I wasn't sure where to post this so here it is.
Yesterday I had hair transplant surgery and thought I'd share my experience in case someone might find it useful.
I chose a local doctor (Portland, Oregon) to do the surgery. She is very experienced, has worked with many trans clients and was lower in cost ($5500). She also charges a flat fee which made it quite economical.
Two weeks before the procedure I has the required bloodwork done and stopped taking things like aspirin that could increase bleeding.
I arrived at her office at 8:00 AM signed my life away, had a few before photos taken and had my new hairline drawn in. After a minor adjustment to the hairline we started.
After taken a couple of valium they shaved the donor area and administered a local anesthetic to the back of my scalp. I laid on my stomach and she removed the donor and sutured it up. The technicians began do cut the donor area into groups of 1 to 4 follicles. I was really surprised how thick the skin was. While the technicians were busy the front of my scalp was being numbed. This was more painful than the back but but too bad. Once I was numb the doctor made the tiny incisions to receive all of the grafts. it seemed like she just kept go on and on with the incisions. Once she was done the techs started inserting the single follicle grafts at the hairline. Once these were placed it was lunchtime. There was really no discomfort after the anesthetic was administered.
After lunch it was back to placing grafts. I watched a movie, listened to the conservation of the techs and just sat there. More anesthetic was given as needed.
After all the grafts were placed (over 1900) my head was bandaged and I was on my way home. By this time it was nearly 7:00 PM. The anesthetic was wearing off about the same time so I took a painkiller which didn't agree with me.
I didn't sleep well that night because I couldn't find a pain free position. This morning I returned to the doctors office to have the bandage removed and my hair washed. Everything looks good. The pain is less today and all from the donor area. Today consisted of placing ice packs on my forehead to prevent swelling and spaying a biotin solution on the grafts every half hour. At night I'm supposed to use olive oil then back to the biotin for one more day. After tomorrow it's olive oil spray three times at day until the scabs fall off.
Here is a photo of my hairline before.
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm6.static.flickr.com%2F5183%2F5791944445_a4cac397a9.jpg&hash=e98a5a936b6fec61ff9354e58cccc7ad3a84fab3)
and one immediately after
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm3.static.flickr.com%2F2328%2F5792503142_a3a83108b9.jpg&hash=267d4d73497c22de8f6f8f19f025fe9c267c9e2f)
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fm.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Fhannah_irene%2F5792503142%2Fsizes%2Fm%2F&hash=326f72298d9d591ae7c533eaec0d10c315b0e9e8)
Congratulations, Hannah!
You got a good price. And from what I can see your work looks good.
I am 2 1/2 weeks post op and my procedure was a lot the same. I never used olive oil though. Instead, I have some spray and shampoo by GrafCyte that contains copper peptides. I had to use the spray every hour, along with some soaking pads on the incisions twice a day for 4 days. It has a really concentrated treatment that stayed on for 40 minutes. My first procedure was in Guadalajara, Mexico and was much the same, but with really nothing applied. It took pretty well, We will see the difference.
You will find it is so wonderful to get the stitches out! You will be a lot more comfortable. The back of your head will likely be tender for some time, but the grafts will not be. Especially when the scabs fall off.
Do not be surprised if, when the hair grows in, you find yourself going back for some touch up work. That is what I did.
Best of luck!
Kristi
Hannah, THANK YOU for describing and photographing your extremely personal experience with hair transplant surgery. It sounds like your doctor charged you an EXCELLENT price for your surgery, and your photograph depicts an extremely good example of EXCELLENT surgery technique.
Good luck recovering, I hope you heal very quickly and well. Don't be worried when the transplanted hairs begin to fall out, that's completely normal due to the shock the follicles endure being transplanted. Many, but not all hairs will fall out, then all of them will regrow as naturally as if they'd been there your entire life. I'm certain that you, like Kristi will be very happy with your results in the next few months.
Wow, nice, seeing how the result is you must be really happy to have gotten this done!
