Female, 24, FUT and FUE hair transplants for hairline lowering

I've always had a high hairline, and deep-set corners of my hairline that, due to my blonde baby-hairs, looks like it's receding. I debated having this procedure for a couple of years. Fortunately I live in Minneapolis, and Shapiro Medical Group is supposed to be one of the best hair transplant centers in the US, and they even get clients from all over the world. I went in for 2 consultations over the last year and felt that I would be in good hands.

The days before surgery I was very nervous and started re-thinking the procedure. However, Matt, their sales coordinator guy, always answered my questions and calmed my nerves. He even took the time to call on weekends and after work-hours when I emailed him which I appreciated; they really want their clients to feel comfortable and prepared. The night before, we talked for 40 min and he sent me a gallery of similar cases to mine to inspect and reassure myself that the results would (hopefully) turn out full and natural.

The day of surgery, Dr Paul was very kind, patient, and easygoing. I felt comfortable with him and the assistants were all very sweet and I enjoyed their humor. My procedure lasted about 10 hours (2,000 grafts). I was in the clinic for 12 hours, which (I know it's not my fault but) I kept apologizing for since I felt bad that Paul had to be there so long and it was way past dinner time for the techs, but no one in any way made me feel like my procedure was an inconvenience. They kept saying, "Don't worry about it! we just want to make sure you leave with the best possible results!"

I opted to do the Acell and PRP treatments as well. They're supposed to help with graft survival. What else... I got to watch movies and listen to music on a big tv during the procedure and curl up with a fuzzy blanket, but I slept through the first half of the surgery. A couple hours after we broke for lunch (Jimmy Johns) around noon, I began to get pretty restless and anxious. I probably should have asked or more valium; I recommend you take more about half way through.

By the end of the procedure I had already swollen pretty significantly, but I got home and iced, took 2 pain pills and went to bed elevated with a few pillows. I have a hard time sleeping on my back, especially in an unnatural position like that, so if you have a recliner chair you should try that instead.

I was expecting to go home with just a red scalp but they use blue dye so they can better see the incisions, and apparently the dye lasts a few days before it washes out. I'm having a hard time really seeing how the transplanted hair looks because of this so I'm anxious to find out later this week!

I'll do a follow up post on the day after...

Today (Friday) is my second full day after my procedure (Wednesday)...

Theme of the day: YouTube lies!!!

All of the YouTube recovery videos I watched had these women like, "I didn't swell at all! I didn't need any pain pills! I was back to work the next day!" etc...

Meanwhile I look like I got hit by a bus, I have had 48+ straight hours of horrible nausea (also oddly low blood pressure, shakiness, dizziness, fatigue), pain meds offer no relief to the extreme tenderness of my donor area... I won't be able to leave the house for at least a week at this rate.

Yesterday my face was so swollen at the temples I looked like "The Brain" from Pinky and The Brain... today it's draining down into my cheeks, and unfortunately, down my nose and eyes so I'm looking very puffy. I'm preparing myself for the fact that my eyes may be swollen shut tomorrow.

I don't recognize myself in the mirror so I'll admit I was having a hard time today emotionally... Lots of sobbing and second guessing if this procedure was the right thing to do, but I'm trying to focus on the positive: a year from now, I'll *hopefully* be at peace with my hairline. But a year is a long time to wait for true results.

Let's hope I can stay sane until then....

Today is one full week since my surgery. I got to leave the house and run errands for the first time today and I'm feeling a lot better about the decision to have this surgery now.

The first few days I was physically and emotionally in shock. I started second guessing the surgery and felt ugly and upset but I think that was mostly because I was in so much physical pain and my face was so swollen I was unrecognizable for the first 4-5 days. I was also going a little crazy being stuck inside for a whole week, I was bored and frustrated; it was all pretty overwhelming.

On day 5 my swelling was 75% gone and now today it's about 90%. My forehead is bruised yellow but I can cover that with makeup and I'll be wearing a hat every day for the next few months anyway.

1/3 of the scabs have fallen off in the shower already, and admittedly I've been picking a bit, I know I know I shouldn't be! Hard to resist...

The only complaint I have now is that my staples are still very very painful. I didn't sleep more than a couple hours per night for 5 days and the pain meds didn't help the pain at all. I went in for a checkup and they gave me the OK to start sleeping on my side to take the pressure off of the staples. That has helped a lot! Also, Dr Paul said I can go in tomorrow and they'll take out every other staple which I am very much looking forward to! The rest of the staples will come out on Monday I believe.

Also here's some before and after photos from so far: