Density at 10 months post-op

[SAMPSON]

Hey guys-

I am now 10 months post-op from having 1000 grafts into what was probably a NW1.5. I'm very happy with the hairline itself, but slightly concerned about the density. Everyone says to wait a year, but will 2 more months make much more difference in the density? I don't currently use any Meds-will Rogain help? I'm 35 and had most of my loss from 19-23.

 

[CCS]

it will increase a little, but hair tranplants are usually low density. your hair on the sides is probably 80-120 follicular units per cm2. the most any doctor can transplant to an area of smooth skin is 30 per cm2, with 100% survival. put more than that in, and some will die. If the area you are filling is small, and you know you won't loose more hair, then you can do high density with 3 procedures. Most people can only hope for 50 per cm2 because they don't have enough donor hair to fill all the thin spots. while 50 looks good from a distance, it does not look like lush locks of hair. you won't look bald, but you won't get compliments, except on the shape of your hairline.

1000 grafts seems like a lot for just the hair line. how much did you lower it? about half an inch? did they get the sides and go between hairs?

how does the back of your head look when you part the hair and look closely with two mirrors?

 

[SAMPSON]

The hairline was filled in from a "U" type of shape into more of a "V" type of natural looking widow's peak. They did go between hairs and slightly rebuild the sides. The scar has healed fairly nicely in the back. I can tell where it is, but then again I know exactly where to look. My hair is about 2" long in the back so the scar is easily covered right now. I plan to cut it shorter soon, so it will be interesting so see what I can get away with. I don't think I have male pattern baldness per se, more like a maturing hairline that receded much more than I would have liked in the temples. I am lucky in this way(knock on wood). Perhaps I just expected too much from the transplant. Since I don't have any noticible thinning, I expected the density to be on par with the rest of my hair.

 

[LookingGood!]

it will increase a little, but hair tranplants are usually low density. your hair on the sides is probably 80-120 follicular units per cm2. the most any doctor can transplant to an area of smooth skin is 30 per cm2, with 100% survival. put more than that in, and some will die. If the area you are filling is small, and you know you won't loose more hair, then you can do high density with 3 procedures. Most people can only hope for 50 per cm2 because they don't have enough donor hair to fill all the thin spots. while 50 looks good from a distance, it does not look like lush locks of hair. you won't look bald, but you won't get compliments, except on the shape of your hairline.

1000 grafts seems like a lot for just the hair line. how much did you lower it? about half an inch? did they get the sides and go between hairs?

how does the back of your head look when you part the hair and look closely with two mirrors?

I think you are generalizing with the graft count. Everyone seems to get caught up in the g/cm2 numbers which mean absolutely nothing! Individual hair charcteristics are the determining factor. 50 on one head could look thin while 50 on another could look very "lush." I just rec'd 1491 to the hailine to fill in temples and beef up the island which wasnt that thin just needed balance with the work done. It was FUE done at 45-50 g/cm2. My donor had a ton of 2 and 3 groupings. I have thick dense wavy hair which will look like 70-80 when it grows in. Take the same numbers on someone with fine " straw" like hair with mostly singles and a few 2's and it will look thin as you described.

 

[LookingGood!]

oh I had the "v" shape. Forlock was filled in with alot of single hairs to look natural and not pluggy.

 

[CCS]

my hair is mostly singles. Dr Keene paired a few of them just to give me more density, free of charge.

Unless you have a bunch of triples, 30 will probably look thin. Though some people's hair is thinner than others. It usually takes at least 2 procedures to get the density you want.

 

[LookingGood!]

my hair is mostly singles. Dr Keene paired a few of them just to give me more density, free of charge.

Unless you have a bunch of triples, 30 will probably look thin. Though some people's hair is thinner than others. It usually takes at least 2 procedures to get the density you want.

I totally agree with you. I will see how mine will grow out at 45-50 and then reevaluate. I think it's the safer way to go. Our donor areas are a finite resource as you may know and to preserve them is most important. I do not believe in dense packing close to 100 g/cm2 b/c although it may take well, the loss of grafts on the way could have been utilized elsewhere. It's really a crap shoot when docs do that. I also believe that its a money making angle also. " just pack 'em in and see what grows!" I don't buy it.

 

[Guest]

Generally speaking, full caliper maturation arrives between the 12th and 14th month post-op and since caliper is the single most critical factor in attaining the illusion of coverage, it's worth waiting for.

Is it really that critical to get in as soon as ten months later? If you have waited this long, give it a few more months. :wink:

 

[Aplunk1]

Density can be created by over 30 per cm2.

Armani has been known to create densities upwards of 60-100 per cm2 for the average patient... He has even performed a 150 per cm2.

 

[LookingGood!]

Density can be created by over 30 per cm2.

Armani has been known to create densities upwards of 60-100 per cm2 for the average patient... He has even performed a 150 per cm2.

Armani does pack them in but think of all those grafts that do not make it because of the trauma.

 

[Aplunk1]

I think Armani's staff is probably one of the best out there... I believe the graft-survival rate in most of his customers is rather high... at least, what I've seen on several forums.

 

[CCS]

i thought the survival rate was high for most doctors? 99%, right? could someone elaborate on lost grafts? my hair does not look as thick as I thought it would right after surgery, but I counted grafts and they add up to the correct amount. I think the blood just made it look denser, and the shafts were more mature then than now.

 

[CCS]

i looked at Iregrewallmyhair's before and after pictures, and his hair looked thinner after growing out than immediately after the surgery, same as mine. Anyone agree? Do you think he lost follicles?

maybe i did not get the username right. he has the chimpanze avator with the big eyes and tongue.