Potential Recommendation of Dr. Abdulmuttalip Keser of Turkey

[Bill - Seemiller]

Dear Forum Members,

 

As many of you know, we gather as much information as possible about a physician, their staff, technique and track record before they are even considered for recommendation on the Hair Transplant Network. Part of our review process involves getting input from patients and the members of this forum community. To learn more about this review process, click here.

 

To date, all physicians recommended on the Hair Transplant Network perform high quality follicular unit hair transplantation (FUT) while only a handful of them have included follicular unit extraction (FUE) into their practice. Because FUE has been traditionally overhyped, we've been reluctant to consider physicians only performing FUE for recommendation.

 

However, we believe we may have found a quality physician in Turkey performing quality and realistic FUE worth considering for recommendation. Thus, we would appreciate your input regarding Dr. Keser's potential recommendation.

 

FUE has become exceedingly popular over the last year, in particular for balding men who desire to keep their hair cropped short on the sides and back of their head. While FUE isn't without scarring, the tiny white dots left behind by minimally invasive tools are typically easily concealed by the patient's existing hair, even at short lengths. Patients sometimes prefer this type of scarring to the thin, linear scar FUT typically produces.

 

Dr. Keser has been performing follicular unit extraction (FUE) exclusively since 2003 and has performed over 500 hair transplant procedures to date. Dr. Keser does all the extraction, incision, and planting work himself while one of his three experienced assistants helps with the graft/hair counting process. This enables Dr. Keser to place the correct size grafts into recipient sites.

 

Dr. Keser shares a similar philosophy with and is a huge fan of Coalition members Dr. Feller, Dr. Feriduni, and Dr. Devroye on FUE. Dr. Keser believes it's better to preserve precious donor hair than extracting follicles by 'brute force' and transecting them. That's why in the rare instance Dr. Keser feels a patient isn't a candidate for FUE after performing initial test extractions, he'll immediately stop the procedure and recommend the patient consider FUT with another clinic. Dr. Keser only provides FUE for a select group of optimal candidates with minimal hair loss up to a class 3 or 4 on the Norwood scale of hair loss, provided they have optimal donor characteristics.

 

Dr. Keser is much more concerned with producing excellent results with optimal growth than providing large FUE megasessions. That's why Dr. Keser only extracts and transplants between 500 to 800 follicular units per day. Unlike with FUT, multiple day FUE procedures are often provided for optimal candidates and are considered or termed a 'single session'. For patients with excellent donor hair density and characteristics, Dr. Keser can extract 6000 follicular units over the course of their lifetime without visible signs of scarring. Most patients however will achieve less than this.

 

Dr. Keser uses punch sizes as small as 0.7mm to 0.9mm to extract follicular units depending on their size and makes tiny incisions in recipient sites using needles between 0.7mm and 0.9mm for a snug but comfortable fit. Dr. Keser provides dense packing when appropriate for the patient up to 70 FU/cm2 with excellent growth.

 

You can also http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dDZvjhW2LY for a brief video demonstration of FUE surgery at Dr. Keser's clinic.

 

Given Dr. Keser's experience and dedication to quality and realistic follicular unit extraction (FUE), I believe that he should be considered for recommendation. See our standards for recommendation.

 

Patient and surgical examples can be found below:

 

2300 Grafts FUE with Dr. Keser

 

1500 Grafts FUE at 7 Months with Dr. Keser

 

1200 Grafts FUE at 1 Year with Dr Keser

 

2000 Grafts FUE at 6.5 Months with Dr. Keser

 

2200 Grafts FUE at 10 Months with Dr. Keser

 

1900 Grafts FUE at 2 Years with Dr. Keser

 

Postoperative Pictures

 

1200 Grafts FUE Post-Op with Dr. Keser

 

1200 Grafts FUE Scar Repair Post-Op with Dr. Keser

 

2000 Grafts FUE Post-Op with Dr. Keser

 

Surgical Pictures

 

Dr. Keser's Surgical Walkthrough Album

[Tundra]

I've written it on HTN on more than one occasion, based on the results presented by the clinic I think Dr. Keser is one of the best (if not the best) FUE surgeons out there. The work looks so clean, and results seem great.

