Is there donor hair for 1 more HT?

Hi,
I (38 yrs)need some advice from u guys (incl. Dr.A).
2 HT’s (strips)-1st- 1700 fuht(strip) (dec’06-approx. count from pc monitor caln./extrapolation before cutting the donor area) and 2nd- 4100+ (3700 proper and rest put 2 FU’s in 1 cut-nov’07). 1st was in Bombay with Dr.S. Savant, Dr.Rajesh R, and another doc. Bad experience (never again). Relied on ndtv (google)-Dr. savant is supposed to be expert (he does not have the setup). He did not even transplant 1 hair.
2nd HT-Dr.A Poswal in Delhi. Quite happy. Will do with him again even thou’ there r other docs much cheaper than him in India.
Here r 5 photos from a friend’s nokia phone 3 months, 2days after the HT (taken by myself). Dr.A has some detail photos bef. operation-hope he comments here.
I am wondering if i should go for another transplant.
1.Do have i spare hair to go for another HT? (No body hair) . If yes, how many FU’s? (how many follicles are there at back and sides of my head approximately ? How many of these can be removed safely without jeopardising the look of the donor areas?)
2.My bald area is almost rectangular.If more strip is cut, won’t the bald area get wider?
This time i am not going to be limited by money…so no 2 grafts in 1 cut…

This info. may come in useful for a middle class indian guy, who has never been to N.Delhi (like me)
1.Can get accomodation with how water @Rs.300/day ;can bargain on price. (try east of Nizamuddin station-sarai kale khan area-don’t take a guest house v. near to rly. station…sound/sleep prob.). Can ask for hot water (bucket) if no running hot water. Horrible food here. Cross rly. station- take a bus to macdonalds,etc.
2.Spend max. on max. nos of grafts (and less on accomodation/travel). Ask Dr.A about max. grafts possible. If Dr.A increases nos. of grafts possible than what he told u on email and u have no credit card ,give him a cheque payable in Delhi for (extra amout) 1-2 days before the operation.I think he can easily do 5000-6000 grafts in a single session, even though i felt the placers/planters getting tired at the end of my operation. (wish i had gone for 5000).
3.3-4 days sufficient for stay in delhi.Dr.A crops the recipient area (unlike Dr. Rajesh R)- cap a must for atleast a month before u can go for a haircut to cut rest of hair to slightly more length than that in recipient area. I was comfortable removing the cap in public after 1 month, 20 days.
4.travel by rickshaw is exhorbitant .Take bus (v. cheap). 1st time-Get down at Nehru Place. 800m walk to clinic (which is on main road).
5.Insist (email) on Dr.A doing the HT (he does the cuts first-his assistants put the grafts in ).There are other docs in the clinic doing simultaneously other HT’s.
6.Dr.A applies antiseptic spray and a bandage (unlike Dr.RR). I also followed Dr.Bernstein of lightly washing (baby shampoo)/wetting hair (every 3/4 hrs) after 24 hrs(after bandage is removed) for 3 days-scabs fell off easily.
Regards
Ps.Don’t know if images will show correctly
[/img][/img][/img]

Looks pretty thick to me.

You havent shown the pics from back- from what I see you can easily get 3000 - 3500 FUEs

I am sorry my friend but this is what you look like after 5800 grafts?

» I am sorry my friend but this is what you look like after 5800 grafts?

Good point, you still look very bald. What’s your hair looked like before the 5800 grafts?







[/img][/img][/img]

Dear Bmaamba,
I just realigned the pictures for ease in viewing.

Thank you for taking time and effort to share your journey with other readers.

3 months is too early to plan next HT.
It is possible to get more FUSE/fue grafts from the scalp donor area. No strip FUHT. I would recommend 1500 to 2000 grafts.
However, as I said before, 3 month stage is too early for planning the next HT.
Let the hair grow. Your planned HT focussed on coverage instead of density alone. Therefore, the safe time for next session would be at the 1 year mark.
Where do you wish the future grafts to be placed?

Regards and best wishes,
Dr. A

Dr. Arvind where did you put the 4100grafts when you operated on him in Nov07?

Hi,
Thanks , guys/Dr.A.
the 1st HT:i don’t know if it was really 1700. Also, while removing the scabs, i pulled out a lot of grafts (did not read Dr.Bernstein’s advice)…my anxiety in having my friends not know about the HT. 10months-1 yr after the 1st HT, i could see my hairs falling (on the books …i was studying for an exam )…i think these were original hair (follicles shrunk i think). I also had infection on the grafts which soon went away after applying an ointment (which Dr.RR had prescribed).
Anyway, 2000-2500 grafts would be nice as i would like to patch atleast 1 area which can’t be seen in the photograph. Maybe (but not likely), i would go for 100 beard grafts…
Anyway, i am pretty happy with what i have right know.
I do not have any photo previous to my 1st HT. Maybe Dr.A can upload a photo taken before the 2nd HT.
Dr.A…these 4100 grafts …i assume they were split…just read Dr.Coles’s post yesterday about some splitting (he had used another word)
I suspect Dr.A used a lot of these grafts to repair the hairline…for my next HT, i do not want any more grafts for the hair line.

