Ok, this is going to a long and detailed review because I want to give anyone considering SMP all the information that I was looking for when I was doing my research into it.   MY BACKSTORY In 2014, I had a FUT (strip) surgery in the US (2,200 grafts).  All grafts were at the front to address my receding hairline.   The initial result was great, but in recent years I wanted to add some density. I was pretty much set on a second FUT surgery but decided to look into SMP just in case it could help. I knew that SMP is a great option for people who are completely bald, or have very little hair and shave down to a grade zero or grade one. I knew very little about SMP as an option for adding density.   THE RESEARCH As anyone who’s done their research on hair transplants knows, there’s a LOT of conflicting advice out there, which can be really confusing when you’re trying to establish the facts so you can make an informed decision. Seems the same is true with SMP – I began researching the benefits and drawbacks of the permanent and temporary SMP options, and just ended up confused.   Speak to a practitioner of permanent SMP and they’ll tell you permanent is best.  Speak to a speak to practitioner of temporary SMP and they’ll say temporary is best. This is one of the main reasons I’m glad I found Eve – she offers temporary and permanent SMP and can speak objectively about both. She also trains other people on becoming an SMP practitioner, and right now her course is the only one in the country that is OCN Level 5 accredited, which gave me confidence that she knows what she’s talking about.   THE CONSULTATION The consultation can be face to face or via Zoom. Eve is very knowledgeable and what’s clear straight away is that she’s all about getting the best result. She’s also realistic about what can be achieved. And the really big one for me – she’s not in any way ‘salesy’ and doesn’t push you down the temporary or permanent road. She explains the benefits and drawbacks of each treatment and lets you make up your own mind. As an aside, I didn’t realise that permanent doesn’t have to be permanent at all – if you’re unhappy with the permanent treatment, Eve can remove it very easily with a laser.   THE TREATMENT I had the treatment around a fortnight after my consultation. The studio is about a ten-minute walk from Liverpool Street. Eve is very professional and explained everything fully before starting. The treatment itself wasn’t painful at all and lasted a few hours. Eve is very personable and easy to talk to (she knows her Netflix), which makes the time pass quickly.   THE RESULT When I looked in the mirror for the first time, I was taken aback at how much fuller my hair looked. I had two further treatments to add further density and make tweaks (all part of the initial price quoted). Eve is a perfectionist, which is what you want if you’re someone like me who obsesses over their hair.  The other thing to mention is the treatment looks completely natural – the mark of a practitioner who knows what they’re doing.   THE BENEFITS OF SMP For me, having an SMP treatment to add density has a lot of advantages over a second surgery. It’s a fraction of the cost – less than quarter of what I was going to pay for a second FUT. The impact is immediate – you don’t have to wait six to nine months to start seeing the results. No downtime – you can go to work the day after your treatment (or the same day for that matter)    SUMMARY I wish I’d had SMP years ago – I’d been saving for a second surgery for a long time, when it turns out I didn’t need one.  Hair transplants and SMP don’t have to be ‘either or’ – SMP and surgery (FUT or FUE) are complementary. If you’re considering a surgery, I’d advise first checking out whether you can get the result you’re looking from SMP. Regarding Eve as a practitioner, the ultimate test is whether I’d recommend her to family and friends – and the answer is I already have.