2808 FUE with Dr Jose Lorenzo at the Farjo Clinic

[Readytodoit]

Hi everybody,

 

I just wanted to share with you all my experience and pictures of my FUE transplant surgery performed on the 25th and 26th Sept at the Farjo Clinic in Manchester by Dr Jose Lorenzo.

 

Unfortunately I don't have any before pictures of my own that are clear enough, but some were taken by Dr Lorenzo on the day and hopefully Mick from the clinic could possibly upload some for me.

 

I would like to say that the staff and clinic were absolutely fantastic, very professional from the start. From my first meeting with Mick the patient coordinator, to all the nurses and of course Dr Lorenzo.

 

I arrived at the clinic at 7:40 on the first day and had my final assessment by Dr Lorenzo. I was then taken up to the surgery room where I was introduced to the nurses (Sara & Heather to name two) who would be taking care of me for the next two days.

 

My hair has been quite grey for a long time (actually white in a few places even though i'm only nearly 42) so after my hair was shaved very closely, it was then washed and dyed so that the surgeon could see the hair more clearly for extraction. I was also shown where the knew hairline was going to be placed.

 

After I had put on the surgical gown and been given anti-inflammatory drugs and a sedative, I was led to the chair and was positioned face down whilst the the anaesthetic was applied to the donor area for the extraction process to begin. This part of the procedure lasted around 4 hours and 1404 grafts from the left side of the donor area were removed and stored.

 

I was then taken back to another room to rest and have lunch which was provided by the clinic. After a short break I was taken back to begin the implantation. Again, anaesthetic was applied to the site and the doctor began to place the grafts. After about another 4 hours I was finished for the day and allowed to go back to the hotel, with a saline spray, painkillers and a surgical cover for my pillow.

 

The second day was a repeat of the first, only this time the grafts were extracted from the right side. Another 1404 grafts were taken and implanted.

 

The doctor was always asking if I was feeling any pain and if there was any, he would apply more anaesthetic immediately.

 

In total I had 2808 grafts implanted - Approx 1700 into the frontal third and the rest into the vertex and crown. I had very little pain after the procedure, just a tightness and what felt like bruising...which is a lot less than you'd expect after having over 5500 holes poked into your scalp!

 

This was a very positive experience for me after years of waiting and worrying about if it was the right decision for me. I now know that it absolutely was the right thing to do and would like to reassure anyone who is worried about getting it done not to panic.

 

I actually thought that I would go into hiding for quite a while after getting it done because I've never shaved my head before, let alone gone out with it in it's full extracted/grafted glory. But straight after the surgery I walked, with my head uncovered, back to my hotel and never thought anything of it. I actually think it gave me more courage and confidence because I had done something about it. I feel quite proud of the fact that I've done it and hope that this gives anyone reading this a bit more of an insight into what happens and what to expect if they are trying to decide if it's right for them.

 

Once again I'd like to thank Mick, all the nurses and staff at the clinic and of course Dr Lorenzo for their help and guidance throughout my whole experience.

 

Chris (Readytodoit)

[CaddyTad77]

Very clean work. You have a lot to look forward to man, you went to the Monet of FUE!

[johnj147]

hi let me no how it progresses/ as iam thinking about going to him , how much did it cost you . if you don't mind me asking

[Readytodoit]

Thanks Caddytad, he certainly had artistic flair.

 

Johnj147, no problem. Total cost was ?12000, I went for 2500 and got over 300 extra.

[johnj147]

how busy is the clinic? is there a waiting list? take it this the new one that's just opened in Manchester you went

[Readytodoit]

It's quite a busy clinic due to its reputation and offers both FUT and FUE but I only had to wait eight weeks to get my procedure. Yeah, it was the new clinic in Quay Street.

[irishsailor]

Congrats on your ht with dr Lorenzo. As always his work is immaculate. You definately chose a great surgeon:cool:

[johnj147]

o rite do you mind asking a few other questions an worryys of my own ? its weird a don't even no you lol

[Readytodoit]

Thanks Irishsailor.

 

Johnj147, no problem...ask away.

[hairshopeing]

Congratulations, great choice of dr!! I'll be following your progress, and agree about being sort of proud of yourself for going through with it and addressing the problem!! I'm sure you will have a fantastic result!!!

[Readytodoit]

Thanks Hairshopeing, really looking forward to the future.

[johnj147]

first an obvious one is it painfull, how long will it take for the new hair to , grow a see a lot of threads say bout 8 months to a year / but as you see wayne rooney he got his done end of footy season an was looking ok when season started again only 3 months. also I would like to get about same as you in front area , but my dad has hardly any hair atall. an what does doc say if the rest o the other hair receeds. then will have all hair at front but nowt at back . woories me , it would look stupid ?

[Koot]

Great to have you posting your experience - the first one in English I believe!

 

Did you discuss density and design on the day or just go with Dr Lorenzo's suggestions. Also how did sleep the first night and how did you protect the grafts?

[HARIRI]

Super clean and neat work Dr. Lorenzo. Every British hair loss sufferer is damn lucky for having the best FUE surgeon at his country. Keep it up amigo.

