neohead

Acknowledged. Thank you. I only brought up the India aspect because India and Turkey were suggested in earlier replies as doing large FUE sessions. I am still considering the price and the aesthetics trade-off. FUE in the US is costing me 7 USD per graft whereas it is 2 USD in India, and the results, while still better in the US, look almost comparable. I am tempted to get the frontal work done in the US and then later sessions (crown, and later follow ups) in India.

Oh and yes, I am starting medication too. Trying to find the best way to get Finasteride. Fincar seems cheap enough and I can bring it with me from my visits to India. Already ordered Kirkland Minox.

Thank you everyone for your much helpful guidance and advice. I realize I was indeed stressed about the scar and a little about the length of the healing process. But now that I am not considering FUT so seriously, after the advice above, I am more relaxed. This was super helpful to me. You guys are my rockstars!! I did not discuss these concerns with the doctor in too much detail because I just wanted to get an assessment of how many grafts he would recommend first and then think over its implications. My main concern with the scar is that looking at the levels of hair loss in my family, I do not think that hair transplant will be able to cover me for life. And eventually, shaving my head will be better. To be honest, I do not want a shaved head look right now; my body frame and face will not be able to pull it off as good looking. But maybe in 10-12 years time, and at my hair loss level at that time, it might look better to shave everything. I think I do want something done to the front to make it look better for the rest of my 20s and maybe early 30s. I am thinking FUE with around 3000 grafts for the front will be a good idea for later this year. My parents live in India, so getting this done in India will be easy. I just have to think more about the cost advantage of getting this done in India vs the slight advantage of more artistic results of the surgeons I see in the US. If in India, I am considering Dr. Tejinder Bhatti. I will definitely post here on what I decide. For now, I have definitely turned off the option for FUT. Thank you again so much.

Hi! First off, let me thank the people here. This community is a great resource. I feel much more empowered to make such a tough decision with all the aggregated information and help here. I have had a consultation with a reputed coalition surgeon in the US but I wanted to post here just to check if someone would have a different useful opinion before I make a decision. I am a 27 year old South Asian. I started balding slowly about 4 years ago at the crown and a receding hairline on the sides. I used to have a decently thick head of hair so was not very noticeable in the beginning. But I moved to the US a year ago and the balding progressed faster after that. My current pictures are attached. Almost every male member on my father's side of the family has eventually progressed to a Norwood Class 6 or sometime 7, some sooner, some later. And I am willing to believe I will be a Norwood Class 6 someday, if not 7 (this is my own assessment after the consult with the surgeon). I am currently thinning in a Norwood 5 pattern. I have not taken any medication, and am not inclined to try medication as I believe they will have limited effect. The surgeon I consulted has recommended 5000 grafts FUT for now, with the _possibility_ of another surgery later. He said that the pattern is very apparent at this stage and we don't need to wait. I wanted to check with people here on what they think about going with the surgery now with 5000 grafts with focus on the Norwood 5 pattern, and doing a corrective surgery later in life for the Norwood 6/7 if my hair loss indeed progresses to that stage? One reason I am more concerned about this is because the FUT will take away the option of shaving my head, and future hair loss (Norwood 6/7 minus Norwood 5) could look ugly making another surgery necessary. I don't think FUE as the first surgery is a viable option for my level of hair loss. Specifically, I have these questions I will clear with the surgeon next but any help with these would be greatly appreciated too: Q1: Are FUT strips wider if the number of grafts is more? Does it affect healing time? I understand the answer depends on my donor hair density and it is difficult to assess that from the pictures, but I am just looking for a general answer. Q2: For the second surgery, will it be FUE or another FUT. What are the complications? What if there are not enough donor hair at the back of my head? I do have closely matching body hair. Q3: If I do have to shave my head later in life, what options are available to hide/pigment the scar. Please note I have brown skin. Thank you very much.