Hi HRN community,
Please see log of my ongoing HT journey which has been written over 2 sleepless nights..I will appreciate positive vibes from fellow members to make this process smoother and to look forward to a more Confident future for my inner core!!
Background –
-46 year old South Asian Male living in Canada. NW4/5
-Baldness started since early 30s (Maternal hereditary) and progressed rapidly in late 30s with plateau around early 40s
-Took Fin 1mg around 2017 and stopped taking within 6 months due to reports of side effects related to libido in various forums. Guess, I got the nocebo effect even though taking it led to reduction in hairloss
-Once hairloss stabilized early 40s decided to do something about it
oDid 6 PRP injections over period of 6 months this year
oThat didn’t do much so decided to get a hair system till I figured something else out
o2 months in Hairsystem and I already wanted to get rid of it due to stuffy head feeling along with feeling light headed all times plus it was expensive maintaining it, even though it made me look 10 years younger. I had to find a permanent solution
-Found Rediff and HRN community, God Send!
-Researched over a period of a month; even though lot will say that more time is needed but I had made up my mind already that I needed HT and was a matter of finding out the right Clinic
Clinic research
1.H&W - #1 on my list as they are Canadian and couple of hours flight from Toronto. I reached out through their site and HRN access; however didn’t receive any response for 2 weeks. Finally, I called their office in VAN and they said someome will contact within a week. I then found James’ email and sent him a separate email and got a response from him within a week (was too late by that time).
2.Konior – Reached out to him and he was pretty quick in getting back. He did want to take up the case; however had a long wait time and I had to pass; as a result.
3.EUGENIX – Based on the incredible reviews on HRN for Eugenix, that was my next choice and being Indian descent it made me comfortable reaching out to them. Response was really quick and they mentioned I will need about 4000 grafts with hairline and frontal coverage along with crown, but they said they wont cover the mid scalp (I needed full coverage).The conversation led to deciding packages and I got put off when I was informed that Dr Sethi is only involved in celebrities and unconventional cases and I can be consulted with Arika/Das etc (all good surgeons based on reviews here). All packages has components of involvement of surgeon and other work done by experienced techinicians.
4.Dr P – HRN community mentioned names of a few surgeons who do all work from start to finish and Dr P was one of them. I reserched his work on this forum and other social media sites and found him an ideal surgeon to take up my case. I got contact details through one of the HRN threads and reached out at the Whatsapp number and Alex got in touch with me within a few minutes of first messge.
5.Koray, Fillipe, Fuecapilar, Yaman, Padra – Also reached out to all these clinics and got varying level of responses.The funniest one was Koray. When they found out I was flying to Turkey on a specifc day, they quickly arranged the same date for me and dropped their price from initially quoted 3 Euro to 2.1 Euro along with finding the exact date I had requested them already and had been outrightly denied of it.By that Time I had already said Yes to Dr P and there was no going back even if they would have done for free cz it tells a lot of their ethics when they are ready to drop their pants to get a client.
The HT Visit to Ankara, Turkey
I arrived Ankara on Aug 27thand had my first in person consult with Dr P on Aug 28 at 9:15am in his clinic.
Points noted during consult
1.He will build my existing hairline (or lack of) and provide density of about 40 cm2 along with giving Widows Peak. As I have hair still left in frontal and mid scalp, he will add to the density for general desensification. I agreed with his analysis as it seemed age and grafts appropriate.
2.He noted that Left temple has less density compared to right so confirmed that it will need more grafts to add density
3.As I had to trim all hair 2 weeks before HT in order to take my hair system off, DR wasn’t able to provide me an accurate representation of grafts needed, but mentioned the below
a.Will respect the whirl for crown
b.Will respect the direction of hair as seen in the pictures and what he can make off the 2 weeks of hair growth; based on his experience.
c.Agreed to make Temple Peaks a little prominent, depending upon donor management
d.~ 3500 from scalp and 1000 BHT
i.Didn’t promise 3500 scalp due to my donor (even though having very good density and hair caliber as Thick) was not large enough to cover all areas needed and wanted to ensure effective Donor management is done
4.Fin 1 mg + Saw Palmetto – Was advised to start 2 weeks before surgery by alternating each day to reduce any sides. Also advised to start Oral Min 1 month post HT. Added Biotin daily.
DAY 1 of Surgery
With the above plan in mind, hairline was drawn along with zones divided and pictures were taken and then head was shaved along with giving the First Antibiotic of the day
Session 1
702 Grafts extracted and implanted to the left temple and part of hairline
Session 2
400 grafts extracted and planted to remaining hairline and frontal/mid scalp.
Upon completion, whole head was bandaged and Antibiotics were provided to be taken after breakfast and dinner and paracetamol, upon pain.
Sleep on Day 1
With the left side swollen, didn’t get much sleep on back or on left side and mixed with Jet lag etc..didnt sleep at all
DAY 2 of Surgery
Due to a pre-planned appointment, I was informed on Day 1 that Day 2 willstart at 3:30with only one session
The bandages were removed and swelling subsided substantially along with donor and recipient area on prime conditions
750 grafts taken and placed to right temple.
Dr P noted at end of day 2 that we may not have enough to go with 3,500 scalp without over harvesting the donor. He will do his best to get another 1,100 (1,850 already grafted and implanted) without compromising donor and that should take care of right side hairline front and mid scalp along with starting the vertex and mix 1000 BHT on Day 4
Pix- the first 5 pix are from a day before flying to Ankara. The growth or lack of is after hair being trimmed fully 2 weeks before due to removal of hair system
Pic 6 - Plan drawn based upon the pic sent during initial consult
Pic 7,8, 9 are during planning stage on Day 1, Aug 28. Pics taken by clinic will be added once Received.
Pic 10,11,12,13,14,15 are of Day 1 surgery with 702 grafts + 400 grafts to the left side and donor
Pic 16,17,18,19 show the Donor and Recipient after bandages removed on Day 2
Pic 20,21,22,23 show the 750 grafts to right temple and donor.
P.S. As the surgery is still ongoing, I will appreciate all positive vibes and if someone has different to note, please keep it in your mind for the time being..lol
i will be posting for remainder days as and when they unfold.
one last thing to note is that Dr P has been simply Great! He has 2 assistants who assist with saline solution sprays and graft separation. All else including anesthesia, extraction, implantation is done solely by Dr P.
Edited by Vic
