HairLossMentor

It's looking good man. I love seeing this kind of stuff. Sadly, there aren't many "legends" left in the industry. Unfortunately, many up-and-coming docs just don't see the value in specialization, or they just don't give a shit. Most hair transplant docs these days are jack of all trades, master of none cosmetic surgeons. Basically performing facelifts and boob jobs (not that I'm against boob jobs) and only hair transplants on the side. I call them part-time hair transplant doctors. That's being kind. Others call them full-time hair transplant hacks. Enjoy styling your hair again buddy...Enjoy feeling like yourself again 🙂 Get out there and have fun!

You'll for sure get maximum density with a hair transplant/SMP combo. Based on your hair loss pattern, I would be very careful about transplanting into the crown. It's a black hole. And if you start now, and your hair loss progresses, your screwed. Personally I would focus on the front, thicken things up with SMP and get on meds to keep what I have. Maybe even, if lucky, meds will thicken vellus hairs in the crown. I seen it time and time again where the crown bothers guys-but not so much after the fronts been transplanted and their style and their hair again. I don't think I'll ever touch the crown in my case, focus on the front, style my hair again, look good, feel good-that's what it's really about. Framing your face is key. And the hairline will do just that. Besides, it's more socially acceptable to have a thinning crown, or slightly thinning crown, as you get older. Hell, just having hair in your head is a leg up on most guys. Keep in mind, PRP is only useful at this stage to speed the healing process. If your goal is to save miniaturized hairs, then you want to look at Propecia. Not sure what your goal is? Re: price… Keep in mind that Rahal is Canadian dollars, that's around $14,000 USD. Not $19,000 USD. If you're looking at price, your cheapest option is Canada by far, thanks the exchange-rate.

Nice! You're seeing some awesome progress buddy. Keep it up 🙂 100% things are thickening up towards the front and crown. Will be interesting to see how things turn out in 12 months. Thanks for keeping us up-to-date. Save your money. It's the big three. Rogaine, Propecia, Nizoral. And if you have the budget, PRP... But that's only to thicken vellus hairs and prevent hair loss because it keeps hair in the growth phase. Is not required though. The big three will do the trick. If you go the PRP route, make sure is five times concentrate.

@JohnDoe all that is great man. Take your time it's a big decision! But you're for sure on the right track. Most guys don't even take the time to research clinics, let alone ask questions. You're doing everything right. I'll throw in another option… You don't need to have a hair transplant. You can always shave your head and say forget about it. For sure hair transplant can change your life for the better, I know from experience-I feel better, look younger, and happier...hair loss isn't holding me back. But I can also point to a lot of guys enjoying life, despite suffering from hair loss. It's really a personal decision... And how hair loss makes you feel. But it's a decision you don't want to take lightly. Sure, I enjoyed my 20s and 30s with hair, had an amazing time… But I'm looking at another hair transplant in my lifetime, plus I take the big three consistently to keep what I have. Plan for two procedures in your lifetime. And that's if you want to take meds... I know I keep on mentioning medications… But they are so important to keep the hair you have. Take them consistently and you keep more hair and need less hair transplants in the future. Anyway, hit me up if you have any questions. Always glad to share my experience. Good luck man.

@JohnDoe with hair restoration or any other cosmetic surgery there is always a risk. But by going with one of the elites, you greatly minimize the risk… As they offer the best technology, little things like magnification to avoid shock loss. Keep in mind it's not just about the hair transplant. You also want to look at your hair loss, where it is now and where you'll end up. That's a big part of the procedure. You need to make sure your candidate-Rahal turns away 30% of patients, simply because they're not candidates. I'm sure Hassan does the same based on his reputation. That's key. You're going with Rahal or Hasson for one reason… consistency. Both have a stellar reputation for producing amazing results. Plus both stand by their patients, always. That's what you're paying for. Now you want to look at what each specializes in. You'll find that Rahal and Hasson approach hairlines differently. Each has their own style. Go with the style that you like best. Check out each doctors results, paying close attention to the design, the hairline irregularity, how their patients style their hair. You'll get a feel for what you like best. But most importantly, don't rush into it. Hair loss sucks man I get it. But you've come a long way. You're ahead of most guys, researching your options, understand the procedure. That's awesome. It's a good feeling taking control of your loss, to imagine hair loss not holding you back 🙂 PS don't forget about meds. So critical. The big three, Propecia, Rogaine, Nizoral can stop hair loss. But once it's gone. It's gone. So 100% look into meds. Remember your goal is to keep it as much your original hair is possible. Hit me up with any questions

