Administrators Melvin- Admin Posted March 7, 2020 Administrators Share Posted March 7, 2020 Hey Guys, I wanted to share my donor shock loss journey with you guys, I know I have seen quite a few threads come up lately, discussing whether their donor has been over harvested or if its shock loss. Unfortunately, with the advent of FUE, there are more cases coming up where donors have been completely over-harvested, but that isn't always the case. I'm gonna present some photos of my donor 6 months after my first hair transplant, and 3 months after my second hair transplant. My donor at one point, looked depleted and I would be lying if I didn't say I was self-conscious about it, but luckily it has resolved and my hair has gotten better over time. Lastly, I have posted what my donor looks like today, after 3 FUE procedures, which total 5,300 grafts. My last FUE was 3 1/2 years ago. Now, I want to make it clear, you should not expect to have an FUE and see no signs of surgery. It's just not realistic, there will always be scarring, and the more surgeries and extractions you have, the more scars you have. My entire donor area is filled withe scars. Under certain lighting, or when my hair is wet, you will see my scalp, if my hair is short. You guys know I share all of this information, for educational purposes. If this is something you would not be okay with, I would say don't get a hair transplant. I give you guys raw information with no filter, as it should be on educational boards. My hair is currently cut to a #2 guard. 1st set of pics after my first FUE 6 months post op, I suffered some shock loss on the sides above my ear. 2nd set of pics are after my second FUE, my donor looked demolished 3 months after my procedure. 3rd set of pics were taken today, after 5,300 grafts via FUE, 6 years after my first hair transplant, and 3 years since my last. 4th video taken a few months ago, in motion the donor scars are harder to detect- this is how I look in real life. 2 2 I’m a paid admin for Hair Transplant Network. I do not receive any compensation from any clinic. My comments are not medical advice. Check out my final hair transplant and topical dutasteride journey: View my thread Topical dutasteride journey Melvin- Managing Publisher and Forum Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Coalition Hair Loss Learning Center, and the Hair Loss Q&A Blog. Follow our Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, and YouTube. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member makehairgreatagain Posted March 7, 2020 Senior Member Share Posted March 7, 2020 @Melvin-Moderator Thank you for your full transparency as always. This is critical to have with your role in this forum in helping others decide what is best for them before deciding to make the leap to surgery. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member ITA Posted March 7, 2020 Senior Member Share Posted March 7, 2020 Sorry if I publish here @Melvin-Moderator this is my donor area after 3 years from the first transplant, as you can see, the signs are evident, it has never recovered. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Melvin- Admin Posted March 7, 2020 Author Administrators Share Posted March 7, 2020 @Egy You are absolutely right, those areas will never grow back. As mentioned, in some instances there is over harvesting, especially with these low-cost FUE clinics that do 5-6k grafts in one session. That said, your donor has improved remarkably well, and if I’m being honest. I don’t think anyone would notice those areas. Wish you the best brother 🙏🏼 1 I’m a paid admin for Hair Transplant Network. I do not receive any compensation from any clinic. My comments are not medical advice. Check out my final hair transplant and topical dutasteride journey: View my thread Topical dutasteride journey Melvin- Managing Publisher and Forum Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Coalition Hair Loss Learning Center, and the Hair Loss Q&A Blog. Follow our Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, and YouTube. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LonelyGraft Posted March 7, 2020 Share Posted March 7, 2020 Great post Melvin. I think people with dark hair and lighter skin have the most scarring/depletion that will show. If you have those two mentioned characteristics along with thicker hair, that’s an even worse combo as the doctor will need to use bigger punches to accommodate your thicker roots. I think a lot of people are convinced that fue is nearly scarless and that’s not the case at all. The best results I’ve seen regarding scarring are those with light skin, lighter hair, and thinner hairs where the doctor can safely use small punches such as 8mm. after 5300 grafts I think that amount of scarring looks normal given your hair and skin combo. However, knowing what you know now, would u have opted for fut before? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Melvin- Admin Posted March 7, 2020 Author Administrators Share Posted March 7, 2020 Great topic, I’ll make a video on that soon. I agree light skin and dark hair is the worst for scarring and baldness. I’m a paid admin for Hair Transplant Network. I do not receive any compensation from any clinic. My comments are not medical advice. Check out my final hair transplant and topical dutasteride journey: View my thread Topical dutasteride journey Melvin- Managing Publisher and Forum Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Coalition Hair Loss Learning Center, and the Hair Loss Q&A Blog. Follow our Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, and YouTube. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member HairFunk Posted March 9, 2020 Senior Member Share Posted March 9, 2020 Great post. I see a lot of people posting about shock loss here lately! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Melvin- Admin Posted March 10, 2020 Author Administrators Share Posted March 10, 2020 1 hour ago, HairFunk said: Great post. I see a lot of people posting about shock loss here lately! Thanks man, I truly hope this post helps those considering surgery. I’m a paid admin for Hair Transplant Network. I do not receive any compensation from any clinic. My comments are not medical advice. Check out my final hair transplant and topical dutasteride journey: View my thread Topical dutasteride journey Melvin- Managing Publisher and Forum Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Coalition Hair Loss Learning Center, and the Hair Loss Q&A Blog. Follow our Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, and YouTube. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Motiv Posted November 27, 2020 Share Posted November 27, 2020 Hey @Melvin-Moderator just wanted to say thank you for the work you've done. I'm a new poster and had a quick question for you. Did you do only FUE or did you do a FUT surgery as well? Your results look great. I'm considering my first transplant, and really appreciate your recs. I've been looking into all of the NYC doctors, as I'm from here. Bloxham's results are incredible and I am planning to schedule an in-person consultation with him. However, their practice seems to really stress FUT, as opposed to FUE. I don't plan on ever shaving my head again (I've done it in the past) but a low guard fade is my preferred style. I'm about where you were at your first surgery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Melvin- Admin Posted November 29, 2020 Author Administrators Share Posted November 29, 2020 I’ve only done FUE I’m a paid admin for Hair Transplant Network. I do not receive any compensation from any clinic. My comments are not medical advice. Check out my final hair transplant and topical dutasteride journey: View my thread Topical dutasteride journey Melvin- Managing Publisher and Forum Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Coalition Hair Loss Learning Center, and the Hair Loss Q&A Blog. Follow our Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, and YouTube. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Melvin- Admin Posted May 13, 2022 Author Administrators Share Posted May 13, 2022 Bumping for relevance today. My donor after an additional 2K extractions I’m a paid admin for Hair Transplant Network. I do not receive any compensation from any clinic. My comments are not medical advice. Check out my final hair transplant and topical dutasteride journey: View my thread Topical dutasteride journey Melvin- Managing Publisher and Forum Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Coalition Hair Loss Learning Center, and the Hair Loss Q&A Blog. Follow our Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, and YouTube. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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