Hair Transplant Review - Dr Nader (Nader Medical) Reynosa, MX/McAllen, TX - 1350 grafts

[Gracz]

I wanted to post here to give back to the community. If it wasn't for you guys and gals I would never have found about the procedure and made up my mind to finally do it. Long story short - I am 34 and had thin, receding hairline for over 10 years now. I started taking 1mg Finasteride about 5 years ago, and I think it slowed the shedding, but the old hair line was nowhere in reach. I still feel very young (in 20's ), but the receding temples made me look much older than I was   I was really struggling with this, my self-esteem was really low recently and It took extra burden in already troubling COVID times.

I have chosen dr Nader based on great reviews in this forum - have not heard about his clinic from any other source. I booked a date two months in advance right next to Labor Day, so I could drive with no rush (I live in Central Texas) and spend some time at the beach before and chill in the shade after the procedure too

First of all - why the title says "Reynosa/McAllen"? Because it is not a "typical clinic in Mexico/Turkey". You don't feel you are in Mexico, you just drive through some (shady, but safe) suburbs for 20 minutes with a hired driver and you are basically in the US again when you enter dr Nader's office. It is modern, very clean, everyone speaks English. Dr Nader and your driver all have US phone numbers. Better yet - Dr Nader is US born and even lives in McAllen. It's just that the clinic is based in Mexico.

I was a bit anxious the day before the procedure, but all stress went away when I was in the office - I always felt very safe, and well cared. I was the only patient that day, so nothing is getting done in rush, there are 0 distractions along the way. First we had an hour-and-a-half consultation. It was great - we got to talk about the procedure, ask questions, set expectations about new hairline etc. Next we started the extraction process - you just lie on a bed similar to massage beds, and the hair is being removed. Painless, except the initial anesthetic (dr Nader is using some vibration device to ease the pain but it's not comfortable regardless). It took a bit over an hour, and about 1400 hair follicles were extracted - a surprising number of 3 hair ones were there too (hoping for a nice regrowth :)). You are then served lunch (great tacos) and move to a "dentist" chair. You have a great view of the monitor with US Netflix  and the transplantation begins. Again - painless, except the anesthetic. One thing that is weird is that every incision is made you can't fee it but you can hear it - like you were cutting cabbage . All hair was done replacing in about 3 hours. I felt really good at this point and we talked a lot when we waited for the driver. We crossed the border really fast (we took a different entrance - longer drive, but almost no line) and I was back in ~40 min at my hotel in McAllen. 

I immediately loved my new hair line. I was not shocked by the redness, scars or anything, I was just enjoying it from the first time I saw it. I then knew that the only mistake I did was not doing the transplant way earlier - at least a few years!

First night was rough - I couldn't sleep (except a few naps) because I was paranoid that I will turn and my precious new hair would fall off ;/ Next day I was surprisingly ok - I took the medicine, did not feel any pain, and chilled in shade and a loose cap on the beach in South Padre Island. Second night was much better since I got some sleep, but still, no pain or swelling, so I was really happy about the outcome. Third day I started washing my hair, very gently but actually touching it. That day is when the donor area started hurting. The pain is very strange since it's not swollen or it's not skin pain - it's about a missing nerve tip, so it resonates to other parts of your head. The medicine helps, but I will always feel the donor area soreness/needle like pain much more than the transplant area.

 

Now the pictures - before, during and right after the procedure. I am absolutely shocked that I was missing about 5cm/2" of hairline...

 

 

Edited September 23, 2021 by Gracz

[Gracz]

Three days later - scabs started developing on both donor and transplant area - first time I got to (gently)touch my new hair  

[Britanium]

What a great write up ! We are starting to see more Nader results appear. Good luck with your journey and be sure to keep us all updated 👍🏽 Payback to the community is always welcomed 🙏

[Gracz]

A week later - I get some nice scabs. No pain, I am no longer on medication, but man they all itch like crazy! Again I have much more itching at the donor area, not the transplant (which feels quite "numb", since it's all covered in scabs). I was a little bit worried that the scabs are not falling off just yet...

