Senior Member Style22 Posted August 19, 2021 Senior Member Share Posted August 19, 2021 Hi everyone, This forum has been a tremendous help! On 8/10 I had 2756 FUE grafts done by SMG. As @hybonix and other recent reviews have stated, this is a first class clinic! Dr. Shapiro, Jo and the team are fantastic and I had all the confidence in the world with them. I was pretty torn between going with Dr. Wong or SMG and also starting with FUE first with my advanced balding pattern. I actually flew out to Minneapolis on my own dime to consult with Dr. Jo in person and felt really good about Fue and SMG after this meeting! The breakdown is 2756 grafts totaling 5529 hairs. 1’s-601, 2’s-1537, 3’s-618. I will be starting the topical Finasteride/Minox combo from Farmacia Parariti in one month. I’ve struggled with minor sides so I’m hopeful this works well. Things seem to be healing very well 10 days post op! The only real concern I have at this point is regarding the hairline. I love the shape and height but it turned out to make a slight lowest point over my right eye. Looks a little off but I definitely won’t judge anything until it’s grown out. I may end up loving it and think it looks even more natural that way. Time will tell! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Style22 Posted August 19, 2021 Author Senior Member Share Posted August 19, 2021 (edited) 10 Days healing well. A little bit of patches in the donor. Fingers crossed goes well! Edited August 19, 2021 by Style22 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Britanium Posted August 19, 2021 Senior Member Share Posted August 19, 2021 Really nice and refined work. Looking really good at this very early stage 👌 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member hybonix Posted August 19, 2021 Senior Member Share Posted August 19, 2021 Dude, this work is so f**** clean!!! Wow, I love it. The hairline I think is perfect. Asymmetry is the goal and they did the exact same thing with me. One side was a little lower or "off-centered" which worried me as well: I can tell you that it brings a natural element to the transplant and is not the same bogus straight hairlines you see in the wild. It is healing very well and I am excited for your next updates. For now, pretend like you never got a transplant and live a normal life as it makes time go by fast. Around Month 3 or 4 is when you start to see it sprout, so we got some time before things blossom. Congratulations and happy growing! 😎 1 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 Style22 Posted August 19, 2021 Author Senior Member Share Posted August 19, 2021 Appreciate it! That’s great to see. Looks very similar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member aaron1234 Posted August 19, 2021 Senior Member Share Posted August 19, 2021 You have killer donor characteristics, this is gonna be a home run no question. Enjoy the ride! 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...
Regular Member Guanyu76 Posted August 20, 2021 Regular Member Share Posted August 20, 2021 age? and are you planning on addressing the crown? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Style22 Posted August 20, 2021 Author Senior Member Share Posted August 20, 2021 I’m 38. Gonna try to hold off on crown as long as possible. Starting this combo Finasteride/Minoxidil combo. My goals would be to hold off on the crown until it got too bad. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Britanium Posted August 20, 2021 Senior Member Share Posted August 20, 2021 1 minute ago, Style22 said: I’m 38. Gonna try to hold off on crown as long as possible. Starting this combo Finasteride/Minoxidil combo. My goals would be to hold off on the crown until it got too bad. Good plan 👌 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Melvin- Admin Posted August 26, 2021 Administrators Share Posted August 26, 2021 Can’t believe I missed this thread, everything looks clean as we expect from SMG happy growing 👏🏼 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 Style22 Posted September 13, 2021 Author Senior Member Share Posted September 13, 2021 One month update. Most of hair has shed. Few that have remained and grown some. Recipient still a little red but seems to be improved. The one concern right now where I seem to be lagging is around the donor! It’s absolutely riddled with Ingrown hairs. I counted over 20. The donor is also still patchy and has some pinkness. Combing over all the recent SMG fue patients I have not seen anyone having the ingrown hairs all over the donor. I will say I e-mailed SMG and Dr. Joe is always so quick and straight forward in his responses! I really appreciate that. He said it’s likely from transection or slight transection. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t concerned around this. But just stay positive and keep fingers crossed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member hybonix Posted September 15, 2021 Senior Member Share Posted September 15, 2021 (edited) On 9/12/2021 at 5:20 PM, Style22 said: The one concern right now where I seem to be lagging is around the donor! It’s absolutely riddled with Ingrown hairs. I counted over 20. The donor is also still patchy and has some pinkness. Combing over all the recent SMG fue patients I have not seen anyone having the ingrown hairs all over the donor. I will say I e-mailed SMG and Dr. Joe is always so quick and straight forward in his responses! I really appreciate that. He said it’s likely from transection or slight transection. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t concerned around this. But just stay positive and keep fingers crossed! @Melvin- Moderator@aaron1234Can you comment on this? With your years of experience, I am curious if you can shed any light on the subject. The patchiness will resolve itself and I myself had patches as well. It will even out and the next haircut will help as well. Edited September 15, 2021 by hybonix 1 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 aaron1234 Posted September 16, 2021 Senior Member Share Posted September 16, 2021 I had ingrown hairs post-fue as well, but maybe not this bad. Just put warm compresses on them and that will help settle them down. Try not to pick at them. The patchiness is shock loss, so just give it a few months and it'll grow back. You're in the middle of the ugly duckling stage so hang in there. 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 Style22 Posted October 9, 2021 Author Senior Member Share Posted October 9, 2021 Two month update. Donor has improved a little bit. Still patchy. Specifically behind the ears. Ingrown hairs have calmed down a lot in the Donor! Damn this period sucks haha. Just rocking it and living life like you guys said! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Britanium Posted October 9, 2021 Senior Member Share Posted October 9, 2021 Yes the donor area had improved a lot, soon be over the worst part 👍🏽 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member aaron1234 Posted October 9, 2021 Senior Member Share Posted October 9, 2021 Almost over the ugly duckling stage, just a few more weeks to go! 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...
