FUE 3500 Dr Biçer Istanbul

[Pablo_doc]

I just wanted to write regarding my recent experience with Dr Biçer on 25th July 2023. This is a long post, sorry, feel welcome to skim read 🤣. 

I am 46 years old, medical doctor, living in London, UK. I have been thinning for some time but very slowly. I have taken oral finasteride in the past but developed some side effects and had recurrent eye problems using topical minoxidil. I have been reading forums and researching for several years, building up the courage then opting out last minute for some time. Finally in March I decided to go ahead and get this sorted once and for all. It was starting to affect my confidence and I was started to age facially as well, so the combination was the final straw 🤣. 

My prerequisites for the clinic was good reputation, recognition with ISHRS, good reviews that weren't financially promoted, reasonable price, one patient/day ideally. Initially I had a consultation with another clinic but didn't get good vibes. I reached out to Dr Biçer in March 23. I wanted to do it ASAP as I knew i would probably chicken out again if I didn't do it sooner. I sent my medical data and photos and spoke mainly with Ozen, who works closely with Dr Biçer. Dr Biçer wrote and recommendation for 3500 grafts covering mainly frontal area 2500 and crown 800-1000. To be honest the crown didn't bother me as I couldn't see it, but i realised this would need to be treated to get a good result. 

Dr Biçer was booked up for 12 months, it wasn't looking good, and I didn't want to book impromptu with another less ideal clinic. Fortunately, a cancellation came up for 25th July. I booked the plane that night. I wanted to stay close (5 mins walk max), and decided on the Sheraton Grand Atasehir. The reason for this was I knew i'd need room service for 2 days afterwards due to my appearance. It cost £700 for 4 nights. I arrived Sunday evening to Istanbul from Dubai after working there for a week. I decided to arrange my own transport and simply jumped in a taxi outside the airport. It cost me 320 Lira but I rounded up to the nearest 100 (400 lira is so cheap compared to London). The hotel was nice, top floor view, great food and excellent English speaking staff. 

I was asked to go the next day 9am for a review, the day before the procedure. Dr Biçer was there but busy seeing other patients, reviews and planned procedure. She was welcoming and handed me over to Ozen who asked if I could fill in the forms that day to save time. Now bear in mind there are about 30-40 pages of information and legal type text. I was going to give it time to read and it probably took 1 hour. I also took photos of every page for future reference and I'd definitely advise this if its not sent on. However, most was straight forward and pertaining a lot to following the recommendations post procedure etc, potential for failure and consent to share info/photos. Once this was finished Dr Biçer saw me briefly, we drew some hairlines, 3 in total, and I chose 1 of them that we both agreed on. I'd read so much at this stage I had no questions, just information overload. Bloods were taken, an ECG to check on the heart, and my medical pack and pillow for after the procedure. 

In the afternoon I decided to explore and went to Sultanahmet Square and Hagia Sofia and the Grand Bazaar. I'm so glad I did this as it helped distract from the following day's operation. One thing to mention is that taxis are a nightmare to flag down or call via Uber/BiTaksi. Eventually had to jump on the metro, without a ticket, as the guards were unable to sell me a card, and hope for the best. Thankfully I got home and managed to rest that night. 

The next morning I arrived 9am. I was taken for head shaving, was actually fine and didn't bother me at all. New hairlines were drawn but more concise and thought out with measurements. Photos were taken and I was throughly cleaned. The rooms were immaculately clean which made me feel better. The nurses discussed their previous experience in the medical field and we joked a lot which put me at ease. 

The local anaesthetic was not as bad as I thought, as others say like elastic bands snapped off the head and then needle injections until fully numb, 5/10 pain and took 20 mins approx. 

Extractions were done solely by Dr Bicer, it felt really quick, may have been the Xanax. These were counted and separated by the nurses whilst Dr Biçer performed the insertion points. I'd asked for a super natural, irregular hairline to ensure a more natural result. We decided against balancing temples as both felt some natural asymmetry was normal. Then it was lunch for 45 mins 

I was then left in the hands of 3 nurses who took turns in the insertion of the grafts. Took hours with several toilet breaks and me moving to try and alleviate some back pain from lying so long. They were asking if I was okay throughout. I finished the procedure at 7.30pm and after quick bandaging I was allowed to go home. Everyone was tired and it was very late. 

I ordered room service for dinner and breakfast and went for bandage removal 9am. It was slightly sore cleaning the area and stung a lot initially. That day I just relaxed in the hotel room watching movies. It was slightly sore but minimal pain. I struggled a lot to know what position to sit in, what to wear, how to wash my face and shower etc. 

Sleeping the first night with bandages was fine to be honest. I made a V shape with pillows and lay slightly on my side avoiding the grafted area. The second night was terrible without bandages. The donor area was leaking bloody fluid and I woke with 4 destroyed pillows that I decided to wash by hand at 3am 🙈. I asked for a review to make sure everything was okay and Dr Biçer actually came in on her day off to review me. I met another patient who had the procedure the day after me and we chatted about things and put ourselves at ease. I would definitely recommend making contact with others there at the same time. Thankfully all was okay and I was able to fly home that day. By this time I was less bothered and embarrassed about my appearance. I'd decided to book a front row business class seat from SAW airport (£235) and so glad I did, more space, less risk trauma and more comfortable. 

