Senior Member aaron1234 Posted February 10, 2021 Senior Member Share Posted February 10, 2021 (edited) Alternate thread title, "Maniac gets 7th transplant?!?!" 🤪 This post requires some background. I had my first FUT at 28, rushing into it without doing my due diligence. I wasn't botched, but I had cobblestoning and multi-haired grafts in the hairline. Thankfully it was only 1k grafts and my donor still had plenty to offer. One year later, Dr. Paul Shapiro and the good folks at SMG performed a game-changing FUT (2,348 grafts), removing the multi-haired grafts from the hairline, creating a more natural hairline and providing a significant density boost to the front. Seeking more density, I returned to SMG two years later for a 3rd FUT (2,000 grafts). The photos from these procedures are documented in my blog, linked below in my signature. I'm forever grateful to the SMG team and highly recommend them. In 2015 I noticed a decrease in volume in the front, but I knew my options were becoming more limited. I set up an appointment with Dr. Konior. Noticing my limited scalp mobility he said, "I believe your days of strip surgeries are over." However, he did notice some laxity on the sides of my head above my ears. I had a decision to make; either begin FUE or do two small strips to make use of the localized laxity I had left. I'm probably a NW5-6, so completely maxing out on strip made sense to me. In the summer of 2015 Dr. Konior removed a strip on my left side that yielded 771 grafts and he sprinkled them throughout my frontal tuft. The pictures below are from another clinic for an elective surgery not hair-related, but they still show a significant increase in volume in the front at just six months post-op (before on the left, after on the right). Two years later I returned to Dr. Konior and he removed a strip on my right side that yielded 558 grafts. These grafts were implanted just behind the frontal tuft, reinforcing the center bridge. I do not have pictures for this specific procedure but the improvement was also noticeable. Fast forward to the summer of 2020. I had originally booked a 500 graft, no-shave FUE procedure with Dr. Konior to address my crown. Covid happened, everything shut down, and my public engagements were cancelled. Dr. Konior was kind enough to aim for a higher graft total and I was happy to shave my head in order to make the most of the surgery. Even though I put "crown" in the title, Dr. Konior only used about 700 of the 1,124 grafts in the crown, a similar number to what @1978matt had done. The remaining grafts were placed throughout the front and 70 grafts were used on each side to recreate the temple points. I'm thrilled with the results at the 8th month mark, and I have a feeling that I'm pretty close to being a finished product. It gets stated often on this forum, but I cannot recommend Dr. Konior highly enough, not only for his surgical talents but also his longterm planning. Total FUT: 6,977 - Total FUE: 1,124 - Total Grafts: 8,101 Edited February 10, 2021 by aaron1234 5 Dr. G: 1,000 grafts (FUT) 2008 Dr. Paul Shapiro: 2,348 grafts (FUT) 2009 ~ 1,999 grafts (FUT) 2011 ~ 300 grafts (Scar Reduction) 2013 Dr. Konior: 771 grafts (FUT) 2015 ~ 558 grafts (FUT) 2017 ~ 1,124 grafts (FUE) 2020 My Hair Transplant Journey with Shapiro Medical Group Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Melvin- Admin Posted February 10, 2021 Administrators Share Posted February 10, 2021 @makehairgreatagain you’ve got yourself some real competition now. Damn @aaron1234 your crown looks perfect even in harsh lights. 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...
