HighHopes

Just to add that your grows a lot in 2 1/2 weeks and your not completely bald.

Hi Optimist

Thanks. I hope the growth will continue for a while.

Yes, I did have redness for a good couple of months and I had a very itchy scalp

I used Aloe Vera for that and that did help.

I had taken 2 1/2 off work so when I did go back to the office I simply told everyone I had decided to shave all my hair off for a change.

And since I haven't taken any photos the past many months there is now a gap.

So the photos in the below link are my recent photos. It is now 8 months post op.

Hair Restoration Social Network ? Community for and by Hair Loss Patients

I have now been away from this Forum for nearly 4-5 months. Being lazy to upload pics.

Anyway here is the link from my 4 month post op.

Hair Restoration Social Network ? Community for and by Hair Loss Patients

Link to Month 3 post operation.

Hair Restoration Social Network - Hair Loss and Transplant Photos

Signs of new hair at the 3 month mark. The pimples/redness is a combination of Minoxidil reaction as well as the new hair follicles coming through.

I stopped minoxidil last month already and don't plan to use it again.

I started with the foam a month after the op. Tried it for a month but then I have now stopped it.

Hi it took me more than a month before the redness healed in the Donor area.

I used Aloe Vera gel before going to bed and that definitely took away the burning sensation and gave me a good nights sleep.

Hi 1966

I used Regaine 5% foam for a full month and my head exploded with pimples!!. I tried to bear it for a while hoping it would go away. But finally now given up as not worth the pain and discomfort.

To be honest don't know why I started it in the first place as logic would suggest that if you've had a HT so by default if you have got new hair growing then they should grow permanently and you shouldn't need to use medication like Minoxidil.

So I think I will stay clear and just let things happen.

Link to Week 9 post op pics

Hair Restoration Social Network - Hair Loss and Transplant Photos

Although I have now completed the 3rd month post op I just had not had time to post Week 9 photos.

So here they are in the above link.

These are taken just over 2 months post the HT.

The redness on the scalp is due to the reaction from Minoxidil. I have now stopped taking this as it is causing major irritation.

Some growth has definitely started. Still early days.

Link to Week 6 post op Pics.

Hair Restoration Social Network - Hair Loss and Transplant Photos

I have had considerable amount of shedding the past 2 weeks but not all hair from the recipient area has fallen out yet. Shedding is still taking place so it's possible I may lose most of the transplanted hair.

I started getting a lot of dandruff so I immediately started using a very mild non soap shampoo. Sebamed anti dandruff. This has shown great results after a weeks usage.

There is still redness in the donor area but it is gradually getting covered by the growth of new hair.

Scalp is also itchy but I apply Aloe Vera which seems to help.

Thats all the update for now.

Hi Garageland thanks for confirming that you can view the links that I upload with my photos

BB

How many grafts did you have done? Covering which part of the head?

Hi BB

My burning sensation lasted nearly 2 weeks. It was only after the 2nd week that I felt that it was getting better. For me the burning was so strong that I could not even wear my cap when I traveled back home on the plane.

I applied lots of Aloe Vera gel in its purest form. That did help me a lot.

Wish you the best in your recovery

Hi Fisher4man, the photos have been uploaded with settings so that Everyone can view them. The only restriction is that only registered members can comment in the photo albums.

So not sure why you are unable to see the pics.

At some point when I get the time I will try and post/upload them in a different way.

I would like to know from others on the forum if you are able to view the pics through the links above?

Link for Week 3 post op.

Still a bit of redness in the donor area. However, the donor area is gradually getting the coverage.

I can see the growth in the Crown area coming through nicely. However, I know that the next stage could be the shedding. No point worrying about it. If it happens it happens.

My donor area still feels a little sensitive to the touch. Especially when I sleeping and the back of my head touches the pillow.

That's all for now I think. It's a waiting game

http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/user_album_update.php?album_id=3705

Thanks David and 1966.

Below is the link to a Pre Op photo that I took.

http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/user_album_update.php?album_id=3678

Links for Day 11 post op. Scabs have now all gone.

Hair Restoration Social Network - Hair Loss and Transplant Photos

Link to pics from Day 5. I have done my first shampoo. Rubbing very lightly at this stage. Feels great.

I still have a bit of burning sensation in the Donor area. I am applying lots of Aloe Vera to the Donor area. Seems to help with the burning and reducing the redness

Hair Restoration Social Network - Hair Loss and Transplant Photos

Stinger99, thanks for your feedback. Aloe Vera is definitely good for Donor area so will use it ASAP.

I was hoping that Aloe Vera would also lose the scabs on the recipient area but will not risk it if people in the forum have been advised against it in the first 2 weeks post op.

Hi, I am having a burning sensation in the Donor area. My skin is very sensitive anyway so thinking of applying Aloe Vera lotion.

I know it is okay to use for Donor area. Would people here recommend for the recipient area also?

By the way I am 3 days post op.

Hope to get some response. Thanks.

HigeHopes

A couple more pics I took the day after the HT procedure.

Hair Restoration Social Network - Hair Loss and Transplant Photos

Photos just after the HT procedure was completed.

Hair Restoration Social Network - Hair Loss and Transplant Photos

I hope this link works. First time posting this so apologies in advance if not doing it right.

