swayzedo

Sorry for being a it late to the game here, but I have to say I half agree with Thunderball and half agree with everyone else. HT's are a luxury pure and simple (though I still fail to see why given the proven trauma it causes) and it should cost money, that much is a given, but even as a luxury it is grossly overpriced. A luxury to me is something that is normally well out of my price range but is still attainable. These prices completely cut out anyone on a lower income and are set that way for the simple fact that they can be. I myself estimate my potential cost of a HT for me at about 5 and a half to ?6000. I barely have ?600 spare most of the time never mind ?6000 and no matter how hard I think about it one days work does not justify that amount of money. Like I say I don't think they should be cheap, you still want to pay a good amount for quality but even then high prices are no guarantee of good work as is shown by all the butchers out there so that is that argument shot down. For my needs (Around 1500 grafts FUE) I would happily pay around ?2-3000 which is still a tremendous amount of money for a days work, but on the other hand I would be extremely dubious if someone offered me the surgery for ?500. Like I say, I truly do get both sides of the argument and I wouldn't want it to be totally cheap because it would feel less special then but I think the prices are going to have to come down a fair amount before some people believe they are getting value for money but as it stands with unattainable prices for probably more people than can afford it, it's not really a luxury, it's more on the side of exclusive.

Every day I look at my hairline and every day I see no change as to what it was 4 or 5 years ago. I hit my mid 30's last year so it's all downhill from here, which I don't mind at all but it is frustrating. I'm still using the derma roller, taking zinc and vitamin D pills and drinking green tea every day and I'm guessing it has helped a lot in maintenence but still. I've been experimenting with different harstyles and no matter what I do I just can't get away with anything other than my usual just off centre parting. I don't find a bit of receding abhorrant, a mature hairline can look quite swish and cool but unfortunatly my receding digs just that bit too far deep upward rather than the more common round the sides and up a little. The actual hair at my temples is fine and solid, it's my brow hairline that is affected. If it was even just a 'little' broader, say half an inch then I would be sporting a Jim Carry type hairline and in all honesty, be quite happy with it and wouldn't even think about surgery or anything else for that matter. Don't get me wrong I'm glad I have the good thick hair that I do, but this looks to be it for me in terms of hair loss and it's frustrating looking at something that's almost perfect but just that bit too far gone to look good. I still say, and will continue to say that £6000 is a lot of money for one days work on such a small surface area. It will need to be a third of the price before people start considering proper value for money, but there will always be idiots out there willing to pay and ruining it for the rest of us.

I keep looking for new and innovative breakthroughs as well but it seems to be the same old news involving mice that is regurgitated every so often. It's true that any company would make billions if they put a cure on the market but the old argument of eventually there will be no-one left to cure is bogus, genetics will see to that! Until you can change DNA safely and easily there will always be balding men in the world as every new generation comes along. You would think this would be enough but as we all know, everything is never enough for governments and corporations and they can probably squeeze more money out of you with their snake oils and half treatments that don't really work that well. I honestly think a proper cure for full hair regrowth is out there somewhere but I genuinely just don't think it has been found yet, but I blame red tape more than anything else as every bit of news seems to be stuck in animal testing limbo but you can bet your sweet ass that if a cure was to be found that the old methods would be milked before there was even a sniff of it to the public!

