MachoVato

For Americans, you only have to declare over $10k

You might ask them if they will accept credit cards. But there's usually a transaction fee and conversion fee, which makes it more expensive. In my procedure, I brought $7,000 USD cash and paid an additional $4,000 USD on credit card (because we agreed to do more grafts than estimated).

17 hours ago, deitel130 said:

This looks really good for the 1 month mark. Barely any noticeable shock loss. Looks like you didn't shed everything which is good are you able to tell what percentage of hair has shed? 

Seems like you may be a super early grower. 

I'm guessing it's 15-20% shed so far. I assume I'll continue to shed over the next month, who knows when it'll stop. But I'm entering the ugly duckling stage, and that's totally expected. I wish I could jump forward in time 3 or 4 months.

There's like a 2 year wait to get a procedure with Cuoto. But most of his patient threads are on other forums, like

https://foro.recuperarelpelo.com/viewforum.php?f=16

A quick 1 Month update. I started shedding about a week ago. In the morning I'll rub my scalp over the sink and a dozen or two hairs will fall out. They are straight (not L-shaped) and and no scabs attached. If I had to guess, maybe 15-20% of hairs have fallen out. 

I have started applying Rogain foam every morning/night, and aloe vera gel a couple times throughout the day. I've also started applying Tamanu Oil on the back of my scalp near the collar. I seem to have some redness, maybe a skin irritation? It doesn't itch or hurt, but the tamanu oil seems to help with these types of conditions, so I'll report on this over more time.

Here are a few pics.

And here's a new zoom photo. On the left, it looks like there's a thin hair coming out of the graft, while the original hair may have died or gone dormant... soon to shed, I assume. On the right, looks like new whispy hairs. I see a lot of these in an area that was bald before. Could hair be growing this early? They are all clear, thin and about the same length. Kinda neat!

Really nice progress so far. I bet the next month will see more growth.

3 hours ago, duchaine said:

What about post op care?

me and my friends didn’t get any support from hlc. We were disperated!

i’m still waiting my pics from the clinic.

I haven't needed any post-op case. I was sent the photos by Engin, if I recall. Do you have their WhatsApp?

48 minutes ago, TorontoMan said:

Cheers 

I see green. Technically, that's a salad and that means it's healthy! :lol:

My goodness, I haven't had a Mint Julep in years! That's next on my list!!

Lately I've been getting really into bourbon. I graduated from Jack Daniels long ago, moved to Buffalo Trace (still fantastic!), to Four Roses, and now I've been enjoying Basil Hayden's. Recently tried the Dark Rye and it's pretty yummy.

A friend recommended a bottle called Blackened, which is actually owned by the band Metallica. I thought it would be terrible, but it's pretty great! This one is 110 proof and finished in brandy casks. A little on the pricey side, but worth a try if you like limited runs.

What's in your glass?

7 hours ago, LondonRamen said:

oh, i'm not sure I understand the significance of this. Is it bad if the shedded hair are a bit bent or J-shaped?

I'm at 2.5 weeks and I imagine i'm going to start shedding soon, so not sure if this is something I should look out for.

I'm not sure what the bent hairs mean. I think it suggests that the hairs were implanted improperly. The shedded hair should be straight.implanted? 

29 minutes ago, RG90 said:

Looking super good. Im happy for you because u didnt shedd anything. I lost almost everything after 1 month. 

Your donor hair looks super thick so this should be a 10/10:)

 

What kind of microscope is that btw?

Thanks! I've started shedding, as expected. I'll post photos in a couple days at the 1-month mark.

The microscope I bought it this one...

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B06WD843ZM

Excellent work! Bisanga should be on everyone's short list of FUE doctors. 

I'm sure Pekiner could do a fine job. What is your question?

I'm really liking this progress! More density and those temple points are looking great already!

Thanks for sharing your journey.

12 minutes ago, giegnosiganoe said:

@MachoVato how many nights after your last day of the procedure would you have felt comfortable flying back to the US? What would be the minimum where you would have felt comfortable flying back?

