CosmoKramer

Fantastic results man, congrats! Just curious, how was your progress in the crown area and any photos of crown/top view? thanks

So, it’s been several days post my 9th month post-op and I’ve decided that at this point I feel comfortable naming the doctor and clinic that I chose as I am very happy and pleased with my results thus far, as I said I would when I felt I was satisfied and happy even though it’s a few months short of my 1 year mark. I feel doing so may help those that are stressing out and concerned with their progress that have also posted their progress and hope my progress is some comfort to them to ease their worries as I had many worries myself over the course of my progress. I had my procedure with Dr Erdogan at ASMED in Istanbul, Turkey. A bit of a backstory.... I had been researching getting a Ht procedure done for a few years but the cost and undergoing the surgery and recovery really scared me and put me off, so I began checking out the forums, real self, YouTube and in early 2017 I decided I would ONLY go the FUE route and only with a doctor that utilized the ARTAS robotic fue method as it seemed from all the info I had read that it would be less painful and less stressful on the donor grafts. Then I discovered how also expensive it was and I wasn’t much impressed with the results I had seen so I decided to do more research. I then came across Dr Diep’s work from his YouTube videos and honestly thought his posted results were too good to be real or true but I learned with more info that he was the real deal, unfortunately much too out of my budget range so I sadly ruled him out. Also discovered some other clinics here in the US but they too were also priced out of my budget. At this point I also discovered Dr Erdogan and ASMED and really was impressed by their results but was also very skeptical if too good to be true and I had ruled out traveling overseas especially to Turkey given the political tensions at that time. I had never traveled overseas before and I could not do so due to my worry and anxiety especially going to a country I had never been to before by myself for a many hours-long 2-day medical procedure. Going through my options and also discovering many more clinics based in Turkey from YouTube and Instagram I decided I couldn’t let fear stop me from doing something for myself that I had wanted to for a long time. After researching how the FUE methods were done by various clinics it all drew me back to Dr Erdogan and ASMED for their manual extraction methods/tools and the high amount of grafts they were doing to give good coverage and results for a reasonable price that I needed, so in Spring of 2017 I submitted my information and photos to ASMED thru their website just to see and got a reply a few days later, it was disappointing because if I recall I was turned down by Dr Erdogan at that point and he recommended getting on Finasteride, which I did and left my ht plans on the back burner. Fast-forward to May of 2018 and decided to take another stab at my ht options and took some photos with longer hair in my donor area and sent them to the patient coordinator and see what Dr Erdogans opinion was this time. I was happy to hear that he said I was now suitable for the procedure and recommend 5,000 grafts, I was happy with that so I asked my coordinator for available openings and funny enough they had a sudden opening for the mid-June, just a few weeks away otherwise the next available was at the end of September....I am not the type to rush into anything I like to analyze my options but this needed a decision right away....I decided to bite-the-bullet and get out of my comfort zone and booked it, even before I booked the plane tickets or anything. Thankful everything fell into place for me to go ahead and go for it, the finances/procedure opening/time-off to recover etc. I’m not going to go into the details of handling from airport to hotel to clinic and the procedure as that’s been perfectly covered by others on this forum but I would like to add, as a person with a major fear of heights and flying and doctors and any surgery and blood and needles I have to say Dr Erdogan and his team were very reassuring and gentle and calming and helpful and always put me at ease and i thanked them for that, they are very professional and know what they are doing. I can’t speak for the recent criticism from a couple or a few of their other patients on this forum but only to say that in my “bro-scientific” opinion ones biology and any possible stress could have a big impact on what kind of results one gets, I decided to stay in Istanbul for an extra 7-nights past the 5-nights included by the clinic as I did not want to rush off for home and risk any type of infection or stress or issue from the 2-day procedure. I wanted to be sure that should anything arise that I could go to the Clinic and the Doctor and have them handle it and to rest and be stress free and free of the scabs before I would board an airplane for the long trip home and I’m so glad I did. Is there a correlation between air pressure from going home the following day or two that may damage the implanted grafts I don’t know but I didn’t want to take the chance give all the time, money I’d spent and endured so what’s an extra week for something that will benefit me for years to come. I will continue to update my progress here but thus far I’m very pleased with my results and thankful to Dr Erdogan and his staff. If anyone has questions Im happy to answer.

Took some photos earlier today after a shower and with some Viking hair styling matte paste I purchased online to tryout with the hair damp.

