn't mastered that yet.

 

While I agree the results aren't amazing, there is SOME growth, and you technically have 3-6 more months to come (hopefully). I would have to think your friends and family are exaggerating just a bit. Either that or they forgot what you actually looked like pre-op, or maybe they're just being jerks lol.

 

Because of your peers comments, I made a small collage to compare the pre-op to your post op @ 6.5months. They're not all the same angle, but it drives the point across that there has been SOME (not 0% lol) improvement.

 

 

In the end all that matters is your happiness. I hope you reach that one day, and when you do, if your friends and family are still naysayers, screw em. :cool:

[greatjob]

You have definitely had growth and there is still more time to mature. I think the real issue isn't really yield, but rather the fact that 1400 grafts wasn't enough to meet your goals. You for sure have had much more than a 0% improvement from preop to now as the picture collage NoTakeBacks posted shows.

[mrpredictable]

Wow your hair is looking fantastic for 6.5 months, if I get anywhere near the density I'll be a happy camper. You're right, I'm at 1.5 months right now and the waiting is killing me! The mirror is my mortal energy at this point.

 

How is your hair feeling? Does it feel natural like your original hair did?

[RecedingTide]

Hmmm. In general I don't think FUE has the same yield as FUT but I agree with what others have said in this thread; I believe it is the case that 1400 was never going to be enough for your goals. Double that, 2800. would be more appropriate. Problem is 2800 is pushing what can be done reliably in 1 session of FUE.

 

Maybe the conservative approach of 1400 in the first session followed by another 1000-1400 in the next session will actually turn out better in the long run that if they went straight ahead and implanted 2800 in one go. Your donor has not been squandered. No worries on that front.

 

It's far from a disaster here. You'll be fine and I'm sure Rahal and co. will take good care of you. Stay positive. All the best.

[Mickey85]

You have definitely had growth and there is still more time to mature. I think the real issue isn't really yield, but rather the fact that 1400 grafts wasn't enough to meet your goals. You for sure have had much more than a 0% improvement from preop to now as the picture collage NoTakeBacks posted shows.

 

I do believe yield is an issue, sorry. The collage of photos show angles vastly different to pre-op and the lighting is different. You can clearly see the areas of no/little growth in his other photos so the yield is obviously a concern. He got more than a 0% improvement but 30% would be very generous.

[Slickers]

I do believe yield is an issue, sorry. The collage of photos show angles vastly different to pre-op and the lighting is different. You can clearly see the areas of no/little growth in his other photos so the yield is obviously a concern. He got more than a 0% improvement but 30% would be very generous.

 

The angles and lighting are not identical but that doesn't mean they're any less clear in the second set of pics. They look perfectly bright and clear to me. You really think the improvement here could be achieved by just 450 grafts? i.e. 30% of the procedure?

[cloudy]

I don't understand what seems to be the issue here? You have an outstanding result! If I would see you for the first time, I would say you have great hair and couldn't even see that there has been a transplant. Bravo!!

[Mickey85]

The angles and lighting are not identical but that doesn't mean they're any less clear in the second set of pics. They look perfectly bright and clear to me. You really think the improvement here could be achieved by just 450 grafts? i.e. 30% of the procedure?

 

We all know how lighting and angles can make a HUGE difference to one's hair. There are big empty gaps in the close ups where no hair is existent. I dont think more than 30% of the grafts yieldd. You have the OP saying there was little more than 0% improvement and while that may not be exact, i dont think it was higher than a 30% yield rate.

Edited August 19, 2013 by Mickey85

[Slickers]

We all know how lighting and angles can make a HUGE difference to one's hair.

 

Of course but I don't believe that the 6 months photos are bad, or deceptive or poor. They're not the exact same angle, lighting but that doesnt make them poor. They clearly show what his hair looks like now vs what it used to look like and in my opinion it's a significant cosmetic improvement.

 

There are big empty gaps in the close ups where no hair is existent. I dont think more than 30% of the grafts yieldd. You have the OP saying there was little more than 0% improvement and while that may not be exact, i dont think it was higher than a 30% yield rate.

 

The OP actually said that family and friends have noticed 0% improvement and I think we all know how much that can be taken with a pinch of salt. How many guys who have undergone massive transformations haven then commented on how close friends and family didnt even realise. Sure in this instance the OP has sought their opinion but the gradual process over 6 months on such a small session with a guy that already had some hair to begin with doesn't add much to the final evaluation IMO.

 

I agree in the close up there does appear to be spareness insofar as there isn't a wall of hair. Overall though I fail to see how you've come to the opinion that it's '30% yield and that's generous' (before you edited). I don't see 450 grafts turning someone from 'quite obviously balding' to 'nice head of hair' as others on here have commented.

