Scar Grafting with Dr Cole

[VictimOfDHT]

Since I'm losing my hair again after my 6th HT, I'm considering cutting my hair very short but there's the scar problem of course. I don't think transplanting into the scar is an option for me -due to financial reasons and also the possibility they too won't grow- so I don't know what else to do. I thought about SMP but I'm not sure I want to keep going back forever..

The other thing I'm seriously thinking about is to get a regular large tattoo into the scar at the back of my head. Would that work? I've seen people with such tattoos and I've seen people with tattoos over scars on their bodies as a way to disguise them.

Can someone PLEASE comment on this. I feel my life is over. I'm going crazy not knowing how to continue with this hell I'm living. But I keep telling myself I'll just get a tattoo ....

I just need to mention that the scar in the back of my head doesn't seem to be too bad. It's not wide from what I can see but I'm not sure since it's always covered by my hair.

[DAVE52]

Are you willing and able to post some pics ?

[northeastguy]

Since I'm losing my hair again after my 6th HT, I'm considering cutting my hair very short but there's the scar problem of course. I don't think transplanting into the scar is an option for me -due to financial reasons and also the possibility they too won't grow- so I don't know what else to do. I thought about SMP but I'm not sure I want to keep going back forever..

The other thing I'm seriously thinking about is to get a regular large tattoo into the scar at the back of my head. Would that work? I've seen people with such tattoos and I've seen people with tattoos over scars on their bodies as a way to disguise them.

Can someone PLEASE comment on this. I feel my life is over. I'm going crazy not knowing how to continue with this hell I'm living. But I keep telling myself I'll just get a tattoo ....

I just need to mention that the scar in the back of my head doesn't seem to be too bad. It's not wide from what I can see but I'm not sure since it's always covered by my hair.

For starters start with the simplest approach. If you say your scar isn't that bad, go to a hairdresser and have her cut your hair short..then shorter. see how short you can go. you might like it and be able to live with it. Most don't even try this. If your scar isn't bad. you may get away with a 2 or 3 guard.... even a 4 guard looks good. So start there.

Post a few pics to let people give you options.

FUE into scars do work so that is an option. Find a MD that will work with your financial situation and has experience with scar grafting.

[Stevie R]

Love your passion Stevie. If most had your resolve while dealing with the repair process, the end result would at very least be a huge improvement.... hopefully enough to move on with their lives.
I concur, we can agree to disagree. I do have this challenge though. present us with clear, "hi-res", same lighting and angles of before and after photos at a true 0 guard and I will withdraw my opinion that one with strip scars can not achieve that goal.

For me, I have a very good before photo of me just prior to a 2 guard. I've attached that image below. I am looking forward to the same photo in 6 months or so after 3 procedures. If it looks great, I'll play around with a 1 guard...

Now I do believe that might limit those who have limited damage and flat white scars but it would still be great to see if it truly is achieved. I do think one intangible is that each persons opinion of what is perfect is going to be very different. Regardless, this will be fun to follow.

Have you thought of buzzing down to a 1 guard at this point? How many months are you post 2nd procedure? sometimes the best way to determine where you are in the repair process is to take the plunge and see what your dealing with...

Northeastguy, I had my hair at a 2 guard or 1 1/2 guard before I did anything at all and have a 2 guard right now...you know my case quite well and of course I know yours...I am almost positive that after the first pass I can cover my scar at a 1 guard...however as you know the redness for months after is a problem...like I said I am 2 months post op right now after my second. Daveone, the Mwamba case and Umar's video camera shot are all good enough evidence from me....though I agree it is tough and was in the same thinking say 8 moths ago...but like I said I have seen so many cases now that are near fixed and fixed at a 0 or 0.5... that, in combination with recell (than none of these guy s have done) and I think we may be talking in a couple years of it being a flux for guys with smallish scars to NOT get to a 0 guard...De Reys was confident that I would get a 0 guard...and it isn't like I badgered him on it or anything, I just asked how low I could go and he was extremely confident in telling me a 0 guard and that I would need nothing else, and if you look at the scar when the hairs are sitting in their 4 days post op...well I see no scar...It's okay though, like I said, for you it doesn't matter...and for me too really...I just want to achieve that for everyone else more than anything, to show people it can be done, I mean it isn't like I am promoting a doctor or procedure...if I thought the tattoo worked I would give it a go. Anyway, your helping a lot of people bro, and due to this thread it is likely lots will give it a go and may or may not get a 0 guard, but I see few if any regretting it as FUEing the scar no doubt makes the scar situation better.

