3130 grafts with Dr Doganay

[Nuno]

Not long back from Antalya, Turkey where I underwent surgery with Dr Doganay.

 

I was told via email that it looked like I needed around 4000 grafts. Upon inspection it was recommended that, as I still had hair on my head which I was likely to lose down the line, we go a little lower and save some in the donor area for another HT if I wanted one down the line. I appreciated the honest and professional approach.

 

I had 874 grafts taken from my beard (I wasn't charged the standard 2.50 Euros per graft but just 2 Euros, which was most welcome)

801 single grafts

1148 double grafts

307 triple grafts

 

The staff were friendly and helpful, the hotel was clean and substantial, although it was empty given the time of year ( I was delighted with that) and the clinic looked like it was part of a private hospital. Very nice and modern.

I was a little knocked out by the anaesthetic and stayed overnight in the clinic after the procedure. I felt unwell but was told this was normal and that some patients stayed in the clinic while others went back to the hotel.

Sleeping was a problem for the first two nights. I think I got about one hour over the two nights! I didn't want to rest my donor region straight on the pillow as it was still a little tender and sore so I sat at a 45 degree angle and found it difficult to drop off. However, last night was better and my donor isn't as inflamed and there was no problem with it sticking to the pillow which I was concerned about the previous night. I noticed one or two scabs on my pillow when I woke up this morning.

Washing the scalp is a little tricky as I don't want to press too hard and do damage to any of the grafts. I'm just dabbing moisturiser on (which leaves little dollops of moisturiser spread around my head as I was told not to rub it in) and then waiting 45 minutes before rinsing and then dabbing shampoo on both recipient and donor. I will do this 2-3 times a day. The back of my head isn't sore to touch anymore when I moisturise and wash.

As I type my head feels a little tight and itchy (hopefully that means it has started healing). I do feel pressure over the bridge of my nose and a bit of swelling around the eyes but that has gone down a little.

The next step is starting proscar which was provided by the clinic. I will start at 1.25mg per week for fear of side effects. If I can phase a higher dose in in a couple of weeks down the line then I will look at doing that.

 

I had a real moment of panic in Turkey as I was dropped off at the hotel from the clinic. They provide you with a bucket hat, which is a size too big (on purpose) but it kind of slipped over my eyes and I banged my head getting out the car. However, I was inspected there by a member of staff who assured me everything was as it should be.

 

Excuse the poor pictures, all taken with an iphone. Dr Doganay has more pictures which I'm sure will he will share months down the line. The before picture was taken a good few months ago and I have lost more hair since then in the frontal third.

 

It would be great if some more experienced members could let me know what they think. Does the work look clean? Any more advice to help the healing process? Anything I can do to help the redness fade a little quicker?

 

If anyone wants to ask questions or know more, feel free to drop me a PM.

I will try to update pictures fairly regularly.

[Quiff01]

Looks great Pal! Sent you a PM

[Nuno]

Cheers mate, I'll have a look.

 

Can anyone else comment? Any feedback much appreciated.

[johnny2000]

Cheers mate, I'll have a look.

 

Can anyone else comment? Any feedback much appreciated.

 

I Think the work looks very very Nice so far.

I am booked with dr. Hakan in april so Will be following your case.

How whas the trip home? Also in the airport and trough Security?

Many Strange looks?

[Nuno]

I Think the work looks very very Nice so far.

I am booked with dr. Hakan in april so Will be following your case.

How whas the trip home? Also in the airport and trough Security?

Many Strange looks?

 

Thanks Johnny. The trip home was not as bad as I had feared. I maybe built it up a little in my mind beforehand, which I think is understandable, but no one is really looking at you.

Sure you have to take your Hakan-issued bucket hat off as you go through security but it is for about 10 seconds and while you may get the odd look it is absolutely nothing to worry about. I made sure that before I went through security there was nothing in my pockets, my belt was off etc so I wasn't fumbling about as I approached.

I flew from Antalya to Istanbul before flying back to the UK and while at Istanbul I decided to find a quiet corner in a bar and take my hat off as I read my book. I didn't really care by that point who was looking.

Drop me a PM if you want any more info.