 

I am based in Europe so I'm particularly interested in his work. However I could not commit to a surgery yet, not until we see more results posted by patients and not those selected by the clinic. Hopefully the recommendation of Dr. Keser will lead to an increase in the number of his patients posting their results here

[TC17]

His work looks fantastic. From what I have seen he certainly deserves to be recommended on this site.

 

Regarding his reluctance to perform FUE on those more advanced on the NW scale, does that mean those that he will only perform surgeries on those with minimal loss? Also, what if the patient presents as a NW 4 at age 30, but will advance to a NW 6, does he turn the patient away? If he feels he can get 6000 from a patient and the patient is already a NW 6, what's the problem in performing surgery on that patient? Last, what does Dr. Keser say his transection rate is?

[growing gear]

Ive already decided to have a surgery with Dr Keser in due course (date not finalised yet).

 

I think his results speak for himself. Compare his FUE work with other FUE doctors and one can safely conclude that he is doing amazing work.

 

Maybe, we have just found the world class FUE Doctor we have been looking for. This man surely deserves to be recommended at the very least.

[Maxxy]

In the cases Bill provided, I agree with Tundra; his results seem to be at the very least on par with the best. All the cases presented have been of patients with recession of the hairline, are these the only type of patients Dr. Keser will work with? I'd also like to see a breakdown (size of receipt, number of 1,2,3,and 4 hair grafts and the number of grafts per cm) for the above patients if that's possible, please.

[Bill - Seemiller]

TC17,

 

It's my understanding that Dr. Keser will only do FUE procedures on patients who are optimal candidates. From what I've learned about him, if a patient is or is destined to be a higher class on the Norwood scale, he will recommend FUT for the patient at another clinic (since he doesn't perform FUT). I imagine the only real exception would be if the patient has a phenomenal amount of donor hair for transplanting that would ultimately meet the patient's long term goals.

 

Dr. Keser doesn't appear to be a cookie cutter surgeon. He will adapt to the patient's individual needs but will also turn patients away if they're not suitable candidates.

 

All the Best,

 

Bill

[paddy]

I would like to know more about his specially designed needles for extraction he has patented and what makes them different from manual punches.I agree his results look very good but we need to hear from regular people and not make our decisions on hand picked results.

[Khan78]

Potential Recommendation of Dr. Abdulmuttalip Keser of Turkey

Hello Members,

 

It is a great honor for Dr.Keser to get the potential recommendation on this board.

 

We preffer to offer FUE to patients who are on the NW scale 1-5 and who have a good donor density. Also it is important for us if the patient is willing to take the medicines or not and also to know his family hairloss-background. This helps us for the final decision.

 

We can extract from a normal donor about 6000 grafts in 2-3 sessions.

First session until 3000 grafts, 1 year later until 2000 and again 1 year later 1000 grafts.

 

With this amount we can help patients until NW 4-5.

NW 6-7 patients we generally suggest to go to a top FUT surgeon. We think that the patient can have on this way the maximum of grafts that is possible , example : FUT,FUT,FUE or FUT,FUT,FUE,BHT. The possibilities are here.

 

Dr.Keser is specialist in Hairline design with a top density and a natural look. But he has also a lot of patients who want to have a decent density in a bigger area which we will show in the future.

 

The transaction rate is about 1-5%, depends on the anatomical properties. The rate can also change from donor-area to donor-area. In some areas the extraction is much easier than in other.

 

We have a lot of international patients who have also reported their experience with us in other forums.

Some of the new patients will also post their experiences on this board in the coming days.

 

Our needles are designed by Dr.Keser and delivered from the USA, titanium with punch size 0.7-0.9mm. Generally Dr.Keser works with the 0.8mm punch.

 

We will follow the thread and try to answer all your questions.

 

Thank you again for the trust in Dr.Keser's work.

 

Regards

[TC17]

If Dr. Keser can truly take 6,000 grafts using only FUE on the average patient, then I see no reason why even NW 6's and 7's cannot be helped.

