Post Hair Loss Questions and Get Answers

This question was  answered by Dr. Michael Beehner of Saratoga Springs, NY.  Dr. Beehner is one of our recommended hair restoration physicians. His professional answer is below.

I am planning to have a hair transplant in November this year.  Unfortunately, I can only take a week off of work post-surgery. In fact, my surgery is on a Tuesday and I return to work the following Monday. Roughly, how long does it take for the recipient area to heal and assume its natural look? By a natural look I mean one can go safely about doing his work without anyone having the slightest clue about the HT. The nature of my work does not allow me to wear a hat to the office. Any pointers on that would be great

There’s a big difference between how a patient looks one or two days after a hair transplant versus how he looks at 7-9 days. However, there are a number of factors to consider when deciding if one week is enough time before returning to work and having every person you bump into stare at your head and start asking questions about what happened.

Most follicular unit scabs have fallen off within the first week but there can be persistent, short stubby hairs just sitting in place. As has been already mentioned, there may also be a slight “pinkness” to both the recipient and donor sites. The issue of recipient sites looking pink is a very individual thing and varies from one patient to another. I find that the vast majority of men don’t have this after a couple of weeks but some of the fair-skinned men do keep it for a few months before it eventually fades.

From the initial consultation to the final stages of hair growth, the typical hair transplant patient will endure a roller coaster ride of discomfort, elation, concern, and eventual satisfaction.

Like anything else, one patient’s experience cannot accurately predict another’s.  Thus, discomfort during and after surgery, growth timelines, and patients’ feelings and reactions will all vary.  However, one thing is for sure: the surgical hair restoration journey takes a lot of patience, a dash of humor and a fairly sizeable collection of baseball caps.

In his post, What part of the HT process did you find most difficult?, forum member “gmonasco” asks those who have already taken control of their balding through hair restoration surgery to share the most difficult aspect of their post-hair transplant journey. Follow the link to add your input.

—-

David – aka TakingThePlunge
Assistant Publisher and Forum Co-Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Hair Loss Learning Center, the Hair Loss Q&A Blog, and the Hair Restoration Forum
Follow our community on Twitter
Watch hair transplant videos on YouTube

Technorati Tags: hair growth, hair transplant, hair restoration, balding

This question, from a member of our Hair Restoration Social Community and Discussion Forums, was answered by Coalition surgeons Dr. Scott Alexander and Dr. Glenn Charles:

I understand that good oxygen supply in the bloodstream is necessary for hair growth after hair transplant surgery. However, if a hair loss patient suffered from an occasional breathing disorder, would the lack of oxygen affect the post-operative growth?

If you have occasional breathing difficulties, this obviously should be checked out by your doctor to find out exactly what is causing this problem. As for hair growth, if you remain conscious, you are getting enough oxygen to keep your hair alive. This is not the cause of any hair loss or poor growth after a hair transplant procedure.

- Dr. Scott Alexander

Exposing yourself to low oxygen situations may cause additional stress to your whole body. This in turn could possibly make you experience hair loss at a faster rate. However, it would most likely only be a permanent problem if you were genetically inclined to have hair loss later in life. In other words, hair loss is almost always genetic. All the things you are exposed to and the stressful events probably only play a role in the rate at which the genetics express themselves. However, it is well documented that wounds do heal faster when exposed to high concentrations of oxygen.

- Dr. Glenn Charles

_______________
Blake Bloxham – aka Future_HT_Doc

Although there are various reasons for seeking hair transplant surgery, many individuals undergo restoration to appear younger, symmetrical, and more attractive. However, one could argue that attraction is not a universal ideal and the heightened sense of appeal after hair restoration is caused by increased confidence.

Could it be that a majority of compliments and post-operative glances arise from a patient’s new found self-confidence? It’s difficult to argue that hair transplantation allows many hair loss sufferers to feel better about themselves and achieve dramatic results, but it’s harder to conclude whether patients are transformed by the new appearance or new confidence.

Regardless, a new topic on the Hair Restoration Discussion Forums address this exact issue. Do you feel more attractive after your hair restoration surgery? What do you think causes this heightened sense of appeal? If you want to discuss these issues, feel free to participate in the thread Are You More Attractive Post Hair Transplant?

_______________
Blake Bloxham – aka Future_HT_Doc

Editorial Assistant and Forum Co-Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Hair Loss Learning Center, the Hair Loss Q&A Blog, and the Hair Restoration Forum

Follow our community on Twitter

Watch hair transplant videos on YouTube

Technorati Tags: hair transplant surgery, hair restoration, hair transplantation, hair loss sufferers, hair restoration surgery

This frequently asked question comes from a member of our Hair Restoration Forum and Social Community:

I recently underwent a follicular unit transplantation (FUT) procedure and was wondering how long I needed to wait before resuming my normal weight lifting routine? Are there certain exercises I need to avoid? Is there anyway to protect the hair transplant scar from stretching while working out?

Although this issue is frequently discussed on the Hair Restoration forums, many people have differing opinions on weight lifting after a hair transplant procedure. Of all the available explanations and suggestions, one of the clearest and informative replies comes from Coalition physician Dr. Robert M. Bernstein of New York:

You may perform normal daily activities for the next three days and moderate exercise for the next 14 days. After two weeks, you may resume your normal daily activities. Avoid direct trauma to the head for two weeks after the hair transplant procedure. Abstain from sexual intercourse and alcohol for THREE days following the procedure.

Exercise

Follicular Unit Transplantation (WOUND CLOSED WITH SUTURES OR STAPLES).