Senior Member aaron1234 Posted February 10, 2021 Author Senior Member Share Posted February 10, 2021 @Melvin-Moderator Thank you, sir! And I also see some similarities between my hair color and texture to @makehairgreatagain Dr. G: 1,000 grafts (FUT) 2008 Dr. Paul Shapiro: 2,348 grafts (FUT) 2009 ~ 1,999 grafts (FUT) 2011 ~ 300 grafts (Scar Reduction) 2013 Dr. Konior: 771 grafts (FUT) 2015 ~ 558 grafts (FUT) 2017 ~ 1,124 grafts (FUE) 2020 My Hair Transplant Journey with Shapiro Medical Group Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member makehairgreatagain Posted February 10, 2021 Senior Member Share Posted February 10, 2021 Looks fantastic. He's the best at utilizing limited grafts to create density and coverage. Still plenty of time to keep maturing even though it looks outstanding now. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member aaron1234 Posted February 10, 2021 Author Senior Member Share Posted February 10, 2021 4 minutes ago, makehairgreatagain said: He's the best at utilizing limited grafts to create density and coverage. Totally agree, and that's what I hope this post demonstrates. A small number of grafts can go a long way if used in the right way. 1 Dr. G: 1,000 grafts (FUT) 2008 Dr. Paul Shapiro: 2,348 grafts (FUT) 2009 ~ 1,999 grafts (FUT) 2011 ~ 300 grafts (Scar Reduction) 2013 Dr. Konior: 771 grafts (FUT) 2015 ~ 558 grafts (FUT) 2017 ~ 1,124 grafts (FUE) 2020 My Hair Transplant Journey with Shapiro Medical Group Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Melvin- Admin Posted February 10, 2021 Administrators Share Posted February 10, 2021 20 minutes ago, aaron1234 said: @Melvin-Moderator Thank you, sir! And I also see some similarities between my hair color and texture to @makehairgreatagain Dr. Konior is one of the best, he’s showcasing his skills and best of all, he’s all results based, no marketing. 3 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 champybaby Posted February 10, 2021 Senior Member Share Posted February 10, 2021 Amazing results and A+ planning, approach. For only 700 in the crown this is incredible. Dr. K put about 1500 in my crown 3 months ago. I had about as much coverage as you did in the 4 month mark. Thanks for sharing. FUT procedure w/ Dr. K (2012) Second FUT, Dr. K, Nov. 2020 (mini update) Third procedure, FUE, Dr. K, 03/21, 400 beard to scar (latest update) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member CosmoKramer Posted February 10, 2021 Senior Member Share Posted February 10, 2021 Good planning, great results. 👍🏻 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member 1978matt Posted February 10, 2021 Senior Member Share Posted February 10, 2021 Great stuff. This is the quintessential 'strip out, then FUE' example, and I bet you still have some more grafts left in the tank. 4,312 FUT grafts (7,676 hairs) with Ray Konior, MD - August 2013 1,145 FUE grafts (3,152 hairs) with Ray Konior, MD - August 2018 763 FUE grafts (2,094 hairs) with Ray Konior, MD - January 2020 Proscar 1.25mg every 3rd day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member aaron1234 Posted February 10, 2021 Author Senior Member Share Posted February 10, 2021 1 minute ago, 1978matt said: Great stuff. This is the quintessential 'strip out, then FUE' example, and I bet you still have some more grafts left in the tank. In the interview with Melvin, Dr. Ron Shapiro said that he estimates that this approach may provide between 2K-3K more lifetime grafts. I'm over 8K now and Dr. Konior indeed says I have more in reserve. 🙏 3 Dr. G: 1,000 grafts (FUT) 2008 Dr. Paul Shapiro: 2,348 grafts (FUT) 2009 ~ 1,999 grafts (FUT) 2011 ~ 300 grafts (Scar Reduction) 2013 Dr. Konior: 771 grafts (FUT) 2015 ~ 558 grafts (FUT) 2017 ~ 1,124 grafts (FUE) 2020 My Hair Transplant Journey with Shapiro Medical Group Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member aaron1234 Posted February 10, 2021 Author Senior Member Share Posted February 10, 2021 28 minutes ago, champybaby said: Amazing results and A+ planning, approach. For only 700 in the crown this is incredible. Dr. K put about 1500 in my crown 3 months ago. I had about as much coverage as you did in the 4 month mark. Thanks! Dr. Konior did mention that he could have used more grafts in my crown, but other areas needed to be addressed too. The closer you get to tapping out your donor supply the more precious each graft becomes. Makes you appreciate the wise planning all the more. Looking forward to seeing your results! 😎 1 Dr. G: 1,000 grafts (FUT) 2008 Dr. Paul Shapiro: 2,348 grafts (FUT) 2009 ~ 1,999 grafts (FUT) 2011 ~ 300 grafts (Scar Reduction) 2013 Dr. Konior: 771 grafts (FUT) 2015 ~ 558 grafts (FUT) 2017 ~ 1,124 grafts (FUE) 2020 My Hair Transplant Journey with Shapiro Medical Group Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member deitel130 Posted February 10, 2021 Senior Member Share Posted February 10, 2021 @aaron1234 the crown looks perfect with such few grafts. I've always read the crown takes longer for growth. When did you first notice growth in your crown? It seems like you had some growth at 4 months was that your natives or was at actually the transplant? What did you notice different in terms of growth, texture if any with the crown vs the front? