These tranplants did help, but years later the crown area was still somewhat bald and the top center and frontal areas were still very thin. My doctor back then told me I did not have anymore donor hair to improve my areas any further. I reluctantly accepted this fact, and although my situation was improved as a result of the tranplants I never was really satisfied.
In late 2006 I discovered Dr. Sanusi Umar in Redondo Beach, California, and I started researching his work and procedues using his FUE techniques. I talked with one of Dr. Umar's patients and decided to consult him about my situation. I contacted Dr. Umar by telephone, and I advised him of my situtation and my past history with transplants. He told me that he indeed could get much more donor from me using his FUE techniques.
Dr. Umar advised me that as a result of my two prior scalp reduction surgeries the crown area of my head and some of the top center area were scarred. He told me that this scarred tissue was not the same as normal non-scarred tissue. And he said as a result, the yield I gain from having more tranplants could be less than optimal. I told him I understood that, but that I still wanted to try to improve my situation.
In February of 2007 I visited Dr. Umar for my first procedure which consisted of 3500 grafts using both scalp and body hair. My procedure was done over a 3 day period in which Dr. Umar worked very long and tedious on me being in the office from about 0800-2300 hours in the night only to begin once again the next morning at 0800.
Dr.Umar made me very comfortable, was very genuinely concerned about my situation as just one of his many individual patients. He bought me lunch which I ate on his ouside patio overlooking the ocean.
FUE-BHT:
Day I: Scalp Day I: 1631 grafts (Pubic= 1169; Head=462; ) All grafts were applied to the crown.
Day II: 1279grafts (Armpits=599; Head=680; ) All the grafts went to the middle portion)
DayIII: 827 grafts (Legs 597; Head=240) All grafts went to the front closing on the hairline
Donor area after procedure February 2007. The other scalp donor areas consisted of the other side and back of the head. I didn't take photos of those areas, but they looked the same as this side of the head. You can see the scars from the old style punch grafts, but they are not visible when the hair is grown out.
Receipient area after first surgery in February of 2007.
