Hey guys. Just had my procedure done.

The specific details of the procedure I will release later today, I should be recieving an email with the info. It's 6am, I'm so tired I can't even sleep.. But I'm being productive.

It was in the ballpark of ~2143(?) grafts if I remember correctly, predominantly placed in Zone 1 to strength the existing hairline, but also back into zone(s) 2-3 for some density.



Here's my history (taken straight from my blog):
http://www.hairtransplantnetwork.com/blog/home-page.asp?WebID=602

Hey everyone! I am 25 and a half years old. I have been researching hair loss for the past six and a half years. My hair loss began in about 2001-2002, around age 18 or 19, and I immediately began to use minoxidil sporadically. I began to use Propecia (1mg Finasteride) about a year later. While the products were moderately effective, I accelerated my hair loss by taking certain legal performance enhancers. I was aware of the consequences and also took measures to minimize the hair loss throughout. I would shed quite a bit, but much of the thickness would return.

In 2005, I had a severe knee injury in a football game that greatly accelerated the hair loss. While a year later much of it had filled in, certain areas (crown, temples/hairline) most prone to Male-Pattern Baldness needed professional restoration beyond the limited ‘peach-fuzz’ that minoxidil could provide. I considered potential physicians by their expertise with dense hairline packing. The frontal, Zone 1, was the area that needed the biggest touch up, due to my naturally low, fairly square hairline - that the FDA approved treatments rarely improve. I contacted several reputable opinions and decided to have my procedure done by Dr. Glenn Charles.

Dr. Charles most closely shared my philosophy that: the hairline, to quote him, ‘makes-or-breaks’ ANY hair restoration procedure. I felt quite comfortable that Dr. Charles understood the wishes of his younger patients - whereas other doctors might have a more generic hairline which they will provide each of their patients, regardless of age or race.

Although I am younger than most candidates, I have quite a bit of experience with hair loss treatments and how they work (more often, do not work) combined with sports supplements. I have provided advice to countless persons on their surgical and non-surgical options. Although I have discontinued my use of sports supplements, I am familiar with the majority of the compounds. I have tried nearly EVERY hair treatment available and I have even experimented with some of my own creations. While some hair treatments are effective, the only permanent solution is a hair restoration procedure.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask!

ChrisHT,

Congratulations on your hair transplant with the elite Dr. Charles.

Just to clarify, did you have FIT (follicular isolation technique) surgery or FUT (follicular unit transplantation). These are two different techniques. The former involves isolating and extracting one follicular unit graft at a time with a small extraction tool whereas the latter involves removing a strip of hair from the back of your head, dissecting the follicular unit grafts, and then transplanting them.

Thank you also for creating a hair loss weblog. I look forward to reading your hair transplant experience and seeing your photos.

Falc

hey thanks man... Oops I totally messed that one up, typing post-op late at night on the pain meds.

Strip, FUT. of course.

Let me see if I can change that title.. edit: done and done.


Why are some coalition members unfamiliar over at the Hairlosshelp Forums? I posted my starting feedback over there and the first response I got was: "who is this Dr. Charles?"

http://www.hairlosshelp.com/forums/messageview.cfm?cati...id=76516&STARTPAGE=1

Post Op photos on the way. Thanks Falc

They pretend not to know who he is because I canceled our "subscription" to their site. There are only a few "real" sites out there that give honest answers and feedback and this one is the best.

Ah I see, well Dr. Charles still has some feedback on that site. I'll be posting my feedback over there too.

Chris,

I look forward to seeing your before and immediately postoperative photos when you get a chance to post them.

Heal and grow well.

Falc

Post-Op pictures are up on the blog.
http://www.hairtransplantnetwork.com/blog/home-page.asp?WebID=602

I'm not sure what to think, very little redness, I almost don't think the hairline will be low enough,,, but I have No idea.. I think the density will look really good.

No bleeding or lost grafts. No redness at all. Just this damn headache that prevents me from sleeping. Otherwise I feel fine, could be the Hydrocodone talking though.

The graft breakdown was 2136 in total
397-1’s
1071-2’s
668-3’s
total=2136 follicular unit grafts

share opinions, I'm open to all of them!

Personally, I think it looks good. Being so young, I can certainly understand you want the lower hairline but I figure the dr. might have done you a big favor by not putting it low.

I too had a transplant at 25 (17 years ago), and even though the technology wasn't great back then, my dr. did at least put the 'new' hairline about 1/2 inch above where my actual hairline was at the time.

How is this relevant, you ask? Well, I'm now about to turn 42 and actually still want to look good! My former hairline is gone and now the only hairline I have is those grafts from 17 yrs. ago.

I would look like a clown had he put the grafts much lower than what he did. The moral is; you might lose some more hair in your life and that will be a great looking hairline when you're 35 and up.

Thanks for the feedback!

