Regular Member TheDarkHour Posted October 14, 2023 Regular Member Share Posted October 14, 2023 (edited) So, it's been a week since I had my transplant with Dr. Keser in Ankara, Turkey. Background: I am 29 years old and first noticed hairloss in my early 20s when I was shedding a lot of hairs in the shower. This only lasted for a couple of months, and I haven't noticed any shedding since. I also didn't notice my hairline receding until I was 24 years old. My hairline doesn't seem to have receded much since then. Medication: After noticing my hairline receding, I looked into medication. Initially I hopped on finasteride at 25 and used it for a couple of weeks. I was taking 1mg of the oral version per day but started experiencing side effects about a week in. After the two week mark I started taking it every other day but ultimately quit a week later as I didn't want to risk the side effects. I then considered minoxidil and started using the topical version at 26. I did notice growth of vellus hairs after a couple of months on my hairline and temples. It may have also helped stabilise my crown, but this is difficult to determine as I didn't lose much in that area. I also incorporated the oral version back in March of this year (29 years old) at 2.5mg. Haven't noticed any additional gains on the oral version but I'll continue taking it as it may help with stabilisation. Communication: Contacted Dr. Keser's assistant via email and text. Provided him with the history of my hairloss and medication. We then discussed the hairline and temple design and agreed about payment. I could transfer about half before surgery and pay the other half in cash. Chose to pay it all in cash. I was told that it would be around 2000-2500 grafts, so I took enough money for 2500 grafts on the day. Wasn't questioned about the money in the Airport while travelling from the UK. I provided proof of my hotel and flight booking to the assistant so that I could reserve my surgery dates. Was given a surgery window of five days but the actual surgery took place over 4 days. Travel: I started speaking to Dr. Keser's translator the day before departing to Anakra from London. He provided me with information regarding the car that would transfer me from the airport to the hotel upon arrival in the city. Surgery began the day after I arrived. Surgery: I was introduced to everyone in Dr. Keser's team which included the translator, Dr. Keser's two nurses and of course Dr. Keser himself. I was carrying all the cash for payment, and we agreed that the clinic would hold onto the cash in their safe and payment would be made on the final day. Preparation for the surgery then began. I wished to lower my hairline quite a bit and restore my temples and temporal points. Dr. Keser drew the hairline/temples, and I believed it was a little conservative, so he agreed to lower it and bring the temples more forward. This took 20-30 minutes. Communication mainly took place via the translator. The surgery then began with the doctor injecting my donor area with anaesthetics. This was probably the most painful part of the surgery, especially the first few injections. He then began extracting the grafts which took approximately an hour and half. One nurse assisted him with extraction where she would place it in a small bowl and the other nurse was sorting the grafts. I then had a 20-30 minute break and then the doctor began implanting the grafts. Anaesthetics were also injected in the recipient area. This took a little longer than the extraction, about 15 minutes longer. Approximately 600 grafts were extracted and implanted on the day. Antibiotics were then applied, and my head was completely bandaged by the nurses. The same process took place over the next three days which ultimately lead to 2400 grafts being transplanted. My head being bandaged also made me comfortable wearing a bucket hat during my time in the city and exploring it. Since Dr. Keser started with my right temple and worked across my hairline I was able to sleep on my left side for the first couple of days, though I did attempt to use my neck pillow. However, once the transplant was complete and the bandages were taken off, I had to use a neck pillow. This was very difficult for me as I was only able to sleep for a couple of hours. Pain was also more noticeable during nighttime, but the painkillers definitely helped. My face also became very swollen after the second day and it progressively got worse, one of my eyes almost completely closed. I decided to start wearing sunglasses and a face mask when I was out and about the city. The swelling did subside after about 4-5 days. Last day and payment: On the last day I made payment for 2400 grafts in cash and was given the remaining amount back. I was also given post-op instructions and ointments to remove scabs. I was then given the opportunity to ask some questions. Since I was in the city for a couple of days after my surgery was completed, I was able to go into clinic the day before I left for a final check-up. Post surgery: Managed to get most of the scabs off a week after surgery. I've also been washing my head with baby shampoo almost every day. There is some slight discomfort and itchiness in the donor area and the top of my scalp feels slightly numb when touched but I was told this can take up 10 days to subside. Conclusion: All in all, my experience with Dr. Keser and his team was great. Everyone was very helpful and friendly. Post-op medication: Dr. Keser said I can resume using oral minoxidil immediately, but I will resume after exactly 10 days just to be on the safe side. He also told me I need to wait a month before I can resume using topical minoxidil. I am also considering using 0.025% topical finasteride in the future, hope we get more news on Pyrilutamide soon though as I would rather wait for that. Photos Before transplant: Shaved before transplant and design: After transplant, one day after last section was transplanted (left temple and left side of hairline): . One week post-op (scabs have fallen off): Edited October 15, 2023 by TheDarkHour 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Belve Posted October 15, 2023 Regular Member Share Posted October 15, 2023 Happy growing. The hairline looks super dense. Dr keser is one of the best doctors in the world.. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valued Contributor A_4_Archan Posted October 15, 2023 Valued Contributor Share Posted October 15, 2023 @TheDarkHour You were under safe and well experienced hands...he is one of the best surgeon for hairline work...you will have a natural and dense outcome...Happy growing and keep updating brother. 