@John Doe, sorry if I missed it. But I didn't read if you're on any medications? Always a good idea to slow hair loss. Your goal is to keep what you have, for as long as possible, and restore with at hair transplant what you've lost. You narrowed it down to some good doctors. I can vouch that Dr. Wong produces some of the best crowns in the business. I would also add Dr. Shapiro to the list. Some of the best hairlines in the business… though a little more conservative in his approach (nothing wrong with that). Once you've narrowed down your list to the elites… the doctors who specialize in hair transplants… only perform your transplants… You'll notice that each specializes in one thing: Rahal, he's known for more youthful hairlines... His patients are usually in their 30s. Same with Shapiro, awesome at hairlines but his patients are a little older… Wong for crowns… You get the idea. So go with a doctor who specializes in what you want. Keep in mind that only a handful of doctors in North America are able to perform FUE consistently. But the ones who do… Produce some of the best results in the industry. You also want to look at factors like punch size, transection… Full and partial… Technique, etc. Now on the cost… I keep hearing that Turkey is less expensive… Guys need to know that's not true. Sure some clinics offer $1/graft… But you want to avoid them like the plague. They are cheap for a reason. At hair transplant is a one-shot deal. Don't risk it. Yes, there are a select few clinics in Turkey producing great results… But they're not cheap. Factoring cost of travel, exchange-rate… and the real risk of needing a touch up… and they are actually more expensive. You also need to factor in the cost of the second procedure. A lot of clinics offer discounts to past patients. I hope this helps man… Feel free to hit me up if you have any questions. Take your time, meet lots of patients, ask lots of questions… Here to help. PS. If you're curious I had FUE with Rahal. Photos are attached.

I had grafts removed via FUE, hundreds of them. Yes you can reuse them, depending on the skill of the doctor. I didn't though as they were damaged when originally implanted. Recipient scarring really depends on how well you heal. I heal well so except for some redness and a glossy look in certain lighting I was okay. You'll need to look at laser resurfacing and derma roller. Derma roller for the redness-did the trick for me. Hang in there buddy, you can fix this but it's going to take time. Go into it thinking you can save some graphs-but don't count on it. Your goal is to minimize recipient scarring. Are you thinking, another hair transplant after? Or move on to be done with it? Hit me up with questions man, glad to share my experience.

Some guys see very fine growth at 4 months...most don't. Seeing growth vs. not seeing growth means nothing at 4 months. I kbow it seems like a long time...but it's not in HT terms. Expect to see some growth at 6 months...and even then it's going to be fine and patchy...the left or right will grow faster, etc. It's a long wait man. 15+ months, with everything comming together at 2 years. Most important...don't compare your progress to other. You will go crazy.

@jj51702 At 2-months post-op they are old miniaturized hairs. I always say this... imagine after your hair transplant has grow in...and you're having fun again, living it up :)...I walked up and plucked 5 hairs from your head. Would you freak out, yes. Would you notice the missing hairs, no. Not at all. They have zero impact on the final result. A couple of hairs are not going to make any diff. ...however, maybe keep those miniaturized hairs. They can help with the naturalness.

@Shifty Nizoral is what's usually recommended and that's 2% - and you only need to use 2x week. Usually 1% is a mixture, shampoo for example - and ok for daily use. To save money, I go with the 2%, since you can use it less. As with anything...you need to be consistent. Hope this helps.

@Shifty Love the routine...only feedback I have is to keep it simple...so it's part of your daily routine. Keeping it simple is key. Maybe even start with one...make sure your consistent...and move on to the next. Here's what I do... Propecia Rogaoine 2x (morning/night) Nizoral It's called the big 3...and combined they work really well. As always, speak to your famly doc before taking.

@Shifty Here is what I get. It's cheaper and 2%... Nizoral® Ketoconazole 2% Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

Great stuff...and you only need to use 2x weeks. The active medication is Ketoconazole, an antifungal. Some studies suggest it's actually just as effective as Rogaine (Google Rogaine/Nizoral). Combine with Rogaine and Propecia and it's a home run. Rogaine for blood flow, Nizoral for inflammation and Propecia for DHT. As always, check with your doc before starting.

@TrixGlendevon You're 100% at the end of the ugly ducking stage, meaning it won't get any worse. It's a long road man. But worth it in the end. Here if you have any questions.

@TrixGlendevon You will start to question the procedure and compare where you're at to everyone else. Except for the redness, don't expect anything at this stage.... I mean that literally. You can't start to guess the outcome (note guess) until 6 months.

That's the spirit!