[scooter]

Looks good and everything went well.Thanks for sharing

[suarez]

Great write up, the work looks very clean, loving the hairline.Is there anything you wished you had brought with you that you hadn't? ie like a special pillow ,also what is the weather like in Istanbul now.The hard part is over for you now, you can looking forward to growing into the summer.

[Lloyd]

Seems great

[Nuno]

Thanks guys.

Can't believe it was a week ago I was in the operating room!

I am just hoping the pain in the donor region and itching ends soon. Can drive a man crazy not being able to scratch! Anyone know roughly how long this generally lasts for?

 

I've also started proscar. Just going to stick to 1.25mg once a week, probably for a couple of months if I don't get sides. Don't fancy being on it long term.

[Nuno]

Great write up, the work looks very clean, loving the hairline.Is there anything you wished you had brought with you that you hadn't? ie like a special pillow ,also what is the weather like in Istanbul now.The hard part is over for you now, you can looking forward to growing into the summer.

 

Thanks mate. To be honest, I was unsure of the hairline design at first but Dr Doganay knows what he's doing. Got to trust him. I am really happy with it when I look at it now. We took a bit of time beforehand to have a chat about it.

I did take my travel neck pillow over but didn't use it on the plane or sleeping on the first night (I just didn't sleep at all). I've tried to use it being back home at night but I'd advise you to get a solid one for comfort (mine is like a bean bag in a way and shifts around a lot).

One thing I should have done was show them the hat I took with me and asked them if it was ok for me to wear that rather than the bucket hat they gave me. I forgot to do it and the bucket hat is big and dropped down over my eyes a few times on way home. Nothing major at all, just could've been a little more comfortable and was wary about having to readjust it.

The weather was very...British. It rained a lot and was generally a bit cold. However, I was only ever outside when getting into or out of a car to go somewhere. I was glad I did it in a Turkish winter, because I think it would be even more uncomfortable doing it in a roasting hot summer.

[suarez]

Yeah I was thinking the same, do it in winter so I don't look outta place with a hat on, my clinic and hotel are 5 mins walk apart which is good. How much did you spend a day on food etc?

[Nuno]

Yeah I was thinking the same, do it in winter so I don't look outta place with a hat on, my clinic and hotel are 5 mins walk apart which is good. How much did you spend a day on food etc?

 

I didn't really spend anything. A bottle of water and a packet of crisps here and there from the mini bar but I had breakfast and dinner included as part of the hotel package that had been arranged for me by the clinic.

[suarez]

I didn't really spend anything. A bottle of water and a packet of crisps here and there from the mini bar but I had breakfast and dinner included as part of the hotel package that had been arranged for me by the clinic.

 

Oh ok, I only got breakfast included with mine, I'm sure I'll find some juicy kebabs for dinner.Have you started taking msm etc when did Dr Doganay say you could wash your hair, I think I'm gonna go with the instructions Dr Rahal gives his patients and stick to them

[Nuno]

I am taking Biotin once a day and have taken 1.25mg proscar on recommendation of Dr Doganay. I can only bring myself to take it every 7 days, however.

I have been moisturising and then washing my hair 2-3 times a day and started doing so the day after surgery. Can get a little annoying but should only be for a few weeks and supposedly it helps with the itching which has been driving me a little crazy over the past few days, especially when trying to sleep!

Are you going with Doganay or Rahal? I think every doctor's advice will vary a little but I'm just sticking to what I've been told.

[suarez]

I am taking Biotin once a day and have taken 1.25mg proscar on recommendation of Dr Doganay. I can only bring myself to take it every 7 days, however.

I have been moisturising and then washing my hair 2-3 times a day and started doing so the day after surgery. Can get a little annoying but should only be for a few weeks and supposedly it helps with the itching which has been driving me a little crazy over the past few days, especially when trying to sleep!

Are you going with Doganay or Rahal? I think every doctor's advice will vary a little but I'm just sticking to what I've been told.

 

I hear ya,as long as you keep the grafts moist..I'm not going with either of them although could I afford it Rahal would be my number 1 choice, I'm going with Dr Kul in Istanbul he does great work on the temple points which I need, not to many about can do them, this time 3 weeks I'll be going in for the first wash then flying home, just not looking forward to it all falling out again.

[Nuno]

Hi all,

Thought I would share a quick update...

