BetterLate

ersko72 and Raman, Thanks for the encouragement. It had been very long since I'd been online, so I thought I'd try to come back a couple times to take care of any questions. I don't know how helpful they are--the second one shows the results a lot better than the first after you open it up--but I snapped a couple shots with my cell phone to try to show the temple points. http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/user_album_update.php?album_id=4223 After seeing longer-term results from my own surgery, I think anyone who has receded on the sides of their forehead might want to consider giving up some of their donor hairs to add to the temples. In my particular case, it seems to have made a very big difference as far as giving the illusion that I've got a nice thick head of hair. Best of luck to you both as you take the plunge in the coming weeks! PS optimist800, let me know if you end up finding the book as useful as I did. If so, I'll keep recommending it. I try to temper my over-enthusiasm, but, when something really works...

ersko72, I wanted to answer your last few questions that you left after my post over the weekend. What percentage of follicles transferred do you estimate survived? If I were to make a ballpark guess for a million dollar prize regarding how many of the follicles survived transplantation, I’d say 95% of the grafts survived… give or take 5%. By far, the vast majority seemed to survive and still thrive to this day. Have many people noticed or commented? Everyone thinks I look much younger than before. Those who don’t know about my procedure have no idea what's different. Those who had been told by someone that I’d had the transplant still marvel at how fantastic it looks. How do you feel about the transplant 10 months on? I think I may have answered that final question fairly completely at the end of my post the other day. Perhaps the closest to a single-sentence bottom line answer I can offer is that I certainly look many years younger than I did before. [by the way, I want to apologize for my overly-lengthy and editorializing post the other day. I haven't been writing much recently, and was rather rushed. I just edited it down to be a little better/clearer.]

It's been a long time since I've been on the web site. Indeed, I had trouble logging on and then figuring out again how to post photos. Additionally, my earlier post from today did not appear right away (and still has not as I write this) because I guess posts now go to web site monitors before appearing in the forums... which is something new to me, but probably an improvement for a number of reasons. Anyway, below should be a link to photos I uploaded a few minutes ago showing results from my surgeries which took place at the end of the first week last December. Ten and a Half Months Update Photos If you do go to look at the photos, please note the comment I made on that page. Thanks again to everybody who helped me along on this years-long journey!

For starters, a correction to my last posting of photos--I’d said that I was then at the six-month mark. But, I was actually only five months post-op at that point. I’ll try to come back as time permits to post more milestone pictures down the road since it might be helpful for those wanting to see longer-term results during their decision-making process. There are a few things that I was trying to remember to mention whenever I'd have time to update my thread and post newer photos. One of them was my experience with Biotin supplements. I’d read a comment on the forums about them being good for making hair thicker/healthier... and also that some people suffer side effects from taking them. As my hair really started growing well after a few months, I started taking one 1000 mg Biotin tablet per day. It really did become noticeably thicker, so I decided that I'd continue taking Biotin indefinltely. Rather suddenly, I developed cystic acne on the back of my neck. I consulted a dermatologist who told me that cystic acne is one of the potential side effects encountered from taking Biotin supplements. I immediately stopped taking it, and the cyst subsided over the next number of days. It seems like it might be worth giving Biotin a shot. If someone gets the positive results I did but doesn’t suffer from any side effects, it could be a great thing? Many others in the forums certainly know much more than I on this topic, so I’ll leave it at that. READYFORHAIR, thanks for your positive comments, as always. I looked over your profile pages from your link and must say that you’ve done a fantastic job creating a great resource for anyone going through this process. Nowsthetime9, you’d narrowed down your choices to two great ones. I see that you opted for the trip to Madrid and are now sharing your experiences. Congratulations! johntra, man if you aren’t the Poster Boy every doctor would want. You say you’re happy… and you sure ought to be—you look fantastic! NewLook2015, I couldn’t find any of your pix. If you’re so inclined and feel like it at some point, drop a link on this thread to make it easy for this old man to see your progress. You’d asked about the process of the hair falling out. My experience was pretty much as you describe. In the end, ever since all of the transplanted hair grew back in, it’s as good as I could have hoped for—I can comb it and part it in any direction with it looking completely natural. I’m guessing you may have found the same? ersko72, thanks for the encouragement and the enthusiasm you put into all of your posts around the board that I saw--your appreciative attitude makes me and others want to come back and keep posting more future results. Obviously you’ve had no side effects from the Finasteride, so it would seem to make sense to keep it going. If you’re lucky, it’ll keep you in handsome shape until hair cloning becomes the practical state-of-the-art method. Optimist800, the original Psycho-Cybernetics book is a short primer on how to wholesale change your life in the quickest and easiest way possible. It jump-started the Self-Help revolution that continues in earnest right through today. Virtually all successful gurus in the market have acknowledged a debt to its author, Dr. Maltz. The explanations and examples he used in his original book are direct and to the