Follow My Major Repair

[Nervousnelly]

You answered my question Topcat. I noticed that it appeared like none, or very few grafts were placed in the hairline. I understand that you are working with few precious grafts so there has to be a lot of forethought as to the approach. I believe that with what you have had done, will make a very nice cosmetic change. I am very happy for you.

NN

 

[the B spot]

Hey Cat...looks good mate...of course, you have to get a couple of shots of that massive chest your sporting these days ¬b`

Looking forward to things growing out!!!!

Jason

 

[topccat29]

Hey Bspot, the whole experience was incredibly fantastic. I look forward to going back in 1 year.

I am still wearing my winter coat of fat :'#G::

 

[Bigmac]

I`m so pleased for you Topcat.You`re healing nicely and its great how BHR clinic are doing this free of charge.

You certainly deserve this and a great outcome.

Take care bm.

ps approximately how much body donor hair have you left

 

[topccat29]

Thanks for everything BM.

I have lots of chest hair left but it's mostly gray. I also some beard hair that can be used. I just don't have that strong of a beard, but I also don't need to have any facial hair. Since there is no scarring from the extractions, I would like to harvest more.

The area that I am trying to cover is not that large. I hope to make a couple more visits to BHR and further improve what has already been accomplished. I also have a small amount of scalp donor that can probably be harvested. I would just have to wait until maybe my 3rd visit. I can't afford to take this much time off from my extra job. My employer has been understanding because they are very happy with my work.

I am thrilled that BHR has given me this pro bono offer. Over all these years I never really felt that any particular clinic owed anything to try and help a repair patient. Obviously I have to accept some of the responsibility for the decisions that I have made. But I also needed any type of repair to be affordable. I just couldn't justify spending any more money on trying to fix this. I really needed to get on with my life.

As I have stated before I always felt BHR was doing the best fue work out there, along with being both an honest and open clinic. I just never thought about traveling overseas. It never even seemed like a remote possibility. So although it was always in the back of my mind. I never actually thought it would happen. It was mostly just a dream.

The pro bono offer said something to me about the character of the clinic which really meant the most to me. I live in the so called land of abundance. We have so much here in the USA. Almost too much of everything compared to other places in the world. I have been posting for a very, very long time. Not once did any clinic step forward before BHR. Nobody said, hey you look like you been through a lot and you might need some help please let us help you. As I have previously stated it's not that I expected it. It was more about what it said about the clinics.

I'm sure there are other clinics that have helped those who have been disfigured by this industry. I just dont' see enough of it happening.

In the end it will not be about how much stuff we can accumulate, but it will be about who did we help.

I am forever grateful that BHR extended their hand and offered to help.

 

[martinvain]

Hi Topcat,

I am from the UK and was in Brussels at BHR for a consultation on the 12th of January when you were receiving your work. I passed on my best wishes at the time after reading about the pro bono work on this forum. I guess I was in the very next room at some stage of your procedure!

I was very impressed with both Dr. Bisanga and Stephen and intend on having an FUE procedure with the clinic in the near future.

I wish you all the best and hope everything works out.

Cheers.

 

[topccat29]

Hi Martinvain, they did pass that on to me. It made me really feel good and it's nice to know that others are wishing me well, so thanks. BHR is a great clinic, you are in good hands.

 

[wylie]

Looking good Topcat, and am looking forward to see how this grows out. At 828 FUE I would like to add that, as a fellow repair patient who has already been down this road, you will need a larger procedure next time to finish this off, and am wondering if anyone has mentioned anything in the way of numbers.

You can get good density if you throw the required number of grafts in but I dont know those numbers and was wondering if anyone has discussed how many you may need in the future? Progress can be agonizingly slow sometimes, waiting for things to grow out, but this smaller session is a better idea than a mega session because now you can carefully chart the growth rates. I've heard Dr. Umar estimate yield rate from beard hair to be around 85%. I personally believe that growth rates decline the farther you get from the neck and scalp. I'm not exactly sure why other than proximity. There is nothing to back that up other than the results I've seen from Dr.'s Cole and Umar, both of who utilize beard more than any other non scalp source for repairs. Good growing to you and am looking forward to your progress.

 

[topccat29]

Thanks Wylie.

The problem with getting numbers is limited donor. I do agree with you about the beard hair as probably being the most viable. It's just that my beard in not that heavy, but I still have a harvestable area. I might be able to go back into the scalp, but that's iffy and the number will not be that high. I'm okay with any improvement. and I'm also okay with still using a concealer.

