2.5k grafts in Dublin - Overharvesting?

[RoundRock]

Hi guys,

I had a 2.5k graft transplant done with André Nel in Dublin and was wondering how this looks in terms of overharvesting. I just got a haircut for the first time and the sides looks pretty moth-eaten compared to the pictures 1-6 of the same area from before the transplant. I wasn't happy with the transplant itself anyway, but didn't realise the sides were even worse until this haircut. Do you think SMP could fix this?

[WhiteyUK]

Judging by first 3 pictures you didn’t need a ht

[RoundRock]

Well nobody really needs a hair transplant. I wasn't happy with the hairline I had and wanted to get it strengthened a bit. It was marching steadily backwards.

Edited April 5 by RoundRock

[Ccd99]

What clipper guard did the barber use? Do you have any photos immediately post op (so we can see the extraction pattern)?

Either way SMP would definitely help camouflage that yes

[RoundRock]

I went to a hairdresser rather than a barber. She used a 3 for the bottom parts of my hair near my ear/neck and then scissors over the rest.

I don't have any photos of the extraction area post-op as I had longer hair at the time and went for an 'unshaven' option. I know the extraction was done in strips, where they lifted one section of hair and shaved underneath, performed the extractions, and then lay that section of hair back down over the extractions. They did the same from the nape of my neck to the crown of my head in 6-8 rows as I remember it.

Ok that's reassuring! I'm hoping I have enough donor density remaining for Dr. Juan Couto to repair André Nel's result next year.

Edited April 5 by RoundRock

[Ccd99]

36 minutes ago, RoundRock said:

I went to a hairdresser rather than a barber. She used a 3 for the bottom parts of my hair near my ear/neck and then scissors over the rest.

I don't have any photos of the extraction area post-op as I had longer hair at the time and went for an 'unshaven' option. I know the extraction was done in strips, where they lifted one section of hair and shaved underneath, performed the extractions, and then lay that section of hair back down over the extractions. They did the same from the nape of my neck to the crown of my head in 6-8 rows as I remember it.

Ok that's reassuring! I'm hoping I have enough donor density remaining for Dr. Juan Couto to repair André Nel's result next year.

If it's a 3 guard then that equates to 10mm length, most surgeons use a punch size of 0.8mm-0.9mm therefore I would have expected any scarring to be hidden, in your case we can still see the extraction to some degree so it can only mean 2 things:

1) yes there was some overharvesting unfortunately (more likely)

2) you've always had less density in your donor area and it is showing now (less likely)

If you're going to Dr. Couto you are in great hands! Might be a good idea to get his opinion on the matter too.

[RoundRock]

Thanks very much for your thoughts. I know my older pictures are lower quality, but this is definitely the first time in my life I've noticed such patchiness on the sides.

Dr. Couto is in very high demand! His next appointments are mid-2026. I've considered getting SMP now to disguise this but am not sure if get makes extractions during future transplants more challenging. 

[4Godot]

Just curious, what other issues did you have with the transplant? I think I looked at this Dr and the Black Rock place a year or two back. Both seemed very pricey with very mixed results even in their own galleries. I eventually managed to get an appointment with Dr Cuoto, did you manage to get an appointment there yet?

[RoundRock]

The resulting transplant had about 80% of the grafts fail as you can see in the final image I posted above, and even if it had been successful the line has no variation and looks unnatural to me. Dr. Nel did maybe 10% of the implants and his staff did the rest. There was a noticeable difference in technique, where the staff pushed so hard that I heard a 'crunch' each time, I assume it was some fascia breaking in my scalp but I didn't know if that was normal or not so I didn't say anything. It didn't happen when Dr. Nel was putting them in. The procedure cost in excess of €10k, and Blackrock would have been at least double that.

I haven't gotten an appointment with Dr. Couto yet, but I have tried. In December 2024 he will be making appointments for consultations in summer 2025 for procedures in summer 2026. Really hoping to catch a slot ASAP. Can I ask how you found your appointment?