[Mickey85]

You can literally count that hairs just by looking at them in the close up shots. The OP was reiterated that there has been little growth.. The OP stated there was little to no improvement from months 4 to 5 and now this. Let's not forget the before and after where the OP showed there was NO difference at months 4.5. The photos are not at all consistent. The pre-op shots are under HEAVY lighting and accentuate the balding areas while the 6 month shots are under totally different lighting. Believe what you want. Here is the the photo the OP took showing no difference from pre-HT to post 4.5 months:

 

http://i1277.photobucket.com/albums/y487/bridgetJones2013/rahal_june2013_zps2cc85f6d.jpg

 

Where did the change happen then if there was no difference at 4.5 months and then at months 5 when he reiterated it looks the same? Then at 6.5 months he says again "Well it did improve form 4 months but insignificantly". I fail to see when(let alone where the difference is) the grafts actually grew.

[Slickers]

You can literally count that hairs just by looking at them in the close up shots. The OP was reiterated that there has been little growth.. The OP stated there was little to no improvement from months 4 to 5 and now this. Let's not forget the before and after where the OP showed there was NO difference at months 4.5. The photos are not at all consistent. The pre-op shots are under HEAVY lighting and accentuate the balding areas while the 6 month shots are under totally different lighting. Believe what you want. Here is the the photo the OP took showing no difference from pre-HT to post 4.5 months:

 

http://i1277.photobucket.com/albums/y487/bridgetJones2013/rahal_june2013_zps2cc85f6d.jpg

 

Where did the change happen then if there was no difference at 4.5 months and then at months 5 when he reiterated it looks the same? Then at 6.5 months he says again "Well it did improve form 4 months but insignificantly". I fail to see when(let alone where the difference is) the grafts actually grew.

 

How many people post asking for feedback unsure of their own progress? Looking at themselves everyday in the mirror unable to see the gradual change. Do I underestimate the importance of the patient actually feeling like they've had growth and it's made a difference, no. That's why we undergo the procedure in the first place, obviously.

 

But often because it is so gradual especially when it's a small procedure, the patient can lose track of the progress they've made. That's why they reach out to posters for their opinions.

 

The OP has shared the photos himself. Presumably therefore he's happy that they're representative of how things look, wouldnt you agree?. So over to us for our opinions and short of counting hairs OVERALL it LOOKS like a significant cosmetic improvement notwithstanding I can see some areas of concern that the OP mentions. That said much of the grafts were placed around a forelock so a pic showing one side close up is really difficult to judge the overall result.

 

Let's just agree to disagree shall we.

[BridgetJones]

400 grafts of course will not change anything. It was just a comment from Dr. Rahal's meeting. If I ever do it again, of course it won't be 400 grafts...

 

I also do not really agree that 1400 was too little. While it's of course a small amount of grafts but it was estimated not only by Dr. Rahal himself but by other surgeons as well that I don't need more than 2000 grafts to restore it to reasonable density. In fact, some have said that transplanting more than 2100 would not be a good idea as it could imbalance the hairline where transplanted area would look more dense than the existing hair. I don't not necessarily agree with that but still..

I don't think if we would do 2000 it would make huge difference. Besides Dr. Rahal wanted to transplant more in the back that he did with 1400 but the hairline was pretty much as he planned it with 2000 grafts.

 

 

@Mickey85

In my case new hair are very thin first but after a month or so they do mature. Which is why there is difference between 5 and 6 months. In my previous post maybe I didn't express myself clear but I was referring to overall results, not just hairline. And hair at the back of the temples matured since then.

If you would look at the first 6 months pic you will that the hairline is pretty much the same as at 4.5 months. I did have growth at the back of the temples but the hairline changed insignificantly. Again, because new hair are very thin they are even hard to see in the mirror camera wouldn't pick them up until they mature.

[BridgetJones]

8.5 months update:

 

Mood: Very sad

Friends & Family: Stopped talking about it.

 

Overall:

Well, I don't know what to say. I am very upset. 8.5 months did not bring much changes (I wasn't expecting though). I believe I made the biggest mistake in my life to have HT in first place. My life has become a nightmare ever since. My confidence has simply vanished, I don't go out anymore, I don't meet people, I don't socialise. I feel extremely uncomfortable even going outside. My hairline looks horrible. Like the Beast from Beauty and the Beast I just want to break all the mirrors. As a matter of fact I have pretty much changed all the mirrors at home so they never go above my forehead, because I don't wanna see my hair.

I don't know what to do. I don't have donor grafts anymore. I really don't know what to do. All my hopes are broken. My whole life is broken

 

 

 

 

[Since13]

What????

Your hair looks nice and I think that your HT is far from being a failure.

