After eight years of living with the chronic inflammatory condition Acne Keloidalis Nuchae (AKN), Adrian, a longtime patient of Dr. Umar, has found freedom, confidence, and a life free of challenges caused by his AKN. This is the story of how he persevered through long work hours to fund his AKN removal and how the transformation completely changed his life.
Eight Years With Acne Keloidalis Nuchae
Adrian’s experience with Acne Keloidalis Nuchae (AKN) started when he showed his mom a bump forming at the back of his head. The scalp bumps weren’t that large at the time, and his mom encouraged him to seek a doctor’s advice as soon as possible. Unfortunately, Adrian struggled too much to go to a doctor, and it progressively impacted his quality of life. He started wearing beanies all the time—even during hot summer days—just to cover up the AKN. He was hyper-aware of the perception of others and wanted people to be comfortable around him, so he hid away the AKN scalp lesions and eventually became a recluse.
The Psychological Effects Of Living With AKN
Daily life became depressing for Adrian. He refused to go out with his friends and started isolating himself. At work, he was self-conscious about what his colleagues and customers thought of him. While those around him were curious about his AKN, he projected his negative feelings about himself onto them. He started making poor financial decisions to give himself temporary relief, but it was never enough. The scalp bumps, too, inconvenienced Adrian, weighing an estimated three pounds and preventing him from lying down and getting a proper night’s rest.
The Road To Recovery
Over the eight years Adrian had lived with AKN, he had had countless treatments without success. Typical first-line AKN therapies, like corticosteroids or antibiotics, were ineffective for Adrian’s case, and this caused him to feel a sense of hopelessness. He started feeling like, since these treatments weren’t successful, he would never be successful in life.
Discovering Dr. Sanusi Umar
Eventually, Adrian’s dad pushed him to see a specialist in New Mexico, who then referred him to Dr. Sanusi Umar, a globally recognized expert in AKN excision and advanced follicular repair. After consulting with him about AKN treatment options, with Dr. Umar’s approach aiming to remove AKN permanently while preserving cosmetic outcomes, Adrian felt a renewed hope, and he started to put together everything it would take for him to get his life-changing AKN removal surgery.
Working Toward A Solution
He worked more than 60 hours a week at his job at Domino’s for over four months to be able to afford the AKN removal surgery. While the work was grueling and he barely had time to himself anymore, Adrian knew that he had what it took to make a positive change in his life.
Surgery and Transformation
Finally, after eight years of struggling, Adrian underwent AKN removal surgery with Dr. Sanusi Umar. It involved highly specialized surgical excision using techniques designed to minimize scarring and prevent recurrence. Almost two years after the surgery, Adrian is left looking and feeling completely transformed.
Life After AKN
Today, Adrian is not embarrassed about going outside anymore. He’s switched out his beanies for regular caps, started a new job as a video editor for a YouTuber, lost weight, and feels like he can be more of himself. Because of his newfound confidence, he’s become a mentor to his fellow employees and has even helped them gain confidence in their work.
Final Reflections
Because of the hard work Adrian had invested in himself, he can now look towards a proper future. His inspiring journey just goes to show that there isn’t a problem one can’t overcome, and hope and transformation are always possible. Through Adrian’s perseverance and through the familial support he received, he was able to find it within himself to solve his problems and change his life for the better.
Watch Adrian’s Story
It’s through journeys like Adrian’s that we can fulfill our mission of collaborating with patients to find treatment plans, support physical recovery, and help patients find a new sense of confidence. Adrian’s is just one of many stories that the Hair Peace Foundation has when it comes to successful AKN removal surgery. If you or someone you know is struggling with AKN, schedule a consultation with Dr. Umar or learn more about the Hair Peace Foundation’s support options.
Individual results may vary. This story reflects one patient’s personal experience with Acne Keloidalis Nuchae (AKN) and treatment with Dr. Umar. Consult with a qualified physician for personalized advice.
