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Results look Everything looks great for Day 22! Enjoy the grafts while you can before they keep shedding. And remember to be patient over the next few months while you're waiting on the new hairs to officially start growing.

Unfortunately, the only viable option available to you right now is to wait it out at least until the 6 month mark - preferably a full year so you can get a very clear picture of the final result. No matter how valid your concerns are now, you won't really know the details or depth of any repair procedure until you can see what you're ultimately working with. You may even just need more hair transplanted right above the lip, and that may be just enough to make the result look natural - so you could avoid the removal of the excess hairs on the upper side altogether. I know it's not the most ideal answer - but waiting really is your best bet at this point. And who knows... It may turn out to look okay after all, so keep your chin up and don't rush to the worst case scenario.

Yeah, appears that way to me.

I think it’s very rare for grafts to just dislodge, and it’s not something that just happens on its own. It would require either someone being careless, or the result of a freak accident. As long as you’re caring for them properly, keeping them clean, and not pulling on them, they should stay right in place. The first 72 hours are the most crucial when it comes to graft survival, and after that, it’s quite difficult to dislodge a graft. (More difficult than I think people realize, anyway!) OP - I’m glad you landed on a date to fly back. That sounds like a very reasonable amount of downtime to me, and what I would’ve chosen as well. As for a book rec, I’m currently reading a novel called “The Humans” by Matt Haig and am thoroughly enjoying it!

Echoing the others in that I wouldn’t let getting a Long-Hair FUE be a determining factor in choosing a surgeon. Focus first and foremost on finding a surgeon that is a good fit for you - and if it’s something they offer, then great! And I say that as a representative of someone who does offer a version of Long-Hair FUE (what Dr. Mohebi calls his “Celebrity FUE” procedure). There are definitely a small number of people who are adamant about needing to remain as inconspicuous as possible when getting a hair transplant, and so it’s nice for these people to have that as an option should they really want it. But the others are right in that it makes the procedure significantly more complicated and time consuming, which means there are some limitations (such as how many grafts can be done in a single session), as well more expensive. It’s worth looking into to see if you find a surgeon who you love who also offers this, and I’d be happy to send you some stuff on how Dr. Mohebi does this if you want. I would just also suggest being open to the possibility of getting a standard FUE and not worrying so much about it keeping it a complete secret. There are ways to work around the recovery so that you’re not broadcasting to the world that you had a procedure, and there are also ways to reframe it in your mind so that you’re not overly concerned with anyone that does know.

An example of how impactful even a subtle transformation can be. His hairline looked similar to mine before my procedure, and I know just how meaningful it’s been for me to have my hairline restored to what it is now. The amount of stress that subsided once I was able to style my hair without trying to conceal the recession in my hairline was incredible and worth every penny. Great work.

Very happy for you! Your results are incredible, and it’s such a big transformation. I’d like to point out that there definitely are people who regret getting a procedure… Whether that’s by choosing an inexperienced/unskilled surgeon, running to a hair mill, or having unrealistic expectations of what’s possible for their unique situation in the first place (to the point that even the best surgeon in the world couldn’t satisfy them). But if someone’s a good candidate for a hair transplant and they do the leg work to do proper research before making a decision and they have realistic expectations, then yes - the odds of them being happy with the decision are very good.

Happy you found the forum so early on in this process as well so you can do as much research as possible before making any big decisions. You’ll also learn that there’s no single formula for how to best make that decision, as there are always a lot of different factors at play, and different opinions on how to best approach it. I agree with the others that jumping into a hair transplant right now would be a bit too hasty. However, my outlook may be slightly different. It does appear to me that you have hair loss - and may be diffused hair loss at that, which means you need to be particularly cautious about how you approach it. While 27 isn’t always too young to get a hair transplant, I do think it’s too soon for you to consider getting one at this stage. Hair loss is progressive, and you need to see if you can get it stabilized first and foremost before making any big decisions. The advice above in regards to medication and treatment is worth exploring to see if you can do that. I think it’d be worth exploring different hair transplant surgeons in the meantime anyway, and seeing if you can start narrowing down some potential options should you want to move forward with a hair transplant in the future. At the very least, I would recommend getting a consultation or two under your belt with some of your top choices (or even someone you’re not fully considering) just so you can have a hands-on, expert opinion on the matter. They’ll be able thoroughly examine all the different factors that go into determining whether someone is a good candidate or not, and can give you their professional opinion on what an optimal hair saving and hair restoration strategy would be. Many of these surgeons do virtual consultations as well. When making a decision with proper research, careful consideration, and realistic goals of what results are actually possible based on your unique situation, I believe we can mitigate a lot of the limitations and risks listed above. I truly don’t think it’s as big of a gamble when handled appropriately, though it’s true that there’s never a guarantee with any procedure. But… there are countless more risks involved with “blindly running to a hair mill” than there are when taking the time to do proper research to choose a top surgeon who can work side by side with you to not lead you astray. The list of recommended surgeons here is a great place to start. Happy browsing, and I encourage you to utilize the forum as much as possible to ask questions, look at reviews, and educate yourself as much as possible about how the hair transplant industry works as a whole. It’ll leave you more confident to make a decision when/if that time comes. And in the meantime, explore the medications above to see if you can get the hair transplant stabilized.

