FUT Procedure (1500 Grafts) on Young Black Female with Receding Temples in Bangkok, Thailand

Since being younger I was self conscious of the size of my forehead. Later in my adult life I realized I was wrong...its no so much the size of my forehead its just that my temple areas went back way further than where my hairline started on my forehead. As I got older and from wearing braids I slowly noticed my temples were saying bye-bye. :) Now at the age of 31 and while in Thailand I decided to try to get some hair transplanted. I recently went natural (relaxer/chemical free) as of 02 Jan 2014. Yahh me! That relaxer was really starting to damage my hair. But that’s a different story and can be found on my blogs.Anyway lets fast-forward to the day of the surgery, 28 June 2014 in Bangkok, Thailand. My appointment was at 0800 and they didn't finish until 1700 (5pm). They actually had me lying on the back the entire time until I had to ask to go to the bathroom. I have never been so mad during a procedure in my LIFE! I have to be honest that was the worst! Don't worry ..please don't let that deter you… this post gets wayyy better. I just had to get that out of the way. :) I will break the important topics down to make sure this post is not all over the place. :) Procedure Start Time: 8:00am
Procedure End Time: 5:00pm
Number of Grafts: 1500
Price: 91,800 BHT = $2,828 USD
Price per Graft: 60 BHT = $1.84 a graft (Cheap Right? I know, pray for me lol)
Website.
Doctor Name: Dr.Kongkiat Laorwong, MD
Type of Procedure: FUTNumbing of the scalp and donor area: This begins the start of the hair transplant. This is the only pain you will definitely feel. Its feels as though somebody is pinching your skin with their fingernails. So take your fingernails and pinch the back of your scalp. But the pain is short lived. Once it’s numb you will have no worries.Now they will place you on your back and get you ready for the strip removal of the donor area. I do not remember hardly any of this because I was sleep or in and out...Donor Area: Honestly this was the best part of the procedure. I was so gone off the pills they gave me and was asleep (in and out, mostly out) for the entire stripping of the donor area. I did not feel any pain and woke up when he was about 75% complete with the sutures. They woke me up to reposition me I think. Making the holes for the transplanted hair: Mind you I did my research but I am a not a professional. So I am not going to get technical but instead break it down in "Barney Terms" so some can relate :) At this time the doctor and the nurse were on both sides planting the holes while 3 nurses prep the hair from the strip. As the doctor and the nurse planted the holes I felt no pain but a little pressure. It felt like my forehead was BIG and HEAVY at this time and I could feel the tightness at the back of my head from the stitches on the donor area. Placing the hair in the holes: :) Or some will say...the actual transplanting of the hairs. By this time I was getting very annoyed because my back was starting to hurt from lying in the SAME position for hours with no break or breakfast. Towards the end the doctor gave me a pillow and the nurse gave me some orange juice Really? Y'all couldn't imagine how mad I was... I had to finally ask to sit up and I just broke down and started crying because I was tried of lying down for so long. By this time I guess the doctor left for a few. The nurse keep telling me 30 more minutes because my curl pattern or something was difficult. So 30 mins turned in 2 more hours. Also I was crying because the donor area was starting to pain badly! They had to inject a needle in two times one on each side of my head and yes I felt it. But shortly after I felt good again and stopped crying lol. I felt like a baby. Y'all I truly hate pain and when I start thinking about what’s going on at the time it makes it worst. So please don't let me scare you... I am just not a fan of ANY little pain. I just want to be honest and tell me story. So moving on...after they finished I was so happy and mad at the same time that I did not have any words to say to them. Just like a 4 year old I hated everybody. The guy I believe was a gay nurse (love gay guys) was actually the sweetest to me. He told me how to care for the area and gave me some pills and shampoo and informed me to come back on 30 June 2014 for them to shampoo my hair. They warned me the girl who would do it would speak no English. I am like REALLY? But they did sugar coat it by saying she will call them on the cell phone if I had any questions. You get what you pay for right? :) Its ok...right now I am happy I just pray this turns out good. Because a US doctor quoted me $8500. Anyway I am getting off track. Morning of 30 June 2014: I woke up and my fiancé informed me my left eye was a little swollen. I went to the bathroom and yes it’s swollen. It looks like fluid settled in the bag of my eye. Now I blame this on myself..because I was so tired last night I slept on my side elevated on two pillows instead of sleeping up. Also I read that after 3 days or so swelling would probably occur. However I am okay with that. My fiancé said he woke up and saw me with my head in the pillow, lol. But through all of this I made sure to definitely not to let my grafts touch anything except this black thing I am to wear over my head. Once I go to my appointment today at 4pm I will give another update if not tonight in a couple of days. I hope you enjoyed reading my story and I hope it was helpful. ? Also very big special thanks to a poster here. Her name is lynn0826. She is also an african american woman who shared her review and answered my questions. So be sure to check her out too :) Good luck to anybody who is thinking about it. Think about it like this we only have one life to live. We are all naturally beautiful in our own way but there is nothing wrong with enhancing it. :)

You all know from my previous posts I am BIG on pictures. So here are some real before and after the procedure. Today I went back to the clinic to get my hair washed. Let me tell you it felt really good and relaxing. The lil Thai lady was very sweet but did not speak a hint of english....but I was warned in advance and if I had questions she would call her boss.

Woke up this morning and my eyes are very swollen.. Haha and I thought I was going to be one of the lucky ones! My fiance is callin me "Rocky Dennis" lol. I read some reviews saying I can apply a warm towel from the microwave to my eyes and keep my head elevated so I will have to try this. Also my forehead swelling is reducing so I'm guessing the fluid has to go somewhere. What better place than the bags under my eyes lol. This sucks but if the end results are good it will be better than worth it! Staying positive