Regards

» Hi,
» Thanks , guys/Dr.A.
» the 1st HT:i don’t know if it was really 1700. Also, while removing the
» scabs, i pulled out a lot of grafts (did not read Dr.Bernstein’s
» advice)…my anxiety in having my friends not know about the HT.
» 10months-1 yr after the 1st HT, i could see my hairs falling (on the books
» …i was studying for an exam )…i think these were original hair
» (follicles shrunk i think). I also had infection on the grafts which soon
» went away after applying an ointment (which Dr.RR had prescribed).
» Anyway, 2000-2500 grafts would be nice as i would like to patch atleast
» 1 area which can’t be seen in the photograph. Maybe (but not likely), i
» would go for 100 beard grafts…
» Anyway, i am pretty happy with what i have right know.
» I do not have any photo previous to my 1st HT. Maybe Dr.A can upload a
» photo taken before the 2nd HT.
» Dr.A…these 4100 grafts …i assume they were split…just read
» Dr.Coles’s post yesterday about some splitting (he had used another word)
» I suspect Dr.A used a lot of these grafts to repair the
» hairline…for my next HT, i do not want any more grafts for the hair
» line.
»
» Regards

Dear Bmaamba,
I will locate some pre HT and during HT pictures (not showing your face, of course).

We never split grafts. That would be counter productive and of no benefit.
We do sometimes pair 1 hair grafts (when there are extras).

Regards,
Dr. A

» We never split grafts. That would be counter productive and of no
» benefit.
» We do sometimes pair 1 hair grafts (when there are extras).
»
» Regards,
» Dr. A

Dr. A, what does split grafts mean anyway?

I suspect you had shock loss after your 1st surgery.

»
» It is possible to get more FUSE/fue grafts from the scalp donor area. No
» strip FUHT. I would recommend 1500 to 2000 grafts.
» However, as I said before, 3 month stage is too early for planning the
» next HT.
» Let the hair grow. Your planned HT focussed on coverage instead of density
» alone. Therefore, the safe time for next session would be at the 1 year
» mark.
» Where do you wish the future grafts to be placed?

Hello Dr.A,
Wish u had said there is a chance for 1 more strip/FUHT (like Bob in above post who had a tri-closure (strip the 3rd time ,if i am not mistaken):slight_smile:
Fue cost makes me apprehensive…:frowning:
"Where do you wish the future grafts to be placed?"
Evenly placed, i guess after covering a small area on RHS.
"the safe time for next session would be at the 1 year
» mark."
If i decide to go for 1 last HT, would it be unwise after 9-10 months?

Regards

» »
» » It is possible to get more FUSE/fue grafts from the scalp donor area.
» No
» » strip FUHT. I would recommend 1500 to 2000 grafts.
» » However, as I said before, 3 month stage is too early for planning the
» » next HT.
» » Let the hair grow. Your planned HT focussed on coverage instead of
» density
» » alone. Therefore, the safe time for next session would be at the 1 year
» » mark.
» » Where do you wish the future grafts to be placed?
»
» Hello Dr.A,
» Wish u had said there is a chance for 1 more strip/FUHT (like
» Bob in above post who had a tri-closure (strip the 3rd time ,if i am not
» mistaken):slight_smile:
» Fue cost makes me apprehensive…:frowning:
» “Where do you wish the future grafts to be placed?”
» Evenly placed, i guess after covering a small area on RHS.
» “the safe time for next session would be at the 1 year
» » mark.”
» If i decide to go for 1 last HT, would it be unwise after 9-10 months?
»
» Regards

Dear bmaamba,
It is usually best to go for the next HT at 1 year mark in a case like yours.
It takes that much time, on average, for the hair to grow and mature.

Yes, we have performed strip after a patient already has had 5 previous strip surgeries at various clinics. (Example, the patient poster Hairwar).
http://www.hairsite.com/hair-loss/board_entry-id-21003.html

So, its not that another strip is impossible. However, given that you have already had 2 strips excised, I would not advise you to go in for another strip.

Reason - Everytime you get a strip excised it amounts to 1 to 2 cm wide scalp being excised from the safe donor area.
The safe donor area (if you look at Norwood 6 people in nature), is an, approximately, 6 cm wide horseshoe area on the sides and back of the scalp.

