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MachoVato

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Everything posted by MachoVato

  1. MachoVato
    Thank you, sir! I emailed HLC with my 1 year results, as I told them I would. They replied and said that customers were contacting them with my pictures and asking why I went to Bisanga for my second procedure. Haha! I mean, HLC was a homerun to me. I know I made a great decision going there. And I'm sure they would have done great work on my crown and temples. But I always wanted to go to Bisanga. He really is a specialist. I'll probably go to Mwamba next. Unless Europe opens up, maybe I'll finally get a chance to visit De Freitas. I have a total man-crush on his hairlines! 🤣
  2. MachoVato
    Thanks! I'm kinda thinking it wasn't enough grafts on the temples. Already thinking about a touch-up with Mwamba, since he visits the US frequently. Like they say, what's better than more hair? More hair!
  3. MachoVato
    Happy New Year to you, too, my friend! Here's a quick 4.5 Month Update... crown and temples. I'd say my crown looks like where it was before I went to Belgium. So I'm expecting improvement from here on out. I'm not using DermMatch anymore, so that's how I know it's turned a corner.
  4. MachoVato
    4.5 months is way too early for judgement. You are just now entering the growth stage. Really, you have to wait a couple more months. No two patients are the same. You're creating your own anxiety when you need to trust the process.
  5. MachoVato
    I wouldn't recommend going back to Diep for repair. Wong is the way.
  6. MachoVato
    It's hard to say if it was a mistake. I've seen some really good results from Cinik (with hair grown out). To me, it's a gamble. You're right that it wasn't terrible. The donor was salvaged and you were able to lower the hairline, as opposed to having to remove poorly implanted grafts. Personally, I believe *most* people need a second transplant to refine hairline and improve density. You're on the right track now!
  7. MachoVato
    This is the most exciting part... when the hair growth kicks in! The next couple months are fun!
  8. MachoVato
    It's only under these conditions do people really see the quality of work being produced by Cinik. You made a huge upgrade by going to Saifi. Best of luck!!
  9. MachoVato
    Crown coming in!
  10. MachoVato
    That's a tough budget for the amount of grafts you need. I would recommend FueCapilar (Dr. Turan and Dr. Gur). They are my favorite option with this budget.
  11. MachoVato
    Ah! Yes, I missed that. FUT? I don't know.
  12. MachoVato
    I was in the gym on day 8 or so. Resistance only, no sweating. After 2 weeks and all my scabs were off, it's was back to normal for me. But still, light sweating.
  13. MachoVato
    Do you really call this poor? Complete failure? So bad they should issue immediate refund and close shop? It's clear you haven't been paying attention to the countless "is my transplant a failure" threads on here.
  14. MachoVato
    Do you think transplants are completed in 8 months?
  15. MachoVato
    Bisanga is 4.84 Euro/graft after 21% VAT. I paid 2.5 at HLC, so he's almost double the cost. Who's better is a tough question for me. I believe Bisanga is one of the best in the world, probably top 25. So for complicated cases, he's a better choice. The one thing I really prefer is the stick & place technique at HLC. I believe it's a better process. Bisanga does pre-made slits. But his technicians use a tool that open the incisions when inserting the grafts. It's effective but I just prefer stick & place. Fortunately my results are excellent. Hairline is great, density is fantastic, all that. My temples are just now coming in. Here's a quick update. You can see the gap filling in. And it looks perfectly natural. My opinion (and the opinion of many others) is that hair transplants are rarely a "one and done" thing. Perfection is achieved with multiple transplants, always refining the result. It's art as it as much science, unfortunately you have to wait a year before you see the results to make refinements. And look at the middle pic when I was with Bisanga, that was month 9 after HLC. My hair is wet and under extreme lights, yes, but it looks thin, poor density. The improvement from month 9 to today (13.5 months) is dramatic. Be patient and trust the process.
  16. MachoVato
    My weak area was about the same as Evans. Yours appears less dense than mine was at month 8. Fortunately, it was on my right side, which was naturally covered over by my hair style, so it was always hidden. I had my second HT at month 9, after that everything seems to improve. I also switched to oral minoxidil at that time, so that might have contributed to the improvement? Not sure. (I do recommend oral minoxidil since I'm seeing good results from it, particularly around my ears which have improved) Why did I go to Bisanga? I've answered this a few times, but basically I wanted an expert in donor management and temples and I had a much better budget. I requested quotes/dates from HLC, Bisanga, and De Freitas. De Freitas never responded. HLC had an opening in 4 months. Bisanga had an opening in 5 weeks. HLC was more than capable and I would have received a nice discount rate but I went to Bisanga. He's more detailed than HLC, it's a much smaller clinic and more personalized. But overall my experience was better with HLC. If I get a third transplant, it will be a different doctor. Probably Mwamba. If I get a fourth, I'll go to someone else. That's just how I do things. Your case is tricky. I don't think it'll suddenly get super dense, but it should improve over the next 3-4 months. If it still poor density, ask for a touch up. You paid for quality, give them an opportunity to make good on that.
  17. MachoVato
    It would be redundant. As I understand it, dutasteride blocks the same 5AR that finasteride does, plus a second type of 5AR. Something like that.
  18. MachoVato
    Yes, I agree. OP and @EvansLawrence have shown the weak areas in the very worse conditions... parted and under harsh light. They are still weak areas and should be better, without question. Even I had a weak area up through month 9. But it's filled in nicely over the last few months. My density is as good as seen in the videos. My doctors were Elif and Cengiz. My heart goes out to all HT patients that don't get a great result. I hold HLC to a high bar. Yes, after 12 months (if still an issue), I would ask them for a free touch up. HLC should be willing to do a free touch up, 200, maybe 300 grafts. But to ask for a refund is absurd and to claim "failure" is ridiculous.
  19. MachoVato
    My guess it would look something like this. Maybe lower the front of hair line 1/2 CM and add more to the corners. What do you think?
  20. MachoVato
    It is not easy to determine in pictures, but it looks like your donor is pretty good. I would always advise to use grafts from the beard if possible. Grafts from the beard are thicker so they are not good for the hair line, but the putting them in the scar line should not be a problem. Personally, I think you could add some grafts to your temples. If your donor has enough grafts, why not add some to your hair line? HLC will spend a lot of time drawing lines on your head. Make your decision when you are at the clinic with the doctors. Ask for options, they will help with the decision. There is no reason to add finasteride if you are taking dutasteride. They do the same thing. The only thing you could add would be minoxidil. If you can find oral minoxidil, that might be better. Again, I would discuss this with the doctors. Good luck!
  21. MachoVato
    Horrifying!
  22. MachoVato
    I waited 3 months for an online evaluation. I never received it, so I cancelled the request. Good luck!
  23. MachoVato
    I think that's a good plan. Beard hair should be mixed with donor hair. Focus on the front, maximize that area. Crown should be secondary, maybe even saved for a second transplant. good luck!
  24. MachoVato
    You should be happy with the results, for sure. I agree that the density isn't there, but I still contend that it was not enough grafts. The only way to cover the area is to lower the density. My advice is to not go back to Diep. I would consider Wong for density and refinement. Best of luck!!
  25. MachoVato
    That's not true. In context of hair transplants, it is the nicotine that is the issue, since it is a vasoconstrictor. Cigarettes have nicotine in it. Weed doesn't.
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