 

Khan78, can we get more photos please? And preferably not ones that are NW 1's and 2's, but some of the more advanced NW patients that Dr. Keser has worked on.

[Maxxy]

Hey Khan78,

 

Do you know of any fully grown case online which include a full breakdown (size of receipt, number of 1,2,3,and 4 hair grafts, number of grafts per cm and number of sessions)?

[Khan78]

Hello,

 

With a normal donor, I meant a donor who is not infected with miniaturization and a virgin donor who have a good density.

 

Depends on the hair characteristics 6000 grafts can be enough. But normally you have the problem that on a NW 6-7 the extraction amount is very limited. I never saw a NW 6-7 case with a good density using ONLY FUE.

 

Maxxy, we have normally a haircount which is higher than 2

 

 

 

Regards

[TheEmperor]

Dr. Keser is the real deal! I am impressed.

[os_m]

I really like all results by Dr. Keser and have decided to have my HT with him, but I will probably have it in June, not sure which day yet. I'm waiting their reply with the exact date.

In my opinion, He is the best FUE surgeon out there!

[hairthere]

I am glad to hear Dr. Keser feels fue megasessions aren't suitable for everyone (unlike Armani). Does he also take the patient's age into consideration?

[Blake Bloxham]

I don't want to stir the pot, but I have a few concerns ...

 

1. Several picture sets show donor hair removed from outside the transplant safe zone. I know it was explained by the clinic as something which is monitored and heavily considered before extraction, but it's still not something most (if any) recommended clinics do

 

2. Will Dr Keser be recommended just like any other surgeon, or will there be some sort of stipulation because he only performs FUE? This site prides itself (rightfully) on only recommending doctors who use the most current, state of the art techniques. At this moment, I believe FUT is still the 'gold standard,' and most of the big clinics seem to agree. Unless I'm mistaken, not performing FUT was one (of several) reasons why Dr Umar was not recommended by the site a while back. Is this something to consider? Shouldn't we know more about the FUT clinics the doctor refers his NW 6/7 cases to? If there work is sub par, then it feels a bit misleading to me.

 

3. Is it possible to see pictures of some of these big NW5 cases? Like others stated, we've seen a lot of fantastic results regarding NW1-3 cases, but not many above this level. I think this is something to consider.

 

Now, with that said ...

 

Dr Keser's FUE work is top notch. There is really no denying that he is on par with some of the best out there. However, I really like the screening standards HTN uses, and I do think some of the issues I brought up should be addressed before moving forward. I do hope these issues are addressed and Dr Keser is recommended, because he does do great work, and seems like a very dedicated surgeon.

 

Any and all replies, disagreements, and critiques are welcome!

[Bill - Seemiller]

Future_HT_Doc,

 

Thank you for sharing your concerns, many of which, I happen to share. Honestly, because the benefits of FUE have been severely overhyped online over the years, we've been very reluctant to consider physicians who only perform FUE for recommendation on the Hair Transplant Network.

 

FUE is becoming increasingly popular amongst patients. Thus, more and more reputable clinics are beginning to experiment with and offer quality and realistic FUE as an option to those who are qualified. And while both FUT and FUE have their distinct advantages and disadvantages, many educated patients and quality physicians alike would agree that quality and realistic FUE is becoming more and more accepted as a suitable option for select patients.

 

To some degree, the potential recommendation of an all FUE physician brings our community to a crossroad. Does the Hair Transplant Network continue only to recommend surgeons who do quality FUT procedures? Or do we adapt and extend our thinking that physicians who've mastered a seemingly viable and popular technique for some patients (FUE) too deserve to be considered?

 

I don't necessarily have the answer to the above question. But I think it's important and worthwhile for our community (patient and physician members alike) to discuss and consider it.

 

I have one final thought for now...