[Gracz]

Two weeks later - all scabs are gone! I am back to normal with my routine (normal hair wash, normal shampoo). The hair length is evened out in the back, and bit too long in the front now! I might need a hair cut sometime this week. I no longer wear a hat or cover it anymore anywhere - like in public but even when I meet with friends etc. Fun part - no one of my friends noticed so far that there is something wrong with my hair style (since they are all similar length) (I did not tell anyone since I work remotely due to COVID and thought it's not that relevant). My wife likes it. A lot.  

[follically challenged]

5 hours ago, Gracz said:

Two weeks later - all scabs are gone! I am back to normal with my routine (normal hair wash, normal shampoo). The hair length is evened out in the back, and bit too long in the front now! I might need a hair cut sometime this week. I no longer wear a hat or cover it anymore anywhere - like in public but even when I meet with friends etc. Fun part - no one of my friends noticed so far that there is something wrong with my hair style (since they are all similar length) (I did not tell anyone since I work remotely due to COVID and thought it's not that relevant). My wife likes it. A lot.  

So refreshing to see someone with hair similar to my own, instead of the usual thick, black, bulletproof hair on the results... us fair-haired baldies exist too!!

How adament was Nader that you keep up with Fin...? Have you ever had any effects from it in the past?

[Gracz]

Nader is endorsing using Finasteride long term to stop the rest of the hair falling out, but also found a few alternatives. Apparently there are monoxidil/Rogaine tablets now that he is investigating (and ever trying out himself :P).

[Let2Fly]

Thanks for the write up! Your breakdown in the initial post really helped put me at ease with the process. I'm in Southern Cali so I'll have to deal with the flight back with a bandage but I'm ok with that. (Thanks Covid mask lol)

Question....how did you get in touch with Dr. Nader or Brenda in order to book your appointment? I've been trying to get in touch with them, filled out the online form, sent photos and email...just awaiting response. I'm ready to book now asap, so I was just wondering if you might be able to help connect me? 🙂 

[Meercat]

Did you hear back from his office? I’m also in the same boat.

[Gokuhairline]

1 month update ?

[Let2Fly]

Would love to see an update on your progress @follically challenged 

 

Also @Meercat I did hear back pretty quickly from Brenda (Dr. Nader was cc'd on the email also). And after some back and forth with questions I set up two days in November to have my procedure. Flights/hotels booked and ready to go! 

[Gracz]

I also did not have any problem with communication - it might be slow but they respond. If not just call them in business hours: https://www.nadermedical.com/contact/

 

And now the 6 week update! I have cut my hair twice already and after making pictures could use one more cut now  The area is still red - not tender at all, feels very natural, just red. I am doing everything normally, cutting hair, swimming, washing with normal shampoo etc.

The new hair is thinning  but it held up surprisingly well (I was only expecting it to last a month) - it also grows together with the normal hair  I am waiting for the worst - when all the hair will completely fall off  But then it will regrow!

 

BTW - some of my friends did not notice anything although I am not waring any hair cover anymore, so looks quite natural.

[LoneWolf]

Keep the updates coming! This is very helpful.

Can you share what Dr. Nader's graft prices currently are?

When you crossed from the US into Mexico, did you have to fill out an FMM form to enter Mexico, or did they just wave you through?

[Gracz]

It's around $3 per graft - the more grafts the lower the price per graft.

US -> Mex - no one cared a little bit, we did not stop for a second, did not show any documents to anyone

Mex -> US - we took a detour and used the Anzaludas bridge - 20 min extra ride but we waited <5 minutes at the border. Again no Mex border control at all, but you have to stop on the US border control. Both the driver and I gave them driving license and passport/GC and we were off in a few minutes, they did not check the car or vaccines or any other documents. 

[RicoRavage]

Any update?

[Jake2012]

Would love to see an update on this!

