Regular Member Lionsmane89 Posted January 20, 2022 Regular Member Share Posted January 20, 2022 (edited) Hey gents, I took the HT plunge last year in October when my thinning started spiraling out of control and I was using way more Toppik/concealer than I wanted to. It's something I considered for quite a few years and really wanted to pursue, but I was always met with my own sort of apprehension. As the title suggests, I ended up going through with the procedure and it's been a roller-coaster ride since. I chose HLC because the clinic had quite the reputation around different hair transplant forums, and the results I saw online were incredible. It was quite expensive, but I always told myself that I'd never cheap out if I ever decided to go through with the procedure. Part of the reason I chose HLC was because the doctors handle the extraction/implantation process, and I thought that was really important for a successful transplant. Anything to mitigate risk and ensure an awesome result. One of the main reasons I wanted to undergo an HT was because the thinning around the left, right and middle-center areas of my head (not crown, but closer to the front) were seemingly getting worse month by month. I'm a diffused thinner. My main goal was to obviously add density to those regions, while also bolstering my hairline (didn't lower it substantially, it was actually pretty conservative). This might be my own insecurities, but I feel like the regions where they added more density are lagging. I know it's only 3.5 months in, and if there's one thing this community has taught me, it's that 3.5 months is WAY too early to panic, but I think seeing where other people are/were at the same mark is what sort of kickstarted my anxiety. Everything's relative in this day and age, and I can't help but compare myself to others. Anyway, enough of me blabbering. Below is a timeline of how the recovery process has looked thus far (plus some pre-op pics). Let me know what you guys think. Btw, I've been on Fin since I was 22 (I'm 32 now) and started using Rogaine consistently one month post-op. Pre-op (Top) Pre-op (Hair pulled back -- had grown it out quite long) Pre-op (Right) Pre-op (Left side -- severely thinning, pretty much bald) Post-op (Left: this was in between sessions) Post-op (Sorry guys, really wish I had a better photo fresh out of surgery for the full head) Post-op (Day 2) Post-op (2 weeks) Post-op (2 weeks again, more clear pic. Really happy with the hairline) Post-op (1 month) Post-op (2 months) Post-op (The bottom three photos are 3.5 months in. You can see where growth is lagging) Left side Left side again So the left side is still quite thin, BUT there are new grafts appearing now - slowly but surely - which obviously weren't there pre-op. I also wonder if I suffered some shock loss. Hard to pinpoint. Anyway, I'm hoping more grafts will eventually sprout, and in time, mature and thicken. In two weeks I'll be at four months, so we'll see how it goes. Any feedback is really appreciated. Thanks again, folks. Edited January 21, 2022 by Lionsmane89 Added new pic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Gokuhairline Posted January 21, 2022 Senior Member Share Posted January 21, 2022 on pic 5 why is only 1 side look operated and the other half not and in the following pics it all looks operated on ? did they split over 2 days ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Lionsmane89 Posted January 21, 2022 Author Regular Member Share Posted January 21, 2022 9 minutes ago, Gokuhairline said: on pic 5 why is only 1 side look operated and the other half not and in the following pics it all looks operated on ? did they split over 2 days ? Yeah, that was in between sessions, so Day 1 of 2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member TrustTheProcess Posted January 21, 2022 Regular Member Share Posted January 21, 2022 Definitely too early to judge. By any chance, do you recall which doctors performed on you, also if multiple, do you know which sides each worked on? NW6 | FUE HLC Ankara | 5165 Grafts | May 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Lionsmane89 Posted January 21, 2022 Author Regular Member Share Posted January 21, 2022 It was Dr. Umut, I believe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member MachoVato Posted January 21, 2022 Senior Member Share Posted January 21, 2022 (edited) I was in a similar situation. I had a little tuft in the front and diffusion. I can relate! 3.5 months is SUPER early. You should start to see things filling out in the next couple months. Even for me, I saw big difference from month 6 to 10. You can see my Month 4 pics are not that impressive. Be patient and remain optimistic. Keep up posted every month and best of luck!!! Edited January 21, 2022 by MachoVato 1 1 HLC Ankara | 4261 Grafts | Nov 7, 2020 (Hairline) Dr. Bisanga, BHR Clinic in Brussels | 1528 Grafts | Aug 12, 2021 (Crown and Temples) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Lionsmane89 Posted January 21, 2022 Author Regular Member Share Posted January 21, 2022 8 minutes ago, MachoVato said: I was in a similar situation. I had a little tuft in the front and diffusion. I can relate! 3.5 months is SUPER early. You should start to see things filling out in the next couple months. Even for me, I saw big difference from month 6 to 10. You can see my Month 4 pics are not that impressive. Be patient and remain optimistic. Keep up posted every month and best of luck!!! I really appreciate the words, just gotta stay the course and let things unfold. I checked out your transformation and I’m in absolute awe. Pristine results imo. I noticed you had quite the bloom from months 4-5? Hoping I can follow suit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Fue3361 Posted January 21, 2022 Senior Member Share Posted January 21, 2022 I saw pretty early growth, but yeah, as people are saying, 3.5 months, the norm is to not have much growth. Most people really start seeing the big results from months 4-6. 