1300 Grafts FUT - 30 Years Old

[Andromeda]

Hello,

 

So I've lurked on this site a while, but I haven't really posted. Please forgive me if I am not doing something right.

 

I'm 30 and started noticing hair loss when I was around 26 or so. Took me a while to admit I needed to do something. My hair was mostly receding, and I did have a bit of thinning in the crown area. I've always had really thick hair and have always shed a ton in the shower. I got on finasteride about a year and a half ago and started minoxidil nightly about 7 months ago. I don't really think I saw much improvement in either (maybe kept what I had and a SLIGHT increase, but not much). I did have wicked sheds when starting finasteride and minoxidil, but they subsided after a while. I still shed a decent amount in the shower, though I've always shed quite a bit.

 

I wanted to fix my hairline and 'temporal gulfs'. I got 1300 grafts done three days ago.

 

I believe the breakdown was:

800 2s

500 1s

 

Of those, about 800 were to the left side and 500 to the right side. My left had a bit more recession for some reason than my right. The doctor said that he packed them a bit more dense than usual due to my family history and the overall thickness/density of my hair. The donor area is definitely a little sore, but not overly so. It's been a pain sleeping on my back.

 

It didn't lower my hairline as much as I thought it would, but it probably will look better when it grows in. Also it's probably for the best as I wanted to be fairly conservative since I know it'll continue to progress. I didn't see as many hairs sticking out as I thought I would, so I hope that's ok. I am a bit concerned that it will look weird as it won't be as dense as the fairly dense hair I do have. I've been soaking and icing, and haven't seen any grafts come out.

 

Anyway, here are some photos. Feedback would be nice, as I am kind of nervous, and I'll post followup photos later if anyone is interested.

[ontop]

Looks good buddy.

I think you looked just fine prior as it looks like you still got a nice bit of hair but guess it was bothering you so long as your content thats all what counts at the end d of the day right?

keep your newly planted grafts clean, be extra gentle especially the first wk.

follow your doctors instructions to the book.

 

Take it easy good luck.

Edited June 11, 2016 by ontop
edit

[TakingThePlunge]

Welcome and thanks for sharing your case! I have to agree that your hair prior to surgery was already impressive But, if your family history supports fortifying the hairline at this stage, I fully understand the desire. It's going to look great!

[Andromeda]

Thank you both. I guess I've always had a pretty big forehead, so when I went to an NW2, and then an NW3, it was more noticeable than it may have been otherwise? I had considered doing the temporal peaks as well, but the doctor felt like it would be noticeable to others/not natural and in the end I wanted to be a bit more conservative.

 

It's been 3 days now. I have some very minor forehead swelling but nothing too bad - I've been soaking/icing every 20 minutes as instructed. My donor scar is still pretty painful, though the meds help a bit with that. I am getting some sharp pain in my right hairline off and on - I'm not sure what it is. Maybe a nerve was clipped or something.

 

I'm happy to soon not have to sleep on my back. I go on Monday to get the sutures removed. I've attached 3 day photos below.

[ontop]

Looking good buddy & taking out them stitches will be a blessing for you.

just keep your scalp clean try to relax, nothing will really happen for a while as them babies have gone to sleep.

 

I guess you will have pain here & there but that should subside In the coming days /wks.

 

Best wishes.

[Dr. Scott Alexander MD]

Congratulations on your recent surgery. Everything sounds normal at this point. You are at the very start of the journey and its a long journey ahead so be patient. Continue to heal well.

Dr Scott Alexander

[Andromeda]

So I am just at the 10 day post-op mark. I've posted some photos below. I get my final stitches out on Monday and cannot wait (so itchy!)

 

I've gone back to normal shampooing/conditioning like I did before the transplant. I've started to see the grafts fall out I think? Maybe like 5-6. No blood or anything like that, just looks like they've fallen out. I know this is supposed to happen, and this is about the normal time for it to begin, right?

 

I do think the grafted area is starting to look a bit thinner.

[ModernHair]

The grafts aren't falling out at this stage (10 day mark). They are permanently sealed into your scalp and would have to be surgically removed.

 

It's the hairs shedding which is great! It's the beginning of the resting phase which is required before the hair starts growing for good! Don't even think about it at this point. At about 3-4 months (usually) you'll start to see your new sprouts coming in!

[Andromeda]

So It's been about a month and two days since I had the procedure. My donor scar still gets slightly numb occasionally but it's gotten better as each day goes by.

 

I think my recipient area is still pretty red. It also seems like some of the grafts had the hair fall out but not necessarily all the way. I think the redness is probably due to being fairly fair-skinned. It seems more noticeable in the temporal gulfs, which may have been packed more densely. I don't think I've had any shock loss that I can tell.

 

The recipient area does still feel kind of stubbly. I don't think it's noticeable unless someone got really close. I'm going to get a haircut in a couple weeks - my hair is longer than I usually have it.