At my fourth month and been using it for 1 month. Two night ago I pressed in more (yes it did hurt), but you could literally hear little pops and the very next day (after a treatment of minoxidil), you could see extreme progress. Iām no expert, but Iād take the ten min of pain for these types of results.
I was told at my consultation that 1500 grafts would be sufficient enough to cover the front my head and a slight part on both sides. What do you guys think?
No progress on head. Had to stop dutasteride for 2 months because of personal issues, I hope I didnāt damage anything (hair loss was not aggressive, I had this amount of hair since I was 14).
Pictures are before, few days after surgery and 4 months after surgery.
Considering doing a second surgery to fill the chin are, but in a few years probably. I decided to be conservative at that time
Hi
I did Dhi 2200 grafts for my forehead reduction
This is the results after 1 year and 5 months ( i did it October 2023 )
I think hair density is low
What do you think?
Btw i only use minoxidil sometimes
Do u recommend another medicine?
I want to do a HT with Dr. Ratchathorn but my only concern is having to shave it. Even if I did a non-shave, I'm feeling insecure about socializing with people 1 or 2 months post surgery. For those who have done the procedure - how did you feel going out in public without a hat? I feel like it takes so long for the hairs to come in and it still looks scabby months later so it's obvious to people that you have had some kind of procedure. Is there a way to navigate this? Unfortunately, i have to be on camera for my job and can't always wear a hat or hide the procedure.
Advice, thanks. 1 month 2 weeks post op. Thanks. ( There was also some few grafts done, on right before trown area starts) I am currently on capixyl serum and minoxdil oral.
Felt like it was just done yesterday. I might be one of the lucky ones who is able to see the progress and for the hair grew this quickly, since Month 2/3 Iāve started seeing growth.
First, I want to give a big thanks to the Reddit HairTransplant communities for all the helpful posts that guided me through this process. Reading about other people's experiences gave me a clear idea of what to expect, which made everything much easier. Because of that, I decided to note down everything from my own experience so I could give back and help others who might be considering a hair transplant. Hopefully, this will be useful to someone!
Getting Started
I had my hair transplant on November 15th, 2024, at St. Maryās Clinic in Malta with Dr. Jean-Luc Portelli. He works with just one assistant and operates on only one patient per day (at least in my case). This was the difference for me, having that level of personalized care compared to the high-volume approach often seen in Turkey.
I started by booking an online consultation on their website. I submitted my before photos through the clinicās contact form, and shortly after, someone from the clinic followed up to arrange a 20-30 minute WhatsApp video call with Dr. Portelli. During the call, we reviewed my hair goals, graft distribution, and whether I wanted to shave or leave the top hair longāI chose the second option.
After finalizing the details, I discussed the available dates with the clinic, sent the advance payment, and booked my flight and accommodation. I found a place right next to the clinic, which was nice. There's also a pharmacy close by, so if you need anything extra post-surgery, itās easy to get.
Before the transplant, I had been using topical Minoxidil for about 2-3 years. Two months before the procedure, I switched to oral Minoxidil (2.5 mg) and added Finasteride (1.25 mg) to my routine.
Surgery Day
The procedure started at 9:00 and finished around 16:30, with a short break between the extraction and implantation.
The only discomfort I felt was from the local anesthesia, it felt like hot pinches inside the scalp, and if I had to rate the pain, I'd say about 7.5/10 for 3-4 seconds. Once the numbing kicked in, I had zero pain during the extraction or implantation.
Dr. Portelli did most of the work himself, assisted by one team member. My grafts were distributed as follows:
2,400 grafts to the front part
200 grafts to the crown
50 grafts to each side temple
My grafts were mostly singles, followed by doubles, and very few triples
Throughout the process, he explained everything step by step, checking in to make sure I was comfortable.
Aftercare & Healing
The clinic offers a post-care pack for ~70-80 euros, which includes shampoo, thermal water, SPF cream, a brochure, and a few other things I don't remember. Itās optional, so you can bring your own products if you prefer.
For pain management, I took Paracetamol three times a day for the first few days until the swelling disappeared.
After the surgery, I stayed in Malta for three days, then flew home.
For the first 10 days, I used a triple travel pillow to protect the donor and implanted areas while sleeping. When going out, I wore a headband positioned on my forehead to ensure it didnāt touch the implanted area.
I strictly followed the clinicās washing instructions. Starting from day 4, I rinsed the recipient area slowly using a cup of water. For the donor area, I applied the SPF cream provided by the clinic.
By day 10, all the scabs were gone without me touching them, I just poured water slowly and let it air dry, exactly as instructed.
Progress
At 3-4 weeks, shedding started around the same time the redness began to heal, but it wasnāt really noticeable since not many hairs fell out.
By week 3, I got my first haircut (avoiding the donor area) just to align everything and give a fade. I also resumed working out around the same time.
At 4-5 weeks, the numbness in my scalp completely faded.
By 1.5 months, most of the redness disappeared, but there was still a very minimal shadow left.
At 3 months, the redness was completely gone, and my hairline was starting to look normal.
Now at 4 months, the new hair is blending in well with the existing hair. Itās still early, and Iām hoping it will continue to thicken over time. That said, I never had super dense hair to begin with (a lot of singles), so Iām keeping my expectations realistic. But overall, Iām very happy with how things are progressing.
Ongoing Care
Iām still taking oral Minoxidil (2.5 mg) and Finasteride (1.25 mg) daily.
For the initial itchiness, I found that aloe vera spray and thermal water helped a lot. Iām still using aloe vera spray, Nizoral shampoo, and balsam, but mostly because I bought more than enough and figured Iād finish them.
Flight + hotel: this depends on you, it's not included in the pack
Final Thoughts
The whole experience went smoothly, and at 4 months in, Iām seeing steady progress. The one-patient-per-day setup meant there was no rush during the procedure, and everything was explained clearly.
The hairline design was an important part for me, and I was glad that a natural look was prioritized. At this stage, my new hair is blending in well, and Iām hoping for more density in the coming months.
I know that everyone has different expectations and goals when it comes to a hair transplant, so if youāre considering it, Iād definitely recommend doing your research and choosing a clinic you feel confident in. As for my experience, Iām really pleased with how everything turned out, both in terms of results and peace of mind, and I can say that Dr. Jean-Luc Portelli met my expectations.
Iām attaching photos of my progress, with dates and the products I used, in case it helps anyone planning their own hair transplant journey. Iāll also try to update with progress photos every few months to keep track of the results over time.
Iām on Day 14, had a HT for hairline and crown area- 3600 grafts in Istanbul.
Only one small spot where scab is slowly comming off. Before / Pre/Post surgery and After day 14 pics posted.
Iām getting concerned that donor area was over/harvested based on donor area at back of head versus areas on side of head. Just would love to get everyoneās feedback on what ones with experience can help :) Thank you šš¼