delancey

Was Dr. Hakan Doganay your Dr?

Hi Dr. Bhatti, Did you check his donor zone for miniaturization before the HT? I would think that if he lost so much hair on the sides in a relatively short period of time, miniaturization would be very high in the area affected. What is your take on this?

It looks unnatural because there's a gap between the transplanted hairs and the sides. Why weren't the sides filled in too?

In terms of naturalness, the hairline is unbeatable. I would never guess in a million years that he had work done.

Firstly, marketing expenses are just as expensive in Western Europe as in the U.S.. In fact, many clinics advertise online; therefore, the expenses are exactly the same. Secondly, the cost of labor in Western Europe is very high. Have you ever lived in Sweden or in Norway? I highly doubt that techs in the U.S. are earning more than in Belgium, Sweden or Denmark. Thirdly, malpractice insurance is a fixed and variable expense that is held in case a contingency occurs. It's smart business and surely it is just a fraction of the total earnings from 10 dollars per graft that some FUE surgeons are charging in the U.S.. I've lived in 5 countries and I can assure you that running a business in the U.S. is not more expensive than in Europe. Quite the opposite, in fact. European countries can be very expensive, depending on the country. Finally, I will note that supply and demand will determine what U.S. surgeons can and will charge, but I surely couldn't afford to pay $80,000 for two FUE surgeries. Most people can't! Hence the large supply of FUT in the U.S..

Why is it more expensive to own a medical practice in the U.S. than in Europe? I assume that fixed and variable expenses are the same.

If I were you, I would consider going to Dr. Erdogan, Dr. Bisanga or Dr. Lorenzo in Europe. I'm unfamiliar with the pricing of US FUE surgeons, but I believe they charge much more than any of the European FUE doctors. Best of luck to you.

1966, I had a consultation with Dr. Lorenzo and I was quoted 12,500 euros for the first 3000 grafts. 2.5 Euros per graft in the second surgery.

Was this a FUE or strip surgery?

Without a doubt, the cost of FUE is decreasing in Europe. Many European surgeons will charge a discounted rate for the second surgery. For example, Dr. Lorenzo charges (correct me if I'm wrong): 6 x 1000 = 6000 4 x 1000 = 4000 2.5 per graft thereafter. Therefore, the second surgery is charged at 2.5 euros per graft. This makes FUE very competitive and in some cases cheaper than strip in the U.S. and Canada. Have a good day!

Big myth. Do more research please.

If I were you, I would go across the pond and visit Dr Lorenzo or Dr. Bisanga.

I'm still on the fence about whether to get FUE or FUT. I've consulted with 3 of the best Doctors in the world (subjective, of course). One doctor evaluated my donor density as above average and told me that he could get approximately 14,000 grafts via the FUT method. The other Doctor said that I have approximately 9,000-10,000 grafts via FUE available. Being a Norwood 5, with approximately 200 cm2 of area to cover, the decision isn't an easy one. I'm a conservative person by nature. I like to think about every single detail before making a large purchase of any sort. The main benefit of FUE is that I have the option to keep a short hairstyle in the future. Conversely, the main benefit for having a FUT procedure is that I can get more grafts. As a Norwood 5, every graft counts. Hair loss is progressive, unfortunately, and knowing that I have a sufficient donor bank available is a good argument for FUT. I won't make a decision until I feel 100% sure about my decision. I would still like to visit Dr. Konior for an in person consultation. Cheers and thanks for educating the community.

For FUE, consult with Dr. Bisanga, Dr. Feriduni, Dr. Lorenzo, and Dr. Erdogan. I hope this helps.

This thread is funny, especially the last comment. For what it is worth, I consulted with a very prominent Doctor who does NOT believe there is a correlation between smoking and poor growth. Best of luck!

This patient is a Norwood 5/6.

Very natural hairline. Great job!

Some doctors advise against wearing a hair system after a HT. Ask your doctor before putting it on. I would be cautious if I were you. Let us know what your Doctor tells you.

Hi Stinger, I had a consultation with Dr. Bisanga as well, and he classified my hair as being medium-finel. Dr. Lorenzo later classified it as being 55 microns, which is normal. From the looks of it, we have quite similar hair characteristics, so I would assume your hair is around 50-60 microns. Did Dr. Bisanga measure your donor density and total available grafts via FUE?

Thanks SL.

Hi SL, I am interested in seeing more Norwood 5-6 cases by Dr. Bisanga where full coverage was achieved. Could you post some, please?

I disagree, I don't believe that it is cheaper to run a clinic in Belgium or in England than say in the U.S..

Hair loss may be progressive but 5400 grafts are permanent. This does not look like 5400 grafts.

I think this is some good advice here. Slow and steady. The only drawback would be fewer lifetime grafts available via FUT. Higher NW patients need as many grafts as possible. Also, FUT is a very invasive procedure, which requires additional time off from work.

It's an important topic, especially for > NW5 with a large area to cover. One on hand, it is important to get a large number in the first session because this will determine the amount of donor available for future sessions (FUT). The trade off may be poor growth, as a result of so many grafts being transplanted at the same time. Some clinics feel very comfortable with transplanting so many grafts in one session and have had outstanding results over the years. I do, however, wonder if it carries an additional risk. As a Norwood 5 (going on 6), this is my biggest concern at the moment: poor growth, as a result of transplanting too many grafts in a single session. Is lack of blood supply an issue when so many grafts are transplanted and/or does it carry an additional risk (FUT)? Or is poor growth related more to dense packing when so many grafts are transplanted?