Bazancourt

Hi, this is my final update. This time last year, I was in a hotel recovering from a hair transplant surgery. Today, I've just had my final consultation with Dr Diep on Skype and now I'm just relaxing at home during the Christmas break. From the photos I've posted, it should demonstrate that the hair transplant has been a success.My biggest fear last year was that I was going to be one of those unlucky folks whose head wouldn't react well to hair surgery. Meaning that the transplanted hair wouldn't grow. Thankfully, that was not the case. In the photos, the first 8 photos are taken before I had my surgery. This is to show how bad my hair loss was. The last 3 photos at the end are the ones that were sent to me by Dr Diep, they were taken an hour before the surgery. The rest of the photos in between were taken 2 days ago and are the final results of my hair transplant. I've provided pics from left, right, front and back. The biggest change came between month 5 and 7. Pretty much all my transplanted grew in that period and the sheer speed that it grew meant that it honestly felt as though my hair grew overnight. It was the kind of results I was expecting to get in September/October, not in May or June. The fact that it all grew meant that I had no bald spots or hair missing in the corners and so I could get a hair cut and go about my business as if my hair transplant was complete, when in reality I still had 6 more months left until the final results. I honestly can't say why my hair grew so fast and so successfully. I didn't do anything special, I only took Propecia and in fact I had stopped taking the Vitamin pills recommend to boost hair growth, back in February. From July onward, it was more or less about how thick my transplanted hair would get. Nothing really happened in July or August but from September to December, that's when my transplanted hair began to get thicker and now my transplanted hair and the rest of my original hair feel and look the same. In regards to Propecia, I take one every other day (instead of one ever single day) for cost reasons and it's done me no harm. My biggest regret was not taking it much much earlier. As I said last year, I only decided to take Propecia after Dr Diep told me on the morning of the surgery that taking Propecia was extremely important and that if I didn't, the surgery would be pointless as I would continue to lose more hair. Without his stark warning, I probably wouldn't have taken it. I just wish I hadn't read all the horror stories that put me off taking it 2 years ago. So overall, I can say that the surgery worked. All my transplanted hair grew and I don't have any issue with hair loss. The only worry I have is what kind of hairstyle to have and that's a dilemma I've not had since 2010. One of the great feelings to have after your hair has grown is that feeling of going outside and not caring in the slightest when the wind blows against my face. It may seem insignificant, but trust me, it's one of those fantastic feelings knowing that you don't have to worry about the wind messing up your hair, the hair that you spent 30 mins styling and applying hair spray on so it could keep your hair in one place in order to hide the receding hair-line and bald spot in the corners. Another great feeling is being able to rub your hair back and forth and just in general run your hands through hair. Again, it may not seem much but it was something I wouldn't do outside my house, otherwise it would simply expose my hair loss. I will be going back to Dr Diep for more surgery in a year or two, but it won't be for the top of my head but for my temple points. As you can see from my photos, my temple points isn't that great. It's not a real issue, but once you know that hair transplant works and works so well, you want the perfect hairline and the temple point is part of that. So that's all. I'm genuinely amazed to think that 18 months ago, I was depressed and resigned to hair loss in my early 20s and that the idea of hair transplant was either a load of nonsense or something only the wealthy could get done. I still come across people who hold those views and they point to celebrities like Rooney getting it done to highlight that not only is it expensive (it's not) but hair transplant doesn't really work as it makes you look worse, as if you have a wig on. I always direct people to this forum and Dr Diep's youtube channel to show them that it's simply not the case. You just need to do your research and find a good surgeon.

Hi, these are the photos I took 6 months ago. They were taken on the 28th of June, but it seems like I forgot to post an update. Anyway, my 12 month update will be in the next post.

