Going for repair at Shapiro Medical Group.

[thincity]

Hi Janna,

No problem, I wanted you to post the pics at HLH also. I wanted to add a quick "funny" story that I did not get to share with you. On Wed morning, I arrived early for my final hair wash before my flight home. Gwen (I hope I have the right name, bad with names, great with faces) did my last wash. I told her that on Tuesday when I returned to the hotel from my first wash, I entered my room and called my wife. I was talking to her for about five minutes, when I realised that there was a large package from "Cookies by Design" of Valentine Cookies in my room. I told her "Wow the clinic sent me Valentine cookies...she said you idiot those are from me!!" I know Gwen enloyed the story and I hope you and everyone at SMG gets a laugh too...I can be dense at times!

 

[janna]

That's a great story, very funny. You got Gwen's name right. Have to say, you've been good with all the names who you've had any conversations with at SMG, better than most.

 

[Bigmac]

Work looks nice and refined, quite a few plugs removed also.

I like the chocolate story.

Heal and grow well.

 

[bullitnut]

Bigmac wrote:

I like the chocolate story.

Me too::}{:

 

[thincity]

Hello All, I thought as today is one week post-op, I'd give a very brief update. I'm healing very well, and I'm amazed that in the "virgin" area transplanted, there is little if any scabbing. The punchout's look pretty damn good, with very small scabs, keeping in mind, that Dr. Ron and Tom were removing grafts that were too large, placed at totally random angles (most of them) and many contained as many as 5 or 6 hairs. Due to a simple scheduling issue, my staples will remain in until next Monday, I checked with Janna as I was concerned with leaving them in for the full two weeks, however this will not be an issue. I have had some slight pain at the donor area, and this may be due to having to sleep on the staples. Although I will not be posting "monthly" pictures, I will try and have my wife take some pics of the donor scar a day or two after the staples are removed and will send them to Janna. My only regret, is that I wish I could have been a "virgin" patient and not a repair patient.

Regards,

Thincity

 

[Bigmac]

Good to hear everything is healing well, the pain in the donor will be due to discomfort from the staples.

I`ll look forward to your donor pictures and updates when you do them.

Cheers Bm.

 

[thincity]

Hi Bigmac, Very ready to get staples out. Not much discomfort during the day, sleeping another matter...pretty difficult. Ninety percent of scabs are gone, and clipped hair starting to regrow...grafts as well. Its evident at this point I'll need another round of punchouts on the right side. I forgot Dr Ron had popped in on my final hair wash and stated that he saw few. As I stated I will have my wife take pics of donor scar and the top of my head and email them to Janna.

 

[Bigmac]

Yes it will feel good when you get those staples out, your donor area will still be a little tender but that will soon pass and you`ll be able to sleep with no problems.

 

[thincity]

I forgot to update here, I had staples out on Monday, and although quite painless, the second from last staple bled pretty bad. Big Mac, the first night after the staples were out, I slept much better. The scar itself looks great, just where the staples were a little rough. I'll try and have my wife take pics of the donor scar and top this weekend or early next week. This will give a little time for the staple area to heal. While very early to tell, I'll probably return to SMG in January for a second round of punchouts in the crown. Dr. Ron had felt two passes might be needed at my consult in May. The new grafts continue to grow, but I know the shed is coming soon!

 

[bullitnut]

thincity wrote:

I know the shed is coming soon!

Hardest bit dude....but it will come back before you know it.

 

[Bigmac]

Glad you are now sleeping better with the staples out, i`ll look forward to seeing your donor pictyres.

Cheers Bm.

 

[thincity]

Tomorrow will be four weeks post-op, so updating today. I have a mild to moderate case of folliculitis, and have been using the warm moist compress as per SMG's post-op DVD. If it doesn't resolve/improve in the next day or two, I'll contact SMG. I would guess I've lost at least half of the transplanted hair the shed starting last Friday the 2nd. Donor area looks very good, the area the staples were has healed amazingly fast compared to even a week ago. I will have my wife take pics this week, and get them to Janna. The only negative so far is the need for another pass at the plugs. Those remaining look pretty bad (growing out) and if not for them and the folliculitis, I'd feel comfortable being hat free in public right now.

 

[janna]

Hi Thincity,

When you email pics, have your pharmacy phone number along with too, please. Antibiotics will help clear up the folliculitis right away. As for the plugs, too bad we couldn't take more out but the next punch out session will help a lot

Thanks.

 

[Bigmac]

The folliculitis will go away, if not with the warm compress, a short dose of antibiotics will sort it out.

Pleased to hear the donor area has healed well, i`ll look forward to seeing the pictures.

Thanks for the update.

Bm.

 

[thincity]

Hi Janna, Tried to take pics today, but wifes camera battery was dead. I'l wait until tomorrow so the room will have natural light, as in pics I sent for photo consult. Follicultitis looks much better today, so warm compress is helping. The original plan at my consult had been for two passes at the plugs, so I'll be coming back for a visit in January. The left side looks good as is, however the right side will need more punchouts.
Thanks BM, as I wrote, looks better already. Yesterday they had white heads, now just reddish and smaller!

 

[Bigmac]

thincity wrote:

Thanks BM, as I wrote, looks better already. Yesterday they had white heads, now just reddish and smaller![/quote]


Good to hear re the Folliculitis.

Approximately how many more plugs have you left that need removed.

 

[janna]

Bigmac, in regards to your question and Thincity's recent email question to SMG on when he can come back for a punchout session, I thought I'd answer here so that others in similar situations can understand the reasoning.

The number of punchouts in the next session remains to be seen. What Thincity sees today may be different 9-12 months from now when his recent transplanted hairs are grown out. The big plugs show up more now because the transplanted hairs surrounding it have not grown out yet.

 

[thincity]

Hi Janna, Pics are on the way. I sent two emails, with one shot of the crown in the second email. Janna is correct, as it is too early to determine if and how many additional punch-outs I will need. The hairs that Dr. Ron transplanted in the crown have already shed. Big Mac, I'd say roughly twenty or so, but again this may be reduced by the newly transplanted hairs. I sent pics of top, crown, right and left side (current) and scar right and left. The scar on left side is almost impossible to find, and its only been one month. On the right side, I believe, in the area of the pic, I suffered a very small amount of shockloss. I would also add that the right side was where I had previous work done. As the hair is almost pure white, it's difficult to see in the pics, but there is "stubbly" hair growing in the pinkish area. Unless I experience some unsually fast growth, I'll update my pics at the six month mark.
Regards,
Thincity

 

[StaggerLee]

Hey thincity glad to hear things are progressing.   You are going through the hardest part right now so hang in there an heal well!!   Look forward to seeing your pics.

 

[thincity]

Hi StaggerLee, Thanks, I'm very pleased with the healing. I just remember the "minigraft" work and how long it took both the donor and crown to heal. I'd like to think the Acell and of course surgeons skill added in this quick healing. I never looked at Acell to grow new hair, only as a healing aid. It appears most if not all native hair has returned and growing.