 

For the last 6 months in particular, this forum has been innundated by prospective patients asking questions about the the FUE procedure, costs, and the best FUE physicians. Additionally, several well respected FUT surgeons have taken on FUE and now provide it as a regular part of their practice when appropriate for the patient. If FUE was a complete failure, surgeons like Coalition members Dr. Feller, Dr. Shapiro, Dr. Devroye, Dr. Feriduni and others wouldn't continue to provide it. Thus, a big part of me thinks it would be nice to be able to recommend physicians who also provide quality FUE for those patients who are animately against strip and could be potentially suited for FUE. Regardless, we need to continue being extremely selective in recommending only quality physicians with the highest ethical principles who have the patients' best interest in mind. This includes surgeons who will turn away patients if they're not suited for FUE and/or any hair transplant procedure.

 

Your input on the above is appreciated,

 

Bill

[TheEmperor]

I like that Keser desribes FUE as an adjunct for patients who have already had strip.

 

If we accept that Shapiro, Feller, and Keser are performing great FUE results, I think we really need to document the limitations of FUE.

 

Those doctors that "play by the rules" and respect the limitations of FUE should probably be allowed into the coalition. (Maybe there should be a coalition "FUE code of conduct" similar to what Keser has stated as his guiding pinciples.)

 

I can think of a couple situations where it is going to be a better option for the patient.

 

A) THe patient has minimal loss and is older B) The patient is stripped out and needs FUE to harvest head or body hair

C) FUE into scar.

D) FUE for spot repair (eyebrows, etc)

E) Patients who have lax scalps and are prone t stretching.

 

If we accept that these are valid uses for FUE that benefit the patient, then the coalition would be better by recommending surgeons that offer these services.

 

Of course, it should not recommend FUE surgeons who do not respect the limitations, as that would be potentially damaging to patients.

 

Also, physicians who do not perform the extractions themselves or attempt to automate the procedure should be disqualified.

 

It is interesting to think about the economics of FUE. Dr Keser employs two other staff members and seems able to move 1000 grafts a day. I wonder how that compares to a strip clinic that employs many more technicians, but is able to move more grafts per session, and service more than one patient a day. It may be such that FUE prices could match strip some day, because there is less overhead. However, I can't imaging a doctor wanting to extract thousands of grafts each week by hand. That just seems so labor intensive that it would cause burn out.

 

And also, we need a definitive answer: How good is FUE yield? (on average)

[Bill - Seemiller]

The Emperor,

 

I agree that only physicians who offer quality and realistic FUE should be considered for recommendation. "Realistic" means that they acknowledge and respect the limitations of the procedure along with its advantages. We published a few articles published by well respected Coalition physicians about the limitations of FUE on our Hair Loss Q&A Blog. These include:

 

What are the Benefits, Limitations, and Potential Problems with FUE? by Dr. Alan Feller

 

The Evolution, Advantages and Disadvantages of Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) Hair Transplant Surgery by Dr. Ron Shapiro

 

Regarding this statement:

 

"And also, we need a definitive answer: How good is FUE yield? (on average)"

 

I'd suggest that FUE growth yield is close to or equal to FUT/strip if performed solely on those patients who are evaluated and truly believed to be qualified candidates by a skilled and experienced surgeon. Thus, I'd suggest 90% to 95% growth yield for FUE on average given the above.

 

Ultimately, it's the job and responsibility of FUT and FUE surgeons alike to throughly evaluate prospective patients to see who is qualified prior to performing a hair transplant procedure. Of course, there are some variables that can't always be predicted ahead of time. Unlike strip however, the viability of each graft should be much easier to predict with FUE since one graft is extracted at a time. Once a strip is harvested, the doctor has no choice but to continue with the procedure.

 

Best wishes,

 

Bill

[T.C]

Does Dr Keser utilise beard or chest hair?.

[loyal80]

Hi..I am writing from Turkey and also a patient of Dr Keser..I had a FUE operation with him 4 months ago..

 

I can honestly and with my all heart say that Dr KESER is one of the best FUE surgeons in the world,definitely in top 3..

 

So he certainly deserves to be a recommended doctor on this web site..

 

Thanks

 

Hakan..

[loyal80]

No, he doesnt perform any body hair transplantation..Dr Keser certainly believes that the body hairs have much worse quality than the hairs on your scalp..So the differences in quality will affect the result of the operation and may result in poor results..Thats why Dr Keser doesnt prefer to perform BHT..

