jjsrader

Looks like you have a big head - alot of real estate to cover. Probably need another 3K in the frontal 40% of your scalp to get enough 'aesthetic coverage' - assuming you don't have some scalp issue that is giving you a lower-than average yield. If you have fine/straight hair when grown out you will need more grafts and proper hair length to give you enough visual coverage to frame your face properly.

Virgin scalp, so w/Medispa less chance of FUT scar stretching - you'll get full coverage & all singles in hairline. You don't need temple points (which is good - your hair resoration will look more natural and aesthetic w/your excellent temple points still in tact) - so if you don't ever want to shave your scalp in back for fade cuts I would go to Medispa. All grafts checked under good microscopes w/a large well-trained staff. Dr. Soni is very experienced and will transfer alot of hair for you in one go so you'll get nice coverage. He does do 2 surgeries per day but is always around checking in. You have good hair so you might also want to get on oral minox from an Indian pharmacy. Without meds all the hair you have on top will be gone over the next 10-15 years since you have advanced hairloss at a young age. You have a solid frontal 'tuft' that will add to naturalness & a center point (weight) to use as an anchor point to comb backwards/sides to blend in w/your new transplanted hair.

Latin American genetics - thick dense donor hair. Simple as.

Good pics. You have very fine/straight hair. Good coverage. If you ever wanted one last surgery (you probably don't) you could restart taking fin/dut to make your donor hairs as strong as possible. This is a very realistic result from a world-class surgeon working on a NW6 who continues to lose hair into later life. Best part is how absolutely natural it looks and you have hair that properly frames your face. Also a good case of someone who doesn't have more than 7-8K of donor grafts - shows a realistic outcome. The fact that you waited later for 2nd surgery is advantageous for your new donor locations - as we all know the majority of transplant patients transplanted hair absolutely thins out over decades (sometimes alot less). What most don't realize here is that it's best to wait as long as possible for initial surgery and in-between surgeries 'cause hair and scalp 'ages' over time for those with advanced NW genetics (even when on all the meds). Thanks for documenting your journey. BTW - a good haircolor to eliminate greys is Schwartkopf permanent haircolor in supermarkets/pharmacies.

Find the optimal hair length for illusion of density - use the shingling effect of combing to the side. Use protein-enhanced shampoo & try some hair volumizing powder or something similar. I found that dyeing my hair a bit darker than my normal brown/auburn color (dyed now to very dark brown or espresso) helps. Finally, I had my entire balding zone & scars filled in w/by Mark Weston (a form of scalp tattoo that is deeper and more permanent than regular light SMP). Mark's retired now. I'm doing another 2K later this month for behind hairline & center midscalp. That'll take me up to 10.5K and I have not ruled out another final FUE of hopefully 1K from scalp. Might do FIT farming w/beard hair into scalp hair & place the scalp hair donor into recipient area. If not I may scatter 1K up to 2K beard hair over mid scalp and towards the crown. I've used dutasteride since 2003 and before that finasteride since 1998. Worked my way up to 30% rogaine lotion over 25 years before switching to oral minox about 5 years ago. If your family history is strongly balding & your personal genetics are to lose all your hair on top and crown - all you can really do over 30-40 years is slow it down & keep the donor strong and healthy until you are out of donor. My hair looks very normal now w/the permanent tattoo & darker hair color and I keep my hair length at 5.5 months of growth on top and front for maximum fullness appearance. Try and make peace that to most people you look like you have hair as you grow older - alot of people that are not hyper focused on hair see the framing effect of a frontal hairline and 'coverage' throughout scalp without a noticeable bald spot and say to themselves - oh, he's a guy w/hair. Simple as. It's like 95% of people. The other 5% will be hyper critical - but nothing you can do about them. It's just their nature. I wore hats/caps/bandanas alot w/a full head of hair & after my 1st hair restoration surgery at age 23 - I still do. Personally, I did all this just for me so I didn't see a 'bald' head in the mirror each day. Coverage is a good thing - it's never enough for us, but at a certain point you accept thinning (but w/hair) or you max out your donor & then you concede that you have done everything you could do & make peace with it. Personally if I were you I would finish off your limited donor w/a very skilled surgeon in the U.S. or in Europe because if you decide to have another 1-2 surgeries you'll really need a low transection rate & a surgeon w/a good eye for giving you most visual coverage w/limited donor grafts. Sure it will cost more, but it's towards the end of the road - make a wise choice if you go that route & then live w/the outcome. Just my 2 cents.

You'll probably have to max out your donor to get fuller coverage. Simple as. I'm in the same boat but older (57) and doing another 2K to fill in behind hairline into middle of scalp (after 8.8K grafts). You could take dutasteride & oral minox to keep your donor strong. You probably need higher DHT protection. Good luck.

I don't know but maybe shave your head for a few years and see where you are at in another 2-3 years. You continue to lose hair in your early 20's despite powerful medical therapy. If you decide to do the frontal hair band - please go w/a very artistic & experienced surgeon 'cause you'll probably continue to lose in the middle and the crown and then will need more surgeries as you get older.

There are many surgeons that examine your scalp w/a densomiter & take their time in a personal consultation - sounds like you went to top surgeons that don't bother, regardless...

Very nice result - those singles look good for your hair type. Continue on your meds and in 5-7 years - see how well you've held up (since you are a slow balder w/1st transplant at age 40 & no work needed on your crown). Cheers!

I don't think 1 in 1000 people would ever look at you now and think you have any hairloss nor need any surgery. You have strong sides (temporal points) which makes any percieved hairloss even less of an issue imho. Stay on meds consistently & come back in a year and show us new pics! Enjoy your hair - maybe get a top stylist & do your hair differently - but truthfully your hair is 100% fine the way it is.

I had a laser from Overmachogrande - used it for 2.5 years. Zero difference. It was worth a try. Frankly, if it really worked longer-term you would see the most respected hair transplant surgeons (not the ones just marketing them for extra cash flow) telling private patients to use them. Full stop. They don't. Just saying.

I apologize - probably 'cause I work alot and am very tired when I read & comment in HRN. I overlooked the more mature result.

Zoom in. Toup? Methinks he has had temple work & hairline enhancement & first 1/3rd of frontal hairline band zone done about 15 years ago. This is a recent pic. I'm obsessed w/celebrity hairlines - but then again, aren't we all? 🍸

I'm obsessed w/his hair! Ever since 'Class.'

Good thread - ty.