Mop

Yes - some docs do it for the right reasons where they are trying to create a natural hairline and the patient has more 2s, 3s and 4s and not enough singles so singles are created from multi-grafts.

Spanker and 1978 Matt - thanks for the comments.

Also makes me think some clinics may take a single 4 hair graft and slice into into 4 single hairs. So they may be charging you for 4 grafts but they did only a single incision ! That would be short changing if proved, so only a theory.

Still, it gives people something to think about, if guys are saying 3000 grafts taken in a few hours and inserted a few hours later, then something dodgy is going on !!!

Paulygon - I am strictly talking about FUE in my post above and I hope someone will look at my maths and logic and either agree with me or will rubbish my theory , especially the Docs.

I sometimes read patient experiences here and other sites on the web and I really wonder if they are being short changed on the grafts removed particularly FUE.

I read things like 2400 grafts removed in 3 hours for example. Lets do the maths and 3 hours is 10800 seconds. So to remove 2400 grafts would take an average of 4.5 seconds per graft !!! That is working consistently with no rest.

No disrespect intended to any Clinics/Doctors but can someone challenge my maths and conclusions and correct me if I am wrong ? Motorised extraction would be quicker than manual but one graft every 4.5 seconds ? Surely that is not possible ? What is the average time to extract a graft by FUE ?

Hi Dr Hakan Doganay

Nice to hear from a new doc. I am assuming you are from Turkey ? Istanbul ?

Do you have a have a website ?

I had awful shock loss after my third HT in May. I sent my photos to the Doc and he recommended Biotin. I bought some from Holland and Barrett at 1000micrograms, same a 1 milligram. It really kicked off growth, not only shock loss but transplanted hairs.

Try BIO oil. It helps the healing process. Do a google research.

Yes - my shock less was nasty. I took a picture and sent it to the Clinic. The doc suggested Biotin to speed up growth , I was already taking MSM. That really did the trick for me. All the areas affected have grown back outside of the scar. As it was a tight closure, it was not a tricho so I guess I might have to FUE into scar or have the Tattoo dots !

I had my third this May and my scar is the same on the right hand side.

My theory is that the staples started on the left side and moved right. There was more skin and play ar the beginning and when you closed up, things got tighter. Its like a jacket with a jumper , its easy at the bottom but after closing over that belly and chest, it fills out and gets tight.

So tight closure causes more shock loss and wider scar.

I have the same issue after my third HT in May this year on the right hand side. My theory is that the staples started on the left side where there is so much to play with , basically an open flap. As the staples moved left to right , it got tighter and more uncomfortable and I know the right side was an issue, the surgeon used clamps and struggled with it.

Think of closing a jacket with a jip, its easy the bottom but when you get close to the last 10% at the bottom, things get tight as your body fills in !

Confidence is high - even got Elvis sideburns and an ear piercing !

And why not !!! Thats what a HT can do for self-esteem.

Hi Sam,

My first two surgeries did result in very thin scars, between 1mm and 2mm. They did use the tricho method second time round, which was done by Dr Melike.

My third one is different, the back and left side seem very thin but right hand side was problematic so the Surgeon told me and scar is around 3mm but may change as I am only 2 months from surgery.

I am not too worried as I keep my hair long and there are scar disguise techniques such as FUE into scar with 100 grafts or so to get a result.

Take your pick, you can pay double, treble or quadruple for FUE, cost was important for me. FUE does not yield as much as FUT but getting better, also hair can get damaged due to transection at extraction. Read this forum and do your research but FUE and FUT are different, look at pros and cons of each. For me disguise was important and walking around with a shaved head was a big no no too as they do for FUE but nobody noticed my FUT with my long hair and styling.

FUT will always be around for people like me and having had the max number of FUT due to laxity will I now consider FUE but if this FUT achieves aims then I need to avoid hair greed and enjoy rather than plan no4 !

Just had my third in May 2012. All three FUT. First two helped me achieve my aims on front. Now waiting on number three which was on crown.

