Third Rodeo with Dr. Gabel: ~1,500 Grafts FUT

[OtherSyde]

Hey man I see you also do weight training, how do you manage the long off time so as not to stretch the scar? You stop for 1-2 months?

 

Since going with fue and being able to lift after just two weeks I really like the short downtime with fue.

Just was curious about this as you seem to have had a good scar before from your previous procedure.

I was never a patient one and always restarted exactly 1 month post-op (too short in my opinion).

 

Well, I usually do very very light workouts for a couple of weeks afterwards just to stay in cardiovascular shape, and then graduate back to heavy things that don't involve scar-stretching shoulder movements after 3 weeks or so; no shrugs, no squats with a bar across my shoulders, etc. During workouts I'm also very careful to keep my head tilted back a little to keep the skin around the scar nice and loose. It just boils down to being very careful and mindful of your scar and the tightness of the skin around it. I've never had a problem doing it this way.

 

As an update, since I spent most of yesterday packing and getting ready to head back to San Diego, as well as eating Thanksgiving dinner, I did go back to Dr. Gabel's office in the morning. He and Aileen came in to see me on Thanksgiving morning, which I think is testament to their dedication (I don't know of any other establishments that would do that just for one person). Aileen cleaned me up and sprayed my recipient area (as I squinted like an errant house-cat being sprayed with the water bottle for being on the kitchen counter) with some ATP Saline solution, and they also put me under the laser helmet for 20 minutes to promote scar/graft healing. We took a bunch of photos at multiple angles in the Doc's blindingly-bright hi-res photo studio (he has quite the setup, and the intense lighting really keeps the Before and After shots honest as far as density and patterning), snapped a group pic, and wished each other a happy Thanksgiving before parting ways.

[OtherSyde]

Aaaand one more 1 Day Post-Op update from yesterday; here are a few more "cleaned up" pics I snapped with my phone back at the AirBnB...

[OtherSyde]

Six days post-op!

 

Most of the scabbiness is already gone (my recipient site always seems to heal and shed its scabs a little faster than most timelines for some reason), leaving just the new hairs, which have yet to fall out (the shock-loss phase hasn't started yet). Still got some redness, but at least it's not all scabby and gnarly-looking anymore!

 

The incision looks like an FUT incision usually looks at only 6 days, I just wish I'd kept my hair a bit longer to hide it better since I have to go back to work in 2 days lol. Oh well.

 

Also, I couldn't help Photoshopping what my hairline will ultimately look like at its new height on my brow and temples, although I realize I'll probably have to go back for a small fill-in session to increase density before it looks as dense as the old hairline up above it; the finished pic is just my ultimate goal state.

[hsrp10]

Looks like you're healing very well and the redness is quickly subsiding which is typical with Dr Gabel's work! (and Dr. K too)

Almost at the important post-op day 10 milestone, congrats and good growing to you.

[mikeyhwk]

Always happy to see examples of Dr Gabels work. It always looks top notch! happy growing