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My Hair Transplant with Dr. Brandon Ross of San Diego, CA


chargedup

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I hadn't spent much time on the internet or message boards about hair loss, just some occasional reading and searching for a good doctor.

 

Here's what I went with:

 

I had a transplant done with Dr. Ross just this past Tuesday, Feb. 17th. It went smooth without any complications. The office, lunch, movies, the way he and his staff are down-to-earth and made me feel at home was perfect, his sense of humor is also a big plus. I had over 3,000 put in and it took all day...(10+ hours, probably because they took their time and did a great job). I understand time will be the tell all, but the procedure went way better than what I anticipated. I will keep you all up to date with posts and pics about my progress. This was my first and hopefully last transplant. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect, but I can't imagine it being any better.

 

My wife who has sewed all her life and is pretty much what you would call a pro seamstress, could not believe what a great stitch job Dr. Ross had done at the donor area (seems like a big one to me). She said it was perfect, almost as a machine had done it. Why other docs are using the quick staple method to leave patients in discomfort/pain is beyond me. I have had no discomfort and went off of any pain meds by the next morning after the op.

 

Oh yeah, I got a call from Dr. Ross the day after the procedure, and he was just checking in to see how I was doing. He was kind enough to give me his cell # in case I needed to speak with him right away....pretty cool.

 

Going to have sutures removed Tuesday Feb. 24th at Dr. Ross' office. He will be giving me a CD with all the pics. I'll post as soon as I can.

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Here's some amateur hour photos I took at home, so this is 6th day after procedure...

 

(New, better updated pics in posts below)

 

 

I'm in no pain whatsoever, in fact I haven't been since day two and it was minimal at that.

 

I dig the fact that Dr. Ross let me keep my hair semi-long. From what I've seen a lot of other doctor's patients have to shave their heads.

 

I'm lucky I went with a doc who does awesome suture jobs. I had no idea how I was gonna be sewed up. And Why the staples from other docs? Because its easy and quick? It's more pain and discomfort from what I've read. And if sutures yield a less noticeable scar too (maybe, I don't know?), it's only a no-brainer to go that way.

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Had sutures removed yesterday. Went really well, very little pain while getting them out. Dr. Ross and his nurse think the healing is looking good. Oh yeah, my total was 3075.

 

Thought I'd give you all my reasons for doing this whole transplant thing...

 

When I'm not wearing a hat, my hair doesn't look too bad when styled and stiffed, but windy or wet and you can see from the pics just how thin it is. Last summer, I was out of the water more than usual due to my embarrassing dome and I thought I'd do something now to hopefully be okay for this summer.

 

Why I went with Dr. Ross? His rep looked good and his price was good. 24 months at 0% interest too.

Definitely a straight shooter and not a sales kook. I got the sense from not only him, but his whole staff that they've got this transplant deal wired, and when operating, it would come as second nature to them.

 

After having a bit of down time for a couple of days post-op, and reading more and more on the forums...I don't think I could have made a better choice in a doctor, and it is inspiring me to take the time to post this in hopes to enlighten those who are gonna get a HT, to get it done where I did, because this hair-falling-out thing is shitty and you should have something go your way if you plan to spend the bucks and go through a bit of pain.

 

I'm not gonna put up a link and plug (sorry for the pun) Dr. Ross' biz here. You might think its all fake and I'm somehow getting compensated. No way, no how. If you want to find out about him, he's here on the web.

 

Another thing, I live in San Diego, so I was lucky there, but I've read so much about guys having to travel. San Diego wouldn't sound too bad if I have had to travel for this.

 

Even some of these big name docs...More $$$? Painful staples? And shaving ares, where good hair was growing?... What's that about? I'm sure they tell the patient it makes the operation go smoother, but its obviously not necessary. Is it to have the patient's before and after pics look all that more impressive or dramatic? Maybe those patients are getting compensated?

 

Time will tell for me, but I'm willing to bet I'll get as good or better results, having spent less, with less overall discomfort, than many that I've read about here. I'm just stoked with the choice I made as to where I had my procedure done.

