TrixGlendevon

That would actually be perfect if I was more or less looking how I do now. Thanks.

So basically, at this stage I should look exactly how I did before the operation (adjusting for genetic differences etc.)?

@HairLossMentor - thanks for the reply. Yes, I imagine I will suffer from buyer's remorse as mentioned by another poster above. My question isn't about the result in and of itself. It is more about if I will have passed the ugly duckling stage yet or not so that it is easier to hide the fact I have had the procedure done from people from work when I return to the office from being abroad for three months. Ideally, I would like the ugly duckling phase to have finished or be finishing, the shock loss hair to have grown back, the redness to not be too obvious and the new transplanted hair to not have started growing yet.

Women make up approximately 50% of the office though and it has 150 people in it so if one person notices, everybody will. If there is shock loss in my forelock, it will be obvious too as this may not grow back in time. If there is not, I could get back to the office at just the right time so that I look the same as before the procedure, as you say. This would be ideal as I would then just change over the next 2-3 months gradually. My comment regarding FUT referred to the scar in the donor, not the recipient area. I won't be able to shave the hair down to ride it out as I would with FUE.

So, what would be the best way to hide this then with an FUT? Another point is that I do not want to go away with work as a NW4 and then come back as a NW2. The difference would be too obvious. So difficult!

At least you're honest! FUT or FUE?

Thanks Jean. This is where FUE trumps FUT hands down - the ability to just shave your head for 5-6 months. I am hoping for an extension on this trip abroad then. I can take some leave afterwards too I suppose. I am going to look at your thread now.

What can I expect at the 3-3.5 month mark from an FUT? Will it still be the ugly duckling phase or will it have (just) passed? I am aware there are differences for everybody and genetics etc. play a role but just in general. I ask because I am being sent abroad for 3 months with work and plan to get it done a couple of weeks before I leave so I am trying to plan for that.

I have booked an in-person appointment with Hattingen Hair. I have looked through their Youtube videos and through the German forum for cases as they are not that well documented in the English or Spanish speaking ones and their work is really great. I agree with @Gasthoerer though that the hairlines are a bit conservative but the overall work is fantastic. Dr Feriduni actually drew, first time without any input from me, the hairline that I would absolutely love to have but he wants me to do FUE. The hairline I want is quite conservative anyway so I think I should be able to convince Hattingen to do the same one if they do not draw it the same as Dr Feriduni. If I have a good consultation with them, I think I have found my clinic. Even Dr Feriduni said they are an excellent choice on par with H&W. If there is interest in hearing about another clinic that is not mentioned regularly (if ever?) here, I will post about my experience afterwards.

Hi! Has anybody used kelo cote gel for the scar(s) after transplants? Did it help? Would any doctors like to give their opinion on its efficacy? For redness, has anybody tried bionect ointment? Same questions as above.

Great post! I would argue that the the staple must destroy some hair too though as it leaves "train track" scars. Who knows though, he is a doctor and did studies on the subject. I personally would also go for the most cosmetically appealing option of the two, which is the suture.

Thanks for your reply. Why won't it happen? As you had staples on your fourth procedure, what did you have done for the other three?

I want FUT anyway but just thought I would enquire with Dr Vila as she has her own clinic now. If her waiting list for consultations wasn't so long, I would possibly consider her but she can't even give me a consultation until early December and I want to be having the surgery done in December, if possible. So far, I have seen Drs Feriduni, Devroye and Lupanzula. I am going to see Dr Mwamba too as he visiting other cities soon for consultations. I am going to Switzerland to the Hattingen clinic in two weeks. Dr Feriduni has said he would prefer to do FUE in my case. Dr Lupanzula said he no longer really does FUT and thinks FUE is the superior method. Dr Devroye said he would do either and agrees that FUT would be the best option for me. Dr Mwamba will agree with Lupanzula I think. Hattingen does both but they specialise in FUT. I have had an online consultation with them already and they said FUT is the best option. As I want FUT, this narrows my choices down somewhat, less so if I can convince Dr Feriduni to do FUT too.

Thanks for the the reply. I just assumed they would be staples because of the severity of what the surgeon is doing. I do not know if the clinic I am visiting in two weeks uses them or sutures to be honest. The point of my original post was just to know how long I will have to around the clinic. I am not travelling back to my country of residence and then back to the country I am getting the surgery in. I would rather just stay there. I live in a country with free healthcare so no problem with the clinic charging me. Out of interest, you say 6-12 months of no weightlifting but this is the longest recommendation for absenteeism from the gym I have seen. Who has told you that?

Hi all! I am trying to calculate how long I will have to stay near the clinic after I have the surgery done. Can anybody help with the below please? 1) How long after the surgery is it before the staples come out? 2) Can anybody take them out or is it better to get the same clinic who put them in take them out again? I am guessing the latter as they will be used to it but thought I will ask anyway. 3) Once the staples are out, can I go home then or do I have to wait around for something else? 4) Finally, what are the factors involved in if the staples themselves leave a "railway line" looking scar? Thanks in advance!

I asked her directly. She did both of them, along with the clinic's team of course. I confirmed the price too. It is just over 2.50 with the IVA included. Her waiting list for a consultation is too long though and I think I want FUT. Shame!

Thanks for the reply. My question was if you can do anything pre-op to reduce the possibility of it happening. Sorry for any confusion. Also, does having a better surgeon limit the possibility of it happening? Thanks

I worked it out and didn't post. Sorry. It is post finasteride syndrome. Dr Feriduni talked to me about it. I said I didn't want to take medication and he said that's a good idea because of PFS and then said sometimes, for some people, the side effects never go away if you use it. F that! Google it. There are lots of pages on it.

Hi all, What are the main factors for temporary shock loss after the procedure? I imagine weak, miniaturised, native hairs are the most vulnerable but what else? What can you do to mitigate/prevent this possibly happening? How long does it take for them to grow back? In the case of FUT, what about the donor area? Thanks

Yes - that's why I am interested. Have you asked her directly if she did it or not? I had seen that site but it was, as you say, under construction. 2.5 euros is a bargain!

What is PFS?

Interesting. Where is she based and does she have her own site? I can't find anything on Google

I disagree. I think he will finish as a NW5 with high sides and crown. With the right surgeon, he should get a good result. OP - do not rush on to meds. Ask a surgeon what they think ASAP though. In person consultations.

I am just reading through Dr Bhatti's website and in his FAQ, he has said FUT can stretch the crown thus negating the extra grafts that you get from an FUT procedure as you are removing a strip and then pulling what is left together. That makes sense logically but I would have thought the scalp's elasticity would return after a few months and it would be back to normal again. Any informed opinions on this?

Thanks as always Spex!