@Shifty That's my point man...It has not stopped. The only time it will stop is when you're 6-feet under Though It "should" slow as you age. Bottom line...you have an aggressive pattern. Most guys with your ethnic ethic background end up a class 4-5. But you're showing signs of a class 6...so the only thing we don't know is how bad it's going to get. What triggered the shitty gene...could be stress...who knows. But you're in a war man...and the only way to win the war is a combo of meds/ht...a ht will just win the battle...but you will lose the war down the road. And then you're screwed. Make sense? Just want to make sure you're going into this with all the info...so you can make the right decision. You can do this...but it's a life long commitment.

Hey Shifty, 3200 - 3500 will cover half your head...but not the crown. You will need another 2000 for the crown and it's still going to be thin. Maybe look into smp. What concerns me if your hair loss pattern. Your sides are starting to thin And when they go...you're in trouble. If you're aggressive with meds to slow/stop things...and understand you will need 2 additional procedures minimum, you should be able to achieve the hairline you're after...maybe a little more recession (depending on your temple points). Great you're on fin...and derma roller...I assume rogaine with the roller? Vitamins are great for hair health only. Won't help slow things. Bottom line... you can achieve what you're after man. But it's going to be a lifestyle change. If you take the leap...look at every angle. Especially with your pattern. It's not a one-shot deal.

Hey Shifty... this depends. Can you post some pics of the type of result you're after. "Decent coverage" is open to interpretation. I can give some feedback then.

Hey Shmiggy, that's an easy one. The only doctor you should be considering in Toronto is Dr. Rahal. All others are cosmetic doctors (jack of all trades, master of none)...part-time hair transplant hacks...or strip docs who produce just "ok" results...not butchered...but not great.

Hey man. Hold off on the hair transplant for now. Give meds a shot and see where you're at in 12 months. You dont know if you will end up like you dad. You have an agressive hair loss pattern. Not a good sign at your age. If you were 30's, 40's it would be a diff story, donor looks good, hair characteristics, etc. But too many unknowns at 22. Sucks man. I get it. But getting a HT at your age (and pattern) is just too risky. Shave your head, maybe look into smp and speak to your doc about getting on meds.

Hey bigmike84, I know you don't want to hear this man - but looks like a failure in my opinion. Sadly we are seeing more of this, mainly due to part-time hair transplant docs. There are a lot of them in Toronto. Yes it's too early to judge the "final" result. But there are things to look for. Keep in mind that you can fix this. But that doesn't mean jumping into the chair again. You can either get a second HT to increase the density and coverage. Or say screw it and shave your head. You can smp your fue scars and laser skin resurface the recipient area, plus dermaroller. Both are options man. Just keep that in mind. I actually shaved my head and lasered the pluggy grafts after my failed HT. You can look like you did prior and put this behind you. I'm proof. In the end, I decided to get another HT years later though. If the clinic is decent, they will refund you. It's the right thing to do. Ask me any questions man. Private PM or here. I've been in your shoes and happy to share my experience.

Agree. Awesome results! Re: propecia. I personally love the stuff and on 2.5 mg now.

Hey Tressless22. I can relate... I had my HT at 27 - I'm 42 now and glad I did. Others didn't agree with me at the time. You're 29 and depending on your family history and use of meds - a candidate by definition. But that doesn't mean you should take the leap. Yes your hair loss is limited - and a lot of guys would kill for that hair and more will not achieve that results after a ht. Some good advice here... and for what it's worth... the best advice I can give... Do everything you can to keep that awesome head of hair! That's your #1 goal right now. Sure your hairline bothers you. I get it. But you can "live with it." It's not the end of the world. You know what I mean. Stop your hair loss with the big 3 (Propecia, Rogaine, Nizoral) and you will feel better . Why? You're taking control of your hair loss... you're taking action. And that's worth something.

OK... your goal was to wear a trendy hairstyle, spiked, messy, etc. But because of the low density, you need to comb it forward. Same problem you had before. But now your combing forward to conceal the density not the recession. I understand and am a repair patient myself. One thing that working against you is your hair color and skin tone, dark hair and light skin. Lots of contrast, making your HT look thin. 3000 grafts should have been enough for your to achieve your goal - style your hair, etc. But you can't. So by that definition, it's a failure. From my experience, your best approach is to contact the doc first. If he/she is recommended and has a good reputation, you will be taken care of. This happens sometimes. It's a risk we take. Get all the facts from the doc and then ask guys here for advice. It sucks to hear this - but looks like you will need a second HT. Not a big one. But speaking from experience, you should get a big jump in density. So all is not lost.