Dwight

I agree. I'd like all people to be nice. But also more important is freedom of speech. Within the limits of good taste. I think the moderators are doing a fine job.

Hey man don't permit any negativity discourage you. There are some enlightened souls on this forum. There are others who seem to derive pleasure from hurling abuse at others. For me the Hair Transplant was a fabulous investment. Our society judges others by appearance. We can't take our eyes off of a poor soul who is missing teeth. We gape and gawk at a facial disfigurement. I am in the process of arranging my second hair transplant. Very excited. I've studied extensively so I have more knowledge then the first time, That is what you should do. Study, read, ask questions. Then ask more questions. There are many decent human beings on this forum willing to help, when you think you have a dumb question, ask it any way. Perhaps you'll end up like me. You'll walk past a reflective glass window and wonder about the handsome dude in the window. Then you'll realize the handsome dude is you. (Handsome is probably an exaggeration in my case - I must be honest. It is an exaggeration). Take care. Good luck. I'm excited for you Dwight

What is the consensus of opinion for a young person who is starting to lose his hair? He is 25 years old. For the sake of argument consider worst case scenario. Eventual Class 6 or 7. There are those on this site who believe if one cannot achieve total restoration the procedure is pointless. I am of the opinion, in worst case scenarios, that framing the face is paramount. One proceeds from there. Therefore in your opinion should a young fellow pre-emptively work against hair loss by doing say 500 FUE's per year for the next 10 years? Or some such pro rata allocation? Hurts my brain

Man you are in a tough position. My baldness pattern has been described by various Hair Transplant Surgeons as from Norwood 6 to Norwood 7. Because in my mind I think I am Norwood 2 pre-transplant (kidding) it is hard for a person to self diagnose. I asked my Son to look at pictures of Norwood classes and classify me. I am a late Norwood 6 to early Norwood 7 according to my son. My donor density is below average density. One of my errors, from lack of research was to deal with a surgeon who was at the lower end of the incompetent/competent spectrum. Ideally I should have paid for a densitometer analysis. When she (the person who did the transplant) visually analyzed the donor area she said one side had a higher density than the other side. Hence one end of the donor strip was cut wider than the other end. Upon consideration I do not know which end was wider - the higher density end or the lower end. There were 2100 grafts removed. Because the Surgeon was closer to the incompetent end of the incompetent/competence scale I do not believe 2100 grafts survived. My donor density was a bit under average density. The problem was a disproportionately high number of single hair follicular units. The result is a greater difficulty to achieve the look of greater density. Because my Surgeon had the quality of a higher degree of "twithoodness" she did not group single hairs into multiple follicular units creating the illusion of greater density. You are in a difficult spot. If it were me, I'd research the shite of this matter. I'd read every piece of information available on this site. Then with a higher degree of knowledge I'd start asking for consultations from Surgeons. You'll find that most American and Canadian hair transplant surgeons have little interest in helping you. I think they are earning so much money and possess an inordinate reservoir of arrogance that they will be not forthcoming. After all your case requires extra effort and creativity. If you can afford it book a trip to Dr. Bernstein in New York. Their office will use a densitometer to scientifically analyze your hair loss status. The consultation costs around $300.00 to $600.00 depending on who does the analysis. (Check their site for precise figures). The last person I'd check with is Dr. Bhatti in India. In my opinion he is quite competent. More importantly he is a decent, compassionate and honest Human Being. Keep asking questions. Most folks on this site are helpful. There are a number of party poopers. You probably are going to need lots of body hair grafts. Respected Surgeons state that it is possible to have great results with follicular units from arm pits, beard, chest, arms and legs. Party poopers would state your situation is futile. Their value judgement is if you cannot have a Hollywood leading man hair style give up. I approach the matter from another different position. Maybe use leg and arm hair to frame your face and fill the less dense areas. The coarser hair can fill between these. As for the "odour" of arm pit hair and pubic hair some physicians say the character of the transplanted grafts retain their odour quality. Other surgeons say the grafts change quality. However if the odour remains you will have to be rigorous in hygiene. I was a highly sweating athlete once upon a time. Never did I stink. I discovered showers.