point. As a successful plastic surgeon, he was in a markedly unique position to see how our self-image dictates almost everything in our lives. Now, back to the main purpose of this posting… I’ll upload some photos taken just last night with my cell phone camera. I’d been thinking that it might be helpful to show people here on the board how my ultimate results may not seem very good to some but are perfectly fine for me. I’ll put up a few “wet” and a few “dry” pix. If you look at the wet ones, things appear pretty dismal. I’m very balding, and there’s not much that can be done about it if these are the results of 5,000 grafts procedures. However, if you look at the dry pix, it seems to tell a different story. If I am under bright lights, someone looking down on my head might detect a distinct lack of hair and see through to my scalp. But when I am out and about in the world, the operations were a complete success. I have that elusive “illusion of density”… the appearance of possessing a nice head of thick hair to the point where on more than a few occasions I’ve been told how lucky I am for it. I did not have work done on my crown and suffer from ongoing hair loss there, despite my intake of 1/1.25 mg of Finasteride daily. The transplanted hair seems to have mostly taken and continues to grow so healthy that despite what’s happening on top with my crown, I’m blessed with a much more youthful appearance than I’d had before. In short, everything seems to work perfectly as far as my originally-intended purposes go. In wrapping up right now, I’ll refer back to a phenomenon that I’m sure I’d mentioned here before. When I was at my worst in the Ugly Duckling phase, I decided to convince myself that I looked absolutely great and consciously avoided looking at my reflection throughout the day. During that period of time, I exuded more self-confidence than I probably ever had in my entire life… just as a defense mechanism due to looking so horrible. (This was possibly my ultimate field test for Dr. Maltz’s theories on the self-image.) People I met then in public and private life reacted better to me than I had ever recalled in the past decades. I actually met and went out with a couple of the most stunning women I’d ever dated in my life during that time. That’s when I started questioning whether or not I should have ever gotten the transplant surgery… whether I just should have changed my way of thinking about myself, and saved all the money. Months later, I’m still not sure how to answer that question.

First off-- Optimist800, Fue2014, NewLook2015, Ready4Hair and Ersko72... thank you very much for your kind messages. I was totally offline for weeks now but had set a notice on my calendar for yesterday that I should upload photos at this six month mark. I'll be one day late, but want to do the progress update because it was kind of discouraging for me when I used to follow others' progress over time and then suddenly there were no further photo/updates when I was wondering how it all was turning out. I took some photos from right, left and center angles, both wet and after towel-drying. After I settled into the ugly-duckling stage, I consciously started ignoring how I looked (spent less than a few seconds looking at myself in the mirror each day) and just carried on in my mind that everything was going great and I was looking great. I know that sounds ridiculous, but it was the best way for me to psychologically deal with making public appearances while looking my worst. (Fortunately, my ultra-positive outlook actually paid off big time, as everyone I was dealing with responded to me better than ever before, despite my less than stellar physical appearance.) After I posted the last previous photos here, for the first time I realized that I could actually comb my hair a little, and started doing so from then on... but still probably spent less than 20 seconds/day looking at my head in the mirror. A couple weeks ago, a friend of mine told me that I needed a haircut, so for the first time I spent a few minutes seriously checking out the progress. I was amazed at how great the "illusion of density" had worked its way into the mix. It is obvious in the wet pictures that there is not full coverage of hair on my head. The pictures after towel-drying look much better. But I can tell you for sure that after my hair fully dries, people think I have a full head of hair, and, actually (which is hilarious for me) a few have complimented me on my hair and said I was lucky that I had such good genetics. I just decided that I should take one more set of three photos and upload them, too, since my hair is now completely dry. Just took three more photos and uploaded them. Those final shots are after 45 minutes of air drying, and you can probably see that the hair looks a little bit thicker still. Keep in mind that I've got my cell phone camera almost right on my head. Anyone looking at me from a few feet away doesn't see any of the details of the scalp at all once the hair is dry. I'd have to say so far that all appears to be fairly successful. If it gets much better and thicker, that will just be a bonus. However, although I'm happy with the success of the surgeries, what makes me feel the best about my life is that I'd made the personal and firm decision that I will continue changing everything about myself for the better for the rest of my days. Part of me wishes that I hadn't decided to get the HT and instead had only changed my attitude--I'd certainly have more cash for taking a vacation whenever I might find the time for one. Having more hair and looking a bit younger is definitely not a negative thing... it's just that I'm not sure how necessary it was for me to have gone through the time, expense and process to attain that when the real change comes from what's inside our heads, not what's on top of it. Before I get carried away with my blabbering again, let me give a link to the latest photos... which should make anyone considering going my route be a lot more comfortable: Six Months After Surgery I will make sure to log on again and post more photos/upates at the milestone points. Thank you all again for the kind words and wishes, and I hope to see all of your progress on your threads. (Please add your links here to save all of us time in finding them!)