I'm now day 3 and have done my first hair wash. It was hard to know how hard to apply pressure and the cream they gave was difficult to remove without some pressure but I was told this gets easier with time. Head is feeling tingly but not sore and I've stopped any pain meds. Still on steroids as I have pretty severe facial swelling on the forehead. 

I realise this is a very long post but wanted to be clear about the things that I would like to have known beforehand. 

In summary the experience was great, Dr Biçer was so kind and obviously very knowledgable and I felt completely comfortable throughout. Ozen has been great with follow up questions, only 1 so far, phew!

I'll update with regular photos for anyone interested. 

Below are photos taken in March 23 prior to the procedure. 

[Pablo_doc]

Immediately afterwards...and day 2. I've asked for the clinic pictures for hairline drawing and pre and post for better quality and will add later. 

Edited July 28, 2023 by Pablo_doc

[A_4_Archan]

@Pablo_doc excellent detailed write up brother ....you have chosen a good doctor ..happy growing and keep updating ...will follow your journey closely ...

[Davies]

This looks like great work. Keen to follow how you grow !

[Melvin- Admin]

Looks good, following your journey 😎

[Gatsby]

Excellent write up and you've chosen a top surgeon. Happy growing and I look forward to following your updates!

[Marko7t4]

Looking forward to seeing how this progresses. 

[ScottishGuy21]

Best of luck. You’re in very good hands with Dr Bicer (speaking from personal experience!)

[Pablo_doc]

Hey everyone. Just an update to my post from July 2023. 

It's now 13 months since my 3500 FUE with Dr Bicer in Istanbul, and I wanted to share an update on my experience so far. Honesty, I couldn't be happier with the results, especially my new hairline. It looks so natural, exactly what I was hoping for. Br Bicer knew this was something I was anxious about and made sure the technique she used ensured it was as natural as possible. It blends perfectly with my existing hair, and the irregular, softer hairline Dr. Biçer created really makes a huge difference in how natural it feels. Friends and family have commented on how great it looks without even knowing I had the procedure done. It has been a huge confidence boost!

The recovery process was much easier than I anticipated. I was nervous at first, but Dr. Biçer and her team were always available to answer my questions and provide support whenever I needed it. The post-op instructions were thorough, and her team were always there to give me advice making each stage of recovery straightforward and stress-free. By the end of the first week, I was already feeling comfortable with my routine, and the minor discomfort I had at the beginning quickly faded away.

In terms of results, the grafts have grown in steadily, and I’m thrilled with how full and natural the transplanted hair looks. I would say I started noticing hair growth after about 3 months but really the main growth came at 9 months. I did lose the initial hair, which is what I expected but hoped wouldn't occur. The crown area has also filled in nicely, something I wasn’t originally too concerned about but am now grateful for.

I have started taking Minoxidil tablets 2.5mg daily and this has made a huge difference, mainly to the thickness of the hair. I occasionally use finasteride spray but not consistently. 

I can’t recommend Dr. Biçer and her team enough. From the initial consultation to the follow-up care, they’ve been incredibly professional, knowledgeable, and caring throughout the entire process. If you’re considering a hair transplant and have been hesitating, I can honestly say this was one of the best decisions I’ve made. The journey was made so much easier by choosing a clinic and a surgeon that truly care about your results and overall experience.

The photos below are at 12 months. I went back to Istanbul and popped in for a review with Dr Bicer as hoping to add a little more to the crown area in the next few months. This was the initial plan, and although I wasn't too concerned about the crown at the time, I'm keen to complete the process. 

I’ll continue to share more updates as things progress, but if anyone has questions, feel free to reach out!

[laverita]

Congratulations..you look very happy...

[Ccd99]

Class result! Congratulations. Looks very natural, I'm sure the Oral Minoxidil is helping too.

Just curious how you obtain Oral Minoxidil in the UK, since you are a doctor, are you able to prescribe your own medication or is that frowned upon by the GMC?

[Gatsby]

@Pablo_doc this is an excellent result and the beard really suits you too. Congratulations. 🎊🍾 

[Eli_Avdikian]

Congratulations for the result ! Are you planning on doing something for the thinning, non transplanted area ?

Edited September 7 by Eli_Avdikian

[Jamos1982]

This is poor work by bicer you can clearly see evidence of row implanting , why does she do this? It’s also looks like she extracted way more then 3500 grafts , I’d be asking for a refund

 

[FUEtile]

Looks great dude how many grafts to the crown? It looks super full

[Al - Moderator]

8 hours ago, Jamos1982 said:

 

This is poor work by bicer you can clearly see evidence of row implanting , why does she do this?

