“I was lucky, but still I took a risk.” say their hair transplant in France or abroad

Guillaume, 33, and Antoine, 36, are friends and shared the same problem: hair loss. They went to Greece together to get a hair transplant. The first, a business school teacher-researcher, readily admits it. if we didn’t hold it for him, he definitely wouldn’t have finished the experiment.

“My hair really started thinning in 2018. Antoine and I often laughed about it in our group. Then we started talking about this transplant idea. He did all the steps, benchmarked all the techniques, the clinics… Alone, I wouldn’t have gone there. Or later. I admit that he took all the mental burden of the choice from me.” Anthony, who is it? head of communities, there was no point in waiting. “I’ve been losing it for several years. Obviously, I wasn’t on the “I can’t stand it anymore” stage, but I said to myself. “Life is short, we’ll see what it’s worth.”

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A total adventure

After the first round in France, the executive is watching the prices (from 10,000 to 15,000 euros), which dampens his enthusiasm. “It was pretty crippling. Then I discovered Mr. Hair’s website through a blog article. The reviews were positive, there was a form of transparency and honesty unlike others selling dreams, so I contacted their team. And the quote of 5,900 euros for two days finally convinced me,” recalls Antoine. The concept. A company that accompanies French-speaking clients to surgeries in a clinic in Greece with which it is affiliated. Guillaume and Antoine operated there in April, after first contact in late January. “Even alone, I would do it. But the fact that there were two of us was, of course, more convenient. We went together, we were able to discuss the topic. We asked ourselves the same questions,” Antoine sums up.

Transplantation in Paris…

For Aurelien, 41, the transplant forced her alone in the face of a family picture that left her with little hope. “My grandfather was bald at the age of 30. My father was also losing his hair. It didn’t matter to them, but it did to me. A form of baldness Bruce Willis, why not, but I was more afraid of the “Couette effect”, – explains he, who always knew that one day he would have a transplant. In her 20s, she tried treatment with Minoxidil, a drug that stimulates hair growth and slows hair loss.

After seeing a report showing journalist Jean-Michel Mer talking about his transplant, he asks and sees the ads on social media. “Either I shaved or I decided to have surgery. But I didn’t want anything in between.” Then, in 2015, she made an appointment at a Paris clinic. Invoice: €8,000. “I didn’t know it could be cheaper abroad. I only discovered it later. But even if I thought it was a bit expensive, I was happy with the result. Then 2,000 grafts are taken from her, which allows for 4,000 more hairs in the long run, mostly placed at the level of the armpit. Seven years later, he, who is a consultant in the capital, decides to do a new transplant. “I’ve been told you can do it four times in a lifetime. I would do it again sooner.”

Either I shaved or opted for surgery. But I didn’t want any in between

Aurelien, 41 years old, consultant

… the other in Budapest

This time, the Parisian hopes to lighten the bill a little and turns to Hungary. Specifically Budapest and Hairpalace Clinic. The comments are good and the Hungarian colleague reassures him. In addition, the estimate shows 2,300 euros, including plane tickets and accommodation. “I filled out the questionnaire online and I just had to send photos, as well as the results of some tests the clinic required, such as blood tests, my blood pressure…

Aurelien is also pleased with this second intervention. “I was received very well. I even had a French translator the entire time I was in the OR. The irony is that during my intervention in Paris, the doctors were Greek and I had to speak to them in English. Few details make her smile, like this travel pillow offered in exchange for a post-intervention Google comment. “The concern is that after my name was typed into Google, this HairPalace testimonial came up. In terms of discretion, we did better.”

Weakness and character change

Mathieu, a 36-year-old social media manager, admits that he chose this intervention “out of narcissism and coquetry.” “Ten years ago, I had quite deep chasms. It was still good, but in my early thirties I started to really lose weight and put the weight on top of it. Thus, a radical transformation took place, and it is clear that baldness does not suit me. The 30-year-old is having a hard time accepting these changes, especially since he works in the image business. “And of course, that’s important. I saw people’s eyes change. It was painful.”

It’s clear that baldness doesn’t suit me

Matthew, 36 years old

The transplant idea came when one of his Moroccan colleagues recommended a clinic run by a family friend. “It put me at ease and the prices were competitive.” After a WhatsApp consultation, he flew to Morocco a few weeks later. The cost of the operation: 2,000 euros, plus plane tickets. He is placed in the clinic. “On the other hand, when I returned to France, I also had to pay about 1,500 euros extra for various injections at nurses’ offices and aesthetic centers.”

Choi’s method

The four transplant recipients used the same method, which is carried out in two stages. The first part of the intervention, the patient lies on his stomach and the vaccinations are taken. Then, lying on his back or side, he can be implanted with the Choï implanter pen. “Apart from the first shots of anesthesia, it doesn’t hurt,” reassures Antoine. Mathieu, he found the intervention more difficult. “When you’re lying down, eight hours, the first five hours, it’s still good, but then it’s hard. And then it is a heavy intervention. I stayed in the hospital for a week and even on the plane I still felt feverish. On the other hand, there are really no post-operative restrictions for the other three, other than the recommendations not to harm the grafts and not to harm the surgery. “During the first 72 hours, saline solution should be sprayed on the head. It is also forbidden to put your head on the grafted area, so as not to damage the graft, in short, it is a little stressful,” recalls Antoine.

Guillaume also remembers the moment of despair when the first transplanted hair fell out. Indeed, if the patient leaves with hair after transplantation, the latter fall out, and it is only after three months of growth that the results begin to be seen. “The important thing is to be aware of it and bear your pain patiently,” Antoine continues.

Shaved head

If the intervention does not require social ostracism, the head is shaved. it is difficult to hide it from the environment or professional environment. “The first time I had an appointment was before Christmas, but in the end I went to work anyway because I totally accepted it,” Aurelien says. Same with Antoine and Mathieu. For Guillaume, especially in front of his students, it might have been less obvious. “I have been very open with my ex-partner and my family. There was no need for them to hesitate. On the other hand, it is true that we cannot hide it in the first postoperative days. I was a little worried about returning in front of my students, but also about picking up my kids from daycare. Finally I decided to guess and said. Then two weeks later, it’s really easier because it feels like we’ve shaved our heads.”

I dreaded going back in front of my students to pick up my kids from daycare

Guillaume

Acceptance of risk

Later, none of the four “transplanted” regrets their choice. Even if Aurelien expected a more dense result, he believes he did it at the right time. “Those who do it too late walk away with a much higher budget. And I don’t rule out a third operation if my donor area allows it.” For Mathieu, the intervention gave him more confidence. “It changed my life and it changed the way others saw it.”

On the other hand, if he recommends a transplant, he recommends being more suspicious than he was. “I was lucky, but I still took a risk. I’m thinking of doing it again, but even if it involves a bit more money, maybe I’ll choose France.” Before remembering that “this remains a heavy and insignificant intervention”. A sentiment shared by Guillaume. “I’m happy with the result, but it’s six to twelve months before you really see it. It is not quick and therefore not always psychologically easy.

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