delancey

This is a fantastic result. Congratulations to the patient. He must be very happy:)

Thanks for posting.

Hello Sheraz, Unfortunately, one's final hair loss pattern is unique to each individual. However, early hair loss is certainly an indicator (yet no guarantee) of advanced hair loss. I would look at your father and maternal grandfather first to get a general idea of what to expect. Finally, I would also advise to consider Finasteride to stabilize your hair loss. Best of luck to you.

haha nice!

I have a question concerning whether the landscape for FUE is changing and thus becoming more popular and acceptable for higher Norwood patients to consider FUE for full restoration. I have been following the forums now since October, and when I first joined, I was instantly set on FUT, for this was the conventional method for higher Norwood cases. I have since consulted with one highly recommended Doctor who essentially evaluated that my donor density is 70/90/70. I am a Norwood 5 going on 6. I have about 6500 available via FUT, and 1500-2000 grafts available via the FUE method. When I asked the Doctor about only using the FUE method, he did not recommend it, saying that I would only have around 4000 grafts available via the FUE method. This doctor is one of the best doctors FUE doctors in the world. I respect his opinion a lot. Recently, I have seen a lot of results of Norwood 5 and 6 patients being fully restored via FUE only, using anywhere between 7,000 and 10,000 grafts. One common characteristic that these patients usually have in common is that they are of Turkish or Spanish origin, meaning that they have darker and thicker hair, which appears to create a better result (better coverage for the same amount of grafts). I follow the forums daily, and this appears to be a trend; Norwood 5-6 patients getting fully restored by doctors such as Dr. Doganay and Dr. Lorenzo. Once again, though, these patients usually have dark thick hair; I have blonde, medium-fine hair. So I have been watching these results appear frequently now, where Norwood 5-6 patients are being fully restored, and therefore am wondering whether I should go for the FUE option too. It makes me wonder whether these are unique cases, with very strong donor, or if I can also benefit from the advancements in FUE? The benefit, of course, is not having a strip scar. I am a young guy, age 28, and would like to avoid having a strip scar if at all possible (so that I can wear a buzz cut of 3 mm in the future, should I need it). However, if there is one thing that these forums have engrained into my mind it is to have realistic expectations. The math simply illustrates that at least 7000 grafts are needed assuming an average area of 200 cm2, with 4000 grafts used for the first 100 cm2, and 3000 grafts used for crown. I am not after my childhood hair line; quite to the contrary, I am willing to compromise and have a conservative hair line, and thinner crown, especially if I go the FUE route. I also know that some doctors are more conservative than others, only recommending that 25% of grafts be extracted from the donor area. I assume that doctors such as Dr. Lorenzo take more than 25% in order to reach 7,000-10,000 grafts. I consulted with two other doctors online, whereof one of them seemed confident that I can get 7000-7500 grafts via FUE. Do you believe that FUE is becoming more popular for higher Norwoods? Based on my pictures, how many grafts do you believe I can get via FUE? How many FUE grafts should be done per day? In total over one session? Please name the top 5 FUE surgeons in the world. Travel is not a problem. Thanks guys.

What is the donor density of this patient?

The patient appears to be a Norwood 6 (not a Norwood 7); nonetheless, this is a magnificent result, one of the best I have ever seen. I wish we saw more cases like this with blonde hair. Very happy for the patient. One question: will this patient be able to buzz his hair down to 2 mm, considering that so many fu were extracted? Cheers!

Very impressive result.

Hi bng, Just my two cents; I would move forward very cautiously if I were you, considering your young age and advanced hair loss pattern. I think you would look good with a shaved head. Have you tried it? Usually, for full coverage, FUT is really the way to go, however, with your advanced hair loss pattern, I would only go for FUE at this stage. Are you taking Propecia? Any Norwood 7s in your family? Have you had a chance to meet with other NW 6 patients in person? I would recommend that you do, just to give a good idea of what you may expect from surgery. Finally, I would strongly consider the recommended Turkish doctors, as they have been showcasing some excellent results lately. My final advise to you is sleep on it. Best of luck to you!

Wow, what a great result, especially considering that only 5332 grafts were used. How thick is the patient's hair? I.e., fine, medium-fine, etc?

How long did you guys take off from work?

Hi Mate, I would drive; I have considered this as well, and the last thing I want to do is go through a crowded airport or train station with a visible strip scar and a swollen head. haha

One more question: Is there a correlation between poor growth and age, high blood pressure or lack of physical exercise?

Thanks for the reply. Your result looks great.