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Britanium Posted February 10, 2021 Senior Member Share Posted February 10, 2021 That’s really nice for 8 months out 👏 hope it will continue to improve right up to 18 months ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member aaron1234 Posted February 10, 2021 Author Senior Member Share Posted February 10, 2021 7 minutes ago, deitel130 said: @aaron1234 the crown looks perfect with such few grafts. I've always read the crown takes longer for growth. When did you first notice growth in your crown? It seems like you had some growth at 4 months was that your natives or was at actually the transplant? What did you notice different in terms of growth, texture if any with the crown vs the front? Thank you! I think around the 4 month mark I was back to square one, but by the end of that month I knew I had something good brewing. By month 6 I had full coverage even though the hairs will wispier than they are now. I can't say that this procedure took longer to fill in than any of my frontal HT's, they all seemed to grow in at the same rate. 6 minutes ago, JohnAC71 said: That’s really nice for 8 months out 👏 hope it will continue to improve right up to 18 months ! Thanks, John! I still feel some stubble in the crown so I anticipate some thickening yet to come. 3 Dr. G: 1,000 grafts (FUT) 2008 Dr. Paul Shapiro: 2,348 grafts (FUT) 2009 ~ 1,999 grafts (FUT) 2011 ~ 300 grafts (Scar Reduction) 2013 Dr. Konior: 771 grafts (FUT) 2015 ~ 558 grafts (FUT) 2017 ~ 1,124 grafts (FUE) 2020 My Hair Transplant Journey with Shapiro Medical Group Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Britanium Posted February 10, 2021 Senior Member Share Posted February 10, 2021 1 minute ago, aaron1234 said: Thank you! I think around the 4 month mark I was back to square one, but by the end of that month I knew I had something good brewing. By month 6 I had full coverage even though the hairs will wispier than they are now. I can't say that this procedure took longer to fill in than any of my frontal HT's, they all seemed to grow in at the same rate. Thanks, John! I still feel some stubble in the crown so I anticipate some thickening yet to come. Absolutely! It’s definitely going to improve further. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member hybonix Posted February 10, 2021 Senior Member Share Posted February 10, 2021 Wow, this is absolutely amazing work from Dr. K. I was originally looking at him as well, but his price scared me away. However, damn this is incredible. Great journey and great results. Will definitely be looking at Konior for my next procedure... Kudos to your successful outcome here. 2 1st Procedure: 3332 FUE Grafts | Shapiro Medical Group | 10.29.20 2nd Procedure: 1908 FUE Grafts | Shapiro Medical Group | 11.13.23 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member giegnosiganoe Posted February 10, 2021 Senior Member Share Posted February 10, 2021 Awesome result for so few grafts. I have some questions as your case is pretty interesting: Do you see yourself getting more procedures in the near future? Do you have any pics before your first procedure? I think it would be really interesting to see the full evolution. I can't imagine doing a FUT for only 500 grafts. How was the recovery? How is your FUT scar after all these procedures? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Melvin- Admin Posted February 10, 2021 Administrators Share Posted February 10, 2021 @aaron1234 where do you think you’d be without HTs? Norwood 5+? 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...
