johnny24

DAVID OMG love the hair dude, damn you were a rock star back in the day.. I appreciate as much input as possible into this topic as i have been getting asked this question and yes i did come across the post on the HT Facebook page which is what drew me to start the discussion.

Hey mate, Yes I will take a few tomorrow morning and upload them. Its been a while, pretty much 3 years now!

I wish to touch on this topic as it seems to be coming up alot, in articles and the like and I often get told by people (without them putting in some thought) that age should be considered when considering getting a hair transplant. In my opinion your age is irrelevant when considering hair transplantation. At the end of the day it comes down to your hair loss to date. If all men lost hair at the same rate, then I would say yes wait until you get to a certain age to consider hair transplantation, but obviously that is not the case. We all have a different genetic predisposition for hair loss. Due to genetics I lost a great deal of hair at a very early age, and by the age of 23 I was a Norwood IV. This means i didn't have much more hair to lose, so why would i wait until i am 30 or 35 and lose all those years being unhappy and down on myself? I have work colleagues who are in their 50's and have a fuller head of hair then I did at 23. If you are a Norwood III and above, then you have noticed considerable hair loss, and "going bald" is what you think when you look in the mirror. So if you decide after careful research that you wish to undertake a hair transplant then speak to your potential surgeon and come up with an effective and sustainable solution to transplant the hairs you need now in order to satisfy your current aesthetic needs and obtain decent coverage. That way if you continue to lose more hair (remember at a Norwood IV, you really don't have much more hair to lose, you have already gone past half-way) you still have enough donor hair for a future transplant if required. Remember guys that there is an EMOTIONAL driver behind the decision to consider a hair transplant. We DON'T NEED hair on our head for any reason, it is purely an emotional decision (we look in the mirror and get pissed off looking at our shiny heads!). So if you want hair on your head, your younger age should not be a deciding factor at all. So to answer your questions, especially those mothers worrying about their young sons spiralling into low self-esteem due to hair loss, the more appropriate question should be "At what level of hair loss should we consider hair transplantation surgery" not "What age should we be before considering hair transplantation surgery." Another very important aspect of hair transplantation which should be taken into account is generally younger men in their 20's will obtain better results than a man in his 40's or 50's getting a HT at the same level of hair loss. So a 23 year old male is a Norwood IV and another male is 43 also a Norwood IV, more often than not the 23 year old will obtain a better result from the same HT. This comes down to healthier donor hair, which a 23 year old would be expected to have and obviously better blood flow/circulation to the scalp, and protein/nutrient synthesis is more efficient in a younger male. These variables are vital to obtaining a good result from your HT. Now the above is my opinion and i would appreciate an effective discussion into this topic as i imagine it is a BIG QUESTION on many young guys minds on this forum.

Hey Lucky, Great results mate! Got some solid growth there. Looking forward to seeing the results at 12 months.. Regards, John

Hi Raj, I would definitely wait a full 12-14 months in order to see the final HT result. My transplanted hairs continued to mature and look more thick as they grew out. Regards, Johnny

Thats awesome mate!! Really humbling when i hear that i may have helped people out on their hair loss journey. Looking forward to the updates.

I have seen two men in real life who have received a FUT, and decided to cut their hair short. I was turned off almost instantly due to the visible scarring. The bottom line is If you're a person who generally cuts their hair rather short, the FUE method is the only option for you. This is purely based on aesthetic reasons. If you tend to keep your hair rather long then there is no reason why you cannot opt for the FUT method. However, keep in mind there are other pros and cons to both methods which need to be considered.

Hi Butch, glad you liked your trip to India and Dr Bhatti. The itching is normal and your crusts should be right about gone now. How are you feeling at the moment?? Regards, Johnny

Hi Lazy, Looking good for 4 months mate... Keen to see some clearer pics How do you feel watching those little buggers grow, exciting isn't it?? Regards, Johnny

Excellent results mate. I can feel how happy you are through your posts, reminds me of myself when i was posting about my experience Realistically you don't have to say much as your before and after pics speak for themselves Keep the pics coming.. Regards, Johnny

WOW..8,600 grafts damn, surprised you have donor hair left!! Not surprised you had really good results with Dr Bhatti, you should have went to him for your third transplant. Doesn't matter you live and learn and its good your providing feedback to other members who may be in the same boat as you, comtemplating their 2nd/3rd/4th transplant.

Walky, where did you do your HT?? I don't recall having any grafts falling out when i did mine...i do recall having hair fall out from the transplanted grafts to make way for the new hair, but not the whole graft..interesting

From memory i paid approx $1.20 per graft. That was over a year ago so i wouldnt be surprised if the price has gone up a little. Either way it was worth every penny.

Hi mate, after the procedure i took finasteride for approximately 3-4 months. The main reasons i stopped taking it was because i put on alot of belly weight on it, it destroyed my libido and my mood changed. Now i stress this is only my experience with the medication. I know many who have had good results without those nasty side effects, so it comes down to the individual.. Regarding rogaine, i continue to use it everyday on the crown area. However, you only need to use it once a day as opposed to twice a day. Once again this is my opinion.

Yes i am happy with the frontal density. The mid scalp will need a little increase in density. The crown area will need the most of the attention. This was the original plan when intially consulting with Dr Bhatti.. Im not sure how many grafts i will need to complete the above. I will need to consult with Dr in person for that. My photos indicate that there are sections of my donor hair that have been untouched. So i'd assume there is still some to work with. I am definitely open to the use of body hair if needed to achieve a better outcome..