This question comes from a member of the Hair Restoration Forum and Social Community:

I recently underwent a hair transplant procedure and noticed the newly implanted follicular unit grafts began shedding after only 11 days post operative. Is this normal? How long does it regularly take for grafts to shed after hair transplant surgery?

On average, follicular unit grafts begin to shed 2 – 4 weeks after a hair restoration procedure and new hairs usually begin growing between months 3 – 5. Knowing this, it probably isn’t too extraordinary to begin shedding grafts at day 11 instead of day 14. Furthermore, implanted follicular units are normally anchored (or secured) between day 7 – 10, and, unless blood is seen when the grafts fall out, shedding between day 11 seems within the standard range.

Would you like to share your graft shedding experience? If so, feel free to visit our hair loss forum and interact in the topic Shedding After 11 Days?

_______________
Blake Bloxham – aka Future_HT_Doc

Editorial Assistant and Forum Co-Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Hair Loss Learning Center, the Hair Loss Q&A Blog, and the Hair Restoration Forum

Follow our community on Twitter

Watch hair transplant videos on YouTube

Technorati Tags: Hair Restoration, hair transplant, follicular unit grafts, hair transplant surgery, hair restoration procedure

This question was posed by a hair loss sufferer seeking hair loss help on our hair restoration forum and answered by Dr. Michael Beehner of Saratoga Springs, NY.  Dr. Beehner is one of our recommended hair restoration physicians. His professional answer is below.

My doctor told me that I will end up with a 1mm wide donor scar. But now, 70 days after my hair transplant surgery, my donor scar is at least 2mm wide. Will it take much longer to shrink or do I have to live with this 2mm scar?

A hair transplant scar doesn’t ordinarily get slimmer over time although, at 70 days post-op, I think it almost certainly is as wide as it’s going to be. What does happen over that first year is that the color of the donor scar goes from a pinkish hue to a white one similar to the surrounding scalp so that it is much less noticeable.

Because of the huge variance from one patient to the next as to the elasticity of the scalp, I would say your doctor went out on a limb promising you a 1mm or less wide donor scar. In my own practice, first time hair transplant patients end up with a 1mm or less scar probably 80% of the time. But, some of the others end up with 1.5, 2.0, or rarely 3mm. This latter happens in those with “hyper-elasticity” of the scalp. When we inject the tumescent fluid into the donor area prior to making the cut, we can often tell who is hyper-elastic and then plan the excision and post-op care to try and help the donor scar end up as narrow as possible. Ways to do this are the following:

I keep reading about shock loss – why does it happen? Does it all grow back? That has to be very depressing when the hair you think is going to grow falls out.

Hair is one of the fastest growing tissues in the body. You may have heard that hair has three stages of growth: anagen, catagen, and telogen. A simple way to look at it is that hair may be in the growing phase (anagen), transition phase (catagen) or resting/shedding phase (telogen). At any given time, most of one’s hairs are in the growing phase (80 to 90 percent) but some of one’s hairs are always shedding.

Any type of trauma can cause more of your hair to shift from the growing phase to the shedding phase. Emotional stress as well as poor nutrition, a high fever, etc. can all cause telogen effluvium or shock loss. The shock loss you are experiencing means that more of your hair is in the shedding phase, which is part of your hair’s natural life cycle.

The stress of hair transplant surgery put more of your hair into the resting phase and then shedding phase. Since this is a part of the hair’s normal life cycle most of it should come back. However, there may be some of your hair that was miniaturized and on its way out and that hair may not come back

This question comes from a member of the Hair Restoration Social Community and Discussion Forums:

I underwent a hair transplant procedure earlier this week and I was wondering how long I need to wait before using styling products? I’m returning to work soon, and need to know if I should wait before using gel and Toppik?

As hair restoration procedures become less invasive, hair loss suffers are able to resume regular activities at accelerated rates post-surgery. Part of this healing process involves continuing with normal hair styling regimens and routines. However, despite the fact that many patients are eager to begin styling their hair regularly, most are equally cautious when it comes to disturbing newly implanted follicular unit grafts.

Knowing this, it’s reasonable to conclude that once the new grafts are properly anchored, it’s safe to use styling products such as gel, mousse, sprays, and hair concealers. Since grafts are properly set between day 7 and 10 (with most experts agreeing that grafts are anchored by day 7), it’s safe to use styling products 7-10 days after hair transplant surgery (after 10 days if one wants to be cautious).

_______________
Blake Bloxham – aka Future_HT_Doc

Editorial Assistant and Forum Co-Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Hair Loss Learning Center, the Hair Loss Q&A Blog, and the Hair Restoration Forum

Follow our community on Twitter

Watch hair transplant videos on YouTube

Technorati Tags: hair transplant, Toppik, hair restoration, hair loss, follicular unit graft, hair concealers, hair transplant surgery

This hair loss question was answered by Dr. Glenn Charles of Florida who is a member of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians. His professional answer is below.

How long is it before you can go out in public without looking like you just had hair restoration surgery?

The time necessary for recovery after a hair transplant varies for each patient. I have many patients who are back to normal one week after the procedure. Others, because of very fair skin and a high degree of balding, have some prolonged redness that lasts for a few additional weeks and is hard to camouflage. It really depends on your skin type, how much hair you currently have, your hairstyle and the number and placement of the grafts during the hair transplant procedure.

Dr. Glenn Charles

—-

David – aka TakingThePlunge
Assistant Publisher and Forum Co-Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Hair Loss Learning Center, the Hair Loss Q&A Blog, and the Hair Restoration Forum
Follow our community on Twitter
Watch hair transplant videos on YouTube

Technorati Tags: hair restoration surgery, hair transplant, balding