Fred2023

Thanks @andy_+_+it is encouraging for sure, I don't know whether it is early growth or the effects of the finasteride or minoxidil or perhaps both?

Three-month update: The crown is definitely showing signs of filling in and the hairline seems to show some signs of thickening. No complications to report. I had a number 4 back and sides the week after the two-month mark with no visible sign of any scarring. The next six months will be telling - fingers crossed.

Taking an antihistamine may help (it did for me).

What a difference. Fantastic improvement in only 6 months

Thanks @NapoliI think so too.. the next few months will be telling.

Hi @andy_+_+ thanks. Fingers crossed it turns out good, I am hopeful.

Hi @AndyKos I am only 2.5 months in, and I am showing signs of some early growth; I will be updating my pictures in about two weeks. I found the clinic clean when I was there. AEK is definitely worth your consideration, but I will hold off from personally recommending them until I have seen the full results but I have to admit that all is good so far. Dr Yaman is another Turkish clinic that is recommended on this forum in the same price bracket and I originally considered them, but I would suggest you search this forum and Redddit, and you will find quite a few unsatisfied customers for Dr Yaman.

Low-dose (2.5mg to 5mg) Minoxidil oral is being successfully used off-label to treat hair loss. It is not FDA-approved for treating hair loss like the topical version so not as thoroughly tested in those doses. It does carry the risk of side effects, such as common ones like a fast or irregular heartbeat, weight gain, bloating, and less commonly, chest pain and shortness of breath. Also, because it is more systemic and not as localised as the topical version, it can cause new hair growth on the back, arms, and legs. However, the majority of users on here rave about its effectiveness, and they back it up with pictures. If you do decide to go down the oral route, make sure you do so under the guidance of your doctor.

For me, the shock of being transplanted seems to have been positive for my follicles- I am grey but the vast majority of new hairs that are sprouting are at least starting off black. Whether they stay that way when they mature remains to be seen. However, it may be down to the minoxidil as other contributors have suggested, as I only started using it after my transplant.

Month 2 Update Can feel hairs sprouting. Encountering some pimples but easily treated with a warm compress. Crown filling in slowly I ditched wearing a hat to hide the ugly duckling phase. The donor area is looking good.

Don't worry, the black bulb means nothing (it is not the root of the hair); you are just having normal shedding. The grafts are fully secure between 10 to 14 days. Like you I am a restless sleeper, and I invested in a silk pillow case to reduce friction - just something to consider if you ever have another HT.

I was told I could have a scissors cut of the recipient area after a month. From my understanding, the restriction of buzzing is less due to the grafts being anchored (they are fully anchored after 14 days). It is more to avoid the risk of damaging the scalp, which is still recovering from the procedure. The Clippers can irritate or even nick the scalp and let an infection in.

You really should consult your doctor or dermatologist on taking meds and taking them under their supervision. For example Fin is known to affect your PSA levels (roughly halving it). PSA is an antigen test used as a marker for prostate cancer. It is recommended that you have your PSA measured before taking the tablets as a baseline and then after 12 months on Fin to have it measured again so the doctor can multiply your readings by the correct factor to get your true reading in later life. Waiting a few weeks to begin taking them is not going to make much of a difference. As well-meaning as people are on this forum, unless the person declares they are a doctor then you need to take any medical advice the same as if getting it from your mates down the pub..... I hear what you are saying about family members - my brothers have no signs of thining of any sort; my father and his brothers and my mother's brother's all have fine heads of hair. My grandfather on my father side had a full head of hair and my mothers father only showed some evident thining in his late 60s and even then not as extensive as mine, so like you, I was bummed out...

It definitely seems to be thinning, but on the bright side, you have caught it very early and can talk to your doctor about using medication like finasteride and minxodil to at least stabilise it, and, if lucky, perhaps even reverse it.

I think it is very disingenuous of the clinic to tell you that before the transplant you have great hair and then, rather than take any responsibility, blame your less-than-satisfactory result on thin hair so the clinic has no responsibility. The fact that you are still using minoxidil means that the actual results from the transplant will deteriorate if you stop using minoxidil. However, your situation has improved considerably, particularly when you style your hair, and a second operation will improve it even more. Just make sure you chose your surgeon wisely for your second HT. Also investigate whether Finasteride will help your situation going forward.