FUE HLC Ankara | NW2/3 | 2160 Grafts | October, 2021

[CasuallyCopacetic]

Thanks to everyone who took the time to comment on my initial post and provide their input/advice. Obviously, I ended up committing to the surgery and to be frank, I'm completely satisfied with the progress thus far! This week was the first time I've been able to style my hair in over four months, which was a huge ritual for me prior to this adventure. The styling product provides volume and a relatively natural look, but my growth has really just started as of the beginning of month 3. If I had to estimate, I am probably at about 40% density so far. The hair that has grown out (that are about 1-2" long and styled) are very immature and wispy compared to the surrounded natural hair. I can see strands breaking through the skin (less than .5" long) that look more normal in strand thickness, so I would imagine I have several months before I have a completely natural density that isn't noticeable. As it stands, in certain lighting, you can definitely tell that transplant areas aren't full density, as you would expect.

In the first photo, you see the hairline design suggested by HLC. The area inside the outline is actually only 1660 grafts (50-55 grafts/cm2 density). They then used an additional 500 grafts blended 1-2" into my hairline in order to blend the texture of the transplanted hair and provide density if my hair continues to recede further. I've been on Fin since I was 26 (Currently 32 years old) and started Min 1 month pre-op. I'm currently taking both Fin+Minox daily for hair loss prevention. 

 

	# Grafts	Total Hairs
Singles	239	239
Doubles	701	1402
Multiples	1220	3660
Total	2160	5301

 

10/28/2021 - Consultation Day with HLC

 

10/29/2021 - Day of Surgery

 

2/15/2022 - 15.5 Weeks Post Op

 

May 2021 vs. Feb 2022 - 15 Weeks Post Op

 

 

 

 

Edited February 16, 2022 by CasuallyCopacetic

[follically challenged]

57 minutes ago, CasuallyCopacetic said:

Thanks to everyone who took the time to comment on my initial post and provide their input/advice. Obviously, I ended up committing to the surgery and to be frank, I'm completely satisfied with the progress thus far! This week was the first time I've been able to style my hair in over four months, which was a huge ritual for me prior to this adventure. The styling product provides volume and a relatively natural look, but my growth has really just started as of the beginning of month 3. If I had to estimate, I am probably at about 40% density so far. The hair that has grown out (that are about 1-2" long and styled) are very immature and wispy compared to the surrounded natural hair. I can see strands breaking through the skin (less than .5" long) that look more normal in strand thickness, so I would imagine I have several months before I have a completely natural density that isn't noticeable. As it stands, in certain lighting, you can definitely tell that transplant areas aren't full density, as you would expect.

In the first photo, you see the hairline design suggested by HLC. The area inside the outline is actually only 1660 grafts (50-55 grafts/cm2 density). They then used an additional 500 grafts blended 1-2" into my hairline in order to blend the texture of the transplanted hair and provide density if my hair continues to recede further. I've been on Fin since I was 26 (Currently 32 years old) and started Min 1 month pre-op. I'm not currently taking both Fin+Minox daily for hair loss prevention. 

 

	# Grafts	Total Hairs
Singles	239	239
Doubles	701	1402
Multiples	1220	3660
Total	2160	5301

 

10/28/2021 - Consultation Day with HLC

 

10/29/2021 - Day of Surgery

 

2/15/2022 - 15.5 Weeks Post Op

 

May 2021 vs. Feb 2022 - 15 Weeks Post Op

 

 

 

 

Man, that is a quality result! Congrats!

A few questions: 1. you say you're 'NOT taking both Fin+Minox daily', right? Any reason why? And do you mean you take it every other day or something?

2. Would you describe your hair thickness as thick, medium, or thin?

3. Any chance you could upload some donor pics? Thanks!

[CasuallyCopacetic]

19 minutes ago, follically challenged said:

Man, that is a quality result! Congrats!

A few questions: 1. you say you're 'NOT taking both Fin+Minox daily', right? Any reason why? And do you mean you take it every other day or something?

2. Would you describe your hair thickness as thick, medium, or thin?

3. Any chance you could upload some donor pics? Thanks!

Ahh, that was a typo! I AM currently taking those both everyday. I had originally thought my hair was thin to medium, but HLC told me it was very thick. I’d probably say it’s medium to thick. 
 

Here’s a donor picture from yesterday after having a pretty low fade:

Edited February 16, 2022 by CasuallyCopacetic

[CasuallyCopacetic]

Here’s 1 day post op donor:

[MazAB]

With your current daily regimen, donor quality, and high dense packing at 50 grafts per cm2, I do believe that a one and done is in order for you! Everything is shaping up beautifully!

Follow my Journey with Eugenix and Dr Arika Bansal!

[CasuallyCopacetic]

56 minutes ago, MazAB said:

With your current daily regimen, donor quality, and high dense packing at 50 grafts per cm2, I do believe that a one and done is in order for you! Everything is shaping up beautifully!

Follow my Journey with Eugenix and Dr Arika Bansal!

Thank you! I think I'm on a successful path so far. I was extremely worried about shock loss with how much of the high density transplant area was blended into my existing hairline, but it I think starting Minoxidil 6 weeks prior to the transplant shed most of those hairs I would have lost post op anyway. 

[CasuallyCopacetic]

Here’s a video in bathroom lighting with my hair styled. 
 

 

[hairlossman1]

Looks like some great early growth so far! Look forward to further updates

Which doctors were involved in your case?

[digi23]

Not to sound negative but the photos you posted you were probably NW1.25 or so, not sure how its even possible to use 2160 grafts? You look identical but with a smaller forehead on your pre-op vs post-op.

