FUE procedure, 3400 grafts, Dr Hakan Doganay

[hyte]

Hair transplant experience

Intoduction;

I am nearly 35 years old male, suffering with male baldness since 10 years, mostly in my crown area, my hair line always been a Micky Mouse type and was driving me mad. I am classified as a Norwood 3 vertex but as I said my hair line have had just a slightly hair loss.

My hair transplant decision was very spontaneous; I work in medical fields where I get to see lots of people suffering on daily basis. This make me concluded that life is too short for hesitation and we should do anything what could make us happy.

Choosing a Dr.

I after reviewing prices in London (I am Easter European Living in the UK) I have decided to go for Turkey. I have logged in to I think most of the forums for hair lost, hair transplant, hair restoration topics (with the same nickname). I think what I was looking at for choosing a Dr was his international credential in Hair transplant. In the forums there is lots of politics going on and it’s hard to distinguish what is right and what is false.

My choice I have narrowed to actually few Dr`s in Turkey. Dr Erdogan, Dr Doganay and Dr Civas, Dr Karadeniz and Dr Yamman. Because I am HIV poz I also find out that sometimes is better to check if the clinic will accept me as a patient. So after the disclosure only one Dr left and to be honest was really pleased with him as he was my ultimate winner anyway (he is a member for the well-respected IAHRS organisation). His reps Didem and Mustafa were always super nice and very quick with replying all off my questions and never tried to push me to have the procedure with them. I also requested that I would like to have my hair crown done on one day and the hair line the next day and that the Dr do all the implanting himself which wasn’t a problem because this is their working protocol anyway.

After reviling on the forums that I have plan of going with Dr Doganay I have met with lots of criticism of his latest work and warnings not to risk being butchered by “dogy Doganay”. At this point I was really confused and could not make up my mind. (Suddenly there is Dr Hakan ex employer who is spilling the beans about his unethical work and lots of not very favourable reviews at the same time. Apparently there was a time when AHD clinic was run by the technicians instead the Dr himself) Additionally I have contacted International Hair Transplant Mentor in USA to give me his opinion about Dr Hakan work and as I was expecting he just assured me that my choice it is a good one.

First day

I have arrived to Istanbul Ataturk airport and as prompted I was picked up buy a smiling driver who did not speak English but straight away he passes me his mobile so I could speak to Didem who explained to me the schedule of my hair transplant procedure. I was taken to very nice hotel near the airport ParkInn by Radison (the Ahd clinic is like 3 km away from the hotel) where I could just relax for the rest of the day.

Second day

After an amazing breakfast at the hotel I was taken I think by John (who speak English) to the clinic.

There I met with Didem and the rest of the staff. I have already felt like someone important and long awaited for. Except Didem I also had been accompanied by a very young handsome translator Tfeem? Not sure about the spelling. Then I met with Dr himself who looked at my donor hair and find out about my expectation for the HT and baldness in my family. He also drawn the hair line which I was very happy with (I have seen some critics if triangle like hair line made by Hakan but I don’t think they can be true cause the Dr is using the laser toll invented I think by Dr Schapiro?

The conclusion was that I have very thin hair (which is true) and I will need around 3500 grafts to have a nice density for my hair line and my crown cover. The operation was divided on to two days as requested and I was taken to another room to have my hair shaven.

In the operation room the Dr was waiting for me already and draw another hair line and I think also marked the area which will be harvested. He then injected me with anaesthesia (which I think is the only painful moments in the whole HT procedure). My hair was harvested by Ahmed who sims very professional and like someone who is also well respected within the clinic. After 2. 5 h the harvesting was done (1750 grafts) and I had 15 min lunch break.

When was the time for implantation the Dr again gave me anaesthetic injections (it’s not a shame if you cry there lol) and when everything was numbed and proceed with implanting my grafts.

As a medic professional I also work in surgery theatres and must admit that everything was at the highest standards. They didn’t fault at anything and after I think 4.5 -5 hours first part was done.

After the procedure I was given neck pillow some pain relief, antibiotics and anti-inflammatory meds and taken to the hotel where I have order room service diner.

Third Day

After a good sleep (yep I didn’t have a problem sleeping with the neck pillow) I was taken to the clinic and exactly the same procedure was performing on me with 1650 grafts. To be honest the second day was much easier as I was much more relaxed and didn’t feel that much pain while being injected with anaesthetics.

Aha what I have to mention was that I have my crown done and hair line at the same time but the grafts numbers where divided on to two days (the Dr recommended that it will be the best option for best results)

Fourth day

I had my hair washed and instructed how to taking cate of them and also was given baby lotion baby shampoo (which I could take with me unfortunately) some anti-scaring cream for my donor area, biotin, finasteride supply for 3 months and sexy fisherman hat to protect my head from infection.

Conclusion

Over all I am very satisfied with the clinic, everyone was super professional, nice and helpful. The Dr himself is very approachable and even that his English is not best he does try to communicate with you to make sure you are happy and at east. Didem is very bobbly and nice to be around. Tfeem? Very claver 21 years old from Aleppo, Syrian boy who learned English form watching American movies, he always finds interesting subject to talk about with you.

Finally, I am really happy how my hair looks like after HT and looking forward to the next moths. Hope my results will confirm that Dr Hakan Doganay is very talented HT surgeon.

[hyte]

some more pic from before my HT and 2 weeks after

[MrOneSeries]

Excellent post and congrats on your procedure, things look good to me.

 

Your hairloss is similar to mine so I'll be interested to see your progress.

[hyte]

Thank you MrOneSeries, my pictures are a bit upside down but not sure how to turn them around. I will be trying to do show my progress update as systematically as possible.

[hyte]

Here is my 2 months update.

[hyte]

4 month update on my progress

[MrOneSeries]

Thanks for the update, looks like things are progressing.

 

How do you feel about your results so far?

[hyte]

Very good, I think from begining I have a small but systematic progress, after 3.5 month it's become faster, can see more hair sprouting. It doesn't show on the photo but it already looks good, people asking me what have I done to my face cause looking so young lol

[Spring15]

any updates?

[ILtrooper]

^^^ same question