Hair transplant in a weird way

[Ruth Ruthless]

BHI have been slow to respond, but in preliminary emails they think based on the pictures I sent that I am actually a likely candidate...

...which would be such a radical change in status, where all the doctors I have seen so far said there is no hope for me.

We still have some more checking to do first and schedule a skype consult, but I am wondering if it's actually something that is physically possible to do and if the next challenge will be finding a way to pay for it...

[Debra]

Wow I didnt know about the flap thing.

I did hair transplants for my hairline (transferring from the back of the head) in 2014 and took my square hairline to rounded hairline and loved it. They grew very well. Density however is never as good.

I had FFS last year and now I'm planning on having hair transplants AGAIN from the back to fill in over the hairline scar.

I went to Dr. Gabel in Portland, Oregon. he's really good and well renowned.

The hair flap thing sounds interesting.....I wonder if Dr. Gabel has an opinion on it. I'd suggest contacting him too for another opinion maybe.

Good luck!

[reborn]

BHI have been slow to respond, but in preliminary emails they think based on the pictures I sent that I am actually a likely candidate...

...which would be such a radical change in status, where all the doctors I have seen so far said there is no hope for me.

We still have some more checking to do first and schedule a skype consult, but I am wondering if it's actually something that is physically possible to do and if the next challenge will be finding a way to pay for it...

You will be in extremely good hands. If they say it is possible, they will do their best. I am very excited for you. Please keep on posting about your experience

[Ruth Ruthless]

We had our Skype meeting. He said that due to my coronal incision from previous forehead surgery he cannot know via Skype if I am a flap candidate or not, I would have to come over there for a more thorough diagnosis.

[reborn]

We had our Skype meeting. He said that due to my coronal incision from previous forehead surgery he cannot know via Skype if I am a flap candidate or not, I would have to come over there for a more thorough diagnosis.

That sounds very bad. I guess it has to do with the vascularization of the previously lifted flap for the forehead surgery. How long do you have to wait for the surgery? What is the price? Is it in your price range?

[Ruth Ruthless]

That sounds very bad. I guess it has to do with the vascularization of the previously lifted flap for the forehead surgery. How long do you have to wait for the surgery? What is the price? Is it in your price range?

Which surgery? I already had forehead surgery a year and a half ago which the coronal incision he says might prevent doing a flap.

As for the flap, he said he can't say for sure unless I come there for a physical diagnosis. They didn't give any price, just said he can't give a diagnosis. I'm not inclined to save a ton of money just to come over there and find out I am not a candidate.

[Ruth Ruthless]

I asked them to give me a target price to strive for and they said they need to see me physically first before they can give me a price.

I tried to explain to them that I don't want to lose the money from making a trip and not having enough for the procedure if the answer is positive that I am a flap candidate.

[Dena]

Ask for a best case, worst case price. That will give you a range to shoot for and if you have a little extra, it will cover any surprises. Hopefully the best case would happen and you would have saving for latter in life.

[reborn]

There are many doctors performing the same procedure around the world. You should ask other doctors also

[Ruth Ruthless]

To be honest, I'm losing motivation to go for this procedure, having read this. The high cost together with high risk, especially if I go for someone else... I guess I will have to wait for new technology, and make do with hats and wigs for now.

http://www.plasticsurgerypractice.com/2008/02/is-the-scalp-flap-procedure-really-safe/

According to Jeffrey Epstein, MD, FACS, board-certified facial plastic surgeon and hair-restoration surgeon, and a member of the International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons, many risks and complications are associated with scalp flap procedures, especially when they are performed by a surgeon without extensive experience. Some complications include partial or complete failure of the flap; visible scarring along the hairline or donor area; and most importantly, with further progression of hair loss, the risk of an unnatural appearance.

When asked which hair-restoration technique is the safest, Epstein says, "The gold-standard-microscopic follicular unit grafting in which as many as 8,000 hairs (3,500 grafts) can be transplanted in a single safe procedure."

[Angela Drakken]

To my limited understanding most hair transplant procedures for severe (almost seemingly hopeless) hair restorations are done over multiple sessions.

I see no reason why it couldnt be done with FUE or FUT over say 3 sessions grafting 8000 at a time.

It all depends on how confident the surgeon is.
I know a lot of the american and Canadian ones boast that they can do this. Ive seen day by day video blogs of men and women with what seemed like they were beyond the point of no return end up with a full head of hair over multiple sessions.

The other upside of spreading it out over time is it lowers the cost compared to trying something extreme.

*shrug.*

Sent from my LG-H812 using Tapatalk

[Rachel]

I went to Dr. Cooley in North Carolina USA (Carolina Dermatology Center). I have had the 2nd of 3 procedures.

Procedure 1 3500 grafts $12,000
Procedure 2 2500 grafts $9,000
Procedure 3 1100 grafts not done yet. May use 400 grafts for eye brows.

My GCS cost was $22,000 and BA 8,000 for comparison.

Procedure 1 gave good results. I had procedure 2 in September so it will take 5 months to get a good idea on how that will help. I was pretty bald on top. I am post op and have no T so no worries about losing any more hair.

Ruth, your face is very pretty.

[reborn]

To be honest, I'm losing motivation to go for this procedure, having read this. The high cost together with high risk, especially if I go for someone else... I guess I will have to wait for new technology, and make do with hats and wigs for now.

http://www.plasticsurgerypractice.com/2008/02/is-the-scalp-flap-procedure-really-safe/

I have been Dr Mayer's patient and I can tell you first hand that he is an extremely good doctor. I would trust him that he will do the procedure right. Maybe the high risk of flap necrosis is the reason he wants to see you in person. I am sure that if he accepts you as a patient you will end up being happy. I wish you the best of luck