Hoping that my “results” will be helpful for some, here are a couple photos I took moments after my last post: March 15 Here are some photos I took tonight, 4 months after surgery: April 8/9 Progress seems to be good. The first time I’ve even combed my hair was when I took these pictures tonight. I do believe that I will now begin to comb it every day. I’d previously read some people had been wondering why many Forum members disappear. As usual, I can only speak for myself, but my story may shed a general light on at least one reason someone has stopped logging on with any frequency. One year ago, my health was so poor that I was not expected to live to see today. I'd never believed in miracles, but fortunately ended up experiencing one. So, overall, the HT has been just one small part of what's been happening in and to my life. I became (and am still quite) obsessed with changing absolutely everything about myself to the better so that I can make the most out of whatever additional time I'm being given. But implementing such wholesale change is exhausting and all-consuming, taking virtually every single moment of every day. I had tried to log on here whenever I found any free time, because I think that there is a good general sense of community, and I’d wanted to try to do some good by giving back as much as I may have gotten. The very last time I’d logged on was almost a month ago. Immediately afterwards, I snapped a few more pictures of my head to post on my next visit here, then laid down on my couch and fell asleep right away due to over-fatigue... in an extremely awkward position that completely screwed up my back. I had to spend a couple whole days in bed due to paralyzing pain, during which time my inactivity forced me to realize that I probably actually had crossed the line on this Forum, by trying to tell everyone all of the ways that they might be able change their lives… instead of just being concerned about how I should continue changing my own. I have a fear of being obnoxious, since I don’t like when I see that in other people. It’s a very tricky thing, changing everything about your life. It can lead to self-absorption in order to facilitate its being able to occur. And, in my case, I’m afraid it had also led to over-sharing of what worked for me in a kind of “preachy” way. So now, after finally having enough unforced leisure time to check back here, I am almost relieved to see that no one has added any further posts to this thread. Indeed, this thread may have outlived most of its usefulness… if it’s not too presumptuous thinking that some have already or may still at some point in the future find it useful. I’ll come back and post more milestone pictures at key points in time because it had been useful for me to see other people’s progress. For now, I’d like to again thank all of the Senior Members who were mentors to me, and all of the other newer members who exchanged tips and good wishes or even just positive but anxiety-laced posts and private messages with me as we tried to set each other’s minds at ease. And, as always, my best wishes to all of the current and future Lurkers--may you ultimately become members and share your own experiences with those Lurkers behind you!

