2022 FUT with Dr Jerry Wong in Vancouver BC

[UtahHair]

I had an FUT procedure at Hasson and Wong in July 2022 at 37 years old, it was my second FUT and I wanted to possibly help others by walking through the experience so far. Spoiler: my experience at Hasson and Wong was pretty awesome and I'm excited to see the end result.

FIRST FUT: As background my first FUT was in Florida (I didn't do enough research and got caught up in the large YouTube presence the clinic had) Paid a flat rate of 10k for the procedure and immediately recognized it was sub par. They were very unclear on how many hairs/grafts I received but over the phone I believe the clinic rep said is was about 1100 grafts? It was not the best experience and the amount of hair and density was very disappointing. No microscopes were used and it took maybe 4.5 hours. 

NON-SURGICAL TREATMENTS: started topical 5% minoxidil when I was in my mid 20s and used it consistently until I was in my early 30s. Did PRP 2x (2016). Started oral finasteride 1.25mg daily (2016) had some hematospermia for a month or two after starting it and have been using it 3-4x weekly for the last few years. I didn't notice a big help with Minoxidil, but did notice a difference after PRP and the Finasteride.

FUT with Dr Wong: I made the appointment in early 2022 (March I think) and Dr Wong was booked out to July or Dec. I was told Dr Hasson doesn't do FUT anymore and I wanted to do FUT one more time to move a lot of hair and possibly get an even better scar. I was told 3-4k grafts would be the goal. I was told Dr Wong does two patients a day and does work most everyday except Sat and Sun. I sent pictures and a video of my scalp laxity and only had communication through the clinic never direct with the surgeon. Over the next few months I practiced daily scalp laxity exercises up until the procedure. $500 US to get on the schedule then $9,500 a few weeks before the surgery then I paid the rest the day after the surgery. I was given a credit because of the traveling to Vancouver and a hotel credit. 

Day of the Surgery: I was told to show up at the clinic at 6:15am. I arrived at 6:10 and was greeted after a moment waiting at the front desk and directed to sit on one of the couches. Two other patients were there as well. One for Dr Hasson and another for Dr Wong. I sat in the waiting room until 6:42am and walked out after the procedure at 2:49pm. I was asked to take my shirt and shoes off and put on a surgical shirt and booties and put all my other stuff in a bin that stayed in the room with me. Before pictures were taken and I was then shown into the room where I talked/met Dr Wong for the first time. I had prepared a binder with pictures of my hair and what I was kinda hoping for but there wasn't really an opportunity to discuss it. Dr Wong shaved the top of my head and drew on the hairline and handed me a mirror and asked what I thought. I noticed that the hairline was drawn above where the last one had been and so I asked if he could make it a bit lower and he said no, and I asked 'even just a little lower to match some of the hairs already there?' and he said no, it's too low. So I said okay and we got started. I took an anti-anxiety pill and laid face down on the table, he numbed my scalp (never throughout the procedure did I feel like there was any undue discomfort or pain, it was all very well managed). The strip was removed and he stapled it up as it was removed, because of my scalp laxity he wasn't able to do the trichophytic closure, but did remove a good strip of tissue! 33cm in length. A total of 524 1 Hair grafts, 1605 doubles, and 634 multiple hair grafts were able to be harvested. Not quite the 4k grafts I had hoped for but honestly I think he took just as many as were possible to take. So all the grafts were used to reconstruct my front and top of my head, and none for my crown. I watched some TV, they fed me a delicious lunch and all the staff seemed very helpful and friendly. Dr Wong makes the incisions on the scalp and the techs cut up the units, load the units in the placer, and then place the units into the sites prepped by Dr Wong. They went over post-op care very well and it was wonderful day. I felt well taken care of, and happy to have a quality procedure done with only a small bit of disappointment more grafts couldn't be harvested (I should have come here for the first FUT), and that my input for the frontal hairline was disregarded (he is the expert after all, not me). 

Day after the surgery: I returned to the clinic and Brittney took me into a different room and gently washed my hair with a chlorhexidine 5% shampoo and used a needle and some forceps to pop any zits she could find, then Dr Wong looked at it and said see you again tomorrow.

2nd Day after the Surgery: Returned for another hair wash and zit popping and Dr Wong was pleased. Didn't need to take any antibiotics (yay) and I did find the sleeping and pain pills helpful for the first few days. 

14 days after the surgery removed 85 Staples at home

Below are some pre-op pictures I took before July 2022.

 

Above are the photos just days or months before my FUT with Dr Wong

Below are two photos of the recipient area the day of the FUT.

