My painful path

[marcussoni]

hello guys. I have recently discovered this forum ( a bit late ), but I wanted to become a member and post my experience with DAMN hair loss and my painful path to conceal it so far....

 

To cut the long story short, I started losing my hair very young at age of 18, and you can imagine how it affected my self esteem, and my self awarness regarding my looks. This is something I dont wish anyone to experience, especially at so young age as I did. so, then I started researching and I wanted to to then  a hair transplant, but that was all then in some beggining stage here where I live and no one did it, but we could hear that someone in some countries is doing some procedures called  hair transplants... so I started contacting doctors and they all refused to do hair transplant because I was too young (bear in mind I was arround 22 years of age at the time)...my dad lost his hair at top crown when he was 24 but he was never bothered with it, so I guess it is just genetics. 

So I did what all of us do best: started wearing a hat, omg it is so painful even tho hat really looks good on me... wherever I went, whetever I was doing, working, going on a dates, clubbing, even swimming I wore a hat...basically I almost slept with it...people tried to convice me i look good "bald", but I really havent shared their opinion. I never had problems with women, but it really held me back and my confidence dropped below point zero.. Then, I discovered a hair fibers, was making good job of hiding my baldness for pictures but live i presume people could tell but didnt want to tell me the truth...

 

so, I made a worst mistake in my life so far, went to a tatoo artist to do a "smp" , I have even researched everything about needles, colours, process and pointed it out all to him but he made my head look like a I have almost painted my scalp...he even made lines so obvious in the back that it is so much bothering me that i cant believe what he has done to me, even after all instructions I gave him regarding the process...and to make things worse, I let him tattoo my face to fill my patchy beard (yeah you read right, I tattoed my beard)...I went into huge depression after that, I was always hiding my face, putting on a make up (felt like a woman at times), and really I couldnt enjoy normal life anymore ( I ride motorcycles and was a race car driver,  person who loves long walks with his dog, travel)...I lost interest in everything...so I even went to see a psychiatrist, started taking anti depressants, felt really ill this year....

and in whole this s*it with COVID 19, I have decided that it is a time to start looking into hair transplant again. I found few clinics in Istanbul (over middle mans, instagram) and decided to go to one clinic (I wont mention names until I see results), got a transfer from airport to hotel, had a day off to see city (which is great btw)... second day, I went to clinic, they took my blood sample (to test me on covi, hiv and I dont know what else because I never got results in hand just "everyrhing is fine"), and after standard questions regarding my health and am I allergic to something, procedure started....I was given so many injections in my head, I think over 25 stabs at least, but after 4th I didnt feel anything....after they extracted my follicles, it was lunch time, everything was going fine just i felt alot numbness...they measured my blood pressure few times and all the time I was attached onto pain killers and something what I suppose it was against infecfions...the whole procedure lasted arround 12 hrs, I knew my parents were worried and I just prayed everything will be over soon so I can call them and because my back started to hurt a lot...anyway, for 2 days I was walking the streets of Istanbul because i couldnt sleep at all, maybe just a little bit because I havent used to be sleeping in upright position...2nd day after procedure, I had my first wash of head and beard, I got all the medications which I drank until now, and shampoo ajd foam, as well as some spray and some tablets that I need to start using 1 month after procedure.

When I was at the airport, I had my head and my forehead swollen so much I looked like a mangled up heavy weight boxer. that went away, but now 11 days after my procedure, I still have pain in my head and neck especially after sleep and I am drinking painkillers, this is something that worries me a lot. and yeah, Melvin responded to me on youtube, i am massaging my donor area and putting aloe vera gel. But i dont have burning sensation pain, I have a strong pain that feels like someone is pulling out my hair and also parts of my head are still feeling numb or like I dont have any feeling(I read alot about nerve damage), and also have numbness and pain in my neck....

 

Now, I decided to post this story and to post photos and I will be posting them regulary. i am just glad that I have found this community through Melvins posts on youtube.

 

now I am on the 11th day from my procedure, and today I experienced biggest hair shedding until transplant.

 

and yeah, I forgot to mention, they told me they could extract only 3750 grafts, and they only did my hairline up to the half of head...and injected PRP...I wonder, if my hair really grows in a few months time, how would I look with half head of hair and half without...I may start some new trend in hairstyles...anyway, I really feel like I am cursed, and that whatever I do I cant get my hair back....and the funniest thing was that people actually stopped me in hotel and street to ask about my transplant and how it "looks great", that I have that "black men hairline" but they dont know that underneath is a poor try of smp and a real tattoo that made my life miserable...

