Durhamboy

Hi guys Thought had updated on this, must be the biggest gap on the Forum after surgery!! 4 years on! Honestly thought had updated, apologies. Am a big advocate of both Br Bisanga and Dr Bhatti, both are outstanding in their field and top people to go with it, wouldn't hesitate advising using either and perhaps the geography of where you live is a factor in who or where you go. You can clearly see the issues with so many past transplants and lack of decent donor area. Have attached pictures from 4 years ago before seeing both, got around 800 to 1200 beard and FUE hair transplants on each surgery. And photos today, any comments be appreciated. Am convinced altering to Dutasteride around a year ago has thickened things up just wondering if a combo of both Dutasteride 0.5mg and Minox 2.5mg a day will thicken up more. Thanks and be safe.

Hi guys, Long time no post but still lurk occasionally, hope you're all well. Just wondering if anyone has experience taking a daily dose of this? Also comes under Loniten. Was reading good reviews on this albeit there are potential side effects for many like heart palpitations. Have you had good results from this? After so many transplants and daily Dutasteride very tempted to give this a go. Any advice much appreciated. Thanks.

Thanks guys, wonder if a 3 day detox diet using a Bal syrup might have something to do with it. Basically it requires eating next to nothing aside 2/3 glasses of that, some fruit and veg for 3 days a time.

Hi guys Could really use some advice/help. Am a seasoned transplant patient with 5 strip procedures stretching back into the late 90s. More recently in the last 5 years have had work done by Dr Frechet and Dr Bhatti including some beard grafts. In 2002-2003 I saw Dr Rose in Tampa. I'm due to go see Dr Bisanga in November for up to 1000 beard grafts as the max I have at the back and sides now he thinks is 600 grafts which due to going to a wedding in December I cannot go for. My concerns are over the last 2 months my head has moved back greatly at the temples and an overall thinning on top out of absolute nothing. Why has this happened, absolute rock bottom over it. It's never moved so far back at the sides after all the work I've had done until this last 2/3 months. If it's stress related will it grow back? Am convinced it's the transplanted hair from old surgeries which has fallen out as I hardly had any of my own original hair left. What can I do aside the beard grafts and will 1k really make much difference? I use daily Proscar and Biotin. Considering upping the doses on both of these if it will make it regrow. 50 years of age and going through all this crap again, absolutely devastated. I used to use a coverup Mane spray and the thought of returning to that or Toppik is gut wrenching. Any advice be much appreciated.

Thanks guys. Will update as go along.

Hi guys Off to India next week for beard grafts with Dr Bhatti after reading the good reviews and speaking to him. Big thanks to Shera who's been a great help. Will update you on progress, the trip etc. Am hoping to get 1200 beard grafts to really thicken up the density on top. Tempted to have FUE from the side of head too but with previous scars from previous surgery am reluctant to have this area shaved and be obvious when return home. Will 1200 beard grafts make that much of a difference? Is beard hair denser that hairline hair when longer? Big thanks to all on this forum, great place for like minded sufferers.

Hi guys Am a seasoned transplanter aged 47! Seen Paul Rose, Dr Frechet and the butcher Tom Norton back in the late 90s. As you can see my donor is now depleted unfortunately, so via beard and FUE probably got one more shot so really want to get this right and maximised. Not posted for 6 months or so and a belated HNY to you all. Have attached some images to show my current predicament. I live in the UK and had some consultations with some of the top guys, Dr Bhatti, liked him, came across very well but put off by the flight and 5 hour drive to the clinic. Dr Karedeniz also very impressive but little concerned with going to Istandbul from a westerners perspective. Both were great and advised both FUE and Beard grafts, potentially up to 2000 into the thinning areas behind the hairline. Cost was little more for Dr Karadeniz at 6k Euros. Also saw Dr Bisanga who suggested 300-500 FUE grafts and 500 beard hairs at 6 Euros a graft. Dr Wong suggested FUT. Don't really want to fly to the US or Canada and prefer to stay within Europe. My questions are: Is there much scarring from beard transplantation post op? How long does it take to disappear? My concerns from FUE are the shaving involved which will reveal scarring from previous ops. How long would that take to grow over and hide the scars? Will 1000 grafts in total make a big difference? How about 2000 grafts in total? Any feedback on Dr Lorenzo? Can the beard grafts be taken more than once? Any advice/info be great. Many thanks in advance, like to get something lined up next two months.