Thanks for the measurement. Interesting result, isn't it? I asked the surgeon to lower my front hairline to my eyebrows but he wouldn't go for it. Take care

This is a bit off topic but your post prompts my question. Measured from the top wrinkle of your forehead brow how many cm's does this measure? Purists state that this should be 1.5 cm for a person over 30 years of age. Mine is 3 cm. I'm curious what is your measurement? Thanks

I think your result looks great. The front part of your transplant is superior to the work done on me. With a side part the "layering" of hair over hair creates a high degree of coverage for me. With your higher degree of density at the front, with a side part your front view will be optically 100% coverage. With a side part further back on your head in my view there will be wonderful coverage. I state this because your mid scalp and back graft placement is superior to my front graft placement. I have pretty good coverage (certainly better than a hair less scalp). You have a lot to look forward to. I remember when my hair started really growing in. It was like an LSD trip to see myself in a store window reflection. "Who is that I guy?" I'd ask myself. I'd laugh with glee when I'd realize it was me, It is so much fun. You've lots of fun coming. Also I thank you because you show me potentialities. Take care

You state my thoughts better than I. My vexation with those of the balding corroded thinking ilk is the repeated "opinions" which do not put air under the wings of Hair Transplant aspirants. My Mom used to say "if you can't say something nice don't say anything at all". Hair loss is traumatic for many people. I cannot comprehend why certain buffoons in their considered opinion cannot be uplifting. Befuddles me. You are one year older than my son. He shaves his head. He does not have hair loss. But I see the unstated anguish. I feel for him. At a deep level I believe in non censorship. However on this forum I think there should be an "editor of clear thinking". When a dullard states a downdraft thought the "editor of clear thinking" should express hope. There is no reason for needless suffering. Why cannot there be a community of man loving and supporting one another?

This is a picture of me in August 2013. This was about fourteen months after the surgery. We walked into the back yard and snapped. As is

This is the close up of the fresh implants.

This is after surgery. I was pooped.

This is my torturer. Maybe someone can explain why I can't get all on one upload.

The first photo of the white goateed guy was my "torturer" when my first bald spot surfaced. He used to stand over me with his face 1 inch from my bald spot and stare at the bald spot. When he started going bald he always wore a hat. Everywhere. The poor dear. There is something poetic. Divine justice, eh? The photos are June 2012. The other photos are moments before the hair transplant surgery. I was absolutely terrified. Fecal matter scared. Another photo is immediately after the surgery. I was exhausted. My drugged look is fatigue. The other is a close up of 2100 fresh grafts. The last is August 2013. I don't know why the skin is pink. There is no hair colouring or thickening, or filler or what do you call it. Hair combed straight back, period. This is my first time adding pictures/adjusting sizes with Photoshop etc. I expect a screwup. If so I'll try again. Can't seem to get this going. I add the first. When I add the second it seems to disappear. I'll have to figure it out. Remember women say I'm handsome. They say nothing about being smart.

I take internet dating as a thought experiment. When I was young I had a number of beautiful girlfriends. At 17 a beautiful girl loved me and vice versa. I should have married her as she had a beautiful character. But I personified the definition of stupid. Now this whole world is much crazier. Women have been hurt so much that they are very wary. Emphasize very wary. They want a relationship as much as men with all it's dynamics (read intimacy) but they don't want a hint that you are interested in sex. They know you are but they don't want you to say it. Does that make sense? It is a very sad commentary on our society that judgements are made on physical appearance. But there you go. I return messages to every woman that writes me. To my mind if they took the write I can reply. I am serious here. What does one say to women who write and write saying how handsome I am? In my age bracket it doesn't take much to be considered handsome. But these poor souls are so empty inside that the only thing they can relate to is the exterior. Actually depressing. The other aspect I get numerous compliments on is my profile. I was determined to have fun, be light hearted. I wasn't serious about anything. Example question: "write about yourself" I said "I'm known as Mr. Wonderful. That should say it all". I think somehow you have to let your personality shine. Example question: "what are you looking for in a woman". I wrote "She must ensure that my toast is buttered to the edges. Buttering in the centre of the toast is a firing offence". I was trying to have fun. It turned out that women enjoyed it. Live and learn. By the way the few women who took my breath away would not reply to my messages. I take that as "Honey you have no idea what you are missing". I think a framed face will put you in the game more often but you are still going to have to carry the ball. Lastly I am email friends with a few decent pickup artists (by decent I mean quite good human beings - not sleazy people who give males a bad name). They tell me ASAP go on a date. Meet the woman. Enough preaching. The World is your oyster I am excited for you

