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@ Stevie.... It would be pushing it to go lower. After the second pass, I'm pretty sure I'll have a whole lot of options. Honestly, with a 4 guard right now, it looks pretty good. It's a nice clean look. No complaints here.
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Hey Northeastguy how's it all coming along, any more updates on lower lengths? How is the derma rolling coming? Does Dr. Cole give you a year after the fue grafting before you can laser the scar? I know you said that the lower scar was real red and that it may still be pinkish but how is the upper scar doing? Can you see the scar if you look at it with two mirrors and the hair held up? Have you and Cole decided when your next pass will be? How early into the FUE does Dr Cole think that derma rolling is okay as well as creams such as mederna and lemon juice (I hear lemon juice improves the scars flatness and plus it smells good lol)? I cannot remember did your fur hairs get dipped in ACELL before hand? Anyway look forward to hearing updates about your case and once you get that second pass it will be real interesting as I have just seen like two guys post pics of more than one pass.Comment
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Follow up visit with Dr Cole and Laser info
I had my follow-up visit with Dr Cole last week. He was happy with the growth and we discussed my goals and planned for a second pass. Looks like I'm going to need to tap into beard hair. I do have a good supply left on the sides of the head and we will be using that region as well. Seems as though I have no visible signs of scarring or thinning at all from the sides. After 5 strips and a large FUE session, I need and want to be carefully using any more of the back. Besides, I have a very good beard supply to tap into. I'm very comfortable using beard hair as long as it is blended with scalp hair. In this case, it should provide a very productive and cosmetically positive result.
Top scar looks fantastic and has blended well with the surrounding scalp. Bottom one is slightly raised. We are not sure why but it is what it is. However, Good news is my hair stylist mentioned to me today my scar looks much whiter than it did. it's hard to get a perspective looking at something every day as apposed to every couple weeks. it was a positive statement on her part so I guess the scar IS improving but taking it's time.
Over the last few months I've looked into options to assist in the healing of the scar with the ultimate goal to blend it better with the surrounding scalp. Cortisone is one option. However, I came across this info which leads me to think this might be a better and safer option...
Dr Seckel's comments on the last thread are most interesting.
... the biggest question I have is doing FUE first or Laser. Or do ONE pass with cortisone now, then FUE. I'm leaning toward FUE first to wrap that process up then use the Laser to blend the scar. My concern is Doing Laser and having the second session of FUE cause the same effect, thus needing to do laser all over again. I'd rather do the FUE first then wrap up once with Laser. BTW, yes the laser is very safe on the hair folicles.... the depth of the laser does not go deep enough to harm them. I have confirmed this with multiple MD's and waiting to get a response from Palomar themselves.
I was hoping to do the FUE session within the next month but My work schedule and personal commitments are preventing this. Looks like I'll wait a few and set something up in the summer.
Topcat and others who used beard donor.... how many days after the procedure would you say it was hard to tell anything in the beard area was done? Obviously, the concern is returning to work too soon and having people staring at my face wondering what the hell I did.Comment
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Speaking just for myself I felt very comfortable going out for dinner the next day after each procedure. This is with have a couple hundred beard grafts extracted each time but in a fairly concentrated area. Here is a picture after 3 days to me it looks perfectly fine but others may differ. Good luck and I'm sure you will be fine.
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That is unbelievible... worst case, a little concealer would do the trick if needed I suppose. a procedure on Friday should allow for a return on Monday I'm guessing.
Thanks for the info...Comment
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Nice finds Northeastguy, and good to hear all is well with your repair thus far. I am impressed by the palmor laser, however, I still think recell may be the better route as it replaces new skin.... but I am definitely looking into it and it is better than anything else out there it seems except for perhaps recell...but we'll see. I would do this first then recell if needed but the recell doc said that would be pointless... what is the cost of it? When you planning on doing the second session, 9 months or a year? What does Cole say about using the laser after surgery, how long should you wait? I don't think you will even be able to tell you will have beard in your scar though, can't wait to see some more pics from ya, thanks again for posting man.Comment
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Also Northeastguy what does Cole say about using the derma roller after the fue grafting, I mean is 4 months okay? Or 6 or should we wait more? Thanks again Northeastguy.