Multiple strips of 1 or 2 cms width may lead to an untenable future situation, should the patient progress in his hairloss process.

Therefore, my advise at this stage would be to wait and share your progress with readers on the forum. Take more time to decide your next hair transplant step.
Regards,
Dr. A

» » We never split grafts. That would be counter productive and of no
» » benefit.
» » We do sometimes pair 1 hair grafts (when there are extras).
» »
» » Regards,
» » Dr. A
»
» Dr. A, what does split grafts mean anyway?

Dear reiner,
Split grafts refers to when 2 or 3 or 4 hair grafts are cut to create 2 or more grafts out of 1.
Regards,
Dr. A

» » »
» » » It is possible to get more FUSE/fue grafts from the scalp donor area.
» » No
» » » strip FUHT. I would recommend 1500 to 2000 grafts.
» » » However, as I said before, 3 month stage is too early for planning
» the
» » » next HT.
» » » Let the hair grow. Your planned HT focussed on coverage instead of
» » density
» » » alone. Therefore, the safe time for next session would be at the 1
» year
» » » mark.
» » » Where do you wish the future grafts to be placed?
» »
» » Hello Dr.A,
» » Wish u had said there is a chance for 1 more strip/FUHT
» (like
» » Bob in above post who had a tri-closure (strip the 3rd time ,if i am
» not
» » mistaken):slight_smile:
» » Fue cost makes me apprehensive…:frowning:
» » “Where do you wish the future grafts to be placed?”
» » Evenly placed, i guess after covering a small area on RHS.
» » “the safe time for next session would be at the 1 year
» » » mark.”
» » If i decide to go for 1 last HT, would it be unwise after 9-10 months?
» »
» » Regards
»
» Dear bmaamba,
» It is usually best to go for the next HT at 1 year mark in a case like
» yours.
» It takes that much time, on average, for the hair to grow and mature.
»
» Yes, we have performed strip after a patient already has had 5 previous
» strip surgeries at various clinics. (Example, the patient poster
» Hairwar).
» http://www.hairsite.com/hair-loss/board_entry-id-21003.html
»
» So, its not that another strip is impossible. However, given that you have
» already had 2 strips excised, I would not advise you to go in for another
» strip.
»
» Reason - Everytime you get a strip excised it amounts to 1 to 2 cm wide
» scalp being excised from the safe donor area.
» The safe donor area (if you look at Norwood 6 people in nature), is an,
» approximately, 6 cm wide horseshoe area on the sides and back of the
» scalp.
»
» Multiple strips of 1 or 2 cms width may lead to an untenable future
» situation, should the patient progress in his hairloss process.
»
»
» Therefore, my advise at this stage would be to wait and share your
» progress with readers on the forum. Take more time to decide your next
» hair transplant step.
» Regards,
» Dr. A

Getting another HT would depend on your elasticity but if you can get it through strip you could get it through FUE.

» »
» » Dear bmaamba,
» » It is usually best to go for the next HT at 1 year mark in a case like
» » yours.
» » It takes that much time, on average, for the hair to grow and mature.
» »
» » Yes, we have performed strip after a patient already has had 5 previous
» » strip surgeries at various clinics. (Example, the patient poster
» » Hairwar).
» » http://www.hairsite.com/hair-loss/board_entry-id-21003.html
» »
» » So, its not that another strip is impossible. However, given that you
» have
» » already had 2 strips excised, I would not advise you to go in for
» another
» » strip.
» »
» » Reason - Everytime you get a strip excised it amounts to 1 to 2 cm wide
» » scalp being excised from the safe donor area.
» » The safe donor area (if you look at Norwood 6 people in nature), is an,
» » approximately, 6 cm wide horseshoe area on the sides and back of the
» » scalp.
» »
» » Multiple strips of 1 or 2 cms width may lead to an untenable future
» » situation, should the patient progress in his hairloss process.
» »
» »
» » Therefore, my advise at this stage would be to wait and share your
» » progress with readers on the forum. Take more time to decide your next
» » hair transplant step.
» » Regards,
» » Dr. A
»
» Getting another HT would depend on your elasticity but if you can get it
» through strip you could get it through FUE.

Dear JonnyE,
Donor elasticity is not the only factor.
If elasticity is sufficient, we still should not excise two, or three, 2 cm wide strips from a patient. What if he progresses to Norwood 6.
A Norwood 6 has just 6 cm wide horseshoe area of the permanent donor.
If all (or most) of that is excised, it will look odd. You cant have a person with hair in front and none in his traditional donor area.

