Albion71

Some more photos, showing the results of my HT three days ago. Front Top Crown / Vertex Back (it was very difficult to take a photo where the donor area scar was visible - you can just about see it in this one)

Consultation I travelled to Istanbul four days before the operation (Sunday 30 May), as I wanted to combine the HT with a look round a city I'd always been keen to visit. I highly recommend it, particularly a hammam the day before to help provide a relaxed, restful sleep. I was picked up from the airport by a very friendly driver from Transmed, who would also ferry me to and from my hotel for the consultation and operation, as well as dropping me back at the airport for my return flight. Two days before D-Day, I had my consultation with Dr Melike Kulahci. There was some initial confusion as to whether I was having FUT or FUE. Although the door did appear open for me to have FUE, I had evaluated all the pros and cons of both before arrival and decided to stick with FUT. Dr Melike had suggested dealing with mainly the frontal area, also adding a few grafts to the crown/vertex area, but I was anxious that the top was not left out, as I could imagine a gap opening there with my current pattern of hairloss. So we agreed on a procedure involving around 2,900 grafts, of which 2,000 would be concentrated in the front, the remainder spread over the top and vertex. Operation I was picked up at 8am on Thursday 3 May, and after a few final checks, we were underway. The anaesthetic is administered using what feels like a hairbrush, with a slightly sharp needle in the middle of it. Dr Melike then began removing the grafts from the donor area, which you feel as a slight scratching sensation, before closing it up with staples. Then, as far as I could work out, Dr Melike marked out the areas where the grafts were to be transplanted into on the front and top of my head, while her team of helpers – or 'angels' as she calls them – diced and sliced the strip from the back of my head. The actual insertions of the grafts was carried out by the angels, with Dr Melike checking in once or twice. I was able to read and watch TV during the process, which took about five hours in total. The pain was very minimal, and at any hint that the anaesthetic was wearing off, I merely said the word and a 'top up' was provided. When it was over, I was given a de-briefing from Dr Melike on how the operation had gone – well, she assured me. I was also provided with also the necessary pills, lotions and shampoos, plus a sun hat to cover up the treated area. And then I was back at the hotel by 4pm. Initial photos - three hours after Close up, also showing the headband you have to wear to keep swelling down Recovery I was a bit surprised at how well I felt after the operation. I had lined up plenty of water and food in my hotel room and was expecting to just collapse there that evening. In the event, I felt well enough to go out for a short walk and even have something to eat. I had been given a headband and some ice compresses to use on my forehead and temples to keep the swelling down, though despite this, my left temple would became very swollen (though not uncomfortably so). (Incidentally, my hotel room did not have a fridge/freezer, so I had to ask the reception to refreeze the compresses, which they were happy to do.) The next day, I was whisked back to the hotel to be washed (my hair that is!), and instructed on how to look after my HT over the coming weeks and months. This included things like: avoiding touching the HT to minimise infection risk; not sweating excessively; best sleeping position; when to see a doctor about getting the staples removed; etc. And that was that. I returned to the airport on Saturday 5 June – and apart from having to pay an extra 20 Euros to check in my bag as the shampoo exceeded the 50ml size stipulated for liquids in hand luggage – the journey back passed pretty uneventfully. Now the recovery process begins. So far, I've not felt much by way of pain, just a little bit of soreness around a couple of the staples at the back. The painkillers seem to be keeping it all under control. There's a bit of tingling from the recipient areas, which is hopefully a sign that the grafts are 'bedding in'. Reflections When I told a few close friends I was having a HT in Turkey, they were generally horrified, assuming that such operations were only performed in places like Beverley Hills or Harley Street. If you have similar preconceptions, I can say that, based on my experience, the Transmed clinic is professional and sophisticated, and the service was first class. Looking at my 'new' hair now, in comparison to other photo diaries on here, I am broadly happy. I would maybe have liked the frontal hairline to be a couple of millimetres lower, but that might be something I address with FUE at a later date. One thing I would have done differently is get a shorter hair cut beforehand, probably a 'grade 4' all over. As only the recipient area was cut short before the operation, my hair looks pretty strange at present. I don't want to risk a visit to the barber until all the grafts have dropped out in about four weeks, so I'm probably going to have wear a hat throughout that time. Luckily, I'm freelance, so will work from home during that period. If you have to go into an office, it might be something to consider.

I am 38, and I've been losing my hair since my early 20s. I'm currently about a Norwood III, progressing towards a Norwood IV A. My father was a Norwood VI / VII by his 50s, and I'm pretty certain I would end up that way too. After making no headway with various pills and potions (see profile), I began researching HTs extensively. I concluded that this site was the most comprehensive and objective on the web. Based on the positive experiences on here, I decided I would proceed with an HT, and eventually spoke to six clinics: two did face-to-face consultations; one did an online and phone consultation (Turkey-based Transmed, who I decided to go with); the other three were online only. I chose Transmed chiefly because of the (generally) glowing reviews on this site, particularly from the site administrator, but also, I must admit, because they were considerably cheaper than the other options I was considering. My plan was to have FUT surgery, to deal chiefly with the frontal hairloss, and then return for FUE in a few years' time, to fill in any gaps on the vertex or elsewhere, and also cover up the scar.

