Did My Doctor Overquote The Number Of Grafts

[seanvandamme]

Hey guys,

Over the past few months, I've brooded over getting a hair transplant and have finally came to a decision. I decided to opt for a procedure in India and got an estimated graft quote of 2500-3000 grafts. At first, I thought it was a bit on the high side as I only had temple baldness and thinning of frontal tuft. Then JeanLucBB gave me an estimate of needing to have 2500 grafts implanted, so I rested my case.

Months later, I chanced upon videos like these showing the results of men having similar hair loss pattern to me:

http://www.fuegallery.com/hair-transplants/dr-koray-erdogan/fue/95

The strange thing was that these men only had 1500-2000 grafts implanted to get their amazing looking dense results. Also, I am Southeast Asian and definitely should have lesser native hair density than Caucasian men. I don't suspect that the doctor is trying to oversell me grafts, because I understand his clinic is very open about doing super dense hairlines. Still, I'd like to hear any of your opinions on whether 2500-3000 grafts is a far-fetched quote.

Photo uploaded below.

 

[InCider]

I agree, 2500-3000 grafts is a far-fetched quote. Check with some other recommended surgeons and get a 2nd opinion.

 

[seanvandamme]

I agree, 2500-3000 grafts is a far-fetched quote. Check with some other recommended surgeons and get a 2nd opinion.

Thank you for the reply. What, in your opinion, should be a better graft estimate?

 

[InCider]

1500-2000 grafts is realistic. Certainly no more than 2000.

 

[seanvandamme]

1500-2000 grafts is realistic. Certainly no more than 2000.

Thank you. I intend to raise this to my doctor. Just wondering about how doctors can get away with overcharging patients grafts. Do they actually implant these extra grafts into their patients? Would this have a negative effect apart from wasted donor?

 

[DoctorHouse]

I am going to agree with @JeanLucBB. I have less loss than you and I got quoted 1800 grafts by three top notch FUE doctors. You have very fine hair too.

 

[seanvandamme]

I am going to agree with @JeanLucBB. I have less loss than you and I got quoted 1800 grafts by three top notch FUE doctors. You have very fine hair too.

Interesting. A differing opinion.

Funny though. I was told by multiple hairstylists in the past that I have pretty coarse black hair. You have fine hair too I suppose?

 

[DoctorHouse]

Interesting. A differing opinion.

Funny though. I was told by multiple hairstylists in the past that I have pretty coarse black hair. You have fine hair too I suppose?

Medium fine. I can't see your donor hair. Maybe you do have coarse hair. What Norwood level did the doctor say you were at?

 

[seanvandamme]

Medium fine. I can't see your donor hair. Maybe you do have coarse hair. What Norwood level did the doctor say you were at?

Attached a pic of my donor hair below.

Doctor(s) I've talked to didn't identify me by class. Though, according to the Norwood chart, I should be a Norwood 2A.

 

[DoctorHouse]

Attached a pic of my donor hair below.

Doctor(s) I've talked to didn't identify me by class. Though, according to the Norwood chart, I should be a Norwood 2A.

Donor does look thick and coarse so you might be fine with what you were quoted. How old are you?

 

[seanvandamme]

Donor does look thick and coarse so you might be fine with what you were quoted. How old are you?

Shouldn't a thicker donor suggest a lesser amount of grafts to be transplanted?

I'm 24.

 

[DoctorHouse]

Shouldn't a thicker donor suggest a lesser amount of grafts to be transplanted?

I'm 24.

Yes but if you want the density to look close to natural, I would say 2500 FUE max would give you great results. If you want to go more conservative since you are 24, you could go with 1800 to 2000. You need to get at least 3 or 4 opinions.

 

[JeanLucBB]

I am going to agree with @JeanLucBB. I have less loss than you and I got quoted 1800 grafts by three top notch FUE doctors. You have very fine hair too.

Saw Koray in person today, obviously you know my situation and he suggested another 3k grafts, 1500 in the front and 1500 in the crown. Hard to tell from the pic and angle from OP but to me it looks like his hairline and frontal third are virtually completely gone, aside from that wispy and useless forelock.