HairBeThere's Journey!!

HairBeThere · January 16, 2005

I know it's been two months, but the holiday season really took a toll on time. Sorry this is so late, but here is my adventure!!!

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Day 1, Nov. 11, 2004.. The Arrival

Well, all I can say, it was a new great experience!

I flew out on whim. I am a spontaneous person, and it was only fitting to get in as quick as possible.

I contacted Hair Transplant Seattle (HTS), within the same day I was informed by Robert, that I was chosen.

My flight out to the great city of Seattle is a story in itself! I met some very interesting ladies. If you ever seen the movie Fargo, you would understand. I think I perplexed them by my lack of knowledge of pretty much everything they knew. I'm a city boy!

I arrived at the Seattle airport, only after one lay over in good ole' Minneapolis, Minnesota. I hate the Vikings!

I picked up my rental car started on my way. With my directions in hand, it was going to be easy. GO SOUTH!

So I started my way south and really saw some cool things, an amusement park in the middle of nowhere, on ramps with blinking stop lights, and cars being ticketed everywhere.

As I traveled in my 04' Chevy Cavalier, PIMP STYLE< LOL, I started seeing things that I thought were awry! Like city exists, that I thought weren't on my directions. Yup, I was lost!!

I called HTS, and spoke with Sonya. I told her where I was at. I traveled so far the wrong direction, I think I confused her. After telling her I was heading southbound, I was informed I should be heading north!! LOL, at least I did the scenic tour. It was my fault... That's what you get for assuming.

So, an hour after the start of my journey, I arrive at my hotel. I checked in my room. The hotel is only a block away and in walking distance to HTS. When I settled in, I called HTS, Sonya told me to come on up!! Their done for the day, Dr. Goertz can see me early. GREAT!!

I arrived to the office to be greeted by my Navigator, Sonya. We had a good laugh at my confusion.

I started filling out some general medical and release forms and I hear from a distance,

"There's the Guy!!" It's Dr. Goertz. I didn't expect welcoming words!! I expected straight business and I'm doing you a favor, only!! WOW, words that instantly made me feel at home. As simple as they were, I felt that Dr. Goertz was as excited to meet me, as I was of him!

After a tour of his facility and explaining his method of operation, so to speak, he discussed his background in the field of Hair Transplantation. I came to realize he was one dedicated surgeon to his field. Dr. Goertz detailed his procedure practices with me, and how he came to learn of his techniques. He was very reassuring of his confidence with his hairline work. This made me very excited to hear!

We started mapping out the plan of attack. Dr. Goertz used a halo type instrument, which was pretty much a needle-point hoop with saran wrap as a canvas, to trace out my pattern of hairloss. Then he started doing some detailed calculation for areas of density and coverage. This was the first time I have seen this done. Well, if you've read about my last experiences with HT work, you could understand why.

After all the planning, mapping and discussing of the procedure, I returned back to my hotel in anticipation of the next day. I was leaving there more excited than when I arrived I won't tell you about my tour of Seattle that night. Let's just say I got lost again.

Day 2, Nov. 12, 2004.. The Procedure

I was to arrive for my procedure at the office around 7:45am.

I woke around 4:30am. I was a little Time Zone handicapped. So, I killed some time watching TV and then headed on up to Hair Transplant Seattle.

Sonya greeted me, and started the standard pre-op questions. Shortly after, Dr. Goertz walked in. As any Doctor who is golfing, was late... Just messing!!

Had the typical blood pressure taken and temperature taken as well.

To my surprise I was running a slight fever. I attribute it to the long plane ride with a bunch of sickies. Sonya reassured me not to be concerned about it.

I was given some antibiotics and some VERY HAPPY pills to get me started. Then I picked out 5 movies to watch during my procedure. Well, I'm no dumby. I wanted the nurses to like what they had to watch. Don't want them to be bored during the procedure. I picked 4 of the movies they liked, and 1 of mine. Mine was "Dumb and Dumber"!! LOL, you would have too.

The expressions on the nurses faces during the toilet seen were priceless!

Sorry, back to the procedure....

Dr. Goertz did his measurements of the donor area, and shaved it almost clean. Then was kind enough in his humor to tell me I have a fat head! I can't deny it, I do! Well, I received some bad news after that.

Because of the width, and sloppiness of my previous scar, it didn't look good for the amount of grafts predicted. We went from about 2500 to maybe 2100. That hurt!

Well, time for the shots! UGH!!!!!!!!!

Dr. Goertz numbed up the donor area, and injected saline to expand the area. I think the Saline stretching hurt more than the numbing shots. Ya, I guess I'm a whimp.

I had a little trouble with the donor area removal, due to the fact the old scar wasn't taking to the numbing agent. So, Dr. Goertz had to inject more numbing in certain area's were the scar was bad.

After the successful removal of the donor area, (no photo's please!! YAK!!)

Dr. Goertz sutured up the donor area, while the nurses started dissecting the grafts. One I was sown shut, I was able to get up and take a break. By this time I had no concept of time. The meds were in full effect, and was feeling quite good!! So, I have no idea how long it was, before I was back in the chair from the break.

Back in the chair Dr. Goertz started administering shots to the donor area. He started with giving me shots into nerves in my eyebrows. Now this was completely new to me. I've never even heard of this being done. So I asked him, why the eyebrows? He told me it was the end of the main nerves in the scalp, and the local anesthesia would numb the main area better, with less shots. And it did! After what I thought were only a few minutes to let the local in the eyebrows do its job, he started with the rest of the shots.

Time to start the recipient sites. Dr. Goertz injected saline under the scalp and started counting punches. I tried to count in my head with him, but I didn't make it past 5.

The nurses started their meticulous placements. Every couple of hours I was allowed to take some much needed breaks.

Time for Lunch.. Roast Beef sandwich, which I'm sure would have been great, but the meds med it taste like Roast Beef on cardboard.

Back to the chair, it was long before I wore through the local anesthesia. I'm kind of a big guy, 6'4", 220 pounds. They had to give me more local. So much more, that I reached my limit and Dr. Goertz had to administer a different type of local.

That was funny in itself. You should have seen this thing!! It was some big ole' apparatus, with a huge looking needle. I told Dr. Goertz, I must have been a real pain to bring out this archaic peace of equipment. At this point we were both laughing and the nurses had to kick him out of the O.R.

After the procedure was completed, Dr. Goertz checked everything over to make sure everything was to his satisfaction. It was!! The nurses were wonderful and very attentive in their work. THANKS FOR THAT!!

He then went over some final post-op procedures. He also told me, since I'm a smoker, to smoke about 7-8 cigarettes that evening. THAT"S A LOT!! This was to help relax the capillaries and prevent popping of the grafts.

Day 3, Nov. 13, 2004.. The After

Met with Dr. Goertz the following morning before I left Seattle. He wanted to check everything over again, and make sure I understood all the post-op care. He beat me there this time! After I was fully aware of his instructions and a few kind words from

Dr. Goertz, we said or goodbyes.

I want to conclude this with some personal regards about Dr. Goertz. I have never met a more professional person, let alone doctor, that will relate to you as a genuine person. This man is not only charismatic and genuine, but is willing to put someone first over himself. Your dedication, demeanor, and humanity, reaches beyond what could be considered commendable. THANK YOU!!, Dr. Goertz!!

HairBeThere · January 16, 2005