Based on the post-op photos, this looks like it's gonna be a fantastic result. And believe it or not, even though the waiting game you're currently playing feels like it's never gonna end, once you start seeing results it'll make it all so worth it that you won't even remember how badly you wanted that fast forward button. (That was my experience at least! 😆) So stay patient - and I'm excited for your results!

Ok. Don't panic - but please heed the advice of the others and go this checked out asap. If I were you, I would do whatever I had to do to get it evaluated today by a doctor. It's definitely not normal and not something you want to continue unaddressed.

It sounds like they want to reevaluate once they can see how you respond to the finasteride and if your hair loss stabilizes or not before they make a final decision. If they thought you were definitely not suited for a HT, they would've told you that upfront. On a side note, you mentioned that you don't want to get two hair transplants - and I want to point out that as a general rule, anyone getting a hair transplant should mentally prepare for needing at least one follow up. Not only is hair loss generally progressive, but in some cases, the hair loss is so advanced that it's simply impossible to get a desirable result in one session alone. So don't let that deter you, and perhaps consider reframing it in your mind so that you can come to terms with that aspect of hair restoration. Chances are you'll need a second one at some point, and it's best to have a solid game plan set up from the start that takes that into account. You got a lot of really sound advice in this thread about how to choose a surgeon, not letting cheap prices be a driving force, etc. This forum is a great resource, so I'm glad you found it before you make any big decisions. Best of luck.

Reddit can be a very polarizing place, and the subreddits I frequent that I love can be very good... And the ones that are bad are very bad. Lol. I didn't realize there was a prominent subreddit for hair transplants, and I'm totally on board with us slowly using it as an opportunity to educate some of the younger generation over there so that they don't make really ill-informed decisions that they eventually regret. I'm so used to this forum being so supportive and education-focused that I forget most parts of the internet aren't that way. (Thanks @Melvin- Moderator ! )

Not necessary for a good outcome at all, and it wasn't a part of my post-op care when I got my HT. Every surgeon has their own unique set of post-op protocol, so it's best just to follow what your surgeon says. If you wanna do extra things you see other surgeons mention that they find helpful, it'd be worth running past your own surgeon to get their blessing... But I would say some of the main universal points are "don't do anything to inflict trauma or dislodge them, keep them out of the sun, keep them clean, don't pick at scabs, and just be gentle..."

As has been covered here, I really do think it's situational, and there really is a lot of variance when it comes to how young is "too young" to get a HT. I got mine on the slightly earlier side at age 30, which meant I started considering it and looking into my options right around your age. Based on the big picture (current hair loss at the time, projected hair loss, family history/genetics, miniaturization levels of existing hair, etc.), Dr. Mohebi felt confident that I was a good candidate to go ahead and get one, and that I wouldn't need a second procedure for many years. He's also willing to do procedures on people in their 20s if all the other factors support it being a good idea, and he uses the same logic as above in that for many people, having their hair restored during those younger years is when it can the most impactful and meaningful to their life. (This is not to be confused with the irresponsible stance some younger guys have who say "I won't care about my hair when I'm older, so let's do it now even if it bites me in the butt later!") The decision should still be carefully made so that you're setting yourself up for longterm success. I'm 38 now and still have had no further signs of hair loss and no need for a 2nd procedure in my near future, and so I'm very happy I did it when I did. A good place to start would be with a consultation or two with some top surgeons to get their professional input so you at least know where you stand and what your options are. Best of luck!

It's... a challenge. Lol. Sleeping pills help if you have access to them, or even an OTC sleep aid like melatonin might help. That's what I had to do to help my body relax and be able to fall asleep in this position, and even then I tossed about a bit and had a hard time getting solid, consistent sleep for the first few days. The good news is that it goes by super quick in the grand scheme of things, and having a few nights of uncomfortable sleep ends up being pretty bearable all things considered.

