Florence

Update. Coming up to 9 month post OP.

Thank you all for your responses. If someone is curious, or if it may inform others when reading, my doc confirmed its just a hair shaft with some dried skin.

Thanks everyone. I don't worry about loosing one graft out of so many, but I wonder why it would come out now, nearly two months after HT. I thought that after two weeks or so grafts are fully secure.

Thanks @Melvin- Moderator I am relieved now. Is it otherwise possible to loose a graft (for whatever reason) more than a month after HT, loose it in the sense that it never grows any hair ever? If yes, would this hurt, bleed, etc?

Thank you both! @Melvin- Moderator do you mean this is a graft (not just hair), its out and won't produce hair in future?

Hi all, nearly two months following my HT when going through my growing hair, this fell out (see pic). Is it a graft that never took in or? It didn't hurt, it didn't bleed, but also doesn't look like the rest of tiny hairs that shed. Background; I had 6100 grafts done with FUE over two days at Hattingen (my report was published here). In ugly-duckling phase now. I had a buzz cut at Hattingen clinic about a month following my HT. Will do another buzz cut in a week or two. Find it looking better. Some transplanted hair is growing in length (I see it along the hairline), some shed, some is just sitting there, not growing, not shedding. Now concerned with what might be a graft that never took in and that it falls out nearly two months post OP. Is that common, an indicator of something? Thanks!

Isn't it too early to think of it as final result after only six months? Not defending the doc, but maybe that's why he won't speak to you now, because he wants to wait (but I suppose he could tell you this himself, to wait).

Thanks @JC71. Could I contact you in private, please? Thanks.

Here are some photos from the clinic, pre and post op, and eleven days after. Shedding already began already in week two.

Yes, its very discreet, I did not see any mention/signs outside that it is a hair restoration clinic. Its a beautiful modern house overlooking the green hills and forests.

Hi all, I am 39-year-old, with relatively slow progressing hair loss that began some nearly 15 years ago or more. I had over 6000 grafts done in a two-day FUE session at Hattingen in Switzerland. The choice of clinic for me personally was an easy one. Since I live in Germany, clinics in Belgium and Switzerland were always preferred due to practical reasons and being able to drive there. I never considered locations further away. The idea of flying pre- and post-op, etc., never appealed to me personally. I met with Dr Sever Muresanu some six years ago in Germany. From the first meeting, Dr Muresanu came across as straight talking, no sales-pitch, objective surgeon. I met a few other top names in the region (you probably know who they are in the countries mentioned), but always felt most comfortable with Dr Muresanu, his evaluation of my hair loss, the opportunities he presented, his plans for my hair re-growth, etc. I initially thought I would do FUT but was also given the choice of FUE. From what I know, Hattingen is very selective with big FUEs. I was told I had an above average donor area and hair quality and can choose either method. Dr Muresanu suggested FUE (which I favoured anyway) with the premise that I probably won’t need another one down the line and if I do, I have enough grafts left. The Hattingen clinic is in a small village in Switzerland, some 30 min drive from Zurich and close to German border, very discreet, beautiful modern house with a view. The procedure took two days, very long days, with a whole team engaged and led by Dr Laura Muresanu, Dr Sever's wife. From what they told me, and from what I could see coming in for regular post-op hair wash, that week there were three patients including me, two two-days and one one-day procedure. Starting with the most difficult aspect of it; it’s having to stay in one position for long periods of time during the extraction phase. Short breaks are allowed but soon after, after half an hour or so, you start feeling stiff again. Otherwise, the procedure was, as I or anyone else who did their research, as expected. No surprises there. I don’t know how other clinics work, but the whole Hattingen team works like a Swiss clock. Lunch and snacks were also provided, but I had zero appetite on both days. I did drink a lot of water and consequently had to go to the loo quite often. But it was great to stand up and stretch a bit. I did think I would be able to watch TV for example, or even do some work on my laptop, but with so many people standing around you, it was not possible. I stayed in the area close to the clinic for a week post-op and went in every day since for a hair wash, checkup and consultation. Personally, it was important for me to have that post-op contact live, rather than be far away and consult via messages, phone, or a camera. Swelling was quite extensive, as is expected after 6000 grafts and a two-day procedure. It’s still lingering on, getting to the lower parts of my face, but its nearly gone. No pain though, except that tightness and pulling sensation. I was given a post-op kit for self-care including written out explanation of post care and some tips for expectation management. I read online about different methods of post-op care and different surgeons/clinics seem to have different views of it. For example, I thought that new grafts are not to be touched for a few days. Not necessarily the case. Hattingen team washed my hair every day from day one. In the first few days after washing, they would put non-adhesive pads on which I was to keep moist with saline solution (later with water) and a bandana over it. With a doctor’s OK, I would pull over a loose hoodie over the bandana to look, well, more everyday 🙂 After five days, I was told I don’t need non-adhesive pads, no bandana, I can sleep normally, and I can wear a loose hat when I go out if I want to. I do still sleep with a neck pillow though, as I am that scared about damaging grafts during sleep. Below are some pics pre-op, and in the days post-op. Soon will start the dreaded loss of new hairs and then the waiting game. I think I will choose to keep the hair quite short over the next six-eight months and let it grow once there is really a genuine growth. Because I saw so many guys keeping their hair long even during the “ugly duckling phase”, I assumed trimming and keeping the hair short is not advised for some reason. But it can be kept short indeed. Thanks for reading. Hope this helps someone.

