• Welcome to Hair loss Experiences hair loss forum.

    Free impartial hair loss advice, hair transplant advice, hair loss medications and hair loss news.
    You can contact us directly at [email protected] if you experience any problems.

4000 Grafts - Dr Feller - 16/1/09

A

Anup

Valued member
Now that this new forum is up and running i guess its my turn to start a topic about my procedure with Dr Feller next Friday. After months of research and sifting through various forums reading topic after topic, its now a reality for me as its only a matter of days now.

I have got to this stage thanks to the expert advice and guidance of the main man, yes you know who im talking about - Spex. Top guy who gives his opinion on the top clinics and thanks to him i got a cancellation date which i was greatfully able to take. Cheers Spex! It is also important that i thank the guys (you know who you are) who kindly gave me their numbers and made time for me to speak to them about their experiences as they have been there and done that so i felt this was very important as part of the ongoing research. It is important that any newbie speaks and meets past patients of a clinic in order to make a sound judgement on whether they are making the right choice or not. Never feel that you have done enough research - do it for as long as you possibly can!

Im 24 and unfortunatly around a Norwood 6 and started thinning when i was around 20. Hairline receeded ages ago and all im left with now is thin strands of hair all over reaching into the crown. Good thing is ive lost most of it already so if i happen to loose more, it wont be alot. The bad thing is i need alot of grafts to get mature hairline rebuilt and decent coverage. I am hoping for the planned 4000 grafts, if my scalp allows me to get more then great. I think ive come to terms with being realistic about results.

Started a course of proscar last month so hopefully i dont loose any more and the remainder can be stabilised, gota say thanks to spex again for giving me a link to obtain it at a good price.

I did the round of consultations with the usual suspects in central London at the beginning of my research but then i guess i was lucky enough to find these forums which could have saved me from being butchered as people gave me good advice and some even shared their bad experiences which told me to look abroad if i wanted to have a transplant or forget about doing it altogether.

Of course money was and is an issue for me especially having to deal with this kind of thing at the age of 24 and wasnt prepared to part with alot of money at the beginning if i wanted to have this done as i just finished University last year. But i will confirm what the experts have said that money and travelling shouldnt be deciding factors if you want top results from a top Doc.

I think ive gone on a bit now so if anyone can give me any advice or tips before i go then i would appreciate that. I fly out this Thursday with Delta Airlines from Heathrow to JFK. Fly back Sunday evening, its my first time to New York so hopefully i will be feeling ok after surgery to explore. One more thing, ive just applied for a Visa online to enter the states which was approved instantly as there is some sort of new legislation from 12th Jan - thanks again to Spex for prompting me about this!








 
Nervousnelly

Nervousnelly

The Coolest Member
Best of luck with the surgery Anup. You will be in good hands and shortly a new man. Keep us posted as to how it all goes. Take plenty of pics as we are surely going to want it all documented. Thanks for posting. Safe travels.

NN
 
Shang

Shang

Sheepish Member


Anup,



Wow, sounds to me like you €™ve done your homework through a great deal of research which has left you in good stead. Sounds to me like you have done all the right things meeting patients, not getting butchered by UK Clinics etc and you have realistic expectations. You have chosen a top surgeon in Feller as I have never read anything bad of him as of yet, only good, thus you are in good hands. I agree that loosing your hair at such a young age is a bitch and I feel for you mate. However, you have decided to do something about it and you seem emotionally ready for it mate so good luck, best wishes, and I hope the HT changes your life for the better.


I would also like to point out what Anup said about the change in legislation as I read bout this in the Sunday Mirror this morning, it is predicted that this new legislation is going to catch a lot of people out whom fly into the US from Britain. Thus anyone whom is going to fly into the US for a HT or just as a hoilday is required to complete an online travel authorisation form at least 72 hours before their trip under the visa waiver scheme. Failure to do so will result in a person being denied entry into the US and we wouldnt want that would we.



Good luck for next Friday Anup.



