Just received my online consultation from ASMED Clinic. Over-estimation of Grafts??

[therealmvp2016]

Hey guys, my first post. so Im in the market for HT.. been lurking for about 10 years in this forum.. So decided to send ASMED clinic some of my pics.. I always estimated I would need between 1500-2000 grafts to fill in my receding NW3 hairline.

 

But according to Asmed/Erdogan they recommend a enormous 3500 grafts.. I've seen tons of before/after videos/photos from all sorts of clinics and 3500 grafts would be for someone who is a NW4/5 ..

 

Honestly, if this is the case, then I will just come to terms with my hair loss. 3500 grafts is just too much to fill in my hairline in the corners. I've attached my pics and would like to get everyone's predictions of how much I would need. please be honest. I know ASMED/Erdogan is a extremely respected surgeon here, and I don't mean any disrespect, but 3500 I believe is a huge over-estimation. I've always had a widow peak and v shaped hair-line.

 

have a look and see if I have a case! many thanks!

[therealmvp2016]

Pics I sent for online consultation.

[JON86]

3500 is ridiculous . Your loss from the pictures doesn't warrant such a number. I think your estimate is more on par to reality. I would consult with several clinics and see what they say.

[therealmvp2016]

thanks for confirming my suspicions !! I definitely will consult with other clinics.. But ASMED is so highly regarded and the rates are excellent.. and really impressed by his work.. but don't think it's right for me to try and convince the surgeon that I need less grafts right?

[JON86]

Do not let the rates ever influence your decision. You can easily tell any doctor that you do not agree to the amount of grafts they suggest. It's your head they work for you. You should at the very least send your pictures to several doctors and compare the responses. 3500 is just an insane amount in my opinion. That zone is maybe 2000 to 2500 for most.

[Dolph1969]

I'm nearly exactly the same norwood as you and he recommended 4800 grafts. Others were in the 2000- 3500 range.

[therealmvp2016]

I'm nearly exactly the same norwood as you and he recommended 4800 grafts. Others were in the 2000- 3500 range.

 

 

4800 ? That's insane ? Why do you think he does that ? It's probably to make up for the price per graft difference of Europe and North America? Did you try to talk him down , or did you just go to another clinic .. I have a consultation at a local clinic , but they aren't as world reknown as ASMED, and are more expensive per graft .. So not quite sure what to do .. It will probably ended costing the same .. Getting 2000 grafts here in America, and getting 3500 in turkey ..

[Rawkerboi]

Anything more than 2500 grafts would be waste. Even 2500 Grafts is huge in your case but if you are on medications and have no family history of aggressive hairloss, then you may go with 2000 plus grafts!

I would advise you to consult some more clinics have an online consultation

[therealmvp2016]

Anything more than 2500 grafts would be waste. Even 2500 Grafts is huge in your case but if you are on medications and have no family history of aggressive hairloss, then you may go with 2000 plus grafts!

I would advise you to consult some more clinics have an online consultation

 

Thanks for the advice.. I don't have any balding in my family , but everyone is receding about the same as me .. Haven't taken any meds , but definitely will after the HT if recommended by the doc .. It's just too bad cause I had high hopes for ASMED , and it would be strange for me to try and bargain and convince them to do less grafts

[therealmvp2016]

Hi mvp,

 

I think you would need 3000 grafts, so the 3500 is not such a crazy big number. Look at some of these cases that I found below which are similar to you from other clinics.

 

http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/183620-dr-bisanga-2382-fue-0-12-months-bhr-clinic.html he still had his temples and yours appear receded so if temple work is carried you will need more grafts compare to this gentleman

 

http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/183615-2568-grafts-recessions-temples-45-y-o-male%3B-dr-mike-beehner.html similar to yours but the area you want is larger than his so i can see why 3500 grafts.

 

Also have you seen erkso's thread? I can't remember exactly he had between 3000-3500 grafts at Asmed and similar hair loss to yours.

 

my temples are not an area of concern for me, only the corners of the hairline.. The (Beehner) example you showed me has hair loss on the top of the head, which I don't have, also his hairline is a bit higher than mine.. the other example (Bisanga) the gentleman has a flat hairline, and is much higher than mine as well. is V shaped, so it's hard to compare.. can you send me the link to Erkso please. I can't seem to find it.

[Quasimoto]

Hi MVP

 

I recently had a HT at Asmed - mine is the middle link provided by Vpac.

