Tag Archives: suture line

Third Procedure: One Year Update (365 Days Post-Op)

If you would like to learn more about my story and how a hair transplant procedure can regrow your hair, feel free to email me or contact my patient educator Steve Cook at 305.416.8418 as well as steve@mcgrathmedical.com.

Hello everyone,

Today is Wednesday, January 17, 2018 and I am one year post-op from my Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) scar revision procedure.

I got my hair cut on Monday the 15th and I feel like I have the best haircut since October when I was at the 9 month mark. I got a 3.5-guard around the entire suture line with a 2-guard below the scar and had the temporal peaks, front, and top blended with scissors.

I’ve talked about how I’ve been stuck at a 3.5-guard around the scar and if I looked hard enough, I could see a very minute crease line on the left side of the back of my head. Because the left side of my scar is more visible than my right, I wonder if all of the grafts from this procedure have fully grown out.

In my experience, by 11 months post-op you basically know what you are going to get but it is true that you can sometimes get a 5 percent push after 12 months post-op. In December 2016 I had a huge ingrown hair on my right temporal peak.

To be honest, if this is the shortest I can go, I’m actually pretty happy with it.

Going in, I was told I would be able to cut the hair around my scar at a No.3 guard. Although I have to keep it a bit longer, this is honestly the shortest I care to go. Prior to my hair transplant surgeries, I never cut my hair shorter than a No.4 and I never did a fade style haircut. If I didn’t do it before my surgeries, I don’t really care to do it now so it’s not an issue for me.

For almost three years getting a haircut that would not show the scar gave me a great deal of anxiety. The good news is I don’t have to worry about anything anymore.

It’s incredible to think I have now completed three hair transplant surgeries and have done a blog post and video almost every month for the past three and a half years.

With how much I’ve learned from these experiences, I will do another video on a lessons learned/final thoughts that sums up my hair transplant experiences and what you need to consider if you’re looking to have your first procedure, corrective surgery, a touch up, or whatever.

I want to say thank you to Dr. McGrath and his staff. Dr. Dan is not only an excellent surgeon, but also a great man who puts his patients first. And I want to give a special thank you to my patient educator Steve Cook. Steve was one of the first people I talked to about hair transplants back in 2013 and his knowledge and leadership put me on the right path to restoring my hair.

Last but certainly not least, I want to thank all of my followers who have traversed this journey with me since 2014. I can’t tell you all how much it means to me that this platform has helped so many men and women with a resource on how to deal with their hair loss. To all of my followers and anyone out there looking to embark on their own follicular journey, I hope I’ve provided the best possible map. It’s been a privilege to share this journey with you all and as always if you ever need to reach me, I’ll be here to help you embark on your own follicular journey wherever it may take you.

It’s been a pleasure sharing this experience with you all.

All my best,
-Lance

Check out my YouTube channel for this month’s video.

Third Procedure: 9 Month Update (274 Days Post-Op)

Hello everyone,

Today is Wednesday, October 18, 2017 and I am now 9 months post-op from my Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) scar revision procedure.

Last Saturday, October 14, I decided to experiment with a 3.5-guard around the scar, a 2-guard below the scar, and had the top and front blended with scissors. To my delight, there was no noticeable crease line around my entire suture line!

I’m pretty sure I could have even cut it down to a 3-guard, but I will experiment with that next month and going forward up to one year post-op in January 2018.

In my previous experiences at 9 months post-op, I have often said if I do not get any more hair I am usually happy, but there is still plenty of growth to go.

On a side note, I’m noticing that I can’t get the temporal peaks cut at the same length as the back and sides of my scalp where the suture line is. The reason for this is because when Dr. Huebner did my two strip procedures, he created the temporal peaks with a lot of the multiple follicular units. Although it’s good that they create a very thick, dense look when they grow out, unfortunately when cut too short, my peaks look pluggy.

Once I reach one year post-op from this procedure, I might consider doing another FUE procedure to clean up my temporal peaks and soften up my hairline.

I know some people might say that I don’t need another surgery, and compared with what I looked like before my surgeries to what I look like now, I think most would be very happy with what I have.

But to be honest, I’m the one who wears this every day, I’m my own worst critic, and I want to make sure this is perfect.

Check back next month in November when I reach 10 months post-op.

All my best,
-Lance

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Third Procedure: 7 Month Update (222 Days Post-Op)

Hello everyone,

Today is Sunday, August 27, 2017 and I am now 7 months and 10 days post-op from my Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) scar revision procedure.

I am a bit behind on this month’s update because I was really sick last week. I also haven’t had a haircut since July 15 when a barber I’d never been to before went really short on the temporal peaks making them look a little pluggy.

Last month I had some trouble finding the single hair grafts that were placed in my left temporal peak and left side of my frontal hairline. But if you’ve been following my blog for a while, you’ll know that the 7 month mark is one of my favorite parts of the hair transplant progress because that is usually when the transplanted hairs begin making a noticeable difference in your appearance.

The 50 single hair grafts on the left side of my frontal hairline are much more noticeable now and I can definitely feel the 315 grafts in my suture line. I will try to get another haircut closer to next month’s update and we’ll see

In other news, this month’s update is the last update I will be doing from this location as I am moving this weekend but am staying in DC. I first moved into this apartment two weeks before my first procedure in 2014 and it’s crazy to think about how much progress I’ve made since those first videos I made right after my first surgery to what I look like now.

Check back next month in September when I reach 8 months post-op.

All my best,
-Lance

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Third Procedure: 5 Month Update (150 Days Post-Op)

Hello everyone,

Today is Saturday, June 17, 2017 and I am now 5 months post-op from my FUE scar revision procedure.

