Falc:
The HT looks great...I know you must feel great knowing that you'll have 2249 more grafts adding great density to your previous HT...like you said, the long wait has begun, but, you'll be a different person in 6 months...good luck with your healing & I look forward to more updates as time goes on...take care!

Mike

Thaniks Mike. Yeah, I'm excited by it....though I have a long waiting process now, so off to the waiting process I go. I will definately keep you posted. Did you have an HT? If so...who was your doc?

Falc

Good luck Falceros, I hope this works out for you the way you hope.

You mentioned in your original post that dense packing is controversial. I don't think that at this point, it can really be called contoversial any more. Higher graft counts are the norm at the so-called better clinics. A 2000 graft procedure is considered normal (not high) and anything less might be called on the low side (if the patient needs lots of grafts).

The only issue with density, is finding a balance between "area of coverage" and "density"... you can't have a large amount of "both".

You still have a good amount of hair remaining... high sides and some remaining hair in the crown and vertex (I think). Do whatever you can to retain your high sides!!! It makes a huge difference. Every little area you don't have to graft, is to your advantage.

Good luck and good healing.

Hey Arfy,

Thanks for the reply. Yeah, I know what you mean about the dense packing thing. It does seem like it's pretty standard today which is good. I guess my treatment wasn't very high density because a larger area was covered, but it should bring about much more density than I had, and I'm hoping to notice a significant difference. I'm trying to go for as much density I can in a large area if that makes sense. I recognize I can't have a lot of both which is ashame....but I'm working with what I can and at least hoping to improve my hair to look much more "normal" if you will.

Right now I'm doing what I can to keep my native hair. I'm on Propecia, about 10 months now, and also using Minoxodil, though I don't believe the Minoxodil is doing anything for me. I was using just minoxodil for awhile and I was losing a lot of hair, so I am thinking about not using it anymore.

Thanks for the comments Arfy...and I'll keep you posted.

All comments/questions welcome!

Falc

Hello Falceros -

Thanks for your comments in PM. I've seen your pictures, it looks pretty good so far. I think you're going to have amazing results with 2000+ grafts. Keep your pix posted.

Thanks,

KG

Hello everyone, thought I'd give you all an update:

I just got a haircut today, 2 clip around the sides and back....whew, does that feel better. I'm 3 weeks and 5 days post op and I've just added some 3 pictures. I have posted pictures of the side views, hairline, and top of the head, and the donor scar.

About at 3 weeks, I started shedding some of the little hairs on top of my head...unfortunately, I think some of the longer hairs are shedding too. There is still some pink on top of my head...hopefully that will fade within the next month. But I do know that I have seen some people who have kept their pinkness in their scalp for many months. Hmmm....well, we'll see. Also, I believe I have experienced some shock loss around the donor area....there is a little more hair missing around the scar when I look in the mirror. It's not bad though, I can live with it....but I do hope it grows back soon. I posted a picture, though I'm not sure it really shows the shockloss all that well. I can see it in the mirror though.

Anyway, please post comments and/or questions. I'd be happy to answer anything, or read any comments. Thanks.

Falc

bump to observe 3 week 5 day photos. Comments? Questions? Advice?

bump again.

Falc:
I thought your latest pictures showed very good healing--your strip incision looked like it was healing well also...I could also see the increased density that your going to have once the grafts start to grow...how much input did Dr. True have on your hairline placement or was that your decision only?...all in all, I think your going to be pleased with the outcome--how could you not be, you'll have more hair!!

Mike

Falc- You'll be heading into the dog days shortly; the slow wait. You'll should be in good shape for skiing season though ( Jan- Feb).

Thanks Mike and Jacob for your replies.

Mike,

Dr. True had all the input on the hairline. He suggested lowering the hairline oh so slightly to give me a more "handsome" hairline as he called it. I agree....the hairline he placed does look like it will blend better into the sides of my hair. He drew the initial hairline and asked what I thought. I said I thought it looked good, so he went with it. Yeah, I'm looking forward to about 6 months from now.

Jacobs,

I will be entering the dog days in about 4 days....I'll be at exactly 1 month, so I have to wait for at least 2 months to start seeing any growth. Blah! But oh how it will be worth it when the time comes. I just hope all grows in well and thick.

Falc

Ugh...starting to experience some shedding and shock loss in the recipient areas....ugh. I experienced some last time too, but it seems that the shock loss is worse this time....I guess I was warned that would happen because of the higher density this time around. Any encouragement during this time of shedding and shock loss would be helpful...and any suggestions would also be helpful. Thanks.

Falc

went thru the same thing when had my ht at end of june. Looked worse than ever when all the stubble fell out and had quite a bit of shock loss. However now it is early september and my hair is starting to look like it did when i went into the ht. Had a rough month or two but now it looks like it used too and knowing it's only going to get better now is great and know it'll all be worth it. Hang in there!

Thanks Tkerr22,

Glad to know that within two months that you looked bak to the way you did before the HT. I'm hoping that happens with me too....because this shock loss thing sucks!!!! I get paranoid...you know? Thinking uh oh....I already had an HT, and now I look worse than I did after the first HT....is it all going to grow back? I'm hoping that my hair will look much better than after the first HT not only just as good as the first HT, especially not worse! Ugh! I do hope this changes soon!

Falc

Falc:
I know how disheartening shockloss can be...does the shockloss seem to be happening with your native hair or is the previously transplanted hair being affected too?...I thought I understood that previously transplanted hair was less prone to shockloss...in any case, it generally returns as tkerr22 indicated...good luck!

Mike

Hi Mike,

I think it's a small combination of both. I don't think it's as bad as I think....but with the little bit of redness left, my hair dyed blonde due to peroxide I used (oops), it looks thinner. But I have seen my hair shed in the shower a bit....and I don't like it! I would say that it's a little bit of the native hair and the previously transplanted hair. I just hope it grows back soon....hopefully it will.

Falc

Hi all,

I'm at 7 weeks and a little discouraged. I know I definately experienced some shockloss and I look worse than I did before my second HT. It hasn't gotten worse in the past 2 weeks or so I'd say and it seems like any shedding I've experienced has minimized a lot....but it's discouraging looking at 9 month post op pictures from my first HT and seeing some awesome results and looking at myself now and looking like I didn't get one. Any words of advice and or encouragement? I'm doing Minoxodil ad night and taking Propecia 1mg every day. Thanks

Falc

falceros
thanks for posting all the pictures. Its great help to someone considering a HT to observe the progress.
I am sorry that you are feeling discouraged. Stay tough. You have multiple stresses occurring simultaneously.
The shock loss coupled with the anxious waiting period before you begin to see the fruits of your labor and perhaps a bit of mild depression that is somewhat common after surgery. ( along with any additional stressors in your private life.)

Stay positive and be patient. Look forward to spring when your scalp will be thick with foliage.

quote:

Originally posted by falceros:
Hi all,

I'm at 7 weeks and a little discouraged. I know I definately experienced some shockloss and I look worse than I did before my second HT. It hasn't gotten worse in the past 2 weeks or so I'd say and it seems like any shedding I've experienced has minimized a lot....but it's discouraging looking at 9 month post op pictures from my first HT and seeing some awesome results and looking at myself now and looking like I didn't get one. Any words of advice and or encouragement? I'm doing Minoxodil ad night and taking Propecia 1mg every day. Thanks

Falc

just wait it out dude. what else can you do, ya know??