Hi all, My hair transplant is approaching fast and for some reason I seem to be nervous about two parts. Pre-op anesthetic injection and post-op swelling. How painful is the injection and does the swelling part hurt, or it just looks bad? My doc told me that the swelling tends to come and go within 24 hours, but I read online that it can linger on for 2-3 days. What is your experience with both? Thanks a lot!

I am planning to be away for four weeks; two weeks sick leave and two weeks holiday. Just easier to get my work off the radar during those first 4-5 weeks. And then I can start wearing a hat anyway.

Thank you both for your input. Much appreciate.

Do you mean out of work for two weeks? I am having FUE, so does that mean swelling also goes away quicker than with FUT?

Hi All, I have a FUE procedure scheduled with Hattingen in March 2022. Did a round of consultation and was open for both FUE and FUT, however everyone suggested I go for FUE due to my exceptional donor area. What does everyone think of March for the procedure? I was hoping to have it in autumn/winter (when its dark outside; I live in Europe), but due to work had to push it. My biggest actual fear is of the post-op swelling; when exactly does it happen, how long does it last and how bad does it get? Does it actually hurt or is it just not pretty to look at? Thanks everyone for your thoughts.

Hi all, How long after HT (FUE or FUT) can one wear a hat, a winter wooly one, and a baseball cap? Is this something a Dr. will be able to advise on case by case basis? Thanks a lot!

Thank you both for your opinion. I will see if I can make some photos and share. The thing is, I never made any and never shared any with the clinics. I always relied on doing personal consultations where they can really inspect my scalp, hair loss and hair quality.

Aaaaaamazing! So natural looking. When I see the results like this, I can't wait to have my HT. One question; was it your choice not to touch the crown, or Feriduni's? It looks like you didn't need a lot to thicken it, but I am not a pro so I could be wrong.

Perfect! Thanks for explaining and for including the visualisation. Yeah, I also thought that many guys style the front upwards to show off, which is also OK.

Hi all I am 39, looking to have HT this year. I am in process of consultation with some of the well known names in Europe (Switzerland and Belgium). I am looking into restoring both the front and the crown part and my estimate has always been around 5K grafts with the aim to have it as densely packed as possible. I have consulted so far with two top FUE surgeons. Without mentioning to them my lay estimates, one of them suggested indeed around 5K, but the other only 3K. I asked if 3K was too little and he said he could increase it to 3,5K but more than that is not needed at this stage. I expressed my expectations to both doctors in the same way and they both saw me for consultation in person. The FUT surgeon I am seeing in person in July, but based on thorough Skype consultation, he suggested around 4K grafts max (to be confirmed after consultation in person) Has anyone received such different quotes from different surgeons? Is it smart to challenge their estimates with estimates of others surgeons and how would you proceed with making the decision? I am not that concerned with the price, but of course, 1,5K grafts at a top European clinic is worth thousands of Euros. The bigger question is whose estimates to rely on most confidently. They are all very invested, great doctors, provide great reasoning, look at the bigger picture and the potential future hair loss, etc. So it seems anyway. Many thanks

Interesting question; I also noticed that many guys style their hair upwards after the HT. I have always wondered if this was by choice and the decision is made with the doctor beforehand to transplant the hair in that direction? I am personally much more in favour of pushing my hair at the front downwards (the fringe way sort of) and I hope this will be possibly. Having the HT later this summer.

Hi all, I have a personal consultation with Hattingen in Switzerland in July. Has anybody been to their clinic near the city of Schafhausen? I attempted to have personal consultation with two other so-called leading clinics in Europe, but I was far from impressed by their responses. I understand that they can't say much based on recent photos, or commit to anything, but a two line response from a clinic telling me I need roughly XY amount of grafts and the cost of each graft (as in, do the math yourself) + invitation to make an appointment for the actual transplant, hardly made me invest time and money into paying them a personal visit for consultation. Hattingen was by far the most informative and seemed most honest. And, it was also the only clinic that actually said it would be best to have a personal consultation and not make any decisions based on photos and Skype. Anyone had recently experience with Hattingen; consultation or procedure? Thanks for sharing.

Super! Thank you both for this very clear explanation.

Hi all I see this word mentioned often in the context of hair loss; miniaturization. What does it actually mean and how is different from hair loss? Thanks a lot!