MAGNUMpi, The book is called Psycho-Cybernetics. I touched on it in a previous posting, but, in quick summary, Dr. Maltz wrote it after noticing that some of his potential plastic surgery patients who chose to forego surgery and opted instead to just change their ways of thinking ended up being much happier than patients who went through completely successful surgeries… that our self-image completely trumps our physical being, not only in how we relate to others, but in how others relate to us. His philosophy went way far beyond how our perceived physical defects affect us. He actually proposes a very simple system of re-programming our unconscious mind to achieve higher levels of success in life through attainment of higher levels of awareness, and automating it all by making basic changes to the way we think about ourselves. It just so happened that he developed the philosophy through his observations as a plastic surgeon, which is what I think makes it especially apropos to all those of us on this Forum who have looked at using a HT as a way of transforming our lives. The book was written in 1960. Its premises are the granddaddies of the modern “self-help” industry, and most of today’s gurus acknowledge that their own methods and techniques are based upon it. There is an updated version of the book called The New Psycho-Cybernetics written/updated in 2002, and an audio version of that book. That was done in an attempt to capitalize on the fortunes being made by all those who had re-packaged Psycho-Cybernetics into their own programs, most notably Tony Robbins of Personal Power fame. But I’m old school purist--and the first book is such a short, quick read--so that when I first started to listen to the audio files of the updated version, I really didn’t like it anywhere near as much. It seemed like that author was making the simple concepts of the original book overly-complicated, and using examples of his own tremendous accomplishments in life to the detriment of Dr. Maltz’s original goal of offering a quick and easy way for us average people to, for lack of any better way of expressing it, succeed in life and happiness. (I came back to insert this paragraph since the thought occurred to me as I wrapped up this post that if someone has any interest in the basic concepts of what Psycho-Cybernetics is all about but is not inclined to look for the original book--or only likes audio books–the newer version is probably better than nothing. You can listen to it free on You Tube. There’s some typical BS commercial music at the beginning and in bridges between chapters in an attempt to “spice it up” (I guess?) that makes it start off sounding like drivel. But if you get beyond that, and can stomach the narrator talking a couple times about what an amazing guy he is… ) At any rate, since I’m still in that proverbial ugly-duckling stage of recovery and my down-time has been at a minimum the past couple of months, every day I’ve spent the first moments when I’ve just woken up and the last moments right before I go to sleep being hyper-introspective about the changes I’ve wanted to make in my life and the decisions I’ve made to achieve them. I’m not actually regretting that I got the HT... just questioning if I should have gotten it. Indeed, this ugly stage has been incredibly helpful. I’ve been so uptight about my “looks” that, in essence, it’s caused me to use the lessons I attribute to Dr. Matlz to completely shatter all historical sales records in my organization through my desire to overcome my negative physical appearance. That, in itself, is fairly ironic, since one of my original justifications for getting the HT was to potentially increase my sales by having a more attractive appearance. Whatever ultimate lesson is in there, I’m so tired and burnt out from work these days that I won’t even be able to try to figure it out until further down the road. I guess one thing that I’ve been shown in the past weeks is that the legendary myth of wisdom theoretically acquired with age is not an empty promise to those basking in the glory of youth. But I’m not implying that others need the same “help” that I’ve leaned upon. We should get it however we can use it. In all cases, I now view crutches/assistance as definite advantages rather than any kind of weakness. As long as I’ve blabbed on so long again, I’ll mention one more published resource that’s helped me in conjunction with getting a HT. It’s a given that everyone reading this board is either looking forward to or already in the process of a major overhaul in his life. And we obviously need to change more of ourselves than just a rearrangement of hair follicles in order to affect that overhaul. If we accept that our day-to-day lives are mostly nothing but patterns of habits that we’ve developed over time, for us to move forward toward the goal of making positive changes, surely, when something’s got to give, it only stands to reason that “something” is a realignment of some of those habits--whether it be regarding the manner in which we perform perfunctory tasks, or the familiar but unthinking way we relate to family or co-workers on a daily basis… or anything and everything in between. It’s one thing to intellectually understand that certain behaviors might ought to be changed as part of our overall plan for betterment. It’s quite another to understand the science behind how we can more effectively make it happen. … and, I have just hit the proverbial wall. I think I might have just fallen into a state of ridiculous pontification, which I can with confidence blame on fatigue. So I think before I collapse and call it a weekend, I’ll add a paragraph to the above before signing off. If more than one person wants me to continue this seemingly aimless rambling, perhaps I shall. Otherwise, I think the next time I log on I should post a couple photos to show the progress of my hair restoration and leave it at that.

