Fozzie

Well if budget isn't something that is going to hold you back, I'd probably be looking at Dr Konior and H&W in North America. Closer to home, you have the Belgian surgeons (Dr BIsanga, Dr Lupanzula, Dr Feriduni). Turkey could possibly be an option to but would stick to a limited amount of clinics....probably worth at least consulting with HLC in Ankara and ASMED. If your donor area has been severely compromised, HLC may be better suited as they also work with beard/body hair if I remember correctly. You want to see a good amount evidence of repair work from any potential clinic/surgeon you decide to go to. Take your time and do plenty of research before hand. The UK isn't particularly great when it comes to HT clinics and there's only 2 there I'd personally ever consider (Dr Reddy and Dr Ball).

Have you looked at options abroad for repair work? Got to be honest, If I was looking for repair work, apart from say maybe say 2 surgeons in the UK, I'd personally look abroad.

Not really understanding the 2000 graft recommendations for the crown from Dr Bisanga and Hattingen to be honest, even more so seeing as you are not on/not prepared to use meds. You're still quite young and your hairloss pattern is still developing. Crown isn't slick bald yet and good chance loss there will expand without meds. If the crown really goes on to expand a lot, it may leave you in somewhat of a difficult position in the future if you were to have a 2000 or so grafts placed in there now. If i were in your shoes, I would probably be tempted to address the crown with concealer for now and see how things progress with loss in the area in the next few years. Not a huge fan of 'spot treating' areas on the crown without meds and in most cases the resultant chasing after loss in that area but if it's something you really want to address it now, focus should be on a smaller procedure with the aim of improving coverage and managing expectations in line with that.

Have you been in touch with your surgeon? When your donor area was examined, what was the view of your surgeon? You mentioned you were on meds until 2016 and had your first procedure the same year. Don't know if you were on meds at the time of your procedure but if you were, just wonder whether the meds were keeping hair in your donor area going and when you came off them, they started to miniaturise. Obviously your hair loss pattern had clearly formed when you had your first procedure but if you were destined to head to be a NW7 and hair was extracted from the sides that was being propped up by meds, maybe coming off them has resulted in the transplanted now being vulnerable to miniaturisation and eventually dying. Obviously all guesswork but something to maybe consider.

Standard generally is pretty poor and average at best in the UK and Ireland imo. Only two I'd personally consider are Dr Ball or Dr Reddy. Outside those two, I'd look abroad.

Absolutely superb transformation.....perfection.

How many grafts did you have done? In terms of growth, majority of what was going to grow has probably grown but may still have a little to go. Generally though, at 9 months onward's the focus will be on the transplanted hair maturing and thickening over the next few months. The curly hairs you refer to should mature over time and become more like the native hair.

I'm not convinced it is that cut and dried to be honest , especially when you get clinic's like H&W still using the 'Neandertal age' FUE and knocking out great results. Not to say there isn't positives in using implanter pens etc but again a lot of it really boils down to the skill level of the surgeon/techs involved with the method used imo.

Going by the pictures, think it's great progress at 7.5 months. You still have 4.5 months minimum to see maturation of the transplanted hairs but think it all looks on track. Have you got a picture of the hairline exposed so we can see the issue with it being gappy?

At 5 and a half months, really wouldn't worry about the crown lagging behind. Hair transplanted there usually lags behind the front due to blood circulation not being as good in that part of the scalp. Lot of the time, will need to give the crown longer....a lot of the time it can take up to a 18 months to develop. You've still got a long way to go and probably are only just seeing the beginning of your result to be honest.

Ah think that's the first I've heard of them drawing a hairline after shaving the head to be honest. Couple of cases here (Kristoff, Lordbaldwin. Templerunner, JayLDD for example), in their write up's mention the initial hairline was drawn in the consultation alongside donor area being examined/measured. Maybe something has changed.

I may be wrong, but not sure that is the case. Reading patient accounts, sounds as though the original hairline is drawn in the consultation without the hair shaved. Hair then shaved and the hairline then tweaked if required. Again, may be wrong but that's how it's sounds from reading the numerous write ups from ASMED patients.

It is sufficient....main thing is sticking to the medication and giving it time. Personally, I'd stick to finasteride and minoxidil and see how you progress with that. PRP is something you could add although I'm totally won over with it's efficacy but it may be beneficial.

Medication. Wouldn't even think about a HT if I were in your shoes.

I think Dr Wong does some of the best crown work in the business. I'd be very tempted to stick with him for a crown procedure personally.

The shedding post HT can vary between individuals. Some guys shed near enough all the transplanted hairs, others may not shed as much. Wouldn't worry to be honest.

I don't really buy into the idea it is totally 'immune'. I believe the hair in the donor zone is more resistant compared to hair on top but over time I do think miniaturisation, albeit in a lot of cases very slowly, can start to take place, even more so in guys who are heading towards a higher norwood.

There is quite a difference in donor scarring in the two pictures. As Melvin mentioned, scarring can vary somewhat between different people but do you know what size punch was used in your first procedure in 2013? Considering Debs1982 had 5000 grafts in his first procedure, the state of his donor area is pretty impressive imo.

Can see your concerns, especially in the 3 month post procedure pictures. Fingers crossed there is just some shock loss involved and there is some improvement in the coming months. Personally, if someone has had a fairly large 4000-5000 grafts FUE as their first procedure, think one needs to tread fairly carefully in any subsequent procedures and smaller procedures are better imo. Regardless, looking at your pre-op pictures, totally understandable why you only wanted the crown worked on and that's it. Certainly do not like the sound of the clinic almost cajoling you into an extra 2000 grafts. That is poor form imo and very disappointing to read. If you were happy with the frontal area and only the crown was discussed in the online consultation, it should have been left at that......simple. End of the day, it's about meeting the patients expectation.

Your crown doesn't look slick bald. Lot's of miniaturised hairs which finasteride could possibly help bring life to. If you can tolerate and commit to finasteride, I'd be tempted to see if it can help turnaround things in the crown area first. Obviously depends on how you respond to it but worth a go imo.

Clear improvement and overall you are heading in the right direction. 5.5 months is still early and wouldn't worry too much about density at the moment. I'd certainly be happy with how things are going if I was in your shoes considering your pre-op situation.

Depends on what you are looking to achieve really. If you are open to using and sticking to medication, maybe give finastaride a go for a year or so and see what it can do for you, especially the crown before you go in for another HT. Did the surgeons you've consulted with give a breakdown of where exactly their quoted number of grafts would go? On a separate note, wasn't aware Dr Bisanga is running the clinic in Athens on his own now, when did that happen?

Agree with Abi28......for the clinics who operate up to the 3000 euros price point you are taking a big risk. Save up some more at the very least for someone like Cinik or Demirsoy if you want to go to Turkey.

Congratulations on your new hair. This is a tremendous outcome considering where you started off from.

When you are genetically hard wired to lose hair, supplements are not going to do anything to prevent/change that, even more so when you look at the quality and at the recommended dosages of most supplements out there. Ultimately like trying to fix a crack in a dam with a band aid imo. Yes may help anything you still have on your head look healthier but won't stop it from miniaturising and eventually dying. After a HT or alongside medication, think they can definitely aid in getting the most out of your hair.