Regular Member ThePeoplesElbow Posted July 30, 2020 Regular Member Share Posted July 30, 2020 I received 1800 graft FUE transplant from a well known Dr Gabel in the US in mid December 2018. I'm writing to provide my 2.5 year post transplant update. I've had some minor growth since then but its definitely much less than anticipated. There is still a large bald area that I need to comb over and use Toppik on. When I mentioned my concern for the lack of growth around the 8 month mark, I was told to be patient and keep waiting as most transplants don't show the full results until at least 1.5 years. Well, it has been 2.5+ years and I think its safe to say that this will be the full extent of my growth. I never received my 1 year check up from Gabel even way before this whole Covid situation. I know Gabel is highly regarded on these forums and I will probably get flamed for posting this but this is just my experience and my results. There seems to be a lot of positive results from Gabel, however, I am not one of the lucky ones. Would I have spent all of this money if I knew that this would be the result? Not sure. Flights, hotel, unpaid time off work, 3-5% fee for using credit card. This was a large cost for me for minimal gain. The price was also increased from the quote I received a year prior which is understandable since prices change the more popular a Dr gets, however that hurt as well. Before in outside sunlight: ~5 days ~10 days: ~2-3 weeks: ~8 months: 2.5 years: I really wish I could have written a glowing positive review with positive success, but as you can see, my results are lacking. I believe Gabel and his team did provide quality customer service and made me feel at ease during the whole operation and hope anyone that decides to go with him will receive better results. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NicoAustralia Posted July 30, 2020 Share Posted July 30, 2020 Photos are way too close up but agreed, it's not a great result. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Melvin- Admin Posted July 30, 2020 Administrators Share Posted July 30, 2020 How does it looked combed back or to one side? It looks like it’s kinda spread apart. Have you spoken to Dr. Gabel about your concerns? I’m truly sorry, on the bright side, it definitely looks like an improvement. I’m a paid admin for Hair Transplant Network. I do not receive any compensation from any clinic. My comments are not medical advice. Check out my final hair transplant and topical dutasteride journey: View my thread Topical dutasteride journey Melvin- Managing Publisher and Forum Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Coalition Hair Loss Learning Center, and the Hair Loss Q&A Blog. Follow our Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, and YouTube. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member aaron1234 Posted July 30, 2020 Senior Member Share Posted July 30, 2020 1,800 grafts is on the smaller side, especially if this was your first procedure. Based on your pre-op photo in the sun I think 3,000 grafts would have had a greater impact for your frontal third. You definitely got some good growth in the hairline, but behind it looks sparse. Also, what does your hair look like when it's combed normally? I assume that's not your normal hairstyle. A lot of transplant patients will have weak spots until after their 3rd procedure has grown in, which doesn't necessarily mean your first round is a failure. Dr. G: 1,000 grafts (FUT) 2008 Dr. Paul Shapiro: 2,348 grafts (FUT) 2009 ~ 1,999 grafts (FUT) 2011 ~ 300 grafts (Scar Reduction) 2013 Dr. Konior: 771 grafts (FUT) 2015 ~ 558 grafts (FUT) 2017 ~ 1,124 grafts (FUE) 2020 My Hair Transplant Journey with Shapiro Medical Group Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LonelyGraft Posted July 30, 2020 Share Posted July 30, 2020 Would like to see pics from further away Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member asterix0 Posted July 30, 2020 Senior Member Share Posted July 30, 2020 If you are not on finasteride, it is likely your native hair continued to thin out. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Britanium Posted July 30, 2020 Senior Member Share Posted July 30, 2020 I have to agree that 1800 grafts over that area isn’t going to show much of a marked improvement. Sorry it hasn’t worked out that well, but maybe you could have another Ht and have more grafts next time ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member ThePeoplesElbow Posted August 4, 2020 Author Regular Member Share Posted August 4, 2020 I was quoted by 2 different doctors including Gabel that said ~1800-2200 grafts should be enough coverage. I have been on fin and min for the past 5-6 years. Here is another pic further out with no toppik. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member giegnosiganoe Posted August 4, 2020 Senior Member Share Posted August 4, 2020 It's really hard to tell what's going on in your pics, especially the before pic. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member ThePeoplesElbow Posted August 10, 2020 Author Regular Member Share Posted August 10, 2020 It's easy to tell that growth did not yield that high. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member giegnosiganoe Posted August 10, 2020 Senior Member Share Posted August 10, 2020 Maybe in person, but not from these pics.. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member ThePeoplesElbow Posted August 11, 2020 Author Regular Member Share Posted August 11, 2020 On 7/30/2020 at 9:52 AM, JohnAC71 said: I have to agree that 1800 grafts over that area isn’t going to show much of a marked improvement. Sorry it hasn’t worked out that well, but maybe you could have another Ht and have more grafts next time ? yeah seems like getting a 2nd one is a likely route. wasnt planning to get another one for a long time. Unfortunate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member ThePeoplesElbow Posted August 11, 2020 Author Regular Member Share Posted August 11, 2020 On 7/29/2020 at 8:21 PM, Melvin-Moderator said: How does it looked combed back or to one side? It looks like it’s kinda spread apart. Have you spoken to Dr. Gabel about your concerns? I’m truly sorry, on the bright side, it definitely looks like an improvement. My recent pic will show it combed together. I havent spoken to Gabel. Not sure what I'm supposed to tell him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Melvin- Admin Posted August 11, 2020 Administrators Share Posted August 11, 2020 8 hours ago, ThePeoplesElbow said: My recent pic will show it combed together. I havent spoken to Gabel. Not sure what I'm supposed to tell him. Tell him that you’re not satisfied, he’s a reasonable person/surgeon. I’m a paid admin for Hair Transplant Network. I do not receive any compensation from any clinic. My comments are not medical advice. Check out my final hair transplant and topical dutasteride journey: View my thread Topical dutasteride journey Melvin- Managing Publisher and Forum Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Coalition Hair Loss Learning Center, and the Hair Loss Q&A Blog. Follow our Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, and YouTube. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member knight19 Posted August 26, 2020 Regular Member Share Posted August 26, 2020 How was it after a year? I think hair transplant looks good only after one year. Then, you start loosing your hair again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member ThePeoplesElbow Posted December 9, 2020 Author Regular Member Share Posted December 9, 2020 On 8/25/2020 at 11:49 PM, knight19 said: How was it after a year? I think hair transplant looks good only after one year. Then, you start loosing your hair again. It's been 2 years. Don't think I've ever received good results compared to a lot of other patients that went with Gabel. If a hair transplant only looks good after 1 year, after 3 transplants, you'll be bald again? I would hope that a transplant should last longer than that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member blufforfold Posted April 23, 2022 Regular Member Share Posted April 23, 2022 On 12/9/2020 at 3:44 PM, ThePeoplesElbow said: It's been 2 years. Don't think I've ever received good results compared to a lot of other patients that went with Gabel. If a hair transplant only looks good after 1 year, after 3 transplants, you'll be bald again? I would hope that a transplant should last longer than that. Did you ever go back to Dr. Gabel with your concerns? Looking at Gabel and curious about this "negative" result. Let me know if you are still around and receive updates. Would love to hear what happened and whether you spoke to Dr. Gabel about your results Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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