KevinC

Thanks David!

Absolutely agreed. That's why I'd rather consult with a few surgeons in person than speculate on a message board or through e-mails consultations any further.

Newbie, you and I are in accord. I have really liked the results I've seen from Shapiro and H&W for guys like me -- I know the ones advertised are the homerun patients, though. Recently, I stumbled across a vlog on youtube from a guy named Chris from Vancouver who was Norwood 7 and did FUT. He is happy with his hair and the result, he does look better, but I know I'd be disappointed if I spent that much money and my result was similar to his. Granted, he admits he has really thin hair and he's happy with how he looks which at the end of the day is what matters. Now, if he had the ability to do another surgery to add density, I'm sure I'd be less skeptical about my own condition. Everyone's a critic/beggars and choosers/to each his own etc. . Strangely, I am not sure I could do a wig. I think I'm going to sign off for a bit and may update in the summer after my consultations - I am spending too much time thinking about this and finals are right around the corner. Thanks to everyone who had a poignant response as well as the supportive private messages. I respect and appreciate all the expertise and advice. These really helped me understand the surgery, technology, limitations, and expectations

Delancey, you hit the nail on the head with everything that's been running through my mind these days. H&W have a lot of amazing work out there for guys in my condition, but it's not always a homerun. The odds of failure are much higher in my case. I'm not too worried about future hair loss given the fact most of it is gone. I am close to Konior and Shaprio and it would be smart to consult with them in person as well. I'm not optimistic, but hey, why not? What do you mean by high quality hair system? Thanks for the reply

No offense but I'm not sure you've actually read this thread at all. A top doctor said he was skeptical while a top clinic said they would take my case because they thought they could really help me. Furthermore, I have gotten a few other consultations from predominantly FUT surgeons in the Midwest area who would also take my case. I specifically mention H&W because I like their work best, and I think it would behoove me to see them in person before making a commitment. I think I've got rational thinking on lock. Thank you for explaining how hair transplants work! It's not because of that whole supply and demand thing that is making me wonder if adjunct therapy, like Rogaine or the laser cap, could potentially be helpful making the decision to get a hair transplant that much easier.

A plane ride for $400 and a couple days in a beautiful city is worth it to me to know what I could receive from the two best FUT surgeons around. At worst I got a vacation, but I saved a lot of money and time from not going through with a procedure. At best, I went on vacation, I crossed my t's and dotted my i's, and H&W can kick some serious ass for me. Win-win either way

I'm impressed with what I've seen from SMP in scar hiding. Problem is is for guys like me is I'd have to wear my hair shorter to make it look natural. That is, unless, I can get a great first procedure followed up by further density work. I'm willing to commit to multiple surgeries, and in some way, I feel lucky because I feel I could do multiple surgeries without worry of future hair loss. It's not like I have that much left to lose! haha

I had a tentative August date set up at H&W and I've thought long and hard about it. I think I am going to delay surgery until May the next year because I will be better off financially -- I am in graduate school for pharmacy and I plan to do a one year residency. If I could save up money for the procedure and then finance it without interest until I am making the big bucks it would be a wise move rather than jumping all in. It will also give me time to improve my credit. I am; however, worried about the scar (I am highly active and don't want a large scar on my head). I figured if after multiple surgeries I exhaust everything potential graft I have I would do SMP to cover it no harm no foul, but it is still a concern. What I am absolutely most worried about is paying a $15,000 plus to go from pretty much bald to balding -- what would the point of that even be? I didn't have straw thin hair (it's been a while), but I know it wasn't the thickest either. I know H&W do great, great work, especially for big baldies like me, but it is still a concern. I may fly to Vancouver next year and do an in-house consultation after doing a lot of scalp laxity exercises to assess how many grafts they think they can extract and what they can do from it. To end this long tangent, I think I am going to play with Minoxidil 5% and if there are any successful adjunct therapies (laser comb and cap - do these work?) and assess a year's worth of progress. If I find these treatments do help or I get a good consultation at H&W, I'll be more willing to take the plunge. What do you guys think? Edit: I, of course, would want to do multiple sessions for the best end-product, but I am hesitant to commit until I know what's possible

It's H & W so it's FUT. No clue on the grafts needed because that is dependent on many different factors. From what I read beard hair is possible, but you'll have to find a specialized surgeon for that.

I tried buying the minoxidil on clearance but I can't input a method of payment. Help.

I was just called by H&W and it looks like I have been accepted as a patient. Shooting for a surgery date in late August.

Wow! I wonder what he will look like with all his hair.