[Gracz]

Oooops, forgot to give updates! This is my new hairstyle. Note I am now combing hair one way, so the right side temple is new hair only. 

 

10/10 for Mr Nader. I just visited my home town and none of my friends noticed any difference between new and old hair, they completely blend in.

Edited January 7, 2022 by Gracz

[Trichotrophy]

Thanks for chronicling your own experiences and your progressional updates! You've had promising results for only four months of recovery time, and I'm sure you'll have a natural-looking juvenile hairline again when it's all said and done.

I'm planning in principle on my own procedure with Dr. Nader (in large part because of all the results you and other patients have pooled on this board), and your detailed review answered some of my questions; for example, I'm relieved to know it's just a door-to-door visit to the crime-ridden town of Reynosa and that the procedure only takes several hours per sitting for the amount of grafts I'll need per day. There is one more detail I'd like you to elaborate on a bit further, however...

On 9/22/2021 at 10:31 PM, Gracz said:

Painless, except the initial anesthetic (dr Nader is using some vibration device to ease the pain but it's not comfortable regardless).

How would you rate that pain level on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being tantamount to a wasp sting? Not the aftereffects, but just the moment of injection. 

If it's no more painful than dental anesthesia for teeth cleaning, then I'll feel silly for fussing over this; otherwise, if it's closer to a wasp sting on the pain scale, I might have to specially steel myself for it. Again, probably a trivial question since I'm often overapprehensive about injections (even if they're as painless as vaccinal shots), but an honest answer will give me some peace of mind.

Thanks in advance, and best wishes on your remaining road to recovery and possible subsequent procedures!

 

[MachoVato]

On 1/7/2022 at 2:45 PM, Gracz said:

Oooops, forgot to give updates! This is my new hairstyle. Note I am now combing hair one way, so the right side temple is new hair only. 

 

10/10 for Mr Nader. I just visited my home town and none of my friends noticed any difference between new and old hair, they completely blend in.

 

How about an update?

[Braindrain]

Any chance at an update? Your hair loss pattern is just like mine with the recession and thinning in frontal third. I’m booked with Nader and trying to ensure I made a good choice.

[eb21007]

3 hours ago, Braindrain said:

Any chance at an update? Your hair loss pattern is just like mine with the recession and thinning in frontal third. I’m booked with Nader and trying to ensure I made a good choice.

 

Edited April 23, 2022 by eb21007
Didn't realize it was a question for someone else

[Gracz]

Sorry for no updates for some time, but this will be my last update (unless something dramatically changes).

It's been a year since the transplant and things could not be better. I am no longer in any type of "recovery". I treat the hair as it was mine, I have cut it a number of times already and don't use any "special" treatment. There is no weird feeling, numbness, redness or noticable difference between the other hair that I have. I am now also having various hairstyles and they all look good (even tried bangs :P).

I am constantly taking finasteride (in average 1mg/5 times a week since I tend to travel and forget to take it sometimes :P)

Good luck!

 

[Melvin- Admin]

Excellent results, would love to see how it looks like in the front. 

[HairEnthusiast101]

4 hours ago, Gracz said:

Sorry for no updates for some time, but this will be my last update (unless something dramatically changes).

It's been a year since the transplant and things could not be better. I am no longer in any type of "recovery". I treat the hair as it was mine, I have cut it a number of times already and don't use any "special" treatment. There is no weird feeling, numbness, redness or noticable difference between the other hair that I have. I am now also having various hairstyles and they all look good (even tried bangs :P).

I am constantly taking finasteride (in average 1mg/5 times a week since I tend to travel and forget to take it sometimes :P)

Good luck!

 

Looks great! Nader is a master! When I saw 1350 grafts I was wondering how so little grafts could cover that density but seems he did a great job. Have you shaved the back down to a 1 guard or so to see what donor fue healing has looked like?

[Gatsby]

Excellent results @Gracz. All the best and thanks for sharing!