DEB1982

18 hours ago, FarsanUk said:

Yeh I'm going through that rough stage now. I have alot of native hair mixed in too so it looks patchy. My hairline has shed doesn't look as sharp as it did few weeks ago. When did you notice that looking sharp again? I want to get my temples done too as I want it to frame my face as it probably looks wide my forhead. 

In terms of when it was to a stage where it wasn't noticeable was around 6 months for me. But 3/4 months mark is where I looked relatively normal. The crown area took about 9 months to come through properly. 

6 - 8 weeks was the worst stage for me in terms of my appearance. From there on things got better every week! 

6 hours ago, Payam said:

Really amazing result man but I don't understand where they are putting all those grafts, is it mostly in new temples and the crown? And what is your hair diameter?

Mainly crown and to reinforce the hairline. I'm hoping for some temporal work yes. 

60 microns

12 minutes ago, Melvin-Moderator said:

Deb, 

Where are the grafts going? I honestly don’t think you need another procedure in your hairline as it is really dense even when wet. I haven’t really seen the crown, so perhaps you’re thickening that. With that said, how many grafts will you have left after this?

The hairline isn't as dense as I'd like it to be and yes the crown needs thickening a little. The pre-op photos will show you this. Maybe I am being a little greedy and maybe in 14 years when I'm 50 I'll regret the way I've utilised my available grafts but I'm so close to having my perfect hair that I need to do it. I imagine the number will be closer to 2000 if they don't do any temporal work and only up to 2500 if they do. 

From Asmed's original count, I should be left with circa 2000 grafts FUE if I need them. I'm hoping that medical research will find a solution in the next decade that means they are not needed. 🙏

I thought I would start the thread whilst I was online. 

Booked in for my second procedure with Asmed on the 18th December 2019. Expected to use between 2000 - 2500 grafts with final numbers to be confirmed the day prior to surgery. 

My first thread can be found here if you haven't already seen it. If there is anything in particular that you want me to ask or record this time then just let me know. 

So it is a few days over a month until I travel back to Asmed for my second procedure and it will be 24 months nearly to the day since my first procedure. Flights are all booked and money has been exchanged into Euros. I have to be honest and say that although I have been through this before I am still finding that I am becoming more apprehensive the closer the date comes. The plan is for 2500 grafts to be inserted in the frontal region and crown to add density. I'm hoping for a little temporal action but will let Dr Erdogan take the lead on whether he thinks this is in my best interest.

As for how I feel about my situation after 24 months, I am extremely happy. I went into the first procedure thinking that I was going to have the hairline I always dreamed of but the reality was that I had unrealistic expectations. It's not dense enough to be able to style backwards hence the desire for a second pass but the improvement is unbelievable. I don't feel like I've lost any ground over the past two years but do feel like some days it looks better than other days. Everyone compliments me on it and the positive impact it has had on my life and mental well being can't be put into words. It takes me two minutes to style my hair currently compared to the 30 minute routine I used to have of applying concealers and sprays. I swim, walk in the rain / wind, all the things I used to avoid and you can't put a cost on those things. 

I will start my new thread before the end of the month and add a link to this thread. I have added a couple of photos so you can see my hair today. Please excuse the photos. They are all I have 😂

So a slight change to timings to fit in with my holidays but I am now going to ASMED next month for my second procedure. I will start a new thread for this procedure shortly so this one will come to an end.

I will be at 18 months by that time so I think I should have seen all the improvements I'm going too.

I've attached a photo and this is just combed through. As you can see the thickness just keeps on coming.

Hopefully this thread has been off some help to people and I promise to be as detailed with my next one.

Would just like to say a big Thankyou for your posts, made me pull the trigger and get it done at asmed... Back home now just writing up my review. Will try make it as detailed as yours. Cheers Debs

It is a decision you will not regret. I can't wait to get back out there.

Looking very dense and it seems that you have recovered perfectly. I see nothing but good things to come. Just be patient. It's the best bit of advice I can give you.

absolutely outstanding results..your journey is what brought me to pull the trigger 2 months ago.....amazing how much donor you must have?!?!?!

Cheers mate, glad I could be of some help. I was originally quoted as having 9000 grafts available but that may have changed as it often does when I go back for my next evaluation. First two months were the worst but from there on it gets better every month.

do you really need a second boss? It looks great. Why not enjoy it and save the grafts for the future?

