2200 grafts FUT Dr. Pistone 8/8/13

[Rav Chase]

Today is exactly 3 weeks from the day of the transplant.

Things have been pretty stable the past week. I attended a wedding last weekend and it was pretty much perfect timing because the scabs had all long since healed and the transplanted hair hadn't yet fallen out, so my Toppik-assisted head looked better than ever.

My scalp has generally felt tight and I feel like whenever I lean my head forward, I'm stretching the scar. A slight bit painful at times. Also either the hangovers this past weekend had an exponential effect on the pain, or vice versa. Either way, haven't needed a Tylenol in a few days, so generally things have been good.

While I haven't noticed the small transplanted hairs falling out, there are clearly fewer than there were a week ago, so I'm sure it's happening. You can still see alot of the tiny hairs when my hair is wet. He was able to get back pretty far. Looking forward to seeing them and their already-departed brothers again in a few months

The one pic is of my everyday appearance with Toppik. Intentionally taken without flash and those harsh bathroom lights.

You can see the scar if the hair is parted in a certain direction, for example if I lay down at the wrong angle. On the plus side, it's basically a white hairless thin line right now, no redness to speak of, and it doesn't itch or anything. My barber left the back of my head on the long side directly above the scar, and I can see why. He said we'll have to trim it down gradually to meet the sides, which he is able to cut short, and will eventually get there once the hair grows through the scar.

[DAVE52]

He said we'll have to trim it down gradually to meet the sides, which he is able to cut short, and will eventually get there once the hair grows through the scar.

[Rav Chase]

Sorry if that was confusing. The barber told me that if he cuts the back too short right now, the (hairless) scar will be visible. Once the hair grows through the trichophytic closure, he'll be able to shorten the hair on rest of the back of my head (namely, above it) so it blends in and looks natural.

[Rav Chase]

Dave52 - just checking out your posts - that is a pretty mild scar, especially considering you had it done 12 years ago. You hair is practically buzzed, and it's still only slightly visible. Not bad. I wasn't even anticipating being able to get close to that length at any point in the future. Hope mine turns out good as well.

[Rav Chase]

Today is exactly 5 weeks from the surgery. Haven't posted at all in the past 2 weeks because there's been nothing to report and, to be honest, I haven't thought about it much.

I had a wedding again last weekend and the sides and back had grown out too puffy, so I had my hair cut again, this time much shorter (about 3/4 inch in back). Donor line not even noticeable. I think if you're REALLY looking for it, in the right light, you can see the "line" of hair above the scar hanging over the hairless area (even though he cut it evenly). But no one is examining my head that closely. One thing I've noticed is that Toppik fibers bunch up around the donor line...it feels like there are scabs on there, but I just realized that's what it was when I went to take these pics. Left side of the donor scar is still on the pink side. The barber said I am growing some stubble in parts of the scar, which is why it might be itching more than it had been.

The top pretty much looks like it did before the surgery. If there's shock loss, I can't say it's noticeable. My hair didn't exactly look as good as it did with Toppik 2 weeks earlier when the transplanted hairs were still there, but no worse than it has for the past couple years. There are a bunch of red dots towards the front of my head. Have been present for a bout a week. A couple times there's been a drop of blood. They've generally healed and scabbed within a day or two, and now look like pimples.

[Rav Chase]

Things have been going well. Not much change. I feel like there's some stubble, because when I put on the Toppik, it feels like there's something it's clinging to in hairless temples. Maybe it's still the remnants of the transplant hair. Hopefully by the next time I'm on here I have more news to report. The pics below here from 10/8, exactly 2 months after surgery. I am getting a decent amount of acne on the left side of my head. Scar not visible unless you're really looking for it. Here my hair is wet, so you can kind see the line. It's still a little on the red side, but I can cut my hair pretty short. Last two pics are with Toppik - I'm glad I have it. Would look terrible if I had to go out with pimples all over my head.

[Rav Chase]

It's been three months now since the surgery. Starting to show some progress! I think I've officially graduated the "ugly duckling" stage which, aside from some acne & redness on one section, was practically non-existent. At this point I think I already look better than I did before the surgery. Given that the hair isn't supposed to START to grow until 3-4 months out, I'd say that's a pretty good sign.

Starting to see some fine growth in the receding temple area. It's almost like I can see a 5 o'clock shadow in the area where my new hairline will emerge. Was expecting more of a "stubbly" look at first but it seems like those transplanted hairs that didn't fall out after the operation are now growing longer. This is definitely better because it doesn't contrast badly with my longer native hair. There's likely some fine hair further back as well, but it just gives the appearance of thickness at this point, as opposed to looking like short hair under long hair. You can see some of the skin issues here - the big brown spot in the middle is a scab, and the pink spot on your right (my left) is a cluster of acne/small scabs.

As for the donor area, wearing my hair a little longer above the scar but it blends when combed (and not wet, like in the pics). Still a little pink and itchy, but not painful or annoying, and, most importantly, not visible.