[northeastguy]

I hope you don't get offended of I take what Dr Reys says with a grain of salt. Remember, at one time, these were the same people that told us "it will look 100% natural", "the scar will be as wide as a pencil line", and my all-time favorite "I'll be as wide as the creases in the palm of your hand". So until Dr Reys or anyone else can provide me or this forum with clear, hi-res, detailed, multiple angle images, I have to say getting to a 0 guard without any visibility of the scar is a very long shot if not impossible. I've said this before, I want people to set those goals. It holds the surgeon accountable and at the very least, drives them to be better surgeons.... and that's something we all benefit from.
If there is one thing I've learned is most of us and including me are our own worse enemies. since my repair process began, I've opened up and shared to more people about this than the 20 years I kept it a secret. Every single one of them including my hair dressers have said only I see what is going on back there. they do not see the same thing. Most say had I not brought it to their attention, they never would have known. I think its important that we also focus on rewiring the way we think. To be happing with the improvements we've made rather than those we didn't achieve.
Set your goals, be patient, follow through, but accept the improvements you make more valuable than those you didn't achieve.
I just can't tell people at this stage of the game that a 0 guard cut without the signs of scaring is a possibility. There are just to many variables. That's at no disrespect to you and your opinion. But what I will say is that with the right people in your corner, a realistic game plan, and patience, the results you do achieve will be life changing.

[Stevie R]

Ya I hear ya, and I agree on most of that. However, De Reys has a hi res photo at a 0.5 guard on the German sites as he is more popular their...alot of ity is just hard to find, like that one tattoo place in Italy that is easily the best one (not the Milena that did Spex but the other one if you remember???). I don't think it is in every angle though I was just showed on by a friend...But ya I hear ya and of course there is no hard feelings, we all have our own views, my views are constantly changing and evolving so maybe one day I will be more inclined to agree with you, but I would wager you would hope I am right on this one. No matter what your scar has taken a huge leap in appearance and you should be very happy, but it will only get better which is great news for you and everyone. I think it is also good we talked about this as well so people can see and make decisions on their own on what to expect and how to plan it, rather than just hearing from some doc...I hear ya on what De Reys said, however, I will say he is different than every other HT doc I have talked to (outside of Feriduni who also told me a 0 guard was very possible) in the huge discount he gave, the hotel he set me up in, doing it on his day off, inviting me into his home and so on...sometimes you just have a feeling for a guy that is telling you the truth, not that I believe that I will have a 0, but just the fact that these guys are saying it is a big statement to me, but I understand if your skeptical and if others are as well...you definitely have a right and a reason to be skeptical.

[northeastguy]

I believe you might be referring to these guys...

http://www.tonibelfatto.org/tricopigmentation.html

[Stevie R]

Ya that is it, I am just saying that the tattoooing their is by far the best and would blow many people away I think, in the same way I think that this is where the FUE into the scar technique is with many doctors, many just don't realize it yet cause they can't believe their eyes and need like you said a hi resolution photo from many different angles and so on. So ya if some guys are skeptical fine, but look at the leaps in the tattooing and FUE in the past 5 years, it is inevitably getting better from tattooing to FUE and even such things as recell...guys should feel pretty good about their options I'd say.

[VictimOfDHT]

Thanks for the reply, northeastguy. I was thinking to shave my hair off (0) not just cutting it really short but I know that would be impossible because of the scar. That's why I thought getting a regular tattoo to hide my scar might be my best option. To be honest, after 6 HTs and over $22000 I really don't want nothing to do with this industry. FUE isn't an option like I said because there's no way in hell I'm going to pay another $5000 or even more to just to hide my scar. And I don't have the resources to do it. I thought about SMP but I think I'd be butchered too if I get it since I'd have to keep going back forever.

I don't know. I'm living a real nightmare to which there's no end.

By the way, I didn't mean to hijack the thread but just wanted to ask here since you're talking about something relevant.

[Stevie R]

I do think their is an end to your nightmare dude, it may not be perfection but their is light at the end of the tunnel. I understadn where you are coming from though, I too was thinking the same thing awile back but I wouldn't do it now after doing the fue into the scar, hope you find some peace in all of this, northeastguy I am sure can give some great advice, you may wanna take a look at that tattoo place right above my prior post that he put up their.