Need and want are two very different beasts. The answer is no but I know a second pass would give me the head of hair I've always desired and that's what I'm doing. Greedy perhaps but there you go.

I agree with mosd, this is a killer result and your hair looks perfect now. I would personally hold onto that 2000 grafts for insurance against future loss rather than fine-tuning your already spectacular results, but I'm relatively risk-averse when it comes to this type of surgery.

 

Your thread has been very helpful so thank you for that. I'm at nearly 4 months post-op now and your frequent pics and updates helped set my expectations about how gradual the growth process actually is. If I end up with results like yours I will be thrilled.

I'm not risk averse and I know others plan cautiously but I would rather have a full head of hair for the next ten years and then perhaps lose a little when I'm older. Who know's what technology advances they will make in the next decade anyway. Always the optimist. 4 months is where all the real fun begins, well in my case, so happy growing from here on.

Well this thread inspired me to push through with the HT. Do you still experience zero side effects from finasteride?

Yep I have been on Fin for over 10 years and had no side effects whatsoever much to my partners dismay! I'm prepared to try Dut as well if Fut ever stops being effective.

WOW! This is incredible!! So thick and natural looking! Congratulations, I would say that you wouldn't even need a 2nd procedure at this point, but understand we're our own worst critics so do what you need to make you happy buddy!

Cheers pal, appreciate it. I've seen your thread and you are well on your way.

Smash those 2000 grafts out man, take it next level. Especially impressed with the crown improvement for such a small amount of grafts. This is looksmaxing at its best.

Thank you. Yours is also looking amazing and you have another 6 months of growth and maturity to come. Mine always looked a little sparse and then Month 10 - 12 it just suddenly filled in!

14 month update

I just wanted to post a quick update as I am still seeing continued improvement and I've also booked in with Asmed for my second procedure which I'm hoping will be my last for quite some time.

What I've found over the past two months is the hair really starting to thicken and mature. It is becoming more manageable as well as it was slightly frizzy at first. The crown has really filled in now with the added thickness as has my frontal area as you can see with the fringe pulled back. Hopefully over the next few months there will be even more to come. As Spex has always said it really does take 18 months to see the full effect of the procedure. So please don't think it's game over at 6 months. I saw my biggest improvement from month 10 to 12.

The biggest plus of this whole journey has been the improvement in my mental health. I no longer feel anxious when in groups of people or constantly checking my hair at every opportunity. I walk in the wind and rain with my head hel high, I swim underwater and I let people touch my hair. These all sounds like normal things but they were things I've avoided for years. The final picture I added is from a holiday I have just returned from where the wind was blowing my hair all over the place. Not had a photo like that in over 15 years. It's a good feeling.

It is easily the best investment I have ever made and I am astounded at the results and the effect it has had on my life. I thank everyone on here for giving me the support to do it.

I've booked back in for a second procedure in December 2018 which will mark my two year mark. I'm just adding a little more density into the crown and hairline and then having some very small temple work done. They've predicted 2000 grafts will be required. I'm hoping that after this procedure I will be set until my 50's. It will only leave me with 2000 grafts in the bank but I feel confident that with my current regime that I will maintain what I have for a long time. If not let's hope they figure out who to clone hair follicles in the next ten years.

Superb results.

 

 

However:

 

Is total nonsense. The scars are very obvious.

You are wrong. In the last pictures, yes you can see them but I am standing directly beneath a spot light on the brightest setting. Nobody notices the scarring unless I make them aware of it. In normal daylight conditions, they are undetectable unless you were less than a few inches from my head and nobody gets that close to you. In the pictures I’ve taken the camera is maybe 4 / 5 inches away from my head. They aren’t realistic every day photos, I am trying to showcase them to you all though as honestly as I can.

The only people who will ever notice are people who have under gone a procedure.

This picture in every day lighting zoomed in shows how it normally looks. This was five minutes after having it shaved.

So no they aren’t very obvious. Not one person in 12 Months has noticed or commented so I’d say that speaks volumes.

12 Months Post Op

So I was due to travel out to Turkey for my 12 month evaluation but had a family emergency so had to push the trip back to the New Year.

Here are my 12 month pictures. I’m so happy, I can’t even put into words what a difference it has made to my every day life. Best decision I’ve ever made. The compliments I get on my hair make it all worth while. It’s little things like being able to go and get your hair cut or not worrying about it getting wet or windy.

