I watched the video Pat provided for us by Wong&Hasson's staff. I am going to have my first HT by Dr. Rahal on April 4th. I am wondering how do I know I have enough in my donar area for 3000 grafts? If I am able to push the back of my head up and down 1 inch am I in good shape? Or do I need to do those exercises?

How much skin can you pinch at the back of your head? the donor area? If it's not very much, then you do need to do these exercises. If I was you I would do at least 30-40 minutes a day. I did them for 2 minutes, wrote it down, then later another 2 minutes until I got to 40 minutes. Before I started I could pinch almost zero skin at the back and sides of my head. After 3-4 weeks I could pinch 1-1.5 cm, folded skin which laid flat would be 2-3 cm. Even if the Doctor does not need that much, at least when he closes the donor area it will be easier and better healing for you. JMHO

I can pinch about a half inch with my fingers. The scalp feels thick. Is that normal? I am able to squeeze and get one fold.

Do you move the scalp up and down? Press hard on the scalp to move it? Im curious

I don't know what is normal, only what mine was like. If your able to pinch half an inch at the back of your head in the donor area, without any exercises, your doing great. I did the same exercises in Joe's video from H&W, and really stretched the skin, pulling up. Maybe you could search the web site to see whats normal. Good luck.

Hairfree,

Since scalp exercises can only enhance the number of grafts you will get, I believe it would be beneficial to do scalp exercises.

Falc