HIV positive (undetectable) any recommendations for doctors/clinics that accept patients with this diagnosis?

[Thero]

Hi,
I’m new to this forum, and thoroughly grateful to the amazing wealth of information offered here!
I’m Hiv positive (undetectable) and am looking for any information on recommended doctors and clinics that accept patients with my status.
Many thanks, Thero

 

[Bigmac]

Hello Thero.
Most if not all clinics will accept patients with HIV. You may require a letter from your family doctor confirming you’re ok to have surgery and listing what medications you’re on.
Are you looking at FUE or FUT surgery?
Looking at your pictures I’d say you’d need roughly 2000 grafts. Are you using any hair loss prevention meds?

 

[Thero]

Hi Bigmac,

Thanks so much for your response and info.

I’m looking to have FUE or possibly DHI (Have heard it’s very good for achieving dense hairlines?)

I have never used nor am currently taking hair loss meds. My hairline appears to have been pretty stable for around 15 years now. I wonder what your personal opinion is as to whether preventative meds are necessary?

From my research so far, it seems clinics in the UK are generally more accommodating regards Hiv.

It would appear that many clinics in Turkey regard it as a pretty serious condition and have either refused or insisted that surgery is carried out in a hospital setting.

Many have stressed that my condition would greatly affect the efficacy of the surgery (which I’m pretty sure isn’t accurate) or that the medications/anaesthetics might compromise me in some way!

There definitely still is some stigma going on… but hey ho… it’s to be expected until surgeons are made more aware of the fact that being positive ‘undetectable’ equates to no risk of contagion to staff during the process, and that after many years of consistently great medication my immune system is as tough as rhino skin!

Of course I might be missing something, I certainly am no expert in trichology… but what I cannot fathom is the inconsistency across clinics with some very welcoming and others are not?

Unfortunately according to their assistants both Dr Arshad and Dr Bicer won’t take on hiv positive patients, and on those occasions I didn’t feel it worth enquiring as to why?!

Dr Bisanga does take on Hiv positive patients, but it seems that due to COVID interfering with face to face assessments it might take some time to finally get a HT. Therefore the responses so far Dr Doganay appears my best bet.

I’m still waiting for others to get back to me.
It’s a long process of research…much longer than I first imagined! But I’m sure it will be more than worth it in the end!

Attached are some better pics, as I think that my bleached hair made it difficult to ascertain the state of my hair loss.

 

[Bigmac]

I’ve written a few posts on DHI or Fue in the past but to clarify for you I’ll explain it here. DHI is a technique used and developed by the clinic DHI Global. They use implanter pens to insert the grafts without making any pre made incisions. I believe they use 2 methods, one being they will extract all the grafts first, then plant them all. The second option is, they extract a small number of grafts, plant them, then remove the next batch and so on. The Choi i planter pens they use punch/cut into the scalp and the graft is inserted by clicking down on the top of the pen.
The pens are used by other clinics the same way.

Then we have clinics that will make the recipient incisions first. The pens are loaded with a graft which is inserted into the incision before pressing down on the top of the pen to release the graft.
Fue refers to the extraction of the graft which is done by a punch. The implantation part of fue is accompanied by one of the afore mentioned techniques or with the use of forceps.
Usung an implanter pen will not give better density.

If your hair loss has been stable the past 15 years there’s a very high chance you won’t suffer any more loss. You can always monitor it too. Different countries have different regulations about surgery allowing some to turn away HIV patients. In the UK I believe clinics aren’t allowed to refuse treatment on those grounds alone.
When having a hair transplant the safety measures should already be in place for any situation. I know extra measures are taken for some patients, double gloves, eye protection etc. Take your time researching, no need to rush as you’ll find plenty of clinics willing to offer surgery and you want to get it right first time as this should be a one off surgery if you don’t lose any more hair.

Your remaining native have is quite dense which is why I think you’ll need 2000 grafts. This number should allow a very good density match that will look natural.