I know I need a little more in the crown and some small temple work to get to where I want to get but for a first pass I couldn’t have asked for anymore from Dr Koray and his Team at Asmed. I’m still in contact with the team there and I wouldn’t go anywhere else for my next procedure.

Not going to update now until 18 months as any changes will be minimal. I hope my journey so far has helped a few of you who were sitting on the fence. Pictures are below. I’ve done wet, damp and dry. I’ve also done pushed back and styled so you can see what it looks like. I do still use a tiny bit of fibres on the crown but a minimal amount. A bottle used to last me a few days and now a bottle last me over a month.

Just a quick post as had an undercut hair style at the hairdressers today and as you can see they did a grade 1 and 0.5 on the sides and back very high up and there is no visible scarring whatsoever.

Everyone is on there own journey but at nearly 12 Months mine is still improving.

11 Months Post Op

Still improving! I only use a small amount of fibres for the vertex area which will need a few hundred more grafts to be completely filled in. Although saying that I’ve had a few spots / pimples this past month which have produced new hairs. Confused as thought everything should be through by month 10?

I still have a lot of hairs that need to mature and thicken so still think there is some improvement to come. Going to see Asmed next month for my 12 month check up and to book in for my second and hopefully final procedure. Thinking around 2000 grafts will be needed but we shall see what he says. I would like to close my forehead a little with some temple work and then thicken the hairline and crown slightly!

Can’t believe it’s s year next month!

Few different photos. Wet and dry. Shown the crown in the harshest light I could find so you can see that it is still a bit see through on one side. I’ve added two photos at the end to show you what a different lighting makes. First one is just me in the day light with no product in and the second one is me out with my hair styled and a little fibre in it. Lighting makes such a difference.

11 months preview - posting full update tonight. Never had so much hair! It does keep improving!

Hey Deb. Are you still noticing improvements in density? I'm almost at 9 months and I must admit my hair looks pretty see through still

Yes still seeing improvements but very subtle differences month on month now. The hairs are becoming stronger and thicker. Mine came through very thin and a lighter colour. They are darkening up now. Makes a big difference.

Anyone have any idea how long it takes to get in to see this Dr Erdogan ?

It took me about 4 months but they had earlier appointments. It depends how flexible you can be and the size of the procedure required. I opted for winter so that I could hibernate during the ugly duckling stage.

I fly on Wednesday from UK op on Friday, not sure if I’m nervous or not yet? ? mainly concerned about the initial injections, I plan to douse up on Xanax

Good luck. You have nothing to worry about. I took Xanax on both days and they definitely made me feel calmer so no harm in taking them. They don't help with the pain but it really is minimal. I had more discomfort in my back than in my head from laying still for so long. To give you an idea of how little it hurts, I fell asleep on both days whilst they were working on me. The injections at the beginning sting for a few seconds and then your head is numb and all you feel is pulling and prodding.

10 Months Post Op

Density is still improving and I think many of the hairs still look thinner than they should be so I’m hopeful that over the next 10 months this will continue to show some improvements. I am thrilled with where I am today compared to where I started and it is easily the best decision i’ve made. Small things that you take for granted like going swimming or playing football in the rain are all things that I do now without even a second thought and you can’t put a price on your mental well being.

I can’t thank Dr Koray and the Asmed ladies enough. Looking forward to going out there in two months for my 12 month result consultation. First two pics are wet, second two are dry, then my donor and the last two are with my hair pushed back from the front and above.

I think your results are amazing..but i see your point. Adding / supplementing to your already good investment cant hurt. If you have the time and money to supplement from time to time over the years why not? ...you only live once and its a quick ride! I personally plan on going to the grave with a full head of hair lol...PS maybe it would help if you post a complete "before" pic (as in before ANY HT with your previous hairline) next to your present day transformation pic? Just my 02$ Either way your results your journey has been one that put me on the path to a HT...(coming soon) so i thank you for sharing....

Cheers Matty, I appreciate the post and kind words. I am ecstatic with the results and the fact I can now leave the house without having to worry about my hair but I know that with a little added density in the front I can have the hair that I've dreamed of having for the past 10 years and so this is what I'm going to do. The ugly duckling phase will be nowhere near as bad as I have a hairline to work with now.

I will post before and after photos later today. It's been quite a transformation!

