A month-to-month column about magnificence woes and wins.
Picture-Illustration: The Reduce; Images: Getty
In January, I sat in a vibrant room in Istanbul whereas a physician peered down at my quickly receding hairline and requested, “You wish to carry it down?”
I didn’t fly 13 hours from L.A. to carry it up, that’s for positive. However was that every one? I hoped they’d sort out my complete head. “And fill within the gaps right here?” I advised, parting a tuft mid-scalp.
He dismissed this, saying, “There are meds for that.”
My face flushed. I’d been taking finasteride and minoxidil, the gold normal for hair-loss therapy, since 2019. Was there one thing else I’d missed? I assumed I’d carried out my due diligence. I’m 31 years previous, and by the point I obtained to Turkey, I’d already had a hair transplant three years in the past in Los Angeles. The outcomes had been underwhelming: My hair improved for a time, however earlier than lengthy, I began noticing increasingly more scalp. It’s arduous to know if this was as a consequence of an ineffective process or persistent thinning. Both approach, I used to be again to sporting hats and fearing sudden gusts of wind.
I do know bald is gorgeous. It’s the receding part that I wrestle with. For me, there appears to be much less dignity within the helplessness of the dwindling hairline than the intentionality of going full scalp. And but I wasn’t able to shave all of it off. I wasn’t positive I had the face for it. I braced for the internal work of constructing peace with my inevitable baldness till final 12 months, after I heard about individuals getting hair transplants in Turkey from my buddies (and TikTok). Procedures there are millions of {dollars} cheaper than within the U.S. — and extra aggressive, permitting for extra densely packed follicles in a single operation. My algorithm fed me a lot content material about it that I virtually felt negligent for not going. After a pal with beautiful hair gave me the identify of his physician — who got here advisable by six different gays — I made a decision to provide a transplant one other attempt. I WhatsApped the workplace photos of my head, wired a $500 deposit, and was booked for 2 months later.
On the clinic, the physician dragged a pencil throughout my brow and rattled off numbers to an assistant. After 30 seconds, he squinted and nodded. Within the mirror his assistant handed me, I seemed on the tough horseshoe the physician had drawn 1 / 4 of an inch beneath my hairline. Is that this too low? I’d forgotten what hairlines had been alleged to appear to be.
“I don’t wish to do an excessive amount of …” I stated, hedging. I’d seen some actual botch jobs on-line — blunt, straight traces to date down the brow that they had been virtually leaning in opposition to the forehead. A pal had warned me, “Don’t carry it any decrease than God initially gave you.”
The assistant had me elevate my eyebrows and confirmed me how the brand new hairline wouldn’t even come near the brow muscle mass. “This is excellent,” he smiled. “Very pure.”
My eyes had been moist. This all felt rushed and rudimentary. “I simply wish to double examine with my pal,” I mumbled as I took selfies of the realm — you possibly can’t actually “undo” a process like this. I had extra questions, however the physician was already brushing previous me. From the doorway, he known as, “That is going to be a really stunning outcome.” This was the primary and final time I’d see the physician. The assistant seen my nerves and reassured me. “Don’t fear. He’s the architect. We’re the builders,” he stated.
We walked previous a bar the place balding males sipped tea. Just a few had bandaged or bloody scalps, a grim reminder of my future. In a again workplace, I handed over $3,100 in money. This coated each my process and 4 nights of lodging. Together with my flight and deposit, I spent about $5,000 whole. (My L.A. hair transplant value $8,900 for fewer grafts.)
My adrenaline was too excessive to learn a lot of the kinds they handed me. I attempted to disregard a piece that started, “It’s potential for the transplanted hair to turn into thinner …” and signed on the underside line.
I used to be advised to look out for particulars on WhatsApp forward of my process the subsequent day. Every part had been communicated on the final minute by way of encrypted messages, which lent the entire operation the illicit air of a drug deal. This may need felt thrilling if I had been in a greater temper.
I spent the afternoon considering calling the entire thing off. I felt foolish for coming all this fashion — for partaking in medical tourism because the world burns. I couldn’t shake the sensation that this was a idiot’s errand, simply one other Band-Support on issues that will by no means actually go away: my self-worth, vainness, and nervousness round getting old. Hoping to clear my thoughts, I walked the streets of Istanbul. All over the place I went, I noticed males with bloody heads. I nodded to them in solidarity whereas questioning if we’d all misplaced our minds.
I acquired directions to satisfy at 7 a.m. within the foyer of the funds lodge they’d put me in (a far cry from the luxurious suites I’d seen on TikTok). I went to mattress early, however jolted up a number of occasions with racing ideas of an irrevocably bungled hairline. I used to be nonetheless awake after I heard the morning name to prayer echoing from the closest mosque. I tallied the sunk value of the journey to get me off the bed.
The clinic was stuffed with exercise as I waited on a bench. I requested a man beside me, “Have you ever seen what they name this place on-line?”
He perked up. “A hair farm?”
“What do you concentrate on that?”
“I imply, positive,” he stated. “However I wished a hair farm! The individuals who say, ‘I need one thing extra private — I wish to get to know the physician, and I need the physician to do the process,’ I believe, are kidding themselves.” His logic was that the extra rote the transplant, the higher. “I desire a staff that’s been doing this present day in and time out for years. It’s muscle reminiscence for them.”
