Hey Everyone,
I am 20 years old and starting noticing the sides of my hairline receding when I was 17/18. I am currently a Norwood 3A. I have been taking propecia for 4 months now. The thing that concerns me right now is that I can do the pull test anywhere on my head and pull 1-3 hairs out. Sometime it's more around 6 or 7 at times. This applies even to the permanent zone. A blood test showed that I have a low DHEA level, as well as something else that has to do with iron (I wish I remembered, the reference level was something like 22-80 ug/dL).
With all the facts out of the way, I want to let everyone know that I am seriously considering a hair transplant. I have become irritable, depressed, and angry. My best friend, who is also my girlfriend of almost four years, says she can tell a difference in my personality, which is extremely upsetting. I can't take it anymore, so I decided to do something about it. I went to see Dr. Gallagher in Philadelphia since my father has some small connection with him. He told me to wait, but I said that I just couldn't. He agreed to do a conservative procedure of 1200 grafts in the hairline. Since this is such a big decision I came here to find out about Dr. Feller's great reputaton, so I set up a consultation that is in three days from the time I'm writing this post. I feel like I would be in better hands with Dr. Feller because of this site. I really want to do a small procedure in the front since I have $5k in the bank and am doing really well in college to bring in future funding. I think it would be best to start in the front and do follow up procedures as/if my balding continues. If I run out of donor hair, so be it. At least I will look good in pictures and feel better when talking to people. I cannot continue my life like this, though, I just can't.
I would love advice/stories/experiences from you guys. I really appreciate your time. Thanks so much.
-jdim