You should be happy! It's not 5000 grafts. 1400 grafts are good for touch ups and not for a dense hairline. However, I think you've had a nice yield. This is what I can see from the pictures!

[greatjob]

BridgetJones, I really don't like to jump on an unsatisfied patient, but your write up and your photos don't synch up. Your hair looks just the way I would expect it to look after 1400 grafts from where you started. I'm not sure if your expectations were too high or if you are having trouble seeing the reality of how you look now from where you came from, but you hair looks really good, definitely not like the "beast" from beauty and the beast. Looking at the comparison below I don't know how you could think a HT was the worst mistake of your life, or why you feel you can't leave your house.

 

[Since13]

BridgetJones, I really don't like to jump on an unsatisfied patient, but your write up and your photos don't synch up. Your hair looks just the way I would expect it to look after 1400 grafts from where you started. I'm not sure if your expectations were too high or if you are having trouble seeing the reality of how you look now from where you came from, but you hair looks really good, definitely not like the "beast" from beauty and the beast. Looking at the comparison below I don't know how you could think a HT was the worst mistake of your life, or why you feel you can't leave your house.

 

 

Agree!

Your hair looks better than 90% of the people I see on the street. That is, streets would be empty if people with similar or worse hair stay at home:)

[tacolinowest]

Wtf? Is this a joke? Ur hair looks amazing wat r u talking about, some people on this site have double the grafts you had and still doesn't look as good as yours >=[ ,, I wish mine was more like yours

[cloudy]

Don't get us wrong but if you are not satisfied with this amazing result (look your photo before and latest photo), you should talk to someone about motivating you because you obviously have some other issue since you're depressed. It's something we all go through are lifetime, some once, some several times. No big deal. Your hair look better than Bred Pitt's, we are not saying this to encourage you, we say it because that's a FACT!

Go dive into some girl now!

[chrisdav]

I am also surprised by the comments. The hair looks much improved and what I would expect from 1400 grafts over the area covered.

[alix]

I'm usually not easily pleased with HT results and don't say a result looks good unless it really does but

honestly,it looks much improved,you probably wanted the hairline more dense,but it's still a very good result in my opinion.I really can't believe what you wrote there.it's really looking good.just compare the 3 photos side by side..definite improvement and the forehead that i'm seeing after HT looks a good 7-8 years younger than the one before.

[Mickey85]

8.5 months update:

 

Mood: Very sad

Friends & Family: Stopped talking about it.

 

Overall:

Well, I don't know what to say. I am very upset. 8.5 months did not bring much changes (I wasn't expecting though). I believe I made the biggest mistake in my life to have HT in first place. My life has become a nightmare ever since. My confidence has simply vanished, I don't go out anymore, I don't meet people, I don't socialise. I feel extremely uncomfortable even going outside. My hairline looks horrible. Like the Beast from Beauty and the Beast I just want to break all the mirrors. As a matter of fact I have pretty much changed all the mirrors at home so they never go above my forehead, because I don't wanna see my hair.

I don't know what to do. I don't have donor grafts anymore. I really don't know what to do. All my hopes are broken. My whole life is broken

 

 

 

 

 

While the yield might not be what you wanted, it certainly is no reason to vanish from everyday life and become a recluse. I have done this in the past believing that my hair looked shit and that people would look at me funny. I was depressed over my situation also. It is just a waste of precious youth and life. Please please please don't withdraw from socializing, going out and doing things you enjoy. While the yield might not be what you wanted, you certainly do not look horrible, not even close. No one would second guess you had surgery. You also have options for repair. Don't think your life is over because of this issue...

[1978matt]

The hairline is clearly lacking but no need to hit the panic button yet. This is only 8.5 months. Only the other day we had a guy showing next to nothing at 6 months and a massive change by 9months.

 

Give it another 3.5 months but to echo the other posters this is far from a disaster!

[Cant decide]

This tread is very strange to me. This guy thinks his life is over with this head of hair?? I really hope you dont progress to a NW IV or above because what woud you do then? I dont say this lightly but you may want to consider some counceling.

[Mickey85]

I dont say this lightly but you may want to consider some counceling.

 

If the depression and reclusive nature persists, then I personally would seek some help. It is because of situations like this that I try to convince people with minor hairloss not to undergo surgery. People going in to cosmetic surgery are very concerned about their visual appearance, so when the procedure does no turn, the issue is exacerbated and it manifests. I can certainly relate with the OP. It is part of the cosmetic industry that I really dislike as we are shown all the marvelous results but the patients with unsuccessful are left with depression and anxiety... The clinics never show us this side.

[Theluckyllama]

I don't say this too heavy handed, but there is a box on your medical form that said "is this patient mentally fit for a hair transplant?" Your doctor should have selected, no.