This man has all of it discovered, I assumed, feeling extra relaxed.
After my identify was known as, a nurse took iPhone photos of my head in entrance of a branded backdrop, like a step-and-repeat however make it scientific. Then she sheared me like a sheep. I used to be near tears once more, however I advised myself to get a grip.
Within the working room, they hooked all kinds of cords to me. A younger lady in a crop high launched herself as my translator. She defined that they’d do extractions from the again of my head, break for lunch, then end with transplants up entrance. The method would final round six hours. I’d be beneath gentle common anesthesia — awake, however sleepy.
I flipped onto my abdomen and put my face right into a doughnut cushion. They administered numbing pictures to the again of my scalp. From there, I don’t bear in mind a lot of the morning earlier than they wheeled over a plastic-wrapped sandwich and a tablet, however I used to be ravenous. After lunch, a special physician checked out my head. With my buzz lower, the penciled hairline seemed smart — obligatory, even.
“Let’s do it!” I stated. I really feel like all of us clapped.
The transplantation course of ticked by. There was no music enjoying. All I needed to distract myself from the prickly sounds of the grafting was the nurses’ full of life dialog in Turkish.
I puzzled if I used to be meant to be this awake. I debated saying one thing however apprehensive I’d interrupt the nurses’ stream. I attempted to calculate how lengthy it might take to relocate 2,950 grafts at a median of 15 per minute, however I’ve by no means been good at math. I did a number of countdowns. I attempted field respiration. After I couldn’t stand it any longer, I raised my hand. The nurses stopped laughing and requested, “Ache?”
“No, no, I’d identical to to speak to the translator,” I stated. After a couple of minutes, a special translator entered. He was beautiful. I felt higher already.
“Ache?” he requested.
“No, no, I’m simply …” How do I put this? “I really feel very awake.”
“Being awake is nice!” he stated. He touched my arm. “You’re virtually completed. About an hour left.” I wished him to stick with his hand on me, however he stated he’d be again quickly. I resumed field respiration till they taped the again of my head like a FedEx bundle, sat me up, and handed me one other tablet. Lots of of little crimson dots protruded from my scalp. I seemed like that spider doll from Toy Story. I assumed that was regular, however what did I do know?
In my lodge room, I despatched selfies to everybody I’ve ever recognized. Some individuals claimed I seemed good with a shaved head, blood apart. If solely I’d heard that earlier than my flight. I woke within the evening to intense ache throughout my head, however by the morning, it was gone. Again on the clinic, they eliminated the bandages, cleaned my head, and gave me a “laser therapy,” which simply meant sitting beneath a crimson gentle for ten minutes.
As I obtained up from the chair, I bumped my head in opposition to the machine. I screamed, sure I’d ruined all the things. The nurse ran over and examined the realm. She stated I used to be advantageous; I didn’t injury the grafts. I wasn’t satisfied, however we needed to transfer on.
In a room with three different sufferers, the translator recited post-operative-care directions at an auctioneer’s tempo. Apply a particular shampoo after three days, keep away from alcohol and intercourse for 5, sleep in an elevated place for seven. You possibly can put on a loose-fitting hat after ten days, however no helmets or beanies for 45. Cardio after 15 days, however no energy coaching for 30. I might barely comply with, however he stated they’d e mail all the things.
On my approach out, I discussed that I used to be interested in PRP and exosome remedies for hair loss, too. The phrases had barely left my mouth when the translator stated, “I can take you there now.” Inside minutes, one other physician was injecting one other syringe into my head. This one was stuffed with my very own plasma and a few plant-based stem cells. Don’t ask me concerning the science, as a result of I merely don’t know. It value an extra $750, which ChatGPT assured me was a fraction of what the value can be within the U.S. When in Istanbul!
I used to be ushered into an airport van with a knowledge analyst from Denver. I imagined we’d appear to be fairly a pair strolling by way of safety, however we had been simply two of many bloody-scalped males carrying baggage. Nobody cared.
Again in L.A., I remoted myself in my condominium for 2 weeks, scabbing and worrying about all the post-op tips. I made soup and panicked — what if the steam loosened the grafts? I discovered solace within the r/HairTransplants subreddit. One publish requested if a transplant may very well be ruined by sneezing or masturbating too quickly. It ended with, “I have to see a shrink tbh.” I upvoted it.
I’m at the moment 4 months post-procedure. My mother says she’s completely satisfied I can lastly put this behind me, however I don’t really feel so positive. I can’t anticipate any actual outcomes for six months to a 12 months, however on daily basis, I stare at my hair within the mirror and analyze its progress. The transplanted space appears to be filling in properly, however now I fixate on the mid-scalp. It nonetheless seems skinny to me, and I fear it’ll solely worsen with age.
Within the meantime, I’ve developed a brand new obsession: low-level laser remedy. Restricted research on rats present it may enhance hair density. I simply need to decide to sporting a helmet for ten minutes a day for the remainder of my life. I ordered one for $799. When the cap arrived, I positioned it delicately on my head and waited. I can’t see something altering but, however I do know these items take time. This, I’m positive, will save me.
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