mattj

It looks to me like the very small area where hair has been lost is still mainly covered with shorter hairs, which are probably miniaturizing. These might be helped by the minoxidil and it would be worth waiting to see. You really have very minimal loss. Your hairline is not far from the point where even the lowest transplanted hairlines are placed, and the hair is thick behind this - thicker than a transplant would achieve - so you would be looking at getting a very small procedure along the leading edge of the hairline and not one which strays very far back. Strip surgery would be crazy, IMO, so you would want to contact a surgeon who performs FUE. But be prepared for rejection or strong discouragement from going ahead with any surgery. You really shouldn't let this affect your well-being or your social life.

It's possible that the first doctor you saw was right when he said you shouldn't touch the diffused area yet. That's not to say it shouldn't be done, but doctors have different philosophies when it comes to what they feel is right for a patient. It would be good to see photos... I know you know this.

We're going to need to see a better photo with better lighting and from an angle which gives a clearer view. Should you wait for further loss? The answer to that can never be a No. It's always a case of assessing your age, rate of loss, how well you respond to the drugs and perhaps family history of hairloss too, and weighing up the risks against how badly you want to restore your hair. At age 26 I think most doctors would accept you. Are you desperate to get back the sort of hairline you (probably) had as a teenager, or are you willing to accept a more 'mature' result?

How many grafts did you receive, Sparky? I'm actually surprised that those doctors were responsible for what (apart from the angle issue) looks like a good transplant. Did they only cover a very small area?

Thanks, spex! Your name was actually mentioned as an ideal example to follow.

It's a very recent development. It's a very modest role, just keeping tabs on the forums and helping out where I can. No pushing, no sales BS. My activity won't even be weighted towards Dr Rahal threads. I used to post mainly at hairlosshelp going back to 2005, but that place seems to have become less active of late. I haven't yet gone through with a transplant, but I spent years researching and picked up a thing or two, so I feel I have words of advice to offer if not yet the experience of surgery itself. I nearly pulled the trigger and went for it two years ago, going as far as to save up the money and meet Dr Rahal at Heathrow airport for a consultation of sorts, but I decided to wait a while longer. Luckily my hair isn't too bad. The main thing (and I'm sure you can relate) is to have a solid and definite hairline. It doesn't matter if it's 'mature' (In fact a bit of recession is best, in my opinion) or even noticeably thinner than full density, as long as it's shaped well and has no gaps. I'm 29 now and I see plenty of mature hairlines in my age group which reinforce my opinion that it isn't necessary to 'go low'. With realistic expectations I think there's a very good chance that you'll be happy with your results.

Sparky, I wouldn't know there was a problem if you hadn't pointed it out, and even then it doesn't look like a real problem. But that's just from looking at photos. Your hairline looks very low. Are the problem hairs right the way across or just at the temples? IMO you could stand to create a bit more recession at the temples and the result would look good while eliminating the offending hairs. A bit of recession looks good, as far as I'm concerned.

Wouldn't it be worthwhile shaving the hairs away first to see what the skin looks like underneath and to see if the hairs behind them will look good as your new hairline? If everything's good there then you could have the hairs removed by laser with no further scarring to worry about.

Any man who hasn't at some stage doubted whether he wants to go through with transplant surgery hasn't given the subject enough thought. There are inherent risks and uncertainties that demand careful consideration and which will trigger second thoughts in people who have done their research. It sounds like you've done your reading and your thinking, so you're well prepared. Now it's up to Dr. Rahal to deliver. I reckon you're in good hands. How many grafts are you set to receive? I imagine you aren't going to go too low with your hairline. -------------------------

I wish you all the best. There aren't enough examples of work from UK surgeons out there so it will be interesting to keep an eye on your journey.

It's never a good idea to choose a surgeon based primarily on cost. Sure, if it comes down to a choice between two docs, consider which will be easier on the bank balance, but you've got so much more to worry about than money when it comes to transplants.

The tightness is perfectly normal. In my years on transplant forums I've always thought that the scabs never looked like they totalled up to the number of grafts the patient received. I suppose it's difficult to really tell without actually counting. Good luck with that! I would just trust what the doctor has said. If you chose your doctor wisely then I'm sure he is being honest, but one thing to consider is that he was very unlikely to get dead-on 2000 grafts from a strip. You ought to ask what the actual total was. You didn't mention who your doctor was, but in the past there have been cases where less principled doctors threw away good grafts rather than give their patient more than the agreed amount. Personally, I would be suspicious if the doctor tells you you received exactly 2000 from strip surgery.

Where are these results? A lot of younger (and older) patients could probably benefit from seeing them.