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Dr. Maras at HDC Clinic - FUE 3773 Grafts - April 5th & 6th 2021

Parasol

Parasol

member
@Bigmac I appreciate how you always reply to my updates. Your observations are always invaluable, so thanks for following along.

Yeah, the purple hue was noticeable to me too when reviewing the photo. It must be the lighting. My t-shirt has a purple hint to it as well, but in reality, it’s a bright white Hanes under shirt. So about as white as they come.

In real life, I think the color does look to be improving, but not as fast as I had hoped. The temples seem to be getting closer to my natural color, but the hairline, midscalp, and especially the bald area where the scab was (and the pimples too) are still red.
 
Bigmac

Bigmac

Administrator
Staff member
I’m glad it’s just the lighting that gives the purple appearance. You’re still not using any products to help reduce the redness, right?
unfortunately, the redness can flare up sometimes, well it did with me. I thought it had gone, then my scalp was red and itchy again several months later. It’s just one of those things we have to put up with after surgery.
I see the scalp in the temples improving more than the other areas, again this is quite normal as the body heals itself.
What have the clinic said about your recovery?
 
Parasol

Parasol

member
I’m glad it’s just the lighting that gives the purple appearance. You’re still not using any products to help reduce the redness, right?
unfortunately, the redness can flare up sometimes, well it did with me. I thought it had gone, then my scalp was red and itchy again several months later. It’s just one of those things we have to put up with after surgery.
I see the scalp in the temples improving more than the other areas, again this is quite normal as the body heals itself.
What have the clinic said about your recovery?
I tried using some aloe vera spray for a couple of days after the clinic approved it, but my scab area seemed to become much redder afterwards so I figured maybe it’s best not to mess with it and to let my body heal on its own.

Perhaps I’m sensitive to some ingredient which makes it sprayable. I suppose in hindsight, I should have got some gel.

The clinic checks in with me every week or two I’d say. Usually a request for a quick candid pic. They seem to believe around the 3-4 month mark my scalp should begin to show some improvements and the bumpiness should look a lot better and things should look healthier.

Other than that, they said I could do PRP or IPRF treatments if I chose to, to help speed up the recovery, but I can’t say one way or the other whether either would justify the travel and cost.
 
Bigmac

Bigmac

Administrator
Staff member
It is a long way to have those 2 treatment options, unless you could have them locally. The 100% natural aloe gel is good. I use it on sunburn, flaky skin, after shaving etc. It could have been an added ingredient that made the scalp redder. I think you`re over the worst of it now, with some luck the healing will speed up from now on.
It1s good to hear the clinic are in touch every week to check on your recovery.
 
Techno1

Techno1

member
Seeing some new growth which is very positive. Biotin or MSM might help to speed it up. Some Aloe sprays do have added ingredients that potentially cause side effects. I know Aloe burn relief spray contains Lidocaine which does cause skin irritation.
 
Parasol

Parasol

member
12 week update


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A few days ago, I realized my hair was getting unruly and difficult to asses with all the different lengths, so I gently buzzed it down to a number 4 so I could get a better look at the progress.

I’ve clearly come a long way in the last 4 weeks. Any growth at 3 months is a good thing! Though I’m finding myself worrying a lot still, especially about the front center of my hairline (not the scab, but the bald area below it), and hoping some grafts and shocked hair will start to pop there at some point.

I think once they do I’ll begin to feel better. But right now I guess I’m bit uneasy.

My donor area looks decent, I’d say. Aside from a bit of shockloss below my strip scar, some of the grafts must have grown because it looks better now than at the same length pre-op. My strip scar was extremely visible at anything below a 6 guard before, so I think I can at least be happy about that.

All in all I’m still wearing a baseball cap everywhere I go. It bothers me but I need to be patient and hang in there. I do look forward to the day where I can take it off though, and look somewhat normal and feel like me again.
 
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Bigmac

Bigmac

Administrator
Staff member
Hi Parasol.
The growth certainly appears to be improving. I think the follicles in the area in and around where you knocked your head are just taking that little bit longer to awaken due to the scalp trauma. I can understand you`re anxious about it but right now you just have to stay positive.

Your donor still has some shock loss that can be seen under your strip scar. This will improve too. All in all I’d say it’s getting better with every update.

Hopefully, it won’t be too much longer before you can ditch the hat.

Take care.

Bm.
 
Kevboy

Kevboy

Valued member
It’s getting better with every update, more hair and less and less bumpiness. That patch in middle that concerns you is probably a bit slower to recover because of the knock to the head. If blood vessel or tissue got damaged they’ll be on the mend.
 
Parasol

Parasol

member
14 Week Update
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Here are some 14 week photos, as always, taken outside with natural light.

Progress seems to be steady. Every day it looks more dense and new hairs are popping through, though I’m still very anxious about my scab area. Do you guys think hair will always be thinner there due to the trauma?