 

I am one month and two days post-HT now. I shaved my head for the first time a few days ago - a #2 guard over the top and over the donor.

 

I think I have suffered shock loss to the donor area and both donor and recipient areas are getting a little itchy again. Don't know if that is to do with my shampoo regimen?

I finished the shampoo provided to me by the clinic and have been gently using Nioxin for the past few days but have just ordered sebamed online. I will try get a bottle of baby shampoo in the meantime.

 

Funny thing. I emailed Dr Doganay and in the reply I was advised to use a clean needle to try and fix some ingrowing hairs on the vertex of my scalp. I'm not entirely sure what this is referring to. Apparently it is not a big deal but I'm a little unsure as to what to actually do to try and fix this. Can anyone see what the clinic is referring to? They mentioned "little white bits" but I just thought that was flaky skin?? Has anyone experienced this before?

 

When I shaved my head it looked fantastic, first time I had seen it like that in a couple of years! I thought more transplanted hairs would haven shed by now but I guess I still have that to look forward to.

 

I am still taking Biotin 1x daily and 1.25mg proscar 1xweekly. I am going to restart on regaine over the weekend as well. I stopped about 2 weeks before the transplant. I am going back to the gym after the weekend as well.

 

The photos aren't the best but have been taken under different lighting.

Any advice/thoughts most welcome.

[Nowsthetime9]

Looks great so far. Gonna turn out nice. Im thinking of choosing Turkey for my next procedure as well. Just trying to decide on which Dr. to go with. Do you know if they offer financing for US or out of the country patients?

[scooter]

Looking good, thanks for sharing

[FUE2014]

hey dude, any updates?

[Bradford786]

Hi quiff,

 

Wanted some advice before my treatment in 20 days , did you choose local or general anaesthetic for your ht?

 

If general what's the procedure ? Etc?

[suarez]

Looking good... I wanted to know was your crown always like that or has it got worse lately? Mine has got real thin in the last few weeks, like outta nowhere the whole top has got worse, the top of my head is still numb maybe the injections have something to do with it, I've just started regaine foam 2 days ago.

[Nuno]

Hi guys,

 

In terms of updates - after a month I started living life pretty normally again. I have been working out, washing my hair a bit more vigorously, shaved my head a few times and started on the regaine foam again.

 

I have actually noticed a fair shed since the 1 month mark. I am now 6-weeks post-op. My new hair line is looking a bit thinner but the line is still pretty visible. There are some transplanted hairs still there and sticking out in different directions .

 

Apart from that I have more or less gone back to what I looked like before the surgery. I guess that is normal at this stage? My crown has gone back to what it was like before as well.

 

I'll put up some more pics soon.

[johnny2000]

Hi guys,

 

In terms of updates - after a month I started living life pretty normally again. I have been working out, washing my hair a bit more vigorously, shaved my head a few times and started on the regaine foam again.

 

I have actually noticed a fair shed since the 1 month mark. I am now 6-weeks post-op. My new hair line is looking a bit thinner but the line is still pretty visible. There are some transplanted hairs still there and sticking out in different directions .

 

Apart from that I have more or less gone back to what I looked like before the surgery. I guess that is normal at this stage? My crown has gone back to what it was like before as well.

 

I'll put up some more pics soon.

 

Hey there. Would you say that it is not noticebul that you had a HT by now?

[Nuno]

Hey there. Would you say that it is not noticebul that you had a HT by now?

 

I don't think so, no. Maybe someone who has had a HT could tell by really looking for redness in the donor but that is covered by hair.

I shaved my head after a month and a friend asked to see the result after I told everyone about the procedure. He said it just looked as though I had never been balding, no sign of any work either.

I have noticed one or two small spots/pimples along my new hairline but they are pretty concealed. Only I would notice them and it's not as if there are loads of them.

[johnny2000]

I don't think so, no. Maybe someone who has had a HT could tell by really looking for redness in the donor but that is covered by hair.

I shaved my head after a month and a friend asked to see the result after I told everyone about the procedure. He said it just looked as though I had never been balding, no sign of any work either.

I have noticed one or two small spots/pimples along my new hairline but they are pretty concealed. Only I would notice them and it's not as if there are loads of them.

 

Sounds Nice, happy growing