gimmefiction

Thanks Dolph! I think its important to have proper expectations when you get this done. I wasn't expecting movie star hair and I am still quite limited on what kind of hair styles I can do because my hair isn't super thick, but definitely an improvement I can live/ work with.

Thanks guys! I know they aren't the best progress pics to look at, but I hope it gives you an idea. Yeah Busa, I think your right. I knew this going into the procedure that I'd probably want a touch up later. I think that will be in several years, but we'll see. When do people usually get a touch up? Also, I know there are some who say 26 is too young, but now I'm 28 seeing the full results. I couldn't imagine waiting any longer, I feel so much better.

I wanted to make this post for a while because this forum was so helpful for me when I made my decision to get FUE with Dr. Hakan Dognay. I had my procedure in November of 2013 so I am just going to really touch on my experience, advice and results but I am open to questions! As far as my “hair loss story” I had been self-conscious about my hair loss since high school. I had a small bald spot but it didn’t bother me until my hairline started receding. I started findecide in 2011 and people started teasing me about my hair about this time. I started thinking about doing this one day and knew Turkey was a great economical way to get the procedure done right. In 2012 I was transferred to Azerbaijan for my job, which is just a quick 2-hour flight from Turkey. This is when I got really serious about getting the procedure. I contacted several doctors but only about half I contacted wanted to work with me (I was 26 years old at the time). I called and emailed Dr. Hakan’s office and was impressed with their response and quickly booked. BEFORE YOU BOOK – Some advice! While this is not a traumatic procedure per say, it is difficult to come to terms with. Before you decide to do surgery I would highly recommend doing a number of things just to feel better about yourself! Start going to the gym, get a new wardrobe, get a new more flattering hair cut and consider changing your hair color if that will help give the illusion of more hair. Are you happy!? Do things for yourself! Anyways, I had done all those things and felt great about myself, but wanted to still go ahead and get this done. Do all these things though! It helps with the “ugly duckling” phase. ☺ Anyways, as far as the experience with Dr. Hakan, remember you are going to Turkey to do this for less that the states. I had them book me their normal room accommodation and pick me up. One of Hakan’s assistants picked me up in her own personal car. Don’t expect anything fancy! The hotel was very basic and clean. Your going to notice right away that Ankara has a lot of medical tourists from all over the region. You will see lots of people in the hotel wrapped up! I was sitting in the lobby and someone started talking to me who just had their transplant done. They were from Syria had gotten a procedure by someone else that was recommended by the forum. Anyways, that was super cool, this is a global community! I had Dr. Hakan look at my scalp at an office in a big hospital. My procedure happened in his own clinic that was in a residential style building (all very clean). The procedure took a full day. First I got my head shaved and pictures taken! Say good bye to your vanity! The first phase I had local anesthesia (I tried to be tough and said I was ok with just a little, but get a lot!). All the grafts were taken by a nurse. All were very friendly and I was totally at ease. The assistant who picked me up from the airport was with me the whole time to translate if necessary. I had a Turkish lunch and some time to rest and then it was time to get the grafts in place. Dr. Hakan was there for the whole time during this period and he placed the hairline with single grafts. After he placed the front hairline a nurse assisted him to place all the rest of the hairs after the hairline. MY ONLY CRITISISM – The left side of my head is the side the nurse completed and this side doesn’t appear to have as many grafts. If I did this again I would talk to Hakan about this or see if he could do the whole side. Anyways, I had 2870 grafts, 650 single, 1570 double, and 650 triple. Most of this work went into the front with a few hundred in the crown (I knew this was kind of a black hole and I still have a little bit of a bald spot here). I went back to the hotel and crashed. I ordered a grilled cheese from room service and just hung out there. The next day I felt good enough to put on a cap and walk over to the Ankara aquarium (biggest aquarium in Europe, super cool!). The next day I went in for my washing. I got some free findecide, some shampoo and lotion or whatever (kinda forget). ANYWAYS – TIME TO PAY. I planned on paying with two separate credit cards. I called and confirmed I was traveling, yadda yadda. The credit card terminal would not work!!! It was so stressful, I thought they thought I was scamming them. They insisted I go to a bank and withdraw the cash which is impossible… Anyways, eventually we got it sorted by calling their credit card processor. I BARLEY made it to the airport in time to fly home. I took a week at home to rest and then went to Dubai the next weekend. My scabs had washed off and it looked awesome! I looked like I had a tight military cut. Shortly after…. It all falls out. Time to wait! I showed up to work 4 weeks after my procedure completely shaved! People totally noticed. Some people were polite and ignored it, but other guys pulled me aside to ask A MILLION questions (this may have been cultural though). I wish I would have just owned it that I did this. You’ve done the research, you are confidant that your going to get results. Just own it. I kind of denied it for a few weeks and then everyone knew eventually. Below are pictures of my progress over 1.5 years. I feel like I am just now starting to see the full results (longer than the 1 year I had ambitiously hoped). Anyways, you’ll see that after month fifteen I started playing with my hair color. I think that helped me a lot and my hair looks denser. The hair transplant was so long ago from today that you kind of loose hope but now I am really surprised and happy how well its looking. The only concern I have is that the side the nurse implanted has been slow to come in. I’m hoping that that will fill in more with time. Feel free to ask me any questions. Sorry the photos are kinda goofy as I didn’t stage any photos just for this. If you would like me to take some other pics of my results I don't mind. Anyways, I hope this can help! This wasn't cheap for me and it was tough for my self esteem during the "ugly duckling phase" but today I think it was totally worth it. Thanks guys!

