Low density?

[Kazuhiro]

Hi, I’ve had my hair transplant January 29 2024, it will be one year coming up, the clinic told me they did 4000 grafts on my frontal area, the growth seems slow but I can see a good amount. However, I feel like some areas, the density is not a lot. Is it just me? The clinic told me that it could take a year or more to see the full density. 

[CEO_of_DHT]

Agree, you should get a second pass with about 500 to 1000 grafts to increase density and create some micro-irregularities.

[donpizmeov]

To me the main issue is the design - too straight and needs more irregularities and more soft hairs at the front.

[baddecisions]

Density is not the only issue as @donpizmeov said.

Where did you have the transplant?

[Kazuhiro]

1 hour ago, baddecisions said:

Density is not the only issue as @donpizmeov said.

Where did you have the transplant?

I went to Dr. Yetkin Bayer clinic in Turkey.

[CEO_of_DHT]

13 minutes ago, Kazuhiro said:

I went to Dr. Yetkin Bayer clinic in Turkey.

What did you pay? It's not that awful.

[Kazuhiro]

18 minutes ago, CEO_of_DHT said:

What did you pay? It's not that awful.

@CEO_of_DHT I paid 1700 for the whole procedure. I went with a friend who had been to Turkey for a hair transplant initially. He told me he did all research’s. The transplant surgery went well and I saw the after pictures on their website and to me, they don’t look that bad. It was just a concern as far as density for me but now after you all mentioned about the irregularities . I do noticed it.

[donpizmeov]

Its an easy fix if you get it addressed with a reputable Doc - density and more importantly IMHO getting that hairline more ”softened” if it bothers you

[Kazuhiro]

@donpizmeov

30 minutes ago, donpizmeov said:

Its an easy fix if you get it addressed with a reputable Doc - density and more importantly IMHO getting that hairline more ”softened” if it bothers you

thank you for the feedback. I was hoping I don’t have to take a second trip but I might have to. I’m going to wait until 4 more months and see if there are new growth. If not, I’ll definitely have to make another visit. 

[Berba11]

Could you share some pre-op photos and immediate post-op photos so we can put these 4,000 grafts in context? Ideally the high-res before and after photos the clinic took.

As others have mentioned, I'd not get too hung up on density right now. The hairline you have looks quite aggressive, is far too linear, and is compounded by the use of multigraft hairs along the hairline. All of which makes it look quite stark, rather than soft and feathered. I don't like to give such brutal feedback when it hasn't been requested, but the elephant in the room can't be ignored here.

50 minutes ago, Kazuhiro said:

I saw the after pictures on their website and to me, they don’t look that bad.

Their Instagram is full of pluggy hairlines, and hairline designs that are very broad and dip down awkwardly at the temple corners where they connect to the start of the temple points.

3 minutes ago, Kazuhiro said:

I’ll definitely have to make another visit

For the love of god do not go back to this same clinic.

52 minutes ago, Kazuhiro said:

I paid 1700 for the whole procedure

€1700 for 4,000 grafts? Even by terrible Turkish hair mill standards, that's insanely cheap - a big red flag. A distinguished surgeon would cost upwards of €20K for 4,000 grafts, and you'd expect to pay somewhere between a quarter to a half of that for one of the small number of better outfits in Turkey.

[Kazuhiro]

4 minutes ago, Berba11 said:

Could you share some pre-op photos and immediate post-op photos so we can put these 4,000 grafts in context? Ideally the high-res before and after photos the clinic took.

As others have mentioned, I'd not get too hung up on density right now. The hairline you have looks quite aggressive, is far too linear, and is compounded by the use of multigraft hairs along the hairline. All of which makes it look quite stark, rather than soft and feathered. I don't like to give such brutal feedback when it hasn't been requested, but the elephant in the room can't be ignored here.

Their Instagram is full of pluggy hairlines, and hairline designs that are very broad and dip down awkwardly at the temple corners where they connect to the start of the temple points.

For the love of god do not go back to this same clinic.

€1700 for 4,000 grafts? Even by terrible Turkish hair mill standards, that's insanely cheap - a big red flag. A distinguished surgeon would cost upwards of €20K for 4,000 grafts, and you'd expect to pay somewhere between a quarter to a half of that for one of the small number of better outfits in Turkey.

Here is the before and after picture. @Berba11

[Berba11]

11 minutes ago, Kazuhiro said:

Here is the before and after picture. @Berba11

Ok thanks. So none of those grafts went into the crown/midscalp which was thinning, and they were all dumped into the frontal third? Because if so, you absolutely didn't need 4,000 grafts into the frontal band, and the hairline looks like it's been lowered a decent amount, especially in the centre.

