My hair transplant journey

[chipperhead]

I've been slowly receeding since my mid 20's and now I'm 46 I've decided to go for a hair transplant.
To try and slow the rate of recession, I've been using minoxidil for about 6 years and Nizoral for about the same, I don't know if they've been of any benefit as obviously I can't say how I would have been without them but I'm happy to continue using.

I have tried finastride once about 5 years ago for about 6 months and again about 2 years ago for 3 months, both times I got side effects. I lost my mojo and just didn't feel 100% when on it.
At the back end of last year I decided to look into getting a hair transplant and after loads of research booked to go with a company called Fuecapilar in Turkey.

I made contact with them, who have been very communicative and professional from day one, they requested photos and after a few emails back and forth I decided to go for it. The total cost was £2000 with a deposit of £500, refundable until 1 month before the operation. The only other thing to pay for is flights which cost me £240.

I arrive 23rd September (fingers crossed with everything that's been going on), the transplant will be done over 2 days then fly home 26th September.

I'll keep this thread updated with my progress, here's my itinerary:

 

[chipperhead]

Please don’t be offended by this but I’ve never understood being so vain or self conscious as to consider paying out to have a hair transplant but that aside I hope it goes well and you get what you want/expect.

Cheers
I'm not offended at all, I think that's why I've waited till now to do it.
As you get older you care less about what other people think, so people probably think it's strange that I'm getting something like this done but I just like having hair. I've tried a crew cut and because I'm quite slim I just think it makes me look ill.

 

[chipperhead]

I considered it, but in the end just got the clippers out and went for a zero. Looks good, helps having a built physique to go with the shaved head and short cut beard.

Yeah I tried that, I just don't rock that look. A beard definitely helps but I'm not really a beard person and can't anyway due to work.

 

[chipperhead]

But as @booyaka says, plenty of folk spend money on nonsense tech/gadgets/cars they thinks make them look better. If it makes the OP happy then fair play to him and hope all goes well.

On an aside but related, I’m wondering now do hair transplants grow like natural hair or what’s the deal? Spose I could google it but can’t really be hooped.

Thanks.
They take individual folicles from the back and sides of your head that are less prone to baldness and implant them at the top. The art is not taking too many otherwise the it can look patchy.
You've got to be realistic though, I'm not going to have the hairline like when I was 18. It's still going to be a receeding hairline but a bit lower than it is now and fuller.

 

[chipperhead]

Good luck buddy,

ive been looking into this myself, i priced up 4k having it done here in the UK though. i dont suit a bald head so i refuse to whip the whole thing off. id be very interested to see the results!

Cheers.
A friend of mine had it done in the UK and spent 8k for 1600 grafts, he had it done about 18 months ago, it 's not great and he's pretty disappointed.
When I first looked into transplants my initial thoughts were to avoid Turkey but the more you research I think unless you're spending 8k at an absolute minimum for me the UK wasn't an option.
Turkey have some of the best transplant surgeons in Europe.

How many grafts have they quoted for 4k?

 

[chipperhead]

I follow someone on YouTube who had it done, worth a watch.

Yeah I've seen a few of his videos, he's had great results.
If I remember correctly he went to a clinic in London that charges top prices. Did he get it for free to advertise it or something or at a reduced rate?
He appears to have a great donor area that's very dense, I'm sure mine isn't as good as his so I've got more realistic expectations.

 

[chipperhead]

i cant remember how many grafts, but i think it was for 2000 hair strands (for lack of the proper word) unless thats what you class as a graft?

i wouldnt be put off by turkey personally, but i think id only go based on recommendations

I think unless you've only got fairly minor hairloss and just want a bit of filling for the temples 2000 grafts just isn't enough. And if it's that minor that 2000 would suffice I wouldn't personally have it done.

 

[chipperhead]

So OP what were the results? I see you reading the thread..

I've been meaning to update the thread with my progress. I was just so relieved to go out there and still get it done despite all what's been happening.
The clinic were amazing, I couldn't fault a single thing and I'm extremely pleased with the results.

