FUE 2961 grafts | February 22+23 2021 | Should I be worried?

[Hairsome]

Dear all,

First of all, thank you for sharing your stories here on this website. I've enjoyed watching the before and after pictures and it has helped me in making my own decision to get a FUE hair transplant.

I'm making this thread since I'm quite worried about the results of my own FUE. Below, I'll provide some background information and share a bunch of pre- and post-OP pictures with you guys as well as my current situation. I hope you'll be able to provide an honest opinion. For what it's worth, I've already watched the "slow growers" video multiple times.

Background information:
- 24 y/o male, Continental Europe
- pre-OP NW status: +/- NW3
- Hairloss started when I was around 20 years old. Was able to slow down my hairloss by using medication (including Finasteride, Minoxidil, Dutasteride, and some supplements) since 2019

FUE procedure:
- 2961 grafts in total
- Areas treated: Temples, hairline, and behind (zone's 1, 2 and 3)
- 724 singles, 1329 doubles, 908 triples = 2.04 average
- 50 grafts per cm² in the frontal parts of the bald temples, a bit less dense behind it. In the middle (forelock), where I still have hair, they implanted about 10-15 grafts per cm²
- Procedure took place on two days, 22 + 23 of February this year
- Got the procedure done at a reputable clinic in my home country in the Benelux (but haven't come across any other results form this clinic on this website)

Recovery and progress after the FUE procedure:
As you'll see on some of the pictures below, my skin remained quite red for a long period of time. According to the clinic, there were some minor inflammations. I believe it remained quite red for 4-5 months. One month after the procedure, my clinic recommended me to use antibiotics. This is what I did for 2x10 days and it included pills, a special shampoo, and a crème to be applied on the transplant area. 4 months after the procedure I had a check up with the clinic. I was still barely able to see regrowth. I did see a lot of stubbles and maybe a lonely hair here and there, but not many. So the growth started quite late. I'm currently at almost 7 months. There has been growth, but I'm unsatisfied with the overall density. Moreover, some small parts are still completely bald. When I touch my transplant area with my fingertips, I do feel a bunch of stubbles, but even then I think it's insufficient. As I'm worried, I've contacted my clinic. They - understandably - told me that all hairs grow independently of each other and that we can only assess the results after 12-14 months. 

I'd really like to hear from you guys what you think. As my growth started quite late, I would be tempted to think that the 'real growth' is yet to commence. However, I also realise that I'm already at almost 7 months post-OP and most people have a lot more growth by this time than I do. Could the inflammations be the result of the mediocre growth? Or perhaps dermarolling which I did on a regular basis before my HT? (I did stop rolling about a month before my surgery though and haven't been rolling anymore after my hair transplant).

Many thanks in advance.

Pictures below.

Pre-OP situation:

Immediately after the surgery:

1 month post-OP (see the redness)

3.5 months post-OP (still quite red in some areas, but it's a lot less visible already)

 

6 months post-OP: (hairs that started growing 'early' are growing longer, but overall density is low)

 

1 more post-OP picture:

 

 

6.5 months post-OP: (mostly with my hair styled)

 

Another picture from the back of my head from this week (with hair gel)

Edited September 20, 2021 by Hairsome

[Britanium]

Please can you let us know which clinic it was ? I’m not sure the graft count look accurate to be honest. And the density they implanted did not seem adequate for the large area covered. I can see the actual front few rows of the hairline was implanted quite densely and it does appear they have grown in. But behind the hairline it’s not looking enough. At this stage you definitely should have had more growth IMO. Yes we are all different in the time lines but by month 7 we do have a pretty good idea. Why did you choose that particular clinic ? Thanks for posting such a detailed review and some great pics 🙏

[Hairsome]

10 minutes ago, JohnAC71 said:

Please can you let us know which clinic it was ? I’m not sure the graft count look accurate to be honest. And the density they implanted did not seem adequate for the large area covered. I can see the actual front few rows of the hairline was implanted quite densely and it does appear they have grown in. But behind the hairline it’s not looking enough. At this stage you definitely should have had more growth IMO. Yes we are all different in the time lines but by month 7 we do have a pretty good idea. Why did you choose that particular clinic ? Thanks for posting such a detailed review and some great pics 🙏

Thanks for the comment. I don't mind sharing the name of the clinic, it's Kliniek Veldhoven (Netherlands). They're known for their good FUE transplants. They're not at the level of BHR clinic, but at least in my country they're well-respected.

The front few rows of my hairline/temples were quite densely packed IMO. If all of these hairs had grown, the result would be a lot better I guess. But I hope that that is still to come.

I do think the number of grafts is accurate tbh. Also, I've read reports of people that had 2000-2500 grafts transplanted that have better results than I do with nearly 3000...

Edited September 19, 2021 by Hairsome

[Hairsome]

Maybe this picture here better allows you to estimate the # of grafts transplanted (better lighting). Density in the temples isn't that bad right?

Edited September 19, 2021 by Hairsome

[Britanium]

Personally I don’t think it looks enough. It is difficult to tell by pics alone. It may take a second pass to get you where you want to be. I would be considering another clinic. I don’t think the planning was up to par here. 

[Britanium]

Am I right In thinking this company does all kinds of aesthetics procedures? Was it a Dr that was involved in your transplant? Or was it all techs? Just curious 🤨 

Edited September 19, 2021 by JohnAC71

[Hairsome]

1 minute ago, JohnAC71 said:

Am I right In thinking this company does all kinds of aesthetics procedures? Was it a Dr that was involved in your transplant? Or was it all techs? Just curious 🤨 

A lot of aesthetics procedures indeed. The doctor/surgeon did the anaesthesia part, but the nurses did the HT itself. 

