Sly Bald Guys Forum
Discussions About Being Bald => To be or not be...Bald => Topic started by: viper3two on October 19, 2009, 11:46:27 PM
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Hey all
Saw this forum and thought maybe somebody would have an answer for me. I nearly died a couple months ago with a brain aneurysm. Fortunantly no deficites and recovery is going good, thankful like crazy to be alive. Whats crappy is I have an 8 inch scar on my head now. I don't mind shaving my head as I do that alot in the summer time. Sometimes I wear my hair about an inch on top and 1/4 inch on the sides. Bad thing is now my hair is dark and that scar has a 1/2" wide area for the length of it where no hair is growing at all. I think the surgery shocked it, the other side of my head is thick.
So, question is........
Has anybody out there had a big surgery like this and what is the best option? Shave it or let the hair get really long and comb over the scar? I am starting now to try to grow it, but I think it looks a little better shaved anyways......
Thanks and sorry if this has been asked before, I am totally newb here......
Tony
Here are pics of that scar!
This is 3 weeks ago:
(https://www.slybaldguys.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi78.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fj84%2Fviper3two%2F28.jpg&hash=1bf13b69e8a7bf45285959ffb128ddf21693cef7)
This was 5 weeks ago with staples in:
(https://www.slybaldguys.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi78.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fj84%2Fviper3two%2Fme3.jpg&hash=ff1afbb673873e19c5969732d968051168ecdd36)
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I am having a Pixel laser used on my incisions and other hair transplant scars on the back of my head. There is a great deal that can be done to modify/reduce most scars today. Yours may respond to the various scar repair creams around. I would suggest asking for a referral to a good dermatologist or even cosmetic surgeon in your area. Being that the scar is "new" it may respond better now rather than waiting. My scars are 15 years old. I was young and insecure about hair loss. Now I love being bald but want less visible scarring. ANother thread here in the Tatoo section has 2 tatoo artists who can tatoo ink made to look like hair stubble into scars or even for those wishing to appear to have shaved stubble when naturally bald. The links are in Hair Replication I think in the Tatoo section. The hard art is behind you...now start a new chapter in your life.
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Thanks man, appreciate the response. Looking into the options! O0
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Tony-
Welcome to the Forum! After surviving a brain anuerysym I would think having that scar would mean so very little in a negative way and could be worn more as a source of pride. The Grim Reaper knocked on your door and you sent him on his way!!
Good for you Dude!!
I personally do NOT think combovers are ever a good idea...... it will always look like you are trying to hide something.
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Hi Mike
Thanks for the reply and the positive words! I agree that a combover does look like you are hiding something, and really I don't want to do that, I wear my head either shaved or pretty close to it. It didn't bother me at first but when the other side grew normally and the incision side just fell out....I was like what the heck?! I am extremely lucky really, I shouldn't be here. I am definately happy about that! Thanks again for getting back to me and helping out. Oh, and this forum is awesome...didn't know about it till yesterday. Plan on sticking around here!
Tony
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Tony, I echo what Mike said. As a survivor of 4 open-heart surgeries I wear the scar with pride. You'll learn to live with it and eventually you'll be able to look in the mirror and you won't even notice it.
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What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
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Shadowside and Tyler! Hey guys this is making me not even think about it now....you know, you guys are right. I kicked this thing in the ass and I should be proud of that!! Shadow, that statement just stuck in my head, I think that will be my new attitude. Tyler....I am sorry to hear what you had to go through, but glad you made it. It's kinda like me, there is a reason for everything and we are still here for a reason. Thanks to both you guys! O0
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Bro, the scar will fade with time. But it looks seriously bad ass I would wear it with pride. O0
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Pretty crazy dude. Chics dig scars. You should shave the 'stache...go for more of a badass look w/ that scar. LOL
Not too mention mustaches are sooo 70s! haha.
In all seriousness...take good care of the scar. Don't get too much sun...wear a hat outside etc. I'd be interested in hearing what cosmetic surgeouns / dermatologists say....
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Heya Jason
Ya know I could get rid of that tache and do the centered goatee, that might look cool! Hell, I'm gonna give it a shot.... Appreciate the advise on that scar, didn't know about the sun and stuff.... Thanks man!
