mattj

Propecia can help you keep your hair and you'll find most guys here recommend it. The downsides can be that it doesn't work for everyone, and there can be side effects including erectile dysfunction. During a transplant hair is taken from the back of the head, from the region that is more or less safe from male pattern baldness. This is the area you will have noticed remains in men even with advanced hairloss. The hair will be trimmed during the procedure so won't remain long, and besides that, the hairs will shed shortly after the operation anyway. If you are planning to undergo a hair transplant you must be aware that you will not leave the surgery with the head of hair that you are planning for. The hairs shed and take months to grow in, thicken up and mature. Take a look at some of the blogs kept by transplant patients here which show photographs at the various stages post-op.

I'm afraid it does look like diffused male pattern baldness. I think you might have a natural parting on the left side which makes it appear that the thinning is on that side. If you comb your hair differently it might become clear that the thinning is the same on both sides. You might wish to try the standard medications, especially finasteride (propecia/proscar). Diffuse hairloss across the top of the head often responds well to this.

All of the above mentioned doctors are performing transplant surgery to the highest standards, and who is 'best' is subjective to each patient's individual needs. Dr Rahal certainly excels as hairline work and density, but doesn't tie himself to any one particular approach to a hair transplant. We feel that the prices are competitive, and there are discounts for those travelling from out of town. Also, it is possible to save money on short notice/cancellation dates. You can contact us for more information on that if you want.

I agree, I think it's best to cut them as you need them. Not because I've seen any specific proof that they will degrade, but just to be safe. Plus, depending on how they're stored, they could knock together and small parts could break off. This might not matter if you're taking 5mg quartered, which is more than the usual propecia dose, but it's something to consider. You'll end up with a pill's worth of dust in the bottom of the container. I suppose it could be snorted. (Just kidding).

That must be a pretty sharp kitchen knife, spex, to do that. I guess your kitchen is better equipped than mine is. I use a scalpel blade. It's sharper than the pillcutter and it's easier to position the pill for even cutting.

Did he ever show himself in public with the results of his transplant?

I think it's going to depend on how much of the hair is transplanted, because more extensive transplants covering the whole top of the head generally graduate to less density as you go back from the hairline. Overall if the density is quite low (as Dr Simmons said) the parting can look a bit wide. Also, while there's probably a sweet spot where density will look at its greatest and this is somewhere between very short and longish (due again to what Dr Simmons said - layering), once it has grown to the point where it's long it could look a bit limp and lifeless. But it sounds like the area you part still has enough density and your hair is only causing you problems when the receded temples are exposed. If this is true then you already have all the hair you need to continue with your longer style, and the addition of hair to the temples can only improve your look.

Can you explain the photos? Are they all you and are they all current? The hair in the photos doesn't look bad at all, and what you describe - NW2-3 level recession - isn't the end of the world. If you were good looking before hairloss then a bit of recession will not change that. You feel your hair is getting worse, but this could just be the initial shed caused by the propecia. This is common and should improve if you give it a chance.

Yes, shaving the donor is necessary and most doctors will want to shave the recipient zone, too, to clear the way so to speak. 600-800 grafts will be difficult to hide post-op. It's not even that small of a procedure as far as FUE goes. What you want is certainly possible and not even unusual, really. Be advised though that people often underestimate the number of grafts that they'll need for their goal.

Hi patr, Go here and you'll find an explanation of the coalition and you can search for a member who is in your area. Hair Restoration Clinics and Physicians

I'm definitely interested in seeing photos. Sounds like an interesting case. Good write-up too.

I agree it could be worded better. They both appear to be using the same timeline. I might see if I can have some changes made. Overall though it gives a pretty good, brief summary of how a patient can expect his transplant to progress.

I'm actually quite bad at looking at a space and guessing its area. It's easier for me to look at that space and imagine the number of grafts that will be needed based on seeing other transplant patients. I am not supposed to actually give graft estimates, but I felt it would be alright to comment on those you have already been given. I hesitate to undermine what a doctor has told you, but I think 1000 grafts would be too few for the reasons Surfarosa gave in the other thread. (Although I don't believe you'd need the higher figures that he suggested.) 1600 would probably give you the density you'd need, but ultimately I would seek the opinion of a doctor who knows exactly what you want in regard to hairline position and density. You said that you plan to explain yourself better to your doctor, so that could result in a re-assessment from him. You should ask him what density you would be receiving.