My right temple and frontal hairline seem to be lagging behind too. I do hope the hairline especially gets more dense soon, then maybe I’ll mess around with some fibers. Is it normal for the hairline to start slower than other areas?

All in all its cool to see more hair on a daily basis. If these troubled areas would begin catching up I’d say I’d feel very satisfied! But for now I have to be patient. Time will tell.
 
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Bigmac

Bigmac

Administrator
Staff member
Hi Parasol. At 14 weeks you’re just over 3 months with your growth/density starting to fill in. I can see the thin areas that concern you but at this timeframe it’s very early with plenty of time for it all to catch up.
I doubt the hair in the scab area will be thinner once you’ve reached the end of your growth, time will tell as you say. If it does turn out not as dense, a small touch up would suffice.
Fibres will definitely help if you`re eager to have a fuller look sooner.
What is the clinics opinion on your progress so far?
 
Parasol

Parasol

member
Hi Parasol. At 14 weeks you’re just over 3 months with your growth/density starting to fill in. I can see the thin areas that concern you but at this timeframe it’s very early with plenty of time for it all to catch up.
I doubt the hair in the scab area will be thinner once you’ve reached the end of your growth, time will tell as you say. If it does turn out not as dense, a small touch up would suffice.
Fibres will definitely help if you`re eager to have a fuller look sooner.
What is the clinics opinion on your progress so far?
Thanks for the reassurance @Bigmac ! I haven’t spoken directly with the clinic recently, though at my 12 week update, Doron Harati did reach out.

I’m not sure if you’re familiar with his case (he was butchered in Turkey and almost died. Dr. Maras repaired him), but he told me that even he didn’t have any growth at 12 weeks so I should feel encouraged at this early stage and continue to be patient.

I will say, every day now I’m seeing progress, which is pretty neat. Some new baby hairs just started sprouting in the hairline so I’m hopeful at some point within the next couple of months the cosmetic improvement will be noticeable.

Although I do feel especially anxious about bruise/scab/now baldish area, you are right, I should find comfort in the fact that worst case scenario it’s most likely fixable. And fibers should cover it enough if the grafts and shocked hair don’t return on their own in time. It was my most “dense” area in the frontal third before surgery, so hopefully you’re right and it recovers on its own.
 
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Techno1

Techno1

member
The density increase and coverage is evident with every update you add. At one point your recipient zone looked worse than before surgery, most likely due to native hair shocked. What I’m seeing is your native hair recovering first and the transplanted hair growing in a close second.
The scabbed area that lags behind will be due to the extra trauma of the tissue. The blood flow interruption has put the grafts in third place for growth.
 
Parasol

Parasol

member
The density increase and coverage is evident with every update you add. At one point your recipient zone looked worse than before surgery, most likely due to native hair shocked. What I’m seeing is your native hair recovering first and the transplanted hair growing in a close second.
The scabbed area that lags behind will be due to the extra trauma of the tissue. The blood flow interruption has put the grafts in third place for growth.
@Techno1 thanks for following my progress. It’s users like you that make documenting it all worth it and I really appreciate you taking the time to help put it all into perspective.

You’re right, just 6 weeks ago my recipient area was virtually 100% bald. Pretty crazy to think how far it’s come in such a short amount of time. Hopefully the next 6 weeks will be equally as productive and things begin evening out.
 
Bigmac

Bigmac

Administrator
Staff member
Thanks for the reassurance @Bigmac ! I haven’t spoken directly with the clinic recently, though at my 12 week update, Doron Harati did reach out.

I’m not sure if you’re familiar with his case (he was butchered in Turkey and almost died. Dr. Maras repaired him), but he told me that even he didn’t have any growth at 12 weeks so I should feel encouraged at this early stage and continue to be patient.

I will say, every day now I’m seeing progress, which is pretty neat. Some new baby hairs just started sprouting in the hairline so I’m hopeful at some point within the next couple of months the cosmetic improvement will be noticeable.

Although I do feel especially anxious about bruise/scab/now baldish area, you are right, I should find comfort in the fact that worst case scenario it’s most likely fixable. And fibers should cover it enough if the grafts and shocked hair don’t return on their own in time. It was my most “dense” area in the frontal third before surgery, so hopefully you’re right and it recovers on its own.

Doron has his case posted on here. He had it rough to say the least.
I tend to agree with Technos comments about your native hair returning first and the transplanted hair following. When you banged your head I don’t think you lost any grafts, or maybe one, therefor, they should grow but like I said, it’s a tiny touch up if it came to it.
Seeing new baby hairs coming through should give you the confidence boost it’s moving in the right direction.Try not to let it worry you.
 
Techno1

Techno1

member
@Techno1 thanks for following my progress. It’s users like you that make documenting it all worth it and I really appreciate you taking the time to help put it all into perspective.

