Going to have a HT, How Many Grafts and Worried about work!?

[bighair]

I am looking to have a HT before the end of the year. I am still a bit apprehensive about it however as I have a number of questions which I still feel are unanswered even after talking to consultants and surgeons

1. The main one is about going back to work after. Ive heard that various amounts of time should be fine to take off work such as 3 days to 2 weeks. What I am looking for is that when I go back to work, at least initially, people dont notice I have had a transplant. In fact I could probably take 3 weeks off. Maybe a little more if really needed. Photos Ive seen on this site of people who have had transplants with top surgeons still seem pretty obvious after a couple of weeks that there is something very strange going on up there.
Not all surgeons said I needed to cut my hair, although some of the ones Im considering did. For instance Hasson and Wong said Id need to shave the scalp. Surely this will look ridiculous for a long time!?
Then of course there is the scar at the back. Its not obvious to me with that how long it will take for the scar to be camouflaged by my hair.

2. The other thing is Im very confused about the number of grafts I need to get. About 4 doctors have told me 1500-2500 grafts. However one of the big names told me 4000! Admittedly that was just an email exchange and Im going to meet a consultant from them soon so Im sure Ill get an explanation. However with such big disparities between them its making me apprehensive.

[35YrsAfter]

Have you settled on strip or FUE? Healing of the recipient area is the same whether you get FUE or strip, assuming both physicians perform the surgery correctly. The strip donor area takes much longer to heal than FUE donor areas. We have had patients come back to our office four days after FUE surgery and the donor extraction sites are barely visible. Once the crusts come off, there is generally some pinkness though. There are post-op products that speed up the healing process. For your recipient area, doctors have their favorite products that help speed the crust removal. I work at Dr. Cole's office and I'm also a patient. Here, we recommend Post Biotin Spray. I have personally found that the Post Biotin spray helps the crusts to come off 2-3 days sooner than if I don't use it. I am personally too gentle with my recipient area and my recipient crusts have stayed on for up to 14 days. The range is about 4-12 days. A few of our patients have the advantage of being very tall. Most people don't see the top of their head. In your case, your recipient area shouldn't be an issue if you take 2 weeks off work to be on the safe side. With strip, the answer to your question about returning to work is best answered by one of the top strip clinics.

-35YrsAfter works at Dr. Cole's office

[bighair]

Thanks for the advice. I have not settled on strip or FUE. Although the recommendations I have got have been mainly strip. Im drawn to FUE cause of the lack of a scar but I dont want to get it just for the sake of people in work not noticing for a few days. I can avoid my friends as long as I need but I cant avoid people in work
The fact that there is bigger harvest from strip makes me want to go with it.

[bighair]

Any idea about the different opinions I have gotton on how many grafts I should get?

[Dan26]

Im shocked people still consider FUT's these days

[bighair]

Really why do you say that? I am in fact considering an FUT and most of the doctors I have spoken to have recommended one over an FUE (with the exception of Feriduni offering both).

[bighair]

The main thing drawing me to an FUT are

a) Better yield from donor. This is very important to me.

b) I dont mind having my hair reasonably long to cover scar.

[StayThick]

Im shocked people still consider FUT's these days

I agree 100% with Dan. I wouldn't in my right mind have a scar in the back of my head. I'd prefer the dots.

You don't know how much your hairloss would progress..it looks like you keep your hair short, concealing that huge scar might be difficult. Yield or not I personally think that's a huge mistake considering the advancements in the industry at this point.

To each his own. Don't get upset if people see that huge smiley face of a scar at work or if you go swimming with friends things get awkward.

[bighair]

Dan: Would you be inclined to warn against HTs altogether or do you think FUE is ok too?

StayThick: What do you mean exactly by "considering advancements in the industry"?

[PayDay]

In the end the decision is yours to make. Don't let anonymous people on a message board sway you in any particular direction. There are pros and cons with both types of surgery so it's probably best to meet with patients in person and to see results with your own eyes.

[StayThick]

In the end the decision is yours to make. Don't let anonymous people on a message board sway you in any particular direction. There are pros and cons with both types of surgery so it's probably best to meet with patients in person and to see results with your own eyes.

