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Considering FUE: healing, cost, and best Doctors?


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Hi everyone! I am new here and figured I would register and start getting more involved.

 

I am strongly considering a FUE procedure as I really like to keep my hair short (<2 on the sides.)

 

I just went to a consultation with Dr. Lindsey in Virginia (close to me) and they actually called recently to offer me a cancellation spot for a $2k discount. He had suggested I would need 1000-1300 FUE grafts. The timing isn't quite good for me so I am continuing my search.

 

I've uploaded a lot of pictures from different angles, lighting, and parting of my hair to give the best look at my thinning. Those are here: HT Before - Album on Imgur

 

Normally, I am not too concerned with my hair except for the thinning in the very front middle and front side temple areas.

 

I have a few questions that I was hoping some of you could help me out with:

 

  • Does any of the better FUE doctors do the extraction and implantation themselves or is it always a group of technicians?
     
  • I am very concerned with returning to work 1 or 2 weeks post procedure. I think that is what is mostly making me hesitant and only considering the holiday time frame (Thanksgiving / Christmas time)... Any advice or suggestions on how to make it less noticeable?
     
  • I have Crohn's disease and am on Cimzia and Imuran. I understand this could affect the healing process. Are there many doctors who have any similar cases and their results? Any advice here? I am generally very healthy otherwise. I think most autoimmune diseases would apply here. I noticed Dr. Umar's uGraft appears to assist in the healing on the donor areas, any truth to this?
     
  • Although cost isn't my first criteria, I am slightly concerned about an $7-8 per graft cost for FUE for some of the best doctors. Are there any suggestions for good FUE doctors at a lower cost (quality is still the most important factor)? I've already done the research on the best FUE doctors in general.

 

Thank you so much for any time spent answering these questions.

 

Chris

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  • Does any of the better FUE doctors do the extraction and implantation themselves or is it always a group of technicians?
     
  • I am very concerned with returning to work 1 or 2 weeks post procedure. I think that is what is mostly making me hesitant and only considering the holiday time frame (Thanksgiving / Christmas time)... Any advice or suggestions on how to make it less noticeable?
     
     
     
  • Although cost isn't my first criteria, I am slightly concerned about an $7-8 per graft cost for FUE for some of the best doctors. Are there any suggestions for good FUE doctors at a lower cost (quality is still the most important factor)? I've already done the research on the best FUE doctors in general.

 

Thank you so much for any time spent answering these questions.

 

Chris

From the looks of his website and cases on this site, Lindsey seems like a solid choice. I am also in the mid-Atlantic and considered him as a surgeon.

 

From what I understand, most US docs extract and implant FUE, unless Neograpft is involved.

 

Work is a tough one, I waited exactly two weeks, wish I would have done a couple more days, as people will comment on the change in your appearance, not in an incriminating way, but it's attention you probably don't want. Since your hair is already short, it probably would be less noticeable. Wait at least 10 days.

 

Cost is a product of doing an indeph search, but should not drive your choice. Dr.s Cooley and Vories do extremely quality work out of charlotte, their prices are $6 & $4 per.

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Physically or aesthetically healing? Physically you are fine a day or two later, aesthetically it's an eye sore for 10 days, which is the soonest you'll see the scabs completely gone. If you cut your hair short, 1 or 2 guard, no one will notice after this point.

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  •  

  • I have Crohn's disease and am on Cimzia and Imuran. I understand this could affect the healing process. Are there many doctors who have any similar cases and their results? Any advice here? I am generally very healthy otherwise. I think most autoimmune diseases would apply here. I noticed Dr. Umar's uGraft appears to assist in the healing on the donor areas, any truth to this?

 

 

 

Physically... Specifically related to the above quoted bullet point... I'm worried that I'd be wasting my money if it doesn't heal right...

 

Chris

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Bump...

 

Looking for any advice relating to physically healing while on immune suppressant drugs like Cimzia and Imuran for Crohn's disease. I could skip a dose or two before the surgery especially when my disease isn't active.

 

Dr. Umar just replied to an email stating that he wouldn't be comfortable doing a HT on me... Slightly discouraging...

 

Chris

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Probably would have to be off drugs for at least a month to reduce risk of serious infection or bleeding complications. I would ask your gastroenterologist what he thinks. Non surgeons are loathe to provide "clearance" considering the risk of litigation but will advise you and provide for optimal medical management should a surgeon agree to proceed. For a non immunocompromised patient following an FUE bleeding risk is minimal after 72 hours but infection is still possible for the first week -10 days. Dr. Vories in NC is not too far from you and worthy of a consultation as well.

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Have you looked at any international docs in turkey or india? It is best to go to docs that have a careful fue surgical protocol and safety measures to minimize the risk of graft death. You need a doc that is able to give consistently high yield in fue. Look around, do not jump into this. Look at doctor Bhatti fue protocol or the fue protocol with some Turkish surgeons and compare it to most other fue surgeons in the US. Dr. Vories is one surgeon in North America that seems to do extractions or procedure himself versus technicians or other doctors. Look at his prices, i think he charges 4 per graft.

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