I'm a 22 year old male, my hair has been thinning on the top of my scalp diffusely but I have all of my hairline, the area of thinning would be either Norwood 5A or 6. After evaluation by a transplant surgeon that's recommended here, Dr. Bernstein, I was told that my hair has thinned and/or miniaturized, but I haven't lost follicles completely, just the hairs have thinned to the point of showing noticeable scalp. I've been on finasteride for 4 weeks. He said my donor appears unstable but I'm too young to make a definite diagnosis, and therefore I'm not a good candidate for a transplant right now.
I've read about permanent shockloss being a risk for diffuse thinner like me. But I've also read this isn't as bad an issue in modern times with a good surgeon, and how diffuse thinners can actually be the best candidates. And I've also seen many great transplant results on diffuse loss patients like me on this site, and have yet to see a bad one from shockloss with people mentioning it so often . When I asked Dr. Bernstein about shockloss as it would relate to my case if I were to get a transplant in the future, he said a transplant would give more hair being that most shockloss is temporary.
As far as the possibility of my donor area being unstable, this is a risk I don't see as not worth taking because if the transplanted hair was to thin eventually than I wouldn't be any more upset than I am now and I would know I at least gave it a shot. I imagine the finasteride could help me with the stability as well. And as for scarring on the back becoming visible, I keep my hair a few inches long, and if it were to show I'd be bald anyway so who cares.
So I've looked at diffuse loss patients Erdogan, Shapiro, Hasson, Wong, Lorenzo, Arocha, and I'm impressed. I'm gonna stay on finasteride but would I be able to get a transplant if I want more coverage, and if not, why after the reasons mentioned above? I'm not even asking for the fullest head of hair for my age, just an increase like these guys have gotten:
http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/181146-fue-hair-transplant-dr-marwan-saifi-wroclaw-poland-fue-2050-grafts-2-10-15-diffuse-norw.html
http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/180319-3-900-grafts-norwood-6-7-dr-diep-dr-behnam.html
http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/180471-dr-koray-erdogan-asmed-clinic-5006-grafts-manual-fue.html
http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/179262-4000-grafts-fue-dr-koray-erdogan-asmed-clinic.html
Before and after surgical hair transplantation procedure with 4603 grafts
Diffused Thinning 1 Yr Post Op w/ Dr. Paul Shapiro - Dr. Paul Shapiro - Hairtransplant Doctors - Click on a Doctors name to view their results - Hairloss Experiences Hair Loss Forum
http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/173899-dr-koray-erdogan-3124-grafts-fue.html