TrixGlendevon

I don't either. My opinion is, if they ask me directly then I will answer yes but I am also not going to announce I have had a hair transplant within 2 minutes of meeting people. As I (think) mentioned above, I work in tropical countries so avoiding the sun will be hard without a hat. I have already found a few Panama hats which look quite cool. I'll invest in them. The hat won't be to mask the fact I have had a transplant though, but to protect my scalp when it is very sensitive in the first 6 months. I was also debating FUE and now FUT so that is another consideration.

Why do you need/want an exit strategy?

I agree. It took me 3 attempts

Dr Bloxham. Great videos. Thanks. Shame you both don't practice in Europe. How long does it take for the scar to heal completely? Are these people on the videos people that have had their scars "addressed" or just normal scars (and what does addressing it mean in terms of procedure and result)? Are there not nerves and blood vessels in the area that the surgeon cuts that may make for long-term damage (it is the head, afterall)? Who would you say are the best FUT surgeons in Europe? I have a short-list already that I will visit next month but they are on the list based on being good FUE surgeons (some offer FUT too but I have never looked into FUT so I am just starting my research now). Sorry for 20 questions!

Well, I'd ideally like to have a number 2 all over to be honest but we can't have it all I suppose. Thanks for your photo - he's right, you can't see where it is. As you've had both FUT and FUE, can you tell me about your experiences with them both? Recovery? Result? Advice?

Hi! I was all up for FUE but after seeing videos about FUT by doctors from this forum on Youtube and also reading through a debate that escalated quickly I am debating FUT. I am concerned about the scar however. So, for those who have had FUT, what do you do about the scar after? Is there some kind of surgery/technique etc. that you can do to conceal it after? I'd hate to not have the option to have my hair short as it really suits me.

I've just seen this video on some of the, yet more, videos of yours I've been watching. Great result.

Dr. Feller - I have several consultations in Europe next month and will be asking exactly these questions. Thank you. I have a question for you though - is there are any surgery you know of in which the scar produced by FUT can be reduced afterwards? Is it highly technical? Where would you get it done (in general and you personally)?

In their defence though, they offer both procedures they just think FUT is better

In that case I think you will appreciate having gone with Dr De Reys in a few years. I am NW3v now at almost 32. I want a conservative doctor to do my work this is why De Reys is on my short-list. I just wish he posted more cases online!

The problem is, you could have gone with Ergodan etc. who do high density work but what is your balding pattern and what is your family history? Are you going to need (substantially) more work done in the future? If so, I think mid- to long-term you will appreciate having gone with Dr De Reys who has given you a good, natural looking hairline with not many grafts used. And there is still 3 months+/- left of progress from this HT to wait for.

I think from the start though you have had unrealistic expectations about what to expect. You have a great result already and you're only 9 months in. Average is 12 months for the full resut and can take even longer in other people. He is a conservative doctor but he has a reputation for that so you can't say you weren't expecting it. I agree with thatoldchestnut - I think it is very solid (but then, easy for me to say that as it isn't my hair). Keep posting progress, I have enjoyed following it and it will help other people, myself included, in making a decision.

The litmus test is: would you go with De Reys again for the next HT?

Looks great. Some people take longer than others to see the results. Dr De Reys has a good reputation though so you were always going to see a good result eventually, it was just up to your genetics to decide when.

Spex - that is great thanks. I have already asked some of them in email consultations which is how they have made the short list to begin with. Some of them are great questions that I wouldn't have thought to ask though - I also especially like number 20 and hadn't thought of asking it. I like the advice of writing them down too beforehand as I would probably forget them if not. This reply will greatly help me structure my appointments with the surgeons. Much appreciated!

I am lucky in that I will do it between contracts so when I start my new contract in a new country, there will be no redness or swelling. I don't think I will be able to wear a hat to work though. That said, I do work in tropical countries so I will need to wear one for the commute (and anytime I even leave the house from what I have heard). Tough gig this cosmetic surgery eh?