Regular Member RubenH Posted February 11, 2021 Regular Member Share Posted February 11, 2021 Beautiful work! This is a clear example on how smart decisions by top surgeons lead to an excellent result. And it will improve further 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member aaron1234 Posted February 11, 2021 Author Senior Member Share Posted February 11, 2021 (edited) 8 hours ago, giegnosiganoe said: Do you see yourself getting more procedures in the near future? I will get more HT's in the future if I have more thinning, but as I near the end of my donor supply I will need to be judicious in how I use my remaining grafts. Dr. Konior believes that it is wise to keep some in reserve in case of an emergency. 8 hours ago, giegnosiganoe said: I can't imagine doing a FUT for only 500 grafts. How was the recovery? How is your FUT scar after all these procedures? Recovering from smaller strip surgeries is relatively easy. With the staples/sutures on one side of my head it was nice to be able to sleep on the other side, something that isn't possible with the larger sessions. My FUT scar(s) are a non-issue. I still have the strip scar from my first surgery in 2008. Both Dr. Ron and Paul Shapiro looked at it and thought it was taken too high, outside of the permanent zone, so the strips for my SMG procedures were taken beneath that one. 8 hours ago, giegnosiganoe said: Do you have any pics before your first procedure? I think it would be really interesting to see the full evolution. Sure thing. Here are two pictures from 2005, right before I started Fin. I was 25 at the time, I'm now 40. Edited February 11, 2021 by aaron1234 3 Dr. G: 1,000 grafts (FUT) 2008 Dr. Paul Shapiro: 2,348 grafts (FUT) 2009 ~ 1,999 grafts (FUT) 2011 ~ 300 grafts (Scar Reduction) 2013 Dr. Konior: 771 grafts (FUT) 2015 ~ 558 grafts (FUT) 2017 ~ 1,124 grafts (FUE) 2020 My Hair Transplant Journey with Shapiro Medical Group Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member aaron1234 Posted February 11, 2021 Author Senior Member Share Posted February 11, 2021 4 hours ago, Melvin-Moderator said: where do you think you’d be without HTs? Norwood 5+? @Melvin-Moderator Take a look at pics I just posted from 15 years ago. Looks like NW6 territory to me, right? Dr. G: 1,000 grafts (FUT) 2008 Dr. Paul Shapiro: 2,348 grafts (FUT) 2009 ~ 1,999 grafts (FUT) 2011 ~ 300 grafts (Scar Reduction) 2013 Dr. Konior: 771 grafts (FUT) 2015 ~ 558 grafts (FUT) 2017 ~ 1,124 grafts (FUE) 2020 My Hair Transplant Journey with Shapiro Medical Group Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Melvin- Admin Posted February 11, 2021 Administrators Share Posted February 11, 2021 11 minutes ago, aaron1234 said: @Melvin-Moderator Take a look at pics I just posted from 15 years ago. Looks like NW6 territory to me, right? This is not you!!! 😱 Jesus 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 aaron1234 Posted February 11, 2021 Author Senior Member Share Posted February 11, 2021 1 minute ago, Melvin-Moderator said: This is not you!!! 😱 Jesus Haha, indeed it is! 1 Dr. G: 1,000 grafts (FUT) 2008 Dr. Paul Shapiro: 2,348 grafts (FUT) 2009 ~ 1,999 grafts (FUT) 2011 ~ 300 grafts (Scar Reduction) 2013 Dr. Konior: 771 grafts (FUT) 2015 ~ 558 grafts (FUT) 2017 ~ 1,124 grafts (FUE) 2020 My Hair Transplant Journey with Shapiro Medical Group Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member giegnosiganoe Posted February 11, 2021 Senior Member Share Posted February 11, 2021 @aaron1234 wow, unbelievable transformation. And from what I can see, your donor still looks very dense. Any idea how many FUE grafts you have remaining? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member aaron1234 Posted February 11, 2021 Author Senior Member Share Posted February 11, 2021 6 minutes ago, giegnosiganoe said: wow, unbelievable transformation. And from what I can see, your donor still looks very dense. Any idea how many FUE grafts you have remaining? Thank you! After the surgery Dr. Konior mentioned that I have more FUE grafts remaining but he didn't give me a number. I'd venture to guess that I have at least another 1,000 left in the tank before the donor region starts looking compromised. Dr. G: 1,000 grafts (FUT) 2008 Dr. Paul Shapiro: 2,348 grafts (FUT) 2009 ~ 1,999 grafts (FUT) 2011 ~ 300 grafts (Scar Reduction) 2013 Dr. Konior: 771 grafts (FUT) 2015 ~ 558 grafts (FUT) 2017 ~ 1,124 grafts (FUE) 2020 My Hair Transplant Journey with Shapiro Medical Group Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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