Sorry for the late update, been busy and completely forgot. It's almost 3 months since the surgery and these are the pictures. In regards to how my head is healing, it's pretty much healed fine after a month. The numbness has completely gone and it doesn't feel like I've had any surgery done. I was able to return to the Gym at the start of February and I've not held back. Been doing weight training, sit ups, running on the treadmill and no reaction, no scar stretching. Propecia seems to be working and there's been no reaction. Hopefully within the next few months by hair grafts should start growing. Weirdly enough, quite a number have remained in place. Prior to the surgery, the corners were clean bald, but now, there's baby hair and hair that's been growing naturally in that area. I was anticipating all my transplanted hair would fall out after a month or so, but that's not been the case, which was a pleasant surprise. I'll post another update in a couple of months time

Interesting. I'm just annoyed that I didn't start on it sooner or even try it out. The scare stories really freaked me out. So far so good and I'm just hoping it stays that way.

I've started using Propecia since my HT and I've suffered no real side affects. My sex drive was low for the first few days and my skin became very oily but all of that went away by the 5th day of using it and I've felt normal since. How long is before I can safely assume that Propecia is fine for me. Can the usual side affects you hear about kick in 2 months after using it?

If you actually read the Hair1978 blog (instead of making an assumption), you'd know his going back for a second procedure. This is what he said in his blog a year after his first procedure Oh, I wonder why that is? Perhaps Dr Diep informed him that the number of grafts he was getting in the first procedure wasn't going to give him good density? The guy wanted FUE. It's common for people that bald to go back for several procedures, especially in the case of FUE. He's had a successful transplant in which all his hair has grown and he's now going back to add more, to give it more density. Look at this recent video from a few weeks ago. This guy was pretty much bald on the top. No doubt Dr Diep (who is very pro FUE) recommended that he have a strip procudre since you get more grafts from that in one procedure. This bloke had 1 procedure done and he now has a head full of hair. Had he had FUE, he'd have had to go back for more than 1 procedure, like hair1978 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkpU6TK_-6g In my case, I thought I only needed 1,300. When Dr Diep saw me in person, he realized that it would not be enough and that I would need between 1,500-2000 graft and I was no where near the level of balding as that guy. You think Dr Diep simply looked at him and said, yup, you only need 2,026 graft? If you actually watch Dr Dieps videos (and I've watched god knows how many) I've seen in videos in which he clearly describes how many grafts he's going to place on their head and crucially, whether it will give that person good density or not. In most cases, he says it will and his results tend to show for it. But in some videos, he says it won't and more often than not, it is because the patient cannot afford and he say this very clearly. His videos are very annoying on youtube? Fine, why I don't know. Perhaps you dislike his voice. But unprofessional? That makes no sense. Why? It's clear, detailed and straight to the point? - unprofessional because he uploads videos on a fortnightly basis? With a variety of different videos being uploaded such as Pre-op, post op, 1 week, 2 weeks, 5 months, 12 month video updates being uploaded of patients. - unprofessional because he zooms in to show the results of his work, combing the hair forward and backward and not deceiving viewers like photos do? - unprofessional because he shows and educates his viewers on how the FUE or FUT is done? - unprofessional because his patients come back to show their results and in some cases, show their face and give a testimonial? unprofessional because he categories his results on his channel in order so that one section on his channel has African American results, another has Caucasian results and another has Asian results and it's suited to a persons need? How very annoying and unprofessional of him. I wish he'd stop uploading results and pre-procedure videos on a regular basis and instead kept all his videos on his website and only have a select few. The great thing about his videos are that their not flashy and there's no gimmick. It's a simple, here's the patient, this is is the procedure that's going to be performed or, here is the patient and this is the result, followed by photos of what they looked like before.

