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HT part 1 with Farjo Medical

N

nor7

Valued member
This is my first post on this site, although I've been here many times, reading of other users experiences. In large part, what I read here encouraged me to take the plunge myself so thanks to all those that give their time to post their stories. If my own journey encourages just one person to follow me then I will be delighted.

I first noticed I was losing my hair around age 20. It was thinning at the front, and in due course the back followed suit. In the typical of way of these things, the usual progression happened and by the age of 30 I was pretty much bald from front to back.

A couple of years ago, I started to wonder if I could do something about it. More and more celebs seemed to be having HTs and the results were so much better than in those early 'plug' days.

Finally, in March 2012 I decided to look into my options. The obvious place to start was to contact a clinic fairly close to where I live. It happened to be probably the best known in the UK as well - Farjo Medical in Manchester.

I arranged an appointment and met Mick McHugh. Just about the first thing Mick said to me was that we would not be making any decisions today, just talking about options and assessing the possibilities. He spent an hour of his valuable time with me doing just that. At the end, he sent me away to think things over. No pressure to sign up, pay a deposit or anything else. Quite the reverse. Mick encouraged me to speak to other clinics, gather a range of opinions and if I wanted to take the next step he would arrange a meeting with Dr Farjo.

I did as he recommended. I spoke to clinics in England and abroad. Some seemed fine, others less so. Some wanted me to pay for a consultation, others were seemingly able to promise to move x number of FUs without even meeting me. I felt I was getting into a bit of a minefield.

So I contacted Mick again and we arranged to meet a second time to discuss my thinking. I knew in my heart that I wanted to go ahead and do something, but was worried about who I could trust and who was telling the truth. With Mick, I never felt he was being any less than absolutely honest with me. At my second meeting, I met a former patient and was astounded by his result. Judging by the pictures, he looked pretty much like me before, but now had a full head of perfectly normal looking hair. I met Dr Farjo as well. Again, no pressure at all and certainly no wild claims about FU numbers. In fact, Dr Farjo was at the lower end of the quotes I had been given. I took this as a good sign. I might get more on the day he said, but I won't promise more than I know I can deliver. He was also honest about the number of sessions I would likely need if wanting full coverage - 3. Nobody else had said that to me.

I decided then that Dr Farjo was the man to put my trust in. A date was set for November but again no money changed hands. I cannot recall any cancellations said Mick so we don't collect a deposit until just before surgery when you are certain to go ahead.

On the day (Monday 26 November - one for my diary) I arrived pretty much at the same time as Mick. The clinic had arranged for me to stay in a hotel just round the corner (Roomzz - I recommend it highly) the night before. I was staying the night after surgery too so could pop back the following day for a check-up.

Dr Farjo was already there (this was 7.30am!) and we spent the first hour taking photos, talking about the day ahead and what i wanted to achieve. I recommend you do what i did. Following my first consultation with Dr F, when he estimated the FU number, I went on the forums and galleries of all the clinics and looked for pictures of guys with my level of hair loss. And then what they looked like after they had had roughly the same number of FUs transplanted. I found a guy that looked just like me, had nearly 2400 FUs (my estimate) and a result I liked the looked of. It seemed the best and most realistic outcome I could hope for (always be realistic in what you can achieve. If you are bald, forget ending up with a Brad Pitt hairline and density).

I printed the pictures and showed them to Dr Farjo that morning. He draw on my head a pattern that would deliver pretty much the same result. I wanted to create a "bridge" between the two sides so it meant raising the hairline a bit higher but we can always adjust down a bit next time said Dr F if you want to, but it should still look fine as you are going to brush the hair forward and not back.

And so to surgery. Dr Farjo has a team of technicians that work with him and every one was so kind, attentive and professional. I was told what they were doing at each stage and to ask any questions as we went. If i felt any pain, I was to say so. Dr F removed my strip (26 cm by 1.2cm I think) and I felt nothing. He made the incisions on my scalp next - again no pain. Then planting began. Dr Farjo's technicians do this bit, rotating around so as to maintain concentration. Again, I felt nothing and we chatted away about this and that.