Those individual naysayers of hair transplantation for Norwood 6/7 lack imagination, perspective, wisdom and probably a loving heart. I started losing hair when I was 17. Within one year I went from Norwood 4 (roughly) to my current state of Class 6/7. The physician said it was from the stress of two children with catastrophic illness. But who knows? To use Umar's words I had a huge area of a "slick scalp" for a long time time. A friend had a hair transplant. He went from Norwood 1/2 to Norwood 0. He was paralyzed with shame and embarrassment due to his hair loss. Frankly I never was embarrassed. There are huge numbers of humans who take vicarious pleasure from the imperfections of others. (I used negative comments as a filter separating the "good guys" from the "bad guys"). Reflecting on my friends transplant and as I knew little of the art and science of Hair Transplantation I took no measures to schedule surgery. I said to myself "how can one take 2 square inches of hair and fill 10 square inches of desert scalp"? But I kept reading and studying for years literally. Finally I took the plunge and had 2100 grafts of strip surgery in 2012. Simple Goal - frame the face. Transplanting 2100 grafts to a Norwood 6/7 is "no result" for the Brad Pitt seeking types right? If you cannot look like an eighteen year old it is a waste of time. In logic this error is called dichotomous thinking, either/or reasoning, black or white thought. After the transplant what was the result? Firstly my children (daughters) excitedly stated "Dad you are so handsome!" Remember they only saw me with a bald pate. Now looking at me they see me with a hair lined framed face. A person who did not see me for a lengthy period said I looked 10 years younger. They asked if I had a face lift and tan (huh?). I've been a member of two online dating services. For the first dating service I was a balding person. For the second dating service I had a framed face (post hair transplant). In a year with my balding scalp how many women wrote me about my photo, do you think? None is the answer. In one year not a single woman wrote me complimenting my photo. With the second site I have photos of my framed face. One picture I characterize as my "James Bond look". I am teasing of course. How many communications do you think I get with a framed face? Not a week goes by when I don't get a few compliments of my photos. I exaggerate not. This morning a woman wrote me three messages. First how handsome I am (blush). The second she said my photo was "above the crowd". The third message she lamented that I didn't live in her province. My point is not that I am "handsome" - I am not. In my age bracket women settle for less. My point is I received zero messages with a balding picture. Dozens with a framed face. So discard those negative human beings with perverted, inexperienced views of what looks good. Truly I believe some have serious issues. At this point I am planning my second transplant with about 3000 FUE's. (Hopefully a bit more). I intend to request a technique called side-parting with gradient weighting. Naturally I part from left to right. A side part is okay with me. I am reflecting upon going full court press with the so called "hockey stick distribution".The majority of physicians have been reluctant to entertain either procedure. But education is required. In my opinion extreme Norwood 7's have hope with BHT, saving scalp hair for the hair line. To the observation that BHT looks "unnatural" I ask this. What looks better a balding scalp or a coarser hair filled scalp? I've viewed young folk with hair akin to steel wool. They are happy. Hope this helps. Be of good cheer and hopeful

Personally I am grateful for your posting continued follow up photographs. It is one thing to talk about hair restoration and another to see images of its postive progression. I think you wrote that you cut your hair in the last images. I'm wondering why you did that? Thanks Please keep us posted