 

anyway, here are the photos, first one is from the night after I finished transplant....sorry if the last ones (from today) of shedding are gross  but I need info if that is graft that fell out, I guess nit because i really am careful and follow all post transplant instructions, but I am not sure and I know you guys have more experience than me with this stuff, photos of donor area are I think after 6 or 7 days (people from clinic asked for them because I am complainijg about "unusual pain" - unusual after 25+ times injections into the area?! hmm ok...)

...if you have some comments or suggestions, please do not hesitate to post them...

 

thanx, and God bless you all.

[Gasthoerer]

Wow, thanks for sharing this story...it is really heartbreaking. Do you have some before pics from hair and beard? Was the ink permanent?

Anyway, I really hope you chose your clinic wisely this time. Choosing via Instagram is typically a dangerous path. 

I wish you all the best. 

[Doron Harati]

I did the same mistake on my first HT, was a total disaster, I almost died at the procedure in a cheap black market clinic in Istanbul (I wasn't aware at the time), and the local agent that took me to that clinic is getting sued by me plus 4 more casualties, not only my life was in danger, my donor was depleted badly and no hair growth!

A year after I did a research and decide to do a repair procedure at HDC clinic by Dr. Maras, can't be happier now, so now I am their representative and give free consultant, you can PM and join my Facebook group and Instagram, it's an open stage group, you can advertise your story, as I demonstrate on my videos what went wrong on my 1st procedure on Turkey, right now just relax, you must wait 9-10 months for the final result 

 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/326632715435825/?ref=share

 

https://www.instagram.com/doronhairadvisor/?hl=en

Video on my 2 procedures, made by @Melvin-Moderator

 

 

[ciaus]

 

Thanks for sharing, man sorry about how things have turned out so far, stay positive. And we get a pretty steady stream of young guys coming on here asking if they are starting to lose, wanting to run off and get a transplant etc, its good to have stories like yours to try to help steer them onto the best path.

 

3 hours ago, marcussoni said:

But i dont have burning sensation pain, I have a strong pain that feels like someone is pulling out my hair and also parts of my head are still feeling numb or like I dont have any feeling(I read alot about nerve damage), and also have numbness and pain in my neck....

 

And about that pain and numbness -numbness is more common and some guys have it for some months after the procedure worse case, but the strong pain sounds off -were you awake during the procedure? do you remember how well they numbed you while they were working? If its still happening after a week or so, I'd go to your primary care doctor and get that checked out, if he can't help maybe refer you to a specialist.

 

Looking at your pics, you have good facial features and head/ear shape, like you said you don't have problems with the ladies -did you ever try shaving it all the way down? Seems like that would have been a good option for you. Are you planning on getting that smp job lasered off at some point? Even if you covered the area with transplanted hair, that smp is probably going to detract from the naturalness, especially in harsher lighting situations.

 

Check this guy's story out at the link below, he had an initially terrible smp job too, then went through getting it lasered off, and then went to a legit shop to get it done right.

 

 

 

 

And about losing grafts, there's usually some bleeding too when that happens, Melvin made a video here about determining if you've lost grafts:

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 27, 2020 by ciaus

[marcussoni]

hello guys. just wanted to give some update, altho it is nothing to bragg about..I am 2 months and 2 weeks since procedure, I see hair started to grow (some of it is firm and black like drum stick and some of it can be only seen if I turn on small torch lamp over my head because my smp is so dark that it cant be seen with just bare eye). Last night, I decided to even out things and used machine razor and cut my grown hair evenly (I have not touched scalp). 

Now, I started to really consider going to Belgrade (nearest place with best laser Cyneron Candella PicoWay) to remove micropigmentation from my head and from my face. It costs a fortune for me (arround 1100 euros for 2 sessions) and now I begin to realize what damadge I have done, since the hair transplant and beard was 'only' 1800 euros, but I am going through some painful times emotionaly (some say I should focus on other things in life, and I am just it is so emotionaly painful, I know you guys can relate), I thought that hair transplant will, well not immediately, but at this point give me results to cover my smp, I was really missinformed...instead, I learned only after that it is a long journey and not secure one (especialy if you choose some non respectable clinic). Not to mention my beard that is growing worse then ever, even if is again hard to tell because of smp, but i see that I have even less beard on sides (where it has been done) then before 😦😦😦 and I am really dissapointed because I waited long time for hair transplant, it was everything but easy (not to mention COVID times and dangers), painful, so much side effects from swelling, skin rash, swollen lymph nodes...difficulty sleeping and mental pain not to mention...

