2870 FUT with Dr. Ron Shapiro (SMG)

[Storytime]

I finally pulled the trigger and got my FUT with Dr. Ron Shapiro yesterday. 
 

My experience with him and the staff was beyond incredible. Matt Zupan was a great resource and always available to answer my questions leading up to the transplant. 
 

On the day of the transplant, I met Dr. Ron Shapiro who briefed me on the procedure and we agreed on a hairline design. He commented that my donor hair was thick and the skin loose and that he expected to see good number of quality grafts. 
 

The procedure itself was smooth. I dozed off a couple of times and that made time go by fast. Dr. Shapiro did the incisions himself and then the helpful staff took over and diligently placed the grafts all over the recipient area. I was surprised by how pain-free the procedure itself was.
 

I look forward to recovering and posting a few updates along the way. 
 

thanks to all of you who posted here and have been an incredible resource for a layman like me to learn about the world of hair transplants. 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 16, 2022 by Storytime

[sl]

Well done on your surgery.. Dr.Ron is a very nice guy and has a great team there with Janna also.. Looking forwards to seeing the result.

[Storytime]

Day 4 update.

I feel like my recipient area has healed quickly. No swelling, no redness and no numbness so far. Only bit of difficulty is sleeping on my FUT staples. Other than that, I have resumed light walking and chores around the house. 
 

My transplanted hair also seems to be growing well already since the transplant. Is this normal? What do you guys think about the density and hairline? 

[Storytime]

Day 14 update

Got my staples taken out at Day 10 and it’s helped a lot with comfort during sleeping. I might have underestimated the issues staples cause with general cleaning and sleeping. A word of caution to all of you considering FUT - be patient with having steel staples at the back of your head for 10-14 days. It’s not painful but no walk in the park either.

On the recipient area, I am finally seeing most of the scabs coming off although I still have some way to go to get a 100% clean scalp. I also see some shedding when I’m in the shower all over my head but especially in the recipient area. 
 

I like my new hairline and will continue to enjoy it till I enter the ugly duckling phase. 
 

let me know what you guys think. 

[mrmane85]

Design frames your face perfectly mate

[Britanium]

This looks really good ! 👍🏽 

[Melvin- Admin]

21 hours ago, Storytime said:

Day 14 update

Got my staples taken out at Day 10 and it’s helped a lot with comfort during sleeping. I might have underestimated the issues staples cause with general cleaning and sleeping. A word of caution to all of you considering FUT - be patient with having steel staples at the back of your head for 10-14 days. It’s not painful but no walk in the park either.

On the recipient area, I am finally seeing most of the scabs coming off although I still have some way to go to get a 100% clean scalp. I also see some shedding when I’m in the shower all over my head but especially in the recipient area. 
 

I like my new hairline and will continue to enjoy it till I enter the ugly duckling phase. 
 

let me know what you guys think. 

The graft placement looks excellent, Shapiro is a master and it shows. 

[Storytime]

Month 1 update:

The ugly duckling phase is upon me. I have seen most of my recipient hair shed at this point. I’m not a fan of how I look now and making full use of my hat when I step outside the house 😃

The donor area is fully healed and I do not feel any pain or stretching any longer in that area. 

Nothing else much to talk about. I’m just going through life right now and don’t expect any change to happen in my appearance for the next few months. 

 

[mrmane85]

Keep yourself busy and before you know it you're comb will be your best friend

[Storytime]

Hi All,

 

Not much has changed but I wanted to leave my month 3 update here. I’m trying to be patient and keep myself distracted with life and work. 
 

overall I do see miniature hair popping up all over. I’m on oral minoxidil and plan to continue it along with multi-vitamins and omega 3 supplements. 

[hairfloss]

@Storytime I think you’re about to turn the corner from the ugly duckling phase.

How is your scar btw? Is it very visible with your shorter hairstyle? #6?

[Storytime]

Hi All,

Today marks my month 4.

Compared to my last month’s update, I’ve witnessed good hair growth. I see a hairline starting to develop and my frontal third filling along nicely. It’s obviously not the final result but it’s nice to finally see some hair cover over my bald head. 
 

one thing I am watching out is my scar. It’s been 3 weeks since my last hair cut so you may not be able to see the scar but it does show when I buzz my hair at the 3 guard. Is this a cause for concern? 

Otherwise, I plan on continuing oral minoxidil and other general health supplements and excited to see what month 5 brings. 

[Tiger2050]

Coming along nicely. What dosage of oral minoxidil did Dr. Shapiro recommend?

[Storytime]

35 minutes ago, Tiger2050 said:

Coming along nicely. What dosage of oral minoxidil did Dr. Shapiro recommend?

2.5mg

[Gatsby]

@Storytime at only four months your hair is looking incredible as is your donor. Thanks for sharing and I look forward to following your updates! 👌

[Storytime]

Hi All,

6 month update here. Overall I saw the most amount of growth happen over the last month. I like my new hairline which looks age appropriate and feel no need to bring it down anymore in the future. The FUT scar has healed well and I expect it to get smaller and lighter over the next 6 months.

 

I don’t know how I feel about the density on my mid-scalp. It looks good when I’m not under a direct source of light but out in the light, my scalp looks exposed. I think I was hoping for a little more density than this at this point. I’ve posted pictures in harsh light and away from the light to show you guys the reference. 
 

What do you guys think? 

Edited September 12, 2022 by Storytime

[Gatsby]

Looking good! 👌

[BaldingEye]

Looking really nice and you still have 6 months ahead. Now it's time to enjoy!

Do you have a photo of your donor when you have cut it shorter? 

[mrmane85]

Looks great at the halfway point.

Things will continue to thicken up over the next 6 months. 

[Style22]

Looks great! My transplant with SMG definitely filled in more in months 8-10. Scar isn’t noticeable at all in any of your pictures. 

[ht4me]

Hey, any updates?

[Storytime]

Hi,

here’s my 8.5 month update. Most of the gaps I saw at month 6 are now filled in. My hair looks great and my confidence is back. I’m now busy enjoying life and it has been great to have a full head of hair just in time for holidays. 

the scar is well hidden as I keep my back hair at no. 3 or higher so nothing much to see there. 
 

Overall I would rate my hair now at an 8/10 which is a full 2 point progress over month 6. 
 

One thing to clarify though - The density  isn’t as much as my native hair and in harsh light one can see the frontal third a bit thinner. I’ve attached a few photos in direct sunlight. I’ve grown used to it and learned how to style my hair to give it a fuller effect. I use Aveda hair clay and so far it’s been giving me a fuller and voluminous look. I never used hair fibers and don’t intend to use them. 
 

let me know what you guys think. 

[SilentUser]

amazing result ! and it keeps on getting better. Shapiro is an awesome surgeon

[Rynomite13]

Looks great.  Congrats on the results! Also it’s hard to achieve really strong density on the first procedure where u didn’t have hair and I think it always takes some styling to find the sweet spot and get the best out of it.  I also use the Aveda clay!

Edited November 28, 2022 by Rynomite13

[civic]

Looks very good! What a difference few months made. I am also at a point where if i look in normal lighting it looks good but in sunlight density is see thru but am only at 5 months so also hoping it will improve like yours.