MachoVato

Thanks for the kind words, sir! I haven't cut the top/front of my hair in about 3 months. I'm going to grow it out, which I've never done. I don't know if it's better than before, but I love it just because it's new to me. It is a little "poofy" so I might need to weigh it down somehow... or thin it out, yikes!! Haha! So far no sides on 0.5mg 3X/week of finasteride. I'll leave it that way for now. So much as I don't have sides, I have no problem taking it forever. I'm really hoping the oral minoxidil will start bearing fruit soon. Especially in areas that I never applied it topically, like the donor areas (sides and back).

A couple quick pics at the MONTH 2 mark. Not much to show as it's all fallen out and nothing is growing yet. I can feel little stubbies but that's about it. I can't wait until month 4 or 5! For now I'll use fibers on the crown when I'm not wearing a hat. 😛

Uh huh, sure! haha! I'm thinking about SMP, too. I just wish it was a longer term solution. What's the expected time before it needs to be refreshed?

@Sightnitseen Read this thread about a donor area repair transplant by Mwamba. It's a great case study.

I would consider getting a consultation from Dr. Mwamba from Belgium. He does procedures in Atlanta once a month, I believe. I don't like his website, but it's an excellent doctor. https://www.mywhtc.net/home

Month 11 Update Got a haircut today. I use hair paste (no fibers) to style. I don't see much difference from month 9, to be honest. I *might* have shedded some, now that I am on oral minoxidil, not sure. Except the selfie, these pics are taken about a foot away from the window... 🤮 Density always looks better without direct light! Where I started...

I'm sorry you feel this way, friend. Really. What I see is an excellent transplant, especially for under 8 months. Donor area is exactly what it should look like. Although that picture looks to be from a different time, since you are not shaved in the front photos. Could it be more dense? Sure, we ALL say that. Should it cover more area for 3100 grafts? I am not sure of that. There's nothing wrong with chasing perfection, but having realistic expectations is also needed. I hope you find the results you are looking for with a second transplant.

In my opinion, De Freitas has the best hairlines in the game. At any price. And his price is a bargain compared to the average "top docs in the US" price.

You certainly sound much happier! And that's what it's all about right? But yeah, I kinda see the "retro" vide with long hair. You're stuck in the David Spade look right now, but I'm sure it'll grow out and get that look you're going for. Maybe look at some leave-in conditioner to help with the texture? I use this stuff and love it. Smells kinda earthy too. https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01B3AY85S Happy growing!

@Dr. Ozlem Bicer Clinic

Only 6.5 months?! And to think it's going to get better! 😎

Yes, I think that maybe some HLC doctors might have special strengths. For example, I believe one of my doctors was changed because another patient was requiring beard grafts. So he went to work on him. I agree that it would be better to know the exact doctor who will be working on your head. But really, the only thing that matters is results!

Wow! You have a transplant surgeon's dream donor area! Look at that density! I can see the HLC influence in his hairline design. I love it. You say he did the implantation, too? I thought he did stick and place, where he makes the incision and a technician immediately implants the graft, back to back. Or does he now do pre-made incisions, then follows up with graft implantation?

Unfortunately, DHI is being used to describe an implanter pen inserting into pre-made slits. For example, Cosmedica's top package, Dr. Acar does incisions and they still use implanters: https://cosmedica.com/dhi-sapphire/ Get More Hair, UK https://www.getmorehair.co.uk/micro-sapphire-dhi/

De Freitas (a personal favorite doctor) charges 3.5 for first 1000 grafts and 2.5 after that. HLC charges 2.7, but offer 2.5 if you let them choose the date or let them use your photos on their site (faces blurred). HLC charges 100 euro for airport transport, 2 night accommodations, and dinners. Yes, the doctors will be assigned on day of surgery. Since the doctors do all the work, manual extractions and manual stick and place implantation, which cause fatigue, they collaborate. So it is likely that one doctor before lunch and a different one after lunch. From experience, the doctors have the same technique. They do not operate as independent doctors, they operate as one team. HLC performs manual extraction and stick and place for implantation Bisanga (who is a better clinic IMO) performs motorized extraction and pre-made slits. If there is something I have learned, it is not get caught up on these details. But instead, focus on results. If HLC/Bisanga/Konior/Cinik/hairmill.com/etc. is consistently producing results you like, you should consider them.

I don't know Lupanzula's rates, but Bisanga in Brussels is €4 plus VAT (if applicable). BHR in other locations (Athens, Malaga, etc.) are different prices because it is different doctors.

You need to be careful here. Your signature says you don't provide medical advice or recommendations, but you inject it all the time. You often ask people to contact you to help resolve issues with doctors. People shouldn't have to check with Melvin to get a policy/resolution from a doctor. It's cool that you're helping and all but you're either an intermediary between client and doctor or you not.

It is still wrong to say that this was misinformation. Especially since he proved a response from a Bicer rep. Let's not be so quick to assume that members are wrong... or be so quick to defend the doctors here.

The easy option is hair fibers.

Wow! This repair case is awesome!

Such a huge transformation for only 2350 grafts! I bet you're super happy!

That clinic IS Dr. Pinto.

In Mexico, the only ones I would consider is Dr. Nader over by McAllen, TX (I'm in Texas) and HMR in Tijuana, the Cortez brothers. Both clinics seem to be doing pretty solid work. But these are what I would call "dollar friendly" clinics (as opposed to saying budget clinics). I think they are in the $1.00 - $1.50 per graft range, something like that. Doctor-led procedures and one patient per day, as I understand it. You have a very good budget and you'll need it since the crown is generally harder to do well and you've already had 1 procedure, so you need a doctor that has skill in donor management. For recommendations, the first name that pops up in Dr. Mwamba from Belgium, because he performs procedures in Atlanta a couple times a month. He has some cases here with impressive transplant repair work and FUT scar implantation. He charges $5/graft in Atlanta. If you like Spain, there's Dr. De Freitas (a personal favorite), Dr. Vila, and BHR Malaga are around €3/graft. If you like Portugal, Dr. Ferreira and Dr. Pinto are doing good work for around €3/graft. If you like Turkey, Dr. Pekiner and HLC Ankara are my recommendations at around €2.5/graft. There are other, more expensive options. But really, all these names are top shelf clinics..

From what I can see, your crown would need at least 2500 grafts, maybe 3500 if you need to blend into the mid-scalp. Maybe a pic of crown with wet hair will help. Any desire to work on hairline? I always like to ask a couple basic questions... what's your budget and are you willing to travel abroad?

Bisanga also uses motorized. But we're discussing two clinics and in this case we should price apples to apples. The price reflects the extra time and effort.