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FUE Hair Transplant with Dr Feriduni - 4740 Grafts and Aftercare

S

Swill

Valued member
Hi guys,

Firstly I am not one to normally contribute to forums like this, but as a few of these forums were an invaluable source of information to me that helped me make my decision regarding my hair transplant procedure I think I owe it to ‘give something back’ and write about my experience, which may in turn help anyone in making their decision down the line.

A little about me…

Im 33 years old and from the UK and have suffered with hair loss from a very young age. I have naturally thin hair anyway, and noticed in my late teens that my hairline was starting to recede heavily. As a result at 19 (back in 2004) I opted to have a hair transplant with a company in Athens, Greece, fronted by a chap named Malcolm Mendhelson (sp?) using the choi procedure… long story short I was young and stupid, the procedure was beyond terrible (hairs implanted without care for directionality, sparse, terrible job). I was also absolutely butchered with my scar site at the back of my head, the extent of which only became apparent years later when I had to cut my hair short due to further balding.

One quick note on Propecia… I know this is a contentious topic, particularly for many forums like this, but I shall speak my experience and do not wish to debate it further with the defenders of the drug, to each their own. I was advised to start taking it after my first procedure and did so religiously for 7 years, and it worked like a charm, no further balding and a nice head of hair, and no noticeable side effects except (with hindsight) needing to piss a thousand times a day. Unfortunately at the end of 2012 I started developing issues that very much worsened after stopping the drug, and it absolutely decimated my endocrine system and damn near killed me. Although I am doing very well now, I had a horrendous couple of years, and some sexual symptoms persist to this day. Propecia as a result was very much not an option for me going forward.

As a result, since 2013 my hair has been falling out at a rapid rate, and I used toppik to compensate this, which worked really well initially but as things progressed my head got to the point there was more toppik than hair and it started looking more and more obvious. As a result, I had a decision to make.

Following research on here, and speaking to some other people I know who had opted to have procedures, one of the handful of names that kept appearing near the top of lists was Dr Feriduni in Belgium and the pictures of his work I saw online were great, so I decided to make contact.

Due to my hair transplant history, Dr Feriduni advised I first attend the clinic for a consultation so that a realistic and accurate assessment could be made regarding what my options were, and I am really glad I did this. He measured and gave me an idea of the number of grafts I have in the donor area, assessed the previous work I had done and give me an idea on my options.

Following this, I decided to schedule my procedure, which would include the removal of the previous implanted hairline, and the repair of the previous scar to make it much less noticeable and also an FUE procedure to give a new hairline and most of the front part of the head. He stated he expected the yield from the procedure to be around 2800 grafts.

One thing to note about Dr Feriduni is he seemed from the outset to have a great deal of integrity. There was never any sales pitch and he was clear from the outset that I would need multiple procedures to achieve a full head of hair but explained with this option that it would look natural following procedure number 1 that I have just suffered hair loss at the back of the head and that a short hair style would look good. He was also up front and honest about the limitations there would be as a result of me having finer hair so that I had totally realistic expectations. He also advised regarding hairline placement and stated that he was doing so with my individual case in mind, as it is important that there is enough donor hair for the area of my head to achieve a good long term result. He stated that he could do a much lower hairline now but it would likely be regrettable in the long term, and I am very happy with the hairline placement he suggested with hindsight.

The procedure itself took place just over 4 months after my consultation as from what I understand the practice is very busy and there is a bit of a waiting list. I was happy to wait however and found this a little reassuring, knowing there was high demand for his services.

The staff at the clinic were incredibly friendly and accommodating and the procedure itself ran like clockwork. I had read that most of the staff working at the clinic with Dr Feriduni had been there for many years, and this showed, as it all ran like a finely tuned machine.

I was also pretty amazed that they managed to get far above my expected yield, having also taken transplanted hairs from the area where the scar repair took place and also the re-using the transplanted hairline and they actually managed to do considerably more than they anticipated and achieved 4,740 grafts from the one procdure! From my limited knowledge and the reading I have done, this seemed very good for an FUE procedure. The Doctor also stated that he was incredibly happy with result and expects there to be a very good outcome post procedure.

