Surgery Date: 11 November 2015 (age 29)
Total Hair: About 6,500 total hairs (36.673 square centimeter strip x 200 hairs per square centimeter) and removed previous FUT/strip scar
Note: When you remove the old scar, you will not receive as much hair from the strips
Method: FUT/strip
Purpose: Filled in weak areas of my temples, reinforced the frontal hairline and side temples, removed first FUT/strip scar that didn’t correctly heal

Below are pictures of my second hair transplant procedure on 11 November 2015.

I had 36.675 square centimeters of tissue moved that included my first FUT/strip scar.

The procedure lasted around 5 hours and was a very comfortable and relaxing experience. Throughout the surgery I was awake and talking and experienced very little pain or discomfort and was the only patient that day.

The second procedure was basically the same as my first time in 2014. I had my hairline lowered and straightened out and had my temporal peaks built out again. I opted to have the first scar removed with the new donor strips because the first scar didn’t correctly heal because of my intense weight training habits.

I opted to shave my head this time as the surgery goes faster and is easier for the surgeon to work with a clear path to place the grafts.

Pre-Consultation
These are pictures taken before my pre-surgery consultation that show my final result from my first procedure that moved 6,210 total hairs on 14 July 2014.

I had some thin areas in my temples that needed to be filled in and will have my old scar removed because it did not correctly heal.

Consultation
After the surgeon and I agree on which areas to address, I opt to shave the frontal third of my head. The surgery goes much faster when the surgeon has a clear path to place the new grafts.

In these pictures you can make out my original hairline and how much I had receded prior to my first surgery.

Pre-surgery preparation

Before my donor site and recipient areas are anesthetized, I take two valium to help me relax. The valium feels like a good buzz after you’ve had a few beers.

After a few stings and pinches, the anesthesia kicks in and I don’t feel a thing. Throughout the procedure I am awake and talking and am entertained via Netflix and snacks.

Removing the donor strips

Once my donor site is anesthetized, the surgeon uses a scalpel-like instrument to excise two strips, including my old scar, from the donor site in the back of my head. The donor site is then stitched together using one long plastic suture.

Due to the graphic nature of this surgery, I won’t show what it looks like when the donor strips are removed, but here is a good idea:

Dissecting the donor strips

Once the donor strips are removed and the donor site is stitched together, a team of technicians begin whittling the strips into individual follicular units.

My donor strips measured 36.675 square centimeters or slightly longer than a 12-inch ruler. The length of the donor strip multiplied by 200 hairs per square centimeter determines how much hair a patient can get in one procedure.

Because my two strips included my old scar, I did not get as much hair had I left the old scar in but I still got around 6,500 total hairs.

Creating the recipient sites

Once the technicians are finished dissecting the strips into grafts, the surgeon begins creating the recipient sites in my frontal hairline, temporal peaks, and vertex where the grafts will be placed.

A small hypodermic needle or blade is used to create the sites and because they are so small, there will be no noticeable scar. The sound and feeling of the surgeon creating the recipient sites feels like someone crunching a potato chip on your head.

Placing the grafts

Once all of the recipient sites are created, the surgeon and the technicians begin placing the grafts how your hair naturally grows making the surgery undetectable once all of the new hairs grow in.

One-hair micrografts are placed in the frontal hairline to create a soft, natural appearance while larger two- and three-hair grafts are placed behind the ones to create density.

 

Day 1 post-op
These pics were taken of me the following morning on 12 November 2015. The first night after your procedure is usually the most uncomfortable part but it gradually gets better.

The stitches were removed by my primary care physician 12 days after the surgery.

Once you have a second strip procedure, the sutures must stay in at least another two days to ensure the suture line properly heals.