HAIR TRANSPLANT FORUM

[swaynetrain]

Dr. Cole...its the Baltimore shuffle here. I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone for their assistance during my procedure (12/19 and 12/20) and I wanted to say that I am thrilled to have met everyone. My donor area is looking really nice on Day 1 Post Op and I am confident that it will be cleared up before I return to work. I used the hydrocortisone cream already (if you can believe that). I was very generous with it. Actually, I put some on the donor area as soon as I reached the airport, then again before I went to bed. This morning I cleaned everything up, took photos, put the remaining cream back on, and I'm going back to sleep shortly. I have more hydrocortisone cream here (not the same strength as yours) but I will use it. The recipient sites look good as well (still very red though). I've been using the Cycle spray religiously. The donor area looks so good that I may be able to use a baseball cap with limited detection by tomorrow. I can't wait to safely shave the recipient site (along with the rest of my head) with a razor. That will be something else (I must say). Should be interesting. I'm already thinking of my next feature...The Baltimore Shuffle: Part 2.

[eurostar]

swaynetrain, congrats man...that sounds like amazing experience and great healing.
Can you tell us more about your surgery? what norwood were you? how many grafts dod you get?
forhair or fitLock, can we get to see some photos of swaynetrain's surgery if he permits?

[swaynetrain]

I am a Norwood 5 and I received 1050 grafts. I've been shaving my head for 7-8 years now. Before I started shaving it, I had a strip of hair down the center with deep recession on both sides. The hair in the center has thinned significantly since I started shaving it. Trust me when I say that I reviewed all of my options and did all the research before selecting Dr. Cole. My plan is/was to have the procedure completed before returning to work for the holidays. The goal was to restore the strip that I had before I started shaving it AND shave it w/ a razor before returning to work...with no visible scars. I also sport an extremely short buzz at times as well so it will be nice to have a little more hair up there. But people at work know that I can grow some hair up top...they just don't realize how much. As a result, I should be able to do this very slowly without anyone noticing. That's why Dr. Cole called it the Baltimore Shuffle. I believe that Dr. Cole was my only option to achieve my goals (no detection at all). Also, my hair color is dirty blonde (Dr. Cole's staff had to dye it temporarily) in order for him to see it under microscope. My skin tone and hair color are a pretty close match so this should assist in making the new hair more undetectable as well. I have photos for Day 1 and Day 2. I will attach them. It looks like I have a case of the chicken pocks...tiny little red dots.

[eurostar]

looks good! the donor area is very clean and healed nicely for only 2 days post-op. keep posting more updates...
do you have a photo that shows your scalp prior to the procedure?

[swaynetrain]

Attached are photos of my scalp with (and without) the sketch that I provided during the consultation. The area inside the sketch (for the most part) has hair but it is either falling out or it is miniaturized (or both). Since my hair is blonde (and thinning) it is difficult to even see hair in certain areas because the camera light passes right thru it. But my initial consultation revealed that I probably have insufficient body hair to completely restore my hair (the crown in particular). Realizing this set-back, I re-evaluated my goals and figured I'd shoot for something that I thought Dr. Cole could do. Also, I thought that an in person review of my case would reveal what my real possibilities are. That's when I decided to shoot for a hair line that is consistent with how everyone remembers me before I picked up the razor. However, I don't really intend to let the hair grow (combing length) again until I am confident that I can achieve an attractive look with hair. Not sure when that will be but I'm OK with my bald self (for now). I'll just take it slow and accomplish my goals little by little. Baby steps as they say...

[swaynetrain]

The donor region is healing really well…this morning I shaved the back of my head (only) because my hair was hiding the marks. In the photos, you'll see why…its just a little pink. Before I go back to work, I have to see that the marks are gone before shaving it again. Shaving it didn't bother my head one bit on Day 3. By the time I go back to work it will be a light buzz and I'll decide if it can be shaved again. My only concern (at this point) is how red the recipient site is. I've seen photos of others who had less redness at this stage in the recipient site. I'm supposed to return to work on the 28th but I'm starting to doubt the success that “plan”. I might call out sick on Thursday (28th ) and Friday (29th ) since nothing will be going on at that time anyway. But that would give me 5 additional recovery days for clearing up the remaining scabs and then I could give my whole head a good clean shave. Whew! Its going to be tight. Should be interesting to see how this situation unfolds. There's nothing like a little HT drama. If the scabs and redness cleared up in time, everything would work out exactly the way I wanted. We put a little more hair in places where I already had it growing, restored my hairline to the way it was before I shaved it, then I shave it all off and no one is the wiser (except us of course). Incidentally, I have told no one about this (not even my family). One comment on pain after the FIT procedure…there was very little. There was just a little discomfort in the donor region when I applied the HairCycle post surgery gel. I'm hanging on to the pain pills for when the recipient sites start to itch to knock the edge off. Also, Hydrocodone makes me drowsy so that will help me go to sleep. I have started to shampoo the recipient site a little more aggressively (but not too much). There is still blood clots and crusts there. I'm going Christmas shopping today…I have one of those sports skull caps which will cover everything (including the pink marks in the donor region). Photos are below…

