WS2020

Time flies and it already my 2 year anniversary. Here is my final update (if thing doesn't change)

Overall, I am happy with the HT.  I got a lot of praises from my friends and co-workers about how nature it is. With the proper hair style (below), the hair line looks dense and it is impossible to tell about the HT if I didn't tell people.

On the other hand, my wife did point out lately that my hair start thinning out in the front again including the HT area. There are times I woke up looking like a guy with serious hair diffusing problem. I also see my hairline recede somewhat at the two corners, even I am on Fin three times/week and apply Minoxidil mousse everyday. At certain lighting, I can also see some random thinning spots at the back where are the FUE donors. My FUT does heal great.

Anyway, here are some new photos with the hair dyed black.

2 hours ago, AlexMeister21 said:

It very well could be the actual patient leaving a review. It's just strange how so many of these patients have the same patterns. Perhaps they were incentivized to do so. Interesting thing is we've seen some posts on here from people who have had good results from Diep, and they are obviously real, but all of those obviously real patients do not have the pattern of mainly posting clinic photos, posting on here and then leaving a review on Realself the same day, or ever, or writing very generic statements in regards to their experience.

I am a real Dr Diep patient and I get nothing from anyone or anywhere to post my experiences here.

Overall, I am satisfy with my HT result after almost two years from the date of the surgery. Is it perfect? Absolutely not. However, my wife likes it enough and asks me to go back to do more.

I know Dr. Diep does ask his patients to write good reviews on different websites if their results are good. However, it is all voluntary and it is up to us to do it or not. Frankly, all small business owners should do it and it is just a good marketing practice. Not sure why you are kind of offended by it.

Any update?

Here are some fresh photos to update everyone. It will be 2 years in November. There is truly not much difference since my last update about 6 months back. I am still doing the same regiment on taking Fin 3x per week and Minoxidil 10% once a day. 

Good luck to your surgery. As long as you set a realistic expectation that things will not be perfect, you should be happy with the end results. Pro-tip: Ask the technician to shave off all the hair.

On 2/1/2022 at 7:24 AM, Melvin- Moderator said:

How satisfied are you? I know you were concerned at 7 month mark, and its improved a lot since then. 

I would say it is an 8. Wife likes it but she still thinks the density can be much better. 

On 2/1/2022 at 2:42 PM, InTheSix said:

this looks great ... where did you get the "minoxidil mousee"

Costco

Some fresh photos after haircut with 2 guard. It has been 15 months since the hair transplant. The only thing on the hair is Minoxidil mousse 10%. 
 

Another update after almost 15 months. Got a fresh haircut this weekend and the hair transplant result is pre. I am still on Fin 1mg three times a week and do feel some brain fog sometime. May try the tropical but unsure. I also apply Minoxidil 10% mousse everyday. 

My wife does like the results overall and ask me to consider to do another transplant to fill out the crown. I am using Caboki and feel it is doing a great job. Maybe down the road but I just don't want to go through another surgery and recovery now.

Here are some fresh photos

Just saw the videos yesterday. Looking great so far. So excited to see the progress. 

A pic today with a #2 guard. The donor area looks pretty good, especially I had both FUT and FUE.

On 12/17/2021 at 1:48 AM, Tentpole91 said:

This was a fun thread to read. Being constrained by budget sucks, as others have stated you had a lot of area to cover with not a ton of grafts. 

The transplant isn't perfect, but as you stated at the onset, you weren't looking for perfection. I will say, your view from the front is pretty great, especially combed back. It's amazing how much of a difference lighting makes, though. From the same set of photos, it's hard to believe I'm looking at the same transplant. 

2 Photos From The Same Post (1 Year Out Exactly)

a

End of day, though, you got what you wanted and are happy. 

Edit: The only thing I don't really understand is the FUE/FUT combo. I can't see why it wouldn't work, but it's definitely not that common. 

Yeah, the lighting does make a different. I took the below photo yesterday with my normal lighting and I feel it is continue making progress every month.

Regarding FUE/FUT, it was truly limited by my budget (from wifey.) It was totally last minute right before the surgery and I am grateful that Dr Diep was even willing to do it. Below is another pic of the back of my head with a haircut today using a #2 guard. The FUT scar is not visible. I feel people should consider FUT with Diep if they are worrying about not enough donor hair in the future.

Thanks guys. I have no plan to do another procedure. I am taking Fin 1mg 3 times a week and minoxidil mousse everyday. Hope it will last me 7 to 10 more years. 

On 12/16/2021 at 2:01 PM, SadMan2021 said:

@WS2020 you don't have any product in your hair in the after-pics do you? 

the transplant hair looks natural, soft, and well-textured. Jealous if all you truly did is comb your hair backwards. 

I also do see how the hairline could be more dense....but only bc you mentioned it in your original post. Never would have noticed it otherwise, and its a very natural look. 

Good result!

Thanks. No hair product except minoxidil mousse. 

Just had my one year follow up with Dr. Diep yesterday. Even though we both agree that the right side can use a little more density, I personally cannot be unhappy about the end results. Nothing is perfect but it is definitely a huge difference between the before and after photos. 