Well it's been a good while since I posted anything on here. Not much has changed since my last post and this is both a good and bad thing. I still have my receding hairline which drives me crazy every day, I still cannot afford to do anything about it becasue of overpriced treatments and surgeries plus rising living costs here in the UK. On the other side of the coin it has not gotten any worse and I am strangely at peace with where I am in my hair loss journey because of it. It's been nearly 2 years since I stopped taking propecia due to the horrible inconvenience of having to make a doctors appointment every time I needed a refil plus the everv fluctuating price for the drug which always went in the upward direction and looking at my photos from around that time there really is no change and I am 36 this year. The rest of my hair is fine, thick and in good condition with no thinning of the crown whatsoever. I still keep it long so I can tuck the front behind my ears and that covers the receding bits, but my rock 'n roll days are pretty much behind me and I would love to have my hair a bit shorter but without looking like a 50 year old. The lack of movement either way in my hairline, well Ill never know exactly why but I'd like to think it is down to a mixture of genetics and the fact I keep dietvery geared towards hair loss. As I've probably mentioned before, I drink green tea religiously, I have fresh fruit and vegetable juices with wheatgrass (Which actualluy reverses grey hair in my head and beard) and I only eat whole foods like lean protein and complex carbohydrates. Never refined sugar. I also still use my derma roller once a month over my receding. I firmly believe that my hairline would be worse, maybe not by much but still worse if I did not follow these dietary rules. I also suffer from dermatitis and a few other complains that have virtually disappeared by change of diet so although it may not grow my hair back I truly think it is helping me, however small to hold onto more hair. As for the issue of repair, I really doubt I'll ever be able to afford surgery or treatments. Which ever way you look at it it is far too expensive, even for the intricate work that is done. I know of no other profession where a days work can yeild £8000+ and this is with the help of a team to perform on an area about the size of my thumb. When the prices come down to 1 pound/dollar/euro per FUE graft then I will certinaly consider it as it will be within a price range I can afford. £2000 a day for the procedure is still an extremely good deal for the clinics and as more people could afford that price then business would boom. By that time though, I am hoping that advances will be made in the buzzing field of actual hair re-growth. There are many, many exciting researches going on at the moment, some throwing outragious claims of cures within 2 years or breakthroughs on mice which we all know have been happeing for years but the genuine research is continuing and I'm sure everyone would rather they could re-grow their own hair rather than have to suffer limited surgery. Until then I will just have to bite the bullet and carry on as normal, which is no bad thing but the morning look in the mirror does bring it's daily dose of downer. On the fun side I'm having my last attempt at 'heavy metal hair' and seeing if I can get it down to my waist like I used to have when I was n my 20's but dreams of a managable, short, neat and receding free side shed will always be at the front of my mind as I drag ever closer towards middle age.

When I can afford it I'm going for a HT with with Dr Bisanga. His results are by far the best I have seen.

How do you think the world would be if genetics were a visible factor from the minute we came into existence? In other words if some people were born bald and remained that way and others had hair? The hardest part of going bald is definitely the feeling of being robbed. Losing something which you already have and have had all your life definitely makes it feel like a piece of your very being is being taken away but what if it was not there in the first place? Personally I think the world would be much different, mainly our perceptions of ourselves because I firmly believe that if we were to grow up with it from birth it will be what we have always known and wouldn't affect us a fraction as much. Speaking for me I don't want anything more than what I am or have ever been, I just want back what I once had, I don't want to change colour or texture or anything I just want the old me back. If the old me was a bald person, would I still want hair? Possibly, but I doubt it as I would probably have identified with a bald movie icon or some other inspirational figure plus the fact I would have grown up around other bald children. Just a thought but I thought it was an interesting one.

I've been reading all the hums and haws about certain new techniques that are being developed which comes with a certain amount of conspiracy theory. Most notably is the findings by Dr George Cotsarelis and his theory's which have cause some excitement and also some accusations of crying wolf. Some say this is exciting news but others say that the Dr is well known for these type of 'discoveries' that never amount to anything so what is to be believed? I admit about a year ago I would have jumped on the conspiracy bandwagon. There is no way that we could have come this far and made such radical breakthroughs and not managed to cure something so simple. In fact I can't recall much being actually cured for anything in the last 30 or so years but I could be wrong and that is another conspiracy entirely, and one that's still open for debate I fear but the sad fact is that I can't see there being any hold up for a baldness cure thanks to our old friend......greed. Greed is the same reason why hair loss products and surgeries are so expensive. They don't have to be, and I'm not saying they should be cheap, especially HT's which I have a new respect for but everything including them is grossly overpriced to the common man. Why? Because they can! and by the same respect he who finds and patents the cure for baldness will make billions and billions which will dwarf the treatment industry so there is no reason why anyone should hold anything back. "Ah but if you cure baldness then no-one will need any treatments?" This isn't true, you may be able to cure the symptoms but the genetics will remain and will be passed down. In other words in every generation there will be just as many people affected by baldness as the last, the only difference is that it can be fixed but it certainly will not dry up any business as the cure will become the treatment. Hair transplants will still be very much in demand for those who may want to alter their natural hairline or victims of fire or acid. What should be done though is a bit of self control from these 'discoverers'. It's wonderful to hear tit-bits of information on things that are happening I do agree, but most, if not all of the time, these are overblown and haven't even been proved yet and always, always has the standard 'in 5-10 years' tag which constantly raises and dashes hopes of those who just want a bit of style on their heads. Why not stop shouting now, do your research and experiments and make a big announcement in 5-10 years when you have something that works or is 5 weeks away instead of years! This would be better nest ce pas?

