I've Just Had An Fue Procedure With Dr Reys

[GoldenMane]

He picked me up and drive my from the airport. When au arrived he showed me around the spacious and modern clinic where I would be staying before returning home for dinner. The consultation came the next day after breakaway, it was quite informal, he hat asked what I wanted and then he drew a hairline, 16cm2 if I call correctly. He told me that at 50FUE per cm2 he could go no further than 800 grafts to achieve my result. Frol the looks of things, no reinforcement was done in moderately thinking zones, only where thinning has reached baldness stage. I know many of you strongly disagree with this approach and I Understamd why but I'd rather not have that argument in this topic, just after surgery. I'm anxious enough already than you very much!

So the first stage, extractions was fine. I took about 90 minutes, The Dr had two assistants but he did all the punches himself . The most painful part was the anaesthetic. Most of the punches were fine, I felt nothing, though some at the edges were a bit more painful. The vast majority you could literally sleep through.The worst part was the anaesthetic needles. I was offered a telesnquilzer but I don't kick in until the extractions started.
There was a short break then we began anaesthetising my hairline. It was a bit painful again and making some of the incisions was quite painful, especially towards the edges.
It was all over by about 3:00 pm the staff left and I had a rest for a few hours. The doctor then came back, got me some Chinese food, his treat and had to leave since he'm be on holiday tomorrow, but provided maps and instructions and bought me a train ticket.

Overall I'd say it was a pleasant enough experience. More like going to the dentist than for some more serious surgery

800 grafts total which seems very little, 100 were singles, most were doubles, triples and quadruples.

 

[kj6723]

Nice. Hairline looks like it will come out to a good spot. So Dr. Reys himself picked you up at the airport? Or are you still high off anestesia? lol

At least with your long hair you shouldn't have much trouble hiding the weirdness

 

[GoldenMane]

Yes he picked me up, there was a little trouble because of airport security, he couldn't come inside but I found him waiting outside the building. He drove me to the clinic, about 40 minutes and chatted with me a bit. Comes across as a college professor type of personality. He bright me for food then left me there for the night. He arrived in the morning with bread, cheese, meat and pastries. I had a shower, then consultation. It seemed informal but professional nonetheless. The clinc is great, nicer than my apartment!

I was a little concerned that it looks thin behind the hairline too, he told me it's because he shaved that part down so h could insert grafts between thinner areas for a little reinforcement, though much less than many here would advocate.

My hairline will still be high but the shape will be much better. Hopefully 50FUE per cm2 will provide decent density there too but at the very least it should be a significant improvement and mean I don't have hide my hairline and temples behind bangs anymore

 

[Dench57]

Congrats. Thanks for the write up, sounds like you got the VIP treatment from De Reys.

I'm quite intrigued that you did no-shave in the recipient area, is that the same for the donor? Was this because it's easier to hide? I guess this approach is easier for surgeons when they're implanting onto slick bald areas rather than reinforcing thinning areas. Would be cool to just get my temples done and hide it completely with fringe rather than shave down and go through the months of redness/ugly ducking and everybody knowing you had work done! I think I will need areas reinforcing behind my temples though unfortunately

 

[shookwun]

Congrats. Thanks for the write up, sounds like you got the VIP treatment from De Reys.

I'm quite intrigued that you did no-shave in the recipient area, is that the same for the donor? Was this because it's easier to hide? I guess this approach is easier for surgeons when they're implanting onto slick bald areas rather than reinforcing thinning areas. Would be cool to just get my temples done and hide it completely with fringe rather than shave down and go through the months of redness/ugly ducking and everybody knowing you had work done! I think I will need areas reinforcing behind my temples though unfortunately

Redness lingers around for MANY months, especially on those who are fair skinned & Caucasian, Took me six months for it to completely go away both surgeries.

 

[Dench57]

Redness lingers around for MANY months, especially on those who are fair skinned & Caucasian, Took me six months for it to completely go away both surgeries.

Yeah I've seen a lot of results of people 6months+ out and still obvious redness. I have celtic skin aswell so I know that will be the case for me. Would be sweet to completely hide it with no-shave and covering with fringe but obviously not if it compromises the surgeon's placement + the final result.

 

[GoldenMane]