 

Here's my pics...

 

 

 

A1-FT-2-17-9.jpg

 

 

A3-LT-2-17-9.jpg

 

 

A2-RT-2-14-9.jpg

 

 

A4-Top-2-17-9.jpg

 

 

A5-Top2-2-17-9.jpg

 

 

The red lesion is likely to my use of regular Minoxidil. I'll be giving the foam a try in a couple of weeks.

 

A6-Topwithredlesionlikely22minoxidi.jpg

 

 

A7-FT-drawing.jpg

 

 

A8-RT-drawing.jpg

 

 

I've skipped the incision pic (for now). I had no idea the cut had to be that deep to get to the follicles. If you'd like to see it, PM me. If I get some response and people think that it wouldn't deter others from getting a HT. I'll post it.

 

Here's the stitch job...

 

A11-donorclosure.jpg

 

 

A12-donorclosurecloseup.jpg

 

 

A13-26cmX12cmdonorstrip.jpg

 

 

A14-donorstripcloseup.jpg

 

 

A15-precutdonorslivers1mmthick.jpg

 

Sites made...

 

A16-FT-sitesmade.jpg

 

 

A17-RT-sitesmade.jpg

 

 

A18-LT-sitesmade.jpg

 

Sites placed...

 

A19-FT-sitesplaced.jpg

 

 

A20-RT-sitesplaced.jpg

 

 

A21-LT-sitesplaced.jpg

 

 

A week later...

 

FT-1weekpostop.jpg

 

 

LT-1weekpostop.jpg

 

 

RT-1weekpostop.jpg

 

 

Stitches out...

 

StitchedRemoved1weekpostop.jpg

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chargedup;

 

the work looks very clean and refined; your probably going to want to have another surgery down the road to add more density though; the 3000 grafts will provide a nice cosmetic improvement and it will look natural but it covered a large area so it appears that it won't be very dense;

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Charged up - good luck to you. It looks like you don't have much redness which must be nice.

 

And i agree with hoose's sentiments as well.

 

Just an FYI - to a casual observer it does sound like you are promoting ross. Which is fine and your results will speak for themselves.

 

Good growing to you.

Had 3k With Umar on Feb 16, 2009

 

My Hair Loss Website

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Originally posted by Abedogg:

Charged up - good luck to you. It looks like you don't have much redness which must be nice.

 

And i agree with hoose's sentiments as well.

 

Just an FYI - to a casual observer it does sound like you are promoting ross. Which is fine and your results will speak for themselves.

 

Good growing to you.

 

Yeah, maybe I should throttle back on how good the experience was, as to not sound phony, but it is all true.

 

It's a new and recent endeavor in my life, and I'm happy about it now. And it's all euphoria now, but maybe 2-3 weeks from now after scabs and hair have fallen out...I'll be whining like a bitch, cursing the doc, and regretting the thought of ever thinking about getting a transplant. icon_wink.gif

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  • 4 weeks later...
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Everything is fine. A few new sprouts, maybe, hard to tell. no shock-loss though, which is nice.

 

I get an occasional zit in or around the hairline (maybe 4 total). Dr. Ross called me the other day just to find out how things were. I told him about the zits/pimples and he said that it was normal.

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WoW! Looks like you got a good one. I am getting ready to take the HT plunge. I was considering going to hasson&wong in Vancouver B.C., but they use the staples. It may not be a big deal, but I like the fact yours was stitched. I am willing to spend 6-10k for the procedure, does this sound about right. My hair loss is similar to yours, I might have just a scootch more hair, so I am thinking about 2000 grafts. I really like the fact you had no shock loss and man, those follicles look like they were just ready to grow right in. Did you have the normal shedding that everyone talks about? I Live in Seattle, WA and the only good surgeon we have out here is affiliated with MHR medical hair restoration, which everyone on these boards say's to stay away from. Any suggestions?

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No shock loss as of yet, just a few pimples (about 5 now) at the hairline.

 

I would hop on a cheap Southwest flight and get it done with Dr. Ross. He's right in your price rang. Hell, less if all your doing is 2,000.

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