Thanks much! @pkipling for the compliment and comment, much appreciated! its definitely been a tough journey but it’s definitely been worth it. I’m aware that it can take up to 18months even 24 months to see the full result and I’m hopeful for more improvement and crown growth but yeah it’s the trickiest part I agree, and I “only” had 1,500 placed there so if needed I believe I have the additional grafts available to add another 1,500 grafts to the crown at any future procedure I chose to do, but for just 9months I’m very happy to be honest. Thanks again!

Good luck and happy growing!

Thought I’d post a few more 9th months photos using a different camera and in different (also a bit harsh) lighting that shows the mid/crown/vertex area dry with no styling product or concealer. I had 1,500 grafts placed in the area and I feel it’s much better than pre-op but it’s still see through and needs more density and thickening, I’m hoping that happens now from months 9-12. Has anyone seen much more improvement from a similar crown area and grafts implanted post 9months? Honest opinions and input is appreciated! 🙂

How is your 8+ months progress going now, @redlord?

You’re welcome! @Kiwi Guy Yeah, I agree, with a bit of growth donor would look just fine. Agree as well with your second point about overblown concern...if there was a serious issue with Dr Dieps donor management then there should be lots of complaints from his past patients since he’s posted many patient videos, but nope haven’t seen any myself after a final result.

Very nice early progress for under 4-months!

I don’t think I’ve seen where those concerns about donor management were answered by Dr Diep, but what Melvin said does make sense. Recently, the Doctor has posted a video on his YouTube channel showing a patients donor area shaven, I’m willing to wager he’s read the concerns on this forum of his recent patient and others and this is his rebuttal to any concerns.

Looks right on track, happy growing!

The fact that the Doctor did not respond to his patient on his (this) thread in over two months, YET, he keeps posting results of other patients results he’s cherry-picked in the surgeon page speaks volumes and is a cautionary example for any people considering the doctor or his clinic.

Almost-5 months progress looks great man! Yeah, I agree, I think the name of the clinic makes them sound “cheesy” but I’ve seen a few of their YouTube videos and they look like they do fine work.

Looks Great! 👍🏻

Hi! Any update? Did your results improve any after your 9 months post-op?

Waiting for online news of that promised baldness “cure” from 2000, 2004, 2008, 2016, 2020, 2045...

Thanks! @SprayPaint I feel the texture has much improved now at my 9th month and since i am letting my hair grow and get long. In my case I have salt and pepper hair with a mix of grey and white hairs (aging 😩) and it’s always been natural wavy and tricky to control but I’ve started to use a good natural hair conditioner and when styling, a good matte paste and I gotta say it helps a good amount to feel smooth and have the hair lay they way I would like it. The important thing is finding the proper way to style the new hair which can make it look better and natural. Yeah, I think that there is a small minority of guys with perfectly straight hair that get the same look to their new Ht hair but that the majority go through the frizzy wavy look, but it does improve in texture.

Thanks! @Qneedhair My friends and family at first were very very skeptical that any Hair Transplant would give me a good result because they did not know how much the procedure has advanced in the surgical process compared to the old methods so it was important for me to educate them on how much better and safer the techniques have advanced. To be honest some of them thought it was just an ok result at my 2nd or 3rd month but when they see my progress now they are amazed. Yes, I’ve had a few friends and several relatives ask me many questions and are also considered getting an Ht done because of my outcome at this point. As my progress has gotten better I’ve been more open and happy to discuss it with those that are interested. As for you’re question if I wished I would have done this sooner....I would say Yes and No.....Yes it would have been great if I was able to get this Ht done back in my late 20’s or early 30’s and saved me those years of worry and stress but also No because the FUE technique and process wasn’t as refined as it is now and also because I only started to loose the majority of my hair within the past 7 years, which I’m actually glad I did at my still sorta young age because now I don’t have to constantly worry about how much more native hair I’ll loose down the road and beyond the transplanted new hair areas and having to chase and play catch-up with more procedures. I think my timing/finances/level of hair loss/technique advances all came together at a good time for me to get it done now rather than years ago. Hope that helps 👍🏻

You’re off to a great growth start! Your donor area looks great as if nothing had been removed and your recipient area is filling in nicely. 👍🏻

Great job and results!

Thanks @Spaceman!

Thank you! i didn’t get a chance to take photos of donor or crown since it’s tricky doing it myself but my donor feel normal and same as a previous photo I posted some posts back in this thread. My crown area is improving thought slowly and still see-thru but not a lot of grafts where placed there originally, but much better than pre-surgery.

Thanks! I definitely agree! 🙂

9-months post FUE procedure with hair dry and no styling product or concealer at all.

A few days short of the official 9-month post FUE procedure mark but I thought I’d take some photos and post now. Photos are right after a shower with very wet hair, parted for a ‘Peaky Blinders’ style.