Dr Hakan Doganay 3367 grafts, 22nd Jan 2014, pros & cons, nerve pain! etc

[fueman]

OK this is just another Dr Hakan Doganay thread., there seem to be so many lately.

I had a FUE 7 days ago, since I have been a long term lurker on this forum I may as well make my own topic and contribute, hopefully my experience may help someone else just like many peoples’ post on here have for me.

 

History

I started noticing hair loss at the hairline when I was 17. I’ve always had the M looking hairline as far as I can remember, I think I was born with it, but after noticing how much it had receded out the blue(maybe inch and half each side) I was shocked. Since then I have been covering it up. I’ve been doing this for the last 16 years. I’m 33 now. Over this time it has been getting worse, I would say when I turned 30 it started getting more aggressive. I can talk about how it got to a stage it effected my life, how I had to change my face direction according to the wind, how every other hour at work I had to go to toilet to cover my bold spots, or here’s one for you, there is a girl I knew and liked I once saw her in town, I wanted to approach her but it was extremely windy and my hair was a mess, i looked awful so I didn’t approach her, that was the last time I saw her! I could go on and on but then I’ll be here forever writing about it, so I rather not…. To cut the story short it got to a stage my temples, frontage, including the hairline centre got so severe that I couldn’t do the comb over thing properly. To top this up pun intended I noticed my crown has been receding fairly badly too, I never noticed how bad until I took some pics with intention to send to FUE surgeons. I also have a weird shape head so going bold would not suit me!

 

Research

I’ve been waiting it out to find the right time to do the FUE, researching etc… my older brother is a Norwood 6; his hair loss had been more aggressive than mine at my age. My dad is 4 and he is in his 60’s, I didn’t want to do it too early and lose more hair, at the same time I want to enjoy my 30’s to the fullest and not worry about hair issues for now.

I chose Dr Hakan due the price and the good results I’ve seen of him, also the communication was very good, very fast replies to my queries which is very important to me. I was booked in for 2 days, told I will need around 3000 grafts. So I booked 3 weeks off for work, hopefully this should be more than enough for people to not notice anything.

 

Day of operation

Mass confusion just my luck, I was meant to have surgery originally 22 and 23 Jan, but about 10 days before I asked if I could have it 21 and 22 as I was arriving on 21 and that way I will have more days to recover. I wanted this as I planned on going to Istanbul for a 4 nights after. I was told that is fine, but when I got there, there was some mix up. They couldn’t do 21st. I was told 23 they have 2 other people booked in so Dr Hakan wants to do it in 1 day! Not what I wanted to hear after all that planning. I was very uncomfortable about 1 day op, especially potential trauma to donor issues. The only reason I went ahead with it at the and is they convinced me, especially the other Dr whose name I cant remember. Dr Hakan has about 10 nurses, the grafts are not out too long and kept in the same solution that is used in when carrying a heart in a heart transplant, they have done many large operations in 1 day in the past too. They recommend less than 3500 grafts a day.

 

Actual day of operation

Met Dr Hakan, there is a nice calm presence about him, you feel relaxed in his company. Went over the hairline with him and the other Dr, was told my donor hair is thin and not great. I wanted my temples done as well. I have seen a lot of hair operation work and to me not having the temples done looks odd on many patients.

 

I was then told to relax in my room for a couple of hours. 12.00pm was time of operation, I went to the operating room full of nurses and was told to take my clothes off, which I found rather strange as I could of done this without going right up to the nurses. It turns out they just wanted my top off lol, lucky or unlucky for the nurses

 

My head was shaven, whilst waiting for Dr Hakan to come, I asked to have my hairline re-drawn for the second time, the one I chose first was too aggressive and the one recommended was too conservative. I realised I need to be more sensible due to my hairloss at the top. So I had another drawn in the middle (many will think its still aggressive). Dr Hakan drew it with a marker and his laser tool. I felt the right side was higher than the left, he adjusted it (I’ll talk about this later), I was introduced to another Dr who was a pleasant fellow who did the extractions.

 

Due to the size of the operation I was going to be under general anaesthetics for the operation. For the grafts I was given an injection which I hardly felt pain 2/10. So the extractions begin. I only felt slight pain 2/10 and the feeling of the cuts twice and both times I was give more injections to numb the site. Before I knew it I was told its done, turn over. Now after I turned over I don’t recall a thing. I just remember waking up and told its done.

