Andalus

Hi I shared my experience at the time in the following thread and was, and still am, sceptical that I got the full number of grafts I paid for and all grafts appear to be single hairs and the small area which suffered over-harvesting still does not look pretty - but fortunately, I only see that when the barber waves the mirror behind me when he finishes!

Hi - from my experience with Longevita in 2012, they are the middle-men who generate the clients (sales) outside Turkey who then sub-contract you to the surgeon they have made an agreement with. It was Dr Enis for me (although he after the first few minutes, he was not really involved). I was asked to pay a 50% "deposit" of the total price (£3500) I was quoted to Longevita directly (by Paypal) which I assume was the commission and told I need to pay the other 50% in sterling cash directly to the surgeon/clinic.

Ok, here's the update. Longevita have offered a "free" session for some more grafts which I have been contemplating but since there are donor areas which in which over-harvesting is obvious, particularly behind the ear areas, I am an unsure I have enough grafts remaining for another session without being totally bald in large areas on the sides and back! When I queried that the density I was told did not match the number of hair (never mind grafts) - that I could physically count, I was told that it was my hair type resulting in the non-growth of all the grafts and that another session, the free one, could not guarantee results if my hair was the "wrong type". So why would I go through the torment of surgery followed by the several months of anxiety while it grows with potentially worse results in the donor area? Overall, I have way more hair than I did before the surgery which is noticeable so its not all bad but it's a shame that I did not get the 5900 grafts I paid for as well as not having enough grafts remaining in the donor area for any future surgery from a reputable surgeon. One final note regarding the contracts. Longevita made me sign a form exonerating them from any liability saying that this was between myself and the clinic although my contract was with them and not their sub-contractor! Looking back, this was incorrect and and should not be accepted. If I could turn back the clock, would I go with Longevita again? Probably not but if the low price did tempt me, I would implement these lessons learnt: 1. Have the English speaking chaperone Longevita provide in the surgery room throughout surgery so I am not stuck with totally non-English speakers, rather than just drop you off since her/his service is included for the full duration of your procedure. 2. Have the Chaperone record the entire procedure in detail so the number of incisions, grafts etc can be counted on replay. 3. Ask to see the grafts - count them and the number of hair in each. 4. Challenge along the whole way. 5. I'm not sure how to avoid the over-harvesting in one area - may be insist the Surgeon who was sold undertakes the surgery and not other trainees! One thing which may prevent practising the above is the fact you are sedated and only half conscious - so take a friend or your wife to undertake the full management, questioning and challenging role along with filming the evidence! All the best to anyone considering Longevita.

Thanks for the suggestion HairKlepto.

Hi Janna - thanks for your response. I will upload pictures from my donor area next week after I have had a haircut as it is quite grown at the moment. The response I have had from Longevita's Doctor to explain my lack of density has been to suggest that my post-op aftercare carelessness may have resulted in the lack of density or some grafts not having grown due to my hair type! The former is certainly not the case since I was extremely careful in following the post-op instructions. The latter does concern me since the offer for another free session was appended with the result may still not be satisfactory if my "hair type" did not allow some grafts to grow!

Does not look like any expert is going to comment?

Here is the number of actual grafts in the 3 petri-dishes on day one which do not look like 3500. They said there were others but I do not remember seeing any other. The other photos are of the number of incisions made on day one, which do seem to cover a large part of the top of the head but then the other pictures from the next day seems to suggest that perhaps not all of those incisions were filled since the dried implants do not extend to cover the same breadth. And the last photo shows the full head after the second day of surgery. Any views?

After I contacted Longevita last week with current pics (1 year on which I posted on this thread here too http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/165533-did-i-get-number-grafts-i-paid.html) They have said that Dr Eneskin is prepared to increase my density as long as I pay for flights and accomodation. I do not mind paying to go back if it will achieve the result but my concerns are: 1. Are there enough grafts remaining in the donor areas from which nearly 6000 grafts were allegedely taken? 2. Is there a danger that incisions in areas where hair has already been transplanted, the existing grafts will be damaged not really leading to the benefit of a surgery? 3. Do I really want to go through the ordeal of surgery and post-op recovery again?

