10 weeks post-op with Bosley (please be kind)

**MiddleAgedFool** · 06-11-2010 01:12 PM

OK, my username says it all. No research and a decision purely out of emotion as sent me on a nosedive into despair. You'd think I should know better with playing with one’s health and treating that as a critical decision that requires the utmost care, but I fell into the marketing hype.

Anyway, I had thought about a transplant since I turned 39. I was gradually balding for a while heading to NW6. It didn't bother me as much until my co-dependent relationship was coming to an end. I was basically providing money and she was providing more reasons to keep running into debt. I started doing laser hair removal on my body since I had my mother's Arabic side body hair and my father's English fair skin and hair. I always felt I got the worst of it.

I went to Bosley 5 years ago, heard there pitch, and decided I didn't like the doctor. The relationship was continuing to fail and I for a while just forgot about my hair (oh how I wish it would have stayed that way). Anyway, last year after the end of the relationship was done, I decided I did want to do something and went back to Bosley. I actually liked the counselor and I didn't realize about using an independent (duh, Internet search). Anyway, I liked the new doc and scheduled a procedure for Mar 09.

The weekend before I went into panic about being cut and cancelled (yes, I have had smart moments). Well, I continued to get more lonely and depressed (still not able to move on from the codependence I guess) and thought maybe the hair will make it better. I realize I did this for the wrong reason and wrong mindset now. I was working out of the house with little people interaction and you guys know those mirrors start telling you things that aren't true like "your ugly, at least hair will give you a good feature", "your old now, you need to step up your game", etc. I found myself watching everybody's head on the street, the shape of bald heads. How some people looked cool, how older dudes were all blotchy when they got older. A mania of sorts looking back on it.

Anyway, I just got it into my head that now was the time to pull the trigger. I had been told to do 2,800 grafts by Bosley. I figured I could live with the scar since I felt I was scarred in some ways (oh my god, was I messed up). I am now 10 weeks Post-Op. Actually had the procedure in Boston office, but I was on a move to Atlanta to be at my client full-time and I had a three week window before the move. I had one final shot at exit when they talked about numbness for months, to which my knees went weak, I asked the doctor out, and he somehow convinced me that this is just what the lawyers say and that feeling would return, etc. Yeah, cake walk, right? Sign under mental duress and off we go to the cutting line.

Well, obviously, my work in Atlanta who knew me from frequent trips down there in the past, knew in an instant what happened. I somehow bought the bullshit that no one will know, but of course they will with a NW6 2,800 (actual 3,050 from Bosley info). Anyway, it has been an awful adjustment. I would be willing to live with it and my decision (I always believe you need to own mistakes to get over them) if the healing was better, but it just seems it isn't.

I just don't think I look like the pictures at this stage (now 10 weeks). Swelling has come down a lot, but there is a lot of obvious indents in my head. Some of them are pits which appear to be from a few bad sizes into my head, but still the rest is just not that smooth either. According to the doc in Boston, the micro instruments should heal very quickly. So, I went to the Atlanta office and was told my healing characteristics may be different.

Another thing is the left side of the donor is not healing as well as the right. Major shockloss (or may permanent, although the Atlanta office says it looks like effluvium). Just need some more info at this point. I have an appointment with Dr. Cole here next week to assess independently. Just want to know if this truly was a bad job, if it appears my healing make be at issue, etc.

What I wanted some help from this great resource is:
1) Does donor look right for 10 weeks?
2) Pictures of recipient are kind of tough to tell, but I have lot of little red spot in the holes. Does that mean now that the swelling has pretty well receded that they are in final healing mode? It just seems so much worse now that there is no swelling. I went from sunburned to my pasty skin color again but with all this red dotting and some pitting.
3) About how wide should a pit be for there to be a good chance it will fully heal? Most look like they will, but at least a dozen or so look like a pen tip could fit in.
4) Would effluvium still affect the donor at 10 weeks?
5) Would you have any questions specifically I should ask Dr. Cole when I get in?
6) Looking at my pre-Op, do you think it was negligent to operate on me since I told the Dr, I don't want to be on meds and just want basic coverage. All I said is do you think a ring will be around my head. He did tell me last year that my hair was fine.
7) Does the 5 days PostOp I posted look right? Also does it look like 3,000?
8) Am I f'ed without taking meds? I'd like a few more years of sex life.
9) Can one side of your head be tighter than the other and affect healing of scar. Seems like right at the bottom transition into the left side, I stpo seeing the white pencil line.

What I am preparing for after I heal is probably FUE into the scar. I was thinking one basic round start of next year. Then probably wait a few years to see of I need any other fill. I am willing to wait obviosuly to see if things improve, but am feeling like this may be a longer journey. Bosley did say if I was unhappy with the scar, they would do a free revision. but no way am I going to get cut again.

Maybe I am too early to panic, but I feel very much like this has gone bad.

Pre-Op (hair pretty long)