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I decided to share my hair tranplant experience as there aren't many posts on this topic, and I for one certainly would have appreciated some insight on this before I underwent the procedure. Clinic: Aestimed, Istanbul, Turkey Dr: Aytac Karadut No. of grafts: 2,500 Time of procedure: 5 hrs Cost: €1,790 euros for unlimited grafts, incl. 2 nights accomodation in a 4/5 star hotel, all transfers to/from airport and clinic, lunch on day of operation and complimentary shampoo. Pain: 2/10. Only pain felt was for the local anaesthetic, it was painful for about 5 mins. I have a high pain tolerance, but the guy in the next room said he was shaking because it was unbearable. I know the procedure is in Turkey and not Korea, but I believe the procedures should be quiet similar. I had enquired at some Korean clinics; like Mojelim, For Hair and was quoted between 7-11M won for 1,500-3500 grafts respectively. It’s expensive compared to Turkey and I find Turkey is quite infamous for hair transplants. Even as I walked through the airport, I noticed many men with wrapped bandages around their head so it is quite a common procedure there. I also chose Turkey as I wanted to do Fat Grafting when I go to Korea, and was told through consults that it is risky to have HT and FG at the same time, as you risk infection from the open hair follicles. I wanted to make my face smaller, particularly to round off the top corners which I felt made my face more masculine, and inevitably for once in my life, no longer need a fringe - I’ve had one for almost my whole life. I only wanted to go 1cm lower. The photos look like more, because they shave a cm or two back and implant that whole area to ensure the same thickness consistency from front to back. The procedure is done under LA and I was awake the whole time. After having breakfast at the hotel, I was chauffered to the clinic where Dr Karadut took his time to draw the new hairline on my face. He was very patient and understanding, as he redrew the line again and again until I was happy. First they numb and shave the implantation and extraction area. The extraction area is a rectangle on the back of your head, where they will extract individual hair follicles at random spots within that rectangle. These donor spots will not grow back so this procedure is more like a hair replacement rather than volumising. Once you are flipped onto belly side, they extract the hair follicles using a machine. Then you flip onto your back again, and for me, it took about 2 hours to implant 2,500 grafts. (The guy in the other room had 3,500 grafts and took an hour longer). I didn't feel any pain whatsoever, and if by chance I did, I would just tell them and they would inject more anaesthetic. Between the extraction and implantation, I was given a lunch break and provided a Turkish meal. The clinic aims to make their patients feel as comfortable as possible. Whenever I needed a bathroom break, they would cover my head with bandages and a shower cap so I wouldn't see the blood, and whenever I tried to ask what step we were up to, they would cover my eyes with a light cloth and tell me to relax. At some points, I even managed to doze off. Dr Karadut didn't conduct the operation, his nurses did all the work under his supervision, however both nurses and the Dr were very thorough with their work and examinations, and I am happy with the results. Day 3 is when I can wash my hair and start using special shampoo Day 7-10 is slowly introduced the rubbing method for washing as opposed to patting. With this cleaning method, the scabs will slowly start to fall off and the area will look cleaner 3-4 months, the hair follicles will grow until this point and will shed, allowing new hair to grow through 7-10 month, your new hair would have grown back 12 month is when you see the final results. I'm currently 2 days post op and have had pretty restful nights even with sleeping in an upright position. The only uncomfortable feeling I get is trying to lay my head on a pillow as my hair is quite crusty and hard from all the blood, and water they sprayed during the operation - I can't wait to wash my hair tomorrow! I will try to remember to post photos at all the milestones noted above. Hope this helps. Please feel free to ask me any questions