3025 graft fue Hasson & Wong (Dr. Wong)

[FollicleFella]

hey everyone

2 months out from surgery tomorrow but updating today as I’ll be mad busy.

Wanted to throw up these pictures to also give others a sense of how much different lighting affects progress pics for better/worse. These are all from today! The first/lightest pic is also post wash however, which I’ve found greatly reduces the matting/patchiness of this ugly duckling phase. Alternatively, the final/darkest pic is bed head/pre wash.

TL;DR this sucks and I’m greatly looking forward to being at 3-6+ months haha.

The timeline has been uncanny insofar as: weeks 1-3 were mighty euphoric/optimistic. Felt great about getting it done and thankfully I don’t look too shabby at a 1ish guard all around. The hair is short enough/shedding hasn’t begun enough to cause any aesthetic stress after the swelling/redness dissipates. Week 3-4 I believe was when my shedding/shock loss made itself more apparent and the patchiness/horseshoe effect became much more prominent. This was also around the time I got my first fade (no clippers/cutting on recipient area) and I will say that helps massively.

Weeks 4 to now 8 I’ve definitely caught myself asking “…was this a giant mistake? Should I have put this off longer?” It’s been very helpful to watch/read other testimonies and find that this is indeed a common enough sensibility for many around this time frame, which is why I share it here. @Melvin- Moderator YouTube video on shockloss/ugly duckling phase is very heartening to see his status at the time + eventual results.
 

Of course, there is no singular correct answer to those aforementioned questions for me. Was it a mistake? Entirely too early + the reality is I got this done because I was bothered by it to the point of action, and a significant weight was indeed lifted off my shoulders. I also specifically wanted to get it done before my thinning/recession was noticeable to anyone but me and people I asked to look closely (there is a work related reason for this sentiment as well, very front facing/aesthetically oriented job). Should I have put it off longer? Eh maybe, but I find that sensibility primarily derives from a sense of disappointment about my current looks in relation to timing rather than objective analysis. There have been weddings, funerals, work opportunities, reunions, parties, potential dates, etc that I’ve either foregone or spent the time thinking “man I really wish I had my pre op hair for this moment.” The reality is that there probably is no “perfect time”. The ugly duckling phase is just something you have to get through and there will always be reasons to put it off if you look for them.

Whenever I get down/overly vain about it, I try to refocus on the gratitude of the situation. Some people lose all their hair pretty much overnight due to a medical reason. Some dudes are N7 by 25. Hair restoration is as good now as it’s ever been and for millennia countless men figured out a way to be happy and great with their thinning hair. Just being able to drop 20k+ on a hair transplant at 31 probably makes you one of the most relatively materially advantaged people on earth, and while I don’t think that’s necessarily something to be apologetic about, it would be remiss to not hold that accountability/gratitude in relation to one’s situation.

Thanks for reading my blog. Friendly reminder gentlemen that we are all going to make it. Happy growing!

[Melvin- Admin]

 Believe me when I say, it gets better. The ugly duckling can feel like an eternity, and it’s normal to question your decision. But in a few months, this will be a distant memory. 
 

Month 2 VS. Month 10

[Pbaird98]

What you’re experiencing is to be expected, these thoughts are common place in the ugly duckling period. Growth is literally round the corner, within a few months this will be in the rear view mirror, and instead you will be looking in the front view one instead 🤜🏿

[FollicleFella]

6 minutes ago, Melvin- Moderator said:

 Believe me when I say, it gets better. The ugly duckling can feel like an eternity, and it’s normal to question your decision. But in a few months, this will be a distant memory. 
 

Month 2 VS. Month 10

Dude. From desolate to destiny. I appreciate the support.

Also while I have you here: mad appreciation for your openness/thick skin about having your work done primarily without oral fin (I believe I recently saw you’re attempting topical this round). Sooo many people fear monger about the inevitable futility of transplant without meds. While I understand the logic and can agree with the principle to an extent, it doesn’t really do anything useful for those of us who experienced sides that we ultimately weren’t willing to tolerate (which is saying a lot in the context of how devastating hair loss can be). It’s invaluable to have such a visible/respected member of the community who took the path contrary to the echo chamber and does so gracefully. Like most things on the internet, I imagine most people who find success simply f off and go be happy irl. Maybe I’m biased but I imagine a similar dynamic is true for people who get a successful transplant experience without meds. Doesn’t seem like a hill to die on and there’s too much confirmation bias/projection to wade through.

That said, I’m open to topical down the road if the situation warrants it and I don’t yet want to get another procedure. Will be watching your journey with great interest and wishing you much fortune in it. Thanks for your work!

