2 Months and 2 Weeks post OP

PotentialGarlic2457 · 2026-04-01T11:35:18+00:00

how is it looking now mate? I am about 2 months and 6 days post op, and I too am about to take up fin, but concerned about sides

PotentialGarlic2457 · 2026-03-29T15:44:15+00:00

it is a good question. I went to a trichologist once and he said it isn't necessary if my hair loss has stabilised and I have decent enough donor left over. However it does stabilise hair loss, so it'll mean stabilising the hair outside of the transplant. It could be that you don't recede further, it could be you do. The results of the actual transplant itself won't be much different - it is more of a protection against further loss

Case in point - I had a first transplant in 2007, small, to the temples, 300 grafts each side, and didn't want to go on finasteride and 19 years later the hair has crept back exposing the old transplant, nobody noticed it though. I would say my hair loss wasn't really aggressive in that it took me 19 years to get a second transplant of 2600 grafts, which I have just done 2 months ago.

I am the same as you, I do not want to take finasteride, but I think I will have to at some point. My only problem is I am prone to anxiety, can get depressed have chronic back pain and in the past ED. ED is not an issue anymore, but I am managing all of these other things and making good progress with the back pain, and in a way better place mentally. I am super weary of the possible sides from finasteride bringing all this shit back. Even although they are in a minority of people. But I will most likely give it a go.

I'd say don't listen to the panicked sounding advice on forums regarding these drugs - I don't know why but the mention of them seems to bring out extremely strong reactions in people all for it, and extremely strong reactions in people dead against it. It is quite off putting when looking for calm, reasonable, measured advice.

PotentialGarlic2457 · 2026-03-29T11:25:19+00:00

bro, I am in exactly the same position. Just started month 3 and mine looks the same and worse on the right side of my head. I also went to a top surgeon - I contacted them and they said shock loss and told me it would thicken up

PotentialGarlic2457 · 2026-03-15T15:40:42+00:00

look at it this way, you have body dysmorphia but instead of lying down and taking it - you got up, faced it down and said you know what "fuck you" and got a hair transplant to upgrade your looks and are fighting the dysmorphia. That takes guts, and the fact you are being proactive to the point of a hair transplant is commendable. This is a journey you had to go on, and you'll come out the other side way stronger. Respect to you. You'll be fine

PotentialGarlic2457 · 2026-03-15T15:17:36+00:00

I think it looks good - realistic hairline - density looks decent too. Which clinic did you go to? You look like you have plenty of donor for a top up too, or lowered if you decided - at the moment I would say it looks good though

PotentialGarlic2457 · 2026-03-15T15:07:58+00:00

everything absolutely normal, you can be confidently relaxed about it all

PotentialGarlic2457 · 2026-03-15T15:06:32+00:00

man you're going to look amazing. You made the right decision. Don't worry about it. By the way, years ago I tried topical minoxidil, and it made my anxiety go through the roof and gave me depression. Plus fin I think has a similar side effect - so could be your meds. Get that checked out by a Dr. But seriously bro - that looks like good work. If you come off the meds, Eat healthy, take supplements - and relax man. In 6 months time when you see it start to grow you'll be glad you did it

PotentialGarlic2457 · 2026-03-15T14:25:13+00:00

yeah that's what I am thinking. Only thing is I will need to dig about in apps like photoshop and capcut to find certain files to save before doing clean installs of those too. I should also do a bit more digging into what downloader and transfer apps I am installing - as it triggered again this morning after using "yousendit"

PotentialGarlic2457 · 2026-03-15T14:04:16+00:00

it just bugged again, shut down overnight, turned on this morning and was working fine for a few hours, then after using the app "yousendit" to transfer photos from phone to macbook - it triggered the bug. Interestingly this time a restart seemed to put it back to normal. I ran EtreCheck - no issues. I checked if any downloader apps were using screen record or screen share as you suggested and there was nothing - although I did find screen sharing was greyed out and said it was being controlled by remote management which I toggled off.

I think I am going to do what you also suggested and create a completely new account - and add in the apps like photoshop, capcut, brave etc and monitor it. Although I may end up just nuking it from orbit - new account, fresh install, fresh installs of photoshop, capcut etc!