Shang
 
Bigmac

Bigmac

Administrator
Staff member
Good luck Anup,i`m glad the forums have helped you in your research and its great to hear a lot of members have offered you personal advice on their own HT experiences.

Looking forward to following your progress and seeing your pictures.

Take care bm.
 
timuk

timuk

My member is cooler than NN's
Hi Anup..

All the best mate... was out there having my repair with Dr Feller April 08, I cant believe how fast the time has flown.....

The link giving the info covers nearly all you need to help you out. Best advice I can give is to try and relax... the whole experience is much less stressful than you may think at the moment and before you know it you will be back in the UK and waiting for your new hair to sprout....

Be lucky

Tim
 
Bigmac

Bigmac

Administrator
Staff member
Any pictures to show us Anup as you should be a few weeks post op now.

Hope it all went well for you.
 
timuk

timuk

My member is cooler than NN's
Hi Anup...

any updates mate..... hope all went well

Cheers

Tim
 
A

Anup

Valued member
Hey guys, got hold of my sisters laptop today so thought id give a quick update from my surgery. My laptop is buggered at the moment but when i get it back i will give a full account of my trip to new york for my HT along with pics.

Basically, let me put it this way, everything went absoloutely fine and i was back in the UK before i knew it and it was so easy. Within a week, i was fine to carry on with my normal life - one week after my surgery i was out clubbing and the following week i was back at work and have been working solid full time as i explained to the managers what surgery i had so they have allowed me to wear a company cap. This is why i havnt been around on forums as i have been working every hour possible having just spent a lot of money on my HT!

I can now go out fully confident that no one can see my scar as the surrounding hair has covered it and i can see a few new hairs sprouting through around the new hairline but i know there is still a very very long way to go. I shaved my hair to a grade 1 a month after the op to level it all off and am planning to shave it one more time quite soon to get it all level for the final time and then letting everything grow through. I have however noticed that most of my old hair that was left before i had the op has grown back as it is the same thin wispy hair but hopefully it will add the overall thickness in the long term! No one can or has detected that ive had anything done even when i take off the cap apart from those that ive already told. The staples came out after 12 and 14 days because the nurse said the scar wasnt fully healed so thats why 30 alternate staples were removed first then the remaining 30 2 days later.

I got just over 4100 grafts i believe!

I hope my experience will give newbies the confidence they need to go ahead and get it done right first time around without letting distance and cost being decisive factors.

I will be back soon with a full account, pics and updates.



 
Last edited:
Shang

Shang

Sheepish Member
Glad all went well anup, speedy growth to you buddy, looking forward to seeing your pictures, surpose you aint got enough money to fix your laptop now, Best Wishes.


Shang

 
Last edited:
Baldspot

Baldspot

Valued member
Sounds like it went really well for you Anup. Best wishes with your growth I'm sure you'll be looking like a new man in a few months - would be great to see some pics of your progress as it all grows in.
 
Nervousnelly

Nervousnelly

The Coolest Member
Glad all went well. Look forward to seeing the pics and following your progress.

NN
 
bullitnut

bullitnut

4 awesome repairs with SMG
Hi dude i know just how excited you must be feeling as we had surgery around the same time pal, it will be great to follow your progress mate
best wishes bn
 
A

Anup

Valued member
Hey guys, i am now 6 months post op and let me tell you it doesnt even seem or feel like ive had anything done because my new hair just looks natural and as if nothings been done because of the way people think i just used to shave it for fashion but now have grown it back!

The scar - i have not seen many other HT patients scar in person but trust me i think my scar is probably one of the best closures you will see, if you dont believe me then come and see me! You wouldnt believe how short i am able to cut my hair without the scar being noticable, ive always been a short hair person. Dont get me wrong, there is a scar there and you will definetly see it if i shave my hair to a number 1 or 2 again which i did a few times to level it all of but now its invisible to everyone and no one knows what ive had done apart from the people that already know. I know regularly use V05 styling wax on my short hair. I go for a trim once a month and my barber knows exactly what to do and how to shave it because i had to tell him what i had done!