I'll post some pictures and more info when I get chance in a couple of days.

 

[chipperhead]

So at long last an update, I'll go into some detail for those that are interested.

Firstly this thread seems to have gone a bit deep in places, I didn't get a transplant because I was unhappy in life or hated my appearance, I just though I'd like some more hair and I can afford it so lets go for it.

This was the state of my hair before, obviously I'd combed it up for photos I sent off for the doctor to assess how bad it was.




It wasn't an ideal start as my return flight home got cancelled a couple of weeks before I was due to go so I was a bit stressed. I managed to sort another flight for the following day then messaged the clinic who said no problem and booked me in for another night for £30.

Heading out and my receding hairline doesn't look good. I've clippered my hair before and I just don't suit the bald look, I think I just look poorly.



I arrived Wednesday evening then straight to a hospital for a blood test and then back to the hotel. I had the same driver all the time while I was there who was really professional and always on time.

The following morning I was greeted outside the hospital by my interpreter, a really nice bloke who basically stayed at my side the entire time I was there. I then met Doctor Turan who had my blood results, including covid results and we discussed my family male pattern baldness history and what hairline I was after. As I'm 46 we agreed a teenage hairline wouldn't look right and also they can only harvest a certain number of grafts and the lower they go, the less density I will achieve.

He spent quite awhile drawing my hairline and making slight alterations until he was happy, finally he asked for my thoughts and if I wanted to make any changes. Then they gave me a Xanax table to make the whole procedure that bit less stressful.



After that straight to another room to get my head shaved and prepped for the op.



Firstly the needleless anaesthesia which was a bit like someone twatting you on the head with a thick elastic band over and over then the injections and saline injections.

They then used a mini coring tool on just under 1000 grafts from the side of my head, followed by a nurse who extracted them with tweezers and sorted them out into singles, doubles, triples and quad hairs and then finally the Doctor implanted these placing the singles at the front for a more natural hairline.

This took us up to lunch then same again in the afternoon.
This was basically repeated in the afternoon and 2 sessions the following day just extracting from the back and other side of my head, which resulted in 4130 total grafts implanted.

Excuse the dodgy shirt, you can't wear anything that has to go over your head so I nipped to Primark before and got the cheapest throw away shirts I could find.
You can see a bit of swelling but it's not bad at all compared to others.



On an evening I ventured out into Istanbul which was a fascinating place and definitely somewhere I'll be going back as a tourist.

Back to the hospital Saturday to remove the bandages, a very gentle wash and make sure everything looked fine. It was nice staying the extra day, I got to see more of Istanbul and just chill in the room.

Normally what happens after a transplant is the implanted hairs fall out between weeks 2-10 and then start growing back around 3 months. Between months 4-6 you start seeing progress and months 6-9 is the stage where the hair really thickens out and you see the best progress. After this is just a gradual thickening until 12/18 months.

I've had some shedding but certainly haven't lost it all.

You have to sleep sat up for 7 days to avoid swelling and for the best conditions for recovery, for me that was the worst part of the procedure.

This is back home after a few days.



After approx 10 days the clinic requested photos to keep a check of things.







And these were taken in the last few days.





I've never travelled abroad on my own before and it was an amazing experience just going off on my little adventure.
I'm so pleased I chose the Doctor and team that performed the op and have seen since I booked that they have become so popular because of the results the price has gone up from £2000 that I paid in December to £3700 if you book them now.

 

[chipperhead]

Thanks elrasho.
The clinic I went to advises not to wear anything on your head for at least 2 weeks after the op.

My head was hardly swollen, you'd be more self aware of the big bandages covering the back of your head. But no one gives a second glance as there's plenty of other people out there who've had a hair transplant.
They gave me shampoo, saline solution and a special foam to spray on everyday until all the scabs come off on around day 10.

They also gave me one of those neck travel pillows to sleep with and a cover for the aeroplane headrest to minimise chance of infection on the way home.

To sleep I had 2 pillows and the neck cushion so your reclined.

