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Hi everyone, I would like to share my experience with hair transplantation and my recent procedure to fix my large FUT scar that I have had for several years.
Like many people, I started to lose my hair in my 20s and considered hair transplant as a possible solution. I decided to have my first transplant about 9 years ago. It was a FUT about 3500 grafts to the front and crown by a surgeon in Nashville, TN. I was very pleased with the initial improvement, but realized that I needed more coverage. My second procedure was 2 years later, about the same number of grafts to the same area. I was involved with the same hair transplant group in Nashville, but different surgeon. Post-op, I immediately noticed that the donor scar was very tight and eventually started to become wider and wider. I wasn't really impressed with the surgeon from the beginning and he told me to just give it time. About 1 year after, the scar was very large and the surgeon said he would perform a scar revision. He basically cut out the old scar and placed a very tight running suture. The suture was left in for 3 weeks and he told me to not bend my neck or do any activity for 1 month. I followed all instructions, but the scar widened just as before. I was very frustrated, angry, embarrassed after going through all this. In order to conceal the scar, I would have to grow my hair long on the sides, which always bothered me.
I eventually moved to Arizona and lived with the scar for several years before I decided to do something about it. This time I really did my research and finally made an appointment to see Dr. Scott Alexander in Phoenix, AZ. After examining me, he said that my scalp was really tight on the sides and the only way to correct the scar would be to have tissue expanders placed in order to stretch the skin enough to close. I was then referred to Dr. John Bass, a plastic surgeon in Phoenix to place the expanders.
Pre-procedure
Dr. Bass and his staff were extremely helpful in explaining the plan and procedure. I felt very comfortable with his expertise and had three separate tissue expanders place around my head, underneath the scar.
Post tissue expander placement
For 6 months total I would have the expanders filled every 3 weeks with enough saline to make them tight, but not uncomfortable. Towards the end of the 6 months, the expanders were fairly big, but I was able to conceal with a large ball cap.
Final tissue expansion, day of removal and hair transplant
It was just recently that I had the expanders removed. Dr. Alexander's office is in the same building as the surgery center that Dr. Bass operates. The plan was to remove the expanders, scar and any excess hair could then be used for another transplant. My ultimate goal was resolution of the scar and any hair transplanted would be secondary. Not only was Dr. Bass able to remove the scar, he stated that the expansion left quite a bit of extra hair that could be used to transplant. Following my OR procedure, I was taken upstairs to Dr. Alexander's office where he performed my 3rd hair transplant. I received about 3000 grafts to the front and crown of my head.
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I am only 4 weeks out and so far very happy with the results. I will post pictures of my progress later on.
Like many people, I started to lose my hair in my 20s and considered hair transplant as a possible solution. I decided to have my first transplant about 9 years ago. It was a FUT about 3500 grafts to the front and crown by a surgeon in Nashville, TN. I was very pleased with the initial improvement, but realized that I needed more coverage. My second procedure was 2 years later, about the same number of grafts to the same area. I was involved with the same hair transplant group in Nashville, but different surgeon. Post-op, I immediately noticed that the donor scar was very tight and eventually started to become wider and wider. I wasn't really impressed with the surgeon from the beginning and he told me to just give it time. About 1 year after, the scar was very large and the surgeon said he would perform a scar revision. He basically cut out the old scar and placed a very tight running suture. The suture was left in for 3 weeks and he told me to not bend my neck or do any activity for 1 month. I followed all instructions, but the scar widened just as before. I was very frustrated, angry, embarrassed after going through all this. In order to conceal the scar, I would have to grow my hair long on the sides, which always bothered me.
I eventually moved to Arizona and lived with the scar for several years before I decided to do something about it. This time I really did my research and finally made an appointment to see Dr. Scott Alexander in Phoenix, AZ. After examining me, he said that my scalp was really tight on the sides and the only way to correct the scar would be to have tissue expanders placed in order to stretch the skin enough to close. I was then referred to Dr. John Bass, a plastic surgeon in Phoenix to place the expanders.
Pre-procedure
Dr. Bass and his staff were extremely helpful in explaining the plan and procedure. I felt very comfortable with his expertise and had three separate tissue expanders place around my head, underneath the scar.
Post tissue expander placement
For 6 months total I would have the expanders filled every 3 weeks with enough saline to make them tight, but not uncomfortable. Towards the end of the 6 months, the expanders were fairly big, but I was able to conceal with a large ball cap.
Final tissue expansion, day of removal and hair transplant
It was just recently that I had the expanders removed. Dr. Alexander's office is in the same building as the surgery center that Dr. Bass operates. The plan was to remove the expanders, scar and any excess hair could then be used for another transplant. My ultimate goal was resolution of the scar and any hair transplanted would be secondary. Not only was Dr. Bass able to remove the scar, he stated that the expansion left quite a bit of extra hair that could be used to transplant. Following my OR procedure, I was taken upstairs to Dr. Alexander's office where he performed my 3rd hair transplant. I received about 3000 grafts to the front and crown of my head.
I am only 4 weeks out and so far very happy with the results. I will post pictures of my progress later on.
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