My hair transplant journey. Surgery performed at the Hair Dr Leeds UK, July 2020.

[Kelvino1987]

Looking good Kelvino, I’m the same as you my right temple is growing quicker than my left but I have read this is quite normal and Bigmac confirmed this in one of my own posts.

Cheers dude! Definitely feeling more optimistic about more progress to come now. It just started a bit slow. Your progress is looking great btw mate!

 

[Kelvino1987]

I’ve Just come up to 24 weeks post fue, so just short of 6 months. Seeing more growth starting to happen. The left side has been slower as I’ve previously updated on, but I can see new baby hairs starting to come through. Hoping they’ll be more growth for my 7 month update!

 

[Bigmac]

It does look as though the growth is coming in faster now. I'd guess there are some very fine hairs too that the camera does not pick up. The next few months should hopefully see a good burst of growth.
What is the growth like further back?

 

[Kelvino1987]

It does look as though the growth is coming in faster now. I'd guess there are some very fine hairs too that the camera does not pick up. The next few months should hopefully see a good burst of growth.
What is the growth like further back?

Looks like it’s definitely getting better BM. This picture here is 3 months post HT compared to now at 6 months. When I feel the top, it no longer feels thin anymore, can really feel the thickness coming alone which is great. Just hoping the temples have that big burst of growth.
I was watching a video on YouTube of a HT Dr around ‘slow growers’, and one of his patients took close to 2 years for the full results to come, so I’m just trying to get as patient as possible.

 

[Baldingman23]

It’s defo starting to fill in @Kelvino1987

 

[Kelvino1987]

7 month update of the temple area in different lighting. I’m certainly starting to lose hope haha ............jokes aside, I did think twice about doing an update as I am honestly not feeling confident that I’ll be pleased with the results at 12+ months. There has been some growth but not as significant to a lot of updates I’ve seen on the forum, particularly around 6/7 months. Fingers crossed for month 8.

 

[Baldingman23]

I’m 8 months post HT on Saturday and the past few weeks I started to feel lots more hairs coming through in all my thinner patches that I was worried about. We are just probably slow growers. Im confident that you really do have to wait 12-18 months to see the full result.

 

[Kelvino1987]

Cheers B-man I’m trying to keep my optimism, just a tad challenging at times.

 

[Bigmac]

@Kelvino1987 It still looks slower on the left for the growth rates. This should even out with the rest of your hair when you reach 12 months. Overall, the hairline does seem to be slow growing but this does happen and causes patients to stress especially when you see others with what looks like full results at the same time frame. Some people just grow slow. Waiting is the only thing you can do and keep in touch with the clinic.
How are you feeling about the other areas that were transplanted?
It would be helpful if you could post the pictures from your surgery day showing pre op situation and immediately after.

 

[Kelvino1987]

@Kelvino1987 It still looks slower on the left for the growth rates. This should even out with the rest of your hair when you reach 12 months. Overall, the hairline does seem to be slow growing but this does happen and causes patients to stress especially when you see others with what looks like full results at the same time frame. Some people just grow slow. Waiting is the only thing you can do and keep in touch with the clinic.
How are you feeling about the other areas that were transplanted?
It would be helpful if you could post the pictures from your surgery day showing pre op situation and immediately after.

Thanks Bigmac.
It is really frustrating, but I know I’ve got to see it out as it could change in the finals stages.

I’ve attached the pre and post op pictures, and also the last picture is a 7 month update. There has been some growth but it’s very little. I did ask for the very immediate post op pictures just after being bandaged up but they said they couldn’t find them.

also is it normal to have patchy growth in some of the donor area at 7 months? The clinic said it will grow back in the donor area but I’m not seeing any change.

Cheers for your advice with this, it’s really helpful.

 

[Baldingman23]

Can you feel any new hairs growing??? Even if you can see them you should be able to feel them. It kind of feels like stubble

 

[Kelvino1987]

Can you feel any new hairs growing??? Even if you can see them you should be able to feel them. It kind of feels like stubble

Ever so slightly. When I shine my torch from my phone on you can see a few new stubbly hairs coming through.

I remember you mentioning B-man about it feeling like a tooth brush. I’m not sure if that’s the same for everyone’s experience of growth, but I’ve not had that feeling. Would be good to know if that’s people’s usual feel of growth?

 

[Kelvino1987]

This is the donor area 7 months post fue. I have asked the clinic if the patches are as a result of shock loss. They’ve said it isn’t shock loss but part of the healing process. I would have assumed 7 months it would have healed. Is it anything to worry about?

 

[Bigmac]

Hi Kelvino.

7 months can still be considered early as it`s just over the halfway stage. The hairline may need additional grafts added at 12 months if things don`t improve enough.
Your donor area could be suffering from shock loss still, it may be permanent shock loss which is rare, or grafts extracted too closely which has resulted in a zone of excisions that significantly reduces the donor density when compared to areas with fewer extractions.

 

[Kelvino1987]

Hi Kelvino.

7 months can still be considered early as it`s just over the halfway stage. The hairline may need additional grafts added at 12 months if things don`t improve enough.
Your donor area could be suffering from shock loss still, it may be permanent shock loss which is rare, or grafts extracted too closely which has resulted in a zone of excisions that significantly reduces the donor density when compared to areas with fewer extractions.

Thanks Bigmac. I’ve looked at a picture of the donor a few days post op. I’ve attached it on here. Where I’ve highlighted, would this be classed as the grafts extracted too closely and therefore reducing the donor density?

 

[Bigmac]

Looking at that pre op picture I’d say you’re experiencing some pro longed shock loss. The extraction pattern on first viewing looks ok, but I notice some they have removed grafts that are side by side which may or may not result in thin patches.

 

[Kelvino1987]

Looking at that pre op picture I’d say you’re experiencing some pro longed shock loss. The extraction pattern on first viewing looks ok, but I notice some they removed grafts that are side by side which may or may not result in thin patches.

Hopefully it grows back! I’ve just done a side by side of 3 months vs 7 months post fue. I’ve attached it. The hair is longer at 7 months, but can definitely see the difference in growth.

 

[Bigmac]

Yes, I can see the difference. With your donor taking its time to fully recover and the growth not as quick on your hairline you may be someone who just takes longer to heal which I hope is the case. Only time will tell this.

 

[Kelvino1987]

Just an update following a follow up visit at the clinic yesterday.

It was positive meeting overall. Dr Arshad had agreed that the density isn’t up to where it should probably be, and he was honest that it could be 50/50 in terms of the next 4 and a half months whether or not we’ll achieve full growth. Looking at options, they have stated if we’re not able ti achieve optimal results, they will perform a top up procedure. In the mean time, we’ve agreed I’ll give regain a go and see if it helps, and we’re also in discussions of the possibility of PRP.

They were brilliant yesterday and very honest, as they always have been. Dr Arshad was honest in my initial consultation and said that sometimes (1 or 2 out of a hundred) they get it wrong, as does every clinic. It was actually this transparency that had influenced my decision to go with the Hair Dr. Even though I’m aware I could need a top up, my mind does feel at ease now as we have a solution in place, given if we don’t achieve the results we’re after.

So yeah, I’m a little gutted (naturally), but feeling a lot more reassured. It’s not the end of the world and the clinic are going above and beyond to help get it right. Hopefully the regain helps and possible PRP! I’ll be sure to update if it does.

 

[Baldingman23]

That’s great to know there were honest and supportive. This is what makes a clinic a good clinic in my opinion, it’s not just the result but the after care. Did they say what might have gone wrong for the result to not be up to standard?