delancey

This is what it is all about! I am very happy for you. Do you have any photos of the crown (from the back)?

Could you please reference a few cases that you consider to be bad FUE scarring from highly recommended, first tier clinics?

Hey 1978Matt, Happy growing! I am sure you're gonna get a wonderful result. I would not expect anything less from a surgeon of Dr. Konior's calibre. Perhaps the picture is a bit deceiving, but it appears that your strip scar is relatively low compared to what we sometimes see from some surgeons like Dr. Hasson. Were there any advantages of collecting the strip from that location? Also, do you happen to know what your donor density was per cm2 before having any surgery? Matt3480, Out of curiosity, which other surgeons did Dr. Konior mention he was impressed by?

If smoking actually contributed to a significantly lower growth rate, it would be unethical for any Doctor to perform a hair transplant on a smoker. I am not saying that you are wrong, but there does seem to be conflicting opinions on how bad smoking actually is for someone who has just had a HT. Interestingly, I have had a well established Doctor ask me if I smoked, while another well regarded Doctor openly claimed that smoking is an excuse used by some should the result not meet expectations.

Why was the title edited? I believe it said "Bad FUT Result - Dr. Feriduni." This is a terrible result and I hope that the patient receives a full refund.

This is obviously something that is bothering you a great deal. If I were in your situation, I would book a flight to a trusted Doctor to have my donor area examined to rule out the possibility of donor miniaturization. You don't seem convinced by your last visit, so why not end the speculation before you commit to surgery? You may have to pay a few hundred dollars for this, but it would give you peace of mind, knowing that you are making the right decision in pursuing surgery. No one will be able to look at your photos and say definitively that your donor is miniaturizing.

Why don't you try coloring your hair so that the donor has a uniform color. The fact that you have grey patches throughout your donor may be making the donor area appear as if it has thinning patches in the photos. You could also try taking a few videos of your donor zone in an area with natural lighting, and send them in to the clinics you are considering, instead of photos. There are different sites that will allow you to upload content and share it via a link. Finally, you have some of the very best Doctors in the world in the US who produce incredibly natural results. Dr. Gabel, Drs. Ron and Paul Shapiro, Dr. Konior to name a few. Why not consider one of them for your surgery?

You are really doing fantastic work these days Dr. Devroye. Keep it up!

I agree. My opinion is that any person who agrees to have an ARTAS procedure performed on him is essentially agreeing to be a guinea pig. No benefits to the patient.

That... coupled with ARTAS.

Hi Asgard, I think that is a sensible approach moving forward. Trying to find out why the yield was low in your first surgery, seeing if there is miniaturization in your donor zone, and finding out what your options are will help you make a wise decision that will serve you well long-term. Good luck to you.

Hi Asgard, First, it seems as if you have some permanent shock loss around your FUT scar. Second, you seem to also have significant retrograde alopecia in the back, and above the ears forward to the temple points. This is not uncommon and you see a lot of men with MPB who also have retrograde alopecia but it does unfortunately limit the permanent donor zone and may affect the growth yield of your HT. The only way to ascertain if you have DUPA is by seeing a dermatologist and/or an ethical HT Doctor who will check for miniaturization in the donor zone. Did Dr. Devroye notice any signs of DUPA when you saw him in 2014? Did he check for miniaturization in the donor zone? I would consult with a reputable doctor first before moving forward with any SMP treatment. Have you considered setting up an appointment with Dr. Bisanga or Dr. Feriduni in Belgium? Good luck.

Hi rjw, It is difficult to get a good idea of your donor region by looking at these photos alone. First, the camera faced a bright light when the photos were taken, so the image quality is poor. Also, you hair is very short, so it is difficult to evaluate the donor region accurately from just looking at the photos. Do you have better photos with your hair grown out a bit? Dr. Konior in Illinois and Dr. Ron and Paul Shapiro are quite close to you and both are recommended by this forum. I recommend an in-person consult with a leading surgeon to get a crystal clear idea of what your options are.

Have you considered doing a bit more research before pulling the trigger? I see that you are located in IL. I would strongly recommend going in for a consultation with Dr. Konior to gain a better perspective on your options. My two cents but I'm of the opinion that one will want the very best when choosing a Doctor who will be modifying one's appearance forever. Good luck.

