Hi All
Sorry, bit of an essay, but if this helps even one person in their own journey then I guess it's worth it...(and I will post/share some photos very soon I promise).
Some of you may remember me from some posts following a 1,100 FUE procedure I had with The Maitland Clinic back in May 2016 (this was primarily to fill in frontal recession areas in the corners).
I was delighted with my results, which although very subtle, made a huge difference to my life, confidence and wellbeing (that may sound clichéd, but its the honest truth). I recently turned 40 years of age and many people on my birthday commented about my youthful looks, but that has undoubtedly been helped by the magic of Dr Ball and his team!
I began taking Fin around June 2016 and have been taking 1mg most days (probably 4-5 days per week on average, which has definitely helped maintain my native hair). I don't use Minox, but do take Biotin daily and wash my hair with Nizoral once a week or so. I've had mild sides from Fin, but for me its a small price to pay for the results it has produced.
Although I was a very happy patient (plus not 1 person/friend/family member or hairdresser has detected the procedure), my only regret was not being slightly more aggressive in hairline design. Dr Ball is very conservative in his approach, and his less is more design was part of the initial reason I went with him and the team at TMC.
However, human nature being how it is meant around 2 years later (May 2018) I began considering a second procedure to be a tiny bit more aggressive (bringing the hairline forward literally 2-3mm and gaining some more density in the frontal zone).
I therefore made contact with David Anderson around June 2018 and by the end of September I was in the chair again at TMC for my second FUE procedure. This time it was a much smaller procedure of 550-600 grafts (I think the final number was circa 580 grafts with 950 hairs).
The procedure went like clockwork, as it did on the first surgery. In Turkey I would have been in and out in 3 hours for a procedure of this size but Dr Ball and the team treated me like a rock star, with me the only patient for the day. I'm a creature of habit (and very OCD...) and did exactly the same routine as the previous surgery;
-I drove down from Suffolk (3.5hr drive) the afternoon before surgery and stayed at Cavendish Lodge in Southsea (I highly recommend it, 20 mins by car - 5 miles - to the clinic and the best and most attentive hosts you will ever meet)
-I enjoyed a lovely Chinese meal at the same restaurant as I had previously in Southsea which is a 30 second walk from the B & B (told you I was a creature of habit) ¦
- After a good nights sleep I then drove myself to the clinic from the B&B and arrived at the clinic around 8.15am (this time I opted to wear a t-shirt and tracksuit bottoms, rather than jeans and a shirt as I did in 2016 - far more comfortable for surgery)
- I was met for the usual pre surgery chat by Dr Ball and although I'd had a good short haircut (0.5 fade/taper on back and sides), I knew that Dr Ball would still need to shave down the back and sides to a 0 (I have kept the top at around 2" in length for both surgeries). I must also say Dr Ball's barbering has definitely improved too, he did a good job of blending in the top with the back/sides, although he isn't quite giving the Turkish barbers a run for their money yet...! :0)
- surgery began at about 9:30am and by the time I had taken my 2 Diazepam I was relaxed and (weirdly) quite enjoyed the surgery again, as I flicked through You Tube and Netflix for things to watch during the day
- It was great to see Janna working alongside Ildi as the technicians more than ably assisted Dr Ball throughout the day. Janna was on holiday for my first surgery but having spoken to her many times over the last 2 years I was very reassured to know she would be working on me. Ildi was exactly as I remember her from the first surgery, very professional but brilliant in putting you at ease and a wicked sense of humour. Those 3 combined really are the best team you can have working on your HT anywhere in the world!
- After breaking for lunch, the implantation was finished at just after 4pm and after ordering me a taxi and going through the post op instructions I was back at the B & B not long after 5pm
- I slept like a baby that night and after a lovely full English and pot of coffee at the B & B the following morning I got a taxi back to the clinic to collect my car and was back in Suffolk by early afternoon to relax for a week
- One week after surgery I took my Mum to France for a week away (Avignon - incredible place!) before I was back at work in my office 16 days after surgery. I had my first hair cut on day 15 (the day before returning to work) and although a few commented again how short it was (as they did after my first surgery), not one person had any idea I had just had my second HT. Proof that if you plan it right, you really can get away with an HT even in a nosey office environment...
- Recovery was much easier than my first HT. I had horrible swelling for 6-7 days in 2016 but had literally nothing this time. However, the one difference I have noticed this time is shock loss around the transplanted area. It was falling out by the bucket load around 1-3 weeks after surgery, but over the last 4-5 weeks has stabilised and will hopefully grow back. It was a little scary though, I remember seeing hair everywhere in the bath on holiday, but I know this is a normal reaction and tried not to let it spook me and kept on with my usual routine of Fin, Biotin and Nizoral
So, I'm now 8 weeks post surgery and my hair probably looks slightly worse/thinner in the front than it did before surgery. The mind does however play tricks......but I can not wait to see how things start to look in Feb/March 2019....not that I'm wishing the year away of course!
Once again, thanks to all at TMC, from David planning my surgery, the team on the day and the post op follow ups from Janna. They really do care, and that's why I care about writing my positive experience down and sharing it.
If you made it this far, give yourself a pat on the back, and have a lie down. I will post some pics shortly which Janna has kindly agreed to send through. Until then, thanks for your time and watch this space....Regards to all, Bongo.