 

Anyhow, one of main questions of mine to this doctor that will perform laser on my scalp and face was 'can it damadge transplanted follicles' and he said there is nothing to worry since laser is designed in a way to go through skin and target only and break the pigment of a tattoo with a high success rate. So please guys tell me what you think about it, if anyone had simmilar experience?

 

And btw, I really am considering going, while in Belgrade, to one famous hair stylist to get a non surgical hair replacement. I just cant bare this anymore, I think I should have tried that first and then opt for a plastic surgery of hair transplantation. I really cant stand people watching me anymore, and some even asking 'what is that on your head' because it is so poorly done that it is so obvious. So please tell me what you guys think, should I wait for at least 3 months or I can start wearing hair replacement system now?

 

Really appreciate your answers, here some pictures taken in one month and a half period, sadly I havent took picture before i cut hair 2 nights ago. Thanx all and God bless you.   

 

ps. last picture was some pimple I guess that was on my sides where they also put hair to 'cover' my smp. It was on my side for a few days and I just gently squeezed it and this came out, if you zoom it you will see there are three hairs that came out along with I guess that white stuff that is sebum or whatever. I suppose it could not have been graft since i passed 2 months mark, but it was bleeding after that so let me know also what you think about this?

Edited December 1, 2020 by marcussoni

[Melvin- Admin]

Hey man,

 

Glad to see that you found our community through YouTube. It really is an invaluable source of information. Unfortunately, SMP can be disastrous, did you get the permanent kind or the temporary one? I know how difficult waiting can be, but do not start using a hair system. Honestly, I have heard many reports that the adhesive damages the hair, and most guys have bad growth. Talk to @gillenator he's one of the forum veterans, he's been in the industry for over 20 years, he also used to wear hair systems. Hopefully he can chime in.  

[marcussoni]

36 minutes ago, Melvin-Moderator said:

Hey man,

 

Glad to see that you found our community through YouTube. It really is an invaluable source of information. Unfortunately, SMP can be disastrous, did you get the permanent kind or the temporary one? I know how difficult waiting can be, but do not start using a hair system. Honestly, I have heard many reports that the adhesive damages the hair, and most guys have bad growth. Talk to @gillenator he's one of the forum veterans, he's been in the industry for over 20 years, he also used to wear hair systems. Hopefully he can chime in.  

dear Melvin, 

 

first of all I wish I found out about this forums and about your videos sooner. they are are really informative and helpful. 

 

On the other hand , I will then definitely give up on hair system until next year (until I see results), but I wanted to ask you,  this laser that I want to take smp (yeah unfortunately permanent ink tattoo) with off , called SYNERON CANDELLA PICOWAY claims that it does not do any harm to the tissue of skin, just goes underneath and breaks up the tattoo pigment. It is like the latest breaktrough technology for removing tattoos with no down time plus faster removal (2-3 sessions max). Should it damadge follicles since I scheduled for treatment at exact 3 months mark (since I had hair transplant)?

And also, is it wise maybe to use hair fibers, can they interfere with hair growth? I used to make nice hairlines and hair with it, only downside ofc is when you go to bed with it 😂😂 or try to swim...

this is mainly why I ask this...just look at this line and poor smp(btw they havent transplanted anything in that area)...maybe I should just use it on back then (if I decide not to get laser also).

Edited December 2, 2020 by marcussoni

[Melvin- Admin]

That is an excellent question, I don't know if laser removal would interfere with the growth of your hair transplant. I don't think it would be good for the hair. I will tag @DrTBarghouthihe's pretty active on the forum. As for fibers, yea you can start using fibers now, if you want something waterproof try DermMatch.

[marcussoni]

12 minutes ago, Melvin-Moderator said:

That is an excellent question, I don't know if laser removal would interfere with the growth of your hair transplant. I don't think it would be good for the hair. I will tag @DrTBarghouthihe's pretty active on the forum. As for fibers, yea you can start using fibers now, if you want something waterproof try DermMatch.

https://candelamedical.com/na/patient/product/picoway

this laser is like a cutting edge of modern technology, as this doctor says, but lets wait and see what @DrTBarghouthi has to say.

