5,000 grafts with Dr. Das at Eugenix

[Buffaloboy]

Day 1 is complete and 4900 of the 5000 slits are in! Approximately 900 of these slits have grafts in them. Dr. Das is keeping some extra slits to fill in areas as she sees fit. We are hoping to finish tomorrow but we may need a half day on Thursday to finish. Here is my story thus far:

Arrived in Delhi at 9:00pm local time after a 15 hour flight. As promised by Eugenix, the hotel driver was waiting for me right outside of the airport exit.

The driver was cordial and brought me to the Hilton where I checked in. The next morning I was picked up by the Eugenix driver at 10:15am and brought to the clinic. The steps were as follows:

1. Hand ID to receptionist who takes a picture of it.
2. Escorted by Eugenix employee to the picture room for three rounds of photos. First set of photos are taken with your normal hair style. Second set of photos is after the doctor draws your new hair line. Third set of photos is after your hair is buzzed.
3. During this time a nurse arrives and places two injections into your arm. The purpose is to test how your body reacts to the anasthesia before placing it all over your head. Very smart!
4. The nurse also provides pre-surgery antibiotics and a few other pills.
5. I was then escorted from the picture room to the wash room, where my head was washed.
6. I was then escorted from the wash room to the surgery room.

The OR nurse uses a vibrating device to distract you from the pain of the anesthesia needles, which is surprisingly effective.

Im pretty tired so that’s all I have for day 1. Here are my before photos and a before/after of day 1.

 

 

[Antonfarat]

Good write-up mate. Do they let you go back to the hotel for the eve, with slits in your head but no grafts? Is that standard? 

[Reecee]

2 hours ago, Antonfarat said:

Good write-up mate. Do they let you go back to the hotel for the eve, with slits in your head but no grafts? Is that standard? 

When they did mine they left me with the slits unfilled overnight then did the insertions the next day. I'm not sure if this was their standard procedure or due to them being too busy to complete the transplant on the same day. They were very busy around the time of my transplant 

[Berba11]

15 minutes ago, Reecee said:

When they did mine they left me with the slits unfilled overnight then did the insertions the next day. I'm not sure if this was their standard procedure or due to them being too busy to complete the transplant on the same day. They were very busy around the time of my transplant 

This has been standard practice for years at Eugenix. Their surgeries do seem to take longer in general (I speak from personally experience as well), and to their credit their techs will slow right down or stop implantation if a patient is oozing a bit too much. One of the advantages of doing slits first is that you aren't committed to having all your grafts implanted in the same day if there are issues like excess oozing etc, as slits can remain open for up to 72 hours.

[Buffaloboy]

7 hours ago, Antonfarat said:

Good write-up mate. Do they let you go back to the hotel for the eve, with slits in your head but no grafts? Is that standard? 

Yes they did. Dr Das explained to me that it’s often easier to do implantation the next day. Also - I was very tired (and jet lagged), so did request to end a bit earlier than they were planning for the first day.

I also oozed quite a bit, which slowed them down.

They have a great team at Eugenix and I trust them.

Edited May 1 by Buffaloboy

[Gatsby]

Wishing you all the best @Buffaloboy. It can drag on a bit and yes you will be tired post op with sleeping. However time does go surprisingly quick. 

[Antonfarat]

5 hours ago, Buffaloboy said:

Yes they did. Dr Das explained to me that it’s often easier to do implantation the next day. Also - I was very tired (and jet lagged), so did request to end a bit earlier than they were planning for the first day.

I also oozed quite a bit, which slowed them down.

They have a great team at Eugenix and I trust them.

Right, just from my uninformed perspective using a bit of common sense, would think open wounds that get tinkered with after could open you up to a higher risk of infection, probably slow down recovery, maybe more bleeding, etc. That is why I asked, but I am sure those guys know what they are doing. Good luck fella! 

[Buffaloboy]

Day 2 was today. I feel bad writing how exhausted I am, because I know it is the technicians and nurses and doctors who did all the work. 

The Eugenix team really is in lockstep. They are a true TEAM. They know what the other needs before they verbalize it. And Dr. Das is very kind and just an amazing person to talk to.

I have about 900 grafts remaining to be harvested and implanted tomorrow, all from the beard. Then the process will be over.