Great Job Man Looking good I am envious. I have your degree of balding. I had 2100 FUT a year ago. I am happy with my result. However I see the fruit of a superior surgeon in your case. Questions. Why did you not utilize beard hair? In the first picture after surgery (after you write "Now these pictures are from the first day of the operation."), the implantation seems to be angled. It might be an optical illusion. If it is not it might mean clever placement for combing from your left side to your right side. Is that correct? Angled for combing left to right? In the second picture after the above (side view with your head facing to the right), it appears there is redness along the hairline and a bit downward. Is this a donor site or a recipient site? If it is a donor site do you have a concern of the hair line dropping lower causing a small cosmetic problem? The pictures of the recipient site immediately after surgery (I mean showing a day later) seem to have less redness compared to mine. Is that a camera effect or was there little redness? Mine was red for a long time. How long did redness last? With your seeming hair numbers you have sufficient reserves to move your hair line down, move the temples forward, temple points, have you thought of this for the future? There are many negative posters who seem to think that if one cannot get the result of a Brad Pitt the effort is futile. I applaud your character in posting. Take care I appreciate your details because it shows me visually what is possible. I was told by certain physicians that my case was "hopeless". My hair loss is very similar to yours. There are many dumb and/or unimaginative and/or fast buck seeking physicians.

My Hair Loss is 6/7 (physician described). If you are Class 6, there is no question I am Class 7. I had 2100 grafts at the front zone to frame my face. Because you do not know the future I'd get 2000 or so grafts to the front zone. If I am pleased, I think you will be pleased to greater degree. That way you can "see what happens". Body hair (beard chest) is an exciting option. The problem of which to be aware is beard turns gray/white quite a bit sooner than scalp hair. So if you use beard/chest you will have to dye it in 10 or 15 years (who wants 3 tons of gray hair of a different coarseness interspersed with scalp hair). You want to save scalp hair to fill at the front later. Just a few thoughts Good Luck

This logic is as clear as day to me. I cannot comprehend how some folks resist what is so obvious. These posts raise an issue for me. I've been told by two respected surgeons that after my 2100 strip surgery I should have a FUE transplant. One way strip surgeons achieve a greater illusion of density is doubling and tripling follicular units. In my case I have a disproportionatly high number of single hair follicular units. With FUE each unit is transplanted, singly. With Strip surgery it is possible to dissect single hairs into 2, 3, 4 groups. Then a "4" group of single hairs can be implanted to achieve greater density. Not possible with FUE. Yet FUE is the "thing of the future". I wonder if others have considered this. It doesn't seem to be a problem for FUE surgeons. Maybe they use larger diameter tools. My understanding of tools is the greatest size is for a 3 unit follicle. Now I am frustrated.

Thank you for this. Do you have personal experience with SMP? I have very little gray hair (cleaning living I tell everyone who asks). My concern with SMP was if my hair turned white I'd have dark dots. Or worse the dots were blue. I understand that Milena Lardi (see above) does "short term SMP". The work fades and needs a reapplication. So the colour can be adjusted. However I cannot picture in my mind a fairly low density (let's use the 35 grafts/cm2 above) with SMP. How does it look? How is the "illusion" of greater density achieved? I intend to do 3000 FUE's later this year. Incorporating SMP might affect the 3000 hair placement. What do you think?

Thank you Loved your thoughts

Once I took Saran Wrap and had my son outline the hairless area. I took this area and calculated the number of grafts required to achieve minimal "full" density around 40 grafts per cm squared, I cannot remember the exact figures but there was no way that there would be sufficient donor hair to realize the optimum desired coverage. It was under this context that the surgeon stated "Hair restoration is an illusion". In every area of life there are trade offs. I want to drive a Lexus I settle for a Corolla. I want to own a 4000 square foot house I settle for 1500. I wanted to run a four minute mile I could only a five minute mile. I had a 30 inch vertical jump now I am lucky if I can do 12 inches, Folks that decry less that "perfection" with hair transplantation as a failure are avoiding the eagles eye view. Dichotomous thinking (I did not get full coverage therefore it is failure) sets one up for difficulty in all areas of life. I wanted an ipad with 64 gigs and 4g. I settled for 16 gig and wifi. Folks perfection is a myth.

