Regular Member TrustTheProcess Posted June 22, 2022 Regular Member Share Posted June 22, 2022 (edited) I am exactly 5 weeks post-op from my 2.5 day procedure at HLC. I thought this might be a good time to share my brief thoughts about the process while I play the waiting game. Intro: My research on youtube, FB groups and HRN led to me the shortlist of Bicer, Pekiner, Keser and HLC. Yes, these are all in Turkey. That was not my criteria. The criteria was first and foremost results, then second was price per graft, next was wait times for actual procedure. I did not want to go above 3 Euros per graft. I reached out to HLC sometime in September or early October. They looked at my photos and asked what my expectations were, and that if my expectations were to have a dense result, it would not be possible. If I wanted a less dense result, where I would have to be extra creative with my hair styling, then it would be possible to have a procedure. They then advised me to revisit this getting on medication to see if donor/recipient area progressed in the right direction. I was initially told I needed 8-9K grafts and that my donor area was not sufficient for full coverage. Meds: I started with 1.25mg (5mg generic fin cut into quarters) every other day and topical minoxidil. After two months a great results, I switched to 1mg EOD brand name propecia, as I did not like cutting pills. I also switched from topical to oral minoxidil, 2.5mg taken daily (ED). One of the reasons I switched to oral was so that I could resume minoxidil soon after my HT procedure. I did not want to wait 2-4 weeks to resume topical. I have been on these meds 6 months prior to surgery Travel: booked my trip to stay 10 days post op, as I wanted to heal and make sure grafts were somewhat secure before going in a pressurized cabin with travel back to Texas (13 hour minimum flight). I arrived Sunday evening, met the driver after getting my luggage and proceed to HLC without issue. Procedure: I run through this section pretty fast. Pre-op photos taken. Doctor Özgur comes in with his team of doctors (Elif, Bekir, Cengiz, Umut) and start examining my scalp and beard. Combing through it, making their markings and proposing a hairline. Measuring the required area at 50cm2 needed to cover front and midscalp for this HT, leaving a 2nd HT for crown next year. I was pleasantly surprised to hear I actually have very good donor area, around 8K in my scalp and another 2K from my beard (under jawline). This shows how much progress I had with meds, also that photos sent for consult have to be assessed conservatively. We decided on 50cm2 with coverage of about 103 sq cm. I wanted to address temples but they suggested I focus on that next time. I did not feel rushed at all, they took a solid 30-40 minutes at minimum. Procedure was over 2.5 days, 5 sessions total, 2 sessions per day. Extractions were performed by Dr. Cengiz, implantations performed by Dr. Bekir. The procedure for the most part was painless, aside of the initial anesthesia needles (ouch) and towards the end of a session where I felt the anesthesia starting to wear off. I buckled down and took the slight discomfort as I did not want excessive anesthesia, as too much would harm my graft survival. Recovery: Followed the post-op instructions, spraying recipient and applying Bepanthol cream to donor area. The worst part in sleeping, and the day 4-7 random needles in the back of my head (nerves coming back online? haha). **PHOTO TIME** Pre-op: Mid-day after day 3, all done Donor: Graft count: Day 11, scabs removed: Day 18, top view: Day 19, front view: 5 weeks exact, from today: Conclusion: I am far from any conclusions. This thread will log my journey which I have just started. I will try my best to answer any questions. I would like to thank HRN for providing this platform and making it easy to access cases, perform research and reach out to users. A special thanks to @MachoVato Edited June 22, 2022 by TrustTheProcess 3 NW6 | FUE HLC Ankara | 5165 Grafts | May 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member MachoVato Posted June 22, 2022 Senior Member Share Posted June 22, 2022 This is looking so good! You're stepping into the dreaded shed phase. Be patient and remember to "trust the process"!! 🤣 I'm glad I was able to answer your questions... I bet you're excited! Did you tell HLC to give me credit for the referral? Apparently I get paid to sell HLC services. /sarcasm 🤣 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...
Senior Member Gramatik Posted June 22, 2022 Senior Member Share Posted June 22, 2022 Good luck mate. It looks clean job. HLC work is always top class with high density per cm^2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member TrustTheProcess Posted June 23, 2022 Author Regular Member Share Posted June 23, 2022 2,597 of the 5,165 grafts were multi-hair grafts(3 or more hairs) NW6 | FUE HLC Ankara | 5165 Grafts | May 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member EricD Posted June 26, 2022 Regular Member Share Posted June 26, 2022 Our HLC transplants look very similar in terms of number of grafts and hairs per follicle. I’ll be following your story as you are about a month or less ahead of me, it seems. Good luck! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maestro66 Posted July 14, 2022 Share Posted July 14, 2022 Looks very good for post-op days. Can you give an update? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member TrustTheProcess Posted July 22, 2022 Author Regular Member Share Posted July 22, 2022 My 2 month update from July 18th. Shedding has completely stopped, as has the existence of time; I need a fast forward button 1 NW6 | FUE HLC Ankara | 5165 Grafts | May 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member pkipling Posted July 22, 2022 Senior Member Share Posted July 22, 2022 Based on the post-op photos, this looks like it's gonna be a fantastic result. And believe it or not, even though the waiting game you're currently playing feels like it's never gonna end, once you start seeing results it'll make it all so worth it that you won't even remember how badly you wanted that fast forward button. (That was my experience at least! 😆) So stay patient - and I'm excited for your results! 