Also met Dr. Sethi today. He was in my OR several times and we chatted quite a bit. I then did an interview for the India Times, which will be broadcast at some point.

Here are the pictures from day 2:

[Bandit90]

Glad your surgery is going well. High-Norwood restoration its a unfortunately a marathon surgery, but in a couple of weeks time you’re going to look back and will thank yourself! Remember to keep cool and trust the process, will be a long few months ahead waiting for growth.. but it will be here before you know! 

Edited May 1 by Bandit90

[Buffaloboy]

Day 3 is done and my procedure is now complete. Feels surreal. A lot of time, planning and energy went into this and now it is finished.

3000~ grafts in front

220~ in each temple

1700~ in the crown

200~ in mid scalp

I am already thinking about a second procedure to bring the hairline down. In the long run I think I want it a bit closer.

Edited May 2 by Buffaloboy

[Rawkerboi]

Dam man, You need to relax and stop thinking about second surgery its just been a few days and you had insane 5000 grafts implanted.

I like your hairline looks age appropriate, I don't think it will look good if you bring it down..

Hope you are healing well cheers

[Buffaloboy]

On 5/4/2024 at 11:25 PM, Rawkerboi said:

Dam man, You need to relax and stop thinking about second surgery its just been a few days and you had insane 5000 grafts implanted.

I like your hairline looks age appropriate, I don't think it will look good if you bring it down..

You’re absolutely right. Thanks for the perspective.

On 5/4/2024 at 11:25 PM, Rawkerboi said:

Hope you are healing well cheers

Here are some healing photos. I think i’ve healed very well for only 4 days after surgery. It’s a testament to the two talented techs at Eugenix that do extractions.

Edited May 6 by Buffaloboy

[Antonfarat]

Agreed, looks like solid work. 

[Stewie]

Looks great now it's all cleaned up, and agreed the team is great! Looking forward to seeing how this plays out for you, good luck with the growing  

[hair_forever]

Amazing donnor after only 4 days!

[jason231]

Will be following your journey. keep us updated and wish you the best!

[Buffaloboy]

Anyone know what these lines are? They just showed up today. They look like cracks/lines of no grafts that are spreading throughout the front of my scalp.

I thought maybe dry skin but i’m spraying with saline several times per day.

Edited May 7 by Buffaloboy

[Reecee]

That's completely normal, the lines are nothing to worry about. 

Edited May 8 by Reecee

[Gatsby]

9 hours ago, Reecee said:

That's completely normal, the lines are nothing to worry about. 

This ^ Follow the instructions you were given by Eugenix. Every looks fine. Try not to cause yourself undue anxiety. Keep yourself busy (easy to say I know). All the best @Buffaloboy. 👍

[Affectionatefail25]

@Gatsby you did it from euginex as well. How are you maintaining without using finasteride? Thanks!

[Gatsby]

1 minute ago, Affectionatefail25 said:

@Gatsby you did it from euginex as well. How are you maintaining without using finasteride? Thanks!

I’m taking 5mg a night of oral minoxidil after starting from a Norwood 7. Not ideal I know but therm’s the breaks. Still I see benefits from the oral minoxidil in hair thickness and in a longer anagen phase. 

[Shadman]

On 5/7/2024 at 12:47 AM, Buffaloboy said:

You’re absolutely right. Thanks for the perspective.

Here are some healing photos. I think i’ve healed very well for only 4 days after surgery. It’s a testament to the two talented techs at Eugenix that do extractions.

Recovery going great,  Eugenix donor extraction & donor Management completely top level 👌

Best wishes 👍

[Buffaloboy]

15 hours ago, Reecee said:

That's completely normal, the lines are nothing to worry about. 

The clinic responded just after I posted that and said it was normal as well. Good to know! Thanks.

[Al - Moderator]

On 5/2/2024 at 7:36 AM, Buffaloboy said:

I am already thinking about a second procedure to bring the hairline down. In the long run I think I want it a bit closer.

 

Wait until the hair grows in to start thinking of what to do next with it. Hair lines sometimes look a bit lower once the hair grown in. You may end up liking the finished look.

[Buffaloboy]

Day 10.

Scabs mostly off.

Temples on the bottom pic looking a bit thin. I’m hoping I didn’t lose some grafts somehow. I never saw any bleeding or noticed any hairs fall.