DEB1982

Day 33 Post Op Not much has changed although I am still shedding some of the transplanted hairs but at a much slower rate now. I'm still holding on to some and they are growing at the same rate as my normal hair. Whether they do finally shed or continue to grow we will have to wait and see. I just took a photo at work as I didn't take any this morning and you can still see some redness in the front which I can't see at home. I asked a colleague sat next to me and he confirmed that it looks a little redder. Everyone has commented that it looks much better now that I shaved the back and sides down so I would recommend doing this after you are a month out.

Cheers mate. I hope today is going well. I'd imagine you are in the implantation stage now, so nearly finished. Just seen your pics. Wish I had as much native hair on top as you had. Looking really good! Couldn't see any scarring at that length either.

So I did make a mistake. My hair is actually at a grade 1 which is 3mm. Considering that it actually looks really good! Happier now!

Actually thinking about it I may have made a mistake here. I shaved it at number 3 on my beard trimmers which I presumed was a grade 3 but must be shorter as does look much shorter. Oops!

1 Month Post Op One month down and I am deep in the ugly duckling phase now. From previous cases I've reviewed I always find the majority of people look at their worst during month one and two. So let's hope it goes quickly. I shaved my donor area this morning to a three guard and still unsure whether this was a good thing. It definitely looks a little tidier but I can see some scars at this length and also I seem to have a little cluster of red spots on one side. I have found myself itching this area so this could be why. I have sent the photo to the clinic so will see what they make of it. I don't have any pain at all anymore. Still some numbness in the frontal area though. As for the shedding I am still seeing hairs in the shower but am also clinging on to some of the transplanted hairs in the frontal area. I have maybe a little lingering redness but nothing that I think is really noticeable. I have perhaps suffered a little shock loss throughout as seems a little thinner. Could be a Fin shed though as have switched back to brand from generic. I have attached some photos.

I went last month and either side of my stay there was a terrorist attack within a day or two. I actually traveled the day after the Besiktas stadium attack. All I can say is that I didn't feel unsafe at all. Perhaps a little when I was departing from the airport as this was the only crowded place that I went and I had to queue outside the airport to get through security for 10 minutes. Other than the clinic and hotel, I didn't see any other part of Istanbul and I wouldn't have felt safe too. I think if you go with that intention then you will be fine. Obviously there is more risk involved but I didn't let it deter me.

Cheers pal, will do. Yeah my thoughts exactly. One month down, hopefully only another two to go before I start to see some growth. I actually find that I look much less in the mirror than I did prior to my HT. I think partly because I know it looks sh1t and there is nothing I can do about it so no point checking. My crown has completely gone and I have it out for everyone in my office to see and nobody has said anything about it. When I'm out at the weekend I just wear a baseball cap.

Amazing how much it has improved in the past week or two. I wouldn't worry about any weak areas at the moment as you at such an early phase. Some people have no growth at this stage. I wouldn't bother getting it buzzed if you can cover it with our original hair as I would want to watch it all come through but each to their own.

That's good to know. I've decided to go with both as it happens, as I've read that Lipogaine can leave the hair a little chalky whereas the Rogaine foam has a thickening effect on the hair. I've seen many others who use Rogaine in the morning and the Lipogaine at night so thought I would try that. Do you just use it on the crown area or all over?

I'm leaning towards Lipogaine purely based on reviews but Rogaine would be much easier to purchase as I'm UK based. Anyone else have experience of switching between the two?

4 Weeks Post Op The past four weeks has actually flown by so I'm hoping the next eight will do the same. My shedding seems to have slowed down massively and I am still clinging on to a few of the transplanted hairs. In the shower I am seeing less hairs in my hand now. Overall I think I have lost about 80% of the transplanted hairs. The crown has gone completely but some in the new hairline remain still. I think I have suffered from a little shock loss on top but it may just be that the hairs are much shorter so seems less dense. I am wearing at hat now when out in public as not comfortable with how I look but at home / work I am just allowing it. Nobody actually cares. I have no pain or discomfort now. Apart from a little remaining numbness in the frontal area, everything seems back to normal. My donor area has suffered no shock loss and no scars are visible. I am going to cut it this weekend so will post my next pictures then.

Spots have pretty much gone now. I get the odd one pop up now and then but they seem to go the next day. It's pretty much business as usual now.

I've decided to give Minoxidil another try following my recent transplant as previously I was just too inconsistent with applying it to truly judge its effect on my hair loss. I can't decide between Rogaine or Lipogaine. I've read a ton of posts but there doesn't seem to be a large number of people using Lipogaine but those that are, are reporting better results when changing from Rogaine. I would like to order tomorrow as I'm a month out next week and have been told by my clinic that I can start Minoxidil from then, so with this in mind I would really appreciate any feedback and success stories.

