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Insane. Didn't think he would even be a candidate. One of the best results I've seen - well done, doctor!

5,500 total grafts should get you a great hairline and some coverage in the crown. As a NW6, I think expectations should never be 100% coverage, but that some parts of the scalp - like the crown - will be a bit lighter so the frontal third (which frames the face) will be better. Folks here also say that beard hair has a different growth cycle, so it'll supposedly look different for some time until it better conforms.

@baldiee- any updates? As someone with nearly the exact same pattern, would love to hear if you took the chance with Dr. K or elsewhere, and if so, the result.

I think at 26, crown work seems risky. I'd probably do SMP for now and revisit around 30 years old to see the level of loss there tbh.

Agree. Donor is still shockingly looking pristine! Any growth updates @Gatsby?

I have a Middle Eastern background, and the pattern of loss you've got is fairly typical for the Middle East/India. I'm around the same boat as you. What'll likely happen next (based on my own experience) is that that the front will thin out next. Probably won't be as bad as the back, but I think you're headed to a NW5a or NW6. Good News: (i) you're able to tolerate Finasteride and you've done all that you can from a drug/medical perspective, (ii) your donor looks great and there doesn't look to be too much dip and (iii) you have time. Bad News: (i) you're way, way too young to be doing a transplant, (ii) the pictures from the last three years indicate that you're still on track to lose more, and (iii) you need to save up more $$ for a quality transplant doctor. I'm about five years older than you are, and I'd implore you to wait until your very late 20s (e.g. 28 - 29) before proceeding with a hair transplant. I thought my loss was bad and couldn't get any worse around 26, and boy, was I wrong. Many ethical doctors refused to operate on me until I was older and balder...I'd implore you to do the same. Otherwise, keep an eye out on H&W ($$$), Konior ($$$$), Eugenix ($$) and Vertex Hair ($$). Given the level of loss, I'd look into FUT first and then FUE. If you've got beard hair, that would prob be helpful too. Good luck!

Dang, didn't think it would be possible to transplant with that level of loss. Great that Eugenix took you on - I'm sure it'll be a stellar result!

Donor looks good man. I'm sure you can get full coverage with the remaining grafts. Good luck!

Agree with the above. Having a doctor assess is really helpful. I also think mixing FUT with FUE would yield you more grafts. Eugenix also does beard and I'm sure would be open to chest if there isn't enough beard - though as I understand it, chest is usually less viable than beard.

It's clearly better - no doubt about that - I've never seen a case where Eugenix makes a patient worse. It's also very commendable that they've already provided a touch-up and are willing to provide additional improvements. Given the improvement and services provided, it does seem insane to receive a refund at this point. Obviously the midscalp can be better, and they've used the 2,500 pretty economically for the front, but I think it will require beard grafts at this point for the area behind. If I were OP, I'd give it one more go. That said, with all due respect, Melvin, your second point is unfair. If the clinic promised adequate/full density using 2,500 grafts, that isn't on the patient. There's only so much research that we can do and if the clinic is reputable (our job, as smart consumers, is to find these clinics...thankfully this forum provides a good place for that) ultimately we should be able to take their word. This isn't a bad transplant given the low number of grafts used (nor is it as good as the 10/10 results they've typically provided as of late), but there clearly is a disconnect in communication between patient and clinic and its impossible to tell what had been discussed. Seems OP would have been okay using beard grafts to get better coverage, so unless he's trying to scam for free grafts - which seems unlikely - I guess I'm rather confused why there wasn't an agreement between Eugenix (probably best in the world for using those grafts) and patient to use those...?

Agreed. This is unfortunately a poor result. 2,500 grafts is way, way too small an area for both the front and mid-scalp given the level of loss that is present. Understand that if that's all they can take, and if that was conveyed beforehand with expectations set (e.g. hair will look thin and the illusion of density will not be achieved) that's one thing and is more on the patient for still wanting a miracle. However, if Eugenix indeed claimed that it was enough for the front and/or mid-scalp that's another story and reflects a poor setting of expectations on them. You can check my post-history, as I've recommended Eugenix time and time again for high Norwoods based on their usually stellar results, but this one seems a misfire (the first I've seen from them, as again, their results are usually really, really good). I hope you are able to resolve this @AJ_HT, as Eugenix are known to stand behind their work and I'd hope they try to make this right.