Yes, I needed to hear these things, but I also didn't understand there are a finite amount of grafts as well as why the donor site is the major source as opposed to other areas. Understanding the limitations of the surgery and correcting my naivete have been very beneficial, and I am glad this community has so many well-informed people on it. Since I seem to have representatives of H&W on the line do they ever pull from beard for additional coverage? I have plenty of beard hair hahaha.

I appreciate the essay. I've had to learn a lot over the last week since I started posting and you seem to be the go-to guy for the place I want to operate on me as well as a similar Norwood level. I hope they like what they saw in the photographs and I also hope they would be willing to take beard hair because I have more than enough haha. No, I'm not on any meds. I never saw the point given how fast my air receded. If I were to do a transplant I definitely would jump on them

I am on the realistic side of the spectrum after understanding more about the hair transplantation process. On the other hand, H&W are absolute quality so I felt I would be doing myself a disservice to not reach out to them.

Cue, I am still a bit naive when it comes to hair loss, but why are you contending there won't be anymore growth after month 7? I thought people had to wait the full year. I'm probably wrong haha. Also, how much do you have left to add in density and do you think you'll be able to hit that mark? How long will you have to wait to do a density procedure? I ask these questions because I am a Norwood VI and I am waiting to hear back from H&W about my online consultation. They are wizards for guys like us and your result brings me hope. The nice thing about us is since we are completely bald we won't have to worry about additional surgeries for existing hair vacating our heads haha. I thought I had the sob story for losing most my hair by 19 to 21, but man, you take the cake and that work is just fantastic for what you had. Definitely going to read your blog.

That's very true. I know his case is extraordinary, but these guys have a vast list of Norwood IV-VI so if anyone can do the work it's those two. No hair loss meds. If I like what I hear from H&W and they advise me to jump on them then I will. Just playing the waiting game, but I don't like my odds.

It does, absolutely. At this point I feel as though I am probably only going to base my course of action off of what Dr. Wong and Dr. Hassan say from my online consultation. Their work is phenomenal and they seem to tackle the toughest cases like mine. I'm surprised by your admission of lack of thickness, though. Your hair looks phenomenal!

I am definitely going to do some consultations and see what my options are, but now that I have some context and understand the procedure and its finite possibilities, I understand Dr. Konior's e-mail much more now. Dr. Hassan has worked miracles for guys close to my situation. https://hassonandwong.com/hair-transplant-results/patient1908/

"...the hair follicles that live in this zone are resistant to androgenic alopecia..." I understand now why my goal of a full head of hair may be unrealistic now. Thanks!

Hey guys, Thanks for listening to me vent. I know it might seem weird to be irritated by something I didn't do anything about for ten years, but the idea of permanence is a bummer. I appreciate the support. Anyway, will Rogaine stimulate any hair growth that could potentially contribute to donor site? Can they harvest the donor site only once? Can hair that was transplanted act a donor site at any point?

Also, I didn't even think about hair restoration over the last decade until I was fooling around with some friends and I put a convincing wig on, snapped some photos, and fooled around on Tinder. I got about 5 times more matches than I did when I was rocking a hat or even the shaved head which I've been told looks good on me. Heh. I shouldn't be this sad because it's only been on my mind for a month but the idea of being permanently bald is awful.

404hairnotfound is a hilarious name. Reading Rashid35's thread did not inspire much confidence. My level of baldness has been consistent since I was 22 I'd say. It looks like I am a stage VI and I contacted Dr. Wong and Dr. Hassan. They seem to be the gurus for guys like me. In the meantime will medications help me build my donor base at all? I'm not so worried about preventative because my level of baldness has been very slow and steady since the first initial hit. Also, one thing I am confused about. When the doctor takes from a donor area does that mean it can never be harvested again? Can they not also take hair from the region they implant into years down the line or the original donor site? Pray Dr. Wong and Dr. Hassan don't see me as a lost cause

Ah! That makes sense. I suppose what I also consider a full head of hair is probably slightly different than everyone else's definition given my Norwood level. I am not against multiple surgeries, but of course I am looking at most bang for buck as well as overall quality. For instance, I realllllly like Dr. Hassan and Dr. Wong. They seem to do a lot of FUT on guys like me. It would be nice to get some sort of virtual simulation to be able to predict what could be done for me given how far-gone I am.

I re-read my post and I could have written that a lot better. I am just looking for second and third opinions from other well-known surgeons in the field. I'm assessing my options and trying to do a cost/benefit analysis of my whole situation.I realized I said I wanted to find a "surgeon who would work with me" which totally came out wrong. Just looking for more opinions and options to see what's out there.