I probably could have shaved and had everything reinforced, it would probably have been wiser/more future proof. On the other hand, even in thinning areas my density is above 50 FUE per cm2 so it may have been risky doing so due to shock loss or risk of transecting, and the thinning areas seem to have been stabilised/improved since starting finasteride, my thinning areas are about what you might expect of a woman in her 50s. Not good for my age, but good enough for coverage. I've recently added dutasteride for extra insurance and possibly density increase. Regardless it's too late to change my mind now. There was some very slight shaving in the recipient area, just bordering where the grafts would be placed. A large strip was shaved in the back of my head, I'll post pictures of the shaved donor area later today when I get home. Still at Brussels Airport now. Regardless, shaving was minimal so I should be able to hide it. Skin redness may actually be a boon! It could work as a natural form of dermamatch! Or maybe not...
I'd say Dr Rets treated me well but there wasn't as much talk about what I wanted as I would have liked. The consultation was just an hour before the surgery and a little rushed. That said I like the hairline he did, if the density comes through well enough I'll be happy. 50FUE per cm2, fine calibre hair, mostly doubles, triples and quads.
The good news is that I've barely touched my graft supply. I found s sheet in the clinic after surgery saying that he only used 764 grafts and on visual inspection he told me my donor area is very good, fine hair, but most FUs containing 3 or 4 hairs and pretty high FUE density. If I continued to lose all my hair, I could cover up at least half my scalp with 50FUE per 2 grafts, probably more

 

[BaldingMan]

Congratulations buddy on the op, looks good. Would you go back to Dr De Reys for another transplant later? I'm waiting for his consultant to get back to me about upping my grafts.

 

[kj6723]

Congrats. Thanks for the write up, sounds like you got the VIP treatment from De Reys.

I'm quite intrigued that you did no-shave in the recipient area, is that the same for the donor? Was this because it's easier to hide? I guess this approach is easier for surgeons when they're implanting onto slick bald areas rather than reinforcing thinning areas. Would be cool to just get my temples done and hide it completely with fringe rather than shave down and go through the months of redness/ugly ducking and everybody knowing you had work done! I think I will need areas reinforcing behind my temples though unfortunately

I'm going to have them shave completely so I can get reinforcement of the forelock, and I'll just be a hat prisoner for the next several months.

 

[kj6723]

I definitely understand why people don't opt to shave though. If you've got a job that won't allow you to wear a hat, or whatever.

It's ideal to keep cosmetic procedures hidden...an important part of maintaining the illusion that you look good without putting much effort into your appearance.

 

[GoldenMane]

Too soon to say whether or not I would go back. There are some definite positives though a couple of things that bothered me too. For one thing, when I found out that only 800 grafts would be used, I asked if he could take a 100 extra for the temple points and he said that would be OK. But after graft removal I asked the technician and she said she only collected 800. I asked about the temple points and she said the hair from the back would look unnatural if placed on the temple points since sonor hair is thicker and grows longer... Also he went on holiday the next day so he wasn't there to check in the morning. I didn't really get any instructions on washing or alcohol consumption or post hair transplant care beyond the saline spray. Perhaps given the questions I was asking he assumed I already knew though I still think these things should always be explicitly stated.
Regardless, the proof will be in the pudding. If I'm very satisfied with my results in 8 months time then I'll wholeheartedly recommend him. If I'm disappointed then I won't. I think the hairline design was a natural and age appropriate one and hopefully 50 FUE per cm2 will give a nice look.

The most important thing is that the hairline looks good, natural, that the density is decent and that graft yield is good with as few graft casualties as possible. Any surgeon who can deliver on these is worth a recommendation.

And yeah, I'm a teacher, formal wear, no hats in work, I need to be very careful. If I shaved my head, all my students and teachers would see my temple recession and hairline, and they haven't been kind to other teachers with hair loss in the past! This is really the best solution now. Maybe when my new hairline grows in I won't mind shaving down so much since I won't have to hide my hairline anymore but for now I'd rather not. Anyway hopefully this minor FUE will give me a hairline I'll be satisfied with and I've still barely even touched my donor reserves for what may come in the future.

 

[BaldingMan]

That's for sharing your experience buddy. I know things have gotta be done properly

 

[kj6723]

And yeah, I'm a teacher, formal wear, no hats in work, I need to be very careful. If I shaved my head, all my students and teachers would see my temple recession and hairline, and they haven't been kind to other teachers with hair loss in the past! This is really the best solution now. Maybe when my new hairline grows in I won't mind shaving down so much since I won't have to hide my hairline anymore but for now I'd rather not. Anyway hopefully this minor FUE will give me a hairline I'll be satisfied with and I've still barely even touched my donor reserves for what may come in the future.

Gotcha. I'm actually in a pretty ideal situation right now to have the procedure done with minimal people finding out. I'm just starting back to school for a new career, and I don't have to work, because while I'm a student I get a living allowance for my past military service. I don't start clinicals until next summer, so I can literally wear a hat everywhere between now and then if I want lol. January, when I'm having my procedure done, is perfect. It'll be after the holidays, so I won't have to see family with my weird, scabbed up, red forehead, and it should give a decent amount of time for healing and hopefully at least some growth by the time my clinicals start and the hat has to go.

