Fixing my head?

RCB

In 1988, I had a HT when I was 20, by the same people that have created most of these horror stories that I have read on these forums . I was obviously to young to have one, but my insecurities ruled, and the doctors were more than ready to take the cash. I didn't have the benefit of the internet to research such a move. If I would have heard about even one of these horror stories, most of which are similar to much worse than mine. I would have been much more cautious about it.

I cant remember the number of grafts that I had, I think it was between 600 and 900. They are in my hairline on both sides of my head. They are pluggy looking and look like corn rows. Not as bad as some that I have seen. The transplanted hair is of a diff texture and has always really looked out of place. My natural hairline has receded and its getting much harder to hide it. I wear a hat ever day of the yr. fortunately I work outside, and for myself.

I was thinking that I would just like to do away with the transplanted hair and just go bald naturally. I am no longer insecure about it. What would be the best way of doing this? Laser or electrolysis? Can they do this with out knocking the rest of my hair out? What type of doctor do I need to see to have this done. I dent think I have much scarring where the grafts were inserted but the area is slightly raised or ridged. I am fortunate to not have a large strip scar in the back of my head. They took the donor hair from smaller areas scattered around on the back and sides of my head. I can still feel some of these areas but they aren't noticable. I have never shaved my head to see what they look like though.

Sorry about the rambling just looking for some input, and really dent know which way to turn. This was a very big mistake made by me in my youth. I just dont think doctors should touch guys that young,they are desperate and want to believe anything.

drcole

i agree with you that physicians should do their best to talk young patients out of doing hair transplant surgery. Today, they should also refrain from doing strip surgery on the young patient.

some physicians feel that laser hair removal and electrolysis both work on hair transplant grafts. i have not seen it work. i have very little faith in electrolysis. you could try a pass of laser hair removal bya a specialist in laser hair removal. where do you live? perhaps i can recomend someone. i do not think it will work for you, but it is worth trying. you may suceed only in making the hair finer. should it not work, the next option is a surgical corrective procedure where we FIT the grafts out. we have been very sucessful with this method.

laser hair removal will not help with raised areas or areas of altered pigmentation, but other forms of lasers can help with pigmented skin issues. some people feel that dermabrasion can help raised areas.

my experience is with FIT and FITing the grafts out. we thin them out in one to three passes. this works very well.

RCB

drcole

the raised area is from ridging most likely. when larger grafts have alot of hair and fat on them, this is actually volume. when you insert it into the skin, the skin will go upward. the volume has to go somewhere.

the way to treat volumetric expansion is to remove some of the grafts by FIT or to inject the area with cortisone. This will cause some fat atrophy and eliminate some of the volume. the risk is that the area will sink onto the scalp and you will get a depression. that would be a bad thing.

i have not seen bad scarring from FIT, but you can never say never in medicine. multiple treatments with lasers is going to be necessary. you may find it does not work in the end.

gary monheit is in birmingham. dow stough is in hot springs arkansas. these are probably the closest sources i know for laser removal.

thanks for your questions.

RCB

drcole

I do not blame you for taking your time and making a slow decision. it is very hard to get back on a horse once it has thrown you. A bad hair transplant is one of the most embarrassing and regretable events one can ever experience.

i am more than happy to take a look at you and give you some advice. i am always happy when that advice does not involve surgery.

RCB

forhair

RCP, it's not neccessary to come to Atlanta for a consult but it's better.
You can also fill the Virtual Consultation . This form the option to upload photographs that will be used by the doctors (good quality photos).