Realistic expectations from HT

[baldeagle24]

Gilleanator,

Thanks a ton for your detailed response.

1) The HT surgeon I am consulting comes with a very good reputation and is very experienced. Moreover, he was honest in his assessment, and never once forced me to get a procedure done immediately.

2) He did tell me that he recommends a second procedure with the same # of grafts a year later, but I will talk to him about the possibility of concentrating more grafts along the front.

Regarding propecia: I am extremely hesitant to take any drugs given their potential side-effects and I would need to think real hard before I go down that route.

3) I was actually referring to the scars in the transplanted area. I would need to go back to work the Monday after my procedure (with only the weekend in between) and was wondering if those scars would be visible given how I wear my hear. I can always use a hairloss concealer (I use Dermmatch occasionally), but not sure that is OK so soon after the HT.

Thanks again!

[gillenator]

Gilleanator,

Thanks a ton for your detailed response.

1) The HT surgeon I am consulting comes with a very good reputation and is very experienced. Moreover, he was honest in his assessment, and never once forced me to get a procedure done immediately.

2) He did tell me that he recommends a second procedure with the same # of grafts a year later, but I will talk to him about the possibility of concentrating more grafts along the front.

Regarding propecia: I am extremely hesitant to take any drugs given their potential side-effects and I would need to think real hard before I go down that route.

3) I was actually referring to the scars in the transplanted area. I would need to go back to work the Monday after my procedure (with only the weekend in between) and was wondering if those scars would be visible given how I wear my hear. I can always use a hairloss concealer (I use Dermmatch occasionally), but not sure that is OK so soon after the HT.

Thanks again!

Baldeagle,

You are very welcome my friend. I think we all are hesitant in taking any meds for our hair loss yet low dose finasteride is still the most effective hair loss drug on the market IMHO. Not everyone gets the dreaded side-effects and the only way to know for sure is to try. You can always cease taking it or have the dosage adjusted but still, it is a personal decision. If you do decide to try it, do so only under the direction and supervision of a licensed physician who is experienced in treating MPB. I still see guys purchase it online without ever consulting a physician.

Thank you for clarifying your recipient area scarring question. If the surgeon is competent, and you are a normal healer, then you should be just fine without visible scarring where the recipient sites were made. The instrumentation that is used by most HT surgeons are far less invasive than they were say five to seven years ago. Many are using custom-sized blades and the incision sites subsequently close up and heal very readily.

Very doubtful that you would need any cosmetic make-up after surgery because for most, the recipient area appears normal after 7-10 days post-op. Remember, there will be the crusting that lasts that long so anything that you can apply that will advance the rate of healing can be beneficial. And if you can style your hair a little differently or pull it in a different direction, you may be able to hide any signs of surgery.

Depending how much existing native hair that you have, some of that can be lost to temporary shock loss. But if you stick to the numbers that I previously quoted, the level of trauma should not be that great. Yet we all respond differently. Just because John Doe had so and so done and experienced this and that does not imply you will respond in the same way. The same is true for the meds we talked about.

Remember to ask about who cuts your grafts and their corresponding level of experience. Why? Because the chances of transection go way down if the tech is experienced and competent. But ask in a very transparent and sincere manner. Many docs will take you on a tour of the OR area where you can meet the staff and you might even get a bird's eye view of a live procedure.

Lastly, hiding the strip scar can be more subjective than it is defined. I have seen guys cut the length as long as 3/4 of an inch and the scar still shows. And some have cropped it as short as 1/4 inch and you cannot see it. It does somewhat depend on the density after the area is closed up and healed. So the more dense the zone is generally speaking, the shorter the length required. But let's throw a variable into the equation and say that there is lingering redness. Obviously more length would be needed to camouflage the area. Color contrast has a bearing on this as well. The more narrow it is, the easier it is to hide. This is why one inch average length would adequately hide most strip scars but only by personal trial will you know for sure.

Best of wishes to you my friend and keep us in the loop!