I would like to solicit some comments from doctors, if possible, on hairline design issues especially in younger patients.

I have noticed that there are several younger patients in the forum, who are in the earlier stages of hair loss, who are interested in hair transplants. I know it is hard to overgeneralize as each patient is different, but I was hoping that some doctors might contribute their thoughts on proper placement, planning, design issues, etc etc.

I have tried to explain some of the different issues to the best of my ability. However I am apparently considered "anti-transplant" according to one poster, which I guess is a reason for very enthusiastic guys to dismiss my opinion. Since a HT doctor would not be considered "anti-transplant" maybe a doctor can explain rational strategies for hairline placement and planning in a younger patient.

The more doctors who can reply, the better...

Thank you.

This is a good timely question. First of all, I would avoid transplantation below age 25. This is a perfect time to use medications, as our most dramatic responses occur in the young. If the only effect is perservation, then these meds are also very effective as it is better to save hair while there is more to save.

If a transplant is done on a very young person, I would recommend 2 things: 1) stay in a frontal forelock pattern 2) don't transplant the temples or lock in the fronto-temporal angle. Young people losing their hair are likely to be the ones with severe hair loss later. Locking into a forward fronto-temporal angle could be a major problem later. Some might do well with it but some will pay a dear price. Bottom line- it isn't worth it. Better yet, don't do a transplant at all until nature shows a little of its hand first.

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Dr. Parsley is recommended on the Hair Transplant Network

Dr Parsley:
Thanks for that post. That is EXACTLY what I wanted to convey so often, but with my non-medical background, I stumbled to find the right terms and words.
What you wrote is really the warning I (and Joto, arfy, etc) would like to put out to men in their young 20s who are balding and considering an HT.
The point is not necessarily "absolutely don't do it", but rather, "know your options and the risks involved".

vocor1
Knowledge is Power
If the worst question is the one never asked, then the worst answer is the one never shared.

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vocor1
Knowledge is Power
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I agree w/Arfy and Dr Parsley as well. (and joto-vocor)

Definately Err on the side of conservative. Even just putting healthy hair in the top-scalp area will show a dramatic improvement, and save your grafts for later, most of these young guys will need them, I didnt even receed till 35, imaging a guy losing it at 24 ?.

I think slight recession in the temple area looks more natural anyways.

NW

it is not a definite don't for all cases. Like vocor said - 'know your options and the risks invovled'.

"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic''. Arthur C. Clarke

My point is actually: It is your life and your decision. If you can live with your decision AFTER getting educated on the HT process and the risks involved, then best of luck to you.
I can't add anything to that argument. If you go into an HT fully confident and educated, then I feel I've done my part, so to speak.

vocor1
Knowledge is Power
If the worst question is the one never asked, then the worst answer is the one never shared.

__________________
vocor1
Knowledge is Power
-- The truth only matters if you know about it.

I especially liked the line:

'I say this based on over a decade of experience that indicates that individuals with minimal loss at age 23 will have minimal hair loss in their mid-30s.'

I believe I am one of those guys - especially when combined with my family history. Waiting to have a procedure performed accomplishes nothing in my case, other than extending the time I'm miserable because of crappy hairline.

"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic''. Arthur C. Clarke

When you are planning your hairline, pick something that is not going to stand out to other people, even when you are older. Most guys eventually have some amount of recession, so even though a hairline with "no recession" is possible, getting one via surgery is going to draw unwanted attention to your hair transplant.<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>An unfamiliar pattern will (then) generate the query "What's wrong with this picture?" to the consciousness. Therefore the challenge is to create a painfully ordinary hairline by common shape and location that will be ignored by others. The eye is easily bored- keep it that way. The goal is to have the hair become a nonissue. However if a hairline that is unique in some way is created, the eye will be engaged and the "What's wrong with this picture?" question will be triggered, thus failing the patient.[/quote]

(from "The Consultation" by Patrick Quinlan)

In other words, if you pick a permanent hairline that very few people have, you will have a lot of people scrutinizing your hair.

PRGuy:
You bring up valid points, but hair DOES recede in U and V shapes.
Let me tell you, I receded in a V on the top. I know this is atypical, and hopefully I'll find some picts to substantiate my case. My military ID at age 21 showed a V. At 24, the V was pretty much gone. When I had my HT, the V was a distant memory. But it did exist.
My point is, the V was the shape of my hairline AS I BEGAN TO BALD. Yeah, it deteriorated into something much worse, but I turned back the clock.
That was all a factor when Dr Rose and I chose the hairline to construct. He asked me how my hair once looked, how it recessed, and whether or not I had a widow's peak (I did not).
How else do you create a "natural hairline" but to ask how nature caused your hair to recess?
Like I said, you bring up very valid points. But with some people, the U and the V are in fact natural hairloss patterns.
Look on TV at sports broadcasters, you'll see a ton of natural Us. There are fewer natural Vs, but I know I count as one.
Just my two cents.

vocor1
Knowledge is Power
If the worst question is the one never asked, then the worst answer is the one never shared.

__________________
vocor1
Knowledge is Power
-- The truth only matters if you know about it.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>I think that quote in particular is not addressing the issue of the (v), (u) or jagged hair line but rather the placement and pattern of the grafts.[/quote]Umm, I think hairline design IS the pattern and placement of the grafts.

If you "spotted" some bad U or V shaped hairlines, that doesn't mean that U or V shapes were wrong, just that they were not pulled off effectively. You can't dismiss them because you saw bad work. As Vocor said, the U or V hairline just means that some amount of recession was replicated (or an attempt at replicating recession). In my opinion that is the way to go for the vast majority of guys who get transplants: build a little recession into your hairline, and if you think there's a chance you are going to progress to a Norwood 5-7 someday (or are already there), then you might want to build even MORE recession in to your permanent hairline.<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>Most guys do have AT LEAST "some" recession over time. Very few guys go through life like Ronald Reagan.<LI>If a guy has a permanent transplanted hairline that doesn't look like 98% of the rest of his peers, he may be drawing a lot of extra attention to his hair.<LI>If that's the case, your hair transplant will probably get a lot more scrutiny, especially by the time you are in your 40s, 50s, 60s, and so on. You'll have a strong hairline, but you will also look "different". That might not be such a good thing for every guy.[/list]