Did they lower your hairline by 1.5-2cm?

The good part is that it does not really matter probably, you are 32 years old on Finasteride, with little to no hairloss, so should be fine with the donor.

Edited February 16, 2022 by digi23

[Britanium]

Damn ! 4 months looking like that 🤛 nice lil video !

[Gatsby]

You have excellent quality hair from your pics and so far you are looking well on the road to success if you haven't already hit it. Thanks for sharing!

[follically challenged]

Nice. donor looks untouched!

[CasuallyCopacetic]

6 hours ago, digi23 said:

Not to sound negative but the photos you posted you were probably NW1.25 or so, not sure how its even possible to use 2160 grafts? You look identical but with a smaller forehead on your pre-op vs post-op.

Did they lower your hairline by 1.5-2cm?

The good part is that it does not really matter probably, you are 32 years old on Finasteride, with little to no hairloss, so should be fine with the donor.

I’m surprised that you think the state of your hairline prior to transplant was worse than mine. We basically had the same level of recession except mine was completely asymmetrical. My hairline was lowered roughly 1cm on the right temple, 2cm in the middle, and 3-4cm on the left. They even maintained some of that natural asymmetry in their design as it’s still higher on one side over the other. 

Heres a before photo of the left temple that shows my recession a little more clearly. 
 

Edited February 16, 2022 by CasuallyCopacetic

[CasuallyCopacetic]

6 hours ago, hairlossman1 said:

Looks like some great early growth so far! Look forward to further updates

Which doctors were involved in your case?

I had three sessions over two days. Dr. Elif and Dr. Umut were assigned to my case with Dr. Elif doing the majority of the work. 

[digi23]

31 minutes ago, CasuallyCopacetic said:

I’m surprised that you think the state of your hairline prior to transplant was worse than mine. We basically had the same level of recession except mine was completely asymmetrical. My hairline was lowered roughly 1cm on the right temple, 2cm in the middle, and 3-4cm on the left. They even maintained some of that natural asymmetry in their design as it’s still higher on one side over the other. 

Heres a before photo of the left temple that shows my recession a little more clearly. 
 

Oh that photo shows another story, this result is extremely good and I understand the amount of grafts used. But the photos you showed in your other post seemed little to no recession also.

Seems that you had recession just on one side? Or that your natural hairline was like that. 

I was referring to this.

[CasuallyCopacetic]

1 minute ago, digi23 said:

Oh that photo shows another story, this result is extremely good and I understand the amount of grafts used. But the photos you showed in your other post seemed little to no recession also.

Seems that you had recession just on one side? Or that your natural hairline was like that. 

I was referring to this.

 

I had recession all the way across, but it was much more dramatic on the left. The very noticeable difference created even more facial asymmetry than I naturally have which is hugely detrimental to general attractiveness and the way in which my hair could be styled. 

[MachoVato]

I kinda agree that the side by side picture doesn't look very different. Which shows that you were good at styling your hair to hide the weak areas. And honestly, you hair color blends easily with your skin color, too. Only this last photo really shows your recession.

At 4 months, things starting to improve for me. But it was around month 8 or 9 that it really started to look great. You're in the very early stages. It only gets better from here! Best of luck!

[digi23]

1 minute ago, CasuallyCopacetic said:

I had recession all the way across, but it was much more dramatic on the left. The very noticeable difference created even more facial asymmetry than I naturally have which is hugely detrimental to general attractiveness and the way in which my hair could be styled. 

Yes I can see that the other side is getting abit thinner aswell, but one side is abit more dramatic. When you turn your head sideways I think is the biggest difference now with a NW1 from every angle. 

Great result from HLC, there have been some negative reviews recently so good to see great work from them as we are used to.

[CasuallyCopacetic]

2 minutes ago, MachoVato said:

I kinda agree that the side by side picture doesn't look very different. Which shows that you were good at styling your hair to hide the weak areas. And honestly, you hair color blends easily with your skin color, too. Only this last photo really shows your recession.

At 4 months, things starting to improve for me. But it was around month 8 or 9 that it really started to look great. You're in the very early stages. It only gets better from here! Best of luck!

Bingo. In all of my before pictures (outside of that last one), my hair is cut and styled to create as much symmetry as possible with the unevenness. I can try to find some better photos that illustrate how bad the recession was. 

[CasuallyCopacetic]

1 minute ago, digi23 said:

Yes I can see that the other side is getting abit thinner aswell, but one side is abit more dramatic. When you turn your head sideways I think is the biggest difference now with a NW1 from every angle. 

Great result from HLC, there have been some negative reviews recently so good to see great work from them as we are used to.

Yes, exactly. From the front angle, things weren’t “terrible” but now I think it looks great from every angle despite not being full density yet. 

[Gasthoerer]

Josh Homme is this you? 😁

Great result! Congratulations. 

[Britanium]

5 minutes ago, Gasthoerer said:

Josh Homme is this you? 😁

Great result! Congratulations. 

Had to google that name …. 😂🤣

[CasuallyCopacetic]

1 minute ago, JC71 said:

Had to google that name …. 😂🤣

LOL same. An unfortunate comparison! 

[Mike10]

 Honestly I thought you looked good before too. 

[CasuallyCopacetic]

7 minutes ago, Mike10 said:

 Honestly I thought you looked good before too. 

Thanks, man. It wasn't a major difference in total hair, but I feel more comfortable in my own skin now and am extremely excited about being able to style it in interesting ways.