Dr Pong from THT clinic, my experience...

[Johnny2go]

Hi all,

 

I'll start first by saying that I'm typing this from my phone so apologies for keeping my posts rather short. I'm from Australia and as I write this I am second day post op. I won't be back in Australia until the 2nd of August so once I get back I'll be doing a some more detailed posts with pics about my whole experience.

I'm writing this because like others, there seems to be little info regarding Dr Pong from Thailand Hair Transplant THT here in Chiang Mai. His work, from my limited experience so far deserves credit for what I consider so far excellent.

I know its only early days and time will tell. Right now my head is a little swollen, I'm still in a little pain and dazed from the pain meds so apologies for keeping this rather short. I'll go into more detail later but so far:

Clinic is very clean and professional

Dr Pong seems quite genuine and thorough, answers any questions and speaks quite good english

Staff although don't speak very good english are very good and thorough

You are told everything regarding your procedure from beginning to end and are made to feel very comfortable

Lunch is provided and yoh may stop for as many toilet breaks as needed except for the bit where they extract the donor area which takes about 2 hours

 

I'll do my best to answer any questions but remember I'm typing this from my phone so don't expect anything long winded till I get back home in August. When I do I'll go into more detail regarding the procedure, my experience with Dr Pong and his staff, the clinic, my recovery, pics (my profile pic was taken the day after the procedure) and anything else I might think of or get asked.

 

So until then I wish you all a speedy hairy recovery

 

John

[Blake Bloxham]

Johnny,

 

Congratulations! Thank you for sharing your experience.

[agenteye]

John-

 

Welcome to the Hair Transplant Network. Congratulations on your recent procedure with Dr. Pong. I'm glad your experience at his clinic was a positive one. Looking forward to your continued updates along the way. These forums are a great source for information and support, so reach out to anyone throughout your journey if you ever need advice or encouragement.

 

In the meantime, get some rest......and safe travels back home!

 

Best,

 

Mike

[TakingThePlunge]

Welcome John! Congratulations on your recent hair transplant! Please keep us posted on your progress.

[Johnny2go]

Thanks for all the positve comments guys

 

Well today (3 days post op) has probably been the worst (I hope) in terms of swelling. First and second night were worst for pain and hardest to sleep but now I can atleast lay back onto a pillow on the donor area and its bearable.

I woke up this morning with my left eye swollen shut, right eye wasn't too bad and when i went for my regular hair wash back at the clinic dr pong said it was probably due to the side I slept on. I went downstairs and had my breakfast with sunglasses then quickly went back to my room and slept again.

Upon waking and looking very much like an alien grey I decided to remove my headbands and then gently and carefully started to massage the swelling along the skin from my forehead u eyes down to my cheek area.

This I thought would atleast make me look semi normal enough to go out in public. After about 2 hrs of this I managed to open up my left eye and look decent enough for public. Now my whole face was well...puffy but atleast in proportion puffy.

I think the swelling around my eye may have something to do with the fact I slept on my side, tonight I'll get as many pillows as I can and try sleep upright. I haven't removed the compression bands since the surgery. I had 2922 graphs, don't know if thats an average amount or not but maybe that may also have added to the swelling...or maybe I just swell alot lol

 

Anyways pain is about 30-40% better today compared to day 1 & 2 which is great, will post again soon

 

John

[Hairvana]

Hi Johnny2go,

 

Thanks for sharing your experience with Dr Pong. After lurking online for a couple of years and reading peoples experiences I've finally decided to have another hair transplant with Dr Pong in Chiang Mai.

[Johnny2go]

Hi Hairvana,

 

well its 6 months post op and Im happy to say it looks like most of the graphs have taken and I have quite a decent amount of hair back on my head

I did shave my head once about three or so months after the procedure but havent since, so its now roughly about an inch and a half long. It's looks kinda funny having hair again but of course I love it

I'll be looking to go back for my second procedure to do the crown around may of this year, so will probably post the follow up pics then. Since my procedure Ive just styled my hair as normal and used toppik on the crown area and it looks fine :cool:

Goodluck with yours!

[Hairvana]

Hi Johnny2go,

 

Do you have any updates photo you care to share?

 

I'm not to far off from my surgery and despite being confident with Dr Pong I'm getting very nervous as the date gets closer and closer. I'm sure that is normal.