 

I was escorted to my room as I was very drowsy, I asked for the time, it was 6.20pm. So the whole process took just over 6 hours with zero pain! I was told I will rest for the night. The first thing I did in the room was look at the job. The first thing I noticed was that the hair line was slightly bent. The right side was still a little higher. Its very minor about 1 mm but I notice it. I’m not too happy about it although at the same time when it grows it shouldn’t make any difference hopefully and, not everyone’s hairlines are symmetrical. Other than that everything looked good. Due to the drugs and Travel pillow I had a good nights sleep.

 

Day 1

Had bandages removed, minor bruising on forehead, hair washed, meds given, made payment. The washing the hair stung the recipient area, the pain was more than whole operation I told the nurse who later told Dr Hakan who couldn’t stop laughing. I was told I had 3367 grafts. 2700 in the front and 667 in and around the crown.

Single Graft 1492

Double Graft 1750

Triple Graft 125

I feel I needed more in the crown, also the grafts on the top are spaced out kind of all over. I was told that this was due to not risking/harming existing native hair. I think I will not have the coverage I desired for the crown, which to be honest I kind of knew will be the case. Maybe in the future I might use beard hair for the crown depending on how things go.

 

I talked to Dr Hakan about any questions I had and then went to the Hotel, nothing much to report. I was given a Nike bucket hat to wear, luckily I was provided this as my hat even though was loose, due to the swelling I was too tight. I folded the front part of the hat up as it was hard to judge size and wanted to avoid bumping my head.

 

I was given meds and post op instructions.

Body lotion & Shampoo for use 3 times a day for 2 weeks

Vitamin H Tablets 1 a day

Small tabs to take for the swelling for a couple of days

Some next tablet x10 to take for 5 days I think it was called Efigin

Finersteride tabs given.

I told Dr Hakan that I have never taken any meds ever and have no intention to take any in the future. I was told that is my choice although if I do take the finns then I should take just a ? a day due to the potential side effects. I think I will have to start taking something for the crown area now, but after reading up on the side effects of finersteride I will not take this for sure.

 

Sleeping was awkward upright, I got maybe 1 hours sleep from 8 hours of trying.

 

Day 2

On my way to Istanbul, making sure I don’t bump my head anywhere, sleeping was same; I kept waking up and maybe managed another 1 hour proper sleep.

 

Day 3

Travelling about exploring Istanbul but not pushing it, I don’t want too much stress on my head, I don’t want to sweat either, also I have to wash hair 3 times in a day.

Proper bad stinging sensations have started all over, I must resist! Still sleeping upright. Maybe got a couple of hours sleep after waking up so many times.

 

Day 4

Same as day 3, stinging sensation, I want to itch so bad! Started getting pain in donor area, I start checking up on neurological pain, sleeping is getting hard due to the pain 5/10

 

Day 5

Same as day 4 but nerve pain getting more frequent, sleeping is so so hard, I keep waking up!

 

Day 6

Travel back to UK, I see a guy in the airport with a black bandage on who looked like he only just had the FUE a few hours ago. Then I see another guy, a white older age gentlemen on the same plane as me who just had an FUE done as well. I didn’t speak to him due to the circumstances at the time, but it seems a lot of people are going for hair transplants to Turkey.

 

Still getting itching feeling, but the donor area nerve pain is on the next level now 6/10, but when trying to sleep/lean on travel pillow pain 8/10. I had one pain killer tablet given to me at the clinic to take if felt pain straight after the operation. I never need it until now. After tablet the tablet I felt no pain, finally i get a good nights sleep.

 

Day 7

Wow that tablet was powerful, I feel drowsy. Also all that travelling yesterday did upset my stomach system. I needed to go the toilet ASAP, I was drowsy and needed to go, when you gotta go you gotta go! I rushed in, closed the door and immediately banged my head on the door frame. I cant believe it all that travelling and I bang my head at home, lucky I’m 7 days in and nothing looks out of sorts. Nerve pain is still there, but it has not increased thank God. I’m guessing I have it due to the general anaesthetics and having a large op in 1 day, but this is all guess work, I have read about small FUE procedures resulting in nerve pain too. I guess I’m unlucky in this sense as it does not effect most patients.

 

A couple of transplanted hair shed today, I’m not too worried as this is expected now, scabs are started to loosen a little. My transplanted hair has already grown a lot in 7 days which I think is encouraging even though I expect most of it to fall out.

