How big was my procedure?

[Beardybeardy]

I recently had a 950 graft procedure done to enhance my sideburns and temples.

The total graft count was: 400 double hair and 50 triple hair grafts. These were split.

I'm having some buyers remorse. I like to shave my hair to the bone. I have fair skin coarse hair. Will I have issues with scarring? Will people be able to tell especially in the donor area? Largest punch as 0.9mm.

My understanding is that only 450 extractions were done, so this should be considered an extremely small procedure right? My doc said it'll be undetectable and promised so. I'm feeling otherwise right now. I hope I wasn't lied to.

[mattj]

I'd be interested in seeing photos, if you feel able to share them.

You can consider this to be a 450 graft procedure, as that's the number of actual extractions from the donor area. That's a very small procedure by the standards of today, as well as in terms of how much possible scarring you might have at the donor site. It's impossible for me or anyone to say how visible the scarring will be as this depends upon factors unknown, such as the way your skin heals. It would be incorrect to say that the work will be undetectable as there will always be some kind of visible difference, even if it is very hard to see with the naked eye.

You don't say exactly how long it has been since the procedure, but if recent then it's too early to worry. It takes time for the result to grow in. If your main worry is how the donor area will look when shaved, then the small size of the procedure will work in your favour. So it's just a matter of waiting the appropriate time for your donor area to heal and then shaving it and seeing how it looks.

[Beardybeardy]

It's been five weeks since my procedure.

I'm not sure why no single hair grafts were extracted from the donor. Only double and triple hair grafts. Does that increase my risk of scarring or visible thinning in the donor?

[mattj]

Definitely too early to judge the actual result, although it's clear that this isn't your main concern. Your surgeon probably selected the double and triple hair follicles for extraction, as this is possible with FUE. This won't make a difference to the visibility of scarring or thinning in your donor area.

[Beardybeardy]

The final result is not my main concern, you're right. Im just really worried for my donor area right now.

If two and three hair grafts are "thicker" hairs, should they not leave more obvious gaps in the hair? Sorry for the questions. I just don't understand very well.

[Beardybeardy]

Also, at five weeks, is it safe to shave my donor area using clippers with no guard (a double zero)?

[mattj]

I would have thought that all grafts were extracted with the same size tool, so any scarring would be the same size regardless of how many hairs were in the follicular units.

[Beardybeardy]

Thanks Mattj

If you can PM me I will send over some photos. Please let me know if that works.

[mattj]

I would be happy to receive photos, but it doesn't look like the PM system is active.

[Beardybeardy]

I'm not sure why its not working mattj. Can I email you at the email in your signature?

[JoeTillman]

The PM system is not activated on this forum due to the ways it can be used that are less than ethical. You can contact Mattj through his published email address.

My opinion is that Matt is right, you can judge anything right now and I would urge you to not worry about something that hasn't happened yet. I know it is easier said than done but you're only wasting energy with worry. I think that if you went to a reputable clinic that understands proper donor extraction theory then you'll be fine. With good FUE it isn't so much the side of the extraction scar as it is the extraction pattern overall. If your 400 grafts were spread out properly then no one will know.

[Beardybeardy]

The PM system is not activated on this forum due to the ways it can be used that are less than ethical. You can contact Mattj through his published email address.

My opinion is that Matt is right, you can judge anything right now and I would urge you to not worry about something that hasn't happened yet. I know it is easier said than done but you're only wasting energy with worry. I think that if you went to a reputable clinic that understands proper donor extraction theory then you'll be fine. With good FUE it isn't so much the side of the extraction scar as it is the extraction pattern overall. If your 400 grafts were spread out properly then no one will know.

Thanks Joe for the reply.

Why can't I judge it at one-month post op? What changes in the course of the first year that would change how it looks?

Do the extraction sites contract or fade over time? Do dormant hairs grow in to fill those gaps?

My biggest concern is that I usually do a bald skin fade (skin shave at the bottom and fade up to a 2 at the top). I made this known to the doctor at the time (reputable and recommended by many) and he said that this will not be a concern. He said no scarring would be seen even with a cut like that.

When people say scarring is inevitable with FUE, are they saying that because in a technical sense, any breach of the skin will cause scarring (e.g. if I were to donate blood and a needle is inserted into my arm, that would technically leave a scar)?

Is that different from saying that there will be a "visible" scar present? It seems that everyone has said to me that if I shave down far enough, I'll see scarring. However, my doctor ensured me that I won't have that issue even with the hair cut that I've proposed to him.

[Beardybeardy]

The PM system is not activated on this forum due to the ways it can be used that are less than ethical. You can contact Mattj through his published email address.

My opinion is that Matt is right, you can judge anything right now and I would urge you to not worry about something that hasn't happened yet. I know it is easier said than done but you're only wasting energy with worry. I think that if you went to a reputable clinic that understands proper donor extraction theory then you'll be fine. With good FUE it isn't so much the side of the extraction scar as it is the extraction pattern overall. If your 400 grafts were spread out properly then no one will know.

Thanks Joe for the reply.

Why can't I judge it at one-month post op? What changes in the course of the first year that would change how it looks?

Do the extraction sites contract or fade over time? Do dormant hairs grow in to fill those gaps? I'm just curious because I'm imagining those 450 holes in my scalp...thats a lot. How can those not be visible to anyone once healed?

My biggest concern is that I usually do a bald skin fade (skin shave at the bottom and fade up to a 2 at the top). I made this known to the doctor at the time (reputable and recommended by many) and he said that this will not be a concern. He said no scarring would be seen even with a cut like that.

When people say scarring is inevitable with FUE, are they saying that because in a technical sense, any breach of the skin will cause scarring (e.g. if I were to donate blood and a needle is inserted into my arm, that would technically leave a scar)?

Is that different from saying that there will be a "visible" scar present? It seems that everyone has said to me that if I shave down far enough, I'll see scarring. However, my doctor ensured me that I won't have that issue even with the hair cut that I've proposed to him.

[JoeTillman]

Thanks Joe for the reply.

Why can't I judge it at one-month post op? What changes in the course of the first year that would change how it looks?

Do the extraction sites contract or fade over time? Do dormant hairs grow in to fill those gaps? I'm just curious because I'm imagining those 450 holes in my scalp...thats a lot. How can those not be visible to anyone once healed?

My biggest concern is that I usually do a bald skin fade (skin shave at the bottom and fade up to a 2 at the top). I made this known to the doctor at the time (reputable and recommended by many) and he said that this will not be a concern. He said no scarring would be seen even with a cut like that.

When people say scarring is inevitable with FUE, are they saying that because in a technical sense, any breach of the skin will cause scarring (e.g. if I were to donate blood and a needle is inserted into my arm, that would technically leave a scar)?

Is that different from saying that there will be a "visible" scar present? It seems that everyone has said to me that if I shave down far enough, I'll see scarring. However, my doctor ensured me that I won't have that issue even with the hair cut that I've proposed to him.

At one month you may be experiencing some donor shock. The tissue overall has to settle as it may have some inflammation from potential ingrown hairs and and yes, the extraction sites may reduce with time time.

Yes, technically speaking, you will have a scar for each and every extraction point. They will be visible if you shave to the skin but they can be easily hidden with even shorter cuts. The point is to have visible hair to break up the visual of the extraction points and if the extraction points are not in a small and well defined pattern, but rather are diffusely distributed over a large area, then they will be very VERY difficult to see.

The eye is drawn to patterns so that is why a wide distribution without obvious borders is the better way to go.

[Beardybeardy]

Thanks for the reply, Joe. I sent you an email with a few further questions. I hope you'll be able to answer them. Thanks!