4200 grafts - January 2023 - Failed hairtransplant?

[nanek]

Hi all,

First of all, thanks for a great community here. It has helped me alot, reading and learning. Thanks for that.

I came to a place in my process where i am starting to freak out a little bit. I had my surgery in the beginning of January 2023, so right now i am 10 months in the process and i must say that the results hurts me. 

People often talk about failed hair transplant and slow growers and i would really appreciate the opinion of this community. 

Thats why i have tagged @Melvin- Admin and @Gatsby, i hope that is OK.

I am 33 years old and had my surgery in Istanbul. I had a friend who did the surgery the same place and got some excellent results and talking to them made my choice easy.

I got transplanted 4200 grafts, i have attached pre-op (1st picture) and right after surgery (the last 2 pictures) and 10 month mark (2 pictures in the middle). I always had thick dark hair in my donor area. Even after the transplant i still feel that the donor area is in good shape. 

The plan was to take the middle part and frontal area in the 1st surgery and the crown in the 2nd surgery.

However, after 10 months i feel that the transplanted area is NOT filling in and that concerns me.

I have been taking minoxidil previously but had side effects so i am not on any kind of medication but taking supplements (vitamins, biotin and so on).

What is your opinion of this results?

Is this a failed hairtransplant? 
Will it get better?
Can PRP sessions help me boost the density?

In all fairness, i have been talking with the clinic and their expectations was that it will get denser in the next 6 months but did expect better results at this point.
 

 

 

 

[ITA]

In the third photo I can see the scalp still a little red, and 10 months after the procedure, no redness should persist. It is likely that there is inflammation, my advice is to have yourself examined by multiple dermatologists.

[ScottishGuy21]

You’ve had some growth which looks to have helped shaped your face better and you aren’t at the end yet but at 10 months I can understand your concerns. The frontal 3rd for the amount of grafts should be a little fuller. Were you planning a second procedure ? 4200 is most cases won’t cover a full scalp for the desired density.
 

You mention the same place as a friend. Was it a certain Dr who performed both yours and your friends procedure? Or did you have different techs perform the procedure? This can impact on results. Likewise have you any known medical issues? 
 

Sorry for all the questions. Just trying to eliminate a few things for you
 

 

 

[nanek]

Guys, thanks for the reply and help. Really, i appreciate it.

 

8 minutes ago, ITA said:

In the third photo I can see the scalp still a little red, and 10 months after the procedure, no redness should persist. It is likely that there is inflammation, my advice is to have yourself examined by multiple dermatologists.

I will look into this, can this have effect on the growth?

 

5 minutes ago, ScottishGuy21 said:

You’ve had some growth which looks to have helped shaped your face better and you aren’t at the end yet but at 10 months I can understand your concerns. The frontal 3rd for the amount of grafts should be a little fuller. Were you planning a second procedure ? 4200 is most cases won’t cover a full scalp for the desired density.
 

You mention the same place as a friend. Was it a certain Dr who performed both yours and your friends procedure? Or did you have different techs perform the procedure? This can impact on results. Likewise have you any known medical issues? 
 

Sorry for all the questions. Just trying to eliminate a few things for you
 

 

 

Yes, i was thinking of a 2nd procedure. It was the same clinic, the doctors was there and we had a good talk about expactations and the doctors followed the procedure BUT it was a experienced team of techs who did the procedure. 

Regarding medical issues, i have none (just allergy in the summer period).

[ScottishGuy21]

Was it the same specific Dr and techs as your friend? Clinics can have several different Dr’s and techs depending on the size and this is where differing results can emerge 

I agree with ITA in regards to the redness. It may be something you want to get checked out just in case there’s something undiagnosed going on. 
 

Everything is process of elimination. I’m going through something similar at the moment after a heavy shed so I know how tedious it can be. Long term however it’s worth it so you can pin down what’s causing the issue and take the right steps.  

[nanek]

1 minute ago, ScottishGuy21 said:

Was it the same specific Dr and techs as your friend? Clinics can have several different Dr’s and techs depending on the size and this is where differing results can emerge 

I agree with ITA in regards to the redness. It may be something you want to get checked out just in case there’s something undiagnosed going on. 
 

Everything is process of elimination. I’m going through something similar at the moment after a heavy shed so I know how tedious it can be. Long term however it’s worth it so you can pin down what’s causing the issue and take the right steps.  

It was the same doctor, yes, but likely not the same techs. 
I will for sure take a look into the redness as i will contact a dermatologist, but it is hard to accept this result at this stage - especially when you compare to others (also on this forum).

[ScottishGuy21]

Different techs is a possible cause (Not definite but it has to be taken into consideration).

What was the Dr’s involvement? Did they perform any part of the procedure? How many patients do you estimate the clinic sees a day? 

Try not to compare and look at other results. Focus on getting to the root cause of your issue. Only then can you look to take the best course of action knowing you’re doing the right thing.

 

A derm who specialises in hair is important too. It’s such a specific niche area post transplant that you want someone who deals day in day out with scalp issues. 