I am now three weeks post operation and have also been very impressed with the post op care. Everything I needed was provided with very clear instructions and I could contact the clinic for an immediate response at pretty much any time, not that I needed to do so too much aside from having some queries with hyperaesthesia, which was quite uncomfortable for me up to around 10 days post op. I expected this, as I have sensitive skin. The scar they repaired is healing well too and already looks far less prominent than it was previously, which I am ecstatic about.

A huge help with the post op care was an app I was provided with to download on my smartphone called ‘HairTransplant.app’, which alongside the documentation gave you clear information on what you should be doing post op, and what restrictions you should follow in your post op care. It updates daily and also gives you timed updates throughout the day regarding taking medications and supplements, applying lotions, etc. as well as letting you know when you can resume certain things such as sleeping freely on your back, sporting and sexual activities, etc. This was an absolute godsend, particularly in the early post op days where there were a lot of instructions and a lot of stuff to take in, and it also had a very useful FAQ section with means to contact the clinic should you have any concerns or issues. I couldn't recommend this more to anyone for their post op care.

Three weeks post op and everything is healing nicely, quite a bit of my recipient area hair has started to fall out as expected and I am entering the ugly duckling stage, but very optimistic to see the results and see how things progress. I was incredibly happy with how things looked before the transplanted hair began to shed so I am very excited for the final result.

To summarise, I was incredibly happy with my choice of the clinic and cant speak highly of the professionalism and care of the staff, and particularly their honesty given I was stung with a terrible procedure back in my earlier days when I was young and stupid. I would absolutely make the same call again and will very likely be having a second procedure with the clinic in the future to achieve a full head of hair. The post op care is also taken very seriously by the clinic and the Hair Transplant App they provided me with was absolutely invaluable.

The only drawbacks were the travelling (but I was more than happy to do so given I knew I would have to in order to get the best results, and Hassellt was easy to get to by train from Brussells Airport and a cheap flight from London), and although I don’t wish to get into the cost of my procedure as I find financial matters to be personal, there would certainly be cheaper options out there from other places. I strongly believe that you get what you pay for though in this instance, and to me given that I was able to afford it then it was a no brainer as my hair is something that will be with me for the rest of my life (and the fact I am vain like a lot who find themselves on this forum :) ) I considered it a great investment.

I am not great with forums but will try to upload some pictures as I know lots on here (myself included when I was researching things) want to see these more than anything, and I will also try to upload some progress pictures too if I remember as time goes on. Again, I am not the most switched on in remembering to check these things, but should you have any questions then go right ahead and I shall do my best to answer. Hope this helps some of you :)
 
S

Swill

Valued member
Me on the morning of the procedure
 

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S

Swill

Valued member
Me immediately post operation
 

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S

Swill

Valued member
Me 10 days post operation
 

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S

Swill

Valued member
Hi guys, just providing an update and the pictures. I am now 5 months post procedure… I had intended to provide an update at 4 months but only a little hair had come in at that point, but I noticed that it was starting to much more rapidly so thought it’d be more useful to everyone to leave it another month.

As expected, I lost most of the transplanted hair between the two week to two month period. I did keep most of the actual hairline, which I was informed was due to the fact they were single grafts as they give the best look at the hairline. As I stated the hair began to come through noticeably just shy of 4 months but the change between month 4 and month 5 has been the most considerable by a distance.

The scar from my old transplant is noticeably thinner than it was but still red from the fresh incision. I think I am now starting to notice it fading ever so slightly however.

Also the area where my old transplanted hairs were removed looks great in comparison to how it was, there are still a couple of marks but only noticeable literally at point blank range and I expect they will continue to fade further. It is so unnoticeable that I would not be overly bothered if this was the end result in this area.

Some density is starting to appear and it is getting more noticeable weekly, very excited to see the progress as this continues.

The clinic has been absolutely incredible with their support. I have contacted them a few times with general questions and they have answered very quickly. I have even had personal responses and emails from the surgeon himself. I really couldn’t recommend the clinic highly enough.

The aftercare they offered through the HairTransplant app is superb and was hugely helpful, particularly in the first two months as you are reaching the various milestones in recovery. It’s a great easy access guide as to where you are at in the process, and how long until you should be doing certain things safely, such as exercise, sun exposure etc. It was so easy being just a few clicks away to all these answers without have to deep dive reading things. It was also really fun in a peculiar way, like you were checking off landmarks as you go along. The regular reminders in the early stages throughout the days regarding it being time to wash/apply lotion etc. were invaluable!

I am away over the next few weeks but will endeavor to answer anything, questions and comment welcome as always!
 

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bullitnut

bullitnut

4 awesome repairs with SMG
Your story was great and very helpful for others considering Dr F to read dude....the job they did for you looks awesome and so natural and you look to be getting some really good growth at 5 months. Everyone who has been to Dr Feriduni says hes such a nice guy which is nice to hear. The scar looks good too and with a tiny bit more length would be disguised completely imo although I doubt people would comment on it at that length.

Thanks for taking the time to post your experience I know it's not something everyone desires to do but I for one appreciate reading everyones experiences with the different clinics on here.

I wish you all the best for the rest of the growth phase dude and if it's this good already I'm sure your going to be over enjoyed come 12 months.

Take care BN
 
bullitnut

bullitnut

4 awesome repairs with SMG
On a side note the app you mentioned sounds awesome and very useful.
 
S

Swill

Valued member
The App was fantastic in helping with the aftercare, I would be very surprised if it doesn't become commonplace.

The growth at 7 months has been fantastic and I am really happy with things, I will post further update photos at the 8 month mark :)
 
Bigmac

Bigmac

Administrator
Staff member
Hi Swill.
A belated welcome to the forum and thanks for sharing your story.
It`s good to read that your previous poor surgery has been rectified by Dr Feriduni. The work looks very good as usual. At 5 months you looked good, at 7 months as mentioned above you are really happy with how its progressing which is great.
The hair transplant app you refer to is very good for patient aftercare. I have seen it a few times now, it is very impressive. I can see it becoming more mainstream soon.

I`ll look forward to seeing your pictures at 8 months.

All the best.
Bm.
 
S

Swill

Valued member
Hi guys, as promised here are my photographs at the eight month mark. Recently I've really noticed the scar repair that Dr Feriduni did for me starting to fade, happy with the progress and excited for the final result. I have a consultation for the end of May with the Dr to assess the final result (which is included with the HT itself) and assess future options. Exciting times!
 

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Bigmac

Bigmac

Administrator
Staff member
Hi Swill.
Good to hear you are happy with the progress and that the scar is fading. Your hair at the front looks natural now, so much better than before. Dr Feriduni has done a great job.
Thanks for the update.
All the best.
 
Arnold6

Arnold6

member
Hi Swill. Its a shame you had to endure what you went through after the first transplant with the clinic in Greece. It sounds horrendous. Then you had the issues with Propecia which sound very serious. Well done for making it through the worst of it.

How was the FUT healing this second time round? Was it painful at all? Your hair has improved dramatically when comparing them to your first pictures. It looks as though you will have a good outcome.
 
S

Swill

Valued member
Hi Swill. Its a shame you had to endure what you went through after the first transplant with the clinic in Greece. It sounds horrendous. Then you had the issues with Propecia which sound very serious. Well done for making it through the worst of it.

How was the FUT healing this second time round? Was it painful at all? Your hair has improved dramatically when comparing them to your first pictures. It looks as though you will have a good outcome.

Thank you Arnold6! The first procedure was not great but that only really properly became apparent after I stopped with the Propecia and lost the hair I had been retaining quite rapidly. The porpecia stuff was hell, I don't like to get into it on these forums as everyone needs to make their own choices and I'd never want to preach, but I would advise anyone to avoid it like the plague.

The FUT healing was good in fairness, the Dr commented that the cutting into my scalp for the FUT on my first procedure was done horrendously and they went far, far deeper than they needed to, so there was a little itching and tingling as he had to cut out a serious amount of scar tissue apparently. It wasn't awful though.