Oh yeah I do remember. You were there the week after me I think. I am using Johnson's baby shampoo as most other posters on here suggested it was a good idea.

Bloody hell mate, that is unreal! You've still got another year of thickening as well so this will only get better. Cheers for updating! Hi Uranus, I'm also just over 3 weeks out from ASMED. I'm with you on the feeling demoralised bit. We'll get there mate.

It's not too bad, I have kind of come to terms with it now. I think it's our own impatience but also the fear that we will be one of the few that has a bad yield that constantly plays on your mind. I was told by Asmed not to use fibres for 3 months. I was quite shocked as their website says after 14 days but I'm just going to do as they instructed me. I think fibres at this point wouldn't do anything anyway. My hair is too short. I agree that I am much less conscious about my hair. I do seem to be shedding at a similar rate to you so lets hope I get some early growth as you have.

Day 26 Post Op Still shedding. The crown is pretty much gone now and it is getting thinner on top still. I'm clinging on to the hair line still but I doubt for much longer. I have pretty much accepted it now but have taken to wearing a cap when I'm out and about. At work and home I'm not so conscious of it as everyone knows. People are still telling me it looks fine but my seven year old son told me this morning that I look a but stupid now and he speaks the truth. I wouldn't feel comfortable going out for the evening with my hair as it is at the moment. My head is still itchy at times. Mainly the donor area. I am trying my hardest not to scratch it but I have a few times which has caused some redness. I also still have some numbness in the frontal region. Other than that it's all normal. Had a few spots come and go. I do have some redness in the hairline area but very minimal. I have attached a few photos, one of which is the donor area which has healed as normal. I can cut the donor area this weekend coming and will be buzzing it down to a 1 grade so it blends better with the hair on top and also I'm keen to see if any scarring is visible at that length. Will update in a few more days!

Thanks for reading through my thread. Likewise I just followed your progress. I'll be lucky to experience growth and density as you have. Dr Koray told me that he and Dr Lorenzo share a lot of information. I believe many of their techniques are similar. Thank you, I am trying to remain hopeful. I have been told to wait till 4 weeks. I'm 24 days post op so four more days to go. I've read a number of other threads where training is allowed after 2 weeks but I'm going to follow Dr Koray's instructions. I play football at a pretty good standard and he has told me to wait till 2 months before I start heading the ball which was tough to take as means I can't play till mid February. I need to train though as must have put on half a stone what with Christmas and everything. Cheers pal, will follow your updates too.

What a transformation from where you started. I've read a huge number of reviews and this has to be one of the best NW 5/6 cases that I have seen. Lifechanging! So is that you all maxed out now or do you have another 500 in the bank?

Looking forward to seeing Month 4, as Ernie says I have a feeling that their will be a huge difference given all your early growth.

23 Days Post Op The Shed Continues.... It is relentless. It is also much tougher mentally to deal with than I imagined. When you've been fighting MPB for so long it's tough to have your worst nightmare realised when each morning you are presented with tons of hair in your hands after washing. I'm just trying to keep the end result at the front of my mind. I will be happy once this shed is over though and then at least I know it won't get any worse from there. The spots I mentioned yesterday went away on their own and I was told that is a normal part of the healing process. I had a new one today in the midscalp and will just let it do its thing. No pain to speak off but did have some electric type feelings in the donor area yesterday, a bit like pins and needles I suppose. But none so far today. Here's a picture from this morning where you can see how thin it is becoming! Been told to wait another few days until I can start exercising intensely as well and really looking forward to that as much have put on half a stone these past few weeks.

It's hard to estimate your own donor supply. I though mine was going to be on the low end and I ended up with over 9000 grafts. Online consultations are very difficult to get correct. Once a Doctor has seen you in person and looked at your hair characteristics he will be much better placed to determine how many grafts are required. It is tough mentally. The first person today at my office said that my hair is looking a little thin now on top. I knew it already as I shed a ton of hairs this morning. I think the fact that you know it's coming and everyone goes through it helps a little. You just need to keep in your mind the end result and that this short term pain will all be worth it in the end. Plus nobody actually cares what you look like. You expect people to be constantly looking at your hair but they have they obviously don't. Thanks for the reassurance. Some of them went away during the day and I feel better now. I was told as you say that is a good sign of healing and growth. Mine are bright red too. I think it is just inflammation where hair is coming through. I've been told to keep it clean and it will resolve itself. Thanks, although it is starting to become a little patchy now. I have a picture of the top which shows how thin it is becoming now and will upload in my next post. I think I have experienced some shock loss all over.

Looking good mate. As hkuser said very little redness. I'm just over 3 weeks and shedding a lot at the minute, hope I can hang on to some like you have. I've been getting the odd spot here and there but been told they are a normal part of the healing process.

What a difference from where you started and you still have some time to experience new growth yet.

You too mate! Look forward to seeing them