About to get a hair transplant in Turkey

[Taylormade]

Hello HRN! Grateful for this community, I’ve learned so much as a reader that I decided to go ahead and pull the trigger, I wanted to make an account and document this and hopefully continue to learn from you all.

 

Im 29 and from the United States, never had a hair transplant. I attached images of my current hair state to compare to as the process begins and want to document it clearly

 

My surgeon options are in order of who I want to do the surgery most.

 

1: HLC Ankara (in communication with them now) 

2: Dr. Bicer (no availability till September 2022) but will let me know if there’s a cancellation to come in sooner

3: Fue Capilar (2 session split one year apart front and then crown)

4: Dr. Yaman (available now and will do 5k in one sitting)

 

HLC pros and cons: highest price but seems to provide overall consistent great results- may not do a mega session in one sitting (4,000 units +)

 Dr. Bicers office is harder to get ahold of but when they do respond on whatsapp they’re amazing, such clear communication. But also, won’t do more than 3500 units in one session. I respect it, I just am not sure if I can split it up in 2 unless I get a little coverage in the crown out the gate 

 

Fue capilar wants to do the front half of my head, 4000 units then I come back and do the crown area, atleast 1k units 

 

Dr Yaman, available now, great price and can do 5k grafts in one session but I haven’t seen the best crown density - thinking I may go with him and even do smp on the crown area a month before the HT, buys me time to go back and do the crown again but I’m worried Ima burn a lot of donor hairs

 

Let me know what you guys think! I’m ready to do this as soon as March

 

Edited January 15, 2022 by Taylormade

[Dillpickle123]

Do you have a budget? They all seem to be doctors in turkey

[Taylormade]

22 minutes ago, Dillpickle123 said:

Do you have a budget? They all seem to be doctors in turkey

Budget is 6k but hlc is much higher and if they are the best option I’d do it

[JoeMan]

Are you on any medication like finasteride? 

[Taylormade]

4 minutes ago, JoeMan said:

Are you on any medication like finasteride? 

I am on 1mg finasteride everyday been on for 2 years 

I keep the hair full looking with toppik daily but I don’t use minox probably should, I have it

i use a ketoconazole DHT blocking shampoo a couple times per week 

[digi23]

I think a two step approach would be the best to not risk overharvesting and a single session of 5k grafts is really rushed, its not going to be refined work.

[Raphael84]

I would agree with @digi23 in terms of a two step approach and being cautious of donor limitations and potential overharvesting.

Few patients have the donor density to be able to safely provide in excess of 4000 grafts in one session/procedure of FUE without placing too much in terms of demand on ones donor area. In doing so, it can be detrimental to total donor availability over subsequent surgeries as the donor is not able to optimally heal due to such high graft numbers meaning more focused extractions in each and every cm2 of donor.

Your thread doesn't present donor photos, but regardless even with high quality photos, donor density, hair groupings, potential miniaturisation and other such data can not be accurately known.

Despite the fact that you have retained some native hair, the surface area that would require restoration is significant, essentially front to back and whilst it is completely understandable and natural to want to address some density/coverage into your crown in your first session, realistically this would not be the best approach as doing so would likely put too much pressure on your donor in attempt to achieve required graft numbers, and also result in grafts being distributed over too large an area to achieve any real illusion of density.

Crown design and restoration requires to rebuild the crown in a spiral/swirl like pattern to mimic nature and achieve a natural result. To be able to achieve this, due to the constant changing of graft direction, crown restorations can require rather significant graft counts.

Whilst we would all prefer to achieve as much as possible in one sitting, the objective always has to be long term and best possible result as opposed to over reaching in on surgery and resulting in more limitations in subsequent sessions.

Be thorough with your research and dont rush into anything. We only get one chance to proceed with surgery with a "virgin" scalp and any further procedures will always be influenced by our first procedure, so really do take your time and educate yourself. 