 

 

[FollicleFella]

16 minutes ago, Pbaird98 said:

What you’re experiencing is to be expected, these thoughts are common place in the ugly duckling period. Growth is literally round the corner, within a few months this will be in the rear view mirror, and instead you will be looking in the front view one instead 🤜🏿

Someday @Pbaird98, I’m gonna be bang tidy just like you 👊🏻

[Pbaird98]

Just now, FollicleFella said:

Someday @Pbaird98, I’m gonna be bang tidy just like you 👊🏻

😂🤣 🤜🏿

[FollicleFella]

What’s up all. Got my 3 month anniversary from surgery next week but will be out and about for the holidays so doing it now! Hope everyone’s having a nice time whatever they’re doing.

Since last update I got another hair cut. Nothing buzzed off the recipient area but def had some loose bits trimmed carefully with scissors around the edges. I have also discovered the power of hair fibers. Obviously sucks to have to do on some level but thankfully it’s an option and doesn’t seem to take a lot in my case for good cover. Has given me a lot of confidence in returning to my social life etc during this period which has been huge.

Todays pics are post wash, no fibers etc

Hair wet/washed straight out of the shower, and then wet + combed:

And then we have it more dry/how it looks before I have anything in it:

Trucking along but tbh I’m feeling mighty thin dudes, especially in the frontal area you see when dry (pretty much the exact area of my recipient if you go back and look at my post op). It’s all relative but ultimately it is what it is to you when you’re on the inside of it for better and worse. Always trying to stay grateful for how much there is to work with and that I was able to do a surgery with a respected place. Does this look normal for 3 months? Slow growth/poor yield? Good growth/yield? Entirely too early to tell/care? I would also appreciate some input on what my Norwood situation looks like to you. Thankfully the hairline has held up decently well although it’s definitely higher than it used to be. I did not lower my hairline at all with this surgery and kept it where it was (7cm from eyebrows) as Dr. Wong suggests that as a good standard mature male hairline. 

I’ll probably still wait at this point for a full 12-14 months (to see an unbiased result) but this ugly duckling period has got me reconsidering another fin attempt as seriously as I have since I tried taking it 2 years ago. Seeing shower pics like these (albeit soaking wet) really opens my eyes to how much diffuse thinning there’s been over the past 4-5 years. I think my hair also now looks objectively worse from pre op still and I’m learning that’s a big part of the mental/emotional aspect of this. 
 

Overall feeling positive, slightly worried I may not be growing adequately in the recipient area, thinking about fin again despite my previous experience with perceived sides, and hoping for the best. Happy growing all.

[A Fue Good Men]

3 months is nothing. You likely won’t see a noticeable visual impact until month 5-6 where things really take off.

[Der3k7]

Yea they say the hairs are in resting phase all the way through month 3. So you shouldn’t even expect to start seeing the beginnings of improvement above baseline until month 4 

Edited December 21, 2022 by Der3k7

[BaldingEye]

17 hours ago, FollicleFella said:

What’s up all. Got my 3 month anniversary from surgery next week but will be out and about for the holidays so doing it now! Hope everyone’s having a nice time whatever they’re doing.

Since last update I got another hair cut. Nothing buzzed off the recipient area but def had some loose bits trimmed carefully with scissors around the edges. I have also discovered the power of hair fibers. Obviously sucks to have to do on some level but thankfully it’s an option and doesn’t seem to take a lot in my case for good cover. Has given me a lot of confidence in returning to my social life etc during this period which has been huge.

Todays pics are post wash, no fibers etc

Hair wet/washed straight out of the shower, and then wet + combed:

And then we have it more dry/how it looks before I have anything in it:

Trucking along but tbh I’m feeling mighty thin dudes, especially in the frontal area you see when dry (pretty much the exact area of my recipient if you go back and look at my post op). It’s all relative but ultimately it is what it is to you when you’re on the inside of it for better and worse. Always trying to stay grateful for how much there is to work with and that I was able to do a surgery with a respected place. Does this look normal for 3 months? Slow growth/poor yield? Good growth/yield? Entirely too early to tell/care? I would also appreciate some input on what my Norwood situation looks like to you. Thankfully the hairline has held up decently well although it’s definitely higher than it used to be. I did not lower my hairline at all with this surgery and kept it where it was (7cm from eyebrows) as Dr. Wong suggests that as a good standard mature male hairline. 

