My HT journey (~8000 grafts)

[eclipZz]

Hello,

I would like to share with you my journey with two hair transplants performed in Turkish Hairmills. I would like to emphasize directly that, looking back, I would have done some things differently.

Lets begin:

I am 32 years old. My hair loss probably began in my mid-20s, but I didn't really notice it until my late 20s. Unfortunately, I'm a quick actionist when it comes to a lot of things, so I didn't do a lot of in-depth research and had a hair transplant in Istanbul at the beginning of 2021. According to the clinic, 4200 grafts were transplanted. 3000 in the hairline region and 1200 in the middle region.

Here is my initial situation (unfortunately I have no more pictures from then)

Donor area after the first surgery:

Final result after the first HT:

On the whole, I was satisfied with the result. The density, or growth rate, was very satisfactory. Only the hairline design and naturalness of the hairline bothered me depending on the situation. The left side of the hairline is particularly unnatural. There, the grafts have been planted too perfectly next to each other.

Because of this, and also because my tonsure was not yet covered, I decided to have a second transplant a year later. This time in another clinic. My goal for the second procedure was to optimize the hairline and cover the back area. This time 4000 grafts were transplanted. The highest priority was given to the tonsure and then the middle area. All single grafts were transplanted into the hairline.

After the second HT:

Here you can already see quite well that the left side was more heavily used:

Since the second transplant, I have been taking Finasteride 1.25mg every other day (this was the doctor's recommendation). I have definitely noticed an improvement just in the tonsure since then. I have no side effects. So I have no plans to stop taking it.

4 months post second HT:

Continued in the next comment

[eclipZz]

The pictures after "Continued in the next comment" showing the current situation (7 months after 2nd OP).

Here some more:

Now to my conclusion:

Pros:

Density

Hairline looks more natural, but not perfect.

Crown area is now very satisfactory already after only 7 months.

 

Contras

My donor area is pretty much at the limit, especially on the left half. In one area, you can perhaps already speak of overharvesting. When I wear the hair longer, however, it is not noticeable. But it still bothers me. So my long term plan is to go to a really top clinic and have a donor area repair done. And to further optimize the hairline if necessary.

What are your thoughts on this?

 

Thanks a lot!

[eclipZz]

I forgot to post photos right after the first surgery:

[eclipZz]

I mentioned that the left side of the donor area is pretty much maxed out. Here you can see what I mean:

Depending on the viewing angle and lighting conditions, one notices it more or less

When the hair is a little longer, you can't see it either. However, as already mentioned, this is the biggest point of criticism. 

[Xanadu]

13 minutes ago, eclipZz said:

The pictures after "Continued in the next comment" showing the current situation (7 months after 2nd OP).

Here some more:

Now to my conclusion:

Pros:

Density

Hairline looks more natural, but not perfect.

Crown area is now very satisfactory already after only 7 months.

 

Contras

My donor area is pretty much at the limit, especially on the left half. In one area, you can perhaps already speak of overharvesting. When I wear the hair longer, however, it is not noticeable. But it still bothers me. So my long term plan is to go to a really top clinic and have a donor area repair done. And to further optimize the hairline if necessary.

What are your thoughts on this?

 

Thanks a lot!

Looks okay although you didn't get that much bang for your buck with 8000 grafts considering that you still had a lot of hair when you started and the crown is (still or did it thin further?) still thin. Are you on fin?

[eclipZz]

I found some other prictures showing my initial situation:

You have to keep in mind that I wore my hair relatively long, so I was able to cover the scalp well. 

[eclipZz]

9 minutes ago, Xanadu said:

Looks okay although you didn't get that much bang for your buck with 8000 grafts considering that you still had a lot of hair when you started and the crown is (still or did it thin further?) still thin. Are you on fin?

Since the second transplant, I have been taking Finasteride 1.25mg every other day (this was the doctor's recommendation). I have definitely noticed an improvement just in the tonsure since then. I have no side effects. So I have no plans to stop taking it.

Also its only 7 months after the second procedure. 

 

[Blane123]

29 minutes ago, eclipZz said:

I mentioned that the left side of the donor area is pretty much maxed out. Here you can see what I mean:

Depending on the viewing angle and lighting conditions, one notices it more or less

When the hair is a little longer, you can't see it either. However, as already mentioned, this is the biggest point of criticism. 

I think you could transplant some beard/body hairs into this area to fill it up if you are up to do another procedure

[Xanadu]

18 minutes ago, eclipZz said:

Since the second transplant, I have been taking Finasteride 1.25mg every other day (this was the doctor's recommendation). I have definitely noticed an improvement just in the tonsure since then. I have no side effects. So I have no plans to stop taking it.

Also its only 7 months after the second procedure. 

 

Sounds good. Good luck.

[Berba11]

Results look pretty good, especially after the hairline softening.

Which were the two clinics you went to?

[Xanadu]

Wrong sent.

Edited November 16, 2022 by Xanadu