I suppose so, yes. I wouldn't care as much to be honest as I know there will be growth eventually. I didn't get the second part - are you suggesting/wondering if there would be better or worse growth if you shave it? I don't think there would be much difference but I have nothing to base that on.

Good morning! I will be visiting my shortlist of surgeons next month. I will do a write up of my meetings with them as they may be useful for other potential patients. I would like to know from experienced posters and/or doctors on here what questions you think I should ask them? Any help/suggestions would be much appreciated. Thank you

Good post. I agree to a point. The thing is, lots of people outside of Turkey also meet your criteria but they are also regulated so they can't just do whatever they want. Take your two examples of doctors aside, I imagine there are a lot more "amateur" jobs being done in Turkey than in the US, for example. I also think have technicians do substantial parts of the surgery is not a good thing. Depending on how much they do, this might be illegal in some countries (back to regulation). If I am paying for a doctor to do the surgery, I want the doctor doing it. Not a technician. It is cosmetic surgery but it is still surgery. I would be far from impressed if I showed up to have a heart transplant and the doctor said "I'm going for a break but my technician here will take your heart out and get the new one ready - I'll be back in an hour". I want the person who did 6 years of medical school and then 4-5 years training to do the surgery.

The thing putting me off Keser is that he is in Turkey and it is unregulated there. If he has an off day I would be screwed. On the other hand, his work (that I have seen) looks amazing. This is why I want to head out there and speak to him personally. Thus far, I am having trouble just getting a reply from him by email though.

Maras is another you should look into for hairlines. He is the Cypriot. Feriduni is also widely regarded as a hairline expert. Yes, they all do email consults but looking at some pictures isn't the same as getting checked in person. Ferduni et al in Belgium actually map how many grafts you've got in your donor area by shaving a small part of your head and then using a microscope to examine the area. Photos just aren't the same. I also think given the result, good or bad, will be with me for the rest of my life, spending 100-150 euros on a flight there isn't a very big investment in terms of money but will massively help me decide who I want to go with from my short list of 5. No idea on cost. I haven't asked that in any of my emails with any of them. If they don't do what I want then there is no point in discussing cost because I won't be going with them. Cost isn't the biggest factor for me either. The only one who gave me a cost is Dr de Reys and I didn't ask him for it. He seems very professional and open.

I think if you're still in North America and the EU then this is fine as they have as high, if not higher, standards than the UK. This only becomes an issue when you go into the 3rd world and there is no/loose/poorly implemented regulation. I was reluctant to go to Turkey (and had outright dismissed it as an option) but Dr. Keser uses manual tools, does his own work (i.e. doesn't have technicians doing half of the procedure) has a great reputation, his hairlines are amazing and is very cheap. Flights from continental Europe to Turkey are cheap at about 130 euros return so it can't hurt to at least have a chat with him (that's my rationale anyway). The others, if you're interested, are Drs. Feriduni and Lupanzula, both based in Belgium.

Nice find! I am going to speak to my short list in a few weeks. Most do both FUE and FUT so they will be best placed to advise me which procedure would be best for me. They all have good reputations too (3 recommended on this site, 1 previously recommended on here) so no there will be no half assed jobs done or advice given.

Yeah sorry again for that. I don't know where I imagined that 21 years old age. 28 is fine. I have made a short list and will be visiting them in a few weeks. The Spanish ones do a lot of La Liga's stars' hair but the waiting lists can be as long as 3 (!!!) years. The result are amazing though. I will be visiting 3 in Belgium, 1 in Turkey and 1 in Cyprus. Two of those in Belgium are recommended doctors on this sitem as is the Cypriot (although it comes under "Greece" on this site, not sure why). The other two are Doctors Keser and de Reys.

Bill, If he is 28 then I stand corrected but I could have sworn that I saw "age 21" in the original post when I answered the first time. Thanks!