Reviews

I noticed that my hair was starting to thin at the front around 10 years before I decided to do anything about it. It was a gradual process which I adapted my hair style to disguise. I reached a point where I had become increasingly embarrassed about it and it was affecting by life and behaviour. For example, I used to enjoy swimming on holiday or with my grandchildren but I was so conscious of my hairline when my hair got wet that I swam to a minimum and tried to keep my head above the water which impacted greatly on the enjoyment; I wouldn't go out on a windy day without a hat or I would manoeuvre seating arrangements when out with friend so the light didn't highlight my problem. These may not seem like big things, but when faced with them every day, in a variety of situations, they mounted and made me miserable. I felt like withdrawing participation in things that I had enjoyed to save my embarrassment.

I looked at various methods to encourage hair regrowth but, apart from a transplant, everything else was temporary and would need to be regularly repeated. I looked at several hair transplant clinics. I quickly discounted the London based clinics because I didn't fancy the hassle of travelling into London and I was imagining, having had the procedure, how uncomfortable I would have felt travelling home again. The Maitland Clinic came up on my search and I liked what I read. It didn't come across as pushy, as some did, and I liked that it was clear on who would carry out the procedure - I thought it was well explained. It was an excellent choice. From my initial enquiry, the first phone call to explain in more detail, my first appointment with Dr Ball to discuss whether I was an appropriate candidate for the procedure, the day of the procedure, the follow up appointment to remove the stitches, right up until my follow up appointment, almost a year after the procedure, all my questions were promptly answered and I felt valued and supported every step of the way.

I was so nervous when I arrived on the day of my procedure. I needn't have been. I was put at ease by the friendliness and efficiency of all the staff. They couldn't have done more to make me comfortable and reassure me. I had drinks, snacks, lunch and a choice of films to watch - it was more like a nice day out than the painful procedure I'd been expecting. Dr Ball was very gentle when taking the strip of hair from the back of my head (the part I was dreading the most), so much so that he had finished and I didn't realise it had been done - I actually thought he was joking when he said that it was done and he was on to the stitching. The making of the tiny incisions to place the harvested hair into was, again, so much quicker than I thought it would be, and totally painless. The assistants who inserted the hair into place were friendly and efficient. Every now and again they asked if there was anything I needed and reminded me to tell them to stop if I wanted anything. The only pain I felt during the whole procedure was toward the end and came from where the strip had been taken because the injection I'd been given to numb the area had started to wear off. Dr Ball gave me a top up injection and the pain disappeared.

Once I'd returned home, I followed the aftercare to the letter. I didn't have a single problem and my recovery was swift. I stayed home and didn't see anyone for two weeks - a small price to pay when I look at how my life is now. I'm no longer embarrassed when I go swimming (I don't panic if my hair gets wet and quickly use my fingers to try to pull my hair forward before anyone notices) so it doesn't matter if my grandchildren want me to go on waterslides with them or duck me under - I can enjoy it. I can go out on a windy day and not care if I have a hat or not. I can meet with friends and sit where I like and not constantly try to catch my reflection to see if my hair has moved to show how thin it is. All small thing, I know, but they're just a few things from a constant steam of things that thinning hair makes you aware of, which adversely affects your behaviour and your life.

I was 68 when I decided to have the transplant. I was asking myself if it was something I should bother with at that age or if I should accept it as part of an aging process. Clearly, I went ahead and thank goodness I did, I've never regretted it for a second.