Mega Session FUE Hair Transplant

I went to Clinic Center in December 2019 for a hair transplant procedure. before going I had talked to several representatives, sent them my pictures, and received a "consultation" and they determined that I will be needing a "mega session" which naturally would cost extra, and was quoted a price. When I arrived at the airport I was received by a transportation company which took me directly to the "clinic" it looked more like a beauty salon than a hospital to me but it didn't matter, a few minutes later I met my translator who took me to the trichologist's office to look at me ask me few questions and answer some for me. there I received my first disappointment, see whatever the number of grafts that you were quoted before coming means nothing I was told they will be able to extract 5 to 6 thousand grafts, the trichologist there said we would only be able to do 3 to 4 thousand from the back of my head and proceeded to look at my chest and other possible donor areas before telling me they can take about a thousand more from my beard. I asked if it's possible to at least go to the hotel and shower and change before they operated on me as I had just done a 16-hour shift at work (i am a clinical pharmacist) then 8-hour flight and car ride and it was 8 in the morning. they insisted to do the procedure now and I went along. the trichologist left the office my translator asked me about the payment which I just handed to him in cash in an envelope from my handbag as they told me it's easier to have it cash and in US$ rather than pay in local currency via a card and that there will be extra charges of-course, I also went along. they drew a small sample for my blood work and I wait there a little the tube of blood that was taken from me did not exceed 20ml in volume yet they claimed they used that sample to test for Hepatitis C and deliver 2 PRP injections. highly doubtful but I went along. I go to the operation room which is just an ordinary room with a bed and a cabin, my blood pressure was going through the roof every time someone came in and out for no reason at all just to look at me or show the person operating on me a video on their phone with little to no hygiene protocol being followed. Again, I went along and didn't complain, nor did I complain about the music being played or the heavy smell of cigarettes coming from the room and the trichologist. the procedure took about 12 hours from 9 in the morning till 9 in the evening, I had 2 small breaks one of which I was brought a sandwich and a drink which was nice since I was practically starving and sleep deprived. the crew kept asking if I was in any pain to give me more local anaesthesia I was completely feeling some of the areas however that is to my own stubbornness I did not want more local anaesthetic because I knew the swelling is going to be bad the next morning. the part where they were extracting follicles from the lower neck, I felt every follicle being extracted. what was funny is when we were finished I told them I was feeling really dizzy and there was blood a lot of blood loss they just offered me ibuprofen. no one checked my blood pressure or heart rate or anything. I waddled out of the centre into a taxi which they ordered for me kindly and gave me a bag that contained Ibuprofen, Antibiotic, PPI and Steroid for inflammation. with dosages written on a piece of paper. No antihistamine or any immunosuppressant. I go to my hotel it's as mentioned, nothing fancy just a regular 3-star hotel no complaints there the staff were nice the view from the hotel was great. a couple of days of bed rest then I go back for washing and meet a bunch of guys who had done a transplant procedure too and we chat and laugh, I was surprised to see many complained about the plasma injection even tho none had medical background they also suspected something wrong and that they didn't take it. we signed on some paper to say we received it, got our head wash and a small kit that would last about a week that contained two 300-500 ML bottles of foam and gel. we had our inquiries answered and were given some instructions and we went back to the hotel, I had 2 more days left of stay in the hotel which I just sat in my room and only went in the mornings to the restaurant for breakfast. on the last day, I think my translator came to see me and I talked to him he asked about my experience and informed me about a referral program and I also told him about my concerns, same as I wrote above. on the last day, a car picked me up from the hotel and took me back to the airport. during the first few months, I was being contacted by a nurse who asked me for pictures and said there is nothing to worry about and all is good and I should see great result, she did not advise me to see a dermatologist or take an antibiotic even though I clearly was having folliculitis. forgot to mention I bought a 3-month aftercare package from there and bought another 3 months once I got back to Kuwait, the products weren't essential but they were extremely good value for money considering the cost difference in Kuwait and from a medical view, these products were of pharmaceutical quality. fast forward 18 months later, today is just 15 which is exactly 1 year and 6 months away from my procedure. there wasn't much contact during that period with Clinic center because every time they contacted me was to write them a review to which I told them I won't before the period to see the final result is over. I am 60 to 70% happy with the result. I have a hairline but the top of my head is still very much bald and thin, they also missed two spots on the sides that did not receive any transplant and are obviously bald, additionally, the grafts they took from my neck after healing left me with some scarring that looks like alopecia which only allows me to either fully grow my beard or completely shave it to cover the spots. I still look much better than before going there I am happy but i had expected more. to sum up my experience : I rate hospitality 4/5: hosts, representatives, even the medical team were all nice and kind. the deduction is for the persistence of marketing offers whether before coming or while there to buy the aftercare products or when I returned to give a review to a procedure that I haven't seen the result of yet. I rate the transplant procedure 2/5: 1 deducted for not having full transparency with me before getting me to travel and do the procedure, 1 deducted for the discomfort and lack of proper hygiene protocol follow up during the procedure and another 1 deducted for the unsatisfactory result of aftercare. so in total, it was an alright experience. I hoped for more but I am ok with this. they are still far better than other clinics in turkey that provide such services