Dr. Charles and I agreed not to move the hairline any lower just before the surgery... So I didn't anticipate actually lowering it. Dr. Charles said the normal hairline would rest 4 fingers from the hairline to the top of the nose. I am about 3 fingers (inotherwise, fairly low hairline). We agreed on 'strengthing' the existing hairline - although on the left side it might need/might have been lowered.

I guess I'm just having trouble picturing what the end result will be.

In pictures, my hairline looks pretty square (think Reggie Bush), but in reality, I guess is it's like any other Greek-Japanese-Hawaiian Kid's hairline haha.

I haven't washed my hair yet. My parents are being stubborn and won't get water from the Gulf of Mexico (i'd go but I seriously have a pounding headache and sunlight is bothering me).

Looks great Mario! Oops I mean Chris :-) I think you made a wise decision with the hairline choice. It's you're hairline just better :-). You're loss is pretty similar as mine except my frontal 1/3 was a little more thinned out since I'm 38. Since you didn't shave down you'll be back to you're normal routine in no time at all. Best of luck and look forward to seeing your results in 4-6 months.

Thank you very much! I am hoping to speed growth up to 150%-200%


Th Post-Procedure Protocol includes:
*Multi Vitamin

*Propecia (1mg Finasteride)

*5% Minoxidil (not necessarily Rogaine, I vary the actual Minoxidil product I use). My favorite is Spectral-DNC. It's pricey though.

*Nizoral/Nioxin Shampoo (I can't use these for 10-14days, but they will be part of the routine once I am able to wash my hair)

*Copper Peptides (the doctor gave me a Copper Peptide spray to use up in 3-4days, I will probably buy the Folligen Shampoo. Copper Peptides are proven to really help the growth of transplanted hairs by createing a healthy grow happy environment.

*Toco-8: PP's latest product. I believe it can increase hair growth, but it didn't do too much as far as stopping hair loss. I shed a lot though. I'll probably go through a few jars of this.
Toco-8 Information

*MSM: Bought a sh1tload of these at Costco... Eating them like candy, good for my knee and my head.

*Green Tea, Liver tabs, Protein Shakes etc... for my training, will benefit hair growth as well.

*Blood tests reveal that my testosterone is very high normal, it will certainly help in the growth

First hairwash tonight, went well. I didn't distrub any of the grafts and their wasn't any shockloss. Hard to tell though, I was just pouring cool water on my head from a cereal bowl. I feel better though, my hair looked like sh1t from 72 hours of no washing and constant copper peptide spraying.

The scar is still really tender on the right side. No blood at all, ever. The stitching was done really well. I just want this damn headache to go away. My forehead is really swollen but there is no redness, anyway. Very odd. Overall, I have a lot of energy, I feel great, minus the headache.

I am beginning to get the post-op itch, I took some Claritin in case any of it is allergy related.

hey chris,

congratulations. You'll be looking good soon.
Most docs seem to require shaving down these days. Is dr charles of the opinion that it shouldn't effect the final result not to shave down?

i appriciate it

nope I guess not... I was told, in fact, to keep the hair longer in the back so it would cover the suture. my hair hasn't been this long in years.

SH1T I JUST PULLED OUT 1 GRAFT SLIGHTLY TRYING TO RUB OFF A SCAB. DAMN IT TO HELL. Blood and all nice wake up call though.

lesson learned. never again.. my head is very itchy at times though. The scar is very tender on the right side...

the front grafts/scabs look placed very very well.. I'm going to give them the most happy grow friendly environment possible.

Chris,

This has happened to most of us. Though it is certainly discouraging, 1 graft in the scheme of things won't make any difference.

However, please be careful with the grafts for the first 10 days and do not itch.

Falc

thankfully it was only a 1 haired graft.. making a way bigger deal out of this than I should, I just won't touch them anymore

Pictures from 6-7days post surgery pictures coming up. Shed a lot of the scab in the past 2 days.

Question for Falc, or anyone in know:

When shedding the post-op scabs, it is absoutely no concern if there is a hair (with or without) a root with the scab right?

Just as long as there is no skin and blood that would indicte it is actually a graft.

(is my question clear..? If the wording is confusing, I will rearange.)

thank you in advance

dude awesome, im 19 and we have very similar hairloss , yours was a bit worse than mine but not by much and im 19 years old your 26. but eitherway really can't wait to see your results in like 6 months its great to see a young guy with a normal hairstyle, keep posting !!! look good though man

Chris,

Seeing hairs in the scabs as they shed is normal after a hair transplant. Just be sure not to be too aggressive with the scabs and follow your hair transplant surgeon's immediately postoperative instructions on scab removal. As long as you don't see any blood as the scabs fall off, you should be in good shape. The follicular unit graft is embedded deeply and can't be removed by day 9 or 10. The hair will detach itself from the root and eventually shed anyway (with or after the scabs have been removed).

Best wishes,

Falc