Looking for advice for FUE procedure

[piruka]

I am considering having an FUE procedure done. There aren't many options available where I live, plus they have a huge waitlist, price tag and questionable results. So I'm looking overseas, more specifically in Turkey.

I have been taking finasteride for the past 4 years and considering an HT for the past 3 years. Now that I'm 30, I feel more prepared and ready to pull the trigger. 
I started finasteride and topical minoxidil around the same time but had to stop minoxidil because it made my scalp itchy. I switched to a solution without propylene glycol to avoid scalp irritation, which was better but didn't solve the problem. Still, I stayed on it for a good 2 or 3 years until I stopped around 6 or 7 months ago. It is hard to tell, but overall I think I'm in a similar situation compared to 4 years ago.

Since I don't know if or how much more my hair loss will progress, I'm a bit concerned about having a hair transplant. I'm aware that by choosing this path I'm likely to need another one in the future. My goals/expectations are to reconstruct the hairline and have some grafts placed on the crown/mid-scalp at a lower density. I wouldn't do more than 3500 grafts at this stage to preserve the donor area. 

 

Here are some photos:

 

Few weeks later after a hair cut. (Guard 3 on the back and sides)

 

I know it's so hard so judge by photos but, what do you think about my donor area? Hair thickness?

 

 

These are the doctors that are currently on my short list:

Dr. Resul Yaman
Dr. Gur
Dr. Turan
Dr. Tayfun
AEK Hair Clinic

The main criteria for making my short list was:

• IAHRS member
• ABHRS member
• Reviews on this community
• Results from cases similar to mine
• Availability
• Communication with the clinic

 

 

Edited March 29, 2022 by piruka

[JoeMan]

I'd stay away from Dr. Yaman if it was me. Look at @digi23 case from him. 

Turkey is honestly not the best place for a HT. Much better Dr's in Portugal, Spain and Belgium. For a little more money you can get a much better Dr.

[piruka]

I had seen his case. But overall Dr Yaman seems to have a good reputation I believe. For sure there are great Doctors in Europe, but paying €10k+ Euro is not an option for me. I'm not after the very best hairline or a head full of hair. I'm after someone that won't butch my head and can do a good job. 

Costs to run a clinic in Europe are higher, which makes me wonder if the big price difference is reflected in results in the same proportion.

I've also looked in Australia and have an online consultation with another in Brazil.

 

[NARMAK]

2 hours ago, piruka said:

I had seen his case. But overall Dr Yaman seems to have a good reputation I believe. For sure there are great Doctors in Europe, but paying €10k+ Euro is not an option for me. I'm not after the very best hairline or a head full of hair. I'm after someone that won't butch my head and can do a good job. 

Costs to run a clinic in Europe are higher, which makes me wonder if the big price difference is reflected in results in the same proportion.

I've also looked in Australia and have an online consultation with another in Brazil.

 

Hi piruka, 

Can you please share your budget and where you are from which could help people maybe guide you to other options that might be suitable. 

Also, are you willing to potentially wait a bit longer and save up more if this can increase your options? 

The hair transplant industry and probably cosmetic procedures in general to the face, body and head are probably not a good idea to try restrict yourself with a specific budget because the results could be catastrophic and had you waited a little bit longer, then maybe you could avoid some of the issues. 

Generally, the forum knows everybody has a budget. Heck, i know that probably better than most but i have decided to save up and researched the place i thought best fit my budget too and hair restoration goals. 

You're on a good forum and hopefully we can get you to select the right place and have price of mind. 

[piruka]

16 hours ago, NARMAK said:

Can you please share your budget and where you are from which could help people maybe guide you to other options that might be suitable. 

I'm in New Zealand there's pretty much no option here, nor in Australia from what I read here on the forum. I contacted Dr. Knudsen for a physical consultation a few months ago and I'm still on the waitlist, likely to take another few months (he comes to NZ once a month). But after reading about his work here, I might cancel it. 
Brazil could also be an option since I was born there. But the timing would be trickier, and it is a much longer flight than to Asia. Also, it's hard to find reviews from patients, especially ones with final results. I'm scheduling an online consultation with Dr. Carlos Bedin has anyone ever heard of him? I'm also in contact with Dr. Pittella.

16 hours ago, NARMAK said:

Also, are you willing to potentially wait a bit longer and save up more if this can increase your options? 

I'm looking to spend up to around 5 to 6K euros. 

 

16 hours ago, NARMAK said:

You're on a good forum and hopefully we can get you to select the right place and have price of mind. 

Yes, really good information and helpful people around here! 👍

 

@NARMAKWhat's your budget? Have you made a thread about your case?

[BurnieBurns]

I am also in NZ. I highly, highly recommend looking into Eugenix if you're wanting FUE. It's not much further than Australia.

There are no world class surgeons in our side of the worlds and the prices do not match the quality of the results. 