Hi all, I just thought I'd chime in with how I'm doing with my thing. I'm about a NW2, 2.5. I have thick, brown wavy hair everywhere except for the receding at my temples. It's far beyond a mature hairline and although not extreme it's deep enough to be classed as receding and a very distinct widows peak. Been told it will take 1500 grafts to broaden it out to what I want which is about ?5500 or 6100 euros from the Belgian clinics. Can't afford that in this economy in the UK right now, can hardly afford a night out but that's a different issue. I've been using a dermaroller on the receding parts of my temples for nearly a year now (11 months) I was told that this can improve blood flow and trigger healing processes in the skin. I was also told not to use any product such as minox. as it was not needed. At first I was using it every day but that irritated my skin, so I cut it down to once a week, then once every fortnight and I am about to reduce it further to once a month as I believe out of trial and error that the healing process would benefit from it. As for results well, yes there have been a few new hairs growing but I'm talking about 4 or 5. Nothing significant in that area but it would seem that the dermaroller has triggered a large growth of vellus hairs. My receding parts are absolutely covered in them now and some are quite long, especially on my right side which is my worst. When I pull my hair back I can clearly see the fuzz in the light. If they were the same colour as my normal hair they might look quite impressive but it is only really very thick where the hair meets the receding but they are there all over and definitely weren't as thick before i started using it. Also I can see my original and by that I mean my juvenile hairline in vellus hair when I look up close in the mirror I don't know for sure if this is the work of the dermaroller but I'd like to think so and I can't see any other way I'm getting these 'results' if you want to call them that. I'm 35 and a follow a fairly healthy lifestyle. I work out, I drink green tea, soya milk, steamed vegetables and lean meats. I do also drink and smoke but never during the week (for both) My hairline hasn't budged in a long time and being 35 I think this may be the extent of the damage for me, but even still the dermaroller, while it may not be the regenerative tool that I hoped for seems to definitely be doing something and it may be helpful as a preventative measure for people. Plus it's nice to see that my old hairline is still there, now if they could just find a way to reactivate the thick hair growth! Thanks for reading, hope this helps!

Hi, I'm just wondering how much someone would have to take of an alternative DHT blocker to approximately equal a one 1mg Propecia pill? For example how many cups of green tea (or any other natural blocker) would I have to drink to get the same effect? I've heard it's 4 but I'd just like to check. Propecia is far too expensive and is very inconvenient to try and get a hold of as my Doctor would want me to make an appointment every time I need a new batch and would charge for the prescription as well as me paying for the drug itself. I could get Proscar but I'm very much into the natural way of doing things. Thanks!

Reading through some of the stories and experiences on here, particularly those who describe their lives pre-treatment/op and I'm quite frankly stunned at the level of sheer affect that it has on a lot of people. Of course it affects me too, there's not a day that goes by that I don't check out my temples for more receding or nip to the toilet on a night out to check that no flesh is poking through my carefully styled hair but I had no idea the level of deep, deep depression and trauma that it seems far too many people are going through to the point where they cannot step outside their front door or have to drop out of work, University etc. Even some hair transplant surgery sites openly acknowledge the serious psychological effects on their website and mention them by name but at the end there is usually the safety net of "although this is not proven!" Why isn't this a lot more recognised in the medical profession? I'm getting some serious echos of Victorian medical attitudes to mental health where the answers were usually "it's all in your head!" or "lock 'em up!" Thankfully we don't have the second option. Or do we? How low would you have to go to do something a bit stupid and end up in front of a judge and your only excuse was "I was depressed because I'm losing my hair!" Or maybe said something else to hide that reason. I used to think that hair loss was pretty traumatic and most guys get a real bum deal when they start to lose their hair, from the scammers, the expensive meds/operations to the unsympathetic GP or the taunts of the group of friends but I never thought the depths of misery could reach so far but after reading some stories on here and other sites I'm not so sure. Thoughts please?

