Scar Grafting with Dr Cole

[northeastguy]

Hey all. I had the pleasure (except with the lidocaine injections) Of being with Dr Cole and his staff on Friday. Just a good group of people. We made a second pass with little over 200 grafts to the lower and upper scar. We again used only scalp grafts since I had enough donor on my sides to do so. All the grafts were soaked in an Acell solution and each donor site was injected with viscous Acell gell. This limits the solution from oozing out. We also treated the lower scar with steroid injections to see if we can settle it a little. I'll know more in time as the healing goes on. Plan is to see how this all blends and use beard grafts to even out the density.
All in all it was a small procedure but should result in more improvements. Far less involved compared to the first procedure.

35 yrs.... it was nice meeting you and enjoyed the conversations. I'm looking forward to seeing those videos. As I mentioned and Topcat would clearly agree..... people need to do their homework and research as many outcomes of FUE and Strip as they can. This is not something one should rush into. My philosophy is that anyone considering a transplant should do the Big 3 for 1 full year and during that time research what is best for them. This allows them to halt the balding process, possibly regrow or strengthen fine or lost hair and establish a better long term plan. Most importantly it prevents any rushed decisions.

pictures were taken in Dr Cole's office and include pre procedure 11 months ago at a #2 guard, 11 months post at a #2 guard. and 3 days post op of lower scar. No concealers or modifications done. just hi res images...

[gillenator]

NEGuy,

Congrats again on this latest procedure. The area looks very clean post-op and not traumatized. I like that it was not overly packed which will promote the yield overall.

Thanks again for the ongoing updates and pics. And as always, I wish you another great result and yield!

[Artista]

NE'Guy great photos,,i cant wait to see the progress!!

[Stevie R]

That's looks great bro, I don't think anyone would notice, I wouldn't notice unless you said "hey can you see my scars?" I think one more pass and you got a 1 guard, then it just comes down to recell or whatever skin treatment you do and if the white dotting blends in or not if you ever want a 0 guard. I know you don't so I would say your fixed already and it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy, I am happy for ya and thanks for the updates.

[Granastasis]

Nice work man.

[35YrsAfter]

Hey all. I had the pleasure (except with the lidocaine injections) Of being with Dr Cole and his staff on Friday. Just a good group of people. We made a second pass with little over 200 grafts to the lower and upper scar. We again used only scalp grafts since I had enough donor on my sides to do so. All the grafts were soaked in an Acell solution and each donor site was injected with viscous Acell gell. This limits the solution from oozing out. We also treated the lower scar with steroid injections to see if we can settle it a little. I'll know more in time as the healing goes on. Plan is to see how this all blends and use beard grafts to even out the density.
All in all it was a small procedure but should result in more improvements. Far less involved compared to the first procedure.

35 yrs.... it was nice meeting you and enjoyed the conversations. I'm looking forward to seeing those videos.

northeast guy:
I finished and uploaded the video today. You can see it HERE

-35YrsAfter works at Dr. Cole's office

[northeastguy]

came out pretty good ..... I don't have much to share at this point. All I can say is I healed extremely fast. Thanks to the non-shaven technique I was out in public with no hat 1 week later and there was no sign of anything done. All I needed was a tad bit of concealer on the sides where we took the grafts. My hair was extremely short and not really ideal for the non shaven technique but they worked with me. I'll post some detailed photos at month 3 and month 4 at a lower guard cut and see how things improved.
I also got a good effect from the steroid injections we did into the lower scar. I think the 4 month photos will display this area well since I fade my cut pretty short down there......
It is so great to be able to just enjoy this summer as apposed to last. I was in a hat all summer last year due to the size of the procedure we did, and electing to shave the entire head.

[jetfan11]

scar grafting

Ne Guy,

Congrats on all your progress. I am going to see Dr. Cole next moth about grafting my scar. Your case has given me hope. If you dont mind I had a couple of questions for you:

1)Were your scars completely flat or a bit raised?

2)How wide were your scars like how many millimeters?

3) Can you get to a 3 clip without it being noticeable?

Again thank you and I appreciate you sharing your story

[northeastguy]

Hey Jet...... Thanks. I'm looking forward to seeing how things look come October. Go to the first posting I made when I started this thread. I believe it has all my scar details. For the most part, my scars were 5mm wide. The top scar was pretty flat. the Bottom was slightly raised.....only on certain parts. We hit that area with a steroid injection in May and I have to say it made a difference. I'll have him hit the raised areas again next time I see him if its not to do any more grafting.
I tried going to a Number 3 clip once and my stylist said it looked good. However, I know what to look for and felt I was pushing it a bit.... I stick with a 4 right now. The photos on this page show me prior to anything at a 2 guard, then 11 months post 1 procedure at a 2 guard.
Be patient with this process. you will need at least 2 passes if your plan is to get down to a 1-2 or maybe 3 guard if your scars are as wide as mine were. Someone who is only dealing with a 2 mm wide scar is far more likely to reach that goal with one pass. Still, 2 is recommended. Trust me, 4 guard is a far better and cleaner look than a 6 guard that I was stuck with. Goal in October is to play around with a 2-3 guard.
My advise is to cut your hair down to your goal length the day of your procedure. it gives a clear goal and great before photos. your going to be shaven down after that anyway so why not.....unless you do the unshaven method then your going to need to keep it long.