I did have quite a bit of discomfort for around 7 days (from about day 4) with something that I believe is called hyperaesthesia (or something similar), which apparently is common with people who have a large number of grafts done with FUE and it leads to extra sensitivity in the scalp. I guessed I may likely have this when I read about it as I do have very sensitive skin. This felt like a burning/uncomfortable sensation (a little like the weird feeling you get when you have 'pins and needles' if you get me?).

Both those issue had subsided by day 11/12 and I was more than ready to get back to work 14 days post procedure.
 
Arnold6

Arnold6

member
Hello Swill. Sorry, I did not reply sooner, life, Covid19 amongst other stuff has been hectic lately. At least you`re nearly there with this surgery which will alleviate the pain you`ve endured and allow you to move on with your life with a positive outlook.
Propecia seems it can be a double edged sword for some, I think it helps the majority but very unfortunate for the few who suffer serious reactions to it.
You won`t have long left before you hit your 12 month mark. Will this be your last procedure?
Stay safe and healthy.
 
janna

janna

Valuable Member
Hi Swill,

Your procedure with Dr Feriduni is coming along very well! Congrats!! I’m impressed by the number of Grafts they achieved in one day.
The discomfort you felt in the donor after the FUE procedure is quite common. I’ve heard some patients say the pain at day 7 or 8 post op was the worst part of the whole procedure. Thankfully, the discomfort usually lasts 4-5 days and Ibuprofen tends to help at bedtime,
 
S

Swill

Valued member
Hello Swill. Sorry, I did not reply sooner, life, Covid19 amongst other stuff has been hectic lately. At least you`re nearly there with this surgery which will alleviate the pain you`ve endured and allow you to move on with your life with a positive outlook.
Propecia seems it can be a double edged sword for some, I think it helps the majority but very unfortunate for the few who suffer serious reactions to it.
You won`t have long left before you hit your 12 month mark. Will this be your last procedure?
Stay safe and healthy.

Thank you Arnold6! I have posted my 12 month update below. A second procedure is definitely something I am considering, to get some work on the crown get the full head of hair look. Hope you are well!
 
S

Swill

Valued member
Hi guys,

Today marks the 1 year anniversary of my procedure so thought this would be the perfect time to provide an update on my final result. The pictures attached were taken yesterday. I have included a close up of the hairline to show where my previous hairline was removed as quite a few have asked regarding this.

I am incredibly happy with the result and am thrilled that I decided to go for it and with my choice of clinic to undertake the procedure. The density is beyond what I would have expected given I do not have the thickest hair naturally.

I have continued to keep my hair short; I still have a sizeable area that is bald at my crown and although I believe the transplanted area looks of greater density as it grows a bit and I much prefer it longer from a ‘front on’ angle, at the moment given the crown area I find that the best look aesthetically for me is to keep it shorter.

I was honest out of the gate that I had the procedure and have received a load of compliments about how natural it looks. Quite a few of my friends that are balding have stated I am their ‘test case’ and they have now started to look into procedures further having been impressed with the result.

As I have stated previously, the clinic have been superb throughout, right up to recently. I was due to fly out to Belgium from the UK to have my 1 year check-up a couple of weeks ago. This is all covered in the cost of the initial procedure and given the thorough detail Dr Feriduni went into on my initial consultation prior to getting the procedure I was keen to get feedback from him on the result and also get an understanding of things going forward should I get a procedure on the crown area to get a full head of hair.

Due to the virus I was unable to travel. Despite Belgium seeming to be in a great place with their response and re-opening… the UK not so much! My flight was cancelled a by the airline and quarantine restrictions have been imposed by the Government upon return to the UK, making travel at that time really difficult. The clinic were incredibly understanding and it was agreed I could re-schedule when things area bit clearer.

Going forward, life allowing I am really keen to get a further procedure at some point and given my experiences to date it will almost certainly be with the Feriduni Clinic.

Quite a few have asked questions and I have had a lot of direct messages… if you have any questions then do not hesitate and I will endeavour to answer, I remember how daunting it can be at the beginning of researching!

Stay safe everyone!
 

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Parasol

Parasol

member
Swill, congratulations! You look incredible.

I’m in a similar situation (need scar repair, have thinned in the areas of my previous transplant, etc) and find your story really inspirational. Thanks for sharing.
 
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