I'm predicting that's probably what it will be as well but it's still nice to get a bit of hope when something like this is announced. Still, if it does do what it says it does then it will be worth billions so it's a good incentive for companies to make sure it works effectively.

Hi all, I've seen this article floating around the internet a lot recently on various different sites. Prostaglandins/PGD2 Hair Loss Cure Available in Two Years (**original article replaced to comply with forum TOS **) I've read earlier articles relating to this and I am intrigued (though very sceptical) and was wondering about everyone's views on it? the fact that it appeared a number of times has caught my attention. If f it does work, even as a treatment I for one certainly wouldn't mind rubbing a bit of oil into my head every night for the rest of my life if it did in fact cause good thick hair to grow. Also just as a side note it's amazing the amount of truly horrible people that take the time to seek these articles out and have to make a point to comment on just how vain and unmanly people who worry about hairloss are. This one isn't bad but some other sites have some really acerbic views. Very sad. Anyway, I'd like to hear thoughts. Do you think it may be worthwhile or have the industry realised that 'two years' sounds better than 'five years' for the never seen cure!

"I've worn jeans and sports jackets all my life, now I'm being forced to wear suits. There's nothing wrong with suits, it's just not my style and I don't think it look's good on me even though everyone says I sort of suit it!" This is part of a real conversation I heard on the bus and it's pretty much a perfect analogy for how I feel about hair loss. There absolutely is nothing wrong with going bald, but it's not for me and there is nothing wrong with wanting to get it fixed either. It's what YOU think looks good on you. I tend to dress like a trucker and I love my old brown Levi's cord jacket, flannel shirt and comfy jeans. Now this look is most certainly not for everyone but I like it and although I may be a retro fashion disaster I have never once had anyone come up to me and say "You don't need to wear that. You look fine in a shirt and tie, or skinny jeans!" Need? It's not about need. I don't need to wear the particular clothes I wear, or decorate my home in the particular way that I choose. I do it because it looks good for me and wanting my hairline reconstructed is no different. I don't need to get it done, I do look ok without it but I'd feel so much better and I think I'd look great with it. Sorry if I overload the forum with these non-scientific posts but It helps to keep my motivation and inspiration up when I think about these things and can share them.

Yeah looking at old videos when I was 19/20 and in full Bon Jovi hair mode I quite liked my widows peak with the solid hairline. It just gives the impression of more receding due to the central point. I've no problems at all in the crown thank goodness and I can still look normal because my hair is long but a straightening of the front will make all the difference. Especially on those windy days!

Haha don't worry mate I feel the same, flying gives me the fear. I hate the sensation of being that high up and I can feel every tilt, bump and dip the plane makes and my insides and me really don't like it. I suppose it's only about 2 hours but still I've only flown twice before and never on my own. Still, the greater the challenge the sweeter the victory!

I'm quite fortunate that the centre part of my hair at the front is still really thick and nothing needs done there but my temple receding goes more upward like two flesh 'devil horns' rather than spreading out in all directions. I have a natural widows peak as well which doesn't help and it makes the receding look worse than what it actually is but I had the slight thumbnail sized dip down in the middle even when my hairline was fully broad and straight. Thanks for the heads up about the London consultation hairshopeing. It would certainly be much easier than traveling to Belgium for it and acting like a scared rabbit on the plane.