Ready4Hair, I really do think that you’ll be much happier and comfortable either being in a very familiar place or someplace with a hospital-type bed for a few days after surgery where you’ll have enough control over your environment so that messing up your grafts is completely a non-issue. It surely doesn’t hurt that on-site you’ll have direct access to the shampooing, and to pain medication if soreness from the donor area in the back of your head might bother you for a night or two. The clinic does have the LLLT which they’ll use on you each day after surgery. Some people will argue that it does nothing. I have absolutely no idea. It certainly doesn’t hurt. I think the jury might still be out, as it is with PRP. I was told by some medical professionals that PRP treatment is overrated and possibly ineffectual, but, from my own personal experience, I think that it did promote quick healing and I would ask for it again. Maybe they will even provide you more LLLT treatments during the extra days you stay at the clinic, in which case I would definitely avail of those. There are refrigerators in the clinic rooms, so you can store your personal choice of cold beverages in there as desired. (FueAsianHairline said we need to avoid alcohol after the procedure. Definitely ask how long, because there is some good Turkish beer you might want to stock during recovery!) Also, not meaning to be overly repetitious, I’d definitely use the icepack as often as suggested and then throw it right back into that refrigerator each time for your next treatment. My swelling was minimal, as I’m sure you’ll want yours to be as you prepare to meet the world anew and travel a bit on your way out of Istanbul. You can eat at the clinic while you stay there. The food is definitely passable. I’d been on a diet before arrival, and ate enough to actually put on a few pounds. They’ll be closed on the weekends if you’re still there through Sat/Sun, but there is a pizza place a couple doors away and other places nearby within walking distance if you’re motivated to go out and about. I didn’t venture around very much, since I was worried (or shall I say too paranoid?) about exposing my grafts to the elements. Once at the Radisson, you won’t have the hospital bed, but after a few extra days at the clinic, you’ll need to worry a lot less than I did (I was there the night after my second surgery) about rolling around in their regular beds and messing up your grafts. And, again, I can’t overemphasize the quality of the Radisson's breakfast buffet. Without a doubt, I, personally, would make that my main meal of the day... and it's included in our special rate. I don’t think there is any 10-day limit for the clinic to help you out. The 10 days is just the number of days they suggest after which you make sure all scabs are off of your recipient areas. Most foreigners aren’t around by that time, but there was a Turkish physician who came in for his 10-day cleaning when I was there. The 10th-day cleaning is definitely part of our service, if we’re around. Whether there would be some nominal charge for services on days 6-9 or 11 onward, I don’t know, but considering you will be a wonderful advertisement and ambassador for the clinic, I’ve got to believe they have a vested interest in making you completely satisfied and that it would probably be gratis. After day 10, though, with the scabs gone and your assurance that everything is going according to plan, I have a sneaking suspicion that you might want to beat a trail out of there, and would probably feel safe doing so. The biggest thing we want to avoid is bumping our head anywhere. That’s the major safety precaution that needs to be taken into account. If there’s a number two, it’s probably exposing your grafts to the elements too much--particularly the sun. That is the biggest reason to wear their hat or a scarf. After the scabs are gone, you’ll look like you got a buzz cut, then when the hair falls out, you’ll look a little bald. Ask about what kinds of hats you can wear. I’m not sure by beanie if you mean a nylon ski cap or what. Some types of head covering are better than others. Some should not be used. Probably take what you’re thinking of with you, and ask Dr. Erdogan about it? I think when we start to look bad is when our hair starts to grow back in piecemeal. If you’re one of the lucky ones, maybe your grafts won’t even fall out? I looked like total crap for at least a couple months. I still don’t look good, but things are now growing in ever-so-slowly in an expanding area, and I can imagine that there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. However, I made the conscious decision--with the crutch/aid of self-hypnotic suggestions every morning--to pretend like I’ve already looked as good as I hope I ultimately do. It’s been necessary, because I started making public appearances not long after returning home from Istanbul. (I put on a number of educational/sales seminars in front of large audiences each week.) The funny thing is that friends and associates told me that I’ve never exhibited as much confidence as I have the past couple of months, and audiences have been responding to me (through sales) more positively than they ever have before. Previously, I would often be nervous before performances, and prepare myself mentally each time. Now, I’ve been constantly feeling 100% on my game, and the only thing that is really stressful is all of the preparation time leading up to the actual performances. The mind is an incredible thing, because at the beginning and end of every day, I look in the mirror and see what I actually look like… and it ain’t a pretty picture. But, just because