[swaynetrain]

As I was Christmas shopping last night, my head started itching. Reminded me of when you get too much sun and your skin itches before it peels. I scratched it lightly and lost a graft that was attached to a blood clot that was coming loose. I understand this is common but it didn't make me happy. I felt sorry for the little guy. I'll put him in jar as a momento for the HT experience. The donor area gel is nearly gone so I picked up some Neosporin. Also, I have Hydrocortisone cream which I will alternate. I washed my hair last night, sprayed the HairCycle biotin spray, took some drugs and went to sleep. Woke this morning, washed it again, took photos, then applied the remaining donor gel and sprayed the grafts again. Anyway, the donor area is improving remarkably well. Hard to believe this sort of recovery is possible. A few scabs have fallen off (but not many) so the recipient site (pretty much) looks the same but I do see a difference in the coloring. Its getting a brownish tint. Can't wait to safely shave the whole works. Anyway, its Christmas Eve. Merry Christmas (or Happy Holidays) whichever you prefer. More photos (below).

[swaynetrain]

I carefully washed my hair yesterday (several times actually) and the scabs are coming off now but the skin surface is a bumpy, crusty mess. Since I frequently have a cleanly shaven head, it was freaking me out last night. Also, my head was itching like crazy. I had to take one of those sleeping pills. From what I have read, this is all normal. The grafted skin isn't as red...the skin is starting to clear up a bit. Dr. Cole said no shaving the recipient site until around Day 8 (or so). Patience is really essential here. I cannot ruin my smooth head. At this point, it looks like I'll need those extra days off of work. The donor region improves day-by-day. I carefully shaved the donor region again last night. Looks like I will need a two day stubble in the donor area to cover the tiny indentations when I go back to work. I finished Christmas shopping yesterday and used a baseball cap and a jacket w/ a collar. I'll do the same when I visit with my family. Today's pictures are below:

[FITLocks]

Awesome photos bro. Donor is looking nice.

We appreciate your participation on this board. Your experience is a great help and learning tool for other patients!

[forhair]

Great healing!, the donor looks almost totally clean...very impressive for only 5 days post-op. You are going to go back to work and look like you never had any surgery.
Congrats!

PS: Do you permit us to post these photos on another forum?

[eurostar]

TheVoice, you took the words out of my mouth! can this super-healing to be expected with most patients?
This is just unbelievable....i have seen strip and other fue patients but nothing that come close to this.
after 5 days he almost looks normal, fitlock and forhair what are the reasons?

[FITLocks]

The first week of healing here really tells the tale of how graceful the FIT procedure can be.

If we look at the progression of the photos, we see that incision heal by primary intention and the wounds contract. Sometimes we hear people claiming that FIT incision can increase in size post op. We find that the opposite is true in all case we have see. That is, the extractions shrink in size immediately post op.

The nice donor contraction that Swaynetrain is experiencing is usual and should be expected with any FIT patient. It is the result of 1) typical healing and 2) FIT technology.

Aside from the small, near invisible incisions in the donor, Swaynetrain is also cosmetically benefiting from minimal scabbing on the back of his scalp. In other words, he does not have large scabs/crusts over the extracted area. Even when many scabs do form, it is not really an indication of poor healing and it is temporary. But it is great to see that this donor is nearly undetectable even this early on. Donor scabbing tends to go away a bit faster that the scabbing of the recipient any way. I suppose Swayne is doing well in part due to his physiology and in part due to the his application of the Hair Cycle products. We have noted that Hair Cycle Biotin Spray and Donor Gel are great aids in physical and cosmetic healing. One should expect scabs to dissolve faster when using HC post op.

