Transplant Diary

[Guest]

Just had a transplant. 800 grafts, about 2000 hairs in front along hairline. Procedure was a non-event although my scalp is a bit sore right now.
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Will keep you posted as each day unfolds.

So far, so good (good and red too!)\



Brucelee

 

[GourmetStyleWellness]

Bruce - good luck, please keep us posted. Are you going to try out some GraftCyte ? Now is the time if so! I hear good things about it for post transplant growth and healing. Increases % of survival for transplanted hairs.

gourmetstylewellness.com

 

[Guest]

No on the Graf Cyte. Will statr Folligen Spray in about 10 days per Dr. Picardt's recommendatins.

Will keep all posted.

Thanks for support.

Brucelee

 

[Guest]

Day 2

Decent night's sleep. Donor area is sore but tolerable. Taking naproxen for pain.

Graft area is numb and looks kind of raw. Looks worse after shampoo with Follgen Shampoo and application of antibiotic ointment.

Mid day, grafts start to ooze bloody liquid. Quick trip to MD proves to be reassuring. No real blood and nothing to worry about. Forehead is swelling like when I used to box GG and was beat on with some regularity.

All and all, not a lot of fun and taking the week off from being in public seems like a good idea. Yankee baseball cap comes in handy for trips out to store etc. Go Yankees!!!!!!!!

Sleeping on one side is challenging but doable.

Overall assessment. Better than last time and very happy with surgeon and staff.

Stay tuned.

Brucelee

 

[sal1]

Hi Brucelee.

How are you feeling and healing at this point?

 

[sal1]

Well I had my hair transplant surgery yesterday morning. The procedure went well, but Im glad its over. There was no pain at all except for the first couple of numbing injections.

The best part was when the Dr. cut my old scar out and asked if I'd like to see it. It was huge. About 1/2" thick by 6" long. By removing that tissue my scar will be much thinner this time around. I was able to see some of his past scar revision work. Very good results. Im hopeful mine turns out the same.

The donar area is pretty uncomfortable right now. Tough to sleep.

How important is propecia for a hair transplant patient? My crown is all transplanted and now most of my frontal hairline will be. Keep on the propecia?

Hope everyone else is healing well.
Thanks.
sal1

 

[Kebabman]

sal1, congratulations man, best thing you've ever done, :lol: now just sit back and watch and be amazed,

How many did you have done? What Norwood Scale are you?

Tell you mate, after 3 or 4 days the only uncomfortableness you'll have is the numbing round the back which can take a month or two to go, it's not unpleasant though. Have you got some Graftex Spray? If so spray every hour until bottles empty and most importantly, ice pack your forehead every 30-40 mins for 3 to 4 days.

Good man, worst part out of the way, roll on 2 to 3 months when results will appear!

 

[sal1]

Thanks Kebabman. I feel good about it. I had 1200 grafts done. Frontal and vertex.

I'd say I am a norwood 3v and heading rapidly into a norwood 4.

Yes they gave me a bottle of graft cyte spray to use until its gone. I've been using ice pack like crazy. Been doing everything you guys said to do so Im confident.

But Kebabman I have to say these stitches are driving me nuts. I dont get them taken out for another 10 days. I dont remember them being so tight.

Thanks for the post. Hope you're well.

sal1

 

[MrTelogen]

8O I'm going to watch this thread. The thought of this procedure has always scared the living sh*t out of me. I see horror stories and such. I wish you a full head of hair! You asked about staying on Propecia and from what I have read it's a very good idea.

 

[Kebabman]

sal1, you might find it's because the area is so unused to being stitched up and the skin around there is a little tender mixed in with the numbness of the area involved. 10 days will soon go my friend but stick with the painkillers if that helps? Keep us posted.

Conundrum, yes they're have been loads of bad press/stories of bad botched/dolls effects through surgery. I myself was stitched up by a butcher in England. But if you go to the right surgeon then a.) the procedure is not painful and b.) in time you know it's the best thing to do if all else fails ie Propecia and Regaine.

 

[MrTelogen]

Boy that sucks, sorry to hear it.Yeah if all else fails I may consider it.

