I recently made a comment in another thread that the HT profession is such that they would hardly blink if I offered to pay them to perform an HT on my cat.

Clearly we are not blaming the Doctors. After all a C cup woman is entitled to a breast implant if she wants to go to a D.

LMS has a view (which I share) that suggests that a Doctor should try to dissuade a patient like this from undertaking such a procedure at such a premature stage in the balding process.

Clearly the risks for permanent shock loss (while admittedly rare - according to who knows what statistics) should outweigh the benefits that could potentially result from such a subtle transformation.

__________________
My Hair Loss Blog - Hair Transplant with Dr. Ross

LMS thanks for being more respectful of my patient. No one has said that he was psychologically affected, such would probably have made him an unsuitable candidate. The before photo shows that his hair line was receded, my plan drawn in with a china marker outlines this. We should have combed his hair back to better demonstrate that he was thinning in the frontal third, in the future I will keep in mind that others will be looking at these photos and do that. The surgery placement photos show the diffuse thinning much better, remember that we do not trim the patient's hair. I understand that your concern is hightened by personal experience, and we appreciate that but it is not out of the ordinary to restore a receded hair line with 1500-2000 FU. This patient had the whole frontal area transplanted to increase his density, when he loses the remaining native hair he will be left with the 2500 FUT in the frontal third, thus he will never ever be totally bald in this area. Furthermore, should his MPB become an advance stage, all he will likely require is an additional 1500-2000 to restore the top of his scalp up to but excluding the crown . Now that is not just me saying that if you search this web site you will find that it is replete of examples were elite surgeons do an excellent job at restoring the whole top of the head from hair line to crown, again not including it, with only 4000-5000 FU. Of course some look fuller than others, as it is hair characteristics that are pivotal in the determination of the qualitative aspect of the transplant.

miked,
Please read the above it answers your question also. I routinely, work in diffuse thinning patients without the benefit of shaving the patient, to ease their transitioning into their routines without easy detection. I got to tell you, that shock loss is a theoretical risk but that in our office we have never seen it. I did a one case I recall about 7 years ago that had temporary post-surgical effluvium. If you are interested here is a link to an article: http://www.arochahairrestoration.com/en/art/149/

__________________
Dr. Bernardino Arocha is a member of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians

LSM, I would have to disagree with you on "you had to turn this guy away from HT".

Hair loss is very personal, some people don't care that much about it until they get to at least NW3-4. Other people once get to NW2 (bordering 3) feel really bad want to do something about it. So patient's desire is the key as well. Dr. Arocha could have turn this guy away and if this patient was determined to get HT done we would have went to to someone else anyways and could have ended up at the butches shop. Judging by post op pictures his 2500 grafts were place somewhat far back as well so I don't really feel this guy would have a problem later down the road if he needs more work done.

Just my $0.02

Thanks for the response Dr. Arocha. My mention of shock loss was a generality and not specific to probability under your skilled hands and those of your techs. While admittedly your experience with shock loss is rare I believe it may not be quite as rare with other Doctors who practice HT (based simply on the numbers of posts I have come across from very concerned folk here and in other forums).

Regardless, great outcome here.

__________________
My Hair Loss Blog - Hair Transplant with Dr. Ross

HairDew and miked,

Thanks for your kind comments. I really appreciate your efforts more than you will know. Please have a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day weekend!

__________________
Dr. Bernardino Arocha is a member of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians