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.
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.