The photo below is the 1 day post-op, look how dense and quickly it seems to be healing!

The photo below is 8 days after the FUT

 

The photo below is two weeks after the surgery (the day I had the 85 staples removed)

Below are 4 photos of my 3week mark, recipient area and scar.

Above are 4 photos of my scar and head 3 weeks post 33cm strip removal and 2763 grafts

I will try to keep the progress updated as everything heals. I highly recommend Dr Wong, and wish I would have gone to him for my first FUT.

 

Edited July 26, 2022 by UtahHair

[Gatsby]

Oh man. What great coverage and density you’re going to get. I look forward to you sharing and following your updates. Thanks for sharing! 👌

[BurnieBurns]

Nice one, mate. I think it was wise Dr Wong didn't take the hairline too low as to get adequate scalp coverage. The exiting hairs will provide a natural looking graduation of density

[TrustTheProcess]

I didn’t know a place like Hasson & Wong implanted grafts is a row-like pattern. 

[hockeyman]

Looking really good. I have a few questions.

1. In the before pics you look to have quite fine textured hair. Is this the case?

2. How high is the centre point of your new hairline from your eyebrows?

3. Did Dr. Wong mention how many more grafts you might have available for future procedures?

Thanks.

[UtahHair]

12 minutes ago, hockeyman said:

Looking really good. I have a few questions.

1. In the before pics you look to have quite fine textured hair. Is this the case?

2. How high is the centre point of your new hairline from your eyebrows?

3. Did Dr. Wong mention how many more grafts you might have available for future procedures?

Thanks.

1. Yes, I have very fine hair naturally. I would also say not incredibly dense, even in the donor area.

2. Center point of my new hairline is about 65mm from my eyebrows

3. Dr Wong did mention this is probably the last FUT procedure I'll ever be able to do

[hockeyman]

Thanks for the response. I'll be following your case closely and looking forward to updates. 

[UtahHair]

1 Month post op

[UtahHair]

2 months s/p Transplant, feeling pretty bald. Cant wait until hair starts growing

[Melvin- Admin]

Ugly duckling sucks. But it will get better believe me.

[UtahHair]

3 Months, still in the ugly phase, still hard being patient. Scalp sensation is near normal. The hair growth seems to mainly be what I had before, I dont think too much of the new grafts have really started growing yet. 

[SoSoz]

@UtahHair is the scar still visible after 3 motnhs?

[UtahHair]

1 hour ago, SoSoz said:

@UtahHair is the scar still visible after 3 motnhs?

No, and hasn’t been for the last 7 weeks. I kept my hair pretty long on the sides and that covered it up a week after I removed the staples. If I lift the hair up of course the scar can be found, there is still some redness and shock loss around the scar and it’s line can be seen. But honestly a lot better than my first FUT.

[UtahHair]

4 months post FUT. At the point where I’m noticing a lot of thin little hairs sprouting, pretty excited and happy. Definitely feeling the hope :-)

[HairGuy]

Could you post some updated pics at the 5 month mark? Thanks

[mrmane85]

An update would be great @UtahHair

[UtahHair]

Exactly at my 5 month mark! The hair has really started to grow in and even out a bit. I've seen somewhere that around the 5 month mark it is supposed to be 50-60% of the final result and if that is the case, and I'm going to get even more hair, I'll be ecstatic. 

[Gatsby]

@UtahHair that is a massive difference between month four and five. It's all gravy from here to twelve months. Thanks for sharing! 👌

[hockeyman]

Wow, I can't believe its been 5 months already. Your result is looking fantastic so far.  Happy for you - thanks for the updates!

[Melvin- Admin]

Great progress for 5 months 🙌🏼

[HairGuy]

Looking great so far, please keep the monthly updates coming for us! 

[MaximusEastwood]

On 7/24/2022 at 8:40 AM, TrustTheProcess said:

I didn’t know a place like Hasson & Wong implanted grafts is a row-like pattern. 

Me either.  This doesn't feel natural?  What do others think of the row-like placement

[UtahHair]

6 months post FUT! Things are evening out and density and thickness are pretty good. As far as the 'row-like placement' I haven't really had an issue because of the closeness of the grafts. Grafts that are super close just look like a lot of hair is growing close together, it isn't like corn-rows, and there is an offset between rows. I'm by no means an expert but looks pretty good how it was done.

[Kent]

Wong did great getting you so much coverage especially with such fine hair. 

It looks very natural. 

[tressful11]

@UtahHair great progress. Can you share a picture of the FUT Scar? what does it look like?