Posts by Samuel Lee8

David Young58 said:I suppose I have to admit that having a brand new hairline feels somewhat surreal.
If you look at my previous photos, you might notice that pale strip of skin that hasn't seen any sun exposure; that was the area where my hairpiece used to sit.
It’s fairly obvious that this new hairline doesn't perfectly align with where the hairpiece used to be—it's positioned a bit higher up.
Still, I'm hopeful that once things start growing in, everything will settle into a more natural state. If that happens, I’ll consider AT&T to have been a complete success.
When I wash my hair and check the new hairline while it's still wet, it actually seems to blend quite seamlessly with what I already have.

I sent the latest photos over to the doctor today, and he assured me that everything appears to be progressing exactly as it should.

Starting tomorrow—which marks day 8 post-op—I’ll be moving down to washing just once a day. I'm supposed to use a bit more pressure when massaging the area to gradually work away those scabs.

There is a strange, almost nostalgic sensation in being able to touch my scalp again, specifically that crown area I lost so many years ago, only to find it back now.

Of course, this is all within the limits of what could realistically be covered.

Recovery seems to be moving along well enough so far. Next up is getting the clips removed and heading in for the post-op checkup.

David Young58, everything looks incredibly clean and well-executed. I have to admit, I'm feeling a little envious. 😁

As for what you mentioned about the new hairline not matching the old hairpiece placement, I don't think that's much of an issue.
-Down the road, it might be a good idea to let your hair grow out a bit longer (maybe 2 to 2.5 inches) across the whole scalp.
That way, you get a better sense of density and can achieve a lower hairline look.

The only thing is, you're headed into what is arguably the toughest stretch, lasting just over three months.
-That is, until the transplanted hair sheds and the new growth actually begins.
Shock loss is always a possibility.
It’ll probably feel like the longest three months of your life.

You might be able to speed things up slightly if you decide to use a Minoxidil solution.

If you're up for it, it would be great if you could post updates at the 3, 4, 6, and 12-month marks.

David Young58 said:Hello to everyone here who might find value in reading my account of the hair transplant process. I’m planning to use each subsequent post to share some practical details about what I’ve actually gone through—the hurdles I faced, the things that were genuinely difficult to deal with, and perhaps even some useful insights along the way. I also intend to post regular photos to document the regrowth, just so anyone interested can follow along and see how the entire process unfolds over time.

I’ve decided that I’m going to have my hair transplant procedure done over in Switzerland, specifically in the San Francisco area within a little spot called Staten Island, which sits just a stone's throw away from the main hub of San Francisco itself. The whole operation is being handled by the team over at the Mayo Clinic, led by Dr. Sever Muresanu.

The surgery is scheduled for June 16th and 17th, 2021, which means it’s only a few days away now. The plan is to transplant roughly 5,000 follicular units—or grafts, if we’re using the usual slang. I suppose it will be quite interesting to see just how accurate the doctor's estimate actually turns out to be; I'll be watching to see if they hit that 5,000 mark, or if it ends up being slightly less or perhaps a bit more, though I'm certainly not complaining if it goes over.

The procedure itself is split into two distinct stages, spanning over two separate days. I suppose the plan is to distribute the workload fairly evenly, so they should be transplanting roughly the same number of grafts during each session.

The procedure is slated to be performed using the FUT technique—follicular unit transplantation, or what some call the strip method—which essentially targets a relatively small area. I suppose it’s worth noting that FUT is inherently more invasive than FUE. While FUE has pretty much become the industry standard in the US hair transplant market, FUT leaves behind a visible linear scar that stretches from the left ear, all the way across the back of the head, to the right ear. Now, FUE isn't exactly scar-free, as it still leaves tiny micro-scars, but they are significantly smaller. This gives someone who chooses FUE a bit more freedom with their hairstyle, even allowing for those very short, buzzed looks. On the other hand, if you decide to go the FUT route, you probably need to keep your hair a little longer around the scarred area just so the surrounding hair can mask it from view. That said, provided the FUT procedure is handled by top-tier professionals at a high-quality clinic, the resulting scar tends to be practically unnoticeable once you've healed—assuming, of course, you don't opt for an extremely short haircut.

