So many scars, lumps and bumps on my shaven head that i look like a convict!

[saffa]

About 25 years ago I did something that I have regretted for every single day of my life! ( I am 56 years old now). I HAD A HAIR PIECE SURGICALLY ATTACHED TO MY SCALP WITH NYLON LOOPS!!!! Basically what it means it is like a hair net fitted with human hair . About 12 nylon loops are then attached to a persons scalp. These nylon loops cover the whole scalp, from the forehead, along the left side, around the back and along the right side also. Thereafter, the hair piece is attached to the loops! When I was in my teens and 20s I had a full head of hair......and a fairly good looking dude! I then started losing my hair. I saw this advert in the newspaper about this procedure and I went for it......the worst, most stupid thing I have ever done in my entire life. I could not stand this horrible thing on my head any longer and had it removed by having the nylon loops cut and removed from my scalp about 2 years later. To my amazement I still had quite a lot of hair on my head, but when rubbing my scalp with my fingers I could feel these scars all over my head.  In my late 30s and 40s my hair started falling out at a fair rate of knots and these scars were now showing and boy they are ugly. I kept my hair short as I got balder. 2 week ago I foamed up my hair and shaved my head. I look and feel like a monster! Honest! I feel absolutely suicidal. 3 or 4 of my friends have seen my head and each one has made a comment about my head....look like a gangster......why so many scars etc etc. My excuse, or lie, is that I was hit over the head a number of times with an industrial chain when I was younger . Does anyone know if anything can be done about this scarring or is there someone else on this forum that had this procedure done and had it removed and how they live or cope with it? Please let me know. Sorry for the long post.

[Mikekoz13]

Some people will tell you that cocoa butter will lessen the scars but I think that is bull. Maybe there is some type ofv laser procedure that could help? I don't know.

I will say this..... Don't live a lie.... and wear your scars with pride. You can tell others about your bad choice when you were young and maybe save someone else from a similar fate.
Be proud of the man you are and don't let bad choices from your past ruin even one day of your life.

[4fit]

 

[D.A.L.U.I.]

Before you get too wound up, check with a dermatologist about it, possibly a referal to a plastic surgeon--they can do wonderful things.  And since you're newly sly, a summer of moderate sun may cause the scars to be less obvious too.  But, in any case, as Mikekoz13 has advised you can serve a good cause by making sure young guys considering anything vaguely resembling this savage type of work consider the consequences.   Best of luck to you in working with this issue, I hope very much you find peace. 

Got to say, hearing your history makes my blood boil, butchers, damn butchers.  The medical profession, I'm assuming a doctor did the "installation" of the loops, should boil the leaches that do this type of procedure in oil.  I believe their oath has a provision that essentially says that "first do no harm."

[saffa]

@ mikekoz13. Thanks for your reply mate......trying my best to wear scars with pride.....however forgot to mention there are 24 scars all around my head- more or less wear a baseball caps rim would be. If any of you good folks out there have had this procedure and had it removed please let me know how you cope/ what you have done about the scars. I was a lurker but found this site so brilliant I decided to join. Maybe I should hang in there re-30 day law!

[kalbo]

Best advise would be to visit a plastic surgeon/dermatologist. I would always say to wear your scars with pride because it is part of who you are but if it bothers you to the point of being suicidal, a professional opinion is necessary. Best regards.

[LAGLE]

most importantly, be yourself, don't ever let anyone get you down. I wore a huge pink bandaid on the side of my noggin one day cause i cut it, people made fun of it, i found it hilarious. people will always run a mock and be foolish. let it go, and do you 

[Acme]

I agree with kalbo. You may be able to have a plastic surgeon lesson the look of the scars.

I've never heard of that procedure but a long time ago I heard of installing surgical steel snaps on the head to snap a hairpiece to. When I was younger, I thought it was a good idea.  I'm glad I had hair at the time so I didn't seriously consider it.

Good luck with your situation and know it's not serious enough to be suicidal.  It is the result of a decision you know regret but it can most likely be somewhat corrected.  If not, make up a funny story to tell people or just ignore them if they say something.  I used to ignore people all the time because I have scars all over my feet and walk funny due to clubbed feet.  Now, I just tell them the truth and move on.

Let us know how it goes for you.

[Paul the Headblader]

hey!
that's an amazing story.Try some surgical  "solutions" to reduce the scars.

[chgobuzzbald]

You dont say but I take it you live outside the US where this was a common practice ?  I have had good luck with a fractionated laser on scalp scars I had and more recently a silicone gel called ScarAway has also helped. ANother option from the UK is HIS Hair. A technique of micro fine tattoo needles used to tattoo the look of shaved stubble on bald heads.

[Sir Harry]

I had surgery on a couple of gashes and boils on my scalp. The black spots from the boils are fading slowly and the gashes that I've had for 25 years are slowly blending in with the rest of my scalp...If the first dermatologist won't help you, it doesn't hurt to go to another one...I went to three before I found one that was willing to do the surgeries on my scalp. Good luck!

[saffa]

To all you fine sly folks out there- Thanks for the comments and suggestions. I think my next port o call will be a dermatologist. I am not in the States, Im in the UK. However I was butchered in South Africa. I was young and naive at the time.......and this mutilation sounded good at the time. What I have learnt from this experience is to think twice before doing anything, whether it involves work, women, having a tooth extracted etc etc. This butcher (doctor) never explained the pros and cons to me.....he only saw the dollar signs! It is not a good feeling to be traumatised and suicidal in my late 50s, believe me. However, on the plus side my head shape is not too bad and enjoy the freedom of being sly (only been 2 weeks though). It is only these disgusting scars that get me very down. While surfing the net I see that this procedure is now banned in most countries and is regarded as "unethical". If only it was unethical in 1980!
By the way looking at your avatars ALL of you guys look great......and you are mighty fine psychologists too!

[saffa]

Hi there folks,
Can any of you sly guys please advise me how to remove my avatar? I have just surfed the net and suprised to see what a rainbow peace sign means!!! Wow that sign DEFINITELY does not reflect who I am.
Shaved my head again today and I will be seeing a dermatologist in 3 weeks time. Will let you know how I got on. HOW DO I GET RID OF THIS AVATAR HELP!

[saffa]

.......I removed it ........Phew!

[TheSlyBear]

Wow, strong reaction. You might want to tone it down a bit.

Why don't you use your photo as your avatar as most others here do?