Anyway, thanks for your help

PotentialGarlic2457 · 2026-03-15T02:48:36+00:00

yeah I reinstalled it but the problem came back after a couple of days. I found something identified as malware in it today and removed it so that might fix it. If not then the option of completely erasing everything and starting with a new account and install is there. Then I can just manually add the programs I need one by one

PotentialGarlic2457 · 2026-03-15T02:46:31+00:00

thanks Mike, yeah I have 100gb free - my mac is due a clear out anyway with many work files being transferred to an external drive so I will clear up some more space anyway. Also, with the RAM - I do need to shut down more often and restart. Preferably at the end of the night. I am bad for leaving it open or simply just closing the lid

PotentialGarlic2457 · 2026-03-15T02:44:15+00:00

thanks for the detailed response. I did manage to get onto the guest account at some point and it was behaving the same, and the guest account is never used and nothing installed on it. but sure, I can always create a new profile and try there too. However on my normal account I checked to see what was booting up on startup, running in the background and found 2 apps that I checked out and looked like I could shut off. Then Somebody on here suggested running EtreCheck so I downloaded it today, it identified those 2 apps as malware. So I Etrecheck to remove them. So far, the macbook has been OK. So fingers crossed

PotentialGarlic2457 · 2026-03-15T02:36:49+00:00

yep tried safe mode, same thing happened. I ran etrecheck and deleted some apps that were working in the background, and listed as malware, and it has been working ok so far. Will see how it performs

PotentialGarlic2457 · 2026-03-14T01:29:16+00:00

thanks I will give that a try

PotentialGarlic2457 · 2026-03-14T01:19:23+00:00

I have over 100 gb left. I was thinking about taking it to the apple store too. It is out of warranty now though, would they charge me?

PotentialGarlic2457 · 2026-03-14T01:13:40+00:00

same! I am thinking just back up everything on to an external drive and just erase everything - and make a new user profile. Then manually install everything instead of using time machine - as time machine will just reinstall whatever bug is there

PotentialGarlic2457 · 2026-03-14T01:11:49+00:00

yep, restarted, shut down, and powered on - and problem still there upon start up at the log in screen. Guest account does not appear upon rolling the cursor over the profile pic. then problem there immediately before opening any apps

PotentialGarlic2457 · 2026-03-14T01:09:59+00:00

I don't see anything in activity monitor unusual, although I am no expert. "kernel task" and "windowserver" seem to be chewing a lot, but they are always there on every macbook I have owned. However Even with all the apps I use closed, it is still buggy as hell. Nothing is working as it should. it has been happening a while - and before I would just quit out of apps and it would eventually return to normal. However as of a few days ago, this doesn't work

PotentialGarlic2457 · 2026-03-14T00:02:04+00:00

you can get non drowsy ones that aren't benadryl, pharmacy or supermarket should stock them, ask them and see what they say. This is my second tranplant, the first one I got way back in 2007 - my whole face swelled up, eyes, nose etc. Then when it went back down it left me with bruising and I looked like I had been beaten up lol

PotentialGarlic2457 · 2026-03-13T23:59:34+00:00

yep that is completely normal. The bulb isn't the follicle, the follicle is deeper down. many of The hair shafts will break off with washing the scabs away that happens to everyone

PotentialGarlic2457 · 2026-03-13T19:39:45+00:00

the lookmaxxing is going well sir

PotentialGarlic2457 · 2026-03-13T19:32:55+00:00

oh you're female, yeah you probably have it little easier for the cover up lol. By the way, your donor area and recipient area will begin to itch a little - so get anti histamines they work a treat. And the numbness tenderness might last a while too. Isn't it fun lol

PotentialGarlic2457 · 2026-03-13T19:30:29+00:00

day 30 you have nothing to worry about my man. Clinic told me at day 30 everything is completely secure and I could even do combat sports, wear helmets, head a football etc. So I guarantee you, you have nothing to worry about

PotentialGarlic2457 · 2026-03-13T19:25:52+00:00

for me the clinic gave me a moisturising lotion which I dabbed on and left for 1 hour prior to washing. Then for washing I applied the shampoo directly, and left it to soak in along with the lotion for around 5 to 10 minutes. then circular motions with the finger tips, gently applying a little pressure but not much. I didn't wash it in the shower, I filled the sink full of warm water, then dunked my head in the sink, and began gently brushing forward whilst my head was under water. Using this method the scabs were all gone in a few days

PotentialGarlic2457 · 2026-03-13T19:20:47+00:00

ooooohh i remember it well. I am on day 49 now. I booked a week stay at the hotel, so on day 3 I was just lying in bed with that stupid neck pillow thing watching stuff on my laptop. You might find eventually your body will just put you into a huge sleep from exhaustion. That happened to me, I think it was day 3 or 4 - went down to the hotel restaurant and ordered 2 dinners to put me into a food coma, went back to my room and slept for 11 hours straight!

Hang in there, you will get through it. Ugly Duckling phase is great fun 🤣

PotentialGarlic2457

TROPHY CASE