As promised, I've posted pics 1 week after the surgery. Overall, it's been an easier week than I thought. I think I've been overly cautious when it comes to washing my hair as I'm petrified I might damage the graft. Now that it's been a week, I can now go back to my regular showering routine, however this time I'll be showering twice a day and gently rubbing the graft in a circular fashion in order to remove the scabs. I'm more confident in doing that now since a week has passed. In terms of the donor, its healing well I think. I was told to expect numbness and tightness in that area and although it has felt tight sometimes, especially when coughing and laughing, it's been fine. Oddly enough, the feeling has returned in that area. I was expecting at least a month or two (maybe more) of numbness and not being able to feel the skin/scalp around the strip. The recipient area however has been much tighter and still feels a little tight. Whether that's due to the dryness in the area and the scabs, who knows. Hopefully within a week or two, the tightness will go away along with the scabs. Sleeping is still a bitch. The dissolvable sutures are annoying when lying on the back of my head as it really itches, especially at either side of the ends of the sutures. I'm supposed to leave it for 2 weeks and let it dissolve and if there's still any left after that period, I should get it removed. Can't wait till it's all gone and I can sleep properly and roll about without worrying about the graft and donor area. I'll probably post another set of pics after a month. http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/attachment.php?attachmentid=54210&stc=1&d=1388052337 http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/attachment.php?attachmentid=54211&stc=1&d=1388052371 http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/attachment.php?attachmentid=54212&stc=1&d=1388052394 http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/attachment.php?attachmentid=54213&stc=1&d=1388052417 http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/attachment.php?attachmentid=54214&stc=1&d=1388052436 http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/attachment.php?attachmentid=54215&stc=1&d=1388052490

Just saw lorenzo post, I'll stop debating now since he makes a valid point. You think he's a bad surgeon, fine fair enough and you know why I had an issue. I believe he's excellent and his videos (not photos) are consistently good with patients after patients being more than happy to show their faces to reveal their full results and there being weekly updates on his youtube channel. Hence, why I chose him as I believe photos can be deceiving when it comes to results Anyway, apologise for any personal attacks or if I offended you

No no no, far from it. The scar did stretch, but large portion of that is due to the Keloid. Just look at the size of it, it's massive and obvious. That was the point I was making. If you have kelod, you will get keloid in the area you had your strip, because thats where the wound was. I've seen videos (I really don't want to seem like a promotor) of people with scar issues doing to Diep and having it corrected using FUE and having the scars filled in and its barely visible. The videos are there on his channel. Really? I signed the forms before I had surgery. Dr Diep in his emails and forms clearly informs you to take a variety of tests. Funnily enough and I'm being honest here, I saw on the form asking me whether I suffered from Keloid. I knew months in advance due to the forms I was sent via email. Dr Diep in his reply in that thread clearly said that he never operates on a patient that suffers from Keloid. The forms also explain detail of all the warnings that come with the procedure. I was initially sent 4 attachment files for both FUE and FUT and it told me of all the risks and what could potentially happen. Pretty sure the patient read that. Dr Diep even told me face to face that I would get a permanent scar and that that no matter how good he is with his closure, there's no such thing as free scar operation.

Honestly, criticise him all you want. I've got criticism against him (as well as praise) and I've got criticism against some of the best doctors on her. My issue with you was never about your criticism as such, but your constant "This doctor is awful, he shouldn't be recommended on here, I've always been againt his recommendation and he should be removed" kind of attitude that your posts reeks of when it comes to Dr Diep is what I and others don't get. Not your criticism.

Instead of Just point it out is what I was meant to say and for that, I apologies. However, my point on that post still stands. Instead of just pointing it, you took it as an opportunity to attack Dr Diep as being an awful doctor and how you were sick of him. Again, instead of just pointing out that the directs of the graft weren't good, you once again, said it as an opportunity to attack Dr Diep and how he should not be recommended. A consist pattern that you show. Add the word "Just" to that sentence and see the difference. On my part, I apologise. I was typing to fast and I have a habit of making spelling mistakes and missing words when writing a lot in a post. It's not an essay, I don't normally go back to proof read. Now, I never tried to make it personal or attack you as a person. But if you want to go down that path, I have read many of your post and many of them are knowledgeable and helpful. However, there were times were you yourself were deceitful and perhaps a liar. Allow me to demonstrate in a discussion you took part in, in this particular thread. Pages 22 and 23 to be precise..... http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/170537-donor-scar-options-23.html And here's an example of a member pulling you up on one of your deceitful claims Here is you making a point. The very honest person that you are.... And here's someone pulling you up on it..... Now why you've decided to make it personal and attack me, I do not know. If you want to be petty, go ahead. Like I said, your criticism of Dr Diep are valid and they make sense. Many Surgeons on here are criticized and I don't have a problem with criticism. However the blatant over the top exasperation you seem to show and constantly making out that he performs poor work, on of the fact that at every opportunity you moan about him being recommended his pretty sad. As you said, I shouldn't bother reading your posts. But I'm sure people can make their own judgement and others have noticed that you do seem to have it for Dr Diep.

