Dr. Kaan Pekiner - Ankara, Turkey - 3004 Grafts, Norwood 5 - 02.12.2021 (2024)

Hello Everyone,

So after countless amount of cancellations due to covid, I finally managed to get myself to Ankara for an FUE surgery with Dr, Kaan Pekiner. The surgery took place over 3 days from 02/12 to 04/12, exactly 1 whole year from my original planned date.

Background Characteristics

- 28 years old male

- Norwood 5

- Fine hair

- 0.5mg Finasteride per day for 1 year

Pre-op consultation

After assessing my situation via a video call with Dr. Pekiner, I was advised that I would need two surgeries to fill the whole head. The first surgery would involve re-constructing the hairline, temples and mid scalp and then the second surgery for the crown. Dr. Pekiner concluded that I would need 3700 grafts in total for the first surgery, being 3000 from my donor area and 700 from the beard. In addition, I was advised to start finasteride to stabilize the hair loss.

After taking finasteride for the year as instructed, I can confirm that although it didn’t work wonders, it definitely halted the hair loss and I gained some hairs back in the mid-scalp region.

Transport & Accommodation

I went to turkey with a friend and we were picked up from the airport by the driver and taken to the Atakosk hotel, where we were staying. The clinic has an affiliation with the clinic and as I understand, patients stay at this hotel for the days of the surgery. The hotel was absolutely amazing, big spacious rooms, SPA + Sauna + Hammam and the staff were very accommodating. Breakfast was included in the price every morning.

Surgery:

I was picked up from the hotel by the clinic office manager and was taken to the clinic. It was just a short walk of about 5-10mins. I met Dr. Pekiner and the rest of the team and was explained how the days would run. My head was shaved, hairline planning underway and then it was time for day 1.

Each day I was in the clinic from 8am to 5pm with the days planned as follows:

- Extraction

- Break

- Implantation

- Lunch

- Extraction

- Break

- Implantation

After reading countless reviews of Dr. Pekiner on here, I can say he definitely lived up to his reputation and expectation. An incredibly skilled surgeon, ethical and full of knowledge. I instantly felt that I was in safe hands and made the correct choice of choosing him.

Now, as the days were progressing and my receipt area was being filled with grafts, I predicted that Dr. Pekiner may be able to complete the surgery without the need of 700BHT grafts. Either way, I was not fussed if he needed or didn’t need to use them. In the end, I was right and my hairline, temples and mid-scalp was filled with 3004 grafts, saving the need to use my beard. As a result, I was able to save around £1400 pounds.

Graft count as follows:

6,503 hairs using 3004 grafts = average graft count 2.164 per graft.

Post-op debrief

After the surgery was completed on the 3^rd day, I had a sit down with the Dr. Pekiner in his office where he went over a few things which I will bullet point below:

- My donor area was average, he has seen worse and he has seen better but he is confident I will achieve a satisfactory result.

- I am to continue taking finasteride ( I purchased some proscar from the pharmacy at the airport and I am now cutting them into four pieces and taking 1.25mg MWF.

- I am to consider starting oral Minoxidil after a few months. ( I am happy to try this and see how I get on. Dr will confirm dose.)

- Biotin daily

- Aspirin daily for the first 30 days.

- Sebamed shampoo daily until scabs come off

- Bepanthol for donor area and Saline Solution for the recipient area.

- I was then given a post-operation aftercare document detailing the above and additional do`s and don’ts.

Conclusion

It was an amazing experience, one that I will never forget. The team is outstanding and the patient care is second to none. I am 3 weeks post-op and would very much appreciate any comments.

I have posted some pictures below with various lighting including Pre-op, post-op, week 1, week2 and week 3.

I don’t think I have started shedding, am I correct in understanding that these hairs (week 2/3 pics) will all fall out, which will start the ugly duckling phase?

Thank you for reading.

Donor Area

Pre-Op

Post OP

Week 1 Post OP

Week 2 Post OP

Week 3 Post OP

Graft Count Board