I
It Grew Back
valued member
I` like to share my story about how I suffered the most appalling FUE SHOCK LOSS, the TRAUMA it caused my every day life and the HAPPY ENDING.
I first realised I was losing hair at 28, it was a gradual loss. When I reached 39 it had progressed to most of the frontal third which was semi bald, only a thin covering and small tuft/forelock. The thought of having a hair transplant or taking medications never crossed my mind, I`d accepted I was going bald although I did not like how I looked, I cropped my hair short in an attempt to hide the baldness but this never worked. I actually think I looked worse as it did not suit the shape of my face.
Then one day while I was online shopping an add popped up for natural hair loss cures, well this aroused my curiosity so I clicked on it. I was taken to a natural supplement page for Procerin which virtually guaranteed to grow your hair back, you know what`s coming next right? I went ahead and purchased a years supply. It claimed new hair growth would appear after 3 months, the 3 months passed, no growth, then 6 months with no growth, 9 months no growth and finally 12 months with zero growth. I sent several emails complaining, as of yet I`ve had no reply.
After this disappointment I decided to check online to see what else was out there, I spent hours looking at products, potions and contraptions that guaranteed to grow your hair back, I never fell for the spiel. Once bitten twice shy as they say. Then I stumbled across this very forum just as I turned 40, I was intrigued by the patient testimonials and spent the next 6 months reading like crazy. I made the decision to use Rogaine Foam and take Finasteride after seeing some amazing transformations documented. A year later everything is ticking along, no sides and a little bit of regrowth so I decide now`s the time to have a transplant.
I researched lots of doctors and to be honest I was overwhelmed as there are so many good transformations, it made the decision process a difficult one. I set myself a budget on what I could afford and had several consultations. They were all very similar in graft estimates with varying prices, I then made my choice.
I then had 3500 grafts by FUE method placed into the frontal third, it looked fantastic having all this hair until it had all shed by the 2nd week. Everything seemed normal, my donor area healed quickly, there was some lingering redness present in both the donor and recipient areas that lasted roughly 8 weeks. At 12 weeks my donor area became irritable, I was scratching constantly and thought I had head lice as it was so bad. Off I went to have my scalp checked, no sign of head lice but the nurse told me my scalp was vey red and supplied an anti itch shampoo to use. After 1 week I noticed more and more hair in the shower, then at 2 weeks the hair in my donor region was falling out in clumps. I was freaked out and panicking thinking oh shit what`s happening. I contacted the doctor who did my procedure and was advised I could be suffering from severe shock loss, we skyped and he confirmed it was indeed shock loss. He told me to wait it out as it will all grow back by month 6. Well month 6 came and it was as worse as ever. I contacted the doctor again who was very understanding of my situation but basically said I`d have to wait it out or travel back to see him. As the clinic was on another continent I decided to wait, then at 7 months I could see hair returning, by 8 months most of it had returned, I was so relieved to see my hair returning. I`m now 13 months post op with a great looking head of hair although only approximately 90% of the donor came back.
My doctor explained I probably experienced traumatic loss of some of the non- extracted hair in the donor area. The ones that never grew back were probably genetic weaker hairs that may have been on their last few cycles. My doctor provided great support throughout the whole process, I couldn`t have got through it without him. Even though my donor is thinner I`m very happy how things have turned out.
I just thought I would share my story with you all to hopefully give something back as every one who posted helped me out in my hour of need.
Thanks to everyone.
I first realised I was losing hair at 28, it was a gradual loss. When I reached 39 it had progressed to most of the frontal third which was semi bald, only a thin covering and small tuft/forelock. The thought of having a hair transplant or taking medications never crossed my mind, I`d accepted I was going bald although I did not like how I looked, I cropped my hair short in an attempt to hide the baldness but this never worked. I actually think I looked worse as it did not suit the shape of my face.
Then one day while I was online shopping an add popped up for natural hair loss cures, well this aroused my curiosity so I clicked on it. I was taken to a natural supplement page for Procerin which virtually guaranteed to grow your hair back, you know what`s coming next right? I went ahead and purchased a years supply. It claimed new hair growth would appear after 3 months, the 3 months passed, no growth, then 6 months with no growth, 9 months no growth and finally 12 months with zero growth. I sent several emails complaining, as of yet I`ve had no reply.
After this disappointment I decided to check online to see what else was out there, I spent hours looking at products, potions and contraptions that guaranteed to grow your hair back, I never fell for the spiel. Once bitten twice shy as they say. Then I stumbled across this very forum just as I turned 40, I was intrigued by the patient testimonials and spent the next 6 months reading like crazy. I made the decision to use Rogaine Foam and take Finasteride after seeing some amazing transformations documented. A year later everything is ticking along, no sides and a little bit of regrowth so I decide now`s the time to have a transplant.
I researched lots of doctors and to be honest I was overwhelmed as there are so many good transformations, it made the decision process a difficult one. I set myself a budget on what I could afford and had several consultations. They were all very similar in graft estimates with varying prices, I then made my choice.
I then had 3500 grafts by FUE method placed into the frontal third, it looked fantastic having all this hair until it had all shed by the 2nd week. Everything seemed normal, my donor area healed quickly, there was some lingering redness present in both the donor and recipient areas that lasted roughly 8 weeks. At 12 weeks my donor area became irritable, I was scratching constantly and thought I had head lice as it was so bad. Off I went to have my scalp checked, no sign of head lice but the nurse told me my scalp was vey red and supplied an anti itch shampoo to use. After 1 week I noticed more and more hair in the shower, then at 2 weeks the hair in my donor region was falling out in clumps. I was freaked out and panicking thinking oh shit what`s happening. I contacted the doctor who did my procedure and was advised I could be suffering from severe shock loss, we skyped and he confirmed it was indeed shock loss. He told me to wait it out as it will all grow back by month 6. Well month 6 came and it was as worse as ever. I contacted the doctor again who was very understanding of my situation but basically said I`d have to wait it out or travel back to see him. As the clinic was on another continent I decided to wait, then at 7 months I could see hair returning, by 8 months most of it had returned, I was so relieved to see my hair returning. I`m now 13 months post op with a great looking head of hair although only approximately 90% of the donor came back.
My doctor explained I probably experienced traumatic loss of some of the non- extracted hair in the donor area. The ones that never grew back were probably genetic weaker hairs that may have been on their last few cycles. My doctor provided great support throughout the whole process, I couldn`t have got through it without him. Even though my donor is thinner I`m very happy how things have turned out.
I just thought I would share my story with you all to hopefully give something back as every one who posted helped me out in my hour of need.
Thanks to everyone.