Sooner than I thought possible, it was all over. Dr Farjo held up a mirror and I had hair on my head for the first time in nearly 20 years. We went back to his office and took more photos and I was given my post op instructions. Each step was gone through thoroughly to make sure I understood it. But if I had any doubts at any stage, I could call the numbers given for advice.

Mick was still there to see me on the way out. He looked almost as happy as me! You just know when someone cares and believes deeply in what they are doing for a living. That shone through with everyone I met that day - a brilliant team of lovely people.

I had no problem at all that night. Took a couple of painkillers going to bed just for comfort from the scar and slept right through. I dropped into the clinic again the next morning on the way home just for a quick check up. Dr Farjo asked me if I could return on the Thursday (3 days after surgery) so he could see how everything was going after a few washes. I did that and all was well. We took more photos and I go back in ten days to have the staples removed from the strip.

I cannot say don't go to another clinic. I'm sure there are many fine ones around the world. All I can tell you is my experience with Farjo Medical has been first class from the start and I'm so glad I chose them.

My plan is to do a second procedure next year on the crown. But I will keep updating this blog regularly with my progress from stage 1. If anyone has any questions at all, do feel free to fire away.

And finally, let me add for the one or two cynics out there. I was not asked to write this blog, paid to do it or anything else. I run a successful business and don't need to sell my sole in that way. All I want to do with this blog is give a little back to the forum that helped me take this journey.

Good luck to all those on the same path and to those still thinking about it, take your courage in both hands and go for a consultation at least. You will be glad you did.


 

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W

westone

Member
Hey man, congratulations on your procedure, really enjoyed reading your write up, very detailed and precise.
 
D

Dazzster26

Valued member
Hi nor7

Welcome to the forum and thank you for posting your story we all know how it feels but now your on a forward journey , your experience with Farjo Clinic is very positive indeed and I think it will help a lot of people out their , I wish you all the best with your recent procedure , will be watching for your updates heal well

Take care I care

D


 
SADbutTRUE

SADbutTRUE

Valued member
welcome to the forums, heal well and good growth to ya.how many grafts in total was the doc able to harvest,
 
M

Modenese

boy meets quiff
Hi Nor7

Thanks for the write up, I've tended to only see smaller transplants from Farjo, yours is the biggest I've seen from him.

What was your graft and hair to graft breakdown?
 
bullitnut

bullitnut

4 awesome repairs with SMG
Hi there welcome to the forum dude;), thanks for sharing your experience with the Farjo clinic. It sound like you have had a very positive experience so far as expected and the work looks very clean.

I am really happy for you and am looking forward with excitement to following your progress dude and would love to see some before and after pics when grown in.

I like the plan to do the restoration in two stages and think down the line you are going to be a very happy chap.

Rest up and heal well my friend and congratulations.

Best wishes BN
 
N

nor7

Valued member
Hi Guys

Many thanks for the positive comments and support - it's much appreciated. BN, I recall reading your own journey earlier this year and found it inspirational so many many thanks to you mate for doing it. I may not have taken the plunge without reading such stories first.

Dr Farjo transplanted just over 2,400 FUs for me. I will get the exact breakdown of numbers and hairs from the clinic and post it up shortly.

I'm on day 5 post op now. Not had any problems at all so far. The recipient site has tiny scabs on it but I believe these will drop off over the next week to ten days. The initial redness has reduced as well. All the hairs still seem to be in place although Im expecting them to fall with the scabs. Not to worry. After living with a bald head for years, I can do it again for a few more months and just look forward to next March/April when hopefully my follicles will come to life along with much else in the Spring sunshine!

Ive posted a pre-op picture so you can see just how extensive the hair loss is. In the circumstances, I think Dr Farjo and his team have worked wonders for me.

I can post regular update photos if they would be helpful for anyone?



 

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Bigmac

Bigmac

Administrator
Staff member
Hi Nor7,

Thanks for sharing your story with us, sounds like you had an excellent experience with the Farjo clinic, you got a good amount of grafts which will make a great difference to your appearance.