 

I started using Aloe Vera lotion (with Jojoba Oil and Vitamin E) on the donor area today to keep things moist, I will start using it in the transplanted area from maybe day 9. I also had some Co-dyramol Tablets so that I have relief for the pain, I got a nice sleep. I could start to sleep normal now without travel pillow but I’m the type of sleeper that twists and turns a lot so I don’t want to mess the recipient area just yet. Even though I,m sleeping with my travel pillow I wouldn’t say I’m sleeping 90 degree angle, I just use that and use a pillow length ways so I sleep flat and don’t turn on my sides.

 

To summarize

Operation is an operation, big or small still a pain in the ass, well actually pain in the head is more appropriate lol. The negatives for me are I had my operation in 1 day and not 2 which I wanted. The hairline is slightly bent. The occipital nerve pain is not nice and I pray it is temporary and goes away soon. The pros, the work itself looks real good, I have a hairline I never had before, I still can’t believe it, I already look many years younger, I can’t wait for 6 months mark to see the real results., so far no regrets.

 

Apologies for the bad pic quality

[Quiff01]

Welcome to the club pal! Drop me a pm if you have any questions etc Im almost 3 months post op

[Nuno]

Congrats mate, I'd say the first week or so is tough going. I found it difficult to sleep and was itching like crazy but stick with it, it'll calm down in a few days.

I'm 15 days post-op with Dr Hakan now and I'm seeing little hairs growing in as well. Decent coverage actually. I'm just waiting on the scabbing clearing up. Some of it is sticking to my existing hairs (I didn't get the recipient shaved).

I know what you are saying about spaced out coverage. It feels like a bit of my crown has been missed, certainly compared to other areas, but I'm not going to worry about it. Got to trust that the doc knows his stuff - hopefully that is why there are so many Dr Doganay threads!

I too am worried about the fin sides but have decided to take 1.25mg once every 7 days. I won't go above that and will reduce the dosage around the three/four month mark before eventually stopping entirely.

 

Like Quiff said, if you want to drop me a PM, feel free.

[Raj Jayukdht]

You have a great hairline now....thanks for the write up

[fueman]

Thanks for the replies, i did read your threads before i had my op... good to see things are going well with your FUE

 

i'm in Day 11 now:

 

The nerve pain has drastically reduced, i hardly feel much pain now, still feeling the itch but not as bad as before, i'm using the Aloe Vera Lotion all over my head now which seems to be helping, it also is helping with the scabs, however i'm a bit concerned that my scabs are not going away!

 

I have no choice but to start rubbing the recipient area, i have been doing this since yesterday day 10. I'm gently rubbing with the shampoo. Scabs have started to come off but so have a lot of hair with the scabs; which i would love to avoid if i could but it seems unavoidable!!

 

is losing a lot of hair with scabs normal??

 

I'm glad i took 3 weeks off work and not 2, i would have been proper stressed now if i didn't with the long

time its taking with the scabs to be removed...

[Nuno]

Thanks for the replies, i did read your threads before i had my op... good to see things are going well with your FUE

 

i'm in Day 11 now:

 

The nerve pain has drastically reduced, i hardly feel much pain now, still feeling the itch but not as bad as before, i'm using the Aloe Vera Lotion all over my head now which seems to be helping, it also is helping with the scabs, however i'm a bit concerned that my scabs are not going away!

 

I have no choice but to start rubbing the recipient area, i have been doing this since yesterday day 10. I'm gently rubbing with the shampoo. Scabs have started to come off but so have a lot of hair with the scabs; which i would love to avoid if i could but it seems unavoidable!!

 

is losing a lot of hair with scabs normal??

 

I'm glad i took 3 weeks off work and not 2, i would have been proper stressed now if i didn't with the long

time its taking with the scabs to be removed...

 

I didn't have the recipient area shaved so I think that's why some scabs appear to be sticking around for me. Has cleared up a lot in last few days, though. I can't wait for the one month mark so I can finally shave my head! I go back to work tomorrow which will be day 19 post-op for me.

 

I was told not to rub the recipient area when washing. I have just been kind of patting the shampoo gently on my head. I've noticed a couple of hairs come out with scabs but I think that is the shedding starting.