Booked in with Transmed for strip surgery on 3 June. Will let you know how it goes. I did plenty of research, much of it on this site, and everything points to good things.

Hi all. On a recent consultation, I was introduced to a guy who'd had some grafts from his beard transplanted onto the crown. The grafts were used sparsely, because the hair is obviously coarser, but it didn't look a bad result. A couple of questions: 1. Has anyone else tried this with much luck? 2. Presumably, if you wanted to get rid of all the beard on say, your neck, you could use FUE to do that as an alternative to electrolysis?!

Hi all. I've gone ahead and booked in with Transmed in Instanbul for a strip surgery. I'll be having around 3,000 grafts, the aim being to deal with the frontal hairline and about two thirds of the top of the head. The crown I'm leaving for now, as it's not too bad, and I'm thinking of tackling that later with FUE. I'll update you on my experience as I've found everyone else's diaries so useful. Anyway, a Q about the frontal hairline. Another clinic told me that they would reconstruct the frontal hairline with greater density than further back on the head. Yet speaking to other clinics, they suggest this would (a) look unnatural, and (b) complicate any further surgery to the frontal hairline. Does anyone have a view on this? Thanks.

Thanks both for your feedback, much appreciated. Mop, glad to hear you're pleased with progress from the Transmed HT. I have asked for Dr. Melike Kulahci but sounds like you were happy with Dr Emirali. I also tried Avodart, which killed my libido, and then a generic Dutasteride, which didn't - but neither stopped my hairloss. Dang. Now going to give Saw Palmetto a go, but kind of resigned to not finding a drug that will stop my hairloss. Ultimate - hope your recovery is going well. I was in Thailand over xmas and it's a great place. I never considered the idea of surgery out there though - maybe I should have.

I had a consultation with HDC in London. I was impressed by what they said to me, and indeed, by the various reviews on this site they have received. However, as has been noted, their price is quite expensive. It is not much more than a Belgian clinic has quoted me, and they are obviously right on my doorstep. And much more expensive than Transmed, who would require a similar amount of travel.

I'm a UK-based HT candidate. Having done extensive research, and contacted various clinics recommended on here, it is unlikely I will choose a UK-based surgeon. Probably Belgium or Turkey.

Hi Clipper (and Hunky Monkey). I wondered if you had any more feedback on your surgery with Transmed. I am considering booking with them, and have been scouring the web for reviews. Clipper's review is not great - though to me it looks ok? Also slightly worried after reading about Woody's experience, and the lack of a statement from Transmed afterwards.

Hi all, and may I first thank everyone who has contributed on here, which is a huge help to anyone research HTs. I am planning to go ahead with an HT this year, but I am undecided between two surgeons, and wondered if anyone on this board could help me with a final decision. I live in London, and my research has led me to a final shortlist of two, who both seem to have excellent reputations: Dr. Melike Kulahci from Transmed in Istanbul; and Dr. Bisanga from BHR in Belgium. Transmed are cheaper, by about 2,500 Euros, but BHR has the advantage of being much closer. I've had a consultation with Dr Bisanga, and read many good reviews of BHR. I've not had a consultation with Dr Kulahci (just spoke to a patient consultant via the phone), but the reviews of Transmed are generally glowing. I've had three consultations in all, with different surgeons, and think I am a good candidate for an HT. I am probably going for strip surgery, aiming for about 2,800 to 3,000 grafts, transplanting to the top of the head and bringing forward the hairline around the temples a few millimetres. I'm aged 38, currently about a Norwood 3, and use various hairloss medications, including finasteride. But the steady hairloss I have experienced since my early 20s, plus family history, makes me think I will probably end up a Norwood 6-7 in 10 to 15 years, even with these medications. Any advice greatly appreciated.

Thanks for that Sparky. I'm leaning towards BHR or one of the other Belgian clinics - they do seem to have a high concentration of great surgeons over there, and as you say, it's very close to London. I'm reckoning on doing a round-trip in a day to see Devroye for a consultation as that's free too (train fare will be 70 quid). Being that much closer, Belgium seems a more sensible option than Turkey or Cyprus or the States.

Thanks. Appreciate the general consensus is that the UK doesn't offer much - but there seem to be options in Europe...

Hi, recently joined the forum as I'm going through the lengthy research process that will hopefully end in a successful HT. Anyway, I found your recommended surgeon list very useful, but there aren't many options if you live in the UK. I appreciated the amount of work and research that has gone into the list, but are there really no other surgeons out there worth looking at? I've had a couple of consultations - with HDC of Cyprus and BHR of Belgium - and both seem to be fairly well regarded from reviews on this forum and elsewhere.