James' Hair Loss Blog

A Little Update

blueshard — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 03:01:59 +0000

Well it has been a little over a year since I got my transplant procedure and my life has completely changed for the better. I used to be morbidly depressed about this condition and I haven’t been that way for a long time.

I receive around 2600 grafts.. I can’t remember the exact number. I only had work done on the hairline. I am happy with the results.

My current regime consists of Avodart 0.5 mg per day, Lasercomb every other day, Tea Tree Oil Shampoo and a bunch of supplements. I had side effects with Propecia (gyno) but for some reason these are not present with Avodart. Hasson and Wong have noticed that patients get fewer side effects on Avodart as compared to Propecia. Who really knows though, everyone is different.

Here are some pics of my Hairline presently. My camera is an older one so they are not great, but I think you will get the gist.

Before

After

3 1/2 Month Update

blueshard — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 02:17:06 +0000

Well, it has been approximately 3/12 months since I received my transplant. Hairs are coming in but I want more and I want it quicker! Anyway, I am back on Propecia. I was off it for about 6 months and my hair started shedding an insane amount. I got off it because of problems with gyno but I seem to be doing OK this time around on a lower dose and with some natural stuff like flax lignans (which helps with breast health). So I hope my hair up top improves over the next 6 months and thickens up on top, we will see. I posted some pics below. I know that they are not the best quality but I feel that you will get the idea of where I am at.

2 months post-op

blueshard — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 15:15:36 +0000

2 months post op, still have some redness. Hairs are beginning to poke through. Grow!!!!

4 Week Update

blueshard — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 20:04:41 +0000

It has been four weeks since I had my procedure with Dr. Rahal. The hair has shed but I have been noticing these little black hairs poking through in areas where I didn’t have hair before. I am not sure if I was just unaware of these hairs or if they are actually hairs growing from the hair transplant procedure.

My hair is fairly long right now and covers up my hairline where I had the procedure. It is just a waiting game right now for the hair growth to really kick in. I will post pics asap.

No Scabs

blueshard — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 02:13:11 +0000

Well, the scabs fell off and it looks soooo much better. I cannot tell you how wierd it is to look in the mirror and see a hairline. Here is a pic of my hairline at about two weeks post op. I also got my stiches out yesterday and will post pics of the scar tomarrow.

Swelling

blueshard — Mon, 22 May 2006 21:25:33 +0000

So here are some full face pictures of the swelling that I am experiencing. I am puttin my full face out there so you can see what may happen to you if you go through with this procedure. I believe that my swelling has been minimal and quite frankly I have gotten tons of good laughs out of it. The swelling in these pics in right between my eyes.

3 Days Post Op.

blueshard — Sat, 20 May 2006 18:20:36 +0000

Today marks three days post op for me. I still have some swelling but it not that bad. I am sick of sleeping at a 45 degree angle though! The vitamin E oil is also a little annoying but I am able to deal with it fine. I am actually going to hang out with a buddy of mine tonight and will be sporting a losely worn baseball cap. Everything still looks about the same as it did before but here are some more pics from different angles. The wet look is from the vitamin E oil.

I’m BAAACK!

blueshard — Fri, 19 May 2006 02:06:27 +0000

I wrote the following when I was on my way to the clinic and when I got there.

At the moment my mother and I are driving through New York. I have taken a break from driving and my mother has taken over control (obviously). At the moment, my mother and I are mainly concentrating on not getting lost along with listening to a Stephen King novel on tape. We went through extreme rain for most of the ride so far but it has calmed down so we are making better progress. I keep looking in the mirror at my hairline thinking about how there are going to be thousands of hairs in those bald spots and I just cannot believe it. I am not nervous about the actual surgery, what I am nervous about is the post-op swelling and possible discoloration in the face. Right now I just have to concentrate on getting to Canada. I will write more tonight when I get there.

Ok right now it is 1230 am and I just can’t sleep. I am way too nervous/excited to sleep. My mom is though! I can’t believe how many television channels are in French here! After a little surfing I found “Everybody Loves Raymond�? and settled with that. I was relieved to find that the Map Quest directions were accurate and we make it here on one tank of gas! Alright I am gonna try closing my eyes right now, I gotta be there for 730 am!!!!!!

I just got home from Canada. I was planning on writing right after the procedure but I was just too “out of it.�? I do have to say that Dr. Rahal and his staff were amazing. They were some of the friendliest people I have met in a long time. I told Dr. Rahal all of my concerns and he answered everyone of them. The procedure was probably from about 8:30/9:00 am until about 4 pm. I think that the hairline is at a really good location, not to low/not too high. The denisty is about 70 cm2 at the hairline and a little less behind the hairline. Check out the pics.

I leave tomorrow

blueshard — Mon, 15 May 2006 21:41:26 +0000

Well guys, I am leaving tomorrow morning!!!! I am nervous, excited, and just can’t wait to get this over with. Me and my mother (greatest woman in the world) have a stack of books on tape for the 7.5 hour ride. I will be gone for three days and I will update as soon as I get back. Wish me luck!!!

Waiting for Transplant

blueshard — Sat, 15 Apr 2006 04:15:23 +0000

Well, there is nothing really going on except for the fact that I need to get a blood test next and I have to fax it to the doctor to make sure everything looks good and I am healthy. It is crazy to think that in a month I may have thousands of hairs transplanted to the frontal part of my head. I have still been taking green tea, beta sis, and flax lignans along with MSM, a multi-vitamin, and Beta-Glucans. I was pleasantly surprised tonight when I washed out my dermatch after work and then saw some more prominent regrowth in my temples. It was just a nice thing to see, made me feel warm and cuddly inside haha.