[Johnny2go]

LOL nerves are very normal, I was exactly the same. Just like someone else posted on this forum, as soon as you walk through the doors of his surgery any nerves that were present go away and I completely agree with those comments.

 

The surgery was exactly as they described. Very clean, totally professional and it would not be out of place at all even here in Australia. Dr. Pong even has great bedside manner if that's what you want to call it, he's definitely good at what he does.

I can distinctly remember about 3/4 through the procedure I was becoming uncomfortable as the anasthetic started to wear off, his staff noticed my starting to move around in the chair and straight away asked if everything was ok. I told her and Dr.Pong immediately applied more local anasthetic and it was all good again. His staff are excellent and very attentive

I'm actually kinda looking forward to going back again cos this time I know what to expect. All in all it's really only about 3 or 4 days where it's uncomfortable, the rest of the time you can do pretty much what you like. There's just the feeling of tightness on the back of your neck where the donor area is.

I'll try post some pics soon otherwise I know I definitely will as I get closer to my 2nd op..

 

All the best with yours...

[Hairvana]

You have no idea how much your post has helped claim my nerves. Thank you.

 

I'll be posting my experience and photos after the operation.

[Hairvana]

Hey Johnny,

 

I had my operation with Dr Pong 5 days ago. Besides all the swelling, difficulties sleeping and tightness in the donor area it appears it went well. I shall post my photos when I get home.

[Johnny2go]

Thats great to hear, glad it went well for you.

[Hairvana]

Thanks Johnny, check out the photo album in my profile.

[Johnny2go]

Yep you look about the same as me when I had mine done except my hair was alot shorter when I had my transplant.

I'm about 6months post op and over the moon with the results, hairs about 2 1/2 inches long and can easily be styled now, no reason why you wont be the same. Can't wait for next summer when I've had the crown done and it'll have had a few months to grow, should look like the old me again.

 

How did you find the surgery, Dr Pong and his staff?

[Hairvana]

To be honest, I found the surgery was long and a little boring towards the end. I really wanted to get up and move in the last hour … I wish the valiums had of actually put me to sleep. But that's how long it needed to be. The worst part of the surgery was differently the anesthetic injections at the start. Dr Pong’s staffs were professional before, during and after the operation. The clinic was modern and clean.

 

I’m glad to hear that you’re happy with your results so far. I can’t wait until I get some growth and actually be able to style my hair without being conscious about having a comb-over!

[Johnny2go]

Just thought I'd give this thread a bump. I'll be going in next month on the 22nd to have my crown area done , if anyone still has any doubts about Dr Pong I wouldn't worry and would highly recommend him...hey I wouldn't be going back if his work was bad now would I :cool:

[Johnny2go]

Hey all well here I am exactly 1 year and 1 month after my first surgery!....my how time flies :rolleyes:

 

I have been in for my second procedure with Dr Pong to have the crown area done, that was friday and it is now tuesday morning (3.5 days later), 4:30am...:eek: because I haven't been able to have a proper nights sleep since the transplant It's all ok though, just going through the motions same as last time :rolleyes: I'm trying to take less pain killers this time as I just personally don't like them so I guess it means I can't sleep as well right through a whole night.

Actually to be honest the pain is quite bearable (first night was the hardest), the bloody compression bands you have to wear post op are the most annoying and uncomfortable. Imagine trying to sleep with not one but two super tight sweat bands on ya head and then only sleep on your side....it sucks

I'm right in the middle of the usual swelling, massive forehead, half swollen shut eyes lol I look bloody ridiculous but atleast it looks alot worse than it actually is so all good. Once it goes down a bit more I'll start to venture out of my room again.

I did the smart thing and grabbed a bunch of food from the supermarket the first day so I could hold out in my hotel room until the swelling subsided... my hot tip

Am very much looking forward to this mornings hair wash when they take the bands off for a short time and gently clean the area.

 

Oh the important part, yeah I was getting there Dr Pong used his personal zigzag method and extracted another 2206 graphs from the donor area which he said was enough to cover my crown. Judging by how good a job he did with the frontal area, if he says that's ample then I know I'll be happy (As a reminder I had 2922 graphs taken the first time and I am a Norwood class 6)

Basically he cut another donor strip in a zigzag line over the top of the old scar, this he says, extracts the maximum amount of donor hair and minimizes the scar. He has only been doing this a short time (roughly only 30 patients before me) but from the limited photos and feedback he received and the photos I saw you could barely notice the scar, even with the photo zoomed right up.

either way seeing the amazing job he did the first time, I trusted him and said do what you think is the best option and he did.

