MachoVato

1 hour ago, Gatsby said:

@MachoVato I am incredibly happy for you! Just when you thought 'Elvis has left the building' you come rocking up with an even better awesome looking head of hair! That hairline is incredibly soft and natural and completely undetectable. I've also gone from Finasteride 1mg a day (until I developed sexual side effects) and then went off the drug. I have since gone back onto Finasteride taking 0.5mg every second day and so far no problems. Anyway wishing you all the best and I look forward to your future updates! Thanks for sharing!

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. 😛

1 hour ago, mustang said:

last surgery

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. 

6 hours ago, Der3k7 said:

If I had a chance to choose between Freitas and Juan couto who do you think would be the best option? Ignoring wait time 

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!

4 hours ago, Icyraindrops said:

For those of you who went with Dr Bicer, how long was it before her assistant got back to you with a quote for no of grafts required? Sent my photos to them om 20 Sept and still havent heard back ther than her assistant telling she hasn't seen my photos yet as she's really busy.

@Dr. Ozlem Bicer Clinic

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

2 hours ago, blackislback said:

Probably what you wrote is correct, that they do it as team, by most of results here seems they are good team, but you know sometimes most of us always in head about some specific doctor thoughts ... But all we know that most of clinics, 1x doctor can't do all those, as sometimes 1-2 day surgery, and some clinics doctors do extraction opening channels, and impanting grafs technicians, or vice-versa, so as you told...

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?

22 minutes ago, JDEE0 said:

Correct. Making an opening in advance is whats called 'pre-made slits'.

With DHI the 'slit' is created as the needle penetrates the scalp and the graft is immediately ejected into this opening within a second most likely. 

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. 

5 minutes ago, JohnAC71 said:

@Portugal25I think Dr Lapunzula prices are higher. @MachoVatomentioned about €4 per graft from memory.

And I saw this: 

Up to 1,000 grafts, FUE hair transplantation with Dr. Lupanzula costs $4,50 per graft; all grafts over 1,000 grafts cost $4,00 per graft. The doctor is personally involved in all steps of the operation.

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. 

5 minutes ago, Melvin- Moderator said:

The rep reiterated what the surgeon suggested. However, her post explained the reasons why, the misinformation was stating that this was exclusive to HIV, she doesn’t suggest surgery for immunosuppressive conditions, not just HIV, as there could be adverse effects on the patients health without extensive testing. It’s not defending to provide a reason.  

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!

8 minutes ago, JohnAC71 said:

With the 2 excellent options in Portugal of either Dr Pinto and Dr Ferreira I don’t see a need to consider a lesser known Dr. 

That clinic IS Dr. Pinto.

3 minutes ago, bsass said:

Yeah I guessed it would be minimum 2k grafts. No, the hairline is not a concern of mine. I do not want to spend more than $8k - $10k. Yes, I would travel aboard. I heard good things about a doctor in Mexico named Dr. Nader. The YouTube videos I've seen are impressive. @MachoVatoDo you happen to know this doctor? 

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?

1 minute ago, Melvin- Moderator said:

Personally, motorized punches is probably the best way to go, there was a time when people thought that manual punches were somehow superior, but they're not. If anything, it becomes more labor-intensive for the surgeon. It may be okay if there are 5 technicians doing the extractions, but if it's only one surgeon, it's definitely not better. The whole manual vs motorized discussion got a lot of hype because Dr. Lorenzo used manual punches. But some of the world's best surgeons including Dr. Konior used motorized punches all the time. 

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.