Regular Member bandersnatchi Posted June 19, 2017 Regular Member Share Posted June 19, 2017 Hello all, I made an original post here asking about my progress as others see it here http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/187205-11-days-post-op%3B-shedding-already.html I posted some pictures there as well. I would prefer not to post any pictures that eliminate discretion, so I will see if I can come up with some good before/after pictures for you guys. In the meantime: I had a procedure for 1420 grafts with Dr. Erdogan 3 weeks ago. I am a NW2 with stabilized loss and good family history. My hairline was really bothering me for several years; the asymmetry of it and slight temple thinning really bothered me and I wanted to do something about it. My travel to the ASMED was relatively uneventful. I stayed at the hotel for 5 days, not at the clinic, so I was able to take advantage of the room service (10/10 would recommend). I arrived a day early before the in-person consult. The day of the consult was very smooth and effortless. I had blood work done, all the pre-op stuff done, then met with Dr. Erdogan for the consult. The hairline I wanted was relatively perfect on the first try (will post pictures soon) and Dr. Koray quoted me for 1200 grafts. Keep in mind, I was quoted 2500 on my online consult. I was VERY happy to hear that. It goes to show you that online and in-person consults can vary dramatically. I then had my head shaved (looked good, was happy with it, lucky I guess) and Dr. Erdogan then came and mapped out the exact area that would be the recipient zone. I went to the hotel afterwards and got some rest. The consult day was super smooth and the staff at ASMED are impeccable. That pretty much says it all. The clinic is amazing, and there is an army of people that work there. It's impressive. Dr. Koray is calm and collected and seems like he knows what he's doing. On the procedure day, I was shaved again, and extractions began. I heard that more anesthetic meant that the swelling would be worse, and I have a high pain tolerance to begin with, so I didn't really need much anesthetic. The extractions were with a .6mm and .7mm punch. I had an average of 2.59 hairs per graft and a hair diameter of 55 microns if I remember correctly, as well as a donor area of 9000. The extractions went smoothly, less than 2 hours long. Afterwards, I ate a quick snack, then the incisions began. Again, more anesthic but not too much, and Dr. Koray came in. As many others have said in their reviews, he is like a god there, and everyone was having a great time. The incisions were easy, but then Dr. Koray said he noticed some miniaturization he didn't notice before, so he gave me an extra 220 grafts for free to bring my total to 1420. Implantation went smoothly and the team is incredibly efficient and high-performing. I had a translator or two the entire time and they will explain things to you whenever you have questions. The only thing that surprised me slightly was that Dr. Koray, aside from the consult and incisions, doesn't spend much time with you. This can be a bad thing to some, but personally I don't care, as the staff are all highly trained with years of experience under his direction. The next 5 days I spent going to ASMED every morning for washing. I started washing on my own at day 3. I immediately began the application of ATP spray, aloe vera, and HairCycle post-op biotin spray the minute I got back from the procedure and continued it for 10 days. I lost all of my scabs in 4 days (no lost grafts). Redness subsided dramatically and it is not noticeable in person at all. Nobody has any idea I have had anything done (I told no one). The pictures below that you see are my 3 day and 3 week post op pictures. I will say that I have had a bit of shock loss in the frontal forelock of my hairline; I had no loss or thinning there at all. It was healthy and thick, so I'm hoping it comes back. Surprisingly, I began shedding at the 10 day mark. Hairs easily fell, and if I placed one between my fingers, they would slide right out. Not grafts, just hairs, and I didn't pluck. On the 3 week pictures you see, you can see little black dots. These are hairs breaking the skin and they feel like stubble. I posted a question on the other thread that I linked about them. I'm slightly concerned as I read in another thread by someone else that they could be dead grafts, but most of these black dots are where the transplanted hairs shed. Since I healed so rapidly, perhaps I'm having early regrowth? Dr. Koray was even amazed at how quickly I healed, so this is not just my imagination. My donor area was also undetectable in 3 days. Post-op I did everything I should have done. The only exception is that I worked out earlier than was recommended. Nothing crazy, just light weights in the gym and light cardio in the treadmill at 4 days post-op when all scabs were gone. Anything I should be worried about? Pictures below, again, are 3 days post op and 3 weeks post op. When I am able to use a computer, I will post the actual before and after photos from ASMED. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member bandersnatchi Posted June 19, 2017 Author Regular Member Share Posted June 19, 2017 I'd also like to add that my swelling was minimal (light bruising around the eyes) and that Dr. Koray said my donor area bled more than average. I was given a pill to slow the bleeding. It wasn't excessive according to the doctor, it was mainly so the techs didn't have to keep wiping the donor area. Dr. Koray said bleeding is actually a good sign, as it means the circulation is strong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Lyubo93 Posted June 19, 2017 Regular Member Share Posted June 19, 2017 Can you attach some pics before HT? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member bandersnatchi Posted June 19, 2017 Author Regular Member Share Posted June 19, 2017 Pre-op pics. Again my loss wasn't bad at all, some will scoff, but I am old enough and it is stablized. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Ernie Posted June 19, 2017 Senior Member Share Posted June 19, 2017 I appreciate seeing a small Erdogan case. Please keep us updated 3185 FUT with Dr. Rahal on 2/17/16 http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/182611-fut-3185-dr-rahal-day-after-pics.html 1204 FUT with Dr. Rahal on 3/27/17 http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/186586-round-2-rahal-1204-fut-frontal-third-same-area.html ---> total of 4389 grafts to my frontal third via FUT ---> 1mg finasteride daily since 1999 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member bandersnatchi Posted July 7, 2017 Author Regular Member Share Posted July 7, 2017 I've had some pretty bad shock loss in the transplanted area located exclusively and specifically in my forelock which has no loss beforehand. Dr Erdogan still placed grafts in that area so that the caliber of the hairs across the hairline matched, and I think I'm either suffering fro pretty bad shock loss or coincidental miniaturization but it doesn't look like normal loss and I have no idea how it happened that fast if it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member bandersnatchi Posted July 7, 2017 Author Regular Member Share Posted July 7, 2017 Pic of suspected shock loss attached. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member bandersnatchi Posted July 17, 2017 Author Regular Member Share Posted July 17, 2017 Attached are 7 weeks post op pictures. Not gonna lie I am getting a little obsessive about things now but I'm trying not to. Constantly comparing immediate post-op pics with currents pics trying to compare the two and check for shock loss etc. I'm really hoping for a great result because I do trust Dr. Koray. Attached are the pics. Redness is not very noticeable. I also buzzed my hair down again as well. Some grafts didn't shed and are growing in the recipient. All in all I look relatively normal and now am just waiting for growth. I don't really do anything differently now. I use organic products but other than that I have been working out, swimming etc. with no ill effects that I can tell. Shock loss in the front is still there but I think it might slowly be getting better. I emailed Dr. Koray's office and they said that the shedding I had is normal and should clear up within 3 months. Since I'm approaching the 2 month mark I'm getting ancy about the 3 month milestone. Do I look on track for 7 weeks? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Lyubo93 Posted July 17, 2017 Regular Member Share Posted July 17, 2017 Hmm that looks strange. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member bandersnatchi Posted July 17, 2017 Author Regular Member Share Posted July 17, 2017 Hmm that looks strange. Lyubo, how so? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member bandersnatchi Posted July 17, 2017 Author Regular Member Share Posted July 17, 2017 Here are 3 more pictures in better lighting; sort of concerned now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Lyubo93 Posted July 19, 2017 Regular Member Share Posted July 19, 2017 Don't worry bro, everything is ok.My case is very similar to yours.I don't have a consultation with Erdogan yet, but I thought that I need around 3000 grafts, but will see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member bandersnatchi Posted August 6, 2017 Author Regular Member Share Posted August 6, 2017 2 month update. I buzzed my head to a 0 guard. No scarring at all. Can't even find a dot. Makes sense because my lunch size was .6-.8mm. Some grafts have started growing, the pics look a little worse than in person. It's mostly undetectable right now. I'm at exactly two months. I'm hoping for a great, full result. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member bandersnatchi Posted August 6, 2017 Author Regular Member Share Posted August 6, 2017 Oh, I've also had quite a bit of pimples the last week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Gasthoerer Posted August 6, 2017 Senior Member Share Posted August 6, 2017 Interesting! Quite a low graft count for Erdogan. Do you have pics from the donor with the short cut? Grow well! 400+ grafts in 2018 and 2900 grafts in 2020 via FUE with Feriduni Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member bandersnatchi Posted September 6, 2017 Author Regular Member Share Posted September 6, 2017 Hey all, Attached are 3 month update photos. As you can see there is just a little residual pinkness. I may have had a sprout here or there but nothing significant whatsoever. Do I have cause to be concerned looking like this at the 3 month mark? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Rawkerboi Posted September 6, 2017 Senior Member Share Posted September 6, 2017 No need to be worried! HT looks perfectly fine and its just three months You still have nine months to go, plenty of growth coming soon Have patience cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member HairInspector Posted September 6, 2017 Regular Member Share Posted September 6, 2017 Nothing to worry about at all yet. Right on track with some new hairs starting to sprout in the transplanted area. You said you shaved your head to a zero guard and can't see any scarring. Would you mind sharing pics of your donor area? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member JayLDD Posted September 6, 2017 Senior Member Share Posted September 6, 2017 Can definitely see sprouts, I think you're on the right track. 4 months is when it's clear the action has started. HT1: https://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/topic/48494-asmed-koray-erdogan-3070-grafts-april-10th/ HT2: https://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/topic/51224-3038-grafts-fue-asmed-koray-erdogan-30th-april/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member bandersnatchi Posted October 1, 2017 Author Regular Member Share Posted October 1, 2017 Just hit 4 months today. Been keeping hair buzzed at 1 guard. I think I have had some sprouts since my 3 months update but not as much as I had hoped. The pinkness has diminished a lot and the look has improved although from most angles it definitely looks like I have two separate hairlines, it's been slow to fill in between. I'm slightly worried, been applying minoxidil as well. Do I have reason to be worried at this point? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Carefall Posted October 1, 2017 Regular Member Share Posted October 1, 2017 Read in the Asmed documents that you can?t shave or buzz the recipient area until 5 months. Have they given you any other instruction for this or do you just do it anyway? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member bandersnatchi Posted October 1, 2017 Author Regular Member Share Posted October 1, 2017 ASMED is the only clinic that recommends anything like that. All literature I've read says after the scabs fall at 10 or so days you can pretty much do anything without worrying about the grafts. I don't shave, just use clippers with a guard. 5 months is extremely unrealistic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Carefall Posted October 2, 2017 Regular Member Share Posted October 2, 2017 Yeah I thought it was pretty extreme as well, you can buzz donor after 1 month so was a bit shocked about the 5 month time. If I go for operation I would probably like to buzz it until the real growth has started. Anyway, I should ask them to explain the reason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member bandersnatchi Posted November 23, 2017 Author Regular Member Share Posted November 23, 2017 I'm almost at the six month mark. Photoas attached. Taken with flash. I've been keeping my hair buzzed to a 1 guard through the growing stage. At this point, I am not happy. My forelock density looks great and natural. However the lateral sides of my hairline (temples) lack density and look unnatural. I basically have two hairlines with sparse hair in between. Very disappointed at this point. I'm not sure if I didn't get enough grafts or had low yield, but I'm planning another procedure of 600-1000 grafts to blend the area better with another doctor in the U.S. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Marky9829 Posted November 23, 2017 Regular Member Share Posted November 23, 2017 Looks good to me can hardly tell the difference? 6 months is still very early, don’t book anything yet until 12 months have passed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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