I got a haircut two weeks ago on June 3 and it was the shortest haircut I’ve had since this procedure.

The barber used a No.4-guard on the back and sides and then trimmed the bottom of the back of my head to a 2-guard, while I had the front and top blended with scissors.

I noticed a slight crease line on the left part of the back of my head but I’m pretty confident that area will eventually fill in. I’m thinking by one year post-op I should be able to cut my hair comfortably down to a 3-guard on the back and sides but we’ll have to wait and see until next January.

I feel like at this point the hairs in the back of my head where the old suture line is are growing in much faster and thicker than the single hair grafts that were placed in my frontal hairline and left temporal peak.

Although most would be concerned that not much is growing at this point, in my experience at 5 months, I’m about 60 percent of the way through so I have plenty more to grow.

Check back next month in July when I reach 6 months post-op.

All my best,
-Lance

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Third Procedure: 4 Month Update (120 Days Post-Op)

Hello everyone,

Today is Wednesday, May 17, 2017 and I am now 4 months post-op from my Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) scar revision procedure.

As I have talked about in my previous surgeries, the 4-month mark is one of the most exciting parts of a hair transplant because that’s when the grafts start to wake up and sprout. At this point, a few of the 50 single hair grafts in my frontal hairline and a lot of the 265 grafts in my suture line are finally starting to grow.

I haven’t had a haircut since the 3 month mark and I will most likely do a 4-guard around the suture line again as at this point, anything shorter could create a crease line in the back of my head.

I’ve been asked if I would ever do a fade style haircut and I will consider trying it when I get to at least 6 to 7 months post-op so that most of the grafts have grown out and I won’t have any crease line issues.

Check back next month in June when I reach 5 months post-op.

All my best,
-Lance

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Third Procedure: 3 Month Update (90 Days Post-Op)

Hello everyone,

Today is Monday, April 17, 2017 and I am now three months post-op from my Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) scar revision procedure.

I got a haircut today and had the back and sides cut down to a No.4-guard and didn’t see any crease line issues. The back and sides had been growing out since the day of my surgery and I imagine in the next few months I should be able to cut the back and sides shorter than a 4-guard and not see any crease at all.

I can see one or two short stubby hairs growing out of my frontal hairline and I can feel a few short stubs in my suture line, but at 90 days post-op the majority of the grafts are still dormant.

In my experience, the 3 month mark is the most frustrating part of a hair transplant because the transplanted hairs are still dormant. Fortunately one of the most frustrating parts of a hair transplant is followed up by one of the most exciting parts and at 4 months that’s when the transplanted hairs start growing.

Check back next month in May when I reach 4 months post-op and things finally start happening.

All my best,
-Lance

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Third Procedure: 2 Month Update (61 Days Post-Op)

Hello everyone,

Today is Sunday, March 19, 2017 and I am now 2 months and 2 days post-op from my Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) scar revision procedure.

At this stage, not much is happening, which is expected.

The hair on the back and sides surrounding my suture line is still growing out from the day of my procedure and when I run my fingers through the suture line, it feels like a lot of hairs have hung on.

Unfortunately the majority of the grafts placed into my suture line along with the 50 single hair grafts that were place into my left temporal peak and frontal hairline won’t start growing until the 4 month mark come May.

It’s a long process, but having been through this a couple of times, I know it’ll be worth it.

Check back next month in April when I reach 3 months post-op.

All my best,
-Lance

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Third Procedure: Day 7 Post-Op (1/24/2017)

Hello everyone,

Today is Tuesday, January 24, 2017 and I am now one week post-op from my follicular unit extraction procedure.

All of the crusts that were in my suture line are now gone and tonight was the last time I used the bacitracin on the extraction sites above and around my suture line. A lot of hairs that were placed in the suture line, left temporal peak, and frontal hairline have hung on after the crusts have fallen off, so it’ll be interesting to see if they continue to stay on over the next couple of weeks. Once the hair on the back and sides grows out and covers my scar, I’ll get a haircut to blend everything in.

I think tomorrow will be my last recovery update as I am now waiting for the numbness in parts of the back of my head to subside and I will return to my workout regimen next wee

Check back tomorrow when I reach 8 days post-op.

All my best,
-Lance

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Third Procedure: Day 6 Post-Op (1/23/2017)

Hello everyone,

Today is Monday, January 23, 2017 and I am now 6 days post-op from my follicular unit extraction procedure.

All of the crusts that were in my frontal hairline and left temporal peak are long gone and I feel like I have about a quarter of the crusts left in my suture line. Despite how fast the crusts have fallen off, I feel like a lot of the hairs from those crusts have stayed behind, and I’m still placing the bacitracin on the extraction sites.

One other thing I wanted to mention is that I have some residual numbness on the back-left and back-right parts of my head but the only time I feel it is when I lie down with my head on the ground like when I stretch. I don’t feel any numbness when I sleep.

Check back tomorrow when I reach one week post-op.

All my best,
-Lance

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Third Procedure: Day 3 Post-Op (1/20/2017)

Hello everyone,

Today is Friday, January 20, 2017 and I am now three days post-op from my follicular unit extraction procedure.

Compared with my previous FUT/strip surgeries, I’ve noticed the grafts from this FUE procedure are not nearly as large and I think a few of the grafts are beginning to shed, especially in my left temporal peak and left side of my frontal hairline. The grafts in my suture line are still hanging on and I am gently washing them with the pads of my fingers and still using a cup to rinse them in the shower.

The extraction areas in the back of my head are continuing to heal well via the bacitracin and the sites look much better now compared with the day of my surgery.

Check back tomorrow for my Day 4 update.

All my best,
-Lance

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