I wish you the best of luck.

Edited January 15, 2022 by Raphael84

[JoeMan]

11 minutes ago, digi23 said:

I think a two step approach would be the best to not risk overharvesting and a single session of 5k grafts is really rushed, its not going to be refined work.

I agree,  especially since your budget seems limited to Turkey Dr's.

I wouldn't choose based on who can perform 5k grafts at once. Sounds like HLC is your main pick, so I wouldn't rule them out based on not doing everything at once. Also maybe consider some European surgeons. I think HLC is around the same cost as some really good European Dr's, but I don't recall their cost tbh.

 

[Baldingat22]

Interested in this. What are everyone’s thoughts on HLC? I’ve heard they are the best and they are more expensive than the rest but the seem to do great work from their results. Just curious if they are the absolute best in Turkey?

[ProspectII]

15 minutes ago, Baldingat22 said:

Interested in this. What are everyone’s thoughts on HLC? I’ve heard they are the best and they are more expensive than the rest but the seem to do great work from their results. Just curious if they are the absolute best in Turkey?

I would also be keen to hear opinions on this topic. I know HLC & Bicer are held in really high regard for Turkey.

[NARMAK]

OP, you should probably start using Minoxidil and Microneedling and wait a bit to see how the results are. Potentially it could save you having to use a lot of grafts in the crown/midscalp if you have a good response. 

I personally didn't use Finasteride (Dutasteride in my case) in combination with Minoxidil because my personal situation didn't have the markers to warrant it and it increases your cost but in your case, it probably looks like a combination would work better since you already been on Finasteride for 2 years already. 

Are you taking 1mg every day? 

[Taylormade]

3 hours ago, NARMAK said:

OP, you should probably start using Minoxidil and Microneedling and wait a bit to see how the results are. Potentially it could save you having to use a lot of grafts in the crown/midscalp if you have a good response. 

I personally didn't use Finasteride (Dutasteride in my case) in combination with Minoxidil because my personal situation didn't have the markers to warrant it and it increases your cost but in your case, it probably looks like a combination would work better since you already been on Finasteride for 2 years already. 

Are you taking 1mg every day? 

I love this advice, it’s funny I’ve been on 1mg for ages but now Hairtime was my first choice for a Ht before researching - they made me get off fin for a month

 

im so glad I didn’t go with them, and got back on fin hair looks even thicker than the pics I posted here now without minox and micro needling but last night I just started minox. Ordered .50mm to 1.5mm derma rollers and will begin, exactly what you stated. Could be epic to only really need to transplant the crown and hairline area 

 

 

thank you for this! Will update you guys

[NARMAK]

3 hours ago, Taylormade said:

I love this advice, it’s funny I’ve been on 1mg for ages but now Hairtime was my first choice for a Ht before researching - they made me get off fin for a month

 

im so glad I didn’t go with them, and got back on fin hair looks even thicker than the pics I posted here now without minox and micro needling but last night I just started minox. Ordered .50mm to 1.5mm derma rollers and will begin, exactly what you stated. Could be epic to only really need to transplant the crown and hairline area 

 

 

thank you for this! Will update you guys

You're welcome and i think the fact they told you to stop Finasteride is completely bizarre and against all reputable advice. 

If i had to guess, they're a shady hair mill and by getting off Finasteride you will lose more hair and so they can quote you let's say 5k-6k grafts which they charge more for. 

Honestly, the fact you already said you got more hair again getting back on Finasteride than the pics, makes me hopeful you should see solid results for Minoxidil and Microneedling. Personally i would say the first few sessions of 1.5mm for me were a bit more painful but once used to it, its not as bad. 

Hair Transplants should always be a last resort. Not the first. You have a finite donor area, so whatever you can restore imo is 100x better to save. 

[afra]

my friend, I had it done in Istanbul, I was very satisfied, I got the result I wanted, the price is very suitable for me, I recommend it. Also, take a look at my photos.