1 1 I am a patient advocate for Dr. Parsa Mohebi in Los Angeles, CA. My views/opinions are my own and don't necessarily reflect the opinions of Dr. Mohebi and his staff. Check out my hair loss website for photos FUE surgery by Dr. Mohebi on 7/31/14 2,001 grafts - Ones: 607; Twos: 925; Threes: 413; Fours: 56 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member RTC Posted July 22, 2022 Senior Member Share Posted July 22, 2022 Very clean man, good luck 1 Hattingen September 2023 - Punchouts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Vann Posted July 22, 2022 Senior Member Share Posted July 22, 2022 (edited) 5 hours ago, TrustTheProcess said: My 2 month update from July 18th. Shedding has completely stopped, as has the existence of time; I need a fast forward button lmfao i feel you on that fast forward button. Edited July 22, 2022 by Vann 1 Follow my first hair transplant journey 3,252 Grafts a minimum of 6,712 hairs June 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Vann Posted July 22, 2022 Senior Member Share Posted July 22, 2022 (edited) 1 hour ago, pkipling said: Based on the post-op photos, this looks like it's gonna be a fantastic result. And believe it or not, even though the waiting game you're currently playing feels like it's never gonna end, once you start seeing results it'll make it all so worth it that you won't even remember how badly you wanted that fast forward button. (That was my experience at least! 😆) So stay patient - and I'm excited for your results! now this is something I need to hear. 😂 Edited July 22, 2022 by Vann Follow my first hair transplant journey 3,252 Grafts a minimum of 6,712 hairs June 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member LookMaxx Posted July 23, 2022 Senior Member Share Posted July 23, 2022 Wow I think I am same Norwood as you, HLC hasn’t been suggested to me at all in fact everyone tells me to stay away from Turkey. Your HT looks so good, how much did it end up costing you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member TrustTheProcess Posted August 19, 2022 Author Regular Member Share Posted August 19, 2022 3 month update. Feeling more confident in my skin. Don’t care to wear a ball cap now unless it’s to protect from the sun. 2 NW6 | FUE HLC Ankara | 5165 Grafts | May 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member TrustTheProcess Posted September 8, 2022 Author Regular Member Share Posted September 8, 2022 (edited) 16 week + 1 day update Got a professional haircut for the first time in 15 years. Feels good man 🙂 Yes, aware that my face is still visible in grayed out face. Edited September 8, 2022 by TrustTheProcess NW6 | FUE HLC Ankara | 5165 Grafts | May 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Vann Posted September 9, 2022 Senior Member Share Posted September 9, 2022 6 hours ago, TrustTheProcess said: 16 week + 1 day update Got a professional haircut for the first time in 15 years. Feels good man 🙂 Yes, aware that my face is still visible in grayed out face. Framing up nicely. 1 Follow my first hair transplant journey 3,252 Grafts a minimum of 6,712 hairs June 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valued Contributor Gatsby Posted September 9, 2022 Valued Contributor Share Posted September 9, 2022 @TrustTheProcess that is a huge jump from month 3 to month 4. It's really coming in nicely now with lots of growth still ahead of you. All the best! 👌 1 GATSBY 'UNPLUGGED!' 15,671 (3 surgeries) Grafts FUE+BHT Dr. Sethi Eugenix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member LookMaxx Posted September 13, 2022 Senior Member Share Posted September 13, 2022 Wow this is impressive. The advice here is to avoid Turkey if you’re a Norwood 6 but clearly you can have good result even in Turkey. HLC did a good job Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member pkipling Posted September 26, 2022 Senior Member Share Posted September 26, 2022 Amazing early progress! And this is just the beginning. Very happy for the positive impact this is gonna have/is having on your life. 1 I am a patient advocate for Dr. Parsa Mohebi in Los Angeles, CA. My views/opinions are my own and don't necessarily reflect the opinions of Dr. Mohebi and his staff. Check out my hair loss website for photos FUE surgery by Dr. Mohebi on 7/31/14 2,001 grafts - Ones: 607; Twos: 925; Threes: 413; Fours: 56 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member TrustTheProcess Posted October 20, 2022 Author Regular Member Share Posted October 20, 2022 (edited) 5 month (and 2 days) update https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Tx-xobmMbP Edited October 22, 2022 by TrustTheProcess NW6 | FUE HLC Ankara | 5165 Grafts | May 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member omega5 Posted October 20, 2022 Regular Member Share Posted October 20, 2022 And you're only in the 5th month, are you? :)) Dude, you're doing great.Insha Allah you will be better HLC showed why turkey is the best clinic and has excellent doctors. I have never seen such a result from any clinic in turkey in nw6 and in the 5th month.Although dr.biçer and others are featured in this forum, they have never had such a result in such an early period. Congratulations again👏 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member omega5 Posted October 20, 2022 Regular Member Share Posted October 20, 2022 (edited) As far as I remember, they also planted beards in the middle part. Are you satisfied with this, do you see the beards? What is their growth status? Edited October 20, 2022 by omega5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member botchedguy95 Posted October 20, 2022 Regular Member Share Posted October 20, 2022 1 hour ago, TrustTheProcess said: 5 month (and 2 days) update https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Tx-xobmMbP Wow, I love the design, did they get over 1100 grafts from the beard? Where did they take it from? Your beard looks untouched! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Vann Posted October 20, 2022 Senior Member Share Posted October 20, 2022 Its taking shape. It already looks pretty good early on. I wonder if you grow it out will it cover more, but for the length its at now its very good straight on. Follow my first hair transplant journey 3,252 Grafts a minimum of 6,712 hairs June 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Gramatik Posted October 20, 2022 Senior Member Share Posted October 20, 2022 Its going very good! Really good progress for 5 months! Very happy for you.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member HHH Posted October 20, 2022 Regular Member Share Posted October 20, 2022 Wow this is insane for 5 months! Thanks for the video, you can barely tell you've even had a transplant tbh... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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