Dont get me wrong, this HT is no miracle but is a very good restoration and looks very very natural. Ok ive got a slightly higher hairline than most people but i had to compromise so that more hair could be used further back. But the high hairline issue is not a big problem nowadays because when i use wax, i make a small fringe so no one can really tell where the hairline is. My crown - this was a area that was not transplanted in as i got 4100 grafts which was just enough to make the current transplanted area look good. BUT i have seen that some hairs have been salvaged with the use of proscar which i started in November/December time last year and those hairs are really helping me at the moment because i invested in a bottle of nanogen hair fibres and they are working wonders for me at the moment when i go out on friday/saturday nights and make me look like i have a full head of hair almost!

My visit to New York City January 2009. The day after my graduation ceremony was the day i flew out to NYC to start my HT journey, Thursday 15th Janaury 2009. I didnt really do much the day i landed in NYC as it was snowing and very very very cold! Just got a subway to munch then popped into Macys department store then just chilled in my hotel room untill the evening as i knew i had an early start the next morning.

Friday 16th January, the day of my HT!! I was calm, not too nervous but was ready for it beacuse of the confidence i gained from reading other Dr Feller patients experiences. Was at the Docs building at 7.30 ready to start at 7.45. The first stages were just about discussing my goals and expectations and what the great doc could realistically deliver. Pre op photos were taken and then a hairline was drawn and adjusted until me and Dr Feller agreed it was the most suitable one. Then we went into the surgery room where the donor area was shaved then I was injected with local anesthetic to numb the donor area because shortly after the doc began to remove the strips from the donor area then closing it appropriately with the staple technique which I personally believe worked very well for me judging by the way the scar has healed and how it is looking (u cant see it!) 6 months post op. I was then left to rest for a while during which the 9 technicians on rotation who were required for my HT that day started removing the hair follicles and preparing them for when I was ready to have them placed in the recipient area. Dr Feller then came along and placed the estimated 4000 slits in the recipient area ready for the follicles to be placed. I had a technician on either side of me and they started placing my grafts from the hairline, working backwards towards the crown. During this I didn €™t feel any pain but it was just the way I had to sit on the chair that made it slightly awkward at times but I suppose that €™s a small price to pay for having a successful HT! We did stop a few times so I could get up and have a stretch and use the bathroom which when I first saw my head in the mirror! All I could see was that the hairline zone with the grafts covered in blood! Was looking good considering I have not had a hairline for years!

Halfway through they ordered lunch for me €“ a nice chicken wrap! The whole procedure was done by 4.30ish and the doc had to make a further 100 slits as they managed to get slightly over the estimated 4000 grafts! After I was cleaned up and bandaged we went into the office again to take post op pics, burn a CD with the pics for me to take away alongside some painkillers which were very handy over the next few days. The doc then ordered me a cab back to my hotel and my procedure was over with!

That night I obviously couldn €™t sleep well because of the staples in the donor area even though more local anesthetic was injected into me because it kept wearing off quicker than usual €“ the doc said its because im a young patient so consume more of it! Didn €™t really feel like eating that evening and just watched a bit of TV and fell asleep thankfully!

The next morning when I had a shower, I had to use a cup with water then shampoo to pour over my head as no pressure was allowed to reach my head as the grafts were still settling in. I then decided that I felt fine and decided to move on and have a look at Times square and stay there one night as it was my first night in NYC and I don €™t think ill be back in a long time as I will broke after this HT! I decided to treat myself to a nice hotel right in the middle of Times square and then decided to do a bus tour! On the Saturday I didn €™t bother getting off the bus as it was way too cold and I didn €™t feel myself for a while so had a few more painkillers then went back to my hotel and went to sleep! The Sunday was my final day in NYC as my flight was in the evening so I decided to continue the tour and actually get off at places this time such as the world trade centre site, china town, rockafella etc. It was still very cold and I just had a HT but I was ok to walk around and do some site seeing with my cap glued onto my head! That day went quick as there was loads to see and lots to buy €“ spent over 2 hours in Abercrombie and Fitch to buy 2 items!? Checked out at my hotel and got a cab to JFK airport where I explained to one of the staff what I had done so she got me onto the plane quicker and gave me a better seat! By this point the swelling from the anesthetic was fully around my forehead and working its way down so I just hoped I could fall asleep until I reached London which I did but it didn €™t help that the flight was delayed by around 2 hours because of the snow on the runway!

