Stingray's back in the chair - Dr Bisanga - 25th March 2010

[Stingray]

Hey guys

 

I thought I would start a new thread as I am scheduled for a FUE session with Dr Bisanga on 19th December.

 

As many of you will know I had a FUE procedure with Dr Armani about 2 years ago. 2425 grafts onto my NW3 head. The results were poor to say the least. Although I was offered a touch up I decided not to let Dr Armani touch my head again. I haven't had much option but to put it down to experience and move on.

 

You can see my pics on the attached weblog and although they look pretty bad the reality is that when my hair is grown out and with a bit of concealer I can pretty much get away with it. However, I would really like to get to a position where I didn't have to wear concealer and I could not have that constant hair worry. You know that feeling when you tense up when a girl playfully runs her hands through your hair?

 

My plan is to have approximately 1000 FUE grafts into the transplanted area to create the hairline that Dr Armani failed to do. I realise that 1000 FUE is probably a bit less than I need but I think it is enough to make a significant cosmetic difference and it will allow me to assess the results without using too much more of my donor hair. Once this procedure has grown in I will reassess where I am. I haven't ruled out going down the strip route at some point later on.

 

I spent a long time deciding on the doctor that I wanted to go to. I think since I have begun my hair transplant decision I have consulted with 6 docs in person and several more via the internet. I have emailed dozens of patients and even have a facebook friend out of it. For this 2nd procedure I eventually narrowed it down to either Dr Bisanga or Dr Ron Shapiro. I have had a lot of contact with Phil from Dr Bisanga's office and Jason from Dr Shapiro's office. Both have been fantastic and I would feel completely confident with either Dr. The choice eventually came down to one of scheduling and the fact that, living in London, Brussels is cheaper and more convenient to get to and from.

 

 

Well, I have to say I am nervous and excited. I am not looking forward to the actual procedure but I am hopeful that it will be worth it in the end. I will keep everyone updated on the progress of my 2nd round in the chair and am happy to answer any questions that people have.

 

Best wishes,

 

Stingray

[Sparky]

You dont need to be nervous at all. I'm in the middle of 2 repairs with them, when my first was over, I was dissapointed that I had to get out of the chair.

[the B spot]

Hey Ray...glad your going in to get your situation resolved mate. Your going to achieve your results with Dr. Bisanga.

 

You did your research and I believe chose a top FUE clinic to get the results you want.

 

I hope your able to continue to counsel others as they go through their journey and continue to share yours with us.

 

Can't wait!

 

Jason

[thanatopsis_awry]

Good stuff, Sting! Everything I know points to Bisanga being an absolute stud with FUE. Really look forward to your pics, and hope you won't let the grafts go to your head forget to update once you bloom.

[Bill - Seemiller]

Stingray,

 

While Dr. Bisanga hasn't been prescreened by this community, he appears to be doing very solid work. I hope you'll share your experience and chart your progress with photos.

 

Best of luck in your upcoming procedure.

 

Bill

[Balboa]

Very Much looking forward to this one, as bisanga is on my list for my armani repair.

 

Also very intrested in how significant bisangas FUE skills are over armanis.

 

Sparky can you also document your current status regarding your repair please, any pics of before and after your first session

[Stingray]

Thanks for all the words of encouragement guys.

 

I will definitely provide updates regularly.

[Stingray]

Well, I was meant to be having my procedure with Dr Bisanga today but unfortunately Eurostar have decided to have a crises which resulted in all services being canceled.

 

Eurostar Chaos

 

Dr Bisanga's office has been really good about it and we are looking to rearrange a date early next year.

 

It's a bit annoying if for no other reason than I have had to forgo Christmas booze for the last few days. Heh!

[Sparky]

I was hoping you were already there and wouldnt be affected by eurostars incompetence.

[Stingray]

Yeah, is a real shame.

 

At least I wasn't one of the people trapped in the trains which probably would of happened had I headed down the night before.

[runwithscissors]

Hi Stingray, did you manage to get Bisanga's office to reschedule the appointment? I hope you didn't lose your deposit due to the crappy train service. It turns out flights, trains and ferries are all grinding to a halt out of the UK. What a well run country we are...

[Stingray]

Yeah, unbelievable, a little bit of snow and the entirety of the UK collapses. It happens every year too.

 

Dr Bisanga's office has been very understanding and have offered to reschedule for early next year without cost.

 

I have to say that their customer service so far has been absolutely first class.