Haha don't worry Shane i already am! Its good to be back and to hear such positive feedback from my forum friends

California Thats excellent news! Hard work, dedication and passion is what got Dr Bhatti to where he is now. Im really happy for him and that is just another honour to add to his existing accolades. Its about time he got some formal recognition for helping so many people. Sethticles Mate your not alone. What a journey its been my friend. But let me tell you that its only uphill from here, couldnt have put it better, no more feeling like 'shit' thats old news. Looking forward to seeing your updates!

I have also added a few general photos of myself as I think it’s important to show how other people see me now and not just close up photos of my hair. When I look back at photos when I bald I am so shocked at how much this transplant has changed my entire look. I believe I look healthier and younger.

Hey Guys, I'm really sorry about not keeping consistent updates on the forum. I have been really busy with work and life in general, and I have neglected updating my thread. However, I've learnt so much on this journey to hair restoration so far that I feel the need to share it with others in the hair loss community... It hasn't just been a change in appearance. From the beginning it’s been an emotional roller coaster. Losing so much hair at such a young age takes its toll on a young adult. Avoiding social situations, and feeling withdrawn and reserved was normal. I tried anything possible not to draw attention to myself. Hair loss in general is a very confronting issue. It’s not easy talking to other people about it. Raise your hands if after catching up with a friend with whom you haven't seen in a while, the first thing they say is "man your losing hair", or "Jeez you’re going bald." Hands up if you've wanted to punch them in the face afterwards! Like as if you haven't noticed, or you don't own a mirror, or you live in a cave and haven't seen your own reflection for a while. The market is flooded with 'hair loss solutions', many of which I have tried and tested, with little to no success. I'm not dismissing the use of those products. To many hair loss sufferers they offer much value, however in my case the benefit was minimal if anything at all. There could be multiple factors contributing to the thinning, and from the experience I've had chatting to different people on this forum, more often than not it comes down to the individual.. this is where I started looking for a permanent solution. Not long into my research I discovered Dr Tejinder Bhatti... I’m not good with names. But this man’s name I will not forget anytime soon. One would describe him as a busy man, and straight to the point but what a humble and well informed guy he is. What makes him so fascinating is that I don’t think he entirely understands the massive positive effect he has on people's lives. I consulted by phone and internet with multiple Hair Transplant surgeons in different countries, and the majority of them insisted I undergo the FUT method of hair transplantation. What I could not understand is why someone would want a scar the size of a ruler at the back of their head? It didn’t make sense to me. Dr Bhatti on the other hand recommended the FUE method. He explained to me the benefits of the FUE method over the other options (which he has performed in his surgery). In my opinion the FUE method was less invasive and less noticeable so it would be the obvious option. This along with the results that I have achieved makes me wonder why all surgeons aren’t performing it. It is for the above that I declare him a pioneer in his trade. Unlike people that I know who have undergone the procedure, I have no issue discussing my hair transplant; I tell anyone who brings up the topic of hair loss. I believe that’s reflective of the success of my procedure. I still have another procedure with Dr Bhatti to complete my crown which I will be undertaking hopefully in the next 12 months. In the interim, I will be dedicating a lot of my time to helping out others who are seriously considering hair transplantation, and just need some guidance or support. I’m ecstatic at the number of people who have undergone the procedure as a result of my input and contribution. And it’s great to hear that so many of you have followed me on my hair loss journey and given feedback to Dr Bhatti..Overall, it is a big step, but well worth it. My goal is to assist as many people as possible, especially guys my age that have really been impacted by hair loss. Just know that it’s not a one way street anymore. There is a practical and affordable solution that isn’t just available to the rich and famous or those with plenty of money. Feel free to email me at john_hasrouny@hotmail.com or contact me via private message on this forum. I will aim to reply within 24 hours (I’ve said that before, but now I mean it!!) Now for some photos, this is 1 year and 3 months since my surgery. I’m interested in all feedback positive and negative.

Hey guys, just thought i'd update my progress as at 5 months post surgery...the first few photos are with dry hair. The majority are styled with product. I've also learnt how to pose from girls on Facebook.. so that's where its from

Jordanal - As you can see from the photos i had close to nothing on top. Norwood IV. If i grew my hair pre-surgery i would have looked somewhere along the lines of George Kostanza (that's why i shaved it!). So the hair on top you can see in the photos is all the transplanted hair. shane13- Thanks for the kind words. I don't have any pre-ht pics without a shaved head because i never grew my hair when i was bald on top otherwise i would look like an old man! As you can see at only 3 months i have had excellent graft yield. I don't believe that you must have an FUT for good graft yield. There are many variables which come into play to ensure you have good quality growth/yield. The most important is the skill, technique and process of the surgeon/nurses. Then there is the after surgery care, supplements e.t.c. They all play an important role. I think it's incorrect to state that you must have a FUT to achieve good results. I always keep my hair fairly short, plus i work part-time in the wedding industry so it was most fitting for me to have the FUE scarring as opposed to the FUT scarring. Haha Dwayne Johnson! No Wayyyy lollll

Thanks mate. I owe it to a quality surgeon!

Not very photogenic, but the results so far speak for themselves

Sorry i'm not a very good photographer..

These are my immediate post-surgery photos. Head is a bit swollen haha