I also don't doubt your experience, and you know your own body - and at the same time, it would be wild to me that you would experience such drastic side effects after taking one single dose. While we wanna be sure to consider the possibility that the sides are directly caused by the medication, the reality is that you then also have to consider the possibility that they're caused by the mind (aka the nocebo effect). For what it's worth, I'm speaking as someone who also believe I experienced side effects with finasteride and ultimately stopped taking it. However, I also know that some of what I experienced was likely generated by me being extra vigilant and concerned about experiencing side effects. We often tiptoe around the reality of "placebo/nocebo effects" when it comes to medications because we don't want to accuse anyone of "making things up" - but the reality is that it's an undeniable reality and possibility, proven time and again in study after study. All of that said, I would first and foremost communicate these things with your doctor. And second, know that you have to make the decision that is best for you - and only you will know what that is. I gave finasteride several attempts and tried all different methods before ultimately deciding that it wasn't for me longterm. If you feel comfortable trying out different doses, frequencies, etc., then it would be worth it to give it some more tries. However, if you are going to try and make it work, I do think it's important to at least acknowledge the possibility of the nocebo effect so that you can be present with your mind and body in a more neutral way as you navigate it. Best of luck!

I agree that it's a little too early to panic or be disappointed. In order to see significant results at 5 months, the growth would need to start promptly at the 3 month mark, which is the absolute earliest it could start anyway. So growth not starting at the earliest possible time isn't indicative of a bad end result. That said, I understand why you'd be concerned and start to panic. I was an early grower, so it's easy for me to tell you not to worry about it (when I would likely be concerned too if I were in your shoes ) - but from an objective, outside perspective, I would hang tight a bit longer before imagining the worst case scenario. You seem very confident in your surgeon and the research you did to lead you to choose him, so put your trust in that. Keep your chin up and keep us posted.

This isn't uncommon, and I dealt with similar issues after my HT as well. I've also dealt with dandruff on and off since I was a kid (and finally have it under control, thankfully). After the HT, the scalp was even more sensitive/dry than normal. I don't know the exact science behind it, but the scalp goes through a fair amount of trauma during a procedure, and it takes time for it to completely heal and find it's way back to a state of homeostasis, and the dryness is often a byproduct of that. This will likely resolve on its own, but you can check with your surgeon to see if there's something he could recommend to expedite the process if it's particularly bothersome.

Definitely not a myth. Sure, there are some hats that may fit so close to the scalp that they wouldn't be a good option, but a loosely fitted/adjustable hat with a high brim can easily be worn in such a way that it doesn't damage the grafts or come into contact with them at all. I promise, I've done it - as have many other guys on here. I also echo what Gatsby said in that doing the mental work to not care what anyone thinks is a very valid approach. It's easier for some people to do that than others, but I know from experience that I could've saved myself a lot of stress if I hadn't been so preoccupied with keeping it top secret. I've also since had friends and other acquaintances get a hair transplant and proudly show up at the gym, work, etc. without a care in the world, and I remember thinking how easy that must be to live life that way.... Easier said than done, but it is something many people are capable of pulling off.

I agree that a loosely fitted, high brim, snapback hat is your best bet. You can adjust it to make it loose enough so that you can gently place it on your head without it coming into contact with any of the grafts. This is how I got around the days following my procedure, and if done carefully, there's nothing to worry about.

Eyebrow transplants aren't something we see frequently on here, but I'm sure you can do an "eyebrow" search in the forum and see if any reputable European surgeons have posted results. I'm also adding a short video of Dr. Mohebi giving some insight about eyebrow transplants. The video is 7 years old at this point, but it provides some quick tips about what a successful eyebrow transplant entails - and the specific challenges that come with it that make it imperative to choose a surgeon who has experience doing it. It could also give you a starting point as to some questions to bring up with any surgeons you have a consultation with. I'm also posting a link to a recent thread of one of Dr. Mohebi's eyebrow transplant patients so you can get an idea of what a successful result looks like. Hope that helps!

Well for what it's worth, even though external factors such as water quality, certain hair products, heat, etc. can have an impact on the overall quality/health of your hair, those are completely different factors than hair loss that is caused by MPB. So even if you had used a filtration system sooner, I don't think it would've slowed down your hair loss - assuming you're losing your hair due to MPB (aka High Levels of DHT) - as those won't have any effect on that hormone. The filtration system would've just perhaps made your hair healthier, shinier, less prone to breakage, etc. Just some peace of mind so you don't feel like you messed up.

I was not expecting the final result to look like that! Lol. Yes, they need to be trimmed, so that part isn't alarming... But the fact that they decided to use a video of her new eyebrows untrimmed as a way to show off the final result was... a choice!

Lol yeah, it may be better suited for a different category - but people will see this regardless. Thanks for the insight and input. Figuring out proper water filtering systems has been something I've dabbled in, but never been such a priority that I take action on it. Have you used this and have you noticed a difference in your skin/hair?

This is something that @Parsa Mohebi, MD offers and would be worth looking into. Feel free to reach out to me personally if you'd like to discuss it further or have any questions. I'd be happy to help.