r/HairTransplants

Introduction
I've been meaning to write this because I spent hundreds of hours reading Reddit before my
surgery. Patient reviews helped me tremendously, so I wanted to share my own honest experience.

My First Hair Transplant – 1990
Back in 1990, I had about 20 old-style plug grafts done at Bosley. Fortunately, it wasn't a massive
session and I was able to hide the plugs with bangs for many years. Even so, the experience
caused me to lose confidence in hair transplantation for decades.

Why I Waited 35 Years
I preserved most of my native hair with medication and eventually researched clinics around the
world. What ultimately convinced me was the consistent, natural-looking work I saw from Dr. Levent
Acar at Cosmedica VIP.

Why I Chose Cosmedica VIP
The approximately $8,000 VIP package included 4,000 FUE grafts (worked out to $2 per graft),
the DoubleTree hotel, airport transfers, transportation between the hotel and clinic, PRP, Regenera Activa,
medications, and follow-up care. Everything was coordinated from the moment I landed in Istanbul.

Did It Feel Like a 'Hair Mill'?
One criticism you sometimes hear about large Turkish clinics is that they operate like 'hair mills.'
That honestly was not my experience. I had my procedure in August, which I later learned was the
slower season. There were only four other patients in the clinic that day. Because I had booked the
VIP package, I was the only VIP patient, and Dr. Levent Acar personally designed my hairline,
performed my recipient-site incisions, and I was assigned what I understood to be his most
experienced technician team. While I can't speak for every day of the year or every patient's
experience, my own experience felt personal, organized, and anything but assembly-line.

A Conversation I'll Never Forget
I told Dr. Acar about living with my Bosley plugs for over 35 years. He asked why I had waited so
long to correct them. I explained that I simply didn't trust hair transplantation until I saw his
consistent results. I genuinely felt that he understood how meaningful this surgery was to me and
took a personal interest in helping me achieve the best possible outcome.

Surgery Day
I received 4,000 FUE grafts. Dr. Acar designed my hairline and performed the recipient-site
incisions, while the experienced VIP team handled the extractions and implantation. The procedure
was organized, professional, and much more comfortable than I had expected.

The Clinic and Hotel
The clinic was modern and efficient. The DoubleTree was an excellent place to recover, breakfast
was great, and transportation was seamless.

Recovery
Recovery was easier than expected. I experienced almost no swelling. I can't say for certain why,
but I do wonder whether the micro sapphire incisions contributed, as many surgeons believe they
may create cleaner recipient sites with less tissue trauma. Sleeping upright was the biggest
inconvenience. The shedding phase required patience, but the results steadily appeared.

My Results
Today, nearly one year after surgery, I'm extremely happy with my decision. In everyday lighting I'd
honestly describe myself as approximately a Norwood 1.5 compared with roughly a Norwood 3
before surgery. My hairline looks natural, my temples have been dramatically improved, and people
simply tell me I look younger rather than guessing I had a transplant.

Was Everything Perfect?
No. My left temple developed a little more slowly than my right, and under harsh overhead lighting
I'd still like a little more density. Because I'm a perfectionist, I've scheduled a refinement
procedure in Bangkok in 2028 with Dr Ratchathorn to add density in the frontal core with an estimated 1500 grafts. She estimated it was 40 grafts per square cm in the frontal region and said she could bring it up to 60 grafts per square cm.

One Final Thought About Reviews
Cosmedica never asked me to write this review. They never requested a Reddit post or social
media review. Around my 10-month mark they asked if they could use my photos in their
advertising because they were pleased with my results. I politely declined because I prefer to keep
that part of my life private. I appreciated that they didn't ask for a review immediately after surgery
like some clinics do. Everything here is my own decision and reflects my personal experience.

Final Thoughts
Looking back, choosing Cosmedica VIP was one of the best cosmetic decisions I've ever made.
Modern FUE is worlds apart from what existed in 1990 and gets an enthusiastic thumbs up from me. Just make
sure you have the doctor involved in the process.

Hi all, I wanted to post an update on my female HT. It’s been 2 months and 3 weeks, the growth is going crazy. I had 1 session of PRP 1 month after surgery, I use topical min daily, 20 mins red light 3x a week, and I will also do exosomes in 2 weeks. Lately it’s been quite itchy and I’ve noticed some dandruff but I just make sure to moisturise some nights. I need to post a full review on the clinic I went to because my dr was next level INCREDIBLE but let me know if you have any questions!

35M with a high stress desk job impacting my health.

The past 8 months, I was pretty much working 13 to 15 hours a day which resulted in me gaining 23 lbs and I started to notice that my hair has been thinning pretty bad since the last 3 to 4 months. Drastic hair loss.

I was able to fix my sleep since the last 3 months, but not my diet.

My medication history:

In my early 20s, I was foolish, had long hair and experimented with 5% topical minoxidil for 2 years to enhance my hair. I was off of it for almost 5 years and I came back to minoxidil foam and fin 3 years ago.

Currently I'm on 1 mg of oral finasteride and 5 mg of oral minoxidil since 1.5 years.