 

I must admit this time round the procedure took slightly longer and felt more uncomfortable than I remembered but the recovery so far seems less painful, especially the donor area. Last time I felt like my head was being ripped off, this time just some tightness but completely bearable.

 

Quite bored spending all this time in my room waiting to look normal enough to go out again in public so might post some photos up. Until then goodluck all with yours!!! :cool:

[Cryingoutloud]

Hmm

 

1 year, 2 pages, 20 posts, lots of gushing . . .

 

and not ONE photo

[Sethticles]

My office is on Sirimankalajarn soi 13 less than 200m from Dr Pong office, Chiang Mai is a great place to live.... any chance of some photos.

[Johnny2go]

Hmm

 

1 year, 2 pages, 20 posts, lots of gushing . . .

 

and not ONE photo

 

 

Yeah I just have so much time on my hands I thought I'd write detailed posts as to my experiences just because I have nothing better to do with my time... :rolleyes: Apart from my profile pic yes I have no other photos up, my routine until now has comprised of waking up, having breakfast, going for my morning hair wash, taking painkillers, feeling like crap, grabbing sleep whenever I can and going for walks just to keep my sanity.

 

There are plenty of other peoples before/after pics on here, it's what convinced me to go with Dr Pong in the first place so if I can find them I'm sure you can to but just in case, when I can stop taking the painkillers and valium for sleeping I'll do my best to sit in front of a computer screen while on holiday in a beautiful foreign country to satisfy your curiosity and post some pics where I'm sure you'll critique, probably to your dissatisfaction as for some reason you just seem to come across as and bit of a glass half empty kinda person :rolleyes:

 

cheers

[Johnny2go]

My office is on Sirimankalajarn soi 13 less than 200m from Dr Pong office, Chiang Mai is a great place to live.... any chance of some photos.

 

 

Hi Sethicles, me and another guy who was supposed to have his hair done with Dr Pong but couldn't due to his health issues in the end are going to the Down Under Bar this saturday (around lunchtime) to watch a footy match.

If you like you can meet us there for a drink and watch the game and have a chat?

I just looked up where your office is, I'm staying at The Nest B&B 21/1-2 Sirimangkalajarn Rd., Soi 5 it's literally around the corner from Dr Pongs office and seems very close to the address you gave going by google maps. Am happy to meet up for a coffee or whatever, not sure what your work hours are etc... I don't know my way around that well apart from getting to the shopping mall (lol it's at the end of the street ) and getting back and forth to and from the old city.

 

Let us know either way, would be good to catchup with someone who knows Chiang Mai, personally I like it and will probably come back again next year...

[Cryingoutloud]

Yeah I just have so much time on my hands I thought I'd write detailed posts as to my experiences just because I have nothing better to do with my time... :rolleyes: Apart from my profile pic yes I have no other photos up, my routine until now has comprised of waking up, having breakfast, going for my morning hair wash, taking painkillers, feeling like crap, grabbing sleep whenever I can and going for walks just to keep my sanity.

 

There are plenty of other peoples before/after pics on here, it's what convinced me to go with Dr Pong in the first place so if I can find them I'm sure you can to but just in case, when I can stop taking the painkillers and valium for sleeping I'll do my best to sit in front of a computer screen while on holiday in a beautiful foreign country to satisfy your curiosity and post some pics where I'm sure you'll critique, probably to your dissatisfaction as for some reason you just seem to come across as and bit of a glass half empty kinda person :rolleyes:

 

cheers

 

OK well hang on a second; no one's asking about your CURRENT procedure but

you DID said this is your SECOND procedure with the same surgeon. I'm assuming you were happy with the first procedure over a YEAR ago but during the one year post-operative period, you just didn't have time to take a photo of your result to SHARE with the community that shared with YOU.

 

I'm willing to bet a fair sum of money that when YOU were deciding on whom to use for your HT, you found the up-to-date before/after photos uploaded by other patients useful but you don't feel the need to reciprocate and, instead, tell people who might be curious as to how your result looks before committing themselves to "do a search".

 

Way to go with the "I'm-alright-Jack-Pull-up-the-ladder" attitude

 

Enjoy your result

 

:rolleyes: