Hey guys, I work in the health care industry and I'm not totally sure if I'll be allowed to wear a hat to work after my HT procedure. I was able to take off 2 weeks but has anyone come across this problem before? I was just wondering if I should just tell my boss what I am having done so I'm not "hiding" anything for the next several months. Has anyone else encountered this at all? Were they understanding? Thanks

It greatly depends on whether you will be shaved or not. If not you may be able to hide it.

What type of procedure are you having…who is your Dr? If you are working in a hospital under those bright lights I would be concerned with only a 2week window.

Don’t take this procedure lightly…I did and have been hat ridden ever since.

I get to wear a hat so it's not a big issue. But the crown area was shaved where they were working. If anyone catches it I plan to just say I had a slight case of folliculitus and the area was cut and I am putting medication on it.

I haven't been busted yet though.

Fingerscrossed, if your doctor doesn't shave off the recipient area, then you'll be fine. If your recipient area is shaved, plan on wearing a hat for several weeks, if you want to conceal the area.

Depending on the relationship you have with your boss, you can frankly tell him that you're having a HT. It is not a big deal, especially for someone in the healthcare industry.

Tough call. As mentioned before, it entirely depends on if you shave or not for the procedure. Is there some kind of surgical cap or beanie you could wear? I have a couple jobs where I can't wear a hat. I'm keeping my hair short for now and putting dermmatch on my donor area to conceal the scar. That's always an option if you shave.

Hmm, touch call, indeed. I'd tell your boss; just break it down for him. As a result, he may very well be very understanding and allow you to best conceal things for a few weeks.

As an excuse for other people who may see you during the recuperative process, I've always felt saying you got some annoying but benign folliculitus is the best excuse around. It's not unheard of, but it's vague enough, and can account for any funky look you might have or why you're wearing a hat or whatever.

Frankly, though, a huge variable is how you yourself recover. Specifically, redness in your recipient (which can last for months or be gone in a week), and shockloss (temporary, occurring in and/or your donor or recipient regions).

Fingerscrossed,

I had my procedure back in mid July this year. Fortunately ive been able to wear a cap up until now (3 months). I have just stopped wearing it and have no traceable signs.....

2 weeks is cutting it fine. Most of the swelling in your face should have gone by then, and any pain/numbness in the back of your head should have eased...but you will be left with a red bald head!. ummmmmm, my advice is you tell your boss and ask if you can wear a cap on your return...

Good luck

I believe you should take a positive attitude and ask if you could wear a cap if you don't feel confortable displaying your new tatoo (scar). In my case, I didn't, I do sales B2B and I tought was very interesting and ice breaker conversation with some of my clients. Own it !
HT is something you do for yourself and you should feel good about it. No hiding !

Thanks for the advice guys....my surgery date is January 18th, 2010 with Dr. Hasson. It'll be strip, and he estimates it to be around 3,000-4,000 grafts. I work at a physcial therapy in patient hospital so I'm guessing I could get away with wearing a professional looking hat. I'm going to take the advice you guys gave me and tell my boss about it instead of hiding it. I just hope he keeps it between him and I....

be sure to upload your pics

I wouldnt tell anybody

Balboa, I definitely will upload pics. I'll create a weblog closer to the procedure (after the holidays) and unlike so many other people, I'll actually update it frequently. This site has helped tremendously and I want to return the favor.

Also I've decided that I'll tell my boss about it this coming Friday. I guess the hardest thing is approaching my boss and just telling him about it bc for so long my hair has been a touchy subject...so I guess I should just "get it out in the open" and whatever happens, happens. I guess you could say I'm nervous / embarrassed about the whole situation bc most ppl have a misconception about the whole process. Anyways, I'll let you guys know how things go. Thanks again