It looks very natural. Because I have turned into a bit of a maniac vis a vis hair transplantation, I carefully view hairlines of others with similar balding patterns. It looks natural compared to them. Then my neurosis kicks in. "Maybe all the folks had transplants, so the comparison is not fair" I think to myself. Hence I study classic movie "bald people". Looks the same. My son knows I had a transplant. My two daughters do not (another story). They squeal with delight, "Dad you've grown hair!!". My youngest fusses with my hair, patting it into place. Amazing. I want to forewarn you the period after the transplant is a bit difficult. There are scabs and redness. The redness did not go away quickly. I don't give much of a shit what people think of me. But trying to do business with someone that is distracted by the redness is disconcerting. I'd be happy to answer any other questions about my experience. With your class 6, if it is stabilized you should be able to get a result superior to mine (superior in the sense of greater coverage as you start with more hair). I am kind of excited for you. Ill tell you I was terrified because I've read of so many horror stories. But ecstatic now. I'm still a homily dude, but homily with twigs on my head. I talked with a class 7 who had his hair done. Combs it straight back. Absolutely amazing. Take care

Respectfully, I do not see how you cannot view hair restoration as illusory. The surgeon places higher density at the hairline to create the illusion of greater density. The surgeon places higher numbered follicular units strategically for the appearance of greater density. I part my hair left to right (which I had no need for 30 years). This creates the illusion of greater density. We put thickeners and conditioners to create the illusion of greater density. African Americans have less dense hair. Because of the curly nature of their hair there is the illusion of greater density. My friend had a hair transplant. Such great results that I was envious. His father was black and mother white. I hate designations of black or white. It never occurred to me that he was black until I tried to analyze the fabulous result. With respect

In my opinion absolutely. I was a class 6/7 for over 30 years. When I started balding I was tormented all-the-time by "friends" (your forehead goes all the way back). At about the age of 30 (my age) my son got leukemia. His hair fell out and was bald. Seeing him suffer, at a deep level, transformed my attitude. What was most important in life? Not hair. For the next 30 years I accepted my slick scalp. My wife loved me and my children loved me. I got divorced. Hair loss was not a part of my personality structure I.e. I did not cringe from hair loss. However I began thinking of "doing something" with my balding state. Last June (2012) I got 2100 grafts. It is a psychedelic experience for me to view "the person in the mirror" with hair. When my son saw the result he said "Wow". I do a double take walking by a store window and see hair on my head. 2100 grafts is nothing. Yet I part my hair on the side so there is a great illusion of a framed face with hair. With photos I look like a full haired dude. With "hair filler" it looks marvelous (I think). There are many nay Sayers on this site. They view extensive hair loss as a lost cause. What's the point they ask? That is one of the reasons that I do not post pictures. For me it is great (after starring at a hairless for 30 years). There are physicians that will not do great loss. In the minds of some folk if one cannot achieve the look of Brad Pitt than it is futile. I disagree. It is so much fun to have a framed face. Great for business photographs. Originally the surgeon said I had 4000 grafts. But I've learned I got 2100. This year I will travel and get another 3000 grafts (2500 scalp hair plus 500 beard hair). That will leave me about 2000 scalp hairs. I do not earn a high income. If you have dough, ordinary scalp density and reasonable beard/chest chair you can have nearly a complete restoration. The surgeon who will do my second surgery states "hair restoration is an illusion". I agree. So my opinion is do it if you can afford it. You'll be hammered by a few individuals who differ in their views of class 6/7 restoration. But you'll be amazed. It is so much fun to comb hair. I forgot what it is like. Lastly read, read and read. Ask questions. There are some wonderful folks here. Take care