2 Check Out My Hair Transplant Journey --> My Thread 3611 FUE Grafts With Dr Kongkiat Laorwong | Norwood 5 | 2nd May 2023 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member VCA Posted October 16, 2023 Regular Member Share Posted October 16, 2023 It looks good and dense. Congrats and thanks for sharing your experience. Quick question: this saw-like design in the hairline is to help to give a more realistic look once the hair grows out? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member TheDarkHour Posted October 16, 2023 Author Regular Member Share Posted October 16, 2023 49 minutes ago, VCA said: Quick question: this saw-like design in the hairline is to help to give a more realistic look once the hair grows out? Yes, Dr. Keser also clarified this during the operation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Cory Posted October 18, 2023 Regular Member Share Posted October 18, 2023 Donor doesn't look too bad after extraction of 2400 grafts, for someone that 'supposedly' already had a below average donor before this hair transplant.. I'm even more curious how it looks when growing it out! Do you know how much is left for maybe another procedure in the future? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member TheDarkHour Posted October 18, 2023 Author Regular Member Share Posted October 18, 2023 (edited) 20 hours ago, Cory said: Donor doesn't look too bad after extraction of 2400 grafts, for someone that 'supposedly' already had a below average donor before this hair transplant.. I'm even more curious how it looks when growing it out! Do you know how much is left for maybe another procedure in the future? Was told by the doctors assistant I have 1000 - 1500 grafts left for another procedure in the future. He only looked at the photos I sent him earlier this year though. I asked Dr. Keser yesterday via his translator and he said he'll tell me how many grafts I have left after my hair grows out a bit. Edited October 19, 2023 by TheDarkHour Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Cory Posted October 19, 2023 Regular Member Share Posted October 19, 2023 21 hours ago, TheDarkHour said: Was told by the doctors assistant I have 1000 - 1500 grafts left for another procedure in the future. He only looked at the photos I sent him earlier this year though. I asked Dr. Keser yesterday via his translator and he said he'll tell me how many grafts I have left after my hair grows out a bit. I'm curious to know. All comes down to aesthetics eventually. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member WalterWhite Posted December 15, 2023 Regular Member Share Posted December 15, 2023 Curious for an update here? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member TheDarkHour Posted December 15, 2023 Author Regular Member Share Posted December 15, 2023 (edited) One month post-op. Shedding begun around this stage. The lighting made it look a lot better than it actually did. ~6 weeks post-op. Shedding fully kicked in at this stage. 10 weeks post-op. Looks a lot better at this stage. Not sure if this is regrowth or my non-shedded hair just grew out. My transplanted hair definitely looks like it's starting to blend in with my existing hair. Sorry about the difference in lighting quality, it gets dark pretty early in the UK nowadays. Will be posting future photos during nightime with my room light. These photos were also taken by my selfie cam and I don't have the steadiest hands, hence the slightly blurry pics. Will update with better photos in a couple of weeks. Edited December 15, 2023 by TheDarkHour 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member WalterWhite Posted December 16, 2023 Regular Member Share Posted December 16, 2023 Looking good I’m about 3 weeks behind you! Excited for the coming months. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Den Posted December 17, 2023 Regular Member Share Posted December 17, 2023 Looking good! I also underwent a hair transplant with Dr. Keser last month, and our cases seem similar. I hope you achieve excellent results! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Urschwob Posted January 20 Regular Member Share Posted January 20 You got some news? New pics? Wish you a happy growing! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member TheDarkHour Posted January 21 Author Regular Member Share Posted January 21 22 hours ago, Urschwob said: You got some news? New pics? Wish you a happy growing! It's coming along nicely. Has definitely thickened up and is blending in with my existing hair. Photos from a little above 3 months below. Last pic is from today (3.5 months). Will update on the 4th month mark (early next month). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mouneiag Posted January 21 Share Posted January 21 Coming in nicely! Thanks for keeping us updated 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member TheDarkHour Posted February 6 Author Regular Member Share Posted February 6 (edited) 4 months post-op. Everything is coming along nicely. Just wish my hair grew faster so I could go back to my old hairstyle . Hoping the left temporal point will thicken up in the coming months. Edited February 6 by TheDarkHour Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Sitries1 Posted February 10 Senior Member Share Posted February 10 How much did you pay per graft? I cant see you mention it in your report Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member TheDarkHour Posted February 12 Author Regular Member Share Posted February 12 On 2/10/2024 at 9:04 PM, Sitries1 said: How much did you pay per graft? I cant see you mention it in your report €3.5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member HairFunk Posted February 12 Senior Member Share Posted February 12 The work looks really good. The will be a great result! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member TheDarkHour Posted March 12 Author Regular Member Share Posted March 12 5 months post op. More of the same. Looks fairly thick now and is blending in quite well. Just waiting for the transplanted hair to be a bit longer so I can get all my hair evened out at the barbers. Also started doing my old hairstyle again (see last pic). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member TheDarkHour Posted April 14 Author Regular Member Share Posted April 14 6 months Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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