corvettester

This will be my first HT. I will definitely keep HTN updated as it's been such an invaluable source to me in my final decision to undergo HT. I'll be sure to create a hair loss journal and frequently update it with plenty of pics.

I'm getting a FUT.

Just booked my HT with Dr. Dorin for October 18th, 2010 at 8:00am for between 1,500-1,600 grafts! We're going to lower my hairline between 1.0-1.5cm and fill in the temporal area too. Because my hair in the frontal area is already so thin and fine, we're not going to dense pack. we're going to establish a proper hairline first at between 40-50 fu psqcm and then wait a year to see if I want it more dense. I feel more comfortable with the conservative approach. Also, my left temporal is significantly more receded than my right (see photos), so I imagine I will receive more on the left than right. I'll be sure to start my journal today and I'll put my HT procedure on the new calendar too. Thanks everyone for your help so far. And please let me know what you all think.

What's considered a realistic expectation for dense packing? I've heard people claiming up to 80 grafts psqcm! But I thought most people had 90 naturally? And according to the HTN multimedia animation, it only take 45 to give the illusion of fullness. Also, what factors contribute to how dense a doctor can pack? Does hair shaft size have anything to do with it? Scalp laxity? Any input would be greatly appreciated. I'd love to hear some of the communities opinions on this matter. I'm getting my HT in about a month so I want to know what I can realistically hope for.

Mattj, Thanks for your input. Yeah, 1,600 seems to be the average most docs are estimating. I just don't know what that translates to in graft psqcm. What do you think? Would that be dense packing? Of course, I'd like it to be as dense as possible.

Judging from the comments I've been reading by some of the veteran posters, it seems like a lot of us newbies make the mistake of underestimating our Norwood level. Therefore, I present to you photos of myself and request your opinion. I listed myself as a NW 2A in my profile, but I could be wrong. Let me know if you agree or disagree and why. It'd be greatly appreciated. Also, how many grafts do you think I'll need to restore the hairline which would mean lowering it about 1.5cm. I have plenty more pics in my photo albums in my profile. Keep in mind that I have always had a high hairline / large forehead. I estimate that my frontal has receded about 1.5cm. My temporal area is more but I don't really know how much. Maybe 2.5cm? Sorry I don't have any pics of the crown but there is virtually no thinning there or recession, it's very dense actually. Also, the only MPB in my family is my paternal grandfather who is probably a NW7.

No, I'm not on Propecia or any meds. I don't want to start either. I will definitely ask about the miniaturization on my next visit. Also, why would you guess that I won't wear my hair pulled back after the HT? Is my forehead really that big? lol!

To Surfarosa, Many thanks for your thoughtful response... very helpful. After making this post last night, I had the idea to actually measure for myself what 2.5cm would look like on my head. I realized immediately that 2.5cm is A LOT! Even 2cm was too much! Thus, I think a more realistic estimate is 1.5cm. I know it sounds like almost nothing on paper, but when I put the ruler to my head it all made sense. I have a very small scar on my forehead I got when I was 7 years old, right below my hairline, so I've always had a point from which to measure my recession by. I definitely agree with you that the hairline is of the utmost importance. I would definitely choose a natural and dense hairline over an average hairline and crown any day of the week. To hell with the crown because I'm tall enough that very few people are ever looking downward on me- definitely not any women. Also, I don't really have MPB in my family (except my paternal grandfather), nor any visible signs of my crown thinning or receding. My crown is actually quite thick! So I think I'm in the clear on that one. I'm going to make sure I emphasize this to Dr. True when I see him this week. I'll also see what he estimates he can dense pack at. Also, you mentioned that you only trust a few doctors with this type of procedure. Would you mind telling me who exactly? Feel free to private message me if you like. Thanks again! And let me know if you have any further thoughts on my situation.

To RCWest: Thanks for your input. I know that Dr. True is a very well-respected coalition doctor. However, I don't know what his policy on dense packing is. I'll be sure to ask him this week when I see him again. So far, he has been just great. He's very sincere and professional. I really like the guy and I like how he conducts his business.

Yes, I will put down my deposit with Dr. True this week for an HT procedure in early November for 1,300 grafts. I'll also be speaking with him again this week. He's been great so far. Very professional and patient with me. Although I've been considering HT for over a year now, when I went in for my initial consultation last month, I hadn't really done my due diligence of research regarding the details HT. So I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted or how to express to him what I wanted. Clearly, Dr. True estimated on the low side by quoting me at 1,000 grafts at least, but that he preferred to do 1,300. Since then, I have spent the last month on this website on a daily basis. I now have a better idea about what I want, what to expect and what is realistic. So I'm going to bring this up to Dr. True this week and see what he thinks. Maybe he will decide on more grafts once I explain myself better. I didn't really express to him that I have always had a high hairline / big forehead and that I simply wanted to restore my hairline to it's original point which already appeared as a mature hairline. I'll keep you all posted after my next consultation with him this week.

I went in person to several doctors here in NYC and then I emailed three other doctors nationally and abroad with detailed descriptions and photos. Each doctor gave me a different estimate of grafts. The estimates ranged from 1,000 grafts to 2,700. Most of the estimates were around the 1,600 mark. So why all the different estimates? Have a look at my profile to see my pics and tell me what you think. Basically, I have a naturally high hairline / big forehead. My hair has receded about 2 - 2.5cm in the past 4 years. No MPB in the family except my paternal grandfather. I want to restore my hairline to its original point. I feel like restoring it to the original is reasonable considering that I already have such a high hairline. Thus, it won't be like I'm trying to look so much younger, it'd probably look just like a mature hairline... whereas now it looks like a receding hairline. Your opinions and advice are greatly appreciated.

Hi all, This is my first post here. I hope to receive as much constructive criticism and advice as you can muster. I'm 29 years old, thin blonde hair, limited family history of MPB (only my grandfather on my father's side of the family who is a NW VI since he was 26 years old). I will be getting a HT next month. I have an unusually high hairline / forehead. When I was younger, I would get taunted about it. People would say that I was going bald or that I had a receding hairline (though I certainly wasn't at age 10) or that I just had a big forehead. No worries though... I could live with that. However, in the past 4 years, my hairline actually has started to recede. So far it's receded about 2cm - 2.5cm. So now, my already high hairline / big forehead looks noticeably higher or more receded, depending on how you look at it. I have to wear my hair combed forward to minimize my high hairline which is fine for now because that is the style I like. However, on windy days or when it's wet, the widow's peak is obvious, as is the receding hairline. Also, it's pretty obvious that I wear it forward to cover up my high hairline / big forehead (I've even had people tell as much). In the future, I'd definitely like to wear it pulled back. So my question is this: After all the research I've done, I understand that it is inadvisable to try to restore to a 30 year old the hairline that I had at age 20. However, because I already had such a high hairline / big forehead, wouldn't it make since to simply put it back to were it was originally? Thus, I want to lower my current hairline about 2cm back to the original hairline. Also, how many grafts do you think I need? I don't think I have "hair greed" as I see some posters call it. I just want it to look normal. I'm not going for a more youthful look, I just don't want to be the guy with the big forehead or high hairline. If I restored it to its original point, I think it would then look like I have a mature hairline, whereas now, it simply looks like a receding hairline. I've included some photos of myself now so you can see. In the photos, my hair is wet and combed back. I never wear it this way. I only have it like this to show you how far back the recession has gone. I hope to hear back from all of you soon. Many thanks everyone. This site has been an enormous help to me.