Although I agree with the above, I don't understand why anyone would choose FUT simply because of the huge scar. Doesn't make sense to me...I see so many people in my city with that "old school" technique and also hear the jokes others make behind those people's back. It's terrible.

That scar just shows the world of your insecurities, plus it's horrific to look at. I have seen people with decent length on the sides, yet I can still make out the scar.

When I say advancements, I'm referring to Gho, FUE, etc. I feel like FUT is the "old way" to approach a hair transplant. That's just me.

[Dan26]

StayThick pretty much summed it up in his posts man.

I think the reason most doctors are suggesting FUT is because that is what they are more experienced in and better at. Of course the drawbacks for FUE are cost and yield (but if you get an experianced doctor with FUE yield shouldn't be as big of an issue), but for me personally the scar from a FUT is an automatic deal breaker. No way in hell would I ever get that done to myself when there is an option out there that requires no scar.

Whats truly surprises me is that as soon as FUE became practiced and viable, FUT was not completely abandoned. All the doctors energies and focuses should go towards improving FUE, but obviously FUT is what they are good at, experienced with, confident in etc so the elected to keep it around, while the big players in the game and the well respected guys introduced FUE.

[bighair]

Who are the big names in FUE other than Feriduni?

[bighair]

StayThick pretty much summed it up in his posts man.

I think the reason most doctors are suggesting FUT is because that is what they are more experienced in and better at. Of course the drawbacks for FUE are cost and yield (but if you get an experianced doctor with FUE yield shouldn't be as big of an issue), but for me personally the scar from a FUT is an automatic deal breaker. No way in hell would I ever get that done to myself when there is an option out there that requires no scar.

Whats truly surprises me is that as soon as FUE became practiced and viable, FUT was not completely abandoned. All the doctors energies and focuses should go towards improving FUE, but obviously FUT is what they are good at, experienced with, confident in etc so the elected to keep it around, while the big players in the game and the well respected guys introduced FUE.

Thanks guys for your posts. Very much appreciated. As a result of this thread I am researching FUE a great deal. From looking at my photos in the first post would you guys say I am a candidate for FUE? What even makes someone a candidate?

Before anyone says I should only take advice from actual doctors, I understand your concerns, but rest assured I am organising consultations. I just feel like each doctor wants to sell their method (be it FUE or FUT) and I feel like at least people on a forum are less likely to have an agenda

[35YrsAfter]

Thanks guys for your posts. Very much appreciated. As a result of this thread I am researching FUE a great deal. From looking at my photos in the first post would you guys say I am a candidate for FUE? What even makes someone a candidate?

Before anyone says I should only take advice from actual doctors, I understand your concerns, but rest assured I am organising consultations. I just feel like each doctor wants to sell their method (be it FUE or FUT) and I feel like at least people on a forum are less likely to have an agenda

It's important to understand that many doctors performing FUE were former strip surgeons. Dr. Cole is a former strip surgeon for example. The same is true of Dr. Mwamba in Belgium. Some FUE doctors came on board later and only know FUE. You should ask doctors you are consulting with how many strip surgeries they have done if you settle on strip. Patient photos should be clear and have a natural color tone. Beware of photos that have a flash on the before and no flash on the after. Meet patients if that is possible. Look at strip scars to decide if you can live with one. Doctor experience is an extremely important consideration should you settle on FUE. Never settle on an FUE doctor who dabbles in FUE. Ask an FUE physician what healing technologies they make available such as ACell, PRP, PPP, and ATP. Ask the doctor what solution they temporarily store their grafts in. Is it simple saline or a solution that supports graft health?
There are many factors that contribute to exceptional yield with FUE. Patients should be aware of these options and always keep in mind, you have a finite donor supply.

35YrsAfter also posts as CITNews and works at Dr. Cole's office

https://www.forhair.com

Cole Hair Transplant
1070 Powers Place
Alpharetta, Georgia 30009
Phone 678-566-1011
email 35YrsAfter at chuck@forhair.com
Please feel free to call or email me with any questions. Ask for Chuck