4288 Grafts By Dr. Jerry Cooley

[jac1971]

On November 23, 2009 I had my first HT by Dr. Jerry Cooley of Charlotte, NC. I had 4288 grafts implanted. My in-person consultation was in August of this year. After many, many years of contemplating an HT and researching surgeons, Dr. Cooley seemed to be an easy choice. So, far, 6 days post op, I'm very pleased.

 

I arrived in Charlotte for the procedure the night before the surgery. Dr. Cooley's office arranged for a room at the Hilton Garden Inn which was very nice. I arrived the morning of the procedure at 7 am sharp. One of Dr. Cooley's assistants, Stephanie met with me for about 15 minutes and gave me the pre-op meds (antibiotics, valium, etc.) and explained everything that would happen that day. She told me to pick out 3 movies to watch (which I slept through most of them) and my choice of where to eat lunch from (Dr. Cooley's treat!!!). Dr. Cooley then came in and took several pictures and very precisely drew my new hairline and made sure that was how I wanted it. I think that it will look VERY natural!!!

 

After putting my surgical gown on and lying facedown, I was given Versed and relaxed. I really dreaded this part for months but it wasn't bad at all!!! Then I turned over and saw about 8 technicians working on my grafts under microscopes and at one point I had Dr. Cooley and 2 assistants working on me at once (I think that they were Amy and Stephanie) whom of which are VERY nice!!!

 

Not to make a long story longer everything went very smoothly. I felt very well taken care of. The procedure lasted around 11 hours which really goes by faster than you would think. Dr. Cooley is a really nice guy and his staff is as well. I also can't forget to say nice things about his Clinical Supervisor Ailene Russell. She has been great with me from before the consultation until now. Very professional!!!

 

So, things look to be progressing on schedule. I've amazingly had VERY little pain but some swelling mainly around my eyes which will hopefully go away in a couple of days.

 

One bit of advice before I make another post: take at least a week off from doing much of anything. It's not that you will feel that bad but your body really needs to rest after having this done. I have approximately 79 stitches in the back of my head and 4288 very tiny holes in my scalp so it can be a bit traumatic to your body but again, it's not as bad as it sounds!!! Also, having to spray a solution on your head several times per day really requires you to stay inside unless you want to wear a hat alot. I prefer to let air to the wounds as much as possible. My job won't allow me to wear a hat so I hope to be able to take an extra week off to finish spraying the solution which is EXTREMELY important to do!!!! More to come.......

[Bill - Seemiller]

Jack1971,

 

Welcome to our discussion forum and thanks for sharing positive experience with Dr. Cooley.

 

Swelling around the eyes can be a bit of a nuisance however, it typically only lasts a few days.

 

I also encourage you to create a free hair loss website in order to document your progress with photos. It's the best way to share your results and garner support from a multitude of people. You can then link your website to your forum signature. For instructions, click here.

 

All the Best,

 

Bill

[nsuede]

Thanks jac1971 for the write up. Your story gives me hope and encouragement about doing a HT, especially with Dr. Cooley. I have not had one yet but am planning to do one in Jan or Feb of 2010. I had a consult with Dr. Cooley in August too and I found him and his staff to be very informative and nice. I don't have a hard date set yet. I have been since meandering this forum for over a year, it has been a great tool for me. I was thinking of doing my HT with Dr. Cooley because his location, rep, work, and resume. His consistent work and skill impresses me. He is on a regular basis called world class. How and why did you settle on Dr. Cooley. Which factor did it most for you?

 

I am a little scared. Not of the pain ( ok a little of the pain )& not of the cost. But of the results. I know we all have varying hair characteristics, but my big concerned is with the results. I would rather shave my head then look like an HT mess. I really feel for all the guys over the years who had plug doll hair, not only for the cost financially but also emotionally. I am 35 and have a little more hair than some. Basically it comes down to I have seen some amazing HT's and some horrible ones. That wide spectrum freaks me out. Sorry I am whining, just speaking my delusional 3 am in the morning mind.

 

Well congrats on your HT and I wish you much hair success and a quick full recovery.

[jac1971]

Thanks for the welcome, Bill!!! I hope that the swelling will go down in a couple of days. It's not too bad but just a bit of a nuisance. I'll post some pics soon.

 

Nsuede, I settled on Dr. Cooley because no matter where I looked on the net, not just this forum, I didn't see one negative thing written about him. I also checked out his credentials (i.e. disciplinary actions, education, etc.) and was very impressed. I looked at scores of his patient's photos and they all looked very natural with good clean hairlines. Dr. Cooley is also located about 3 1/2 hours from where I live so that helped as well although location should not be a major factor in choosing a qualified HT surgeon.