I`ll look forward to following your progress.

Take care Bm.
 
bullitnut

bullitnut

4 awesome repairs with SMG
nor7 wrote:
BN, I recall reading your own journey earlier this year and found it inspirational so many many thanks to you mate for doing it. I may not have taken the plunge without reading such stories first.



Ive posted a pre-op picture so you can see just how extensive the hair loss is.

Thanks dude I am glad my story helped.

Looking at your pre op picture it's going to be amazing for you when things start growing again after all these years lol......really happy for ya!
 
M

Mick From Farjo

Valued member
Nor7 ,

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us on here.
Just to clarify the numbers transferred were directly as a result of both the quality and quantity that we had to work with.In other words we were limited.
I do think though that Nor7 was the perfect patient in terms of expectations as well as knowledge... a good combination.

Modenese,
This was in actual fact a relatively smaller procedure for us, search this site for many examples of many that we have undertaken.

Nor7 good growing and be patient and thanks once again.

Mick
 
N

nor7

Valued member
Thanks a lot for posting Mick.

If you get time, can you post up the actual numbers? Don't worry, if no time though, I will get them when I come to have the stitches removed from the donor site.

I am now day 8 post op and have posted a new picture. Tiny scabs that are slowly coming away is the current state of play. Some interesting patterns are forming as they do!

Tonight will be my first normal shampooing so I would expect more of these to come away over the next week. I will keep posting update pics as we go.

Donor site is fine although with stitches and staples it still feels tight. Looking forward to having those removed. I would say to anyone that is going to do this, buy a travel pillow (Amazon sell them for a few pounds) that fits around your neck. It will suspend your donor region in mid air during sleeping and will make it that much more comfortable. After a week, you shouldn't need more than a couple of anadin a day if the donor still feels a little tender.

Best wishes to all - will update again in a few days


 

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Bigmac

Bigmac

Administrator
Staff member
Thanks for the update Nor7, all looks as it should be at day 8.

Cheers Bm.
 
bullitnut

bullitnut

4 awesome repairs with SMG
Thanks for the update, you will be relieved soon when the staples are out in a few days dude its great to have them out and sleep that little bit better.
 
N

nor7

Valued member
I'm def looking forward to no staples! Had a cold and bad chest this week: sneezing and coughing are not a good combination with staples in your head!

Still plenty of scabs up top (day 10 post op today). Good job it is so cold, no one is wondering why i am wearing a hat all the time

Any tips for loosening the scabs anyone? I'm avoiding picking them but any tips would be very welcome.




 
N

nor7

Valued member
Day 14 today and a visit back to the clinic for the removal of the staples.

The attached picture was taken on day 13.

All scabs have now gone. More hair has survived the scab shedding than I was expecting but I guess this will drop over the next few weeks.

By the way, for anyone having trouble with scabs - if by day 12 they haven't all gone I read an excellent post on it on another thread. Soak your head for about 5- 10 mins under a warm water shower to get the scalp nice and soft. Use the pads of your fingers to gently roll the scabs and dead skin. Much of it should come away, leaving fresh (pinky) skin underneath.

Any scabbing that is well bedded in, get some aloa vera moisturiser and gently rub into the affected area. Aloa vera will soften it up nicely and it should just roll off.

I will post a pic of the donor site tomorrow
 

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bullitnut

bullitnut

4 awesome repairs with SMG
Looks nice and clean dude staples out today yeah happy times ahead
 
Bigmac

Bigmac

Administrator
Staff member
You'll be pleased to have the staples out , as for the scabs, I soaked my scalp the same way to get rid of the few that were hanging in there.

Thanks for the update.
 
bullitnut

bullitnut

4 awesome repairs with SMG
How did the staple removal go at Farjo Nor7?
 
don1966

don1966

Valued member
Hi nor7,Welcome to the forum and the world of having hair or soon to be!

What a great write up,looks like you had a great experience at the Farjo clinic similar to mine.

The work looks nice and clean as always from Dr Farjo.
Congratulations on picking a world class clinic.
Its just the waiting game now.

Grow well,all the best Don.
 
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