Thanks for the feedback Adamson. I have been skeptical from the start and believe that I have had probably no more than 2500 grafts. That's because on the first day of my surgery, there were two petridishes with 2 pads containing my grafts and one containg three pads if I am not mistaken. That is about 1250 grafts based on 250 grafts per pad. The following day, I counted no more than 1000 incisions being made and when I questioned this, I was told my skin was numb due to the anasthetic so I must have missed some. This did not sound too plausible since I was counting based on the piercing sound being made by each incision and that is when I was told that each petridish with with two pads contained 500 grafts - 250 per pad. I cannot remember now how many dishes/pads there were on the second day but I did point out that I had only seen the 3 dishes the day before to which I wa stold there others I did not see. I acquiesced and let them get on with it. But then when I arrived home, I began recalling the two days and a couple of areas which seemed untouched by teh surgery which made me start this thread! I do have pictures one of the technicians was kind enough to take on my phone during some of the procedure and may have to count the actual incisions or implanted grafts if possible to double check. An opinion from the experts would be most welcome.

hi - any views?

Hi - I had a HT through Longevita and always knew they were the middle man and they had arragned a group-call video call with the Surgeon in advance. I also had concerns about the number of grafts which I raised when arriving back to the UK which I posted aboout here with Pics. http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/165533-did-i-get-number-grafts-i-paid.html The result is mixed and varied - more density at the front and less at the back - which does add up to some extent based on the explanation from the Dr Enis Keskin who himself conformed the number of grafts eliminating the prospect of Longevita having taken payment for for 6000 Grafts and paying the clinic for a lot less. To Longevita's credit, they did commit to have the corrective work covered, if any was required after a 6 month review. I would say that if anyone has concerns, its good to contact Longevita and give them an opportunity to explain and remedy the situation. They did respond to all my concerns and questions and I did not get teh impression that now they had my money, they were not interested anymore. Hope that helps.

Hi I was intending to upload some current photos in order to get the views of members if they still thought that was 5900 Grafts worth - thanks for the prompt! The said 3500 grafts concentrated a tthe front have come out quite well but the said 2400 distributed around the centre and back do not provide teh same kind of density. Do people still think 5900 grafts are probable comparing to the before pictures I posted earlier? I paid approx ?3500 GBP. Thanks

Hi - The surgeon was Dr Enis Keskin who started the procedure but it was another younger guy and his team to performed the bulk of it thereafter. It is looking good even though I am at the stage where the hair is beginning to shed now in the recipient area as per the phases following a transplant. I went through a paranoid phase straight after surgery and started this thread where you can find some photos I posted. http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/165533-did-i-get-number-grafts-i-paid.html

I had a hair FUE transplant with Longevita 3 weeks - 5900 Grafts over two days. Quite good overall. Would have been better if there was at least one fluent English speaker in the surgery team to explain what they were doing and answer questions I was I was raising instantly without having to go and find an English speaker in the builder! Other than that, I would definitely recommend Longevita. Their after-care is good too with quick responses from the doctor with post surgery concerns and questions and they have committed to a 6 month review to make sure I am happy.

Thanks guys - that makes me feel better.

Thanks - I hope so!

I enquired with the clinic to confirm the number of grafts and here is part of the reply I received this morning: "In Mr. ****'s particular case, the capacity of the donor area allowed the surgery team to extract 5,900 grafts (3,500 on the first day and 2,400 on the second day). On the front parts, they managed to implant around 50-60 grafts per cm2 since they used the grafts, which had less number of hair on, hence had smaller diameters. On the top parts, however, they implanted around 30 grafts per cm2. This technique allowed a natural looking hair, as well as an even density overall." Does that sound credible?

Here are my post Op Pics as my donor area was being bandaged.

So you think I have more likely have had 3000 grafts?! I was definitely quoted and paid for 6000 grafts in writing and told that 5900 were accomplished.

This is what the recipient area looks like on day 9 from two angles, front and top. I have shed some hair witht the scabs too I guess. Not sure if they provide any clues? The other two pictures are pre-op.

No, it was over two days. What concerned me was there were only 3 petri-dishes on day one with two containing two pads of grafts and the third containing three pads. I don't think they made the 3500 worth claimed for that day but they said there were others not photographed on my camera. On the second day, I counted approx 1000 incisions but allegedly had 2900 grafts. The explanation was that I potentially did not feel all of them due to the anaesthetic even though I was counting the piercing sound in 100's on my fingers. Also, the number of incisions made on day one (they photographed on my camera phone) seemed far more than what the post transplant photo of that day seems to show which may suggest a high volume of follicle wastage. Are you supposed to just accept the number they tell you without any way of being to confirm it?

Hi - recently had 5900 FUE but how can I be sure I received that many? Is there a way of telling by the post op photo which I had taken straight after while I was still at the clinic?