 

Judging by your pictures and the line Dr Koray has drawn, it looks like he intends to work into the existing hair (not just around it) and rebuild the hairline and temples.

I can see that the area he intends to rebuild is 80cm2.

With 3500 grafts and an area of 80cm2, you're looking at a density with an average of about 43 grafts per cm2 (higher when you consider existing hair- probably around 50-55 grafts / cm2). As your hair looks fairly dense behind the temple area, I really wouldn't suggest going any less dense than what Dr Koray has suggested as you want to match as much as possible the density of your native hair.

 

I do suggest getting a few opinions from different clinics and talking to them to find out how they derived at the number and density etc. It's a big decision so don't jump in before considering all of your options.

HDC in Cyprus is also a great clinic - They suggested 2500 grafts for me but the area was smaller than Asmed suggestion, so it was probably the same amount of grafts if you work it out per cm2.

 

Hope this helps and feel free to hit me up if you have any questions.

[Rashid36]

Every place will have there own estimation best to check with a few others

 

I've been given many different graft numbers from the recommended places

 

This clinic said they would not treat me so it's up to them what they see is best I still respect them and the doc is one of the top

[therealmvp2016]

Hi MVP

 

I recently had a HT at Asmed - mine is the middle link provided by Vpac.

 

Judging by your pictures and the line Dr Koray has drawn, it looks like he intends to work into the existing hair (not just around it) and rebuild the hairline and temples.

I can see that the area he intends to rebuild is 80cm2.

With 3500 grafts and an area of 80cm2, you're looking at a density with an average of about 43 grafts per cm2 (higher when you consider existing hair- probably around 50-55 grafts / cm2). As your hair looks fairly dense behind the temple area, I really wouldn't suggest going any less dense than what Dr Koray has suggested as you want to match as much as possible the density of your native hair.

 

I do suggest getting a few opinions from different clinics and talking to them to find out how they derived at the number and density etc. It's a big decision so don't jump in before considering all of your options.

HDC in Cyprus is also a great clinic - They suggested 2500 grafts for me but the area was smaller than Asmed suggestion, so it was probably the same amount of grafts if you work it out per cm2.

 

Hope this helps and feel free to hit me up if you have any questions.

 

Thanks man that's very helpful info ! My main concern is that the way Erdogan drew my hairline.. My hairline never looked like that .. It's never been that full and round .. It was v shaped with a widows peak .. I can post some pics when I was 17 to show you what I mean. I definitely don't want a hairline that does t look like my original one.. I want a very understated subtle improvement. worst case scenario I will return and get a second one 10 years later.

[JON86]

I still think that number of grafts is ridiculous for your loss pattern. Only so many grafts in the bank to deal with future loss. Get more opinions. You seem very smart and reasonable about getting a subtle change rather than something drastic that will not hold the test of time. I don't know your age but years down the road things could progress and you will want some grafts in the bank .

[ModernHair]

Seems way too high to me. I had a bit over 2,000 for much more thinning than you and I'm really happy with my density and look. Of course, I had 2.5 hairs/graft which is on the high side as well as really good (thick) donor hair which helps tremendously, but your estimate still seems awfully large for your recession.

 

Definitely get some second (and third, etc.) opinions.

[JustJax]

Thanks man that's very helpful info ! My main concern is that the way Erdogan drew my hairline.. My hairline never looked like that .. It's never been that full and round .. It was v shaped with a widows peak .. I can post some pics when I was 17 to show you what I mean. I definitely don't want a hairline that does t look like my original one.. I want a very understated subtle improvement. worst case scenario I will return and get a second one 10 years later.

 

Hi therealmvp2016. Firstly, I would say that some of the Turkish clinics do seem to come back with higher graft numbers, but having said that, they do (I believe) tend pack them in denser and they also seem to specialise in creating stronger hairlines, both of which may account for the higher number of grafts.

 

Also bear in mind these are based on the pictures you have sent. I sent my pictures over to Asmed in April and they advised 3200 grafts, but then I saw Dr Erdogan in person in mid-May while he was visiting London and he revised the quote down to 2700 so its entirely possible on seeing you, he’ll recommend less.

 

You mentioned above about not liking the hairline that Dr Erdogan has drawn for you. Unless you made some suggestions in the email, I suspect he probably draws what he feels is an appropriate and complementary hairline. Perhaps go back to Asmed and note that even at 17 years old you have a more v-shaped widows peak and perhaps re-mark up the images yourself with what you envisage to be the right hairline and possibly even send them a pic of yourself from a time at which you were happy with your hairline.