[TOharbourfront]

I was told after 10 days you can wash regularly, maybe you a being a bit too gentle washing that's why the scabs aren't falling off. Im 15 days post and the nerve pain is not an issue any longer. From day 5 to 10 was pretty uncomfortable due to the itching. gl

[wibbles180]

I was told after 10 days you can wash regularly, maybe you a being a bit too gentle washing that's why the scabs aren't falling off. Im 15 days post and the nerve pain is not an issue any longer. From day 5 to 10 was pretty uncomfortable due to the itching. gl

 

Can you please tell me how your ht has turned out ? Cheers

[fueman]

Day 15

 

99% of the scabs are gone, hair still growing, i'm getting the odd pimple.

 

Still taking 1 Biotin tablet a day, i have ordered: Doctors Best MSM Powder which hopefully will increase my hair growth!

I'm still applying Aloe Vera lotion.

 

Donor scaring looks bad, my hair has not grown fast enough to cover it. I'm real concerned about this as Day 19 i'm back to work. There is no way it is going to get covered by then. I think i will just phone in sick for the week; i need all the days i can get.... 3 weeks just was not enough for me!

 

I've also got uneven hair growth all over which makes the HT more obvious. I'm thinking of trimming it with my hair trimmer but i'm not sure if its too early?

[BaldingBogger]

Shave it dude. Once the scabs are gone and no irritation you can shave. I shaved my head down for first few months until the growth starting coming in. Was the best thing i ever did.

[johnny2000]

Day 15

 

99% of the scabs are gone, hair still growing, i'm getting the odd pimple.

 

Still taking 1 Biotin tablet a day, i have ordered: Doctors Best MSM Powder which hopefully will increase my hair growth!

I'm still applying Aloe Vera lotion.

 

Donor scaring looks bad, my hair has not grown fast enough to cover it. I'm real concerned about this as Day 19 i'm back to work. There is no way it is going to get covered by then. I think i will just phone in sick for the week; i need all the days i can get.... 3 weeks just was not enough for me!

 

I've also got uneven hair growth all over which makes the HT more obvious. I'm thinking of trimming it with my hair trimmer but i'm not sure if its too early?

 

Any update? How did it go when you returned at work?

Any people mention anything ?

[Lloyd]

Happy growing!

[fueman]

Any update? How did it go when you returned at work?

Any people mention anything ?

 

 

I'm just waiting for the 1 month mark to upload pics... i plan on putting a monthly update to see the progress. I was going to shave all my head down, but i need my hair to grow so that they can cover my donor region... so i left it to grow.

 

Unfortunately due to me having darker skin and thin hair in general, its taking longer for the donor region to be concealed... the positive at least is i have had no red markings at all... i think this is due to me not having fair skin and also i know Dr Hakan now offers PRP treatment for free... i think i was given this, i'm going to find out if i was as i don't know due to being unconscious during the whole procedure.

 

Nobody at work mentioned anything apart from the fact i'm gone bold.... i think it would have been better if pre-op i had very short hair, that way i wouldn't look too different now.

 

Currently my implanted hair are started to fall out i'm hoping they don't fall out too much until my existing hair start growing so that i can cover it up. My scalp is very dry and looks flakey, i'm using Aloe Vera Lotion to combat this.

 

It seems i'm in the "ugly duckling phase", i can't wait for next few months to go by until i start seeing improvement

[johnny2000]

Cool.

Thank you for updating us

Its going to be exsited the next couple of weeks/months

[Denny]

I had my procedure one week after you so I know exactly how you're feeling! ;-)

 

Be patient and keep us updated! Good growth!

[FUE2014]

Any updates Fueman?

[Arrie]

Updates?

[fueman]

Sorry for the late update, i was meant to update monthly....

 

22 Feb 2014 was the 1 month mark....

 

70% of my transplanted hair has shed... i tried be as careful as i can be especially when washing by not being too aggressive, but to remove the hard dried crust that looks like dandruff it was inevitable, also using aloe vera lotion made a lot fall out.... i stopped using this now anyway...

 

i did let me hair grow hoping that i will get enough growth to cover up my bald patches, but it didnt work out, if anything it exposed my hairloss like never before, i even had 2/3 colleagues at work point out my hairloss! which never happened before...

 

last week i decided to shave it all off like BaldingBlogger suggested... i have to say it was a good decision, i was worried about the donor scaring not being fully healed, but its not as bad as i thought it would be... currently my hair is all shaven off to level 4 of my beard trimmer... now the 30% or less transplanted hair and native hair look almost the same and no balding signs seem obvious... although i'm still shedding! so don't know if my current look will hold lol

 

i have to say this "ugly duckling" phase is depressing and i cant wait to get out of it... i'm hoping by end of April i'll start seeing growth...