Regular Member PluggedIn Posted October 9, 2021 Regular Member Share Posted October 9, 2021 Donor definitely looking better. I wonder if the patchiness is more an illusion of the skin being a different color in that area since it's healing rather than actual shock loss. In 2 months you're gonna be shocked at how different you'll look. Hang in there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Style22 Posted October 9, 2021 Author Senior Member Share Posted October 9, 2021 43 minutes ago, PluggedIn said: Donor definitely looking better. I wonder if the patchiness is more an illusion of the skin being a different color in that area since it's healing rather than actual shock loss. In 2 months you're gonna be shocked at how different you'll look. Hang in there! You make a great point on the skin color! Still healing… Very good point Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Balding Bad Posted October 14, 2021 Senior Member Share Posted October 14, 2021 Hey @Style22I'm planning on going to SMG for my own FUE HT so I'm glad I caught this thread and will be able to follow your month-to-month updates! So far your progress looks great and your donor area looks incredible! Doesn't look like it's been touched at all. That being said, I'm curious about one thing. Was it your choice to completely shave your head for the operation or was this something SMG wanted? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Style22 Posted October 14, 2021 Author Senior Member Share Posted October 14, 2021 11 hours ago, Balding Bad said: Hey @Style22I'm planning on going to SMG for my own FUE HT so I'm glad I caught this thread and will be able to follow your month-to-month updates! So far your progress looks great and your donor area looks incredible! Doesn't look like it's been touched at all. That being said, I'm curious about one thing. Was it your choice to completely shave your head for the operation or was this something SMG wanted? Dr. Ron suggested full shave and I agreed with that. I expected a full shave with my level of hair loss. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Style22 Posted November 15, 2021 Author Senior Member Share Posted November 15, 2021 (edited) Just a quick 3 month update. Nothing much to report yet. Have a little growth so that is encouraging 🙏. Donor still patchy especially behind the ears. Hopefully some shock and things start to get a little better as the months go by! I do like the donor shorter better than longer at this point! I definitely suffered from some shock all over my head! Edited November 15, 2021 by Style22 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Rynomite13 Posted November 16, 2021 Regular Member Share Posted November 16, 2021 U have a lot to look forward to but I know it’s hard to wait and seeing us believing. I am behind on my 7 month update but promise I will get it posted soon. Month 3.5-5 I started seeing hairs come in and then it really improved months 6-7 and is still getting better…. I think u will be quite pleased when all is said and done… 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Melvin- Admin Posted November 16, 2021 Administrators Share Posted November 16, 2021 9 hours ago, Rynomite13 said: U have a lot to look forward to but I know it’s hard to wait and seeing us believing. I am behind on my 7 month update but promise I will get it posted soon. Month 3.5-5 I started seeing hairs come in and then it really improved months 6-7 and is still getting better…. I think u will be quite pleased when all is said and done… Can’t wait 🙌🏼 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 Style22 Posted December 15, 2021 Author Senior Member Share Posted December 15, 2021 Little bit over 4 months update. Long ways to go still. Will probably do next update at 6 months. Fingers crossed will be a different looking story at that point and things start to fill in! I also attached some pics of donor at around a 4 guard and I buzzed down to a half guard yesterday for the hell of it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Rynomite13 Posted December 15, 2021 Regular Member Share Posted December 15, 2021 This looks similar to where I was at 4 months if u go back and look at my 4 month update doesn’t it? I kind of just let it grow from that point and it really started picking up month 5-6 and continued from there. I had a very similar donor issue and it’s still a little thinner at 8 months on the side like yours but when I grow out to a 4-6 guard now it’s not noticeable so I think your will also recover. It’s coming along nicely tho and u should have some nice gains coming soon! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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