I’ll probably still wait at this point for a full 12-14 months (to see an unbiased result) but this ugly duckling period has got me reconsidering another fin attempt as seriously as I have since I tried taking it 2 years ago. Seeing shower pics like these (albeit soaking wet) really opens my eyes to how much diffuse thinning there’s been over the past 4-5 years. I think my hair also now looks objectively worse from pre op still and I’m learning that’s a big part of the mental/emotional aspect of this. 
 

Overall feeling positive, slightly worried I may not be growing adequately in the recipient area, thinking about fin again despite my previous experience with perceived sides, and hoping for the best. Happy growing all.

It's understandable that you may be feeling worried about the growth in the recipient area three months after your hair transplant surgery. It's important to keep in mind that hair growth can be a slow process and it can take several months for new hair to fully grow in and for the full results of the surgery to be visible.

It's also normal for there to be some initial shedding of the transplanted hair after the surgery, which can make it appear as though there is less growth.

It's understandable that you may be considering trying finasteride again, but it's important to carefully weigh the potential benefits and risks before making a decision. In my case for example I had to drop it and all has been OK despite not using meds.

Can not wait to see your result at 6-8 months. 
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and concerns with us.
 

[FollicleFella]

1 hour ago, BaldingEye said:

It's understandable that you may be feeling worried about the growth in the recipient area three months after your hair transplant surgery. It's important to keep in mind that hair growth can be a slow process and it can take several months for new hair to fully grow in and for the full results of the surgery to be visible.

It's also normal for there to be some initial shedding of the transplanted hair after the surgery, which can make it appear as though there is less growth.

It's understandable that you may be considering trying finasteride again, but it's important to carefully weigh the potential benefits and risks before making a decision. In my case for example I had to drop it and all has been OK despite not using meds.

Can not wait to see your result at 6-8 months. 
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and concerns with us.
 

Thanks a lot for the thoughts/confidence, means a lot at this stage. I also really appreciate hearing your take on the fin, and love knowing when someone has gone on a successful ht journey without it. So much fatalism/fear mongering otherwise and a balance of lived perspectives is always important. Wish I could’ve taken it no worries but there was a compelling enough reason that I stopped (weaker erections, less pleasurable orgasms, watery semen, etc) and I need to make sure my current insecurity around the growth status isn’t panic-informing said decision process. 

[FollicleFella]

Episode (month) IV: A New Hope

Lets get this breadddd gentlemen. Finally, we are feeling generally good about how the hair is looking day to day. Right up in the light, these pics are dry but post wash/no fibers or product. With utilizing the latter, I have no confidence issues hanging with friends, going on dates, even letting the mane get slightly damp if there’s rain afoot, etc.

I am actually like 10 days shy of my 4 month anniversary but posting now as I’ll be on vacation for that.

There’s definitely areas that need to continue to fill in, but looking at these pics compared to even last month has me really optimistic. Can’t wait to see what the next 8-12 months bring.

A big thank you for all the support/interest/love passed my way on this process so far. Holy sh*t that ugly duckling sucked, and everyone commenting their support/encouragement really helped me out. Y’all are dope and I hope everyone here finds their respective peace/joy with hair restoration/maintenance.

 

[hockeyman]

Woohoo! That is looking unreal. The growth is really kicking into high gear. I know you didn't have work done on your crown but its looking terrific at that length as well. Happy for you!

[Der3k7]

I think you should trim the sides in back into a fade not necessarily a skin fade. Even just a fade into a point 5. Make the sides tighter.

 Either way that is looking nice for 4 months can’t wait to see where I’ll be I’m approaching 2.5 months from wong

Edited January 19, 2023 by Der3k7

[Melvin- Admin]

21 hours ago, FollicleFella said:

Episode (month) IV: A New Hope

Lets get this breadddd gentlemen. Finally, we are feeling generally good about how the hair is looking day to day. Right up in the light, these pics are dry but post wash/no fibers or product. With utilizing the latter, I have no confidence issues hanging with friends, going on dates, even letting the mane get slightly damp if there’s rain afoot, etc.

I am actually like 10 days shy of my 4 month anniversary but posting now as I’ll be on vacation for that.

There’s definitely areas that need to continue to fill in, but looking at these pics compared to even last month has me really optimistic. Can’t wait to see what the next 8-12 months bring.

A big thank you for all the support/interest/love passed my way on this process so far. Holy sh*t that ugly duckling sucked, and everyone commenting their support/encouragement really helped me out. Y’all are dope and I hope everyone here finds their respective peace/joy with hair restoration/maintenance.

 

Looking really good bro, this community saved me during the ugly duckling phase. You’ve definitely turned the corner, and it’s smooth sailing from here on out. I agree with @Der3k7 a nice fade would make the top look thicker. I wouldn’t touch the top, just the sides.

