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FUE 1,100 at the Maitland Clinic Hampshire

Bongo

Bongo

Member
Thanks for all the positive replies guys, much appreciated. Yes, Dr Ball and the team have been faultless throughput my dealings.
Hi Janna - i'm now now six days post surgery and you're exactly right, swelling from day 3-6 has been the worst by far, but is starting to settle now. Seems to be stubbornly staying around the eye area creating some big looking bags but its gone down a lot today and should be gone by the weekend I hope. Other than that its been quote a good recovery, no pain whatsoever and I haven't touched any pain killers etc for 2 days as really don't feel I need them.
My Mum saw me for the first time today since surgery (its my birthday today!) and other than the swelling around the eyes she had no idea what id had done. However due to the eye bags I declined her kind invite of a family meal out tonight!
A few pictures from today are to follow below for anyone who's interested....so far, so good.
 

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Bongo

Bongo

Member
Day 6 - left temple
 

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Bongo

Bongo

Member
Day 6 - right temple
 

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Bongo

Bongo

Member
8 days post op and decided to have a very quick hair cut to blend it in a bit as the step look was annoying me. Told the girl in the barbers id just had a bit of a botched hair cut from a friend and she seemed to buy it. Certainly didn't comment otherwise so must assume the donor area is in great shape 8 days on. Amazing really how quick the body heals from this process. Back at work next week and should be no reason why anyone would know, which is great because I work with some very nosey and inquisitive people!
 

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postdoc

Valued member
OK, but why on earth do you feel you have to hide that you've had a hair transplant? It really isn't a big thing - apart from the cost, of course - and we need to stand up and be proud that we've had something done that makes us look and feel better.
 
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hergman

valued member
Hair transplants are popular in the media these days - still there is a taboo surrounding it. Not all the articles are written in a positive manner, a good percentage take the water out of whoever it's about. Some people, not everyone, will jest at you if they are aware you've had something done. For these reasons people like myself and I'd assume Bongo wish to keep it a secret.

Bongo, thanks for posting your detailed story. It's great to follow patient experiences illustrating the different stages and what to expect.

 
Bongo

Bongo

Member
I agree with your comments and I'm certainly not embarrassed about having an HT but sadly the people I work and socialise with would make a point of mentioning it constantly if they knew, which is sad but true.
Id love to sing from the rooftops about it in someways, but would just mean it would end up defining me and I dont want that. If one of my friends had an HT I'd be happy for them, but I know full well most of my friends would merely see it as 'pub ammo' for the rest of my life, something I'm keen to avoid. I do however agree that people should be able to open and honest about these things, but life isn't always that straightforward for people in their own situations. All the best, Bongo
 
Bongo

Bongo

Member
Thanks for your support Hergman, this forum has been invaluable to me and if my experience helps even one other person in making a decision then I'm happy with that. I'm documenting my journey also as a timeline for myself and hope I'll look back at the posts and photos in years to come with the knowledge I made the right call, only time will tell! Kind regards, Bongo
 
David Anderson

David Anderson

Valued member
Hi Bongo,

Thank you for your excellent write up. Apologies for my slow response but I went off on a two week holiday after we met. It was a pleasure to meet with you at the clinic and I look forward to following your results.

Let me know if I can help with anything at any time.

Hope all is well with you and I wish you the best of growth.
 
Bongo

Bongo

Member
Thanks David, it was good to meet you too.
I caught up with Janna yesterday by phone. All going well so far, nearly 4 weeks on now. Time flies!
I began Finasteride this week. So far so good and the HT has also healed very well. I was back at work on day 12 after surgery and other than a few comments about my shorter than normal hair at the back and sides no one has said or suspects a thing.
Will keep in touch. All the best,
Bongo.

 
bullitnut

bullitnut

4 awesome repairs with SMG
Looks to be healing very well, i get that some people say that it's nothing to be ashamed of having a HT and i totally agree with that statement, however to me it feels like a personal thing i'd just rather not let people who i know find out about...........not because i'm embarrassed or anything like that as i totally love my results (they have changed my life), it's more along the lines of i did it for me and my own confidence and i don't wish to explain this to people i know in person as i feel it's my own business and tbh i really can't be arsed trying to explain it wasn't done for vanity. I know everyone's different in their view though.
Happy for ya pal

 
Bongo

Bongo

Member
Hi Hergman

Thanks for your message. I will post some pictures shortly of my current situation - although it wont show a huge amount of progress yet..

Update/thoughts after my first HT are as follows;

- Am now 13 weeks post op - time flies! So far I have no regrets at all, happy I took the plunge

- Recovery was a doddle, back at work less than 13 days after HT (in a brightly lit office with nosey co workers) and not one person noticed or said anything other than commenting on my short back and sides. The swelling in week one was brutal though - but only temporary and nothing a week behind closed doors couldn't hide

- I still cant believe how easy the actual day was. If I need another HT in the future (I hope I wont) then id do it in a heart beat (assuming I have the money to do so). Dr Ball and the team were fantastic, top professionals who genuinely care about what they do.

- The waiting game is the toughest part of an HT. In the first 10 weeks post surgery nothing really happened, my hairline looked the same as before after the grafts shed (as I was made aware it/they would), but in the last couple of weeks I am starting to see fine hairs and the outline of the new hairline - which is very exciting for me! Its hard to explain the elation I get seeing it improve very slightly each day, rather than go the other way as it had been for many years recently.

- I began Fin around 10-11 weeks ago. It was bloody tough in the first couple of weeks, my body did not cope well. Brain fog was hitting me hard. I have however ridden it out, I do not want to let all this effort go to waste and each week I seem to be coping better with it. Its not a pleasant drug but I personally think the pros out weigh the cons - for me anyway. My hair loss was making me depressed. Fin gives me brain fog, lowers my libido and makes me tired BUT it is working and that keeps me going with it. For anyone considering an HT make sure you have a plan regarding Fin or Minox! I didn't have any plan and wont use Minox as I hate the stuff so Fin was my only option. I hope they find another drug with slightly less side affects in the future but will stay with it until they do or unless my body really struggles. (I have written about my Fin experience in the medication part of this forum so please check it out if you want more views from me about it).

- Now its just the waiting game, but each day that goes by I get a little more excited about the end result. And the Fin is definitely helping with this and strengthening hairs that would otherwise have gone.

- Photos to follow...

- Hope all is well with you Hergman - are you any further down the track regarding your own HT - any consultations yet?

All the best, Bongo.

 

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Bongo

Bongo

Member
Well said Bullitnut, agree 100% with your comments, we're in the same mind set. I nearly told my best mate a few nights ago after one too many beers. So glad I didn't as I'm sure he'd let it slip to someone at some point and I don't want people to think HT before they see me, if you know what I mean..All the best, Bongo
 
bullitnut

bullitnut

4 awesome repairs with SMG
Bongo wrote:
Well said Bullitnut, agree 100% with your comments, we're in the same mind set. I nearly told my best mate a few nights ago after one too many beers. So glad I didn't as I'm sure he'd let it slip to someone at some point and I don't want people to think HT before they see me, if you know what I mean..All the best, Bongo
Thanks dude....i must admit i nearly let it slip to a close friend of mine shortly after my HT but thankfully i didn't and i'm so glad i chose not to even though i was itching to tell him as we fell out a few months later and it would probably be all over now if i had told him.
Thanks for the update too it's great to follow your journey pal;)
 
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