 

Regarding DERMMATCH I thought I give it a try since it wilk make my bad smp look better for sure, but I thought it would clog pores or maybe not? will it interfere with hair growth? 

also, I have a box of finasteride here that I bought like month and a half into my procedure but was scared to start using it tbh...my question is, because I never got it figured out, will finasteride make hairs grow faster or just block dht? and do you really need to take 5mg (since I read about side effects 🤦), or you can use smaller dose? I would only try and brave to use it if it helps grow hair faster? thanx once again my friend, you are very helpful ❤️❤️❤️

[Britanium]

Regarding fin yes you can certainly take less, 5mg can be cut in quarters for example. A lot of people take 1.25mg or even 1mg. 

[DrTBarghouthi]

Thanks for the mention guys and I'm sorry for what you've been through. The PicoWay laser produces Picosecond pulses of light energy. The hairs on the surface may vaporize temporarily when done but the energy is not enough to damage the follicles. So I think it is safe for your tattoo removal. I don't use it myself or have much experience with it. In fact I dont use any lasers as I am not a dermatologist, but I have come across this technology. The other option would be a Qswitch laser for SMP removals. 

[Sam818]

      Don’t take this the wrong way man but you have a propensity towards making poor decisions. You rushed into SMP and didn’t even go to someone trained in how to perform it, you went to a tattoo artist who went too deep with the needle on your scalp. After realizing your mistake instead of consulting experts on how to properly and safely remove the ink your solution was to go to Turkey to god knows which clinic to get a hair transplant. And then after that while your scalp is still healing you’ve now decided to use powerful lasers to remove the ink. I’m glad you at least sought input here and you got a doctor to give you his opinion.     
    Trust me I am not trying to beat you down and make you feel bad. I used to be the same way and rush into decisions without seeking input from others who’ve been thru it because I thought I was smarter. That’s how I had a horrible experience during my first hair transplant surgery. All I’m saying to you is going forward with every important decision in your life not just cosmetic ones like this you should always seek input from real people with experience. Good luck and I hope you get awesome growth in the coming months.

[marcussoni]

Dear doctor @DrTBarghouthi thanx for your answer, I thought same thing that hairs on top will vaporize but will eventually return since it wont affect follicles. And when you mention Qswitch, do you mean ND Yag lasers? Like PicoSure?

 

@Sam818

Thanx for the reply mate, I totaly understand what are you saying to me, yeah its my fault but I havent done this in the right way, but I cant do nothing now but to try and minimize damadge. You dont know how hard is going to job interviews or something else where I cant wear a hat (trying not to wear it at all) and being asked always 'what have you done with your head'...because here people are still not familliar so much with these cosmetic procedures....try to understand me from that point lf view, yes I made mistakes but now I am paying the price and trying to minimize damadge...

[marcussoni]

by the way, I found some photos in instagram archive how I looked last summer...note that black thing on my hair are micro fibers that I used to put on with hair spray.,..

[DrTBarghouthi]

@marcussoni no qswitch and picosure are different as per my knowledge. Nonetheless, the exact pros and cons of each of these would definitely be better answered by a dermatologist that works with them. 

[OliverAtom]

On 9/27/2020 at 6:20 PM, marcussoni said:

hello guys. I have recently discovered this forum ( a bit late ), but I wanted to become a member and post my experience with DAMN hair loss and my painful path to conceal it so far....

 

To cut the long story short, I started losing my hair very young at age of 18, and you can imagine how it affected my self esteem, and my self awarness regarding my looks. This is something I dont wish anyone to experience, especially at so young age as I did. so, then I started researching and I wanted to to then  a hair transplant, but that was all then in some beggining stage here where I live and no one did it, but we could hear that someone in some countries is doing some procedures called  hair transplants... so I started contacting doctors and they all refused to do hair transplant because I was too young (bear in mind I was arround 22 years of age at the time)...my dad lost his hair at top crown when he was 24 but he was never bothered with it, so I guess it is just genetics. 

So I did what all of us do best: started wearing a hat, omg it is so painful even tho hat really looks good on me... wherever I went, whetever I was doing, working, going on a dates, clubbing, even swimming I wore a hat...basically I almost slept with it...people tried to convice me i look good "bald", but I really havent shared their opinion. I never had problems with women, but it really held me back and my confidence dropped below point zero.. Then, I discovered a hair fibers, was making good job of hiding my baldness for pictures but live i presume people could tell but didnt want to tell me the truth...