This Forum has provided me with alot of useful information for which I would like to thank all the people who have been posting as well as the Moderators who are keeping this Forum a valuable source for anyone who needs answers regarding hair loss.*

Before I start writing about my experience I hope the Moderators will support me in saying that I do not wish for my thread to become a boxing match between Maral Klinik supporters and non supporters.

Only reason for me posting my experience is so that it may help others in making a decision whether to have HT done or not.

So here it goes:

Considered HT for many years. I have Grade 5 hair loss. Consulted several consultants/Doctors in Norway/Belgium/UK/Turkey.

Not going to go into details about each scenario.

Decided on Maral Klinik due to Response time, Level of information given, Level of service provided.*

The main 2 reasons that finally persuaded me to take the BIG step was positive experiences I have read about from many Maral Klinik patients and an affordable package which suited my Finances.

I had my procedure done 19th of December 2014.

Arrival in Istanbul.

Picked up by a pleasant English/German speaking driver. Was on time and took me and another patient to our hotels. Drive from the airport is about an hour. Driver helped me check in and*took just minutes.*

Stayed at the Levent hotel. 5-10 mins drive to the Clinic depending on traffic. A basic and clean hotel. Wifi was very good in my room can't say about the rest of the hotel.

Breakfast was simple but good. Selection of hot and cold items, fruits and good coffee. All in a buffet style.I could not find any faults.

DAY 1

Driver picked me up at 9.30 and straight to the clinic.

Dr Maral outlined the initial area and discussed it with the Head Technician.

My main area that needed coverage is the crown and the top of the head and we agreed that depending on how many donor grafts they would consider placing some in the frontal area also to give some density.

The procedure started at 10.30 in the morning.

After the normal preps I was given anaesthetic injections around all the Donor area by the technicians. And I mean a lot of injections. I must say that only a handful were a bit painful so it sounds more scary then it was.

The next stage was extracting the donor grafts. There were two technicians who worked on my head at the same time. It was a lengthy procedure but apart from the stiffness you get from lying in the same position I would say it was fine.

The final count was 3,400 grafts. I have posted a snap of these also.

Then the Head Technician returned to make the incisions where the grafts would go. It seems that she specialised in this task and would do that to all the patients in the Clinic.

Once the incisions were done it was time for a 30 minute break to use the toilet and have a quick lunch. I was asked for any preference for the meal and ate in a common room just outside the treatment rooms. The time at this stage was approximately 13:30 hours.

At the next stage I again had two technicians at either side who had the laborious task of placing each graft in the recipient area.

During all this time there is a TV placed above you. They had the music channel on.

Dr Maral came and checked up on me a few times and explained in a bit more detail about the quality of grafts that had been extracted. What/how/where they would place them.

He recommended that the 3,400 should be placed in the Crown and Top area only and not to the front line as spreading them over a bigger area would not give the result required for the crown.

Ideally I would have wanted some of the grafts towards the front line but I agreed with Dr Marals reasoning.

To have a chance of a good result to the Crown it made sense to focus the grafts in that area.

The two technicians completed their task and were monitored closely by the Head Technician who had made the insertions.

HT was completed and my head bandaged up by 16:30 hrs.

Before leaving I again had instructions given by Dr Maral.*

Given pack of medication (anti biotics,* pain killers etc). He has asked me to take the first dose straight away before leaving.

Precautions given on how to safeguard the recipient area, how to sleep and general info.

Would have been nice to get some more stronger prescription pain killers as I felt I did need them the first few nights.*

A post-op leaflet would have been useful reminding about the frequency/duration of the medication given.

A different driver (much younger than the one who picked me up from the airport) was ready to drop me off at the hotel. I was back in my room by 17:00 hrs.

First time I saw myself in the mirror was in the lift up to my room. Didn't look as bad as I had thought it would be!

NIGHT 1

Took the medication again before going to bed at 23:00hrs.

Not much sleep to be had. No pain but it's the thought of damaging the recipient area. I was up again at 4am and could just not sleep. And that's when I decided to start writing this blog.

DAY 2

Driver picked me up at 10:30 am.

Had a lengthy consultation with Dr Maral.*

First he took off the bandage and ensured that there was no bleeding and next took some post op photos for his records.

He gave me 2 bottles of "Post Hair Transplant" shampoo and instructed on how to apply over the coming weeks. Each bottle is at least 300 ml so keep that in mind if you are booking hand carry bag only for your flight. Airport security may or may not let it go through.*

This meeting also gave me plenty of opportunity to ask about any post op related questions.

The 2 days with Dr Maral and his team were very professional and he delivered as promised in his email to me.

Now it is the waiting game.*

I have now posted pre and post op photos.

I will post again end of Week 1, week 2, week 3 and week 4. After that will post end of the month only to show my progress.

NIGHT 2

Burning sensation in the Donor area prevented me from sleeping. Took ibuprofen to ease the inflammation. I understand that this can happen post op. Could have done with stronger pain killers. I have read that Healing from this burning sensation can be up to 2 weeks. Very unpleasant just need to ride it off I guess.

DAY 3

After a good breakfast the driver picked me up and drove me to the airport. Decided not to wear a hat and just let it be. It did not bother me. Interestingly,* several people at the hotel and airport lounge came up to me and were curious to know about the procedure either for themselves or relative. I didn't mind the questions. Happy to help with any advice.

There were at least 5 other passengers* who had had HT done and were on the same flight as me.