Due for my 3500 FUE with Hattingen in roughly 3 months - November 6-7. Many questions!

[Blixa Haar...fell]

Hi all,

It's been quite awhile since I've posted on this forum. I realize I've been feeling quite uncomfortable about a couple aspects of my upcoming operation, and could use some feedback from people who have already had experience with surgery and several other topics.

So - I met with Dr Sever Muresanu last winter. He told me that with my current native hair, it would be wise to start with a smaller number of FUs - and with FUE, as it would not affect scalp laxity, were I to desire a large FUT in the future.
This changed my financing and planning of the operation greatly, as FUE with Hattingen is quite the investment. Regardless, I have great trust in their clinic - especially in designing a hairline that isn't some emotionally charged act of revenge against my genetics (too low, too flat - properly mature).

I'm sending the money to the clinic in two chunks, several months in advance. However - does it strike anyone as odd how much of a rough estimate my graft count is? 3500, flat - as opposed to, say, 3764, or something like that? That's the kind of graft count I usually see patients post.
Is there any chance that, upon meeting my doctors, they'll give me a larger estimate for full coverage than we previously stated - an amount I haven't saved for?
I'm not asking this question out of any fear of foul play on the part of the Hattingen clinic - rather, out of fear that I'll experience something like this during my final consultation.

Secondly. For those who stayed in Schaffhausen - did you find an Air b'n'b, or a hotel? This type of admin is extremely unnatural for me, so I've been foolishly putting it off. Should I expect to be there for 4 days? Did you meet the doctor the day before the surgery?

Attached are photos of my current "construction site". Please pardon the total uncanny valley horror show of the face blurring effect.

Any and all feedback (so long as it isn't needlessly insulting) is welcome. Thanks for reading!

 

[A_4_Archan]

Hattingen is a reputed clinic and doing good work....grafts number can get plus or minus during the surgery but its won't be a huge difference ...150-200 grafts either plus or minus....if you wanna be on safer ground than take a conservative approach and construct a conservative hairline without lowering it much and save your grafts for future loss....hairloss is an unpredictable thing and can hit you hard anytime...

You can leave in 2 days if you wish and staying for 2 more days is always peace of mind...
I hope this helps you ..best of luck..

 

[Bigmac]

Most clinics usually quote graft numbers that are rounded off. This can and does change often when in surgery. They may take extra or fewer grafts. During your pre surgery consult all this should be discussed with you.
3500 should give you a very nice result. I’ll tag @cooty who may be able to answer the accommodation question.
All the best for te surgery.

 

[Blixa Haar...fell]

Most clinics usually quote graft numbers that are rounded off. This can and does change often when in surgery. They may take extra or fewer grafts. During your pre surgery consult all this should be discussed with you.
3500 should give you a very nice result. I’ll tag @cooty who may be able to answer the accommodation question.
All the best for te surgery.

Hey, I really appreciate your input.

It's especially reassuring to hear that 3500 grafts will give me a good result. I feel like I am a bad judge of how far my hairloss is gone, and what is actually necessary for a satisfactory outcome.

 

[Blixa Haar...fell]

Cooty has already been super helpful in my journey

 

[sl]

Personally I would be more concerned with a 3764 quote as opposed to a 3700 etc...I would ask..where did they get the 64 from by looking at photos? So, no it is totally normal to have quotes as you indeed got. To the contrary, once work commences and design depending then usually the end count is not a solid 3500 or 3700 but a genuine tally of what is used. Photos are only an approx guess at the best of time..

All the best for your journey!

 

[Blixa Haar...fell]

Personally I would be more concerned with a 3764 quote as opposed to a 3700 etc...I would ask..where did they get the 64 from by looking at photos? So, no it is totally normal to have quotes as you indeed got. To the contrary, once work commences and design depending then usually the end count is not a solid 3500 or 3700 but a genuine tally of what is used. Photos are only an approx guess at the best of time..

All the best for your journey!

Many thanks for your response! Grateful to get feedback from such a great clinic.

 

[Bigmac]

Hey, I really appreciate your input.

It's especially reassuring to hear that 3500 grafts will give me a good result. I feel like I am a bad judge of how far my hairloss is gone, and what is actually necessary for a satisfactory outcome.

You will be fine and in you`re in very good hands.

 

[cooty]

Most clinics usually quote graft numbers that are rounded off. This can and does change often when in surgery. They may take extra or fewer grafts. During your pre surgery consult all this should be discussed with you.
3500 should give you a very nice result. I’ll tag @cooty who may be able to answer the accommodation question.
All the best for te surgery.

So sorry Blixa - I didn't get an email about this tag so only saw your post when going on to my account just now.
Firstly, A_4_Archan gives good advice and so nothing to add there and we'd already discussed length of stay on previous comms between us....... Also, Bigmac always gives sound advice and I'd have to agree that the 3500 grafts quoted should give you great coverage judging by your hair loss which isn't excessive providing there is no loss at the rear / crown (no photo to show) and is basically a channel that is widening on the front and top of your head. I suspect they will plant hairs in the areas that are thinning to either side of this channel as well as the central balding area - but make sure to take meds such as Minoxidil & Finasteride (check the latter for side effects before taking) as its vital that you retain the hair you have so as not to have further problems in the future.