 

so, I made a worst mistake in my life so far, went to a tatoo artist to do a "smp" , I have even researched everything about needles, colours, process and pointed it out all to him but he made my head look like a I have almost painted my scalp...he even made lines so obvious in the back that it is so much bothering me that i cant believe what he has done to me, even after all instructions I gave him regarding the process...and to make things worse, I let him tattoo my face to fill my patchy beard (yeah you read right, I tattoed my beard)...I went into huge depression after that, I was always hiding my face, putting on a make up (felt like a woman at times), and really I couldnt enjoy normal life anymore ( I ride motorcycles and was a race car driver,  person who loves long walks with his dog, travel)...I lost interest in everything...so I even went to see a psychiatrist, started taking anti depressants, felt really ill this year....

and in whole this s*it with COVID 19, I have decided that it is a time to start looking into hair transplant again. I found few clinics in Istanbul (over middle mans, instagram) and decided to go to one clinic (I wont mention names until I see results), got a transfer from airport to hotel, had a day off to see city (which is great btw)... second day, I went to clinic, they took my blood sample (to test me on covi, hiv and I dont know what else because I never got results in hand just "everyrhing is fine"), and after standard questions regarding my health and am I allergic to something, procedure started....I was given so many injections in my head, I think over 25 stabs at least, but after 4th I didnt feel anything....after they extracted my follicles, it was lunch time, everything was going fine just i felt alot numbness...they measured my blood pressure few times and all the time I was attached onto pain killers and something what I suppose it was against infecfions...the whole procedure lasted arround 12 hrs, I knew my parents were worried and I just prayed everything will be over soon so I can call them and because my back started to hurt a lot...anyway, for 2 days I was walking the streets of Istanbul because i couldnt sleep at all, maybe just a little bit because I havent used to be sleeping in upright position...2nd day after procedure, I had my first wash of head and beard, I got all the medications which I drank until now, and shampoo ajd foam, as well as some spray and some tablets that I need to start using 1 month after procedure.

When I was at the airport, I had my head and my forehead swollen so much I looked like a mangled up heavy weight boxer. that went away, but now 11 days after my procedure, I still have pain in my head and neck especially after sleep and I am drinking painkillers, this is something that worries me a lot. and yeah, Melvin responded to me on youtube, i am massaging my donor area and putting aloe vera gel. But i dont have burning sensation pain, I have a strong pain that feels like someone is pulling out my hair and also parts of my head are still feeling numb or like I dont have any feeling(I read alot about nerve damage), and also have numbness and pain in my neck....

 

Now, I decided to post this story and to post photos and I will be posting them regulary. i am just glad that I have found this community through Melvins posts on youtube.

 

now I am on the 11th day from my procedure, and today I experienced biggest hair shedding until transplant.

 

and yeah, I forgot to mention, they told me they could extract only 3750 grafts, and they only did my hairline up to the half of head...and injected PRP...I wonder, if my hair really grows in a few months time, how would I look with half head of hair and half without...I may start some new trend in hairstyles...anyway, I really feel like I am cursed, and that whatever I do I cant get my hair back....and the funniest thing was that people actually stopped me in hotel and street to ask about my transplant and how it "looks great", that I have that "black men hairline" but they dont know that underneath is a poor try of smp and a real tattoo that made my life miserable...

 

anyway, here are the photos, first one is from the night after I finished transplant....sorry if the last ones (from today) of shedding are gross  but I need info if that is graft that fell out, I guess nit because i really am careful and follow all post transplant instructions, but I am not sure and I know you guys have more experience than me with this stuff, photos of donor area are I think after 6 or 7 days (people from clinic asked for them because I am complainijg about "unusual pain" - unusual after 25+ times injections into the area?! hmm ok...)

...if you have some comments or suggestions, please do not hesitate to post them...

 

thanx, and God bless you all.

Oh my God! Marcussoni, what a story, the tattoo part is wow, how could that guy do that to you...  but do not worry... luckily you found this forum and now you are on the right track to a NEW look.

Thanks for sharing and looking forward to your updates.

Best of luck my friend : )

 

[marcussoni]

10 days until 'zero' point mark, three months. I am actually seeing growth, I intentionaly cutted hair to see will it grow out and it has...even donor area looks a bit better (fingers crossed)... still, problem is the black tattoo on my head...so next post will be after I go and get my first session done (hopefully), more worrying than head itself is a face, I want to remove it so badly.

 

@Melvin-Moderator I just wanted to ask you, will using hair fibers at this stage with some bonding like hair spray damadge or cause hair to not grow? thanx

 

Edited December 6, 2020 by marcussoni