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In all seriousness...take good care of the scar. Don't get too much sun...wear a hat outside etc. I'd be interested in hearing what cosmetic surgeouns / dermatologists say....
Good points!
Hello welcome, viper3two!
Congrats you survived the aneurysma!!
The scar will change and the skin will remodel. Try different lengths of your hair O0
and you will find the best look for you.
Best wishes.
J
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Welcome Tony! So glad that you have found our group of great people. And I am certainly glad that you came through the operation. A lady friend of mine just went through the same operation and will have to have a second one in about a month. Wear the scar with honor and remember that you came through with flying colors. God be with you.
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Thanks joergHH and Papa Don, you guys are building my confidence! So glad that I found this forum, I really appreciate it.
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My son-in-law has a friend who's been dealing with brain cancer for several years. His scar is also large, at one point after one of his several operations they put the bone from his skull in his abdominal cavity while the hole was left covered only by skin to accomodate any swelling. He is Sly, partially from the effects of chemo, but sly he is and when people ask, he just tells them his story--all are impressed. If you shave down, I think you'll get the same reaction.
Two months isn't a long time for a scar, after a year you might want to consider some plastic surgery unlesss it is diagnosed as a keloid--and they can deal with that too--it's not life threatening. Good luck, glad to have you here.
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Thanks saintc. I guess that I am a little ancy on getting over this thing....but I realize this is a slow slow healing process after this kind of surgery. I spoke to the neurosurgeon and you are right.....he said that it will take about 6 months to a year to completely heal and get everything back to normal. Just kindof a shocker going through this, but hey.....I SURVIVED it!!! Appreciate you and everyone here, you guys are an awesome group of people.
Tony
aka viper3two
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Good Luck ----And Welcome 2 SBG 8)
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Amazing story!
Unless you grow out your hair to a big puffy perm or get one of those obnoxious "emo" haircuts your scar's going to be visible, so you might as well pick the hairstyle you like the best! My main concern is how your scar would interfere with a blade. It looks very raise and you might cut it when shaving. If it doesn't go down on its own look into having a dermatologist inject it with "stuff" (I think it's collagen) because it causes raised scars to flatten out. I had a swollen scar near my neck caused by a small surgery and it eventually flattened out after a treatment.
Yea, the location is very unfortunate because it's right there on the front, but it's a lot better than being scar-less and 6' under! I've heard that the skin of the face has better healing abilities so maybe your scar will reduce itself over time.
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Thanks argghhh and rusty. I agree, I wouldnt think about getting one of those crazy emo cuts either lol. The thing is now that it is growin out a little, it has thinned and not sure if I should even try to grow it out or just shave it. You are right some of the places are raised a little and I probably would have to use a guard right now. Looks alot better than it did though....Hey tell ya what I will post a picture with a little hair growing out in a little bit and see what ya think about shaving it or letting it go......
Thanks
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Ok guys I haven't had my hair -this long- since high school, I usually shave it pretty close, either a 1 or 2 guard. Took these pics tonight of the battlewound. Really not too bad considering what it looked like a few weeks ago, just have a big strip on the side of my head. I wonder if I shave it would it look better or muck it up worse. I really like to have it shaved down but I don't know.....
Here are the pics I took tonight, the front and the side of the incision and the other side where the hair is like it normally is.
(https://www.slybaldguys.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi78.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fj84%2Fviper3two%2F4-1.jpg&hash=e94d9c32705946e57d32c8c72dbcdaae7d14e4f6)
(https://www.slybaldguys.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi78.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fj84%2Fviper3two%2F5-1.jpg&hash=63053172427e1648be707d47d71c159fd8fa62d0)
(https://www.slybaldguys.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi78.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fj84%2Fviper3two%2F6-1.jpg&hash=349a1c09b6e27544322d5516dcc4aa9730c906c7)
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You do look good with the hair and it hides the scar nicely.........About shaving - it may or may not look better ...Hard too tell unless you give it a try and post some pictures...Would be nice too have another top notch member on SBG........... 8)
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LOL I may just shave it, gonna give it a little while longer to see what it does, I swear I don't like having my hair this long, although it is really not long, but I am used to it shaved down. Might have to get used to this.... :-\
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LOL I may just shave it, gonna give it a little while longer to see what it does, I swear I don't like having my hair this long, although it is really not long, but I am used to it shaved down. Might have to get used to this.... :-\
Looks like you have to pick one of three options:
1) Shave your head and let the scar show
2) Keep your hair short and let the scar show
3) Hide the scar entirely with an emo haircut.