I'm 10 months today but didn't have time to take all my photos this morning. Will post the photos later today.

I did manage to take one and have attached a comparison shot from the previous two months which does show a small improvement in density over the past couple of months. Think I will still need a small touch up but it is still improving so we shall see.

Looking good Jax! The way your hair line frames your face has knocked years of you in my opinion.

I'm in a similar boat where I'm really happy with my current results but a little extra density would make such a big difference. As you are I'm going to wait till 18 months before deciding on what to do but I'm leaning towards a small touch up of hopefully no more than 100 grafts to get me to where I ultimately want to be.

I think you have a great result. A second procedure might improve even more, but could also be hair greed. A close up picture with the hairline pulled/styled back (dry) might help us to give you an realistic opinion.

I think 99% of hair transplant patients realise that what you're getting from 1 procedure is largely an illusion of density and redesign of hairline shape etc. Clearly a massive improvement already, but there are a lot of good examples where an extra 25-30% density to an already solid result makes a huge difference. Was pretty much set on this 2nd transplant approach from the beginning, but like yourself after one transplant its amazing to not have to worry about your hair wherever you go anymore, so not in a rush.

 

Also nice that with a second procedure you have a proper hairline to frame your face after having to buzz it down, would make the ugly duckling far less stressful.

Here are a few photos with the hair pulled back. I don't think it is hair greed. Although i would like more I appreciate what I have now from where I started. I just want to be able to style my hair with my fringe pushed backwards and at the moment I don't think I have enough density to do so. If I use any styling products then it only exacerbates the issue as the hairs clump together.

Any ideas on number of grafts needed? I was hoping to not need more than 1000. It may be that it improves over the next 8 months and I don't need a second pass but from what I've read and seen there isn't a huge cosmetic improvement after month 10.

Just a quick post at 9 and a half months. Hair is still thickening but not quite getting the density I want in the hairline to be able to push my fringe back the way I’d like too. I’m ecstatic with the results so far but think I may need another 1000 grafts in the hair line to achieve the style I wanted.

Considering closing my temple a points a little bit when I go next time as well but don’t want to waste grafts unnecessarily. It would just make such a difference to how my face is framed. I should have another 4500 grafts in the bank so I should be covered. Keen to hear what others think about this?

Best decision I ever made doing this! Actually like having my photo taken again! Been a tough 10 months though!

Hi again

 

Just caught my eye that you are going back in December for a visit - what does this entail?

 

Do you just fly in for the day? Or stay over? I presume you are paying for the flights (and hotel if required) yourself but Asmed are taking care of the transfers?

 

Is this your own initiative or have Asmed asked you to go back?

 

I suppose a post op check up is normal in most walks of life but its just the flight to Turkey and not going back to your local hospital that is the difference here.

 

Ive sent my 6 months pics to Asmed and they want more at 8 months and I am just wondering if I should visit in person?

I’m just going back for a 12 month check up and to hopefully schedule my second procedure. This isn’t mandatory, I just thought it best to do it and would be nice to see the team again.

I’ve paid for it myself yes and they have sorted transfers for me. I guess it depends if you wanted a second procedure or are happy with your results. I can see that I’m going to need some added density across the hair line to be able to style my hair the way I want too.

Hi

 

Ive asked this question of JustJax also but would like your thoughts as well please.

 

 

 

Im just over 6 months since my 3200 Asmed procedure and have question.

 

I still have a sensation under my recipient area, its quite pleasant! Feels a bit like a compact tightness under my scalp (sorry its really hard to explain) but in a way it feels like its hairs that are still trying to find their way out onto my head - which I hope is the case.

 

Did you find you had this sensation and did you find it stopped once you thought around month 6 or 7 that all your transplanted hair had come through?

 

Im trying to work out if this feeling is a good thing as it means hairs are still to come through and once it starts to go then most of the hairs have come through.

 

Thanks

I think what you are feeling is new hairs coming through. I still have this feeling occasionally but much less than I did at around the 6 month mark. The feeling I get is more like a desire to itch, feels a bit tingly close to what you experience after pins and needles has struck.

I think it just means that things are still happening for you and so they should be at your stage. I'm at month 9 and am still seeing continuous improvement. Remember it's not a one model fits all process and growth will happen at different times for everyone and may not be completed up until 12 months potentially 18 in the crown.