I pretend to myself that I look great, I feel great throughout every day, and it all works. In one of my earlier postings, I thought of and mentioned the plastic surgeon Dr. Maxwell Maltz and his philosophy as a bit of advice for Newbie-Lurkers who were considering a HT as a conduit for changing their lives. I’m glad that I thought of him, because I then searched through some old dusty boxes in my garage and found his book that I bought and read 40 years ago when I was 18 years old. It changed my life then, and it’s helping change my life again now. Nothing quite like taking your own advice? Truth be told, there’s a distinct possibility that I wouldn’t have gotten the HT if I’d recalled and read his book again before I made my appointment. That doesn’t mean that I’m sorry that I did go through the procedure. It’s just that a lot of what I was hoping to get out of it, I’ve already gotten, and could have gotten without doing it. Sorry for going off on a personal tangent again. It’s the middle of the night here and those thoughts just crept in. Turkish Airlines has something called “Comfort Class”. I think it’s a class between Economy and Business? Unless you need Business Class, if Comfort Class is a better deal, I’d go that route. I got a free upgrade due to problems with my flight. The woman next to me on the flight there told me she flies to Istanbul all the time and gets an upgrade on site at the airport. At LAX, they did have a special line for upgrades. She said they first ask her for hundreds of dollars, she says she’s got $100 cash if that’s good enough, and they always take it and give her the upgrade. I don’t know if she was yanking my chain or not, but the flight attendants did know her so for sure she flies Turkish Airlines a lot. Those seats are at least 50% wider and you get special meals. Hope this helps. I wanted to answer tonight when I saw your question because time is tight over weekend.

johntra, Great to hear from you--I trust you’re doing well! I have a feeling you’ll be the perfect Model for Asmed when you’re all filled in. Wibbles180, Thank you. Hearing such feedback actually makes all the effort worthwhile. The decision-making process is so incredibly stressful to go through, so that if somehow I’m able to help reduce that stress for others--even it’s by them totally disagreeing with something I’ve said--that makes me feel like I’ve done something positive. I think I’ve made it clear that I don’t think Dr. Erdogan is the only solution, or even the best one for everybody. He’s just the only Doctor that I finally went to for a procedure, so the only one I can heartily recommend from experience. All three of your potential Doctors are top-notch. While Ready4Hair had narrowed down his choices to be in a win-win situation with his ultimate decision, your variation is that you’re looking at a win-win-win situation... whichever of your choices you finally go with, you're going to be happy. NewLook2015, Thank you again. I think I might have touched on the pain issue previously, but am going to answer freshly from memory right now because of a time crunch. This new answer is mostly due to the fact that while I was searching back through this thread for the passage where I might have mentioned pain, I saw how many long posts I've made and knew I wasn't going to be able to quickly locate it. I'm very happy that people have found some of the posts helpful … because part of me is embarrassed that I’ve written way too much, as though what I’ve got to say is so important. My perspective and any possible advice I might offer pales in comparison to that which I'd received from the Senior Members who had been my unknowing mentors and had helped me make my own decision while I was a proverbial Lurker. Anyway, I’ll have to go over my old posts and fact-check myself later… and hope I don’t make things sound rosier now that they seemed at the time. I don’t recall the pain being an issue at all until after my second surgery, when most of the grafts were removed from the back of my head. I assume they probably avoid taking many from the back of the head during first surgery (if having two) for that reason? I’d been surprised at the lack of pain after the first surgery, even though I was told there shouldn't be any. But, after the second, that was another story. For a couple days, it was difficult to sleep, all due to the friction between the donor area in the back of my head and the pillow. I was worried that I might unconsciously turn and sleep on my side to escape that pain, which could have possibly messed up the implanted grafts... especially the ones on the temples. I laid down suffering from pain and worry for a while before deciding that I would break down and take a pain pill... and when I finally did take one, it helped put me out until morning. That first night (after the second surgery), I was still in the clinic's hospital bed. Since I had the back raised fairly high, it was easier for me to calm my fears about rolling onto my side after I took the pain pill. But, the second night, I had to go to the Radisson since someone else had already reserved the clinic's room for that night. It was a lot more difficult to sleep (and I barely did) that second night, since turning on my side seemed like it might be much more of a possibility. When I was at home in Los Angeles on the third night, I don’t remember being in much pain at all. A lot of it had already subsided. That, along with the relief of being in my own bed and jamming multiple pillows around to make myself completely comfortable and unafraid of turning on my side, made fearlessly sleeping a lot easier. Since I accidentally left the clinic’s air pillow on the plane--I'd used it to prop my head off the seat all the way back--I had to buy another “travel pillow” at a local department store, and I used every night for the next week to help in stopping my head from turning. That may have been overkill, but I was completely paranoid about destroying any of the grafts for which I'd gone to so much pain and expense. I later read that some people have experienced phantom-type pains. A few times, for very brief periods, I felt like someone stuck a pin in a place on my head. But it didn’t last long--maybe a minute?