1 Check out my journey here: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Lionsmane89 Posted January 21, 2022 Author Regular Member Share Posted January 21, 2022 5 hours ago, Fue3361 said: I saw pretty early growth, but yeah, as people are saying, 3.5 months, the norm is to not have much growth. Most people really start seeing the big results from months 4-6. Thanks, man, that’s encouraging. I’ve heard the same thing, that the 4-6 month range is when things start to takeoff. I’m seeing a lot of fine hairs in those problem areas, so I’m hoping those continue to grow and mature. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member MeetYourMaker Posted February 17, 2022 Regular Member Share Posted February 17, 2022 any update? On 1/21/2022 at 7:09 PM, Lionsmane89 said: Thanks, man, that’s encouraging. I’ve heard the same thing, that the 4-6 month range is when things start to takeoff. I’m seeing a lot of fine hairs in those problem areas, so I’m hoping those continue to grow and mature. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Lionsmane89 Posted February 19, 2022 Author Regular Member Share Posted February 19, 2022 On 2/17/2022 at 3:05 PM, MeetYourMaker said: any update? Hey, sorry, was thinking of posting a 5 month update, but no harm doing one a little sooner (4.5 months). I think the density’s improved significantly over the past month. Left side is still lagging behind the right but I’m definitely seeing steady improvement. Excited for the next couple of months. (Also can’t wait to dye my hair, these pandemic greys are driving me nuts) FrontLeft side (this side that was pretty much bald to start; starting to see real growth now)right side top (compared to my 3.5 photo above, really happy here) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Lionsmane89 Posted February 19, 2022 Author Regular Member Share Posted February 19, 2022 I combed the left side over and took a photo under harsh lighting. Right pic is pre-op. Hoping it’ll thicken up here. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member hairlossman1 Posted February 19, 2022 Regular Member Share Posted February 19, 2022 Real improvement in the last month! Thanks for the update! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Britanium Posted February 19, 2022 Senior Member Share Posted February 19, 2022 Fair to say it’s really kicking off now ! And its pretty normal for one side to be lagging behind. Eventually it will all catch up 👍🏽 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Lionsmane89 Posted February 19, 2022 Author Regular Member Share Posted February 19, 2022 (edited) I combed the left side over and took a photo under harsh lighting. Right pic is pre-op. Hoping it’ll thicken up here. left: 3.5 months. right: 4.5 months Edited February 19, 2022 by Lionsmane89 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Britanium Posted February 19, 2022 Senior Member Share Posted February 19, 2022 (edited) 5 minutes ago, Lionsmane89 said: Damn that’s impressive growth in just one month ! 👌 Edited February 19, 2022 by JC71 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Lionsmane89 Posted February 19, 2022 Author Regular Member Share Posted February 19, 2022 (edited) 1 minute ago, JC71 said: Damn that’s impressive growth in just one month ! 👌 I wish! Right photo is pre-op, left is 4.5 months post-op. Only really started to see growth in the last month. Edited February 19, 2022 by Lionsmane89 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Britanium Posted February 19, 2022 Senior Member Share Posted February 19, 2022 2 minutes ago, Lionsmane89 said: I wish! Right photo is pre-op, left is 4.5 months post-op. Only really started to see growth in the last month. Lol I was looking on my phone, saw 3.5 - 4.5 months and thought… wow.. but what is clear is that your growth has really started. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Dillpickle123 Posted February 20, 2022 Senior Member Share Posted February 20, 2022 How was your hair at 22? Wondering how well finasteride worked after 10 years of use Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member stephcurry30 Posted February 20, 2022 Senior Member Share Posted February 20, 2022 Great early growth! This is going to be a home run! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Lionsmane89 Posted February 20, 2022 Author Regular Member Share Posted February 20, 2022 14 hours ago, stephcurry30 said: Great early growth! This is going to be a home run! Appreciate it, Steph 🏀! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Lionsmane89 Posted February 20, 2022 Author Regular Member Share Posted February 20, 2022 (edited) 15 hours ago, Dillpickle123 said: How was your hair at 22? Wondering how well finasteride worked after 10 years of use As a diffused thinner I started losing a lot of density on both sides at ~21-22 (middle strip was OK). I had decent hair but the signs were all there, so I tried to get in front of it early with Fin. It held strong for years and I’m convinced had I not done it sooner, I’d been bald-bald before my late 20s/early 30s. It also helped regrow some hair that I’d lost years prior. I think Mother Nature will invariaby run its course (losing hair) but fin does a good job of slowing down that process, which is good enough for me. Edited February 20, 2022 by Lionsmane89 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member -TheHairUpThere- Posted August 31, 2022 Regular Member Share Posted August 31, 2022 Hello wanted to know if you had any updates?....currently shopping around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member SctWls Posted September 1, 2022 Regular Member Share Posted September 1, 2022 hlc is too expensive Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now