[Anouar]

Hey Stingray I want to wish you the best of luck on your upcoming surgery. I have been following you case with Armani since you stared to post on hlh. I almost went that route. Thanks for sharing your experience and being honest. Sometimes it's hard to sift through the bs.

[aaron1234]

Too bad global warming isn't real, otherwise you'd have a HT by now!

 

Good luck with your upcoming surgery! Keep us posted with monthly pics on your blog.

[Sparky]

Yeah, global warming is a bunch of BS.

[Balboa]

its suprising how a bit of snow buggers things up in europe. when i went to toronto last december it was far worse than over here in the uk and all the flights busses cars taxis all operated as normal. i guess they are used to it tho

[Stingray]

Hey guys

 

I thought I would update you all.

 

I am currently in Brussels as the date of my rescheduled FUE HT with Dr Bisanga is tomorrow. The reason it was so long after my missed appointment in December is that I had to wait till I had sufficient time off law school to allow for recovery.

 

Anyway, the trip over on the Eurostar is an absolute breeze and was only 2 hours. The hotel around the corner from BHR is perfectly nice and very reasonable (76 Euros a night with breakfast). I had a brief chat with Phil and Dr Bisanga to go over the procedure for tomorrow and I am feeling pretty relaxed about it all.

 

Just by way of reminder I am having about 1000 grafts. The majority are to rebuild the unnatural and thin Armani hairline and whatever is left to thicken up the right side area where the transplanted grafts meet my natural hairline. I know that in a perfect world I need more than 1000 grafts but I want to see how this goes first before coming back for some more.

 

I will post pics as and when I have something to show you.

 

All the best,

 

SR

[Stingray]

Thanks Spex

 

Hey guys

 

I am back in the hotel after my HT with Dr Bisanga at BHR. I am a little knackered as you would expect so I will keep it brief.

 

From Phil picking me up at the hotel at around 10:20am to Stephen and Phil walking me back to the hotel at around 6:30pm I would describe the experience as excellent.

 

There is a lovely atmosphere amongst all the staff at BHR which makes the experience all the more relaxing.

 

Anyways, lots of photos taken before the procedure (which I will post once Phil has sent them to me) of the state of my head including the white dot scarring from my previous Armani procedure.

 

Then extractions - Dr Bisanga and I decided to avoid the area where a strip would be taken so as to leave a good strip count as a possibility for the future. All the punches were done by Dr Bisanga with a tech extracting the follicles with tweezers.

 

Had a decent ham baguette somewhere within all that.

 

Then the placement. Br Bisanga did all the incisions and some of the placements.

 

The breakdown is as follows:

 

1 hair = 318

2 hair = 419

3 hair = 227

4 hair = 36

 

Total grafts = 1000

Total hairs = 1981 (nearly 2 hairs per graft average)

 

I will post better pictures that BHR took but here is one that I took on my macbook here in the hotel room... Nice. Note that my donor hair and the hair in the recipient areas was shaven too.

 

 

Obviously the proof is in the pudding with regards to growth but so far I am very pleased with the experience.

 

Best wishes,

 

SR

[markymark]

Stingray, did Dr. Armani himself do the surgery back when, or was it his technicians? Hope you get better results with this one!

[BANDIDO]

Stingray,I think only going 1000 grafts this time is a good idea. Hope things work out better for you this time.

I like the way you posted your pics last time with the hair pulled up. Everybody should post pics like that who have had an HT.

[Stingray]

Markymark - unfortunately it was Armani himself who did my original transplant. Well, he did the incisions. I don't think he ever does extractions. If you are thinking about going to him... Don't. You will regret it.

 

Here are some more pics

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Stingray]

Hi Spex

 

Thanks for the support. Am gulping water as I type and have only looked at the grafts about 40 times this morning... so not too bad, heh.

 

Dr Bisanga didn't comment on the size of tool that Armani used. I think the white dots speak for themselves though.

 

All the best,

 

SR

[Raphael84]

SR -

 

Congratulations my man. All work looks very impressive and Im sure that these 1000 grafts will push you along the way to where you want to be. Good luck with the growth and keep us posted.

May I ask, what age you are?

Regards

Raphael

[Raphael84]

I got it - 34

[Rachmunas4life]

I noticed the white dots immediately as well. I'm sorry you went to Dr. Armani. I once came across his web site when I was in my early 20's and he was the only surgeon that wanted to perform surgery on me, as well with an insane amount of grafts.

 

I'm looking forward to your new results and all the best!!!