Thanks everyone. It's encouraging to hear that it looks good, it looks like hamburger to me.
It seems like each doctor has their own post op care routine. I wonder if it really makes a difference. Of course at that price I'm not taking any chances.
I hope I don't have to go back though, I really can't afford it.
@JadeS The funny thing is I'm not really happy as much as satisfied that it has been corrected. I think that I'll be happy when I see it growing in.
Yep, I understand about not affording going back. I had to save my pennies for a long time for each procedure. Just remember, next time it will not be as many grafts or as expensive. You will just have to see how your hairline looks, and if it is thick enough everywhere. For me, my part was just too thin. So......back to saving pennies.
Unlike the first time, this time I did have some transplant shock, and that means I lost some existing hair. I know it will grow back but that is depressing. You don't seem to have to worry about that in the area where you had your transplants. I was just never that thin up there. But my hair is very fine so that makes it more of a challenge.
I haven't had any grafted hair fall out that I have seen. The first time they really never fell out for me either. That seems to be a hit or miss thing.
And as far as the post op routine, I have been comparing two very different ones. The second, with all of the copper peptide sprays and soaks and shampoos and low level laser, is definitely more comfortable on the scalp than the Mexican no-frills approach. But the proof of the pudding is in the eating.
Hope it all works well for you hunni.
Here is an update on my post op experience. The care routine was pretty easy since I had two days off and the weekend to recover. The donor area is the area that hurts the worst but it was never really that bad after the second days.
On Sunday I discovered that I was among the unfortunate 40 percent or so that has swelling. I metabolize the anesthetic quickly so they had to give me more of it. My forehead was swollen on Sunday, my upper eyelids on Monday and my lower eyelids today. Along with the swelling I'm developing black eyes. Hopefully this will be better on Friday for my job interview.
A photo for your amusement. The yellowish color is from the olive oil to keep the grafts moist.
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm3.static.flickr.com%2F2633%2F5808474057_9d5f805b5c.jpg&hash=7e89d765cf4b8fab932d601f1fd97cdc87aae792)
Hannah, the swelling is unpredictable. FWIW, the first time I swelled up a lot. The second, not one bit. But my doc also had me doing massages that pushed fluids to the side of my head instead of letting them drain down my face. I guess you are sleeping upright? That is so very important.
Kristi
The massages would have been good to know, oh well. I have been sleeping with my head elevated and used ice packs for the first few days. I was also given a cortisone shot which was supposed to help. I'm not complaining though, it is totally worth it.
It's been almost four months since I had my hair transplant done so I figured it was time for an update.
The swelling only lasted for a week but I did get comments at work.
The transplant area was quite pink after the scabs fell off so I wore a bandanna and later a hat to hide it and protect the area. I did get some transplant shock loss but nothing very noticeable. In the last month the discoloration has faded and new hair is growing in.
The overall experience was annoying but I'd do it again if I need to.
Here's a photo from today. In person hair is more noticeable.
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm7.static.flickr.com%2F6166%2F6186856269_1a3b4c3ae6.jpg&hash=d003c9dbfe7dff8059072c10ec5e2e12f1421bb6)
It's coming in very nicely, Hannah.
Be nice to those follicles!!
thats amazing. it must make you feel so good to see the hair growing. :) I cant imagine what your hairline must of done to you internally. I know the strangest things can cause me the most debilitating, emotional, pain I have ever felt, and likewise seeing them fixed makes me feel so ->-bleeped-<-ing good :)
Hey Hannah, how did you find your transplant doctor? I know there are lots of transplant docs in my area, and most of them are *willing* to do mtf hairlines, but it's tough to find information on doctors who actually have a lot of experience with trans patients and could claim a level of expertise in constructing a female hairline. Anyone here know of a good resource for this? Or can recommend a doctor? I live in Philadelphia. Willing to travel, but obviously it's nice if I don't have to.
Thanks!