Since the emo haircut out of the question, then you're going to have to deal with a visible scar no matter what. So in that case you might as well keep your hair in whatever style you want since it's not going to affect the scar.
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Thanks Rusty..... O0
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It doesn't look too bad in that photo at all -- a lot better than the previous photo you posted. I'd keep the hair for now, as it camouflages the scar nicely. Maybe in a year or so, if the scar fades, you might want to try shaving it again.
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It doesn't look too bad in that photo at all -- a lot better than the previous photo you posted. I'd keep the hair for now, as it camouflages the scar nicely. Maybe in a year or so, if the scar fades, you might want to try shaving it again.
I don't see how the hair hides anything. For the most part the hair seems to be laid in the direction of the scar meaning that the hair isn't masking anything. It's possible that a shaved head might be more invisible because the way it is now there's a small island of hair separated by the scar. To me this seems like one of those "6 of one, half dozen of another" or "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situations since neither mask the scar.
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I don't see how the hair hides anything. For the most part the hair seems to be laid in the direction of the scar meaning that the hair isn't masking anything. It's possible that a shaved head might be more invisible because the way it is now there's a small island of hair separated by the scar. To me this seems like one of those "6 of one, half dozen of another" or "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situations since neither mask the scar.
Nobody said that the scar was hidden, but that it is less prominent with the hair grown in around it. It was a lot more visible in the previous photo he posted, with the hair buzzed short.
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Razor and rusty, thanks both you guys and by no means I don't want to get a war going here lol.....that's just exactly what I am trying to figure out. Sure either way won't hide it completely, and sure....I hate having long hair, but not sure which way looks better. I will probably let it go for another few weeks and see which way looks better. I am surprised really at the top, heck I don't even see it there at the top anymore, just on the side of the head. And that is what I am trying to figure out what to do with. Those first pics were 1 week after surgery, those tonight are now 6 weeks after surgery.
But either way I appreciate the feedback from you guys on this, it's helping me out alot and building confidence. I was freaked out really bad when all this happened but you guys have made me have another take on the confidence issue, and I appreciate it...really do.
Tony
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This is the very rare occasion where I would say to keep your hair IF the scar being visible bothers you. It will be visible shaved or not but it does not look bad at all with the hair and may be MORE visible shaved.
Either way.... you strike me as a guy that is going to be comfortale with yourself. Good for you and for realizng what it is in life that is REALLY important..... and that would be LIFE itself.........
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Remarkable improvement, and I know that provides you with some relief. You probably are going to be able to do anything you want, no evidence of mpb to speak of, so in a few months, you might want to go with something new. Relax, let your body heal, your spirit strengthen. Too often we pray for something, I'm sure the Almighty likes a few "Thank you" and "Good Job" notes too. I know you have, as have many of us.
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Thanks saint and mike. You are right mike, I am confortable with myself and really the most important thing is that I am here and alive. Beats the alternative! I had another friend of mine who hasn't seen me in a few weeks say that he thought the hair looked good, and that I should let it grow some more to see what it does, he is sly. So I thought that was a good compliment because me and him both would rather be shaved, but really doesn't matter to me either way, think I will try this for a while!! Thanks again for the feedback and really appreciate it. Tomorrow is my checkup with the neurosurgeon and I hope like heck I get to go back to work in another couple weeks, recovering is rather boring at times :).
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I don't see how the hair hides anything. For the most part the hair seems to be laid in the direction of the scar meaning that the hair isn't masking anything. It's possible that a shaved head might be more invisible because the way it is now there's a small island of hair separated by the scar. To me this seems like one of those "6 of one, half dozen of another" or "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situations since neither mask the scar.
Nobody said that the scar was hidden, but that it is less prominent with the hair grown in around it. It was a lot more visible in the previous photo he posted, with the hair buzzed short.
I thought in that first photo the scar was fresh and swollen, but if it is the same then it does appear less noticable in the hairy photo.