Hello! I live in Azerbaijan which is very close to Turkey. I am looking at being able to take 17-20 days off work and was wondering if it is comfortable to travel extensively during this time as I do not want to spend all this time at home. I was planning Baku Azerbaijan - Turkey - Portland Oregon - Houston Texas - Drive to Dallas and back - Back to Baku. It is a pretty frenzied itinerary of about 4 days in each place. I haven't been home in almost a year and wanted to know if those who traveled for FUE was it enjoyable or were you just ready to kiss the ground afterwards and didn't want to move.

Hey guys, I've been on the sidelines waiting for where the chips land. Thanks for mainly addressing my concern about my age. You've helped me think about and decide that it is more important for me to bulk up my hair line and look great in my younger years. If I am seriously thinning at 40 I will be much more comfortable about it than I am now. Plus, I am an optimistic person so I am hoping for the best. You helped me think about the worst case scenario. Question - About how many graphs does a person usually have in their "bank?" I know it will be a wide varying range. Ha, now really the worst scenario now seems to be the "ugly duck" phase. LOL. I work for a business in luxury that kind of emphasizes appearances.... Just have to get through that first month it seems. I was looking at pictures of guys who had areas shaved vs the entire head.... Ha, I'm pretty sure I would look a disaster if I tried that. Will be nice to shave the dome and try that look out. I also sent inquiries now to Erdogan in Turkey and also Maras in Cyprus. Got a cool picture with lines on my head from Maras almost instantly which was cool. I'd be happy to share more info from what I've gotten but I feel like I should read the terms of service first or something. Thanks guys

So I contacted a few doctors in the region today and was pleasantly surprised with some of their quick responses. One said around 3000 - 3500 grafts and the other said 4000 - 4500. Wow! I didn't realize I was in such a need for a huge job. Does that sound high? The one thing I am nervous about (HA - cause there is only one ) is that I am still young. If I have been doing propetia for two years and my loss has stopped (from what I can tell), and I understand in 10 years I will need a touch up most likely I am ready yes?

Hey guys! I started getting comments on my thinning in high school. Now, my hairline has started to thin quite a bit. With my fare complexion a lot of times bright light just shines completely through my hair making me look bald. I've started getting more self conscious about it in pictures especially, my hair line appears so much higher than it seems in real life. Anyways! I am American living in Azerbaijan so I am just a three hour flight to Turkey. HA, the locals here (who are very friendly but very forward) often suggest me to take rogain and also that I can get a hair transplant here for a euro a graft (HA - have not heard ANY stories about Azerbaijan hair transplants... so NO). I've been taking Propetia or similar generics for about two years. I have noticed major slowing of hair loss but I still would like to lower my hairline and add some density to the middle. I have heard others warn about getting a transplant so young, but I hope my balding has been significantly slowed. I am here asking am I ready and about how many grafts do you think I would need? I am considering Hakan Dogan or Demirsoy in Turkey but am still doing my research. Thanks guys!