I can post photos throughout the week, but I actually ended up getting more grafts than we had originally anticipated. Day 1, roughly 1000 grafts @ 2300 hairs, day 2, 1500 grafts @ 3300 hairs. (originally, we were thinking we'd get a total of 1500-2000 grafts). It was said that I may have upwards of ~4000 grafts for any future use as well (crown, density, etc.). used .7mm - .9mm punch, which, from my understanding, is pretty standard and just about as small as you can go these days.
I was diffuse thinning, with some decrease in hairline (roughly a NW3, with diffuse & some decrease in crown -- so maybe a NW3.5?). I did not opt for a very aggressive hairline correction -- a very slight addition there, but it was, for the most part, preventative (I'd say 30% corrective, 70% preventative from a hairline/level/etc-perspective, if that makes sense?). I wanted to set realistic expectations, not to do anything drastic, and to look forward to have a mature hairline that I can hopefully maintain in the future (I'm still "young", as I'm 30 years old). I didn't want anybody to know I've had a transplant, and so at this stage (where my hair is currently at), it seemed very appropriate to do. Also worth mentioning that I unfortunately cannot be on propecia due to severe sides (i was on it for 3.5 years and absolutely had to get off of it -- it was killing me).
The whole time I was thinking how much of a shame it is that I'm one of the unlucky ones who not only have male pattern baldness, but can also not use propecia (or RU58841, for that matter -- same sides). It was/is a very sad/shameful/embarrassed feeling, yet at the same time, happy/ecstatic that we have these options available to us today...strange mix that's not easy to even put into words. But, I know I'm not alone here on thinking this way here on these forums..
I had a whole range of emotions going into it -- partly me questioning my decision (does this make me vain? i know i want this, but what will others think?, will they find out? will i be embarrassed?, etc), but also very heavily concerned that people would know that I've had something done afterwards. I have off of work for the next 3-4 weeks, so I'm going to camp out and avoid mostly everyone until that point (until my hair on my sides/back grows back). I actually opted to NOT shave my entire head, which will help with not only covering up any redness in the short-term, but to also hopefully get my hair back to a presentable "I just had a shorter haircut on the sides" type of way....I'm hoping to get close to 1/2 inch of growth on the sides between now and 3 weeks from now so that I can blend the haircut nicely. Worried about shockloss (**crossing fingers**).
Overall impressions is that SMG was fantastic. After discussions with them for...gosh, a year and a half+, probably..I went with Dr. Paul Shapiro. Throughout the entire process, however, I had upwards of 10 people working like machines over the couple days -- Dr. Shapiro was obviously my main contact, he set a plan, made the incisions, walked me through things, etc. 2-3 others extracted from the donor site (Dr. Joe was leading this), 2-3 others worked to clean/split/etc the donor follicles, and then 3 others worked to place the bulbs themselves after Dr. Paul had made the incisions for transplant. It was really quite involved.
I felt very comfortable throughout... I actually fell asleep at 2 separate times during the procedure -- once during the extraction, and then on day 2 during the planting
. And it wasn't even the drugs -- I opted out of receiving any valium on the afternoon of day 2, as I was planning to travel (driving) later that night. Just an overall great environment & staff.
...not sure what the overall purpose/goal of my writing all of that here is, tbh. i just wanted to put it out there and to hopefully document this moving forward so that I can get any advice as i begin to heal. off-hand, any suggestions on what I can do to help my donor areas (sides/back) grow hair back faster this next month? I take B-complex, Niacin, & Biotin. Thinking about doubling my biotin dosage (currently 5,000 mcgs/day). Also thinking about using rogaine on the sides/back as well to help stimulate quicker growth once it heals over the next week or so.
I was diffuse thinning, with some decrease in hairline (roughly a NW3, with diffuse & some decrease in crown -- so maybe a NW3.5?). I did not opt for a very aggressive hairline correction -- a very slight addition there, but it was, for the most part, preventative (I'd say 30% corrective, 70% preventative from a hairline/level/etc-perspective, if that makes sense?). I wanted to set realistic expectations, not to do anything drastic, and to look forward to have a mature hairline that I can hopefully maintain in the future (I'm still "young", as I'm 30 years old). I didn't want anybody to know I've had a transplant, and so at this stage (where my hair is currently at), it seemed very appropriate to do. Also worth mentioning that I unfortunately cannot be on propecia due to severe sides (i was on it for 3.5 years and absolutely had to get off of it -- it was killing me).
The whole time I was thinking how much of a shame it is that I'm one of the unlucky ones who not only have male pattern baldness, but can also not use propecia (or RU58841, for that matter -- same sides). It was/is a very sad/shameful/embarrassed feeling, yet at the same time, happy/ecstatic that we have these options available to us today...strange mix that's not easy to even put into words. But, I know I'm not alone here on thinking this way here on these forums..
I had a whole range of emotions going into it -- partly me questioning my decision (does this make me vain? i know i want this, but what will others think?, will they find out? will i be embarrassed?, etc), but also very heavily concerned that people would know that I've had something done afterwards. I have off of work for the next 3-4 weeks, so I'm going to camp out and avoid mostly everyone until that point (until my hair on my sides/back grows back). I actually opted to NOT shave my entire head, which will help with not only covering up any redness in the short-term, but to also hopefully get my hair back to a presentable "I just had a shorter haircut on the sides" type of way....I'm hoping to get close to 1/2 inch of growth on the sides between now and 3 weeks from now so that I can blend the haircut nicely. Worried about shockloss (**crossing fingers**).
Overall impressions is that SMG was fantastic. After discussions with them for...gosh, a year and a half+, probably..I went with Dr. Paul Shapiro. Throughout the entire process, however, I had upwards of 10 people working like machines over the couple days -- Dr. Shapiro was obviously my main contact, he set a plan, made the incisions, walked me through things, etc. 2-3 others extracted from the donor site (Dr. Joe was leading this), 2-3 others worked to clean/split/etc the donor follicles, and then 3 others worked to place the bulbs themselves after Dr. Paul had made the incisions for transplant. It was really quite involved.
I felt very comfortable throughout... I actually fell asleep at 2 separate times during the procedure -- once during the extraction, and then on day 2 during the planting
. And it wasn't even the drugs -- I opted out of receiving any valium on the afternoon of day 2, as I was planning to travel (driving) later that night. Just an overall great environment & staff. ...not sure what the overall purpose/goal of my writing all of that here is, tbh. i just wanted to put it out there and to hopefully document this moving forward so that I can get any advice as i begin to heal. off-hand, any suggestions on what I can do to help my donor areas (sides/back) grow hair back faster this next month? I take B-complex, Niacin, & Biotin. Thinking about doubling my biotin dosage (currently 5,000 mcgs/day). Also thinking about using rogaine on the sides/back as well to help stimulate quicker growth once it heals over the next week or so.
