1 month later I've been back to the barber. So this is 7 months and 8 days. I've tried to take some of the donor area as I get quite a lot of questions about this, and indeed I myself had questions before I had the procedure as I was worried about it.
I can certainly still have my skin fade no problems. I also feel close up pictures actually show the scarring more than in real life.
My main points are that if it's left to grow, because the top is thinner than the back and sides it's quite obvious that I'm thinning. But with the right haircut this pretty much disguised. Since getting it cut a month ago it has been the least maintenance it has ever been (other than when buzzed off competely of course). I haven't been using product or even a comb. Just drying and using my fingers to sweep to one side a little. Waking up in the morning too, I've been 100% unconcerned, and if not showering and washing it I've just left it. I certainly couldn't do that before the procedure, it took a lot of effort to disguise the balding, and looked terrible if I didn't work hard to hide it.