TomCruise

I've seen a lot of posts in the past wondering whether the changes in their hairline are maturing or whether it's hair loss. This is the first case that actually really does look like simple maturation. You can't fight time, nor should you want to in this case. You almost literally have too much hair as it is for an adult I would not worry about it.

"Yes, there's a chance that it could be hairline maturation, but why is it only affecting the left side?" Not sure of your situation based on the photos, but hairline maturation and also hair loss can definitely proceed asymmetrically.

It may be ok from a distance, but from what people are describing, seems like in up-close & personal situations, one would have the same fear of detection as a person who wears a toupee or use Couvre. No depth, no stubble, no actual hair, and it's permanent.

That graft placement looks well done.

In that case I would say more information is needed. In my opinion, you should seek out a professional opinion and/or post photos.

Some people have experienced male pattern baldness at 15. Are you sure it hasn't gotten any worse over the years?

Dear MBD, Thanks for sharing your progress. I perused your hair transplant photos form Dr. Hitzig. Not to be alarmist, but with the relatively large scabs on your noggin, each spaced at a considerable distance apart, the work seems to more state of the art for 1972 than 2011. Am I missing something? This does not look like the kind of work I've seen from modern-day transplant surgeons. What is going on here? TC

Based on your photos, I don't see much distinction between the hairline and the area directly behind it in terms of growth, except to the extent that as one continues to move back toward the crown Dr. Alexander may have planted hairs at a lower density as can be customary.

It's shocking that work like this was done in 2010. Still, as Sparky mentioned earlier, you can probably be salvaged somewhat by going to a great doctor and doing more research this time.

Epilectic, I hesitate to say this because you seem like a honest guy with a tremendous amount of life experience, and I enjoy your posts, but, per the quote above, people must realize that chicks say sh*t without rhyme or reason or that is not actually true. We can't go around basing life decisions on a couple comments from one girl or any girl. Girls find it hard to tell a guy they're not interested. At the same time, they are great at zeroing on weaknesses or insecurities that a guy might have. Clearly, for whatever reason, this chicks were not into you. But it seems the extent to which your hair loss affected their perception of you will never be known. In reading your post, I just had to think if it was not you interacting with the lady quoted above, but rather Vin Diesel or Jason Straithairn or any number of guys I have seen out and about who are balding but carry themselves confidently, and I cannot imagine any chick saying she was worried about passing on their bald genes to their face. It would never happen. It happened to you for reasons unrelated to your baldness - the chick in question did not want you. Your baldness may have made you less attractive, but other aspects - such as your confidence, charisma, wealth, goals, conversational ability, general attractiveness, build, whatever- were not enough to overcome this in their limited perception. I love your posts, they make good sense, but none of us should get carried away on some lame rejection that a girl proferred. Sometimes chicks just go for an easy way out to let a guy down. TC

So basically you were looking for some reassurance that you were not losing your hair and, when you got responses that you were, you announce that you are not losing your hair after all. So this was just a game? I don't get it. Your front hair line looks wispy in a way that no normal adult hairline would That is what this forum is form. Cold hard facts. A splash of water to the face. A reality check. I wish someone had been honest with me earlier on.

Definitely recediing. And when you push your hair back with your hand to reveal the hairline in that one photo, there can be no doubt.

You're welcome. As to HDC, their work, at least as presented in photos, looks very precise and confident. The results look good as well. I believe their main doctor is Mikaelis or something of that nature. The other doctors I mentioned seem to be on par with that precision, I personally like Keser's work that I've seen. Bisanga is also impeccable with Devoyre in their league as well. If you search for those doctor's names on here, you'll be able to see some of the results I'm referring to. I think that will help. TC

I've always been impressed with the cleanness of their work, in both FUE and linear surgery. If you are drawn to HDC, I believe, in Europe, Dr. Keser, Dr. Bisanga and Dr. Devoyre have also been quite impressive, from what I've seen ,at a distance.

One thing is clear... Spex can be a valuable resource. Even his response on this thread seemed appropriately measured.

Forgive my skepticism but methinks Hairy13's professed naivety on the efficacy of the hairflap is, as of 2011, dissembling and possibly disingenuous. If one does even a minimal amount of "reading" on the subject, beyond the one or two doctor's sites actually propounding this antiquated procedure, it's clearly a process that's horrific and fraught with wildly unnecessary risks & downsides.

You bet Sparky. You've always contributed a lot to these boards. I'm sure a lot of people have noticed that.

Interesting, but what happens when your hair turns white?

I think Sparky would make a great doctor's rep. He always talks straight and fairly, has been there himself and honestly has a marvelous gift in terms putting things into words. Any doctor he chose to associate with would be lucky to have him. TC

Thanks for the update. Why did you leave the staples in for 2 months? You may covered above but it would be great to get a brief refresher as to your thinking on that.

Looking good. I'd be very encouraged - thrilled, even - if I was in your shoes with these results so far.

As long as your hair is not sopping wet, your scalp should be dry enough to apply the Rogaine. Towel dry your hair and you're good to go. TC

Sorry to be digging up old threads, but I was looking back at something and came across this. Is what Dr. Feller is saying there - that it's okay to go swimming in the ocean 3 days after a HT - still acceptable protocol?

gmonasco: What do you think you can infer from this? Seems like the doctor in question is either comfortable with his hair (or what's left of it) or is dissatisfied with his follicular status but does not want to undertake the risks of correcting it through a HT procedure. Any surgery has risks, and the risk/reward analysis is individual to each person based on their particular lives, issues and circumstance. Since no surgeon can peform the procedure on himself (other than in that one episode of Nip/Tuck, if you know what I'm talking about), any risk calculus by him would have to do with how good some other doctor is at doing transplants. I guess you can infer in general that hair transplantation poses risks to anyone, but what else were you wondering about?

I'll chime in with my opinion. Yes, you are going bald. I'm not sure what that left photo is, if it's from the back or front. But that gap in the crown looks significant. In the 2nd photo, the corners of your hairline look a little recessed and fading or see through at the edge. People might tell you otherwise. But there is one cardinal rule of hair loss imo: If you think you are going bald, in all likelihood you are. So, instead of wasting a valuable year or two of people assuaging your fears, since you have detected a problem, feel good about that. And what you do is make an appointment with a hair transplant doctor. Don't think about getting a transplant with him or her at this point, not just because they might be hacks, but because it's too early. But let them inspect your head and give you their opinion and also request propecia or propecia and rogaine and starting using them if they confirm you are losing your hair. I say go to a hair transplant doctor since, IMO, dermatologists who are generalists dont' understand hair loss as well.