Hair Transplant Transformed My Life

Hair Transplant Transformed My Life 

Prior to my hair transplant surgery, I had a history of hair loss.

I initially noticed my hair loss when I was 19 years old, when I observed my hairline receding and thinning. It severely harmed my self-esteem, and I was constantly self-conscious in public. I have naturally fine golden hair, which has always made concealing my receding weaker spots difficult.

What's Next, and Why Did I Choose H&W ?

My hairline grew thinner and worsened as I progressed through my early twenties. I began studying the possibilities of a hair transplant after using a variety of shampoos and treatments available on the market with little success. I couldn't resist observing that Hasson and Wong had the finest reputation of the bunch after a long process of narrowing down surgeons by reading through websites, forums, and other sources.

By the time I was 26, I had taken the plunge and called H&W.

After consulting with David Anderson, a member of the Hasson and Wong team at the time, I felt confidence in my decision to schedule my surgery with Dr. Wong. In September of 2015, I made the decision to book. By the FUT technique of extraction, David estimated that I would require roughly 2500 grafts.

The staff toured me around the superb medical facilities the day before my operation. The vista alone was well worth the trek to Vancouver! When I met with Dr. Wong the day before my surgery, he determined that 2000 grafts would be sufficient to accomplish the desired effect. He explained the procedure and what he planned to do, then sketched my new hairline and we discussed my expectations and my hair loss story. He also told me that following my operation, I should take Finasteride in the form of Proscar, which should be cut in quarters and taken three times a week to assist my natural hair. Everyone at the clinic gave me the impression that I was in the proper place.

The day of the procedure had finally arrived; I had to arrive at 6:15 a.m. and was looked after by Carmen, one of the hair stylists. She gave me some antibiotics and pain relievers to help with the anesthesia. Dr. Wong returned about a half-hour later to redraw my hair line in preparation; I was astounded to see how he did it all by hand precisely the same as the day before; his abilities truly do live up to his reputation!

I had no pain during the operation and was surprised at how pleasant and peaceful I was. After a short while, I recall having to turn around and sit in an upright posture, similar to that of a dental chair, and thought to myself that it was exactly like going to the dentist, only without the agony and worry, while viewing all of my favorite Netflix series. We had a couple breaks in between and lunch was provided by a fantastic sushi restaurant nearby; my treatment was completed about 1pm, around 6 hours later. In the end, I received 1969 grafts: 813 single hair transplants, 1060 double hair grafts, and 96 three to four hair grafts. I was given a post-operative kit that comprised antibiotics, pain relievers, and shampoo.

The next day, I went to the clinic for a checkup, where the personnel cleaned my hair and double-checked everything to ensure it was in fine working order.

right temple 2017 after hair transplant surgery

POST-OP

The first 8-9 days of recuperation were very difficult. For the first 12 days, I felt agony along the edges of the donor region, which were covered in black scabs (dried blood). I also got a significant amount of ache in the crown of my head. For the first week, I slept sitting up and tended to my scalp 24 hours a day. From day 3 to day 5, I noticed some face edema.

On day 15, the implanted hairs began to come out. By week 5, I had probably shed two-thirds of the freshly implanted hairs. I also had some shock loss above the ears at the donor location, but I took sure to maintain the hair on the sides longer to hide it. Around month 4, the hair in the shock loss region began to recover, and the scar grew less obvious by the week.

Healing of the top of the head and temples after FUT surgery

The Post-Operation Journey

After the procedure, I waited for what seemed like an eternity (3 months) before seeing any results.

The redness in my scalp began to recede and the numbness in my scalp began to subside at the end of the first month. I suffered a minor degree of shock hair loss (which is usual), and the transplanted hair had all but gone, but I was relieved that the first difficult month was over.

I looked the same in months two and three as I had before the hair transplant, and I was eager to see improvements, but I knew I needed to be patient. It wasn't until the third or fourth month that I began to see the joy of new hairs growing through. Even if the rest of the world didn't notice, it seemed like a huge stride forward.

As you can see in my photos, it wasn't until month 4 and 5 that I really started to see the hairs growing and thickening. As I approached month 6, I recall chatting with David from the clinic and saying that I would be content if it ended then.

Well, I was mistaken in thinking it had finished growing!

My new hairline looked wonderful by month nine, and the most significant aspect for me was that it appeared natural. Dr. Wong informed me that the secret to a successful hair transplant is that no one notices it.

Looking back 18 months, my results at 9 months were fantastic and what I thought was natural at the time, but it took the entire 18 months for the transplanted hairs to truly soften, feel, and grow like my own native hair.

I can't express how pleased I am with my results! Choosing Hasson and Wong was the finest decision and investment I've ever made since it has restored my confidence and made me feel much better about myself.