I am happy that I was not one of these mega bodyhair patients that got little to zero growth. Dr. Bisanga is both sensible and ethical.

I am estimating that the area I am trying to cover including the vertical scar in the back is approximately 75 sq cm. The strip scars I can live with and would almost seem to be a waste of both time and money at this point.

With an area of 75 sq cm with and average density of let's say 40, I would need 3000 hairs. Since I already have had 838 fue with a total of approximately 1400 hairs, that's not too bad, providing I get 100% growth. BHR please correct me if I'm am wrong in my thinking here.

 

[Bigmac]

No problem Topcat,i`m so pleased for you and glad i played a small part in helping you out.

Reading the various forums its great to see the support and good grace you`ve received from people,well most people.

 

[sl]

As Topcat has said his donor is very limited, the scalp lift and strips have taken their toll on the density, miniaturised much of the donor and scalp laxity is zero with no chance of any strips in the future, further FUE will literally mean cherry picking around the entire scalp. It's not been mentioned yet but if you look at the extraction of much of the scalp FUE it is high, that being because of the scalp lift pulling the "safe zone" up. I know we took a video of the donor, I'll see if we can post it because it shows well how thin the donor is, TC does miracles to cover well.

Also, thanks to TC for being so candid, it's not easy and he deserves all the support for telling his story to help others.

TC's beard may not be the strongest but if it proves to show a good yield and he's happy for us to use it he still has a decent amount to harvest, including the fact he had good natural groups in the beard with multiple hairs, so getting a good number is not out the question.

Hair preservation is so important, when the donor is limited Dr. B believes it is better to go slow rather than just take and take. Obviously it is slower and a result takes longer, but if it means better yield, better healing then it has to be worth the wait, especially when you have been waiting so many years.

 

[zionaxel]

Hey T.C hows your healing coming along?Like Big mac said good to see the support from members of the forum, even though some familiar names who post on a regular basis on there own behalf have not.

Im looking forward but still shitting it for the start of my repair in a few weeks..

 

[topccat29]

Zion, the healing has really been very good. I will probably take pictures again at 3 weeks. All the transplanted hairs seem to still be there and growing especially the beard hair.

I can understand the anxiety, I felt exactly the same way. Something I guess only another repair patient can understand. You are in good hands and will be fine. Don't sweat the airport because it's a breeze. You take your hat off for about 5 seconds so that security can check the inside then you are on your way.

Enjoy the breakfast buffet at the hotel and there is a real nice Brazilian steak house that's within walking distance if you like beef. Otherwise if you up for another 10 minutes of walking I saw a place with some delicious looking rotisserie chicken. If you prefer to buy your own fruits and snacks there is also a small grocery story just up the street.

 

[bullitnut]

good to hear the healings going well TC, im thrilled for you and if anyone deserves a great outcome its you bud as youve been an inspiration to many.



Zion dont sweat it pal you will be fine not long now bro

 

[topccat29]

The link to my photos has been updated to show the 4 week mark.

http://tinyurl.com/y8m256z

 

[bullitnut]

looking good dude, nice and clean ¬b`

 

[Nervousnelly]

Looking good so far.

 

[sl]

Pictures posted on behalf of patient 2 months post op.

 

[topccat29]

It's hard to see from the pictures that I have taken, but it seems most of the beard hair did not fall out and is still growing in the small area near the crown. I need to take pictures outside in the daylight, but I am a little hesistant. So far I am very happy. I do not have any visible scarring on the chest area or the chin. I feel very comfortable moving forward and eventually adding more body and beard hair in time.

I am also able to get back to using a concealer. It took approximately 6-7 weeks to go from a shaved head back to my previous hair length for those that are wondering.

BHR has been great in this whole process. They are very personable which is so important to me.

I have to laugh because I still get e-mails from clinics both here and from clinics in Belgium of all places. They ask me if I would like to move forward with a procedure after their past assessment. I don't write this to be negative, but just to point out that although I have contacted them in the past and stated what my intentions were in having a procedure with BHR they still send me these e-mails. They are really clueless when it comes to personable customer service. They don't know me from the next guy.

BHR is the epitome of personable customer service and I say this with complete sincerity. I would have not been able to move forward regardless of the pro bono offer. Thank you everyone at BHR

 

[zionaxel]

Good to hear everything is coming along nicely, agree 100% about BHR really good guys, anyone thinking about having an H.T needs to know they are dealing with straight up people who will not give you any bull.