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I work at Dr. Cole's office and I just asked him about the derma roller. Dr. Cole sees a benefit in using it and the version available to the public can safely be used about a month after FUE. The derma roller version available to doctors has longer needles and can slice long hair. Dr. Cole prefers to use this version on patients with a shaved head.
-35YrsAfter works at Dr. Cole's officeComment
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Thanks for the info but just to be clear, you can use a derma roller over a strip scar that has been fue'd into just one month after?Comment
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You should ask your doctor just to be safe. Derma rollers come with needles of varying length. The common sizes are, .5mm, 1.0mm and 1.5mm. On another forum, a guy posted his results after using the derma roller and they were impressive. I want to give the derma roller a try myself. Dr. Cole told me that in his opinion, there is a definite benefit in doing these treatments. I think ACell and PRP derma-rolled could be very effective.
I don't know if I'm allowed to post a link to a competing forum, but if you search Google:
derma roller needle depth hair transplant strip scar
You should be able to find the forum post near the top of the search.
-35YrsAfter works at Dr. Cole's officeComment
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Hey thanks for the info but I think I have already seen the case your talking about, is his name on the internet LM? The thing is is that my fue doc doesn't know much about the roller I'm afraid so he said don't do it for a year in the hopes that I would not mess anything up...but Northeastguy has been doing it for awhile now and he is not at his year mark and it hasn't effected his negatively....I can wait it's just my scar is a little raised being only 3 months out and a little red and when I used the roller before for only a month I saw great results, but I will wait if it i a risk.Comment
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Scar graft
NE guy,
Congrats happy for you. I'm in same situation. I had 2 great transplants with Bosley and was thrilled. 3 months ago I went to a Dr Niedbalski in Seattle area and he completely butchered me. Lost 80% of my hair in frontal third most if not all were old grafts. I am praying for a hair miracle and shock loss recovery but I fear the worst.
In any event my scar is very visible raised and red. Can I still get grafts into a scar that is only say a year old and raised and red? Were your scar flat? stretched? Also what type of laser should be used so NOT to damage existing hair around the scar? I would probably go with Cole for sure.
Great results btw. I'm sure you'll look great with buzz and I hope to be in your shoes sooner then later.Comment
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Thanks for posting. Mind me asking, how did you live your life after this? did you always wear a hat? did you prefer getting the bald cut or letting the hair grow out a bit?Comment
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life
I'm not really living a life anymore. Have a very high profile job visisble job as well. I'm on the brink of nervous breakdown. I've gotten through last 3 months on sheer will. I use dermatch for my very visible scar toppiks for what's left of my hair and pray to God my hair grows back. From what I've read 3 months to 6 months would be the time if I see recovery much of it will happen. My only back up is to get beard hair or body hair put into the scar so I can cut my hair short with some shred of dignity.Comment
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I found myself in a similar place. My hair became very thin all over. I was taking an antihistamine for chronic hives that had many complaints in the forums by users experiencing hair loss. They believed their hair loss was caused by this antihistamine drug. I stopped using this medicine and began using Rogaine and my hair improved. Eight years later my hair looks at least twice as dense as it did.
After I read your post, I went down to the surgery area and asked Dr. Cole about your raised red scar. He suggested consulting with a local doctor regarding steroid injections. Once you have been able to improve the scar, you should have a consultation related to having the scar grafted into. Beard hair works very well for this when scalp donor is in short supply.
As far as the shock loss goes, it nearly always grows back in the recipient area. We had a patient in today who had a small area of permanent shock loss at the end of his strip scar. It was about an inch and a half long and a half inch high. May have been caused by restricted blood supply to the area when the scalp was pulled tight together after the strip was removed.
Again, in most cases the type of shock loss you have experienced grows back. Rogaine helps blood supply and so does exercise if appropriate for you. Don't expose your head to the sun, don't smoke cigarettes and avoid stress as much as possible. Recent studies show that coffee is beneficial to hair growth as well.
-35YrsAfter works at Dr. Cole's officeComment
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