IstanbulHT

I slept the first night in an upright position and the drugs kept me still and asleep the whole night. The first morning there was some scabbing and my forehead above the headband was swollen. My visible scalp was discolored a little pinkish. I used an ice pack and it really did relieve the swelling situation. The scabs were noticeable and I hope they only lessen daily. The driver came in the morning and I was taken to the clinic for a wash and inspection. The technician washed my hair, instructed me how to do this at home and trimmed some of my existing hair to blend in better with the shorter front and crown. I received a new headband and was taken home. There was really no change in the scabs or color of my scalp. Throught the day there was not much pain, and I stayed indoors. Due to the looks of the look of my mis mashed hair and grafts, along with the scabs I did not venture outside once. I only looked in the mirror and dared not touch anything. I had no itching and no pain, only tightness in the donor area. My feelings this day were subdued and I read profiles on this site and looked at many you tube videos. It was all helpful, and it is amazing how many questions come up. I prepared for bed and my paranoia of touching my grafts continued so I set the pillows in an upright position where my head touched nothing. I took my meds as prescribed and hope for the best.

I had a 2800 FUT with Dr. Melike last week and have begun a blog on my profile page about my experiences at Transmed. I am pleased with the customer service at this point, but must wait out my year for any results to be apparent. I will keep my blog up and check in from time to time. IstanbulHT.

I had received a phone call a few days previously requesting I move my appointment from a Monday to a Tuesday. This was possible and I was informed the Chauffeur would arrive at my building at 0830. I had done my scalp exercises and was prepared to begin. I slept well and the driver was in front of my door at 0830. He was very friendly and helped me keep my mind off the upcoming FUT. Traffic was heavy, but he navigated his way to the clinic and I arrived at 0900. I signed a disclaimer, paid my balance and was escorted to the doctor's office. My only surprise that day was that Dr. Apaydin was ill and my procedure was to be administered by Dr. Melike Fuhlaci, a name I had read about on this site. She looked at my hair with a tool in the back and I was able to see potential donor grafts of 1 - 4 hairs, with numerous 3's. I hope this bodes well. She drew a hair line and used a laser instrument to adjust any noticeable discrepancies. She escorted me to the operating theater and there I met the technicians who would be assisting. I was given a valium to settle my nerves and the remote control to a television. Dr. Melike was quite social and our conversation kept me at ease. I would ask from time to time what was going on. First I did feel a few needle pricks as she numbed the area. A nurse was keeping my pulse and offering support. Second she removed the donor patch. At some point the doctor made incisions using different instruments in my forward hair line and crown for the grafts to be fit into. At times this hurt and I asked for more pain killer to be applied. They did so and seconds later I was able to feel nothing. I did not feel this at all, but the sound of cutting flesh was not too pleasant. My donor area was prepared for stapling and the clamps were really tight, that was the most unpleasant feeling of the day. Dr. Melike left the room after I was stapled up and periodically checked in on me. The Technicians took over, some were sitting at the microscopes, others were beginning to place in the grafts. The original plan from Dr. Melike was to let me keep my hair length in front that was present to help mask the work. However, the technicians did shave it back a bit and my hair is rather akward now. Throughout the day, a rotation of technicians usually 3 at a time placed in grafts. They were friendly and scolded me only a few times when I would get restless and move. I cannot explain how sitting still for 6 hours becomes so uncomfortable. It is worse than sitting in coach on an international flight. I was able to eat, take breaks and use the restroom. However, I tried to refrain to accelerate the process. At about 16:45 the technicians announced they were finished. I was able to put my shirt back on and had a consultation with Dr. Melike. Just prior to this I was given an injection in my back side that was pain killer and anti-biotic. There was tightness in my donor area and it did cause mild pain. I was dressed in a headband and some pads on the donor area and informed not to remove any of this that night, nor shower. I was handed a cover up hat, an information folder, Seba Med shampoo, Bipanathol Lotion, a mild steroid and anti inflammatory, antibiotic and one pain killer for the night ahead. I did feel very tired however, the tightness in my head was abating from the injection. I was given several numbers to call if there were any issues and sent home with the driver. I read the information packet about what to expect and when. I slept up right that night on stacked pillows and a towel. There was no seepage that night. I was to be picked up again the next day and transported for my initial wash and instructions. I will start taking Propecia in 2 weeks. I will ask for copies of the photos taken by the clinic on this day pre and post surgery. My feelings that day were optimistic, but honestly there was the nagging voice in my head asking the "what if''s" Namely, What if it does not work, what if it looks worse than before and general skepticism of the procedure, the outcome and wondering if I was wasting a lot of money. My initial look in the mirror was that it was all worth it, but I know I must wait almost a year to be sure. Reading comments here both excites me for the future and some make me anxious. Thanks to all you posters.

I had decided to have a transplant and met with the staff at the Transmed Clinic in Istanbul's Etiler neighborhood. It is a convenient area, and on the day of surgery a chauffeur is arranged for home/hotel pick up and drop off. I met with Mr. Taner concerning procedures available and was soon escorted up stairs to see Dr. Ilker Apaydin. We discussed some of my concerns, his hair line approach and looked at some before and after photos. I booked an appointment two weeks later to have 2800 grafts. He recommended a FUE. I returned to Mr. Taner where pricing became the issue. I had completed an estimated cost on a medical consultation site with Transmed a few days before and it was dramatically lower than what I was quoted at the clinic. The clinic explained that I had selected the price for 500 grafts instead of 2800. I would like to see this feature updated to be more realistic. Mr. Taner worked with me some and I agreed on the less expensive FUT. Although the thought of a scar was not what I wanted, I have generally got good hair coverage at the back and sides of my head. I read that technology is changing, but I cannot help but keep noticing many doctors and sites, even wikipedia, note that FUT grafts do not suffer as much potential trauma and therefore tend to take hold better. I will know in a year. Leading up to my appointment for the FUT I did receive phone calls, emails and information in a timely manner. Clinic Reactions. It was professional, had a fluent multi lingual staff, they listened to me and explained the options and what they entail. I was able to view before and after photos and zero in on patients who had similar balding to mine. I am hoping for a thicker hair line back. My profile photo was taken before one last haircut, appox. one week before my surgery.