For me my next pass my plan is to buzz my head with a 1 guard and have him hit all the decreased density areas and simply blend the scars and entire area with single hair beard grafts. I don't know how many it will take but I don't think many. Beard hair has a larger diameter than scalp hair so you actually get better coverage. I also need to address the "horses tail" effect I have from my bottom scar. there is a row of hairs that are actually growing upward...ya sucks. I didn't factor that into my original goals but I'm looking for near perfection so I may need to address it somehow. I'll be reaching out to him soon to start that dialogue.

sorry for the long post....

Get some photo's up here if you don't mind.... would love to get a look.

[jetfan11]

scars

Thanks for responding. I am all about the patience part and understand it may take 2 or 3 passes. I just hope it works on me. I kinda feel like its a bit of luck whether or not you can get hairs to grow out of your scars. I really hope I can.

My scar is mostly 5mm but as much as 7mm in some spots. Im almost flat all the way around and went from red to pink.

I have done 2 rounds of cortisone shots. Planning 2 more and the vbeam pulse dye laser. The derma place here in seattle has these guards to protect the laser from hitting the hairs around the scar and even have a buddy coming with to make sure they don't!

This crap is a nightmare. At least since my last surgery.

I never realized how being bald is not a big deal at all!!! Now I am having surgery to become bald.

Shoot I think I would look good bald.

Choices we make.......!

Anyway of talked to Dr Cole and hes been very cool to me. Im excited to flatten the rest of this damn scar and get process started.

[35YrsAfter]

Thanks for responding. I am all about the patience part and understand it may take 2 or 3 passes. I just hope it works on me. I kinda feel like its a bit of luck whether or not you can get hairs to grow out of your scars. I really hope I can.

My scar is mostly 5mm but as much as 7mm in some spots. Im almost flat all the way around and went from red to pink.

I have done 2 rounds of cortisone shots. Planning 2 more and the vbeam pulse dye laser. The derma place here in seattle has these guards to protect the laser from hitting the hairs around the scar and even have a buddy coming with to make sure they don't!

This crap is a nightmare. At least since my last surgery.

I never realized how being bald is not a big deal at all!!! Now I am having surgery to become bald.

Shoot I think I would look good bald.

Choices we make.......!

Anyway of talked to Dr Cole and hes been very cool to me. Im excited to flatten the rest of this damn scar and get process started.

Jetfan11:
Looking forward to meeting you when you come in. Scars can be frustrating to live with. I have quite a few myself. Gradually getting them fixed. I have the round shotgun scars scattered all over my donor. Strip scars are at least a straight shot, isolated to one area in the case of a single strip scar. Hair does grow in scars. I have seen the worst of donor hair in my case continue to grow in my scars. The worst of donor hair being leg and arm hair. The leg hair for me seems to grow better in the scars than it did on top of my head. That was before ACell, PRP and ATP were used.

35YrsAfter also posts as CITNews and works at Dr. Cole's office
Cole Hair Transplant
1070 Powers Place
Alpharetta, Georgia 30009
Phone 678-566-1011

[jetfan11]

scar grafting

35years,

I am looking forward to coming in as well!

Question. How flat do the scars have to be in order for grafts to take? I am getting there but def not entirely flat.

[35YrsAfter]

35years,

I am looking forward to coming in as well!

Question. How flat do the scars have to be in order for grafts to take? I am getting there but def not entirely flat.

Northeastguy had a slightly raised lower strip scar. The 11 month, first pass, post-op photo below shows what appears to be consistent growth. The upper scar was wider.

[northeastguy]

Another complication to strip surgury

I had noticed this issue in the shaved down photos from my first procedure but have not really noticed the effects of it till recent. I now cut this area as short as a #2 guard so it becomes more obvious. The angulation of the hair at the scar changes drastically the more procedures that are done. Dr Cole calls it Horses tail since it resembles the upward first then downward growth of the tail. It essentially causes the same effect as a cowlick where hair comes together at different angles.

For me this is aggravating since it is going to put me back in the chair yet one more time. The treatment is to remove the hairs and replace them at the proper angle. If I plan to cut my hair down to a 1 guard, I have no choice but to address it.

here is a photo of my lower scar. Notice the direction of the hairs at the bottom edge of the scar.

[35YrsAfter]

I had noticed this issue in the shaved down photos from my first procedure but have not really noticed the effects of it till recent. I now cut this area as short as a #2 guard so it becomes more obvious. The angulation of the hair at the scar changes drastically the more procedures that are done. Dr Cole calls it Horses tail since it resembles the upward first then downward growth of the tail. It essentially causes the same effect as a cowlick where hair comes together at different angles.

For me this is aggravating since it is going to put me back in the chair yet one more time. The treatment is to remove the hairs and replace them at the proper angle. If I plan to cut my hair down to a 1 guard, I have no choice but to address it.

here is a photo of my lower scar. Notice the direction of the hairs at the bottom edge of the scar.

Repair work can often take more work than expected. How is your lower scar? Does it feel less elevated?