[VictimOfDHT]

Thanks, stevie. Would you please tell me what options I have? I'm not sure if you meant I could do an FUE but if that's what you meant then like I said I don't think that's an option for me at this point if only because of the expense and the travelling needed, which I cannot afford any more as I'm hardly working now. Is there anything I can do other than actually getting a regular tattoo into the scar? What scares me more is if I shave my head would there be bumps where the transplants had been placed once?

[35YrsAfter]

Since I'm losing my hair again after my 6th HT, I'm considering cutting my hair very short but there's the scar problem of course. I don't think transplanting into the scar is an option for me -due to financial reasons and also the possibility they too won't grow- so I don't know what else to do. I thought about SMP but I'm not sure I want to keep going back forever..

The other thing I'm seriously thinking about is to get a regular large tattoo into the scar at the back of my head. Would that work? I've seen people with such tattoos and I've seen people with tattoos over scars on their bodies as a way to disguise them.

Can someone PLEASE comment on this. I feel my life is over. I'm going crazy not knowing how to continue with this hell I'm living. But I keep telling myself I'll just get a tattoo ....

I just need to mention that the scar in the back of my head doesn't seem to be too bad. It's not wide from what I can see but I'm not sure since it's always covered by my hair.

I know someone that never had hair transplant surgery, who shaved his head and had it tattooed all over. You can see his tattoo even when his hair is cut short.

Several months ago while waiting in line a Lowes, I noticed a guy in front of me with his girlfriend who had his strip scar tattooed. He wore his head shaved. Not SMP, but large wings like the Harley wings logo without the emblem over the top of the scar. I could still see the scar. It camouflaged it about 70%. I thought it was a rather bold solution to the strip scar issue.

35YrsAfter also posts as CITNews and works at Dr. Cole's office
forhair.com
Cole Hair Transplant
1070 Powers Place
Alpharetta, Georgia 30009
Phone 678-566-1011
email 35YrsAfter at chuck@forhair.com
The contents of my posts are my opinions and not medical advice
Please feel free to call or email me with any questions. Ask for Chuck

[Stevie R]

Thanks, stevie. Would you please tell me what options I have? I'm not sure if you meant I could do an FUE but if that's what you meant then like I said I don't think that's an option for me at this point if only because of the expense and the travelling needed, which I cannot afford any more as I'm hardly working now. Is there anything I can do other than actually getting a regular tattoo into the scar? What scares me more is if I shave my head would there be bumps where the transplants had been placed once?

I was just saying that I would say FUE into the scar is our best option but if you don't want to do it...but the second best bet would be that temp tattoo place that Northeastguy put up their but I am not sure I was just saying check it out...if you don't want to do the tat IDK, maybe Northeastguy can help as I was saying or someone else cause I am not too sure what other advice to give. Though if I had to give advice I would say wait until something more comes out of until you can get yourself up to do the FUE in the scar, as I think it is the best option and a necessity if we want to improve our scar situations.

[northeastguy]

Victum..... If you can post some photo's it would really help. Also, if your worried about any bumps, you'd be able to see them .... you don't need to have your hair short to see it. I still think your best solution right now is to go to a barber or stylist hand have them cut your hair short in stages. Start at a 5 guard, then a 4, then a 3. leave the top a little longer.... its the best way to find out where you stand in regards to the severity of the scar and still keep it hidden.

How wide is the scar? length? Again, if you can post a few photos of your current style it would help.

I would start putting away a little money each week and eventually you will have enough to graft that scar with FUE. SMP is a good complement to that but I wouldn't do it as your primary resource. Also, you can look into permanent SMP as well. Places Like HIS have a decent reputation. Only issue I have about them is the ink is permanent which can lead to a lot of issues.

save for FUE for now and in the meantime, test cut your hair and see how short you can go.... you may find peace in a shorter style.

[VictimOfDHT]

Thanks for the reply, northeastguy. Man, you're scaring the hell out of me now and I'm even more depressed and paranoid now that you told me the bumps are going to be visible. What the hell am I supposed to do now? So I'm f**ked and disfigured. I'm completely out of options. Whether I shave or accept baldness I'll still be left with visible bumps. I was worried about the scar but now I have this sh*t (bumps) too to worry about. My life really is over. I'll just live like a hermit, as if I weren't living as one already.