Monday morning I was back at Heathrow airport believing I was a new man and ready to relive my youth and the best part of my twenties, I now look more my age! By Wednesday the swelling was fully around my eyes making them look really small but by the Thursday I think it just wore off thankfully but it was awkward to sleep the next few nights so had to stay on the painkillers. One week from my HT surgery, I was out and about and clubbing! I think it was the 12[suP]th[/suP] day that I went to my local doctors surgery where the nurse removed every other staple from the approx 60 that I had to close my scar, this was because she felt that the scar had not fully healed yet so she told me to come back 2 days later to have the rest removed and from that point onwards until today it was basically healing time and a waiting game. Of course I was anxious to see hairs growing after the transplanted ones shed as expected after a couple of weeks but I knew I had to be patient and it has paid off because I am quite happy today.

This is no miracle hair restoration as I keep telling those close to me as in an ideal world I would have liked the area covered to be thicker and fuller and for my crown to be filled in as well but as it is not a miracle procedure although it may look it, I guess you have to keep your expectations realistic as there is only so much traumatisation a human can go through in one session and for everything to be safe during an individuals procedure.

I will end this long but informative experience here but feel free to ask any questions as there were people who helped me during my research period Nov 08 €“ Jan 09 (you know who you are) so I feel I want to help others to give something back to a procedure that has made a difference to my life. I walked out of the barbers today very happy with my new trim and I got it shaved quite short just the way I prefer and how I used to have it when I was 17 AND you cant see the scar!

Ive attached one post op pic but dont know how to add more pre/post op pics which you guys can look at so if someone could let me know then i will post them. cheers


 

Attachments

  • DSC00040.JPG
    DSC00040.JPG
    23.5 KB · Views: 3,194
Bigmac

Bigmac

Administrator
Staff member
Hi Anup

Glad you had a good experience and things are taking shape now.

Be great to see your surgery pictures and more at this 6 month mark including your scar.

Thanks bm.
 
Bigmac

Bigmac

Administrator
Staff member
Any more pictures Anup.Be great to see them.


Nearly at 12 months now.


Thanks bm.

 
A

Anup

Valued member
Hi everyone, i am now at the one year point with my HT and time has really gone fast as this time last year i was in NYC with my HT completed and ready to come back to the UK!

I am very happy with the growth and how natural it looks, it has made a big difference to my appearance and people also comment on this when i see them after ages even if they havnt detected the HT - not that they can or ever will unless i tell them!

The pictures i have attached just show how good it has turned out and although you may expect my hair to be a bit longer after a year, during the year i had it shaved and trimmed a few times to keep it tidy and level. Over the next few months i am just hoping for density/thickness to round it off.

The scar is fine and has healed well and i can even shave close to it as from the angle that the head usually is, it cannot be seen and if anyone has seen it, they just thought it looked like a shaved design!

If anyone has any questions regarding my HT please feel free to ask especially those new to the whole HT thing as i know hairloss is difficult to deal with especially when you are in your early 20's like me!
 

Attachments

  • HT collection.bmp
    2.4 MB · Views: 2,782
Bigmac

Bigmac

Administrator
Staff member
Hi Anup,looks like you`ve had some nice growth.

Have you any clearer pictures,plus a top down shot and larger than thumbnail if thats possible.

How long after surgery are your scar pictures as it looks quite wide.


 
J

JJ09

Member
It looks like your scar has stretched to some degree...otherwise, growth look fantastic! ;)
 
Top