Hi there Aussiemick,
Welcome to this forum and you have some good questions. I'll try to help you the best I can.
Overall transplanted terminal hair does not shock-out as readily as natural diffused hair. Yet I do from time-to-time hear from patients like yourself who does experience terminal hair shock. And I also find it interesting that a higher percent of those individuals who experience terminal hair shock in the recipient area almost always have some shockloss in the donor area especially around the sutured area.
Did something go wrong? I highly doubt it. IMO some patients are simply more prone to shockloss than others because of how they "respond to the scalp trauma". I mean sometimes I just scratch my head when someone calls me or writes to me and states they had very little shockloss yet they had enough natural hair to shock-out and had 2,000 plus grafts done! Does that imply they went to a superior surgeon? Not necessarily. Even the most talented reputable hair transplant doctors have patients who have higher and lower than average shockloss experiences. So it's always better to be more safe than sorry. What I mean by that is whenever there is more natural and diffusing hair in the recipient area, doing smaller sessions is most often a safer approach because there are fewer recipient sites created. The fewer incisions, the less trauma generally speaking. But one thing patients can count on is the fact that shockloss CANNOT be predicted. So taking a more conservative approach as you did makes more sense yet you still sustained undesired shockloss. Please try and keep in mind that you did not do anything wrong and I truly hope you are not associating any blame towards your decision. Again it's all in how sensitive we respond to trauma. Also glad to hear your scar came out okay.
Don't worry. The bare area near the suture line will undoubtedly fill in and probably in the next two-to-three months, maybe sooner. As soon as the suture line heals, ask your surgeon about applying minoxidil to the shocked area and get his/her opinion about jump starting some new terminal hair growth in those areas.
Also, IMO your recipient area should be fine. Did you have much natural weaker hair left in that area or was it the existing terminal hair from your prior procedure(s)? What percent of it was terminal hair from your prior hair transplant?
Lastly, sit down, take a deep breath my friend and don't let yourself get any ulcers or anything over this because again I sincerely think you're going to turn out just fine. I also recommend that you have some pics taken and send them to your surgeon. You're also welcome to send them to me and I would provide you my honest opinion. Man, I wish you the best and before you'll know it the new hair will be coming!