Turkey is a common go to for newbies to HT. There are so many places there that will mess you up. The only surgeons I would feel safe with there are Dr Koray Erdogan or Dr Ozlem Bicer

 

[NARMAK]

4 hours ago, piruka said:

I'm in New Zealand there's pretty much no option here, nor in Australia from what I read here on the forum. I contacted Dr. Knudsen for a physical consultation a few months ago and I'm still on the waitlist, likely to take another few months (he comes to NZ once a month). But after reading about his work here, I might cancel it. 
Brazil could also be an option since I was born there. But the timing would be trickier, and it is a much longer flight than to Asia. Also, it's hard to find reviews from patients, especially ones with final results. I'm scheduling an online consultation with Dr. Carlos Bedin has anyone ever heard of him? I'm also in contact with Dr. Pittella.

I'm looking to spend up to around 5 to 6K euros. 

 

Yes, really good information and helpful people around here! 👍

 

@NARMAKWhat's your budget? Have you made a thread about your case?

Just keep doing your research and hopefully if you can save up, the world can be your oyster and you will hopefully be happier with the outcome. 

Regarding myself, i have been quoted 2200 grafts required approximately so my costs may not be as much as somebody that say needs 3000+ but i am still on a budget and my primary goal is to restore my temple points, so i have chosen Eugenix in India. They appear to have the necessary skill and are within my budget at the Exclusive Package pricing so i'm due to go hopefully in May. I delayed it because of Visa issues and not being given one in time for originally March when i wanted to go. Fingers crossed it will be resolved and i will document my journey on here once that Visa is confirmed. 

[Fue3361]

Everyone is so ready to go to Turkey…. (I was too, spent an entire month flirting with going to Hair of Istanbul… bullet dodged…)
 

At this point, I personally feel like telling everyone to consider Brazil instead, cheap prices, but some pretty good clinics.  Unfortunately, none on the recommended forum lists though.

 

All that said, why Turkey?  On a low budget?

Edited April 2, 2022 by Fue3361

[Britanium]

12 minutes ago, Fue3361 said:

Everyone is so ready to go to Turkey…. (I was too, spent an entire month flirting with going to Hair of Istanbul… bullet dodged…)
 

At this point, I personally feel like telling everyone to consider Brazil instead, cheap prices, but some pretty good clinics.  Unfortunately, none on the recommended forum lists though.

 

All that said, why Turkey?  On a low budget?

Be good to see @Dr. Felipe Pittella (Brazil) recommended some day ! Very impressive work 👍🏽

[Fue3361]

7 hours ago, J.A.C said:

Be good to see @Dr. Felipe Pittella (Brazil) recommended some day ! Very impressive work 👍🏽

I follow him on insta too, good stuff

[Gatsby]

On 3/29/2022 at 7:31 PM, piruka said:

Since I don't know if or how much more my hair loss will progress, I'm a bit concerned about having a hair transplant.

Bare in mind that you should always plan to eventually become a Norwood 6 (or 7) one day. You need a plan that takes this into account so that your hair will always look natural.

[piruka]

On 4/3/2022 at 8:52 AM, Fue3361 said:

At this point, I personally feel like telling everyone to consider Brazil instead, cheap prices, but some pretty good clinics.  Unfortunately, none on the recommended forum lists though.

Any recommendations?

[Fue3361]

I can only speak from personal experience with the clinic I went to.  And that's n=1, so not the best recommendation.

3 hours ago, piruka said:

Any recommendations?

 

[Eugenix Hair Sciences]

On 3/29/2022 at 2:01 PM, piruka said:

I am considering having an FUE procedure done. There aren't many options available where I live, plus they have a huge waitlist, price tag and questionable results. So I'm looking overseas, more specifically in Turkey.

I have been taking finasteride for the past 4 years and considering an HT for the past 3 years. Now that I'm 30, I feel more prepared and ready to pull the trigger. 
I started finasteride and topical minoxidil around the same time but had to stop minoxidil because it made my scalp itchy. I switched to a solution without propylene glycol to avoid scalp irritation, which was better but didn't solve the problem. Still, I stayed on it for a good 2 or 3 years until I stopped around 6 or 7 months ago. It is hard to tell, but overall I think I'm in a similar situation compared to 4 years ago.

Since I don't know if or how much more my hair loss will progress, I'm a bit concerned about having a hair transplant. I'm aware that by choosing this path I'm likely to need another one in the future. My goals/expectations are to reconstruct the hairline and have some grafts placed on the crown/mid-scalp at a lower density. I wouldn't do more than 3500 grafts at this stage to preserve the donor area. 

 

Here are some photos:

 

Few weeks later after a hair cut. (Guard 3 on the back and sides)

 

I know it's so hard so judge by photos but, what do you think about my donor area? Hair thickness?

 

 

These are the doctors that are currently on my short list:

Dr. Resul Yaman
Dr. Gur
Dr. Turan
Dr. Tayfun
AEK Hair Clinic

The main criteria for making my short list was:

• IAHRS member
• ABHRS member
• Reviews on this community
• Results from cases similar to mine
• Availability
• Communication with the clinic

 

 

Your donor area looks perfect. You can go for your frontal zone restoration with a hair transplant. The hair on the mid scalp and crown will continue to benefit with the use of Finasteride. If you take PRP therapies then it will be more helpful.