Frankly, if you are in close proximity to his office, I really feel it is a no brainer to go with him. Is it perfect? Definitely not. However, I was looking for safe bet with no serious disruption to my life. Going with Dr. Diep just makes too much sense.

Here are the before and after photos from Dr. Diep yesterday. As usual, I need a haircut... 

You can read my one year journey here

I had my one year (more like 13 months) follow-up with Dr. Diep yesterday. I feel the density can be more on the right side, but it is impossible for me to not be happy with the end results. Here are some before and after photos.
 

Hitting exactly one year from the day of the transplant. I would say the result is satisfactory. I came in with low expectations and it does seems like we meet it with a little more. It is especially true that my friends and families do find the new hair looks very nature and no one can really talk I had a hair transplant. They also say I look younger with a fuller head of hair. 

To sum it up, it is an overall pleasant experience. The cost is little on the higher side but since Dr. Diep is local to me, that free of hassle is totally worth it. I also got luck out to wait only a month or two after the consultation due to a last minute cancelation. Doing it during WFH period was also a game changer and I am so glad that I went with my decision to get it done.

My one year check up with Dr. Diep will be in mid December. I will definitely bring up my concern about lack of the density upfront and that is the only true let down. Unsure it is something that he is willing to fix thou. I will let everyone know what happened.

Here are some photos. Need a hair cut badly.

On 9/22/2021 at 9:42 PM, motegam said:

@JohnAC71 Yeah, Diep's experience and long history does not go unnoticed. Bloxham's partner is Feller, who seems to have been in the business for a long time as well. 

As of now, it seems the most critical information for my research is Diep's performance with FUT and his FUT scars. If Diep's FUT scars are within range of Bloxham's, then I'd be comfortable going forward with Diep. If not, then this is still a toss-up and I'll continue spending my work day considering the two of them haha. 

I am Diep's patient and my FUT scar is undetectable after about 6 month. Here are the latest photos.

Wow..... not expecting that many replies in this short period of time. My expectation was not very high and I am overall fine with the decision. On the other hand, I truly wish the density will be more.

Anyway, let me add two donor photos. I got both FUE and FUT. The donor area looks good and no one can tell. I took the photos at the same time but one with Caboki.

Sorry folks, work is getting crazy and I skipped my month 10 update. I decided to wait another month to get the haircut, and there was no real different than the month prior.

Here is my month 11 update. Just got a fresh haircut this weekend. You can tell my overall hair is looking better but I think it is more to do with longer length than the density. It definitely passes the eye test and I got quite a few complements on looking younger. It is exciting to get the same hairstyle that I had in my 30's.

Frankly, the whole hair transplant meets my expectation but definitely was hoping for more. I am still on Fin 3 days a week and Min mousse every day.

Btw, I did not reach out to Diep. Frankly, not sure does it make any real difference. Anyway, here are the photos. 

Thanks for all the feedback. I will contact Diep and provide everyone an update.

Month 9 update:

Another month pass and I had a fresh haircut today. I took Melvin's advice and asked the stylist to just clean up the top and not cutting it short. I feel a little discourage because not sure I see any improvement compare to the last month.

My wife comment is the hair looks ok from far away or in certain lighting (last photo) but I looks like having diffusing hair loss when she sees me up close. It looks even more obvious if she see my hair when I was sitting down at my work desk. Instead of being bald before the surgery, she said I look like I am going bald.

So, what do you guys think? Am I having too high an expectation? I went with Diep because of location and density, even his cost is relatively high. I thought 2600 grafts should cover more of my scalp especially my hair is actually very thick, even in Asian standard. I don't even care if it is not looking 100% nature but hope to accomplish the look on not looking significant hair loss.

Feel free to comment. Not going to hurt my feeling... 

On 7/14/2021 at 12:36 AM, JohnAC71 said:

The 6 month pics showed really good growth. But when I look at the 7 and 8 month pics it’s not looking quite as impressive. I thought maybe the lighting or length could attribute to it, now I’m not so sure.

Its definitely worth reaching out to Dr Diep and discussing your concerns. Will be interesting to see how it progresses over the next 4 months. 

Thanks for all the feedback. I don't think there is much I can do at this moment. I am going to wait for another month and hope to see better density and growth. 

I just take this photos with different lighting. One with flash and the other one doesn't. Just washed the hair and it is totally dry with no product whatsoever. Any feedback is welcome. 

Personally, I am concern.

Here are two after surgery photos to see the placement of the 2600 grafts.

4 hours ago, aaron1234 said:

Your six month pictures indeed look better, but take into consideration that the photos were taken in dimmer lighting then and your hair is dry/styled.  In the 8th month pictures your hair is wet - greasy from applying minoxidil or you're just out of the shower - and it is not combed.  Wet/messy hair clumps together and tends to reveal the thin areas more starkly than dry/styled hair.  Also, the more recent pictures were taken under bight lights.  So it's not a fair comparison at the moment.  

I normally apply min in the morning and the hair is definitely not wet or greasy when I took the photo. Let me take another set of photos tonight after I wash and dry my hair.

Btw, I don't apply any hair product due to the hair is going straight up due to the angle of the transplant. My hair is extra straight and hard, even compared to other Asian hair.