Have you ever heard of a Keloid without a scar stretching? :confused: That's how it works. The Keloid develops and thus stretches the scar, which creates for the Keloid to exist and to be clearly visible. But lets say you are absolutely right and that it was scar stretching, can any surgeon categorically guarantee that someones scar won't stretch? In my case, I'm going to say away from doing any heavy exercising for 3 months to be safe. Some say its fine after a month. No surgeon can guarantee that your scar won't stretch. It could stretch naturally due to the way your body and skin is or because of what you did post surgery. Now, you were kind enough to post an example. Here is an example from Dr Diep. Remember, I too am African and I saw that thread weeks before the surgery and I could have very easily cancelled, but i know the difference between Keloid and scaring and having done my research and seen examples, there wasn't cases and cases of Dr Diep performing poor FUT and his patients having poor scarring. Here's an example of not an Indian, or a European, but an African American. Example1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlTJjZoXcoghttp://nlTJjZoXcog Example2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aG3j19fY2Oc But if anyone read your post in that thread, one would assume that Dr Diep consistently give patients poor scarring. Thankfully I didn't bother and read the posts of others and the moderators in particular and read Dr Dieps explanation in which he also posted pictures of successfully healed scars on African Americans.

Ah, that old classic.

At last, someone has finally decided to point this out. I didn't want to say anything until someone else did. I too genuinely want to know why Mickey85 seems to hate him. I read about Dr Diep on this forum many times for the past year and even read threads and posts about him dating back years ago. Moderators and members alike have praises his work and said he is an excellent Dr. To be honest, I didn't need this forum to say it, because I only need to go and watch the hundreds of his videos on youtube in which the results are there to see. Some are amazing, some are good and some are decent. There's criticism (which I absolutely encourage and creates a healthy debate) and then there's blatant attacking a doctor. At every opportunity, he seems to bash Dr Diep and keeps saying how he didn't want him referred and that he should be removed from the recommendation. For example, I'm of African descent and had a strip surgery with Dr Diep. There was a thread from a guy (who was black) just weeks before my surgery in which he too had a strip done with Dr Diep 2 months ago. He mentioned that developed a large scar. Sadly on his part, he suffered from Keloid as others had pointed out, not scar stretching, something common in African Americans. However, instead of pointing it out, Mickey85 used it as the an opportunity to attack Dr Diep and made it out like he has done this numerous of times to patients when that clearly wasn't the case. Not only wasn't there another case on here, but I simply went on his channel and found an African American who had the strip 1 year later and his scar had healed and was barely visible. Now I'm not a representative of Dr Diep or nor do I go round championing him and telling people to go to him. I've never done that on this forum and every should do their own research and choose their own Doctor. If someone says there are better FUE surgeons than Dr Diep or that he is the best one, fine either way. I'm not going to agree or disagree with them. In fact, I too have criticism of Dr Diep, nobody is immune of Criticism, not even the best. My criticism of him is that he is very very pro FUE, that it's the future and its the best method of hair transplant for those with less than Norwood 4. I on the other hand believe that FUT is just as good as FUE. Which is ironic, because Micky85 is a very pro FUE like Dr Diep. However when you search Dr Diep and you see the same person constantly attacking him to the point where it seems like his work his awful and that he is an unethical doctor, it gets pretty tiresome

Fixed. Seems like I made a mistake with the attachment