Thanks David, enjoyed the meet with you both, will be in touch via email.

Hi guys Quick update as not been on much lately. Went to see David and Dr Wong of Hasson and Wong last weekend. Enjoyed meeting them and they were very professional in their advice which was to cut out the 2 bad scars I have round the back and not to use beard hair to insert into the scars as it would be a waste of potential grafts for the future. They advised using the side of the head and optimistically could yield 1500 grafts FUT to thicken up the frontal/mid area of the head. My concern and from feedback from other top surgeons was they would want to shave my head in order to do the work necessary which is something I'm loathed to do with bad scarring thanks to Dr Norton back in the 90s. I've also got an appt with Dr Bisanga in London on 11th July so be interesting what his expert advice suggests. Keeping up daily Dutasteride and 1.25mg of Proscar plus a daily vitamin D tablet. Will add vitamin B too. Looking to get surgery from one of the top guys in September. Will keep you all informed, thanks for the support and pm's.

Wow that's brilliant, really pleased for you mate top stuff.

Good luck with the surgery, sure you'll get amazing results, as a patient considering the same treatment look forward to your updates.

Hi guys Looking to get some beard grafts inserted into the scar area around the back of my head but if possible don't want this area to be shaved for obvious reasons. Is this an option or does the area have to be shaved? Attached a few images so you can see the dilemma!! Ideally I'd like to get grafts inserted into the scars then in another procedure add some density/volume from the sides to the top. Any advice be much appreciated.

Looks great, thanks for sharing. This will only get better! Are you using Proscar/Dutasteride to thicken things up? Minoxidil?

Reckon you'll have an excellent result there ostrich, thanks for sharing

Shera, brilliant result, very pleased with you, it will only get better too, nice one.

10 days into daily Proscar and Dutasteride, no side effects as of yet.

Would this be effective for someone of my age and if so the 2% or 5%? Has anyone had success using it with combo of Proscar/Dut at 45 years of age plus. Thanks in advance.

Whilst everyone is different I understand but how long has a thickening on both tablets taken? And is there a point if it's not happened where you think it won't happen.

Agreed Toppik is best I used to use, pretty realistic too. Tried Maine spray in the Uk, terrible stuff. :eek::eek::eek:

Thanks guys Pretty desperate to squeeze one more HT and maintain that with Dut and Proscar. Emailed Dr Bhatti photos and a video and he's requested beard photos. Sent a pm to Dr Vories too. Matt as you say it appears a very challenging situation which I do hope one of the top docs is willing to take. I will look at the other ones you mentioned.

Unfortunately previous amounts and dates were stored on my old laptop and lost. I've had transplants in all areas, the Frechet Extender worked well by tightening the scalp, grafts were then inserted covering the scar. Surgeries between 2002-2005 worked well, last one in 2013 was not a success. I stopped Proscar 18 months ago as Dr Frechet said it would no longer be effective after such a time. Restarted it yesterday with Dutasteride.

Hi Garage Yes the sides are much better, the back is not so good now. And that's the main concern really, a.) not having anymore surgery and b.) to lose the hair I do have which is transplanted hair. The butchers job Norton did in the 90s left terrible insertion holes which if I lose much more will be noticeable. Fortunately previous transplants have been able to cover this very well. 6 days of beard growth, early days on that front. Maybe they can do something here.

Thanks for the replies. I've had 6 transplants and an extender. Presently growing a beard. My concern is lack of donor and no surgeon advising another transplant. That would be a real blow mentally and physically.

First day back on Proscar after a 18 month gap, did use it for 13 years, will it be effective again after restarting? Going to combine with Dutasteride. Here are my issues, following so many transplants according to Dr Frechet I have 2 more max HT's left. So need to get it right. Best options? Appreciate any advice and if any surgeons reading this their thoughts on the way forward please.

Be interested in feedback please guys. Thanks.