I just had my third FUT 2 months ago with Transmed. I got bad shock loss this time just on my right hand side of the donor. Hey chaps - hang in there, happy days are roughly the same time again ( 2 months ) and then it gets better and better and better and better and this time next may , after 12 months, you will be styling a new mop !

s2thoudriver - firstly, I apologize for my earlier post. Your reply is really well constructed and looking at your other posts you are a genuine patient like the rest of us. Sorry mate for doubting. :eek:

I have been here three years and we occasionally get a new poster who raves about a clinic, with no photos or subsequent posts - some of these I think are just docs/technicians who pose under pseudo identities to promote themselves. Same goes for people trying to sell stuff on here, when challenged they usually change their tune or disappear. After you have been here a while you will spot the genuine from pseudo posters.

I am really pleased for you, and I hope your HT is a great success. You have been brave and taken a chance with the unknown, your feedback and results will be invaluble for many others who are looking for quality affordabe clinics in europe. The more choice and competition in europe, the more accessible and affordable it will become and clinics will have to raise their game to attract clients. At the moment , it is a luxury cosmetic procedure for a few with less than around eight known and respected players in europe. I hope one day it is as cheap and common as teeth whitening.

So congratulations on your decision and taking the plunge with somebody new ! We look forward to seeing a great result hopefully, and then others can follow your pioneering path. You will then become the default embassador for that clinic and get lots of questions !

( ps - would like to know what price per graft they charge, if not on an open forum, then can you say via a private message ? )

s2thoudriver - interesting position you take, most people usually come onto this forum and speak highly of the clinic they have been to for a HT but rarely do they slag off another clinic in the same breath ???

Were you asked to do this by your Clinic as part of some simmering Turkish rivalry ?

Then by some miracle, you sit next to someone on the way back who has had an appalling experience at Transmed. What are the odds of that mate ?

I have been to Transmed for FUT more than once and achieved my goals.

I know the price of FUE at Transmed based on a recent conversation with them, do share the price you paid and I will tell you if they really are twice the price as you claim.

I have been to your blog and despite titles such as COST - it is has no info.

( PS - I am sure you are delighted now but you could easily be one of the many with appalling growth so a tad soon to be counting your chickens and praising your clinic so soon, it may be in 12 months that you had wished you had gone to Transmed after all ! )

Looks like a grand job to me for so few grafts and large recipient area.

Anybody seen the Victor Mature classic Hollywood film Samson ? That would explain my reason , wimp with slaphead but superman with flowing locks !!!

Actually that is BS. My reason is that I have a long face and longish head and large forehead that looks normal with long hair but I am never going to be one of those guys that can pull off a shaven head look, which needs a nice round head.

Thanks Janna

When 80 to 100 staples are removed, they leave behind 160 to 200 slightly bloodied holes where they once occupied !

Is there not a risk of infection with so many partially open tiny wounds ( albeat very small ) ?

Should you apply anything after staple removal ? eg anti-septic cream or just wash and let them clot naturally ?

I am going for my 3rd FUT op soon, the second went pretty much as the first. I would like to hear from any forum members who have had 3 or more FUT ops. What did they experience on op number 3 ? was it any different from first 2 ops. Any advice on healing or pre/post op ?

( I am doing my lxity exercises and I guess they really matter now )

Having had two successful FUT operations , I am now going for a third for the crown area. My clinic have said they will have to make an assessment when I get there to see whether I am suitable for a third FUT one ( guess it depends on laxity ) or go for FUE.

My scar is not wide but was visible once when my hairdresser went a little overboard when I said short back and sides please. If I am shaved for FUE , it will be visible and discretion is important to me. I know people talk of doing FUE transplant into the scar but that is more long term rather than soon after the op.

I have taken a couple of weeks off work so my hair should grow a few mm but not enough.

Two questions to people who have faced this same predicament :-

1) Will a concealer like TopiK help to disguise the scar ?

2) Instead of other concealment techniques such as Tattoo, anyone consider using using a black felt tip pen ( my hair is black ) as a short term measure to add dots and create the illusion of hair whilst the hair is growing long enough to cover the old FUT scar after a round of FUE ?

