My story. (The end needs your help!)

[cliftonsantiago]

Hey guys, first and foremost, I'd like to thank all of you for contributing to this community, I've had so many questions to ask and no one to answer them for so long. It's great to finally find you.

 

My story is a strange one, and if you'll indulge me, I'd like to ask for some advice.

 

The beginning:

 

When I was a kid, (probably 10ish) i had a strange growth of scabs on my scalp. My family wasn't stable financially so we weren't able to see a doctor, and although they caused me no discomfort, my father pulled the scabs off. Unfortunately in doing so, he pulled out several clumps of hair that never regrew, leaving me with two bald spots on the top of my head, each about 1"x2", each on opposing sides of my head.

 

When I turned 18, frustrated by my inability to wear short haircuts, having to constantly comb-over the spots, insecurities about windy days or someone standing above me, and preemptively embarrassed about having to explain the spots to a girlfriend, I decided to get a hair transplant.

 

I was so anxious to get the spots "filled in" that I did very little research and rushed to make an appointment with the first doctor I met. The doctors name escapes me now and the amount of grafts as well, but after the strip procedure we did, only about 20% of the transplants stayed. Now this could be my mistake for having had chosen a poor doctor, or perhaps somehow my fault for not being responsible post-op, but either way, here I am, 10 years later, and still facing all of the aforementioned problems.

 

Because the strip procedure was relatively traumatizing I've long put off the idea of going in for another pass. Recently I read about the FUE procedure and it sounds like a much less evasive process, something I'm very interested in pursuing.

 

My questions are as follows:

 

1. Is it possible that the transplants didn't "take" because of the doctor, me, or perhaps some scar tissue from the original incident? Is this a problem that I'll never be able to get around?

 

2. Based on the size of the spots, (both roughly 1" x 2") and these photos, how many grafts will I need? How long will the procedure be?

 

3. Is a FUE procedure the best way to go? What is the cost generally

 

4. What type of pre-op things are necessary with an FUE procedure? I have a phobia of pills and drugs, so did my original strip treatment with only local anesthesia. Would I be able to do this with an FUE procedure?

 

5. How can I find a good doctor for the job? (I'm based in Marin, so San Francisco bay area is best)

 

thanks again for creating the community. I apologize if some of my questions are green, but thanks in advance.

 

Top view:

 

 

Left spot detail:

 

 

Right spot detail:

 

[cliftonsantiago]

Hey guys, first and foremost, I'd like to thank all of you for contributing to this community, I've had so many questions to ask and no one to answer them for so long. It's great to finally find you.

 

My story is a strange one, and if you'll indulge me, I'd like to ask for some advice.

 

The beginning:

 

When I was a kid, (probably 10ish) i had a strange growth of scabs on my scalp. My family wasn't stable financially so we weren't able to see a doctor, and although they caused me no discomfort, my father pulled the scabs off. Unfortunately in doing so, he pulled out several clumps of hair that never regrew, leaving me with two bald spots on the top of my head, each about 1"x2", each on opposing sides of my head.

 

When I turned 18, frustrated by my inability to wear short haircuts, having to constantly comb-over the spots, insecurities about windy days or someone standing above me, and preemptively embarrassed about having to explain the spots to a girlfriend, I decided to get a hair transplant.

 

I was so anxious to get the spots "filled in" that I did very little research and rushed to make an appointment with the first doctor I met. The doctors name escapes me now and the amount of grafts as well, but after the strip procedure we did, only about 20% of the transplants stayed. Now this could be my mistake for having had chosen a poor doctor, or perhaps somehow my fault for not being responsible post-op, but either way, here I am, 10 years later, and still facing all of the aforementioned problems.

 

Because the strip procedure was relatively traumatizing I've long put off the idea of going in for another pass. Recently I read about the FUE procedure and it sounds like a much less evasive process, something I'm very interested in pursuing.

 

My questions are as follows:

 

1. Is it possible that the transplants didn't "take" because of the doctor, me, or perhaps some scar tissue from the original incident? Is this a problem that I'll never be able to get around?

 

2. Based on the size of the spots, (both roughly 1" x 2") and these photos, how many grafts will I need? How long will the procedure be?

 

3. Is a FUE procedure the best way to go? What is the cost generally

 

4. What type of pre-op things are necessary with an FUE procedure? I have a phobia of pills and drugs, so did my original strip treatment with only local anesthesia. Would I be able to do this with an FUE procedure?

 

5. How can I find a good doctor for the job? (I'm based in Marin, so San Francisco bay area is best)

 

thanks again for creating the community. I apologize if some of my questions are green, but thanks in advance.

 

Top view:

 

 

Left spot detail:

 

 

Right spot detail:

 

[Dr. Glenn Charles]

It would be hard to determine how successful your previous transplant procedure was without knowing the number of grafts that were placed and seeing your before photos. You might get more information if you were to have a biopsy of your scalp in the balding areas. This could be done by a local dermatologist. The goal of the biopsy would be to rule out a scarring alopecia, which if present could be the reason that the grafts did not grow in those areas. From the photos it appears that you would only need 600-800 follicular units to increase the density in the thinning areas. FUE is certainly an option. Depending on what the scar looks like from your first procedure, you may want to consider another strip and a scar revision at the same time. The new suturing techniques can allow the doctor to remove a prior scar, take additional grafts and leave the patient with a smaller scar that before the second procedure. It is also much less expensive. There is really no different pre-op instructions with FUE vs strip, and it can also be done using only local anesthesia. Keep doing your due diligence.

[cliftonsantiago]

Thanks for your post Dr. Charles.

 

Based on a preliminary google of scarring alopecia, I don't think that's what I had. really, it was just some type of scaly growth on my head that was not creating hair loss, but after they were forcibly ripped off, no hair regrew in those spots.

 

I wish that I had the contact information or paperwork associated with my first procedure, but it's been lost over the years. I do know however, that the spots originally were completely bald, and the hairs in the middle of the spots were from that operation. So those transplants were able to "take", unsure of why the others did not though.

 

In regards to the scar from the strip procedure, I'm essentially indifferent. I more just want to not be concerned about a date running her hands through my hair or being self conscious on a windy day.

 

thanks again for your post.