 

[Guest]

I have had three sessions with three diff surgeons. Have to say they were all pretty much a non event. No horror stories and good results.

Best of luck.

Brucelee

 

[sal1]

It's been 5 days since surgery. I'm happy with the healing of the transplants themselves. Hardly noticible. I worried allot about having to conceal the marks, but they're already starting to fade.

The donar area is still very tender, but tolerable. Stitches come out friday. Man I cant with for that.

Have had some shedding, but nothing crazy at this point. Hope it stays that way.

sal1

 

[sal1]

Its been 10 days since surgery. Got stitches taken out this morning and what a relief it is. I had a scar revision done during this procedure as well and even at this very early stage it looks much thinner than the old one. Hopefuly it continues to heal well and stays this thin.

As far as the transplants themselves there is not a trace or a mark on my scalp that is noticable. I didn't think it would heal like this. I'm also happy aboout that.

So now I wait and see how it grows in over the next few months. Other than the donar area being sore for awhile there are no problems. I'm very pleased.

Thanks.
sal1

 

[sal1]

Hey guys.

Its been three weeks since my procedure. I was hoping to avoid it, but I'm going through a shed of my non transplanted hair. Its mainly in the front.

For those of you that experienced a post op shed, how long did it last? I know Crazydiamond had a run in with it not too long ago. How are things now for you?

Kebabman and Brucelee how are you guys doing?

I'm leaving for vaction in the morning and am thinking of doing a buzz cut before I leave, but I'm not sure I'll have the nerve.

Thanks.
sal1

 

[Kebabman]

Sal1, hey hang in there man, know what you're going through. Am at the 9 week stage after second transplant and some days my hair is thinner than others. I'm sure after my first h/t at this stage ie 9 weeks the new hair was coming through rapidly, not the case this time round, am hoping it'll change within the next 2 weeks. Normally new hair comes through between 8-12 weeks which is the cycle of a new hair, before that they are left dormant like seeds under the surface. I'm not overly concerned at the moment but if after another 4 weeks nothing happens then Ill be :cry:

My advice is hang in there, the hardest part for us guys is the waiting for the new growth, all takes time. If it makes you happier get the cut done although be careful of the scar line round the back, oh and have a good holiday, sink some beer and shag some women. :wink:

 

[sal1]

Thanks Kebabman.

I appreciate the feedback. I need to just sit back a wait like you said. This shed just sucks though. But time will tell.

I think I will buzz it tonight. Not too short though.

Good to hear from you Kebabman and thanks for the reply. Keep me and the others posted on your progress. You're very helpful. Good luck!

And yes I will be sinking some beers for sure this vacation, but shagging the women might be tough as I'm going with my girlfriend so I must behave myself.

Thanks again.
sal1

 

[Guest]

Hi guys,

I am in week 7 and am doing fine. My new buddies are coming in now, on an uneven basis (some never shed so they are about a half inch long.). The others are sprouting and I am happy to see them come on in.

I think the use of Propecia throughout and starting Minoxidil after 7 days has made these guys grow faster than my previous session some years back.

Brucelee

 

[sal1]

That sounds great Brucelee. Its good to hear you're doing well.

My earlier post today I said that today marked the three week point since my surgery and its only been two. I have no sense of time at all it seems.

So at two weeks I have good healing , a much thinner scar , and a good amount of shedding. :evil:

Good to hear from you guys.

sal1

 

[Kebabman]

Sal, no problem, keep us informed of your progress, we're all in it together mate, tis good to help each other out. Where you off to and for how long?

Well forget the girlies just sink some beers!

BruceLee, I know what you mean, I've been on 1.25mg proscar a day for 18 months, not sure it's made any difference at all. Also use 5% minoxidil daily, and nizoral every other day. Glad you have some new growth at 7 weeks, you'll find that will get thicker, darker and stronger on a daily basis. I was looking at before and after photos on National Hair Institutes site of patients, and you get an idea of how slow new growth can take. Oh to be able to wake up and it's like someones fast forwarded your growth!

Anyway, take care guys.