[ALittelTeal]

Looking great! I would be ecstatic to have that growth at 4 months. Will be following along closely. 

[Balding Bad]

Wow, you really turned the corner on month 4. Congrats and happy growing!

[milito_22]

Is that only your "natural" hair or have you seen any growth in your transplanted hair? I am pretty much at your same stage but after almost 4 months haven't seen any growth in my transplanted hair

[FollicleFella]

On 1/21/2023 at 2:54 AM, milito_22 said:

Is that only your "natural" hair or have you seen any growth in your transplanted hair? I am pretty much at your same stage but after almost 4 months haven't seen any growth in my transplanted hair

Hey bud sorry I missed this.

To answer your question: I don’t know how to make the distinction between what is one’s natural hair versus transplanted hair. If anything I would think we all would be a little on the relatively thin side at 4 months since that is still close (in terms of hair growth time frame) to the shock loss/ugly duckling period which for me looked markedly worse than pre op.

I wouldn’t get discouraged just yet. If you’re around month 8 and haven’t seen any progress then that’s different. Are you in touch with your surgeon? What do they say? Also worth noting that my case wasn’t particularly bad pre op so we may just have different starting points.

[milito_22]

7 hours ago, FollicleFella said:

Hey bud sorry I missed this.

To answer your question: I don’t know how to make the distinction between what is one’s natural hair versus transplanted hair. If anything I would think we all would be a little on the relatively thin side at 4 months since that is still close (in terms of hair growth time frame) to the shock loss/ugly duckling period which for me looked markedly worse than pre op.

I wouldn’t get discouraged just yet. If you’re around month 8 and haven’t seen any progress then that’s different. Are you in touch with your surgeon? What do they say? Also worth noting that my case wasn’t particularly bad pre op so we may just have different starting points.

Hey, thank you for your answer. Yes, now it definitively looks much better than the ugly duck period as I would say I am almost like I was pre op. But in terms of regrowth of transplanted hair, I haven't seen any so far.

I am following your case really close as I think it is very similar to mine. Same surgeon, pretty much same date of surgery and same kind of work. I had transplanted 2012 units on my hairline.

I've reached out to Dott. Wong and he said not to worry about as regrowth can take up to 5 months.

 

[FollicleFella]

3 hours ago, milito_22 said:

Hey, thank you for your answer. Yes, now it definitively looks much better than the ugly duck period as I would say I am almost like I was pre op. But in terms of regrowth of transplanted hair, I haven't seen any so far.

I am following your case really close as I think it is very similar to mine. Same surgeon, pretty much same date of surgery and same kind of work. I had transplanted 2012 units on my hairline.

I've reached out to Dott. Wong and he said not to worry about as regrowth can take up to 5 months.

 

Gotcha! In that case my man we may be in more similar boats then. I’m not sure what my hair would look like now post op versus what would it look like now if I had just shaved it 4 months ago sans surgery. In my case there’s the additional factor of not taking any medicine as well so who knows. I had some minor hair line filling in but most of my work was packing the frontal 1/2, so in terms of evaluation it’s more of a density assessment than being able to see “okay my coverage now extends an additional x centimeters.”

Good luck and I hope we both find what we’re looking for!

 

 

[Zinedine]

On 1/18/2023 at 8:52 PM, FollicleFella said:

Episode (month) IV: A New Hope

Lets get this breadddd gentlemen. Finally, we are feeling generally good about how the hair is looking day to day. Right up in the light, these pics are dry but post wash/no fibers or product. With utilizing the latter, I have no confidence issues hanging with friends, going on dates, even letting the mane get slightly damp if there’s rain afoot, etc.

I am actually like 10 days shy of my 4 month anniversary but posting now as I’ll be on vacation for that.

There’s definitely areas that need to continue to fill in, but looking at these pics compared to even last month has me really optimistic. Can’t wait to see what the next 8-12 months bring.

A big thank you for all the support/interest/love passed my way on this process so far. Holy sh*t that ugly duckling sucked, and everyone commenting their support/encouragement really helped me out. Y’all are dope and I hope everyone here finds their respective peace/joy with hair restoration/maintenance.

 

Bravo... that is coming out nicely already at just 4 months... let's be patient now and in another 4 more months you will be ready for a superb summer with new a new look : ) 

[mister_25]

Update? Should be heading to 6 months or so soon.

Edited March 8, 2023 by mister_25

[Der3k7]

Yeah update?

[subjecthair69]

update?