Regards,
Dr. A

Hello,
Update after 6 months 10 days. Pics from friend’s nokia phone. No coconut oil/brylcreem applied. I usually apply brycreem (which contains wheat germ oil/aloe vera/jojoba)
Wish that i had more density at the top.
1.I think i have lost all my original hair in the front to whorl rectangular region.
2.Maybe some of transplanted hair have not taken “root”.
3.A few hairs to be transplanted in whorl area for next op.
4.A few guys have commented that i have lost hair after seeing my head from top while i was sitting.
5.Dr.A- what do u say to this-
My wish is to have min. 3000 FU’s for next HT, 3500 would be nice though.
Try a small strip-maybe u get 1500 FU’s ( i am willing to take the chance about N6 warning u gave in previous post) .
700-800 FU’s from beard area


400+400 FUSE(or is it fue) from area above my ears.
I hope u won’t reject the idea of a strip. Part of the reason is this: a little voice tells me in FUSE, there is going to be more damage to the roots while removing them as compared to strip procedure (whatever the doctors may say).

6.Guys/Dr.A, has a scientific study being done for:
a)Any ill effects of removing beard hair (like chances of recurring infections on face, etc).
b)Percentage of transplanted beard hair taking “root” in the scalp region…i had seen a photo by Dr.A showing area having 50 beard hairs…could not perceive that any beard (extra) hairs had grown in that specfied area as density was looking same.
7.I assume that black beard hair is better than white/grey beard hair (for transplantation) .
Dr.A, i don’t know if i will be doing the op. in Nov./Dec. as stock market crash has wiped me out :(. Though I am determined to recover my losses .
Regards

» Hi,
» I (38 yrs)need some advice from u guys (incl. Dr.A).
» 2 HT’s (strips)-1st- 1700 fuht(strip) (dec’06-approx. count from pc
» monitor caln./extrapolation before cutting the donor area) and 2nd- 4100+
» (3700 proper and rest put 2 FU’s in 1 cut-nov’07). 1st was in Bombay with
» Dr.S. Savant, Dr.Rajesh R, and another doc. Bad experience (never again).
» Relied on ndtv (google)-Dr. savant is supposed to be expert (he does not
» have the setup). He did not even transplant 1 hair.
» 2nd HT-Dr.A Poswal in Delhi. Quite happy. Will do with him again even
» thou’ there r other docs much cheaper than him in India.
» Here r 5 photos from a friend’s nokia phone 3 months, 2days after the
» HT (taken by myself). Dr.A has some detail photos bef. operation-hope he
» comments here.
» I am wondering if i should go for another transplant.
» 1.Do have i spare hair to go for another HT? (No body hair) . If yes, how
» many FU’s? (how many follicles are there at back and sides of my head
» approximately ? How many of these can be removed safely without
» jeopardising the look of the donor areas?)
» 2.My bald area is almost rectangular.If more strip is cut, won’t the bald
» area get wider?
» This time i am not going to be limited by money…so no 2 grafts in 1
» cut…
» <img src=“http://hairsite.com/hair-loss/[/img]

”>[/img][/img]

Hi bmaamba,

I see that your goals are to add more density to the top a some grafts in the crown (whorl area). You have not stated that are using maximal medical therapy (Finasteride,etc.) If you have a family history of major baldness then it may be advantageous for you to be on medication. A Norwood 6 could eventually become a Norwood 7 and the crown may widen.

5000 grafts strips grafts may not have provided the ideal coverage because of the size of the FUs. Your original Pre-op and Post-op photos of the 2nd procedure may help determine the coverage that you should expect.

I would enjoy presenting your case to Dr. Cole is you could please answer the following questions:

  1. What age did you hair loss begin?
  2. What medications are you currently taking?
  3. What is your complete family history of hair loss?

Best Regards,

CIT

Hi,
Thanks for replying.
Start of hair loss?-maybe 24-25yrs old (work stress,less sleep).
Family history-father had normal hair loss.But when he was 35-38 yrs old, he had full hair.
Medications-Finesteride twice a week.Saw palmetto thrice a week.
Dr.A i hope u respond.
Regards

» Hi,
» Thanks for replying.
» Start of hair loss?-maybe 24-25yrs old (work stress,less sleep).
» Family history-father had normal hair loss.But when he was 35-38 yrs old,
» he had full hair.
» Medications-Finesteride twice a week.Saw palmetto thrice a week.
» Dr.A i hope u respond.
» Regards

Hi bmaamba,

Could you post a photo similar to this one? It would help determine the amount of donor resource remaining. Seems like you may have even lost all of your pre-existing hair and just your transplanted hair is remaining. 5000 grafts is a considerable amount of FUs to be harvested.

3000 graft FUT donor