 

also i should mention i have had a lot of small bumps coming and going regularly in the recipient area.... and in my donor area i have been getting spots

Edited March 5, 2014 by fueman

[johnny2000]

Sorry for the late update, i was meant to update monthly....

 

22 Feb 2014 was the 1 month mark....

 

70% of my transplanted hair has shed... i tried be as careful as i can be especially when washing by not being too aggressive, but to remove the hard dried crust that looks like dandruff it was inevitable, also using aloe vera lotion made a lot fall out.... i stopped using this now anyway...

 

i did let me hair grow hoping that i will get enough growth to cover up my bald patches, but it didnt work out, if anything it exposed my hairloss like never before, i even had 2/3 colleagues at work point out my hairloss! which never happened before...

 

last week i decided to shave it all off like BaldingBlogger suggested... i have to say it was a good decision, i was worried about the donor scaring not being fully healed, but its not as bad as i thought it would be... currently my hair is all shaven off to level 4 of my beard trimmer... now the 30% or less transplanted hair and native hair look almost the same and no balding signs seem obvious... although i'm still shedding! so don't know if my current look will hold lol

 

i have to say this "ugly duckling" phase is depressing and i cant wait to get out of it... i'm hoping by end of April i'll start seeing growth...

 

also i should mention i have had a lot of small bumps coming and going regularly in the recipient area.... and in my donor area i have been getting spots

 

Hey buddy. Looks good.

Are you saying those who mention you hairloss first find out you have hairloss now?

I mean it was not so difficult to see before your HT, unless you used to hide it with concealer.

[FUE2014]

Fueman - how hands on was Dr Doganay during the op, did he implant all the grafts himself, or did the techs do it ?

[Ne001]

Fueman - how hands on was Dr Doganay during the op, did he implant all the grafts himself, or did the techs do it ?

 

Hi FUE2014...

 

I had my HT just after FUEMAN.... mine was done 09 Feb 14 with Dr. Hakan.

 

I dont have my own thread but have been following this one cause i've been going through pretty much the same as FUEMAN, recovery wise.

 

Anyway, he drew the hairline etc.. then the techs shave you down and begin the extractions etc.. he was there for this as well as Dr. Ayan.

 

When all the extractions are done... they knock you out with gas.

He was in the room just before i passed out and was there when i woke up...

 

When i had any correspondence with the clinic i was told the techs would do the extractions (which they did)... then i was told that he does the incisions and placement etc...

 

will have to take their word for it... but as he was there when i got knocked out and when i came too... i'm gonna say he did it... plus they are very a professional outfit! he has a pretty solid rep on here and another forum as well... which i doubt he will want to ruin... well i hope not anyway!!

[johnny2000]

Hi FUE2014...

 

I had my HT just after FUEMAN.... mine was done 09 Feb 14 with Dr. Hakan.

 

I dont have my own thread but have been following this one cause i've been going through pretty much the same as FUEMAN, recovery wise.

 

Anyway, he drew the hairline etc.. then the techs shave you down and begin the extractions etc.. he was there for this as well as Dr. Ayan.

 

When all the extractions are done... they knock you out with gas.

He was in the room just before i passed out and was there when i woke up...

 

When i had any correspondence with the clinic i was told the techs would do the extractions (which they did)... then i was told that he does the incisions and placement etc...

 

will have to take their word for it... but as he was there when i got knocked out and when i came too... i'm gonna say he did it... plus they are very a professional outfit! he has a pretty solid rep on here and another forum as well... which i doubt he will want to ruin... well i hope not anyway!!

 

Hello there.

Congratulations with your HT.

Is it normal to use gas to numb the patients?

Or did the doc ask you if you want it?

Also how Many grafts have you Got?

[FUE2014]

Thanks Ne001 ... I definitely do not want to be knocked out during any part of the procedure - so I am going to make that very clear to Dr Doganay from the outset!

 

By the way, did you go for manual or motorised extraction?

[CS88]

Hopefully you will have a satisfactory result. I had FUE done with him in Feb and have not been very pleased quite yet due to them not conveying what they had performed per my request and procedure plan. I will wait a while longer before I can fully assess the result.

[johnny2000]

Hopefully you will have a satisfactory result. I had FUE done with him in Feb and have not been very pleased quite yet due to them not conveying what they had performed per my request and procedure plan. I will wait a while longer before I can fully assess the result.

 

Can you explaine what it is they didnt do right?

I am booket in april so i want to have as Many inputs as possible ?