[Readytodoit]

Johnj147, I won't lie and say it's completely pain free but to be honest it's only the anaesthetic injections that are a little painful. Once the first couple of injections are applied you don't feel the extraction at all. Obviously each time the surgeon has to move to another area to extract grafts he/she will apply more anaesthetic. The surgeon will always ask if you feel pain and then apply more anaesthetic if you ate feeling any. Dr Lorenzo told me that most of the implanted grafts will fall out after about 20 days and then go into the resting phase, this is a cycle that all hair goes through. If will then start to regrow from about for months from what I've been told. Dr Lorenzo said that I should notice around 40% by four months, 50% by five months and so on with full results being visible between 12 to 18 months.

 

Depends on your age and level of hairloss Johnj, they will always advise you on what would be best for your particular situation. That's why they usually tell you to wait until you are older before getting surgery and they want you to get on meds as well to stabalise your hairloss. Not easy being told that you have to wait, but then I don't know how old you are so you might already be the right age.

 

As hairloss is progressive in most cases, you're right, if the hairloss progressed then the grafts would remain but hairloss would continue behind the transplanted area.

 

I'm quite lucky in that my hairloss has been fairly slow and I'm on meds, also at nearly 42 I would hope that any future loss would only progress as slowly as it has up to now. I hopefully won't have to get any more procedures but if I needed it and had the funds I would definitely do it again. You also never want to give up hope on future treatments.

[chrisdav]

Congratulations Readytodoit.

 

Sounds like the whole experience was really positive and nice to hear you are proud of pulling the trigger.

 

Looking forward to your updates as Dr Lorenzo's work is top notch :cool:

 

Here is an approximate timeline for hair transplant growth:

 

http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/148161-what-exactly-hair-transplant-growth-timeline.html

[Readytodoit]

Hi Koot.

 

I had discussed density with Dr Farjo at an earlier consultation but to be honest after seeing all the examples of Dr Lorenzo's work I completely trusted his suggestions. He actually gave me a few options though and drew various lines on the hairline to see what I would prefer, but like any reputable surgeon he wouldn't go too low so that it was not in keeping with your age or do a density that wouldn't fit in with the rest of your existing hair.

 

Sleeping on the first night actually wasn't too bad, because I had only had grafts taken from one side on the first day it meant I could lie on the other side. I sort of rolled my pillow into a tube and rested the lower part of my head and neck on it to try to protect the grafts at the front and top. Although with the best will in the world if whatever I was dreaming of involved scratching my head, I'm sure it would happened.

[johnj147]

o right am 45 wee bit older ave got plenty hair at back and sides. so think I might be suitable. what did he say about the holes where they take hair ouit and put in .will you be able to shave the head . if you want to / would they be visible ie in a few years time /only thing don't want to be stuck on medication is another thing , mmm does the medication stuff actualy work ie regaine finistaide .a think its just a rip off that stuff, unless someone can prove me wrong ?

[Readytodoit]

Thanks Hariri.

[Readytodoit]

Thanks for the link Chrisdav.

 

I'll definitely keep you all updated on the progress.

[JohnnyDrama]

Great to read mate, I was only thinking again yesterday how we haven't seen any English documented patient cases from Dr Lorenzo yet everyone was raving about him! Looking forward to seeing your progress! I myself got 2200 FUE with Dr Bisanga 5 weeks ago so we'll be sharing a lot of the ugly duckling phase together!

[johnj147]

Lorenzo has just moved to England this sept to join with farjo so that's probably why , and be a lot more post am sure soon

[Readytodoit]

If you are suitable for FUE then the holes where the grafts are taken out are fairly small and are supposed to be less noticeable than that of the FUT (strip) technique. Although I have seen some excellent examples of strip surgery being very well concealed... although I believe that you can cut the hair a lot shorter with the FUE technique. I am actually looking at keeping my hair very short in the future and I'm pretty sure I could take it to a number 2 or possibly even a 1. Could depend on scalp colour etc.

 

I'm on Finasteride and have been for two years. It's very difficult to say if it works for me but I'm reluctant to stop now that I've started. It must be doing something because I used to have a hairy back and now I have hardly any hair on my back at all. The drug affects hair on the body in different ways to how it affects hair on your head. I've never used regain before and don't intend to. I've heard that the drugs and regain are most effective if you start them at the early stages of hairloss, but they could help you maintain what you already have.

[Readytodoit]

Nice one JohnnyDrama, congratulations on your procedure. We can support each other, you're that bit further on than me so you can keep me up to date on what's coming my way!

 

I travelled down from Scotland and stayed over for three nights in Manchester, becoming my second home the amount of times I've been there now.

[johnj147]

Nice one JohnnyDrama, congratulations on your procedure. We can support each other, you're that bit further on than me so you can keep me up to date on what's coming my way!

 

I travelled down from Scotland and stayed over for three nights in Manchester, becoming my second home the amount of times I've been there now.

am from Scotland anaw Edinburgh ha