Brilliant, thanks for the replies. 1) Out of 3-5% of patients who experience poor growth, is this over the entire transplanted area or just in certain areas? In other words, out of these 3-5% of patients, how many experience 80% growth, 70% growth, etc? How common is poor growth, defined as only a very small amount of the grafts growing? 2) When poor growth is a result of physiology, what exactly does this mean? I was a smoker for several years, but have stopped 5 months ago. However I still consume nicotine. I plan on stopping this all together about 1 year before my surgery. 3) Since I am heading towards Norwood 6, I was thinking that a test FUE may be possible of say 200 grafts, just to ensure that these grafts actually grow. Is this something that may be possible/recommended? Where should these be transplanted? I have been on Propecia for 3 weeks, and all initial side-effects have disappeared. Thanks:cool:

Firstly, I would just like to thank everyone who contributes to this forum. Without these type of patient based forums, who knows where I would have had my hair transplant. So a big thanks to everyone who posts results and shares information. I am 28 years old and am a Norwood 5 going on 6. I have been losing my hair since 24-25, but really lost a significant amount just over the last year. I have already had one in-person consultation with a recommended surgeon, where it was estimated that I have approximately 8000 grafts available. I have blonde, medium-fine hair. I have a few questions about hair transplants: 1) How common is poor growth with a top surgeon? That is, someone has say 4000 grafts transplanted, but only an insignificant amount actually grows? Any statistics available? 2) Why does this occur? 3) Also, should poor growth occur, is it possible to place grafts in the scar, to the point where it becomes invisible to an untrained eye at 3 mm? 4) I have medium-fine, blonde hair. The contrast between my skin tone and hair color is low. Since my hair is relatively fine, does this mean that I will need more grafts per cm2? Or will my low contrast allow for a natural result with fewer grafts? How much does one's contrast contribute to the "illusion of density"? Thanks again. :cool:

Hi Rothki, My hair is quite blonde, just like yours, during the summer. Since I am based in Europe, I have consulted with Dr. Bisanga in person, H&W (online) and SMG (online). I am going to book an in-person consultation with Dr. Feriduni soon.

Wow, what a great result. What is your donor density? Also, is your hair fine or medium fine? The reason why i ask is because we have a similar loss pattern and hair color, although your sides are higher than mine, and it doesn't appear as if though your crown is dipping, either. Cheers mate! It looks great.

Hey Rothki, Hope all is well. Just wanted to congratulate you on your progress, mate. Even though I am not crazy about the hair style @ month 7, I think your growth looks great. I would be very happy with that result. I am a Norwood 5 going on 6, with approximately 8000 grafts available, donor density of 76 fu/cm2. You were one of the first members to give me advice when I signed up here, and I really appreciate it. I have come along way since then, educating myself and even going to a consultation with a top surgeon. For some reason, blonde hair transplants are more difficult to come by. So thanks for sharing, and happy growth. Merry christmas!

@ QBall, thanks for sharing mate. You should be very happy soon. @ mosd, I am taking 1 mg Finasteride per day. I started approximately two weeks ago, and I still have minor side effects (slight breast paid, testicular pain, and loss of morning erections), but I plan on sticking to it unless it becomes unbearable. I will give it 1 yr, and hopefully my body becomes accustomed to the drug.

Hey Cueball. Thanks for sharing. Does that place your donor density at around 75 fu/cm2? Sorry to hear about your experience with Propecia. I am very impressed by your result. It looks amazing. I am taking Propecia, too, with some minor sides, the only one being no erection in the morning. I am hoping this will go away. May I ask you a question? Are there any Norwood 7s in your family? I am having this dilemma myself, which is why I ask. My dad is a Norwood 6, very similar to my hair loss. My maternal grandfather, however, who had a full head of hair throughout his 20s and 30s, perhaps even in his 40s, became a Norwood 6,7 hybrid later on in life. Jus the possibility of Norwood 7 scares me. I never thought I would be so excited and hopeful to inherit my dad's NW 6 pattern. lol Thanks mate!

ABC, thanks for sharing. My dad is 50 and is a Norwood 6, and he started losing his hair at the same time as me (20s, with a clear Norwood 6 pattern in his late 20s). However, my maternal grandfather kept his hair until his 40s, and then lost a significant amount of hair (I would say he was a hybrid between Norwood 6 and 7 with significant donor thinning). Since I am 28 and lost a lot of hair similar to my dad in my younger days, does this mean that most likely I will end up like him when I turn 50? Or is it possible that I got very unlucky and will end up like my dad when I am young and my maternal grandfather when I am old?

Hey, excellent result! What is your expected donor total? Also, do you have medium fine hair? Have you noticed any regrowth from Propecia?

I am so impressed by this transformation. I keep seeing these results pop up showing Norwood 6 patients fully restored. You must be delighted. Do you have medium coarse hair? Would you say this is a typical result for a Norwood 6? Are you taking finasteride? I just started taking finasteride two weeks ago, and just noticed small peach fuzz growing all over my scalp, which was probably there before I started taking finasteride. Any chance of this hair growing? Did you see any regrowth from finasteride? Thanks mate!

Wow, that is an amazing donor density, and the result speaks for itself.