Hi 1531 FUT. Take a look at the link below, which gives a brief description of what to expect at various stages throughout the post-op growth period. Graft Growth Timeline - Rahal Hair Transplant I'm going to quote the parts which describe the stage that you are at now and the period that you are just about to move into: 5-6 months post-op: By the fifth to sixth month after the procedure the patient can expect to see substantial new growth. The new hair will be approximately two to three inches in length and the hair shaft will begin to thicken. 8-10 months post-op: Between months eight and ten the patient will see a big difference. The hair will be longer and much thicker and the overall appearance will be one of greater density than even a few months before. I hope this helps!

In your other thread you said you were getting a HT next month. Does that mean you're actually booked with a surgeon? What was was their graft estimate? I would say that the average estimate of 1600 grafts would be a minimum to achieve the hairline position you want with good density.

Your goal is realistic, IMO. Your forehead doesn't look like it would be that big if brought forward to where you describe it as once being. It might be something that will draw the attention of other kids when you're very young, but it's absolutely fine for an adult. How many grafts are you getting? - scrub that; just saw your other thread.

I know it must be annoying to have to start at the beginning and watch this area grow in when your hairline is already done, but it's a small area and once the redness fades there shouldn't be much of a sign of anything going on there. I mean it won't be the same experience as having to watch your hairline grow in. 100 grafts per side is quite a conservative number for the area, which as small as it is in comparison to the usual areas covered by a transplant, still usually requires more than 100 grafts. But if 2-4 hair grafts were used this could mean that the actual coverage will be greater than with a procedure in which only single hair grafts are utilized (perhaps that's stating the obvious). Single hair grafts would normaly be used (as has already been said) but I don't think you need to worry about it looking terrible. Worst case scenario, I think, would be that you'd need to add some single hairs to improve the result. Also, the majority of grafts will almost certainly be 2's rather than 4's, unless the doc specifically chose the largest clusters.

What area are you talking about when you say the sides? Do you mean the temple points? (The parts that jut forward into the forehead approximately half way between eyebrows and hairline).

The second doctor was probably estimating your future pattern based on the miniaturization, while the first doc was telling you your current position on the Norwood scale based on your hairline position and balding pattern (of lack of if you're only a NW1!). They both apparently noted the miniaturization. It sounds like your hairline must be more or less intact, perhaps with some diffuse loss.

I completely agree with this. The tendency here seems to be one of caution, and that's no bad thing. It's never a bad idea not to get a transplant if you don't feel totally compelled to. I think my record shows that I'm not gung-ho in advising people to get transplants, but sometimes, like in your case, it just doesn't make all that much sense to wait (financial issues aside), because you could improve your hair with a transplant and you don't fall into the category of greatest risk. I agree with whichever doctors told you you are a good candidate. By the way, didn't they give you graft estimates?

You mention that the grafts from your previous transplant are poorly angled. Do you feel that those grafts will need to be removed? The photos aren't ideal for assessing how your hair looks up close which makes it hard to tell where those grafts are. Nothing jumps out as obviously unnatural and in need of fixing.

I believe this is the most common way of doing things.

To be honest, on the basis of that photo I'm not seeing much hairloss at all. Your hairline seems to be in a good position with closed temples. If you were to go ahead with a transplant now it would definitely be a procedure at the smaller end of the spectrum, and you'd probably be best served by FUE. You seem to have done your research and you know the basic pros and cons of each procedure. My own opinion is that if your hairloss is minor and not progressing very fast, and you can afford the higher cost, FUE is the best option due to being less invasive. Yes, grafts will be taken from within the area that one day might be removed if you were to need a strip procedure, but I don't think that's a big enough concern to outweigh the fact that FUE just seems more appropriate for the very minor work that you would need for your goal. Can you take photos from other angles, specifically from the front and at a slightly higher angle? Also, if I might ask, how old are you?

It's hard to tell. On the basis of the last two photos, I'd say that you were tripping; but the first two show a little more scalp so perhaps you did marry a liar. Plus your hair overall looks very dense so maybe I would expect to see less scalp around the crown if it were at 100% of original density. Really though, it's possibly just the way your hair is lying and the lighting. It's difficult to suggest starting treatment as this stage because it might be completely unnecessary. I would keep a close eye on it. Or get your wife to. How's the hairline?

I saw the thread title - I saw the name of the latest poster - I chuckled.