TakingThePlunge

I have to agree with the above. Definitely consider medically stabilizing your hair loss with Propecia (finasteride) and Rogaine (minoxidil). Give it a year. If you respond well, you may not require surgery for years to come.

Hi David!

 

I consulted with 3 other doctors, but only online, they didn't get to feel my scalp in person so obviously they couldn't say "scalp is too tight, we rule out FUT"

True that! I was thinking more in terms of getting more feedback on your eligibility for FUE and potential for obtaining the results you want from it rather than ruling out strip if it's the FU that's your concern.

Sounds like you're covering all the bases. Did Dr. Bisanga rule out scalp stretching exercises? I've personally never done them but I've heard they can be very effective in preparing a tight scalp for strip.

I don't recall seeing this patient before. The results are life-changing!

Three weeks is very early. I'd also suggest avoiding direct and prolonged sun exposure for several more weeks. What does your hair transplant surgeon advise?

I agree that this is a really nice "tune-up".

Everything sounds and looks perfectly normal for 8 weeks. The next month should bring some initial sprouting. Definitely not a fun time. Hang in there and keep us posted.

Welcome Mike!

I don't think many guys would feel comfortable encouraging you to go ahead with surgery without seeing photos and knowing the identify of your hair transplant surgeon but it sounds like you've done your research and consulted with a top doc.

While not everyone is a great candidate for FUE, given that your hair restoration physician has recommended the procedure, he must be confident that you'll obtain the result you're hoping for. If you're apprehensive about FUE, you might consider consulting with another physician or two just to compare recommendations. You can always schedule some online consultations if it's more convenient.

Ultimately, you'll have to make the decision based on your own research, knowledge and experience. In my opinion, it really comes down to how well you trust the reputation of the doctor.

Best of luck and please keep us updated on your decision and experience.

3 Month...

 

... nothing much to report. I was starting to feel a little defeated with nothing to see, so I went back and read more on the forum. I was quickly reminded that there shouldn't be much to look at at the 3 month mark. Hopefully, the next 2-3 months start to show some growth.

Yep! Way to early to see any substantial changes. Give it time. I'm sur eyou'll be pleasantly surprised when the fun starts.

That's one heck of a transformation! No sign of balding remains. Congrats!

You got some great advice above! However, consulting with a recommended hair transplant surgeon or two will not only tell you how many grafts you require to meet your goals but also what is realistic given your donor supply and potential for future hair loss.

As Mikey stated above, if you're not already taking finasteride you should seriously consider it.

Great plan and super result for this gentleman!

Best of luck on your upcoming procedure!

Great resource for those questioning their early results!

Welcome! Our community prescreens and recommends hair transplant surgeons worldwide. In the Chicago area we recommend the following 3 hair transplant surgeons...

Dr. Richard Keller

Dr. Raymond Konior

Dr. Vladimir Panine

To learn about our criteria for recommending physicians, click here.

You can also schedule free online consultations with recommended physicians by using this form.

Another great resource we offer are the patient created, Hair Restoration Websites. Here you can find firsthand patient experiences for most all of the hair restoration physicians we recommend.

David

You've retained a pretty good frontal tuft. However, it's clear that you're in for much more hair loss in the future. It's tough to say just how much but I'd say Norwood VI is a good bet.

I see from your profile that you use minoxidil. In my opinion, you should seriously consider adding finasteride to your regimen. This will help to retain your existing hair and might even regrow hair, requiring fewer grafts to achieve your goals.

I don't like to quote graft numbers as I think this is best left to hair restoration physicians after a consultation because there are several factors to consider including your own goals/desires. There is a very general rule that says you can expect to use about 1,000 grafts per Norwood classification. However, hair caliber, skin and hair color and other factors will influence this.

Here is a link to all of the hair transplant surgeons we recommend in India. Most of these surgeons perform both Strip and FUE.

Surgeons vary in how they charge. Some will offer discounts beyond a certain number of grafts. You'll need to discuss this with the individual clinics. Likewise, the number of grafts you can get in a single procedure will depend upon the clinic. Not all patients are suitable for a mega-session and not all clinics are equipped to perform them.

I'm sorry I can't be more specific but I think it's best to discuss these details with doctors for the best answers.

Looks fantastic! Enjoy!

Congrats on your recent hair transplant with Dr. Diep! The work looks excellent.

Welcome and thanks for posting! Best of luck on your upcoming procedure. I'm looking forward to following your progress.

It does adjust to some degree. After my second strip procedure, my scalp was noticeably snug. In time, it loosened up and today it feels perfectly normal. Prior to my surgeries, my scalp was pretty loose so for me it's been a benefit.

Awesome! Dr. Arocha is a class act. Thanks for sharing your experience.

I hope you'll share some pics and keep us posted on your progress. Best of luck!

Five months is still really early. Looks to me like you're just fine. Give it a few more months.

This is definitely a great plan for many prospective hair transplant patients. Given that this surgeon doesn't perform strip surgery, I'd say that he is being very honest in his assessment.

Many hair transplant surgeons recommend "stripping out" or using up all your available grafts in multiple strip procedures and then having FUE to take advantage of remaining available donor grafts. By doing this, you can potentially maximize your lifetime donor supply.

For those patients that are not concerned with the potential to wear very closely cropped hair, this is a good way to go.

Looks perfectly natural!

From what these images reflect, you appear to have no balding whatsoever.

That looks amazing at only 6.5 months post-surgery. The density is blending nicely with his natural hair.