[Kazuhiro]

@Berba11 it was a small amount that went to the crown area. The rest were dump to the frontal band. I am just being positive that at least I have some result. Might not up to par but better than before 😅. However, I will definitely get it fix in the near future with a more reputable clinic. 

[Berba11]

1 minute ago, Kazuhiro said:

I will definitely get it fix in the near future with a more reputable clinic.

Be mindful that improving the hairline will probably require removing some grafts, and that the number of excellent surgeons who do that kind of work is limited, and they charge a premium for it. It can usually require two, three or sometimes even four surgeries to correct because you can only remove grafts bit by bit in order to avoid scarring the forehead. Having already used something close to 4K for the hairline area alone (and a few on the crown), the last thing you really want is to be dropping big numbers of grafts into the front again and potentially leaving yourself short of donor resources to meet the needs of future hair loss.

[Eli_Avdikian]

Honestly the lack of density should be one of your last concerns

[CEO_of_DHT]

I feel like with the excessive graft number coupled with your crown and mid-scalp loss, you should preserve what you have with a 5ARI.

Are you on Finasteride or Dutasteride? How old are you?

[Kazuhiro]

@CEO_of_DHT 

7 hours ago, CEO_of_DHT said:

I feel like with the excessive graft number coupled with your crown and mid-scalp loss, you should preserve what you have with a 5ARI.

Are you on Finasteride or Dutasteride? How old are you?

yeah. I am taking finasteride and using the rogaine to assist with growth.

[Kazuhiro]

@CEO_of_DHT as of this moment I just accepted the fact that it is not up to standard. I just hope there will be a bit more density at those spots and it would be ok. I figured 4000 grafts but the density is not good. 

[Kazuhiro]

8 hours ago, CEO_of_DHT said:

I feel like with the excessive graft number coupled with your crown and mid-scalp loss, you should preserve what you have with a 5ARI.

Are you on Finasteride or Dutasteride? How old are you?

@CEO_of_DHT I’m 41.

[CEO_of_DHT]

51 minutes ago, Kazuhiro said:

@CEO_of_DHT as of this moment I just accepted the fact that it is not up to standard. I just hope there will be a bit more density at those spots and it would be ok. I figured 4000 grafts but the density is not good. 

Yes, there’s more to dense packing than just using implanter pens as was probably done in your case. As your hair loss is stable I‘d just implant a couple hundred single grafts into the hairline.

[Al - Moderator]

As others have said, I think the main issue is the hairline is too much of a straight line. The current density would look better if the design was better simply because it wouldn't draw your eyes to it so much. The hairline is already pretty low, so I wouldn't place any more grafts in front of it. I think I would try punching out some random grafts along the hairline to break it up a bit and place those further back.

 

 

[Berba11]

18 hours ago, CEO_of_DHT said:

Yes, there’s more to dense packing than just using implanter pens as was probably done in your case. As your hair loss is stable I‘d just implant a couple hundred single grafts into the hairline.

Why would you recommend someone whose hairline is too aggressive and unnaturally shaped place yet more grafts in front? Yes, some singles might soften it, but that won’t resolve the other issues. 

[CEO_of_DHT]

13 minutes ago, Berba11 said:

Why would you recommend someone whose hairline is too aggressive and unnaturally shaped place yet more grafts in front? Yes, some singles might soften it, but that won’t resolve the other issues. 

Because he complained about the density, not the shape. In my opinion, it's indeed too aggressive for a 41 year old. I think remodeling the hairline, especially in this case, is a big endeavour that needs to be considered quite a while and if implemented, needs to fit the schedule and lifestyle of the patient. He could just trim the MFP a bit as an interim solution.

[Berba11]

12 minutes ago, CEO_of_DHT said:

Because he complained about the density, not the shape. In my opinion, it's indeed too aggressive for a 41 year old. I think remodeling the hairline, especially in this case, is a big endeavour that needs to be considered quite a while and if implemented, needs to fit the schedule and lifestyle of the patient. He could just trim the MFP a bit as an interim solution.

But grafts in front wouldn’t address the density either…

[CEO_of_DHT]

20 minutes ago, Berba11 said:

But grafts in front wouldn’t address the density either…

Depends on the styling. Obviously, grafts would have to be placed a couple of millimeters into the hairline and front.