Hi Guys,
Long time lurker, first time poster.
Ok so, I began to lose my hair at 19, I'm 28 now. At the age to 22, after 2 and a half years of stress and worry at my receding hairline, I began to use minoxidil and with success. Not only did my hair loss slow but I regrew hair and the hair began to thicken and restore to a good aesthetic look. Alas after two years the good work minoxidil was doing stopped and my hair loss continued.
The next step was to use propecia; which I used without an issue for 18 months. Eventually the sexual side effects began to rear their head and I had to discontinue. These effects were semi permanent and could only be managed through medical intervention - which is still on going. For that reason I would not take a 5ar inhibitor again.
Whilst on propecia I underwent a HT procedure in the UK with the Hospital Group. BIG MISTAKE. Sadly I didn't research and as such I was butchered.
Unsatisfactory initial transplant in 2009 which went as follows:
FUT: 28cm Donor Strip taken 1549 Follicular Units - 611 (1’s), 859 (2’s), and 79 (3’s) grafts (1549 follicular units), providing a total of 2566 hairs.
Less than 52% of harvest survived 1328 hairs in total. Trich closure was done with too much tension as a result I am left with a 27.5cm scar of varying widths and hair growing in an unnatural direction.
Since then I have been reading and researching looking for a surgeon who can help me. My problem is that I have miniaturisation in my donor area to match a large scar. As a result I will either need BHT or a combination of FUE and BHT. (see pictures attached).
I am a NW5a heading towards a possible NW6 - I don't think my goals (given the advent of BHT) are unrealistic. I would like the buzz cut look, with a NW2/3 hair line, top and vertex coverage and a thinning look in the crown.
Thanks to this forum I was steered in the direction of Dr Umar who has some impressive BHT results - however when I emailed with questions regarding surgery, pricing and assurances that his approach would best suit my goals and future hair loss - I don't want islanding. Needless to say I wasn't impressed when Dr Umar didn't reply, despite polite reminders that he had yet to address my email. This set alarm bells ringing and my search for a Dr continued.
I had consulted with a number of surgeons who wouldn't touch my head at all - Dr Villnow, Dr Feriduni to name but two. I think their relative BHT inexperience made them reluctant to address my issues. I then found, again through this forum, Dr Bisanga, Dr Devroye, Dr Mwamba and the Shapiro Medical Group -
Dr Bisanga had his reservations however after seeing pictures of my body hair donor wants to see me in person to assess the situation. I have a consult with him in Brussels in February. He would prefer a combination of BHT and FUE
Dr Devroye also would like to see me in person to better assess the situation (BHT and FUE). Again I am seeing him in February. Two birds one stone so to speak.
Dr Mwamba gave me a very interesting diagnostic - front filling the first 1/3 with scalp and using combination BHT and scalp through the vertex to the crown, with the crown favouring BHT. Unfortunately he wants me to use propecia for 6 months and then use minoxidil from that point on, as well as using supplements and proteins for hair for a period of 12 months that mywhtc will provide at a cost.
Dr Shapiro - I spoke with a guy called Matt; he held a very dim view of BHT and was not keen on using it, he advised I get back on the meds (which I will not do). He was also of the opinion that I should opt for a further FUT (an procedure I am not keen on undertaking) and then using FUE to disguise the scar (perhaps from the body). Matt believed that I have average to less than average donor area and with meds 3000-5000 grafts could be taken, possibly less without. He suggested 30-35cm per sq cm to enable greater coverage with around 40% of my crown covered.
So that is my journey thus far - I would welcome comments, suggestions, advice and input.
Thanks in anticipation guys