You’re right, just 6 weeks ago my recipient area was virtually 100% bald. Pretty crazy to think how far it’s come in such a short amount of time. Hopefully the next 6 weeks will be equally as productive and things begin evening out.

Your documentation will alleviate other people’s fears, especially those in similar situations. It shouldn’t be too much longer for the added uniform density.
 
Ron Shapiro MD

Ron Shapiro MD

Valued member
It is unlikely that trauma that resulted in 1 graft dislodgement would cause poor growth.
Growth usually starts at 3 months post op or even 4 months, which is 16 weeks. Most likely you had more accelerated telogen effluvium around the trauma and under the scab and maybe there was some contribution from the inflammation that your doctor saw. It is obvious there is less hair in the area under the scab and to a degree around it. But the odds are in favor of it being an earlier and more aggressive natural shock loss or telogen effluvium occurring more in this area than the surrounding area. This is supposed to resolve completely by 6 months and the growth should ultimately be the same …but may lag behind in this area. The only thing you can do at this point is to give it some time. And, the odds are that it will be fine and catch up as you pass the 6 month onto the12 month mark. If not, it would be unusual.
 
Parasol

Parasol

member
It is unlikely that trauma that resulted in 1 graft dislodgement would cause poor growth.
Growth usually starts at 3 months post op or even 4 months, which is 16 weeks. Most likely you had more accelerated telogen effluvium around the trauma and under the scab and maybe there was some contribution from the inflammation that your doctor saw. It is obvious there is less hair in the area under the scab and to a degree around it. But the odds are in favor of it being an earlier and more aggressive natural shock loss or telogen effluvium occurring more in this area than the surrounding area. This is supposed to resolve completely by 6 months and the growth should ultimately be the same …but may lag behind in this area. The only thing you can do at this point is to give it some time. And, the odds are that it will be fine and catch up as you pass the 6 month onto the12 month mark. If not, it would be unusual.
Dr. Shapiro, thank you so much for taking the time to comment on my situation. As you can imagine, since I didn’t have bruising like this during my previous surgeries, and not seeing any users or clinics posting similar ones, it’s been a bit stressful not knowing which way it might end up.

I feel encouraged hearing that the odds are most likely favorable, which will make the waiting easier.

Thanks again for your assessment. I appreciate it a lot.
 
urbanite88

urbanite88

member
I appreciate the support, everyone! Although this is my third transplant, this is the first time I’ve had any issues with post-op recovery, so I want you all to know it means a lot.

I just heard back from HDC. They said what I’m going through is nothing to worry about, and that this is just my body’s natural way of healing after having such a big procedure. They want me to continue to rest and take it easy, and try my best not to stress.

They said they expect the bumpiness and redness to clear on its own over time, and at the moment, they don’t want me to treat the recipient area at all (so no aloe vera, which I specifically asked about, or healing creams or anything like that).

Hey man! Just been reading your story and seems I am experiencing very similar healing process to you with regards to the recipient area bumpiness etc. I'm also 37 and had a 3910 graft FUE just on 8 weeks now. It was my first ever HT though. Maybe the age is a factor in healing?

Have you thought about non-alcoholic minoxidil? I get mine from a company from Freshman. Anyway maybe its not the Regaine as I still seem to have an aggravated/tender scalp :/

Did you find anything else that helps?
 
Parasol

Parasol

member
Hey man! Just been reading your story and seems I am experiencing very similar healing process to you with regards to the recipient area bumpiness etc. I'm also 37 and had a 3910 graft FUE just on 8 weeks now. It was my first ever HT though. Maybe the age is a factor in healing?

Have you thought about non-alcoholic minoxidil? I get mine from a company from Freshman. Anyway maybe its not the Regaine as I still seem to have an aggravated/tender scalp :/

Did you find anything else that helps?
Hi there! Sorry you’re not healing very well. I know it adds a lot to the post op anxiety; as if the stress of the transplant and wondering whether it will grow isn’t enough stress already!!! :)

For me, I just continued using regular minoxidil (brand name Rogaine) foam. Though I will say, I also saw a dermatologist for unrelated face redness and pimple reasons (I felt like my whole face was inflamed along with my scalp), and she prescribed me 100 mg of doxycycline daily, so that might have helped heal me up a bit faster.

Definitely consult your surgeon, and a local derm if need be. Though I wouldn’t do anything without your clinic’s approval if I were you.

Aside from my scab, which is still red (and bald), I’m healing very well now. The hair is coming in fast and thick (albeit a tad slower in some spots).

Here’s a selfie I took a few days ago, with my hair a bit styled (in admittedly favorable lighting conditions with a tad of accidental lens flare). Makes me feel like a million bucks. :) Compared to pre-op, it’s like…wow.

I’ll try to post a proper update in my normal lighting conditions at around my 5 month mark.
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