--and it wasn’t horribly painful… just a strange sensation. For a few weeks, I could feel pain from my donor areas whenever I pressed down on them, but only when I did so... and the only reason I ever pressed down on them was to check for any pain to see how they seemed to be healing. I never experienced any kind of pain in the implanted areas. I don’t know if that’s because those area stayed numb for awhile? I can’t remember when right now, but I think I mentioned to you in one response/post when I first started to lose most of the numbing sensation. There is barely any residual numbing at this point. To give it a random attempt at an accurate description, I’ll say that 95% of the numbness on the top and front of my skull is gone. In looking back, I may have only taken pain pills the night after the second surgery… maybe just one? I can’t remember right now if I took one at the Radisson or not. To be sure, I'd have to look back in posts to see where I talked about pain before. The bottom line is, though, that my pain was very short-lived... bad for a couple nights, then barely there/non-existent. Pain reactions are probably very individual, and for me, only in the donor area on the back of my head while laying on the pillow after the second surgery. I'd actually expected a lot worse just because of my age factor. (I mentioned using self-hypnosis to help stop pain from the injections. That's all I used it for. I've never been able to use it to combat persistent/chronic pain, so I pretty much felt everything else... which is why I ended up asking for more injections when the anaesthetic started wearing off during the procedures.) I don’t think you’ll have any trouble working after the surgeries. Fatigue from difficulty sleeping for a couple/few days is the only issue I can see. For the first days, you’re probably not going to want to see anyone you know due to all of the scabbing. But, since you’ll be working from home, you’ve got that issue covered. Ready4Hair, The clinic reps are very helpful. It might be worth asking if there are suggestions of good options for staying somewhere for a slightly-extended period. I think our discount at the Radisson is only good for a set number of days (5?), so it would get to be more expensive after that. I hadn’t been traveling a lot for a number of years due to personal circumstances, but I know (just from media osmosis) there are now web sites that might be of some use in researching alternative accommodations. I always used to do short-term rentals of apartments instead of staying in hotels when I’d go to capital cities. I don’t know if that would be a viable option near the clinic, though, since I really didn’t go out and get around to see much of anything in the surrounding areas. In addition to any shampooing, you’d want to take advantage of the 10-day checkup if you’ll be sticking around. Traffic can be horrendous if you have to drive any distance around Istanbul during certain parts of the day, so, I’m inclined to think that you probably don’t want to get a place too far from the clinic. If you do stay longer as you are planning, I’d be willing to bet you’ll have one of the most popular threads running when you recount your experiences. When I was reading different threads, it seemed like more people than I would have thought are interested in staying extra days after their HT surgery, and I think you might be a pioneer in doing so at Asmed. FueAsianHairline, You are really a great treasure trove of information. Thanks for posting the link to that video. But, gosh--I hope you’re wrong about that alcohol warning. :cool: And I hope you all drop links here to your main threads. David, I read through your thread about your trip to India. I think it's fantastic that you've blazed a trail to open up the floodgates of good information about yet another high-quality-but-still-economical option for everybody. I hope everything turns out as great as it already looks like it will for you!

Just got back to board and read through postings. I should have time tomorrow to address a couple issues. I must say that I'm happy to see some good exchanges here while I've been on hiatus. Thank you guys for making this thread even more useful for everyone! Want to answer Ready4Hair's immigration question right away-- It doesn't really matter what you put for your purpose of the visit. What they really want to know is if you are planning on doing business, going to school, or moving there permanently vs. just a short visit for tourism. Medical Tourism is growing, so any reference to that will indicate to them that you're only looking for a Tourist Visa... as would saying you're just on a pleasure trip. When I went in December, I was able to pick up my visa upon arrival at the airport, but I understand that was only during some sort of transitional phase. You may have already been to this web page where they detail visa info/requirements by country, but in case it might help anyone else save a few minutes of Googling: Visa Information For Foreigners / Rep. of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs Be back tomorrow...