In April of 2001, I had my first hair transplant at the age of 26 at Bosley Medical in New York City. I had 1290 grafts from a strip excision. The hair was transplanted to the top and front of my scalp and established a hairline.
At the time, I had a great deal of existing hair. This existing hair hid the grafts and the donor region.
I remember recovering fairly quickly. I had my sutures out at 7 days, and the scabs washed out soon thereafter. I was enjoying physical activity two weeks later. Some hairs did not fall out, and continued to grow as transplanted. I remember only one or two grafts falling out.
The Bosley doctor told me that I would eventually go almost completely bald, but I dismissed him as using sales tactics. I simply wanted to increase the density in front. I am aware of Bosley's mixed reputation regarding sales, but in this aspect, Bosley was correct. I did go almost completely bald (Stage VI).
I was reasonably happy with my result. The coverage, while sparse, did provide something other than bare scalp. Most of the grafts were 3 follicle units, with single follicle units up front. When I have hair, no person has ever commented.
Realizing that the Bosley doctor was correct and observing all non-grafted hair on the top, crown, and back fall out, I experimented with shaving starting in 2004.
The strip excision scar is visible. While I can wish all I want that the scar was not there, I did voluntarily have this procedure. I was told the scar would be "pencil thin". It was and it wasn't.
People do comment on the scar when I am bald, and I have always dismissed them with the lie of "brain surgery".
I did go through a phase where I was upset over the scar. But I am reluctant to blame Bosley. I made my decision to have hair transplant surgery and in exchange for not being completely bald, I have a strip excision scar that is not visible as long as my hair is longer than 3/8 to 1/2 an inch. Interestingly, over the 8 years, the scar has continued to heal, and hair is even starting to grow within.
Growing older, I decided to stop shaving this summer, and seeing much less hair in the crown and back then when I started shaving 5 years ago, I have decided to have a second procedure.
I am now considering a second transplant of 1200 grafts to create the same coverage in the crown and back of my head as I do on top. I have no lofty expectations of ever recreating the coverage of full hair, but I do believe that something is better than nothing. I have considered putting an additional 600 grafts on top to increase the coverage.
The doctor is James S. Calder, MD. We have discussed the procedure, and he is going to take the strip excision from the same area as the first, excising the first scar and replacing it with a second. I have discussed with him the side effect of the first procedure where I experienced lasting numbness on the right above the scar that has since gone away as the nerves healed.
Bosley is offering me $4.50 a graft.
I realize that Bosley is a business. I always knew this, even back in 2001. But I have nothing to complain about the first procedure. Still, I am nervous, as this is another doctor and another office.
Does anyone have any thoughts?
Matt
At the time, I had a great deal of existing hair. This existing hair hid the grafts and the donor region.
I remember recovering fairly quickly. I had my sutures out at 7 days, and the scabs washed out soon thereafter. I was enjoying physical activity two weeks later. Some hairs did not fall out, and continued to grow as transplanted. I remember only one or two grafts falling out.
The Bosley doctor told me that I would eventually go almost completely bald, but I dismissed him as using sales tactics. I simply wanted to increase the density in front. I am aware of Bosley's mixed reputation regarding sales, but in this aspect, Bosley was correct. I did go almost completely bald (Stage VI).
I was reasonably happy with my result. The coverage, while sparse, did provide something other than bare scalp. Most of the grafts were 3 follicle units, with single follicle units up front. When I have hair, no person has ever commented.
Realizing that the Bosley doctor was correct and observing all non-grafted hair on the top, crown, and back fall out, I experimented with shaving starting in 2004.
The strip excision scar is visible. While I can wish all I want that the scar was not there, I did voluntarily have this procedure. I was told the scar would be "pencil thin". It was and it wasn't.
People do comment on the scar when I am bald, and I have always dismissed them with the lie of "brain surgery".
I did go through a phase where I was upset over the scar. But I am reluctant to blame Bosley. I made my decision to have hair transplant surgery and in exchange for not being completely bald, I have a strip excision scar that is not visible as long as my hair is longer than 3/8 to 1/2 an inch. Interestingly, over the 8 years, the scar has continued to heal, and hair is even starting to grow within.
Growing older, I decided to stop shaving this summer, and seeing much less hair in the crown and back then when I started shaving 5 years ago, I have decided to have a second procedure.
I am now considering a second transplant of 1200 grafts to create the same coverage in the crown and back of my head as I do on top. I have no lofty expectations of ever recreating the coverage of full hair, but I do believe that something is better than nothing. I have considered putting an additional 600 grafts on top to increase the coverage.
The doctor is James S. Calder, MD. We have discussed the procedure, and he is going to take the strip excision from the same area as the first, excising the first scar and replacing it with a second. I have discussed with him the side effect of the first procedure where I experienced lasting numbness on the right above the scar that has since gone away as the nerves healed.
Bosley is offering me $4.50 a graft.
I realize that Bosley is a business. I always knew this, even back in 2001. But I have nothing to complain about the first procedure. Still, I am nervous, as this is another doctor and another office.
Does anyone have any thoughts?
Matt
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