My questions are:

1. I'm marrying my long-term partner in 8 months, should I choose to go through the procedure in the moment? Or would it be wise to wait till our big day is done?
2. How many grafts do you think I would need? My need is not to fully restore my hairline but just to fix the thickness of my existing hairline and maybe enhance my hairline by a couple of millimeters.
3. Should I fix my diet, lose weight and address my micro nutrient deficiencies to see if this hair loss would reverse to any extent before I opt for this procedure?
4. Should I keep continuing my dose of 1 mg oral Fin and 2x 2.5 mg oral Minoxidil? (I was mostly consistent except for a a month here and there since the last 1.5 years)

I live in Canada and, I work in USA. Should I chose to get the procedure out of North America or would you suggest to get this in NA? any suggestions on good clinics / doctors in and out of NA?

Thanks.

Scabs are removed! How are we looking? 2500 grafts total to fill in the new hairline.

How long can I expect to wait till my head feels normal? Right now the front of my head where the new hairline is feels like wood/ it doesn’t belong to me. Very weird feeling but hoping I regain some normalcy soon!

Started also 4 months ago with minox 5%. 4 weeks ago ago with the dermastamp and 3 weeks i started with finasteride. And yes i know i am to late with finasteride because is was scared for side effects.

Crown area i will do next year. Focus this session was only the hairline and mid scalp.

Netherlands fue perfect lelystad

Day 1 post-op, Dr Ratchathorn (Absolute, Bangkok) (23 year old male) honest opinions wanted on corner symmetry + 45 vs 50 FU/cm2

Just had 2,850 grafts FUE with Dr Ratchathorn hairline rebuild, closed corners, temple point work. Want to say upfront: the whole experience has been excellent, the design is great, and Dr Ratchathorn has been incredibly accommodating. Not criticising the clinic at all i just want honest outside eyes on two things, because this was funded by an inheritance and realistically it's a one-time thing for me.

Right corner sits slightly higher than the left. She agreed it's a little high (swelling from the tumescent injection affected placement) and has offered a free touch-up at day 8 before I fly home to even it up. My question: from the photos, is the current asymmetry within natural variance, or would you take the touch-up? I know real hairlines aren't symmetrical I just don't want to regret leaving it as this is kinda it for me

2. Density she wanted 45cm² I wanted 50 in regards to the dentist part. We discussed and we agreed 50 FU/cm2 at consult, she went 45. Her reasoning was my age (23). But I'm on dutasteride and oral minoxidil long-term and had explained that, so I wish it had been discussed mid-surgery rather than after. She said my donor density is average but with lots of multi-hair follicles. I'm unsure if it's normal process to show the patient but she showed me photos of 4–6 hair on some follicles and seemed optimistic about my doner and she seemed genuinely pleased about it. Photos attached including close-ups of implanted grafts vs my shaved native hair behind. Does the packing look like it'll match my native density, especially under harsh gym lighting? That's where I'll be most.

For context on graft count: I pushed for a more youthful (but realistic) hairline and reinforced temple points, so the higher usage was my request and I knew going in. Being 23 I don't want to waste my years with a poor hairline. I'm also on dut and happy to increase dosage. Meds also did a lot for me.

And yes I've been on meds for years dut and oral min now. I'll attach a photo of my hair at 19 before meds for context at the very end of the post to compare to pre op.

I contacted Dr Bek in September 2025 and was able to schedule the soonest available appointment on June 24th and 25th, 2026 in Ankara. I paid 2.5 euros/graft.

I included my pre-op, 1 day post-op, and 10 day post-op photos. Overall, I’m very happy with my results and am happy I chose to go with Dr Bek for my hair transplant.

I’ll post my progress at 6 months.

The photos show before the transplant, shortly after the procedure, and today at day 93. I had 2,500 grafts done in Hungary for just under €4,000. I know it’s still early, but I’m curious what you think of the progress so far.

Help please. The transplant was reported as 5000 grafts. Does this seem true? Is the density in the first third of the head normal?

Did Messi have FUT. Looking at the linear scar shape? In the picture. I heard he had FUE

My frontal hairline looks fairly straight—almost a U-shape—innatural, and I’d like to slightly soften the center into a widow's peak; is that feasible? It would involve removing a few grafts and adding some to the center

Essas são fotos atualizadas da minha área doadora. A da lateral acima da orelha é a mais recente (40 dias após transplante). Muitos fios nasceram, mas creio que chegou no limite. Desconfio seriamente de super exploração. Terei fios o suficiente pra fazer um segundo transplante e diminuir minha testa?

Hi everyone, what’s your opinions, is it possible to make this look more natural with another transplant?

Hello! So I think it is time to accept that I will need Hair Transplant for my hairline because Meds are not doing anything about it. I am wondering how many grafts I will need to cover this?

What is this guy on about?? Most people do shaved fue at Ratchathorn, Laorwong, and Patty right? (Just using those names because I'm new to researching the popular surgeons and a lot of people here seem to get it from them)

Am I wrong? I thought no shave fue has a higher chance of causing an infection and usually failure. I'm very confused