What? Are you just trolling? This is an excellent result. I went back and blew up the pictures and I don’t see transplanted grafts in rows. 
 

[Jamos1982]

6 minutes ago, Al - Moderator said:

What? Are you just trolling? This is an excellent result. I went back and blew up the pictures and I don’t see transplanted grafts in rows. 
 

Look at growth it’s see thur in rows . This would be fine if he went to a hairmill but he paid top dollar. What is it now 3 euros a graft? That’s a pitiful result 

[Jamos1982]

[Jamos1982]

15 minutes ago, Al - Moderator said:

What? Are you just trolling? This is an excellent result. I went back and blew up the pictures and I don’t see transplanted grafts in rows. 
 

There is no trolling I am expressing my criticisms of what I see. Is that not allowed on here? 

 

[Jamos1982]

You can Cleary see row implanting in this photo 

[Konsole93]

I think it looks very natural and the rows are very minimal.
I have already seen more extreme at de freitas or couto, where it is sometimes very obvious to me personally that there is work in "rowes" in micro design.

The problem with bicer is that someone here has already had some multi grafts on the hairlines and a friend of mine as well. He had to remove everything.

But this looks really soft and natural, but I like the uncertainty is always there.

Very good result

[Big Rome]

12 hours ago, Jamos1982 said:

This is poor work by bicer you can clearly see evidence of row implanting , why does she do this? It’s also looks like she extracted way more then 3500 grafts , I’d be asking for a refund

 

this is a great result. don’t be a Karen 

[Eli_Avdikian]

Why is this whole "implanting in rows" now an ubiquitous issue everywhere (unless the patient is looking to buzz his hair) ?  I agree with @Konsole93 that multis in the hair line is a much bigger issue, but in OP's case it's not the issue.

[cdalee440]

On 9/6/2024 at 4:29 AM, Pablo_doc said:

Hey everyone. Just an update to my post from July 2023. 

It's now 13 months since my 3500 FUE with Dr Bicer in Istanbul, and I wanted to share an update on my experience so far. Honesty, I couldn't be happier with the results, especially my new hairline. It looks so natural, exactly what I was hoping for. Br Bicer knew this was something I was anxious about and made sure the technique she used ensured it was as natural as possible. It blends perfectly with my existing hair, and the irregular, softer hairline Dr. Biçer created really makes a huge difference in how natural it feels. Friends and family have commented on how great it looks without even knowing I had the procedure done. It has been a huge confidence boost!

The recovery process was much easier than I anticipated. I was nervous at first, but Dr. Biçer and her team were always available to answer my questions and provide support whenever I needed it. The post-op instructions were thorough, and her team were always there to give me advice making each stage of recovery straightforward and stress-free. By the end of the first week, I was already feeling comfortable with my routine, and the minor discomfort I had at the beginning quickly faded away.

In terms of results, the grafts have grown in steadily, and I’m thrilled with how full and natural the transplanted hair looks. I would say I started noticing hair growth after about 3 months but really the main growth came at 9 months. I did lose the initial hair, which is what I expected but hoped wouldn't occur. The crown area has also filled in nicely, something I wasn’t originally too concerned about but am now grateful for.

I have started taking Minoxidil tablets 2.5mg daily and this has made a huge difference, mainly to the thickness of the hair. I occasionally use finasteride spray but not consistently. 

I can’t recommend Dr. Biçer and her team enough. From the initial consultation to the follow-up care, they’ve been incredibly professional, knowledgeable, and caring throughout the entire process. If you’re considering a hair transplant and have been hesitating, I can honestly say this was one of the best decisions I’ve made. The journey was made so much easier by choosing a clinic and a surgeon that truly care about your results and overall experience.

The photos below are at 12 months. I went back to Istanbul and popped in for a review with Dr Bicer as hoping to add a little more to the crown area in the next few months. This was the initial plan, and although I wasn't too concerned about the crown at the time, I'm keen to complete the process. 

I’ll continue to share more updates as things progress, but if anyone has questions, feel free to reach out!

 a

First off, the results look great. And yes, I would imagine that is a huge confidence booster. 

Assuming Dr Bicer did not know you were a doctor yourself, did she discuss the process with you via phone call or email or was all work discussed by someone else at her clinic. I ask because I have only dealt with someone at her clinic thus far.

While Id prefer to have dealt with her from the beginning the upfront communication is not as important as the process itself. I've received my quote for 2500 to 2700 grafts, to be performed by her, vs a tech, performing my treatment and while it is nearly twice what I have been quoted from others I believe you get what you pay for. 

It does sound like you are please enough that you would return to her again.

Any response or comments you can add would be greatly appreciated.

Respectfully, 

[Eli_Avdikian]

25 minutes ago, cdalee440 said:

I've received my quote for 2500 to 2700 grafts, to be performed by her, vs a tech, performing my treatment and while it is nearly twice what I have been quoted from others I believe you get what you pay for. 

 

You mean double the price? Or the double amount of grafts?