February 27, 2008

It goes without saying that Dr. Umar and I are very pleased with the results of my second procedure at only 4 1/2 months.

Unlike the first procedure, in my second procedure I did not not experience any inflammation or infection. Experiencing this in the first procedure combined with the fact that my area was scarred from previous scalp reductions resulted in less than optimal results.

Dr. Umar forewarned me about the possiblity of me not getting the optimal yield being that my crown area and top of my head were a scarred terrain due to previous scalp reductions, and I accepted that and decided to still go foward; however, neither of us could have predicted the abnormal infection and inflammation that I experienced after the first procedure that also contributed to a less than desirable yield.

With hair transplantation there are no guarantees, but with an experienced Doctor that has a track record of consistent and successful results, one can go into hair transplantation surgery feeling confident that odds of success are on his side.

My experience with Dr. Umar represents the perfect doctor-patient relationship. Dr. Umar has taken on many challenging cases in which patients heads were scarred due to prior surgeries- including mine. In my case, although it is certainly not the norm, myself and Dr. Umar were presented with the additional unforeseen issues of infection and inflammation after my first surgery.

Dr. Umar stayed in close contact with me throughout my situation. He had me return to his office right when I could and the when the time was right, and just as he told me in his office in July of 2007--he "made things right."

Dr. Umar's experience, consistent successful results, character, integrity, dignity, and dedication to his patients are unparrelled. Notice in these photos the swirl pattern in my crown area. Dr.Umar did an outstanding job in placing my grafts perfectly to re-create the natual swirl growth pattern. Absolutely perfect!


Setember 20, 2007 (before second procedure)


2-27-08


2-27-08


2-27-08


2-27-08

February 21, 2008

In these photographs taken on 2-21, 2007 which is 4 months and 2 weeks after my second procedure with Dr. Umar you continue to see more new grafts coming through the scalp. As previously mentioned, I take clear and up close pictures, and I take them in bright light. I take them at all different angles not just ones that make the photo look the best. This is the only way that one can get the most accurate and real representation of the growth and results. There is no attempt at trick photography, and there is no deception.

4 Month Mark: February 8, 2008

It has now been 4 months from my second procedure with Dr. Umar, and it goes without saying both myself and Dr. Umar are very elated at my progress thus far. These pictures clearly show the dramatic improvement that Dr. Umar has achieved for me. I am beginning to get very nice coverage with still more new sprouts coming through the scalp ever day. Because of the continued increase in coverage it is becoming more difficult to see the scalp and new sprouts from the photos.











Unlike many clinics, you can see that these, along with all of my photos are indicative of Dr. Umar's photographs that come from his office; they are clear, in bright light, up close, at varying true angles, and in no form or fashion attempt to deceive or distort the true results and progression of the results.

January 8, 2008: More 3 Month Photos

It has been right at 3 months from my second procedure with Dr. Umar, and I am already beginning to see very good results. Hair is growing in and if you look closely you can still see new sprouts beginning to come in though the surface of the scalp. I am continuing to apply minoxidil to the area. Dr. Umar and myself are still very pleased and anticipate even more new hair to begin coming in diring the next few months. We also expect to see the new hair that has already come in to continue to mature even more. Dr. Umar says that I have experienced very good results at only 3 months which gives both of us much optimism for continued growth and coverage.

3 Month Mark After Second Procedure

These photographs were on 1-7-2008 at the 3 month mark after the second procedure. If you go back and review the 3 month photo after the first procedure you can compare and will see a dramatic difference. Some of the hair that already existed is beginning to grow back in, and you can also see some of the finer blond hair growing in from some of the BHT that were performed in the first procedure. You can also see some new grafts placed during the second procedure beginning to protrude from the scalp.

Donor areas November 15, 2007

These are my donor areas. You can see that they have healed very nicely. You can also see that the scars from the previous mini plug transplants are beginning to be covered up by the hair growing out, and they will continue to dissappear as the hair grows in more.

November 15, 2007

More shedding has occurred now as is evident. Still progressing very nicely. No problems.

October 28, 2007

At this point there is no redness, no inflamation, and the red spot visible in the previous pictures is even gone as a result of Dr. Umar advising me to apply Bactroban cream on it. More shedding has occurred. Dr. Umar is still keeping in close contact with me, and we are both very pleased at how things are going.

October 23, 2007

Now you can see everything is still looking good. I am starting to shed a little more now. There is still a little red spot that I am putting Batroban cream on.

October 18, 2007

Now it has been about 7 days since the second procedure, and everything is still going very well. You can see that many of the scabs have come off. Although, I have shed a little it hasn'e been much. There is one little area that is red, and Dr. Umar has seen these photographs. He advised me to put some Bactroban cream on the area. At this point he is still pleased with the progress.

October 15, 2007

Things are still progressing very nicely with no abnormal infection or inflammation. You can see how nicely Dr. Umar placed the grafts in my crown and top center of my head. Dr. Umar is very pleased with the results thus far and so I am. There has been no shedding yet as you can see in the photographs. You can see that Dr. Umar placed many grafts this time too. I think the total number was around 1200. Dr. Umar has been calling me daily to check on my progress.