[New_Barnet_Please]

@Melvin- Moderator this @afra is a new account posting the same thing on all threads, seems like an undercover shill...

Even if not should probably create a thread instead of spamming. 

[afra]

ne oldu hocam
fikir vermek için paylaşıyorum @New_Barnet_Lütfen

Edited January 28, 2022 by afra

[headofhair1999]

@Taylormadewhich doctor did you decide to go with? I'm in the same situation and looking to get HT as early as March.

Edited January 28, 2022 by headofhair1999
name callout wasn't correct

[JoeMan]

I wouldn't put a timeline like March as a deciding factor. I'm sure this is not what you meant but any reputable Dr will most likely have a waiting list well past March. 

[headofhair1999]

You’re right. 

[Taylormade]

3 hours ago, headofhair1999 said:

@Taylormadewhich doctor did you decide to go with? I'm in the same situation and looking to get HT as early as March.

Honestly it’s kind of hard getting responses on what’sapp, still trying to decide between the 3 but also been strict on micro needling, fin and minox

 

ill post an update on how that’s going as well

[headofhair1999]

@TaylormadeJust heard back from Bicer, they have an opening on 1/31/22 if you want to go. I'll probably postpone my procedure till the end of September.

[NARMAK]

5 hours ago, headofhair1999 said:

@Taylormadewhich doctor did you decide to go with? I'm in the same situation and looking to get HT as early as March.

As said above, don't rush to a timescale. Firstly make sure you choose the right place to have it done and have the funds in place. I'm personally hoping that anybody who decides to put a timescale on things is doing so after they have done their homework. 

I can understand a "window" if you will that if i have it by March, X amount of time passes and the following year it looks like Y for me by Spring/Summer etc. but you will be having to life with this hair transplant for life. Over the sake of a few months/years or bit extra cash, don't ruin yourself.

[headofhair1999]

Just now, NARMAK said:

As said above, don't rush to a timescale. Firstly make sure you choose the right place to have it done and have the funds in place. I'm personally hoping that anybody who decides to put a timescale on things is doing so after they have done their homework. 

I can understand a "window" if you will that if i have it by March, X amount of time passes and the following year it looks like Y for me by Spring/Summer etc. but you will be having to life with this hair transplant for life. Over the sake of a few months/years or bit extra cash, don't ruin yourself.

Yes, I was in a rush to find a doctor and get it done but now I stopped and I'm going back to the drawing board. I'm planning to book something for Fall 2022 and until then I'll continue to research doctors. Thanks.

[NARMAK]

4 minutes ago, headofhair1999 said:

Yes, I was in a rush to find a doctor and get it done but now I stopped and I'm going back to the drawing board. I'm planning to book something for Fall 2022 and until then I'll continue to research doctors. Thanks.

There's a lot of great help on this forum. I 100% think my personal situation being what it was that forced me to end up waiting has worked in my favour and it led me to starting medication, doing all the sort of research that i should and really getting to know the stuff i think a lot of people neglect. 

There's so many guys going from the UK for example to Turkey to hair mills and in 10-20 years, there's going to be an epidemic of bad results plastered across the web as a warning of hindsight and so on. 

I didn't want to be that guy. I'm on a budget, but also i hope that i am smart enough to use it wisely. Pay a bit more, but maybe not quite the same amount as some places and kind of get the best place for myself possible. Save up though if you need to. 

[Taylormade]

Hey guys, Bicer told me there’s an opening in may. I wanted to post a quick update

 

been using the 1.5 micro needle once a week, minox most weekdays atleast once per day- usually at night before bed and Regenepure DR shampoo 3x per week on average

I’m seeing some hair growth. To the point I don’t even need to put toppik on the right side of my hairline. Crown growth went from skin to peach fuzz

im very impressed. Goin to ride this out  

 

 

 

 

Edited February 12, 2022 by Taylormade