 

Don't be freaked out. Once you make the decision to go for it, make the appointment and don't look back!!! I'm kinda of a whimp when it comes to needles and medical procedures and if I can do it you can, too!!!

 

Like I've said, I'm now about 7 days post-op and I've had VERY little pain. I have had trouble getting conmfortable when I sleep but that's just from being paranoid about laying on my incision. Not from pain. I'm also being militant about taking the anitbiotics, keeping the donor and recipient area clean and sparying the solution Dr. Cooley gave me. All VERY important!!!

 

So, if you decide on getting an HT best of luck and keep us posted. I will as well. I'm happy to help. Others on this forum have really helped me in this process and I want to return the favor for those that are still thinking about an HT.

[nsuede]

Hey jac1971,

 

Hope all is well with you and that you aren't going through any pain. Sleep getting any better?

 

So here are a couple of questions that a pre-HT wonders about.

 

1. What was the straw that broke the camels back for you in regards to finally getting an HT. What doctors did you look at, and how much of the "look" (hairline, density, angle) played a part, or was it the donor scar visability, or was it something else?

 

2. What level of baldness where you and what did you do to maintain hair (propecia/rogain)? How did you wear you hair? buzzed or did you do like me and have the thicker areas cover balder areas.

 

3. Sorry to ask, but while in the chair getting the donor strip removed, did it hurt and what did it feel like? Then what happened? Did the stapling process of joining the skin hurt/ feel weird? If you think about it, it is a pretty amazing process.How did it feel to get slits in your head and get hair inserted.

 

4. Now that you had the HT, does your head/neck feel tight? Does it hurt to lean your head forward?

 

Thanks buddy, hope your are healing and growing hair like a champ!

[jac1971]

Nsuede,

Sleep is getting better. I'm still having trouble getting comfortable but that's due to my paranoia of irritating my incision. Not due to pain. Ailene at Dr. Cooley's office suggested that I use a travel pillow or roll up a towel and place it under my head. I saw a doctor friend of mine today and he said that my incision looks great and that Dr. Cooley did a bangup job on it. I'm getting the stitches out this coming Monday.

 

1. The straw that broke the camels back for me was a picture that I saw that someone took of the back of my head and I was surprised that my baldspot was getting so big!!! I then thought enough is enough!!! I'm going for it!!! Dr. Cooley's hairlines, density, etc. impressed me when I looked at them online and in the pics at the consultation. I did look a bit at Dr. Jack Fisher in Nashville but after looking so much at Dr. Cooley's work it was a no-brainer. Not that I found anything wrong with Dr. Fisher's work.

 

2. Not sure what I am on the Norwood scale but I have a fairly large baldspot on the crown and a fairly high forehead. I comb my hair forward and back some to cover the baldspot which is hard to do.

 

3. I didn't feel a thing the whole time I was in the chair. My head was really numb and I was amazed that I didn't feel anything!!!! I just got a bit uncomfortable in the chair laying facedown. Not sure how long it took but it didn't seem long at all. The dread was the worst thing about that part.

 

4. I try not to lean my head forward too far so I won't stretch the donor scar. The back of my head feels a bit tight but not too bad. My scalp is still numb but it's not bothersome.

 

I hope that I've helped. If you have anymore questions, feel free to ask!!! Best of luck!!! I'll keep everyone posted on my progress.

[nsuede]

jac1971,

 

Thanks for your time and comments all the while still in the healing process from your new HT. I would like to see some before and after pics if you have taken any or have posted any? Good luck on monday with stitches removal and hope Dr. Cooley says you look good. By the way do you have stitches or staples? Because you said stitches and I thought Dr. Cooley used staples?

 

Here are my pics

http://www.hairtransplantnetwo...-page.asp?WebID=1478

[harry101]

hey, one question: how much you paid for this?

[jac1971]

Nsuede,

I have stitches. Can't wait to get them removed. They don't really bother me. It's just one little milestone that I want to reach in the process.

 

Harry101,

The cost was around $13,000.00 From what I've seen in my research, for almost 4,300 grafts that's at least in line with what other clinics charge if not a bit cheaper.

[jac1971]

One other thing I would like some opinions on that may be elsewhere on this board but I'll ask here anyway. I have a job that won't allow me to wear a hat. I also have some social things coming up and I'm a little nervous and self-conscious about my new stubble and lower hairline. I know that it will disappear but not before I need to expose my head to the world. Should I just tell everyone what I had done?? I have some hair to hide the HT with but not enough. I'm kind of in a quandry here!!!