That looks great Sparky. I like how there is a slight gradient in hair density from the very front inward which mimics perfectly what happens in natural hairlines. After thinking a bit more I could probably push to 2000 grafts which (and this is only using the google euros to pounds calculator) would be about ?6300. Still far, far more affordable than any UK clinic for that amount of grafts and every result I've seen from Dr Bisanga has been ultra top quality and looks totally natural. The man definitely has an artistic flair which is half the battle in this game.

About 700 miles I think. It's not a great distance as far as travelling goes but I don't like flying at all. I'll start with the online consultation and then contact Steven for further details. (Once I have the money saved up of course!) Thanks!

Great results and I'm really surprised at how back to normal you look after only 5 days. Do you know if they do any kind of outbound consultations? Living In Scotland it's a bit of a trek to Belgium and back just for a 30 minute assessment although for the actual procedure it's fine. I wouldn't want to have a consultation then right into surgery the next day. Thank you for the kind help.

Thanks for the reply. It all seems a little too good to be true but I can't argue with that kind of glowing praise. I'll check out the photographs for sure as the one's on the website looked good but there wasn't a whole bunch of them.

I've been looking at clinics around Europe and the BHR establishment in Brussels caught my eye. It looks like a very informative and professional website and I know that Belgian clinics are held in high regard but what got me was that after I calculated my approximate FUE needs (1500 grafts) and then recalculated the Euro value into pounds it came out at ?5090. Is this for real? Don't get me wrong I think that HT costs in general are extremely overblown but still this is much more affordable than any UK clinic I've seen, almost half in fact and it's just across the channel. With a bit of hard graft I could eventually save up this amount in not too long a time. So the question is.......is Dr Bisanga reputable surgeon who does good work? After salivating at the prospect of a HT and finally getting my Ace Rimmer hair almost in affordable reach I'd hate to hear that he was just another butcher operating outside moral law.

Thanks for the information. I didn't really get a good feeling off of the website and although that review didn't say anything bad about the results or technique I think I'll be staying clear.

Does anyone have any information on Dr Michael May at the West regent Street clinic in Glasgow? The website has a dubious lack of gallery material and I get a bad vibe off of it but I'd like to get opinions before it get's put in the black books. Thanks!

How do you guys (or gals) with the exception of having a gloriously fat wallet pay for your hair transplants? I have all the information I need if I were to do it and I know I'd go with Farjo for FUE because he has a good reputation, Manchester is close and I have a morbid fear of flying. I've had a graft estimate of 1500 to get the look that I want but no matter how I look at it I simply cannot afford ten and a half grand. I have never ever been overdrawn or in debt and as such I live a pretty happy stress free life. I don't plan to start the debt game with this so I was wondering about the many other wonderful ways that you guys go about it. Of course I could do what I always do when I want something and save up the spare cash, but that might take more years that I'd like to live with looking like this. I realise I'm shutting myself into a bit of a corner with my financial ethics but debt is really something I avoid, and even more so with the current financial mess the UK is in. Any information will be helpful, thanks. P.S. The estimate was from a Vinci Clinic consultation not Farjo but I assume it'll be around the same number of grafts.

Hi Gillenator, thanks for the reply, Believe me I've been trying to avoid the Olympics but it's impossible. I prefer doing sports myself rather than watching them and the UK is a mess economically right now so it's a really expensive piece of taxpayer paid entertainment to have while people are being made unemployed and children have to get a free breakfast at their school because family's can't afford food. The BBC is obsessed by them and it's on TV 24/7. Me, I'll stick to re-runs of Road House and Big Trouble In Little China! Anyway back to hair, yes I do agree there is much more human testing to be done (raises hand and volunteers!) but I read that it was already done on a group of children somewhere either in South America or in the East and it worked really well. I'm going by the assumption that the stem cells once injected will provoke any dormant follicles it reaches into producing hair again so I can't see any reason why your original hairline wouldn't grow back seeing as the follicles themselves wouldn't have moved. Maybe you will need one or two sessions to get them all powering away again though. It's certainly a very exciting time but we'll see what happens in 5 years. Maybe I should start gathering articles and announcements from hair companies from 5 years ago and sent a mass email with the title "Well where is it then?"