Am happy to recommend accommodation if you haven't yet sorted anywhere out - I stayed in a flat that was really priced well, on a bus route to the clinic and within walking distance, and with an excellent and helpful host (who even did some cooking for me! - available upon request). Let me know.

 

[Blixa Haar...fell]

Hi there Cooty! It's just great to hear from you!


I have to say, it's genuinely moving to hear a person say my hairloss isn't so excessive. My father's pattern was complete by the age of 30 (he's NW7) - and the fear of following the same fate really did a number on my mental health when I was in my early 20s. I'm currently 36.


As for medications - I reacted badly to the most well known 5AR Blockers / Anti androgens and Minoxidil (even 5% topical gave me heart sides). I have to make do with a small army of alternatives. I'll show my current regimen here.

5AR Blockers / Anti androgens:

Alfatradiol 0.025%
Ketoconazole shampoo 2%
Pumpkinseed extract 400 mg
Azelaic acid 10%

Growth stimulants:

iRestore Pro (every other day)
Stemoxydine 5%

Some days I feel like I'm trying to fend off a master Samurai swordsman with a bag of plastic forks....but it's what I can handle at the moment.

I would greatly appreciate any recommendations you might have for accommodation! I haven't booked yet and it's worrying me a bit. Thankfully my girlfriend has agreed to come with me. I imagine we'll be staying about 4-5 days. Please send me a message and let me know about this place you mentioned!

 

[cooty]

Hi there Cooty! It's just great to hear from you!


I have to say, it's genuinely moving to hear a person say my hairloss isn't so excessive. My father's pattern was complete by the age of 30 (he's NW7) - and the fear of following the same fate really did a number on my mental health when I was in my early 20s. I'm currently 36.


As for medications - I reacted badly to the most well known 5AR Blockers / Anti androgens and Minoxidil (even 5% topical gave me heart sides). I have to make do with a small army of alternatives. I'll show my current regimen here.

5AR Blockers / Anti androgens:

Alfatradiol 0.025%
Ketoconazole shampoo 2%
Pumpkinseed extract 400 mg
Azelaic acid 10%

Growth stimulants:

iRestore Pro (every other day)
Stemoxydine 5%

Some days I feel like I'm trying to fend off a master Samurai swordsman with a bag of plastic forks....but it's what I can handle at the moment.

I would greatly appreciate any recommendations you might have for accommodation! I haven't booked yet and it's worrying me a bit. Thankfully my girlfriend has agreed to come with me. I imagine we'll be staying about 4-5 days. Please send me a message and let me know about this place you mentioned!

Given your concerns in relation to your father your hair loss for 36 is actually very good and the pattern of loss appears to be only the central area I referred to and even the widening channel on the sides of the central balding area seems to be quite narrow where the hair looks like it might be miniaturising... and even then I'd say that isn't going to happen any time soon. I checked your photos and can see the crown from above which shows there is no loss and I'm no expert but I'd say there doesn't appear potential for loss as its still dense coverage there with no signs of thinning (naturally crowns can thin in our later years but would you care by then)..... so in all I'd say this surgery should do you and hopefully you'll only need the one to see the next 20 years odd as at 36 your loss pattern is generally established..... don't quote me on this of course as I say I'm no expert but I wanted to let you know that you shouldn't be worrying unduly and you couldn't be in better hands to get the best result possible. You should establish this with Hattingen anyway when discussing your transplant and coverage required on the morning of the surgery as your potential for future loss should always be taken into consideration when planning the hairline and graft placements etc.

I'm afraid I'm not familiar with the meds you take, and if you wanted to check them out you could either ask the forum, Bigmac or Hattingen might be able to advise you on them. I don't know how long you've been taking them but they might be why you've not suffered too badly in the way of hair loss to date....(?). By the way, I've heard that men get their hair genes from the men on the mothers side of the family - I haven't checked to see if this is true but if it is then you might be worrying unnecessarily about your fathers baldness being inherited by you.

Accommodation - this link should take you to the place I stayed at https://abnb.me/dPLmojjW0Cb I can fully recommend it - as many other reviewers do too. Its on the bus route for both Hattingen clinic and the town - and both are within walking distance although not a short walk; the clinic being maybe 30-40 minutes away, but I only took the bus a couple of times as the walk is beautiful - there a few different routes which were all lovely one of which I followed the bus route which takes you past a castle and another route takes you along a road through woodland, and you and your girlfriend might enjoy these walks on the days you go for aftercare. Schaffhaussen is a lovely place and there are places of interest you can both visit such as the Rhine Falls. I hope the accommodation is available as it was the best value for money that I could find and you have the whole flat to yourself.

 

[josh145]

Your in good hands mate