3523 grafts | Dr. Bekir Bek | April 2024 | | 44 yo

[translator]

Hello everyone,

First of all, I want to say thank you to all forum members who provide great info for all of us.

Let me share my experience with dr. Bekir Bek, Ankara, Turkey. 

I've been following the forum for  about 6-7 years now and wasn't always planning to go with a HT but the day came and here I am now

ABOUT ME

44 years old with diffuse thinning since age 22. 

Started with minoxidil 5-6 years ago (mostly 1ml once a day) and fin 3-4 years ago (1mg daily) without any side effects that I'm aware of - beside good response in terms of stopping the hair loss and perhaps getting some hair back. 

However, last year decided to go with the HT, contacted few clinics and even scheduled with one of reputable doctors but cancelled eventually due to some subjective reasons. 

I've came across some good reviews from patients that visited dr. Bek - and considering that he was with HLC for few years back I got in touch with him and after some pictures, details and few weeks later we agreed on a date ... and I decided to stay at least 10 days in Turkey - until I recover fully - mainly because I wanted to be close to the clinic for the first critical days and to visit at least once more for dr. to check the progress before I leave the country.

THE CLINIC

We started by discussing my hairline and my expectations - which was: to increase the density and if possible to lower the hairline for about 1 cm. Dr. Bekir said it was reasonable, considering the donor (which was good as per dr.) and the existing hair. Work on the crown we left for future consideration if needed. 

My hair was trimmed - dr. was calculating grafts and decided to lower the hairline for about 1 cm in the middle and 4-5mm on the sides - with density of 50-55 g/cm2. 

For the middle - since there was some hair in place already - dr. will go with 20-25 g/cm2 where possible. 

THE PROCESS

2 days with 4 sessions per day. 

Dr. Bekir does all the work - extractions then incisions and placing the grafts. 

Day 1 (total of 1773 grafts):

 ~ 900 grafts (if I recall correctly) - taken from the back and sorted out by nurses. Break of about 10 minutes and then back for session 2 for placing the grafts in the new front - line by lowering as discussed before. Session 3 :  taking the grafts again (~800+) and Session 4 - placing them to the front and middle.

Lunch break after session 2. 

Day 2 (total of 1790 grafts): 4 sessions again similar to Day 1 

Each day the head is fully bandaged - back to hotel - sleeping in almost the sitting position 

Day 3 - removing bandages - they clean the head give u proper medicine (antibiotics, some pills against swelling, and third one for something else no idea what... and painkillers which I haven't used for first 4 days). Also 2 bottles of saline for the recipient area (every 2 hours to spray) and 2 bottles of some lotion for donor area (4-5 times a day)

RECOVERING

I was at the hotel - literally resting all day every day for first 5-6 days - just going for breakfast and ordering room service. 

Day 1 post op - moderate swelling in the forehead and going down below eyes during next 2-3 days after which it disappeared. 

Day 2 post-op afternoon got this crazy burning pain of donor which was like that for next 2-3 days then subsiding until day 8 when pain was gone. 

I am sharing the photos below and would like you guys to give your opinion please. 

Also, noticed that transplanted hair is growing much slower and are not of the same length - even now, day 16th, some hairs in the front are very small, like they are 2-3 days old. 

Comments are appreciated. 

Also, if you want know more details please let me know. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Napoli]

Happy growing. The work looks great 👍 

[Berba11]

Very interested to see how this turns out for you. Should be a very dense result all goes well!

[translator]

Update - Day 30

Shedding started in week 4 and it feels like my hair's "growth-switch" was turned off - shedding whenever I touch my head. Still shedding.

The donor area is healing well. I've trimmed the sides and back a bit. There is still some redness and sensitivity (on touch) in the donor area.

The recipient area is still numb - especially the front third. 

Let me know what you think guys. Thanks!

 

Edited 22 hours ago by translator