Is my hair transplant any good?

[topcat]

Please explain to me why with so much information available at the tips of your fingers you seem to know very little. It’s almost as if you thought you were simply going for a haircut and if it didn't work out you would just wait until it grew out. How old are you and was it just the marketing that made you believe this was a very simple procedure and the details should be of know concern?

[jimbob1966]

I'm 27, I wasn't looking to tell everyone about the details of the surgery, I was just was looking for some re-assurance from somebody that my procedure looked ok.

At the end of the day I have done my research, I was given post op instructions, but the more websites i visited the more i had conflicting reports about how gently/harshly you should wash your hair post op.

I don't think it's really fair to question me, sure your probably 10 x more informed than I am, but I did as much research as I thought necessary, I was just looking for a bit of support, oh well nevermind...

[topcat]

Jimbob just judging from the pictures everything looks very normal. Personally I wouldn’t touch the area for the first 3-4 days. Pour warm water over the area after using a cup in the shower and just go on with your day. Gentle washing after that first week should be okay but check with your clinic. Try not to look in the mirror too much, get on with life and you will know in 12 months.

You should be sharing the details with the forums especially if you used the forums to make your own decision. Too many come and just take without sharing. Your experience helps others. Good luck in your outcome.

[jimbob1966]

thanks will do

[jimbob1966]

ok guys, it's been 7 days since surgery, front is getting quite itchy now, I've put on some cream for 45 mins daily and then washed off with warm water by pouring it on my head, (although i used shower today) have gently washed with shampoo everyday, just patting the front lightly not rubbing, and drying by patting...

there have been a couple of times where a bit of wet scab has comeoff with the hair with it, i'm hoping the follicle remains, but you can't really tell.

Please find my pics below at 7 days, do you sugguest i keep doing what im doing or be a bit more aggressive or gentler.

[Tracy C]

It looks fine. Don't be more aggressive. Continue to be as gentle as you can for at least a few more days, preferably another week. Don't scratch.

[sausage]

Its not been long, looks ok. Be gentle with it and be patient until the scabs come off, will be interesting to see how things are in 2 weeks time.

Are you currently off work at the moment?

[jimbob1966]

yes, due back on Monday

[Tracy C]

Hi jimbob1966,

I just took another look at your photos. I want to say that 12 to 18 months from now, when your hair has grown back, it is going to look really good.

Are you taking anything to stabilize your hair and prevent future loss of the non-DHT resistant hair?

[jimbob1966]

I hope so, I've been taking fincar 5mg for a couple of years, both of my brothers said they were much bolder at my age, and i don't seem to have lost anything on the crown either, which they said they already did at my age. It doesn't of appeared to got any worse the last year or so, so i'm hopefull that it's stabilised.

Once the scalp has healed, I plan to start doing rogaine aswell, so hopefully that might help fill in some of the donor area a bit with new growth.

Here is a picture of me last month, you can see that my hair loss wasn't obvious, it's just the way i styled my hair, but it was annoying having to style it in a way to try and hide my receding spots, hopefully I'll be able to gel it all back in the future :/

[Tracy C]

Once the scalp has healed, I plan to start doing rogaine aswell, so hopefully that might help fill in some of the donor area a bit with new growth.

I may not be understanding your expectation here. You do realize the donor area does not regenerate new hair follicles, right? The hair follicles that were removed to fill in your hair line will grow in their new locations. The tiny locations they came from will not grow hair any more, becuase the follicles are not there any more... You do know that Rogaine (or generic Minoxidil) does not create new hair follciles, right? You do know that Minoxidil only stimulates existing hair follicles to grow hair, right? From what I can see in your photos, you do not really need Minoxidil. Finasteride seems to doing a fine job for you. However, if you want to use Rogaine foam like once a day maybe, I don't see any harm in trying. Just don't expect it to create replacement hair follicles in your donor area. It can't do that. Nothing can do that yet. Low level laser therapy could probably thicken up and improve the quality of what hair you have though - as well as help your scalp heal.

You are a very nice looking guy. You looked really good before the hair transplant. You are going to look even better after.

[jimbob1966]

i was thinking rogaine could help new growth in the areas next to where they have moved the follicles sort of thing

[Tracy C]

It doesn't hurt to try. Take it slow in the beginning though. Use the foam for sure and start out once per day for a while then go from there.

[morelocks]

It doesn't hurt to try. Take it slow in the beginning though. Use the foam for sure and start out once per day for a while then go from there.

Guys as as far as I know there is a risk when u try. Firstly he may shed sh/t loads and secondly and a more important consideration is that once u start this u are supposed to continue it for a life time

I once used rogaine post op as advised by my doc and i had some amazing new growth. I was told by the doc it was all from the ht and I could stop using rogaine after 4 months. As soon as I did I lost loads of new hair and 9 months later I once again had to go for a ht.

I would have thought if propecia is doing the trick it's just best to leave it

[Tracy C]

Firstly he may shed sh/t loads...

Shedding is part of the process and needs to happen. Shedding is associated with every treatment for hair loss that actually works. With continued treatment, the shedding stops eventually and the hair grows back a little thicker with each cycle. This takes a long time. Time that is measured in months and years.

...secondly and a more important consideration is that once u start this u are supposed to continue it for a life time.

Hereditary hair loss is a progressive condition that continues throughout a person’s life. Since the progression of hair loss continues for the rest of a person’s life, obviously any treatment he or she uses needs to continue for the rest of his or her life.

I was told by the doc it was all from the ht and I could stop using rogaine after 4 months. As soon as I did I lost loads of new hair and 9 months later I once again had to go for a ht.

To try to lessen this perceived effect, start and stop the medication slowly. Ramp up to the full dose over time - and ramp down off the medication over time.

I would have thought if propecia is doing the trick it's just best to leave it.

Propecia (or generic Finasteride) prevents further hair loss but it is not a growth stimulant. It doesn't "make" hair grow, it "allows" hair follicles that can still grow hair to grow hair. Rogaine (or generic Minoxidil) is a growth stimulant. It stimulates hair follicles that can still grow hair to grow hair.

I agree that Propecia seems to be working fine for Mr. jimbob1966. None of us know if he has any hair follicles that can be stimulated to start growing hair again. If he does, I doubt it is enough to make a difference based on what I can see in the photos he has shared with us. However, the only way to find out is to try.