October 13, 2007

Dr. Umar advised me to send him pictures on a daily basis for the first few weeks as we were going to keep a VERY close watch on the situation. So far everything was going perfectly! I was healing very fast, and there was absolutely no signs whatsoever of any unusual or out of the norm inflammation. These pictures were taken only 2 days after the procedure! You can see how fast you heal as a result of Dr. Umar techniques!

You can also see my scars from the old style mini punch grafts on the back of my head. Fortunately, these are not visible when my hair is grown out. I will post some pictures later in which you can see that this is the case.

October 11, 2007: Second Procedure

October 11, 2007 was the day that myself and Dr. Umar met once again for my second procedure. We spoke briefly before we began and he gave me my medicines to help me relax. We began about 0800 and Dr.Umar meticulously and tediously worked on me until about 2300 hours with only an hour break for lunch. Just like during the first procedure Dr. Umar generously bought me a nice lunch in which I enjoyed on the patio of his office overlooking the ocean.

This procedure was completed in the one long day, but I did not return back home until two days after the procedure because I wanted to relax one day afterwards. I also wanted to be there one day afterwards in case I needed to go see Dr. Umar or had any problems.

Redondo Beach is very nice, and the next day I even felt good enough to go walking around as there are nice things to look at right in the area. That evening I walked across the road from the hotel to Joe's Crab Shack. It's a very nice place to eat in the area and it also overlooks the ocean.

Dr. Umar told me that since I experienced prolonged irritation and imflammation last time he was going to extend my antibiotics for even a better safety net.

Surgery II FUE:

Scalp 1200 grafts. Almost all were derived from my nape and around the ears, as well as a little bit form traditional donor area. All grafts were applied to the crown and middle portions.

September 20, 2007

The picture below was taken September 20, 2007 which was 7 1/2 months after my first procedure with Dr.Umar. My first procedure with Dr. Umar did improve my situation, but neither of us were totally satisfied.

The day I sent this photograph to Dr. Umar I received a call from him that afternoon. He asked me would my work schedule allow me to make another trip to see him the VERY next week! Fortunately I have a very flexible work schedule, and I told Dr. Umar that I could make the trip the following week.

We talked about our game plan for the second procedure before he transferred me to his assistant so that she could note the appointment. Dr. Sanusi Umar is a man of his word. It was time for me to make another visit to Dr. Umar to further improve my situation.

July 2007

In July of 2007 I contacted Dr. Umar via telephone and advised him that I was going to be visiting a friend of mine who lives in Los Angeles, and that my friend offered to take me to Redondo Beach if he had time to see me. Without hesitation Dr. Umar looked at his schedule and we agreed on a date and time. He was excited that I was making the unplanned trip and would get to visit him so that he further evaluate me in person 5 months after my first procedure with him.

I arrived at his office around noon and his assistant called him. Dr. Umar arrived shortly thereafter. I learned that Dr. Umar had worked on a patient long into the night before I arrived, and he didn't even get in the bed until 0600 of the morning I arrived. Nevertheless, Dr. Umar graciously met me and had a smile on his face.

Dr. Umar and I visited about 30 minutes while he evaluated my progress. All of the inflammation had cleared, and I did have some growth and improvement at the five month stage from the first procedure; however, it was not as much improvement as we had hoped for or would normally expect in most instances. Dr. Umar advised the unusually prolonged inflammation that I encountered may have contributed to the lack of growth in my crown and top of the head areas.

He advised me to continue to put minoxidil on my head and to give it another few months to see if more growth occurred. Dr. Umar then told me, "You do NOT worry. If in another few months we do not see a dramatic improvement I WILL MAKE IT RIGHT!"

I told Dr. Umar how much I appreciated him seeing me unexpectedly especially considering he had only had a few hours of sleep. I wasn't one bit surprised he did this, however. I knew from the beginning after talking to one of his prior patients, and from meeting and spending time with Dr. Umar, that he was a genuine man whose character, integrity, professionalism, and honor were hard to match.

3 Months After First Procedure

This is a 3 month photo. Since my first surgery Dr. Umar has had me on an extended period of antibiotics as a result of me experiencing abnormal extended bouts of inflammtion and infection.

Dr. Umar advised me to visit my local dermatalogist so that he could examine me. I did so and he confirmed that I had been experiencing inflammtion and areas of infection. He prescribed me Bactroban cream, and I consulted Dr. Umar to report the local dermatologist's findings. Dr. Umar approved the usage of the Bactroban cream, and it eventually cleared the infection.

Dr. Umar told me not to worry, and that at only 3 months since my procedure, it was way to early to access the results. Dr. Umar advised me to continue to apply minoxidil, and give it more time. He once again reminded me that the area was heavily scarred due to 2 prior scalp reductions and this could affect the yield.

March 22, 2007

These photos were taken in March of 2007 about 3 1/2 weeks after the first procedure. You can see where my surrounding hair has grown back quite a bit since the procedure. Although I did have some existing hair in my crown and top areas of my head, it is obvious that it was still bald for the most part--otherwise the visible bald areas would have obviously be filled in just as it is on the sides and the back.