Sounds daft but sounds workable to anyone ?

Having had FUT strip before , my laxity is fair at the back but amazing above the ears on the sides of the head, must move 3cm or more movement.

Can you have shorter length but much wider strips from just above the ears either side if laxity is an issue at the back ? ( ie two strips on the sides but nothing at the back ) In terms of square cm, you could get the same and a facelift thrown in !

Alex12 - looks like you went a few days after me. All my brown crusts ( scabs ) went by day 7 or day 8. Are you using the lotion to soften them up and massaging them off in the shower ? If you have them at day 15 then I think you are being too gentle. Also, after that period, it is near impossible to lose a graft I am told.

Batel2006 - read my new thread that I just added today. There is some slight pain, last about one minute when they apply the anaesthetic to the donor and recipient areas. The rest of the time, you dont feel a thing, really. I would say stay in a decent hotel that has a mini bar or fridge as you need to freeze a gel pack to apply to prevent swellling. Ensure you have a bag for the aircraft hold as new guidelines do not allow much more than 50ml or 75ml of fluids in hand luggage and Transmed give you shampoo and lotion to take back. I stay 2 night only, one before the op when you fly in, the day of the op and then fly back the third day. I would say dont stay longer as swelling was bad for me last year and I looked even uglier than normal ! When that happens you want the comfort of your own home. The price structure is openly shared by Transmed and is normally 1.8 Euros for FUT and 3.3 Euros for FUE, which given todays exchange rate means you will get much more for the pound and be around 10 %etter off compared to the rate 6 weeks ago when I got the currency. As a returning patient, Transmed vey kindly offered me a small discount but I guess you are a first time patient and will be offered the standard rates. Any other questions, just ask.

I am nearly three weeks since my second HT with Transmed in Turkey. This time I received 1960 grafts mainly to the frontal area and some to the crown to add some more density to the HT I had last May. This time round it was Dr Melike Kulahci who preformed the operation.

So much easier the second time round, you know the clinic and its Doctors, prep for travelling to a foreign country, the procedure, what to expect and much of the fear factor is gone.

As last time, I was very well looked after by Transmed. My flight was delayed almost 4 hours, yet their driver waited all that time for me at the airport. Transportation from and to the airport and clinics was taken care of by the Clinic. I chose a decent hotel this time and did not go down the bargain tourist route ! Comfort is important.

On the day, I met Taner and we chatted about football and even this website ( if you want to get on his good side , you have to say good things about Besiktas Football Club, and don’t mention Fenerbache or Galatasaray ! ). I had my consultation with Dr Melike.

Then it was off to the surgery room where I was met by Dr Melike and around 8 nurses. An all female team ( no complaints from me ! ). I guess half helped with the graft extraction from the strip and the rest did the placement. Dr Melike did the strip extraction, closure and preparation of donor sites, she has a very gentle way and the application of anaesthetic did not hurt so much this time round . As usual I watched TV but so relaxed about the whole thing, I was dozing quite abit. In between, I had plenty of drinks and offer of snacks. Then I got my lotions and medicines and back to the hotel. I asked Transmed not to shave my existing hair,which I guess they would have prefered to, as concealment was important to me. It took them longer, but they went along with my wishes - which is what you would expect from a proffesional clinic.

Next day, they did the first wash and went over all my medications and procedures and it was back home. They give an excellent lotion to soften scabs and 95% came off day 7 and day 8. Perhaps it was a smaller procedure ( 3172 grafts last year ) this time round but I had very little swelling and very little numbness. They told me to remove the staples at day 15 as healing takes longer second time round. I bought a staple remover on ebay and my wife did them in 5 mins.

I always get some stick for not putting up photos, so I took some before I went and they represent the outcome of my first HT at the 12 month point. That’s my next job.

You would not go back and spend your money if you were less than happy. My first HT went along what were my expectations for the degree of hair loss I had, the second was about refinement and adding density and if what I can see grows like the first one, then I will be very happy.