[swaynetrain]

Day 6: Crusts and scabs are coming off at an insane pace
This is a long post but so much has happened. Its Day 6 Post Op (12/26/06) and our Christmas gathering was a challenge yesterday. It was a very rainy Christmas day in Baltimore so the weather justified a jacket and a baseball cap. My sister-in-law got a new camera and was taking photos like crazy. Remember…I have told no one about the HT surgery. Would she ask me to take the hat off? My nephew commented on my Ravens Superbowl hat (I know its an old hat)…would he take it off of my head jokingly? When we posed for photos, would one of my three brothers take off my hat for me? I averted each potential disaster. Whew! It all worked out. No one suspected a thing. Last night the scabs and flakes were popping off my grafts like a skilled bartender can easily pop beer bottle caps. It was nuts. Seriously, it is like an alien movie where something morphs into something else. The movie would be called “Alien Hair Graphs and the Men Who Love Them”. What is in that HairCycle biotin spray anyway? Woh! If I had to guess, I'd say that 15% had already fallen off, last night's washings removed another 50% and this morning another 20%. It was so freaky that I waited until noon to take photos because I was convinced the remainder of the scabs would come off in the next hair washing. Wow! What an instantaneous turn around! Incidentally, I have been rubbing very gently...can't have any pits on this dome. After the 3rd or 4th washing this morning, I decided to take photos. You can still see some crusts but I'm certain that most (if not all) will be gone by the end of the day. So…the suspense is killing me. Can I completely recover in 8 days AND shave my head before returning to work? Not sure but this is fun stuff. I haven't had this much excitement since my cab driver got locked up right in front of me…but that was last week and another story. I digress. I trimmed the grafted hair a bit with clippers. My observation is that the HairCycle biotin spray actually made those grafted hairs grow in their new location. I didn't expect that but that means they have taken root. If they have taken root and are growing safely then I should (in theory) be able to safely shave them shortly. Anyway, you can see the hair pretty clearly but the surrounding skin is really dirty. The old hair that was in the center was so miniaturized that the Hubble Space Telescope could barely find it. The new hair is strong, vibrant, and erect. What you see in the photos is new hair. Any shock loss is hair that was dying off anyway. Besides, I'm going to shave it again anyway so no harm no foul. Anyway, I scrubbed the crown hair behind the grafts with my finger nails and layers of dead skin and debris scrapped right off with it. I believe this tells me that when I shave the grafted area, it will take the dirty skin off too…leaving a clean shiny beautiful dome again. Looks like it will be a little pink though...have to cross that bridge when I get to it. Day 6 photos below.

[swaynetrain]

Forhair...if Dr. Cole wants to use my photos then he is welcome to them. Just no TV commercials...lol. But seriously, if I can assist him in any capacity, just say so. I have more photos (by-the-way) in folders designated for each day. I only posted certain ones. If Dr. Cole wants me to send him a CD with all of my photos, I would be happy to ablige.

[swaynetrain]

Day 7: All Scabs are gone
The scabs all disappeared last night. That was pretty amazing how they washed right off. Freaky. However, there is less excitement in this post. This is a roller coaster ride. In the photo there are a few marks but they are the skin that was under the scabs. The donor site is OK for concealment. The box marks are slightly visible but no big deal to me. There is an issue that I have noted several times regarding the recipient site where the discoloration exists. I took photos of my scalp before I shaved it. But I have to say...this is a buzz only situation for returning to work because the skin that was under the scabs has not healed completely. It is rough. Now...I do recall someone from Dr. Cole's office pointing out that I could probably do a buzz. This must be the reason. Everything is going extraordinarily well in the donor region (from a healing and concealment standpoint)...the discoloration in the recipient site is a small set-back for me. But it can't be all roses. Due to the fact that the scabs just came off last night and there is an issue with the color, I am thinking that I will probably need a few more days to recover before returning to work. Photos below.

[wassup]

Swaynetrain - your donor looks amazing especially after only a week. congrats!

[swaynetrain]

Wazzup...I really appreciate your kind words. I've seen your photos and things really worked out for you. My case is strange (perhaps its just me). I embrased my baldness years ago. Eight years ago, I had hair on a Friday and shaved it all off on Sunday night. A few thought I was crazy. I accepted it and was happy for many years with that look. At a time when everyone is shaving their heads, I (now) decide I want my hair back. I am bass ackwards for sure. This is going to be a difficult journey filled with ups and downs. It will be emotional and I'm already feeling the effects. But...I know I am in good hands and that consoles me. That's why I came here.