Hrnzaire

About a month.

You’re welcome. I got ~3000 grafts. The price will depend on the number of grafts and technique (FUT/FUE) and texture (afro or straight).

I forgot to add that. If you still can’t travel to Belgium. Dr Bisanga has a clinic in Athens which he travels to occasionally. When I was in the process of booking my procedure, I also enquired about Athens and I was told that he was going to be there in October but the dates had not been confirmed. May be worth a shot if Uk travel to Athens isn’t as restricted.

Hi, I did quarantine yes, but after my procedure. I arrived the evening before my procedure (Aug 4) as it was booked for 7:30 AM on Aug 5. I also paid for the same day PCR test. I have family in Brussels and timed my surgery with a family wedding. The Belgium gov website states that there exceptions and this included a family weddings. You can obtain a travel document by emailing the Belgium embassy and providing evidence. They take forever to get back to you so if you’re keen to go to Belgium I would email them before booking and paying your deposit. I would also suggest you speak to one of Dr Bisanga’s consultants. here’s the link to the embassy with all the travel information. https://www.info-coronavirus.be/en/countries-with-high-risk/

You’re welcome! I can’t wait for the ugly duckling phase to end. It’s been tough!!

Thank you! I haven’t no. I’m going to look up black woman’s experience with it though.

~~~~2 month update~~~ Here is a close up of the area. One side seems to be growing faster than the other. My recovery in terms of discomfort took longer than expected. I had a weird sensation for about 6-7 weeks post surgery and my head felt squishy and tender. I can now sleep properly and comfortably. I have returned to the gym but I’m avoiding heavier weights. I wear headscarves when out and about because of the scar and wigs for work. I can’t wait for my hair to grow out so that i can rock my afro again! I have 2.5mg oral minoxidil but I haven’t started taking them. I wanted to wait a while after my second COVID vaccine. I’m still a bit nervous/reluctant to take them. Right side Left side

I would say at least a week just in case you get sever swelling from the local anaesthesia

Wow you’ve healed really well.

~~ 2 weeks, 2 days update ~~ I started washing the grafted area with the two shampoos Dr Bisanga provided and applied the Serum 3x a day as instructed from day 8. This really helped the scabs fall off. On day 10-14, i washed the grafts twice a day and by day 13, i barely had any scabs left. The scabs were very small and white and kinda gooey to touch, I think it’s because I kept them hydrated using the serum and this made it easier for them to fall off. I had my stitches removed on Wednesday at my local GP by a nurse and my doctor supervised. I don’t think I have experienced any shedding yet. The recipient area looks a little spiky with all the little hairs. I experienced some weird sharp and very short lived electricity like feeling. It wasn’t painful just odd, but i think this was the nerves repairing? I don’t know. They happened from around day 5 to day 14. I haven’t experienced them since. I did end up cutting my hair with scissors on day 10. My afro was badly tangled after the procedure and I just couldn’t be asked to deal with it. I will most likely shave my head on month 2 so that I have a more uniformed hair length. I am currently wearing headscarves to work meetings (thank goodness for work from home) and I make them look cute and now wear make-up, earnings etc so that I don’t look sloppy to my clients. I’m not saying headscarves are sloppy but I’m conscious that my new look will come as a surprise as I used to wear really great wigs that passed for my hair. although i can wear wigs later down the line, I have opted not to. When i got my stitches removed, the nurse and doctor noted that my skin had slightly healed over the knot so when they removed it, i bled a little, hence the steristrip on my head. The small white dots are the “freed” scabs that are stubbornly attached to my hair. No amount of washing will remove them, they just relocate 😂 Here is a photo of the donor area after the stitches were removed. The scabs have been coming off nicely since then too. I think the flash made my hair look white-ish here.

I don’t know how to edit and add to my original post so I’ll put my update here. I arrived in Belgium and the clinic arranged for a driver to pick me up. The driver took me to my hotel (2 minutes walk from the clinic) and then to the clinic. Everyone at the clinic was super nice and friendly! During the consultation, Dr Bisanga and the team measured the density of my hair and drew on my hairline. My hair density was 60 and Dr Bisanga said this was normal for curly afro hair as the curl pattern gives the illusion of thick hair. After the consultation I had my blood drawn and then went back to the hotel surgery day i arrived at 7.30, had my temperature taken and then was invited to the surgery room where i was given scrubs to put on. Immediately after putting on the scrubs, I sat on the surgery table/chair and Dr Bisanga came. He proceeded to shave the donor region and applied the local anaesthesia. I was mentally prepared for absolute pain but honestly, it was fine. The pain level to me was very very low and i was surprised. Maybe it was the Valium they gave me lol. After the anaesthetic kicked in, they started to remove the tissue and i felt no pain. Once the tissue was removed Dr Bisanga stitched me up and prepared the front part of my head. The local anaesthesia there was a little bit more uncomfortable but not painful. Whilst this was happening many technicians were extracting the grafts at the bench. I think the tissue was taken in 3 parts and this allowed multiple people to extract the grafts. Dr Bisanga himself punched the holes but. Honestly I swear I saw high off the Valium and was having wavey dreams. The procedure went very smoothly, so smoothly i slept for like 90% of it. The last hour and half thought were the toughest. I felt more sore/pain from the donor region and was given local anaesthesic the first time but the region was so raw that it was very painful. So the second time i felt pain, I just firmed it! They did give me paracetamol to help relieve it, I don’t know if it helped. But even then guys, the pain was a 5 and was bearable. The last hour and a half was the hardest because i was physically/mentally drained and was ready to go home (i can’t explain it but i was over it lol). The surgery took 12 hours (with breaks etc) Hair information grafts:3211 technique: FUT 1 follicular unit: 713 grafts 2 follicular unit: 1844 grafts 3 follicular unit: 641 grafts 4 follicular unit: 13 grafts After the surgery, I had my consultation with Hilde and was given the pos-op care instructions, medicines etc. HAIR BEFORE FUT PHOTOS A FEW HOURS AFTER SURGERY

I’d say there’s about 10 staff right now

~~UPDATE~~~~ I am currently at Dr Bisanga’s clinic. The procedure started at around 7.30am today. i went in, was given some scrubs and then it all started. I was super nervous and expected the worst (in terms of pain). But OMG, i don’t know if i have a high pain tolerance but on a scale of 0-10, 10 being extreme pain I’d say the injections were 0.5. maybe Dr Bisanga’s technique is super. im on my lunch break but will update you tomorrow with some pictures and detailed breakdown

I have dropped you a PM

How do you mean? UK citizens don’t need a visa. Just need to complete a PLF form and have a negative COVID test. I think we also need to quarantine for 10 days but I will be staying with family.