Thank you for your comments below.
I will take no action until I am totally ready, and that could take a few years of preparation. I do have a moderate degree of recession, and I don't like the way my hair looks at all.

First I want to see if Proscar will do its job and prevent further loss. If it does, I'll get a transplant when I am more confident.

Cost is an important issue to me when considering engaging into the life-long commitment of getting transplants to repair future hairloss. It's not like I can save $2K and go get a procedure done; otherwise, I would get more excited because I am not very afraid of running out of donor hair based on my family history and my own hairloss rate so far.

Based on my photos, how many grafts do you think I would need right now?

Thanks.

Carlos.


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to Carlos

Although I appreciate Jebster's comments, I would be very cautious. You appear to me to be right on the border of transplanting. I would not blame someone for encouraging you or discouraging you. Keep the following in mind- once you start, it is a lifelong committment. Are you unhappy with your hair as it stands or unhappy with what you think it will become? If you would be happy if the loss would just stop, then I would hold off. About 6 months ago I did a procedure on a fellow who 25 yrs ago had some punch grafts placed into an area of frontal recession. His hairloss virtually stopped and he wished he had not had the procedure -fortunately it was correctable. You mentioned that you don't like it as it is now - in that case, I would lean more for a transplant. The frontal "V" can easily be widened and should look very good. But then you are committed.
Your hair looks pretty good right now but it is obvious that you have had a moderate degree of recession. You are no doubt an excellent candidate for this procedure - if and when it is proper for you. Only you can answer that question. Just go into it with a good knowledge of the committment - and don't let anyone talk you into or out of anything. It is your decision and you need to be comfortable with it. No need for rushing.

I am sure that if you asked several transplanters you would get several different answers. Depending on where you put the hairline, I would guestimate that you would need 2 sessions - the first being 800-1000 grafts and the second at least 8 months later and probably a smaller number.
As an extra suggestion, I would add Rogaine extra-strength to your regimen. By itself, it is not too strong, but in combination with Propecia, it appears to me to be more effective. Plus, it is pretty inexpensive now.

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Dr. Parsley is recommended on the Hair Transplant Network

Dr. Bill Parsley,

Thanks for the reply. Rogaine, if I am not mistaken, would not help me because it does not work for the temporal area.

I am taking Proscar.

Thanks!

Carlos.

Carlos,
When Rogaine was being tested, they picked the crown (vertex) as a uniform control area. When they went to the FDA, I understand that they were slightly surprised that the FDA told them they could only say it grew hair in the crown. Some complained that if they had done testing on the right side of the head that the FDA would tell them they could only claim growth on the right side. The truth is that it is capable of growing hair anywhere. In fact a problem that it is capable of increasing facial hair, particularly in women (reversable). I have seen pictures of hair regrowing quite nicely in the frontal scalp with Rogaine use.
My personal opinion, from experience and a lot of before and after photos, is that used alone it is a weak hair regrower in men. When combined with Propecia, I believe it is far more effective and have photos to back it up.
It is my unproven opinion that all these agents work better over the midscalp and crown because the hairloss starts later there. Areas of untreated hairloss become unsalvageable hairloss in a few years. As each hair miniaturizes there comes a point that it can't be saved. Hairloss on the frontal scalp usually begins before loss over the crown. There may be more to it than my explanation, but believe this point is valid.
Carlos - my main concern with the use of Propecia and Rogaine is for the top and crown areas. You need to try to preserve these areas and possibly regrow them to get the result you want - whether you ever do a transplant or not.

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Dr. Parsley is recommended on the Hair Transplant Network

carlos, your hair is fine ,receded but can be
styled straight back ,caeser,to the side,you
have enough to do many styles.hit the gym more
and get a tan,you'll be fine. [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif[/img] [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif[/img] [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img]

Carlos, I was kinda in the same boat as you, with mild recession and being thirty years old. Every one who posts on this site has alot more experience than I do, but I will give you my opinion. Jebster is right. It all depends how much it means to you. Your hair looks fine, but if it dosn't look or feel fine to you, then get it done. The others are bang on when they say it is a life long committment, but so is staying healthy, keeping fit, watching your diet, or even keeping your teeth. Im sure if you get a great doctor who can plan out your future procedures and senerios, and you can accompany them financially, go for it! But it all depends on you. Keep researching the site for advice, and you will learn alot. Life is very short so why wait, and istead of your hair looking just fine, it would look great.

This is something that needs to be thought out thoroughly. A transplant is not open-heart surgery, but it will affect you for quite some time...if not your whole life.

It took me 10 years to finally decide. I consulted with dozens of doctors and decided I needed to travel out of state to have my work performed. This is despite the fact that I live in Southern California and my options were wide open.

Upon meeting a few patients who had traveled to the same HT Doc, I was convinced I had finally found the right person to perform my procedures. I met patients in person and talked to the surgeon several times and had a terrific feeling about him. All other patients concurred.

I personally feel that it takes time to find what you are looking for. I am so glad I was not monetarily fit to have this done 10 years back. I know for sure that I would have been butchered. Instead I now have a fairly thick head of hair and have developed some excellent relationships that will probably last forever.

To this day I am very happy. I will recommend this surgeon, but I will do so via personal email.
Take care!

Carlos..
I too am with Jebster and Brent.. Why wait if it bothers you now? Chances are, it won't get any better with time. Sure, you might halt it.. But from your comments listed under your pictures, you are not happy with your hair in the present. Go and do something. Just understand it is a committment. But just budget for it accordingly.