Another Eugenix success! Incredible man -- congrats I can't wait to see where you are at 12 months. We have a similar hair loss pattern, so I'm thrilled to see where this goes.

Killer result. Diffuse thinners (and I speak from experience ) are particularly difficult, but this is a 10/10!

Great progress for month 4! Haven't seen too many Bicer results here lately, so great to see more of her work.

More than deserving! Spoke with him some time back and he's one of the nicest and most ethical doctors around. This is a good day for this forum. Congrats Dr. Barghouthi!

Huge changes!! The front looks like its really growing in. The difference is already insane. Congrats man!

Oof. Can't believe I'd forgotten him! Great reminder - thanks, JC. He and Couto are notoriously difficult to get in touch with haha.

You are definitely a defuse thinner, but not necessarily a NW7. You may stop around NW6. That said, these two clinics aren't promising. You have limited donor and need a doctor that can manage that. In North America, Dr. Konior or H&W are your best bet. In India, Eugenix. In Europe, I really like Couta, Bisanga, and Ferreria.

Kind of silly to compare Fin, which is known for having potentially severe side effects, to life saving medication. It's a hair transplant and its just hair - it isn't unreasonable to forgo Fin if you aren't comfortable with the risk of side effects and, if anything, I'd be wary of anyone claiming its necessity. Obviously, being on Fin is helpful, but plenty of forum users - including folks with much worse loss than you and are posting in this exact thread no less - have had successful transplants without Fin. I think in your case, assuming you do 3 - 4k grafts, you should be fine (keeping in mind you may need one more down the line if more loss occurs from not stabilizing), but honestly, if you are okay with that risk, I wouldn't worry about it.

Yeah, this is a super tough case. I'm sure it'll be a great result. Best of luck Ahmad!

You've already used 4k grafts. Not sure how your donor looks, but you are still very young and your hair loss is incredibly aggressive. Going to Turkey to save cost is a huge mistake. You need an elite doctor who can get more out of less.

You're 23? No. Wait five years. I think it's super unethical for doctors to operate on people under 25 (and even 25 is cutting it too early, unless you're already a NW 6 at that point).

What an amazing turn-around! Couto's results are seriously GOAT worthy and rank as the best. Separately, I was very close to going to ASMED, and they ended up quoting me many, many more grafts than other top-surgeons. Glad people like you post your experiences, as it convinced me to go elsewhere -- I think once you factor in the extra 3,000+ extra grafts they recommend (waste?) it ends up being more expensive than 95% of other clinics. You are very brave to post the initial result you got from them. I'm so happy that you managed to get the hair that you deserve. Congrats again!

I think the sweet spot with Dr. K is around 2 - 3k grafts. Honestly, I think he charges by the surgery (and looks like 10k is the minimum entry). So I think if you do 1k grafts, it'll probably be around 15k, 2k is 25k (all FUE; if FUT its 3k grafts for 25k), etc. So I don't think it's necessarily a price per surgery is $25 a graft. It can be somewhere between $8 to $12 typically depending on FUT or FUE with obviously higher costs per grafts for the less grafts done. All that said, it's technically higher per graft when doing less grafts, but once you get into the 2k range, it's not too unreasonable compared to other U.S./North American surgeons. I think the average Dr. K patient pays around $10ish a graft (e.g. assuming a 50-50 FUT/FUE split). Whether one thinks his results are worth that premium as compared to top European doctors is another story of course and a completely personal decision -- I personally think so, but I'm biased and I understand others may feel differently.

I've only seen good results from Eugenix. Darling Buds is controversial if I remember correctly -- I'd avoid at all costs. ASMED declined in quality, but was pretty incredible 5+ years ago. Bicer is a solid choice in Turkey. Good luck!