 

[GoldenMane]

Well the most important thing is the hairline design, graft yield and naturalness of the look. If this turns out ok then everything else is irrelevant. In some ways he took great care of me, picking me up from the airport, bringing me for food, letting me stay for free in his clinic, which was really really nice bra, I took a video of the place... He brought bread, meat, cheese and pastries a for breakfast, asked me what take out I wanted for dinner. Hepersonally did all the punches for extractions and most of the insertions himself. This is important stuff. The actual surgery and hospitality was very good. My reservations would be in the lack of aftercare which seemed a bit pointless, a slightly rushed seeming consultation just an hour before surgery and in not heeding my wishes regarding the temple points, possible lack of communication. Once again though, there's really only one thing that matters, one thing that should determine my recommendation, and that's the result. And that won't be apparent until January at the earliest so really if you want to know whether to book a surgery with him, ask me 8 months! Or ask someone who already has a final result!

If I didn't have eagle eyed students or if I could wear a hat, I may have gone for the shave/reinforce thing too. It would be very difficult going back to school in September under those circumstances though. We can only deal with our own unique circumstances as best we can using our best judgement and weighing our short/long term options.

 

[BaldingMan]

How's the recovering coming on @GoldenMane

 

[GoldenMane]

How's the recovering coming on @GoldenMane

Recovery is fine, recipient region is still scabby/crusty, no pain there at all and no discomfort since the darling went away on day 4. Donor area hair is already grown out enough that it's covered, a little tender/itchy now.
I'm a little concerned now about the grafts placement. I like the hairline placement, but I'm worried that he didn't place grafts deeply enough into my existing hairline and temples. Right now it looks like there may be gaps. I hope not, it's hard to believe that he would talk me down from 1200 to 800 grafts and then not have enough grafts to merge with my existing hairline. I've emailed him about these concerns and hope to post some of the photos he took soon. It's possibly just because the leading edge of my hairline and parting looks see through for the first cm or so and where my hairline was shaved, but I'm definitely a bit concerned. I was the last patient before his holiday, hope I wasn't a rush job/afterthought because of that. Maybe just being paranoid.

 

[BaldingMan]

Hopefully all will be good, did the Dr actually give you his contact details after the op or do you still have to go through Nick his consultant

 

[Hulahoop]

Hi I also have a procedure booked with dr de reys in a few months time, not all that many recent results to look at that i can find, so will be keeping an eye on this and wish you a positive result. can i ask are there images with your post, i can't seem to see them myself? but see that people have commented hairline looks nice, assuming it may be because i haven't used my account enough?

 

[GoldenMane]

Hi I also have a procedure booked with dr de reys in a few months time, not all that many recent results to look at that i can find, so will be keeping an eye on this and wish you a positive result. can i ask are there images with your post, i can't seem to see them myself? but see that people have commented hairline looks nice, assuming it may be because i haven't used my account enough?

I removed the images because I didn't censor my face and found my face in a Google search! I've requested photos from Dr Reys, previous uploads were just IPhone selfies, I'll upload them when I get them, protecting my identity next time! I really won't be able to say whether or not to recommend Dr Reys until next March at the earliest! First impressions are: great clinic, skilled surgeon, does all the extractions and many incisions himself, his wife, a nurse and his tech seem to be skilled too. On the downside, he ignored my request for temple point reconstruction, used far fewer grafts than I thought necessary (maybe I'm wrong or maybe he's prioritising graft yield), his after care with me was quite poor, he didn't check me the next day, instead he went on holiday to Netherlands, he gave me saline spray and ibuprofen, but no printed instructions, no instructions on washing, alcohol, how to sleep, when to touch. I had a bit of dried blood in my temples (not on grafts) for several days post surgery.
He probably did the extractions and incisions to a high standard and the hospitality was good, but aftercare was non existent and communication was less good than I hoped.

 

[GoldenMane]

I've been trying not to think or worry too much about my hair transplant now, 27 days post op but I am increasingly concerned that not enough grafts were used and that he didn't reinforce deep enough into my hairline. I paid for €4500 for 1500 grafts but less than 800 were used in the surgery. I think the density will probably be ok since he said 50 FU per cm2, but I think he didn't reinforce deep enough into my existing hairline. If he had gone an extra cm deeper, or even half a cm then I think it might be ok, but at the moment it looks like there may be some low density areas at the front edge of my existing hairline that may look like gaps...
I've emailed a couple of times but the responses come very slowly and seem to ignore most of my questions, I've asked for photos three times now but he hasn't sent them yet...
From the email responses, it doesn't seem like he kept any records or details I gave him.
"Maybe it is not a bad idea to consider taking finasteride to prevent further hairloss; about the ‘gap’, the future will tell, when the grafts are growing well; maybe we should have taken more grafts."
The consultation was the morning of the surgery, less than an hour before anaesthetics were given, a bit last minute, but I did tell him that I was on finasteride for three years and he wrote it down. It seems odd that he wasn't aware of this. I also got basically zero post op care instructions, nothing on when to wash, when to touch, scabs, sleeping, when it's safe to use minoxidil again. All I got was some saline spray and a couple of ibu profen...
I can't help but shake the feeling that my surgery was kind of an afterthought, that I didn't get the care that you might expect from a doctor with such a good reputation...