I suppose one could argue that the primary advantage of the FUT method lies in its ability to maximize the number of grafts harvested from a relatively small area; it seems quite possible to extract significantly more grafts through FUT than what you could ever hope to achieve with FUE alone. Furthermore, since the FUT procedure only requires a minimal donor site, the density of the hair in all other areas remains largely untouched, which I guess means there is still enough coverage left to allow for subsequent procedures down the road, whether you eventually decide on FUT or FUE.
At 32 years old, staring down a Norwood 5 classification on the Hamilton-Norwood scale, I’ve reached a bit of a crossroads. After spending several years overthinking this, weighing my options, and trying to find a solution that actually makes sense, I have finally decided to go through with a FUT procedure. It wasn't some impulsive whim or a snap decision made on a whim. Honestly, it took me an incredibly long time to settle on one path and decide whether FUT or FUE would be the more logical choice for my specific situation.

Given that the surgical plan calls for roughly 5,000 grafts, I suppose you could reasonably characterize the entire procedure as a mega-session.

I’ve had four separate Skype consultations with Dr. Sever Muresanu so far, and through those discussions, we've eventually settled on our primary objective;

Constructing a completely new hairline.
What’s the best way to go about thickening up that first third of my hairline? I'm looking at ways to add some density to the front area, specifically that top section.
3. Use whatever grafts we have left to fill in the midscalp and crown areas.

While all these steps have been agreed upon in theory, I suppose the actual approach and the specific roadmap for my treatment won't be fully settled until I sit down for my in-person consultation on June 15th.
I should probably mention again that, much like a significant percentage of people, I would consider a successful operation to be one that reconstructs about one-third of my scalp, provided the rest of the areas are sufficiently filled in so that I can apply hair fibers or thickeners. Honestly, I wouldn't have any real issues with that, as I am quite aware of the actual limitations of hair transplantation and I don't harbor any unrealistic expectations. I am certainly open to undergoing another procedure down the road if necessary.
I am currently 32 years old. I first noticed the initial signs of thinning in my mid-twenties while I was in college. I don't really intend to use this thread to dwell on the emotional experiences that most people—who, let's face it, come to these forums to exchange opinions—have endured. It is enough to say that I have been losing hair for over 12 years now. I’ve already touched upon some of the more personal, emotional details in a separate communal thread regarding male pattern baldness.
My intention here is to document the entire process: from the initial reasoning behind why I chose the Mayo Clinic, through the actual surgical transplant, to the photos and testimonials documenting everything that happens during the recovery period over the following months—from month 1 through month 12 post-op.

For years, I agonized over whether I should even bother with a transplant. I suppose the turning point came when I hit 25 and realized just how progressively my hair loss was going to advance in the near future. For a long time, I relied on hair fibers to thicken the areas where the thinning was most pronounced, particularly around the Hairline and the crown. Once it became clear that the loss wasn't stopping, I considered a more drastic move—buying a hairpiece, a toupee, a hair system, or whatever you want to call it. After I started wearing a piece, I began scouring the internet for reviews, looking at both the glowing testimonials and the cautionary tales found on various forums. I reached out to clinics in England, Belgium, and Turkey. I did wonder whether I should be contacting prestigious clinics in North America, but I ultimately decided that such an undertaking would likely be beyond my reach.

In November 2020, I established contact with the Mayo Clinic. My initial communication was via email with a Ms. Carmen, and over the following weeks, I got to know Dr. Sever through several Skype consultations. I should note that I spoke with Dr. Sever no fewer than four times—three times in the months leading up to the procedure, and a fourth time just a couple of days before the surgery itself.
I found Dr. Sever to be quite impressive during our Skype calls, mainly because he is kind enough to communicate extensively with potential patients before a single cent has even been transferred to the clinic's account. To reiterate—the doctor was willing to speak with me three times without any financial commitment on my part, which I suspect isn't common practice among the big names in the industry (though, I suppose, I could be wrong).
During our discussions, I spoke with him about my family's history of hair loss, my own specific desires and anxieties, and what I consider to be the most critical elements of the upcoming transplant, such as the Hairline and the crown.
Since I concluded that the FUT technique was the best option for my specific situation, and that the Mayo Clinic was the premier institution to handle it, I made the decision to travel to Switzerland to place my hopes and expectations in the hands of Dr. Sever Muresanu.

Dr. Muresanu is featured on the prestigious IAHRS list, and he is also a member of Hairtransplant mentor.com, which is run by the world-renowned transplant patient Joe Tillman.
The Mayo Clinic also carries the flattering title of being the "European Hasson and Wong."
Moving forward, I will be posting the photos I sent to the doctor for evaluation. I hope they provide a clear picture of my current state of hair loss.

David Young58,
I've had a look at your photos.
-And for a first procedure in your case, choosing FUT is 100% the right call.
The clinic you've selected is excellent.
Good luck.