[nanek]

12 minutes ago, ScottishGuy21 said:

Different techs is a possible cause (Not definite but it has to be taken into consideration).

What was the Dr’s involvement? Did they perform any part of the procedure? How many patients do you estimate the clinic sees a day? 

Try not to compare and look at other results. Focus on getting to the root cause of your issue. Only then can you look to take the best course of action knowing you’re doing the right thing.

 

A derm who specialises in hair is important too. It’s such a specific niche area post transplant that you want someone who deals day in day out with scalp issues. 

The doctor didn't have a major involvement in the procedure, expect that we talket about expactations and the doctor came once in a while and made sure everything was in order. The following day i also talked to the doctor and everything seemed to be correct. The clinic was afterwards very helpfull also. 

The clinic had several patients, so for sure it is a hair mill, however based on a friend getting excelent results i felt safe in my choice.

What about PRP sessions? Would that do any good?

[ITA]

1 hour ago, nanek said:

Lo esaminerò, può avere effetti sulla crescita?

Absolutely yes, a scalp where there is inflammation means that the follicles are also affected, but only a dermatologist can say what it could be, but be careful, not all dermatologists are experts in the field of hair, it is for this reason that I recommend you visit more than one and if you can even some trichologists.

[nanek]

12 minutes ago, ITA said:

Absolutely yes, a scalp where there is inflammation means that the follicles are also affected, but only a dermatologist can say what it could be, but be careful, not all dermatologists are experts in the field of hair, it is for this reason that I recommend you visit more than one and if you can even some trichologists.

Today i have begun this process and i will keep you updated. However, i must say, that the redness can be seen on the picture, i agree. But in reality it is hardly visible.

Do you have any examples where this redness have been sorted and the growth and density has bloomed?

[ScottishGuy21]

1 hour ago, nanek said:

The doctor didn't have a major involvement in the procedure, expect that we talket about expactations and the doctor came once in a while and made sure everything was in order. The following day i also talked to the doctor and everything seemed to be correct. The clinic was afterwards very helpfull also. 

The clinic had several patients, so for sure it is a hair mill, however based on a friend getting excelent results i felt safe in my choice.

What about PRP sessions? Would that do any good?

first eliminate any potential scalp issues. I’d also give it another few months before making a final judgment call too. 
 

If then after ruling out medical issues and passing the 12 month you are still at the same growth point, there’s a strong chance it may have failed due to the procedure itself. How’s your donor doing ? 

Edited November 10, 2023 by ScottishGuy21

[Melvin- Admin]

It looks like there’s been growth. I wouldn’t say failure. But it may need a small touch-up. Have you communicated with your surgeon?

[ITA]

3 minutes ago, Melvin- Admin said:

Sembra che ci sia stata una crescita. Non direi fallimento. Ma potrebbe aver bisogno di un piccolo ritocco. Hai parlato con il tuo chirurgo?

@Melvin-Amministratoreconsider that they grafted 4200 follicular units and as was said by another member above, the coverage should have been greater.

[nanek]

6 minutes ago, Melvin- Admin said:

It looks like there’s been growth. I wouldn’t say failure. But it may need a small touch-up. Have you communicated with your surgeon?

Hi @Melvin- Admin. Thanks for the feedback. There is a difference yes, but honestly for 4200 i would have expected more density. Or am I to unrealistic?

The response from the clinic, i sent Them pictures and talked to Them, was that they expect more density within the next 6 months. I Hope so, but i guess thats the only answer they could provide at this point.

They also recommended PRP sessions. Is that any good?

@ITA

[ITA]

41 minutes ago, nanek said:

Hanno anche consigliato sessioni di PRP. Va bene?

 

I don’t know how effective PRP sessions are, but if they recommended it to you from the clinic, do it, at the end of the period they told you to wait, they won’t at least be able to say that if the transplant is like this, it is your fault because you didn’t do PRP.

[Gatsby]

Hi nanek. What is the name of the clinic? I also don’t see this as a failure. However I would also recommend seeing a good dermatologist about any lingering redness and to examine your donor. Did the clinic definitely extract 4,200 grafts? PRP is something that would really benefit the transplant at the beginning of the surgery. Finally I agree that I would give this more time. Wishing you all the best. 

[nanek]

18 hours ago, Gatsby said:

Hi nanek. What is the name of the clinic? I also don’t see this as a failure. However I would also recommend seeing a good dermatologist about any lingering redness and to examine your donor. Did the clinic definitely extract 4,200 grafts? PRP is something that would really benefit the transplant at the beginning of the surgery. Finally I agree that I would give this more time. Wishing you all the best. 

Hi @Gatsby. The name is Mediprima in Istanbul. I will get in touch with a good dermatologist, funny thing about it is that it looks red in the picture but it really isn't in real life. I do feel sometimes minor itchinnes. 

Regarding the grafts, i do trust Them for the 4200 grafts. 

Do you see it as a good idea to start a PRP session now?