 

[chipperhead]

Good on you Richdog for getting it done.
My first night's sleep was really unsettled but each night got a little better, when you can sleep normal again it's like heaven.
So it's coming up to 10 weeks now and seems like i'm in the small minority who didn't shed. I'm really pleased with how it's going considering month 4 is when most people start seeing positive results.
I'm booked in at the barbers next week just to tidy up the back and sides. It's still slightly red in the recipient area but feels completely normal.

 

[chipperhead]

@chipperhead do you have any scarring from the op?

Fingers crossed it all works out well.

I've just been to the barbers for my first cut since the op, I normally go for a skin fade but just went down to a 1 this time. I've got no scaring at all and you can't tell anything has been done to the back and sides so no evidence of over harvesting.
It's still slightly red on the donor area. I thought that I haven't had any shedding but realised when I run my fingers through my hair I could feel stubble, upon closer inspection I can see lots of hair maybe 2 or 3mm in length between all the longer hair.
I'm really pleased with the progress for 11 weeks.

 

[chipperhead]

Needleless pre-anaesthetic. So I'm guessing they gave you some midazolam as a pill to take the edge off before the procedure, I assume you do not actually remember the procedure?

They gave me a Xanax tablet each morning, just chills you out a bit that's all. I had about 20 needleless pre-anaesthetic injections followed by maybe 30 normal injections of anaesthetic and saline.
You're completely awake and aware the whole time.

@chipperhead how's things on your side, all good?

Yep really pleased with my progress, I've just come up to 4 months now.
Big difference with the before and after.

 

[chipperhead]

@chipperhead @Richdog

How are things going? I'm now seriously considering getting a transplant done myself, so would be keen to hear more of your progress.

Chipperhead your results look amazing.

Thanks Participant, I'm really pleased with how thinks are going.
Density has improved, to be honest I don't even think about it anymore.
I need to get to the barbers when they open back up as it needs a tidy up.

I took this December 2019


And a couple today.

 

[chipperhead]

Looking good Richdog, you should be very pleased with your results.
I chose to wait till it was really bad then go for a big procedure, so unlike you nearly everyone knows I've had my hair done. It's all been positive feedback and those who don't know comment that I look really well or that I look younger.
I'll probably go back in a few years for a top up on the crown and if possible a bit more in the temples.
It's been a year to the day since I had mine done, I'll post some photos when I get chance later today of my progress.

 

[chipperhead]

Exactly one year ago I went to Turkey for my transplant so I think I've achieved my maximum results now.
I'm really pleased with the results and can't recommend it enough for others thinking of going. Just make sure you do plenty of research.

 

[chipperhead]

Well I've just booked an FUE procedure in Turkey for mid October. Can't wait now I'm taking the plunge!

Great progress so far.
The numbing injections smart a little when they are administering them but it's over quickly and well worth it.
Enjoy Istanbul, it's a fascinating place, I went all over on an evening.
All the best buddy!!

 

[chipperhead]

I'm coming up to 2 years soon, here's an update.

 

[chipperhead]

Looks great. Are you still pleased with the outcome? Any intention to have another procedure at all in the future?

Yep really pleased, I'm sure I'll go back at some point for a top up on the top and crown. I've got quite a bit of donor hair left but also happy to use beard and chest hair.
I'd also like a bit of reshaping at the front if it's possible but I'm not that bothered

Looking good chip! Apologies if I missed this in your previous replies but do you now take any medication also?

I use topical minoxidil religiously twice a day and ketoconazole shampoo one or twice a week.
I started taking finasteride about 8 years ago but after about 6 months lost my mojo if you know what I mean. I stopped and things returned back to normal.
There's a lot of debate about the side effects of finasteride and whether it's placebo etc so a few years later I started taking it again and sure enough after a while the same thing happened. I stopped again and things returned back to normal but took a bit longer than last time, probably a few months.
Now whether it was all in my head or it affected me medically the end result was the same and obviously unacceptable.
I personally think it was definitely a medical issue and I certainly won't ever take finasteride again.

 

[chipperhead]

Looking great mate, should see some good thickening from now on