The first couple days after the procedure is a little ugly. Swollen head and light pain, and spraying my head every hour. Days 3 and 4 the swelling moved to my face and that was funny, but then it went away.

Istanbul to London is like 4 hours, no problem leaving the next day. But for Americans, I would recommend staying at least 1 extra day if not 2. It's an 11 hour flight to Texas (direct) and it's uncomfortable enough. It's harder for Americans to get there, might as well see a sight or two.

17 minutes ago, T95good said:

Hey @MachoVato I am also from TX and am going to HLC in 2 weeks. Any advice about flights or travel? I am flying from houston to Germany to istanbul to ankara.

I'm in Sugar Land area. I went from IAH to IST to ESB on Turkish. Aside from wearing masks and eating boxed meals on flight, it was very uneventful and unspectacular... and I flew business class. I think I filled out a slip of paper about signs of being sick, which was given to customs at IST. I've been to Turkey before, this time I bought my eVisa in advance and had it printed out (instead of Visa on arrival).

Other than that, it's a non-issue. I heard that there may be new restrictions on overhead luggage, so you might need to check your bags that don't fit under the seat. 

I stayed 6 extra days, at the Sheraton Ankara. Across the street from the hotel is Nusr-Et, the steakhouse of the famous Salt Bae (he's Turkish). I missed him in person by one day, but I did get a decent steak there. Yes, it is covered in gold leaf. TOTALLY overpriced and TOTALLY not worth it, but no regrets. It was cool to visit and get a souvenir shirt. Haha!

2 hours ago, Mane_man2019 said:

Hello! My final update is above. Thanks!

Couple questions... did your hair go through the rough texture phase? And did you send this HLC for feedback on the thinner side? 

On 11/26/2020 at 1:08 PM, deitel130 said:

I'm wondering if the short ones are the new transplanted hairs which are gone into resting phase. 

That's actually what I was thinking. There are a lot of them where there was no hair before. And the length is about what it was during transplantation. Next week is my 1-month mark. I'll post comparison photos then.

On 11/27/2020 at 10:26 AM, LondonRamen said:

Looks pretty good and clean! Assuming >90% of the grafts survive, then presumably what it looks like now pre-shedding is roughly what the final product will look like (minus the reddening/inflamation).

Thanks! I've started shedding it seems. In the morning I'll give my hair a light rub over the sink and 10 or 20 hairs will fall out. All the same size but none of them are bent or J-shaped. I am applying Rogaine foam every morning/night, and aloe vera gel a couple times throughout the day.  🤷‍♂️

2 minutes ago, duchaine said:

Great. I will follow your progression.

good luck!

Thanks!

@Guano Could you jump in and offer an update? Any improvement?

And on top of that, terrible growth of transplanted hair. Sad.

Wow! Patient even had otoplasty that frames his face even better. Fantastic improvement!

On 11/25/2020 at 11:17 PM, Sam818 said:

 

I'm dying to see the outcome of this. That hairline looks way too low.

That said, HOI social media game is on point! Kudos to whoever is doing that. 

23 minutes ago, deitel130 said:

You may be the lucky 5% never know. During my first surgery I probably shed 30-40% but not all. If you look closely do you notice some hairs have either broke off near scalp or are gone in resting phase and not shed.

I don't see it with my camera phone. But if I use my little microscope I can see some hairs that look broken. And maybe some new, wispy hairs? Not entirely sure how to read this.

1 hour ago, deitel130 said:

Density looks great. How's the shedding holding up? 

I'm just under the 3 week mark and so far no shedding. At least not that I can see, nothing on my hands or in my sink. I should expect to see it start in the next week or two. I'm not holding my breath that I'm one of the 5% of people that don't shed. *fingers crossed*

Try using the rear camera (not selfie camera) and use the timer function to give you a few seconds to get into position.

4 hours ago, JacobN said:

Yes. And they all together discussed with me the hairline for like 30 minutes. Not a joke. 30 minutes.😂

I can confirm. They spent about 20 minutes with me, maybe a bit longer. All the doctors are in the room to draw the hairline and donor area. There's even a "hairline designer" lady who assists Dr. Ozgur. It is during this session that they decided who worked on me.