[Creative79]

Originally posted by loyal80:

No, he doesnt perform any body hair transplantation..Dr Keser certainly believes that the body hairs have much worse quality than the hairs on your scalp..So the differences in quality will affect the result of the operation and may result in poor results..Thats why Dr Keser doesnt prefer to perform BHT..

 

I understand that generally body hair are not of the same strength and texture as hair on our heads, however, there are always exceptions. The hair of my beard, for example, are of excellent quality. I would be lucky if had them on my head. So, does Dr Keser take such exceptional instances into consideration? Please let me know if he does, because I am thinking of requesting him to perform a mega session on me, whereby he can harvest at least around 4,500-5000 grafts from both, my head and beard.

[Pat - Community Publisher]

It's great to see such a thoughtful discussion not only about Dr. Keser but the credibility of large Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) sessions. FUE and its various providers have been debated and discussed, some times hotly, on this community for over a decade.

 

Back ten plus years ago when FUE was first introduced online and aggressively hyped, before the technique was refined and scientifically reviewed, I was one of its most vocal critics. But fortunately over time credible physicians began investigating, adopting and refining FUE.

 

We now have a much better idea of just how the FUE procedure can be optimally performed and what its rate of success can be when performed properly. Both Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT), in which donor tissue is removed in a strip and disected into grafts, and Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE), in which donor tissue/grafts are harvest with a tiny punch - are here to stay.

 

As an educational community it's vital for us to provide potential patients with information on the relative pros and cons of each procedure and help identify the highest quality providers of these procedures.

 

I believe this should include recommending those clinics and physicians who have a proven track record of providing high quality FUE procedures in a responsible manner.

 

Ultimately it is up to the patient to make the final decision on what procedure and physician to choose, if any. For those who decide to go with FUE we'd like to guide them to those who are going it responsibly and with optimal results.

 

To learn more about the relative pros and cons of FUT versus FUE visit http://www.hairtransplantnetwo...-unit-extraction.asp

 

To see videos comparing FUT and FUE visit http://www.hairtransplantnetwo...gical-procedures.asp

 

I look forward to hearing more feedback from our community.

 

Onwards and Upwards, Pat

[Khan78]

Dear Members,

 

Some of you raise concern about the extraction outside the universal safe zone.

 

Each patient is explained thoroughly about what steps are being taken and which risks that might arise them in the future. A large role

plays by the intake of medicines and the hairloss history in the family.

In few cases the doc goes outside the safe zone to extract more grafts because of the technical limitation. This happens only in rare cases.

We want to clearly emphasize that we illuminate our patients clearly.

When the extraction makes problems on some patients, and one is forced to make extraction in the higher range, a patient is clearly

explained what risks might arise him in the future. You will see that such cases are more the exception rather than the rule.

 

 

We reject many young patients who already have a perfect hairline and they want to take the hairline 1-2cm down. So Dr.Keser has an ethic standard which he never will lose.

We will publish more cases which show that we generally extract from the safe zone.

 

Regards

[Blake Bloxham]

Bill and Pat,

Thanks for the replies. Regarding several of the issues brought up:

 

1. I really don't have an issue recommending a physician who only does FUE. Obviously, FUE has come a long way, and Dr Keser's results are excellent. Recommending him based on this merit seems quite fair. However, I do think this should be public knowledge to patients. It could be as simple as a little statement in his profile, but it's probably important people know all his work is FUE when just browsing results, etc.

 

2. I think Dr Keser should provide names of the doctors where he refers the NW6+, FUT patients. I feel like if a NW5/6 patient really liked Dr Keser's work, researched the site, decided to visit his clinic, was told FUE wasn't feasible, and was then referred to a sub-par FUT doc ... the whole purpose would be defeated. If the names of these docs were known, they could be evaluated for maximum transparency.

 

3. I really think some NW4-5 cases should be presented before a full recommendation is bestowed. Especially because Keser would be the first full FUE surgeon recommended by the site.

 

Sorry if I seem like I'm being a little harsh. I think Dr Keser does excellent work, but I think resolving these issues would be advantageous for both the clinic and the HTN community.