My personal opinion is that hair systems can and do offer a solution to a lot of people. This can really be an alternative solution that does not involve permanent changes. One thing to remember is that wearing a hair system is a lot of work, and the learning curve is steep. Dealing with the glue can be a real pain, especially at the hairline. Three areas to be particularly aware of are: density, hair color and the hairline itself. I wore a hair system for a few months when I had some time off, and most people do not detect even a system that is just decent, but there are of course those who detect even a very good hair system. I think you have to build up a mind set of not caring what other people think because there will always be days where the glue will loosen, the hairline will look bad, or some people may detect that it is a system. Not caring about what others think and just seeing it as something that is fun and makes you feel better about yourself is the way to look at it. Don't give a !!!! about what other people think.... I would invest in going to a good hair dresser the first few times just so that you get it right in the beginning. DIY can save you a lot of money long term but you will really want your experience to be positive in the beginning. Northwestlace is very popular on the forums. Eric @ Northwestlace is pleasant to deal with.

Hi Anonym, When I was your age I had a full head of hair. Today I am in my early 30s with a hair loss pattern resembling that of a Norwood 5 going on 6. This doesn't mean your hair loss pattern will be as aggressive as mine but you should nevertheless understand that you could continue to lose significantly more hair than you already have very quickly. Waiting it out for at least another 5 years is the smartest thing you could do at this point. Does your father, brothers or grandparents have any hair loss? Also, have you considered just wearing your hair down to cover up the receding temples? Lycka till!

It is a no from me too.

Dr. Lindsey, Thanks for the reply. Have you noticed lower yield or any other issues in patients who used to wear a wig, then stopped wearing entirely and had a hair transplant?

Happy growing KO. You definitely did your research before pulling the trigger. May I ask you why you chose Dr. Lupanzula?

Who is the surgeon?

I fully agree. @hsrp, It would also be a good idea for the clinic to release the name of the Doctor responsible for the poor result above to help consumers make well informed decisions in the future. Perhaps it is an industry courtesy or just a way to avoid conflict. I get that perspective. However, if one continues to see poor results from the same clinics, perhaps it would worthwhile to consider releasing the names of the Doctors involved in the poor results. Not only for patient awareness but also to create more accountability in the industry. Just my two cents.

Dr. Lindsey, thanks for the response. My perspective is that there is always an element of unpredictability in hair transplantation. Ironically, the U is present in FUT too. I personally prefer FUE because having a long scar on my head would bother me tremendously and limit my hair styling options. It would also mean limiting my options later on in life should my level of baldness progress. But I also understand that I am only one man out of millions of men who have had or may undergo surgery one day. And some men just aren't bothered by having a long strip scar going from one ear to another. At the end of the day, there is enough knowledge and wisdom on the various forums to help people make a well informed decision that will stand the test of time. I'm happy if others make a decision that they are satisfied with. That's all that counts. I've also met several wonderful FUE Doctors, whom are considered the very very best, and witnessed their passion for hair transplantation and their willingness to improve the FUE method. The energy and dedication some of these physicians have is tremendous. I personally believe that this passion for FUE is clearly illustrated in their work. I recently asked Doug, the representative from Hasson and Wong, the difference between FUE and FUT yield at Hasson and Wong. Here's his response: "Amazingly enough not much if any. Based on a recent conversation I had, you could make a case that our FUE may even be higher under certain conditions. With both in the very high 90%, it's nice for a patient with typical donor area characteristics to know that yield should not be a consideration when deciding between FUT and FUE at our clinic." Dr. Blake Bloxham, have you considered participating in the World FUE Institute next year? The organization recently held a conference and live work shop on the Canary Islands (Spain). In case you haven't heard, it is a non-profit organization supporting the "education and scientific research in the area of FUE, inspiring new ideas, evoking insights, and encouraging education." Some of its members include Dr, Wong, Dr. Ron Shapiro, Dr. Erdogan, Dr. Lorenzo, Dr. Lupanzula, Dr. Chueco, and Dr. Rahal.

Hey HC, Got it. Well, you've got coarse hair which should contribute favorably to the result.

Also, if you're just starting out, you should consider getting a poly perimeter on lace OR a skin system. That way, the glue won't go thru the lace and into the hair. The clean up will be a lot easier for you. The guys over at Northwest are your go to guys. You should really send Eric an email (the owner of North West Lace). He strikes me as honest and knowledgeable. My last piece of advice to you is to get a custom order.

On average, 3-4 months.