[Britanium]

1 minute ago, Hairsome said:

A lot of aesthetics procedures indeed. The doctor/surgeon did the anaesthesia part, but the nurses did the HT itself. 

This is typical of these type of places. They do not specialise enough in hair transplants. And your then left in the hands of the techs. Sorry but the facts are it wasn’t a great hair transplant. I hope you get continued growth and maturity but the likelihood is your going to need another pass with a decent clinic. The community can help 👍🏽

[Hairsome]

I'd be devastated if that's true.. thank you for your honest feedback. 

I do want to add though that the team that did the FUE is a specialist 'hair' team that only does hair transplants and related surgeries, if that helps. They have many different teams there.

Edited September 19, 2021 by Hairsome

[Britanium]

Just now, Hairsome said:

I'd be devastated if that's true.. thank you for your honest feedback. 

Please keep updating us each month if possible. You will have a really good idea at month 8. I honestly can’t believe the graft count is as high as they have said. Let’s see how it progresses. I’m sorry I couldn’t be more positive, unfortunately sometimes we have to highlight the issues we see. 

[Britanium]

6 minutes ago, Hairsome said:

I'd be devastated if that's true.. thank you for your honest feedback. 

I do want to add though that the team that did the FUE is a specialist 'hair' team that only does hair transplants and related surgeries, if that helps. They have many different teams there.

Oh they would have been trained in how to perform the various steps. But this is a hair mill type model. Where it’s tech only procedures and has no Dr skill involved. This can go one of two ways. The hair mill model can also have multiple patients per day. Where as the best places have Dr involvement and 2 patients per day max. 

[Hairsome]

I do feel like a lot of hairs still need to come in, don't you think?

[Britanium]

Just now, Hairsome said:

I do feel like a lot of hairs still need to come in, don't you think?

If they do it would be a bonus, looking at the implementation I can’t see any further grafts coming in. Let’s hope I’m wrong ! 

[Britanium]

Have you got any pics of your donor area ? Thanks 🙏 

[Hairsome]

10 minutes ago, JohnAC71 said:

Have you got any pics of your donor area ? Thanks 🙏 

Yes, here is one immediately post-OP and 2 more recent ones. During the procedure they said I would have at least 5000 more grafts available.

 

 

Edited September 19, 2021 by Hairsome

[Britanium]

Thanks have you got immediate post op ones ? 

[Berba11]

My initial reaction to your photos was that it didn't quite look to me as though 2,700 grafts had been placed in that area. It looked less. The only real way to tell would be to get the immediate post-op pics that the clinic took (please say they took some?), and open up those photos and count the dots (incisions) using the edit tool (select a few different colours and click a dot on every single graft and keep a tally of how many times you click, basically. Tedious, but probably worthwhile). You won't get it 100% correct, but it'll give you a ball park of the reality.

Also, as already mentioned, clinics that do all manner of cosmetic surgeries are a bit of a no-go HT transplant-wise, and if the techs are doing the heavy lifting, it's always going to be a lottery.

The good news... You haven't been butchered up front and assuming your donor has been left in decent condition (which, if less that 2,700 grafts were extracted, may well be the case) it should be a fairly straightforward case for an actual reputable clinic to increase the density in those lagging areas. Fingers cross you see some more growth though.

[Britanium]

That would put you at approx 8k by FUE alone. This is really on the high side, which says to me they didn’t take close to 3k. Just my thoughts.. others may disagree… 

[Britanium]

@Berba11it was supposed to be 2961 grafts. I would put it a lot, lot lower. Yes the only way to get a better idea is to do the counting… 👍🏽

[Hairsome]

1 minute ago, JohnAC71 said:

@Berba11it was supposed to be 2961 grafts. I would put it a lot, lot lower. Yes the only way to get a better idea is to do the counting… 👍🏽

I added a pic of my donor area immediately post-OP. Doesn't look like 3k to you or?

[Hairsome]

Maybe this one is of a better quality...

 

[Britanium]

No it’s does not, let’s see what others think. I’m trying to stay positive for you. Like @Berba11mentions it’s not the worse position to be in. 

[Berba11]

2 minutes ago, JohnAC71 said:

@Berba11it was supposed to be 2961 grafts. I would put it a lot, lot lower. Yes the only way to get a better idea is to do the counting… 👍🏽

Ah, my mistake! I misread that.

In which, that definitely doesn't look like what I'd expect to see from the 3K grafts. That's in line with what I'm expecting to have in a couple of months. If my post op photos looked like this, I'd be concerned. 

@Hairsome- your donor area looks ok, and actually gives the impression of a decent amount of grafts (I couldn't & won't put a number on it). But there seems to be a discrepancy between what the donor/extractions (could probably pass for 2.5K grafts give or take) looks like and what the recipient site looks like (looks no more than 2K tops).

[Britanium]

Yes I agree, the donor is maybe over 2.3k but the recipient area is maybe somewhere around 2k. 

[Hairsome]

Thanks for the feedback, both. I hope I'm just a slow grower and that more hairs will grow in in the next 1-3 months. I'll definitely schedule another appointment with the clinic and discuss the results, # of grafts harvested, etc. I'll be moving abroad soon though which complicates matters. But lets see..