Mycroft

You take the DHT blockers not just for donor hair, but for your native scalp hair. This poster still had some of his native hair on top of his scalp, and a DHT blocker would increase the chances of keeping that hair.

Even if a small touch-up is needed the operative word will definitely be small. I think you're in a really good spot and now you know your physiology isn't overly inclined to screw you over. Your patience is paying off.

Every surgeon is going to make a different safe zone determination based (hopefully) on examination with a microscope to determine where miniaturization is happening or not happening. A NW7, for example, will have a much smaller safe zone than someone who is a NW3. Seems to me like you don't have evidence of a larger pattern forming and the doctor made a determination based on that.

Looks like you're off to a good start. Did you choose your lodging based on recommendations from the clinic/other posters or was it your own selection? Edit: also wanted to ask if you had any unshaved pre op images.

Again, why would you assume that? There are plenty of cases of hairline work for less than 2,000 grafts, generally seen in younger patients who are only just starting to lose their hair...just like this guy was. In fact, a surgeon operating on a young man with aggressive loss in a large pattern is going to be reluctant to dump 2,000 grafts in a hairline on the first pass, especially since it sounds like the guy might be a NW 6/7. Additionally, he talks about working to save for the procedure, and we can see that he hasn't had grafting anywhere behind that initial hairline. From this we can draw the conclusion that he may not have had the funds for a larger procedure, and was given a result that was within his budget.

What exactly are you basing this on? The guy is wearing his hair extremely long, including in the front, meaning that these hairs are able to grow to their full length rather than being miniaturized. Those are perfectly healthy hairs. This just looks like he didn't have a large number of grafts nor a very large area transplanted, which is part of why this is an important cautionary tale.

Okay, with the caveat that I am only going based off that example photo, I think the doctor can do it with the numbers quoted. If you think you need more, I'd just budget financially for your higher projection and be sure, on day of surgery when the doc is able to look at you in person, that you reiterate your goals prior to any anesthesia etc being given so you two can discuss whether a higher graft count might be needed. Sometimes people who have virtual consults wind up getting different opinions from a surgeon once they're examined in person. For some people they need more grafts, for some people less. In your case I would build in a monetary buffer for your peace of mind.

x2. Doctor Dorin's clinic specifically posted some recent-ish cases along the line of what's being described here with the same graft count, but it depends on goals. Hair caliber wasn't mentioned at all either. Did you see the doctor in person @Krech84? Did he mention anything about the thickness (not density) of your donor hairs? I've seen some doctors achieve staggering coverage with lower graft counts. Some other things to keep in mind: Since there is thinning in the forelock but seemingly a reasonable amount of density, the doctor would likely only blend a small number of grafts into that area. Likewise, his goal with reconstruction of the barren areas is to blend and match with the appearance of existing hair, so your case wouldn't call for those areas to be packed as densely as somebody who had a strong forelock with no signs of thinning in that area. I suspect this can definitely be done in the graft range you gave, depending on what your desired hairline placement is. It might also help if the resolution on your photos was slightly better so we could more clearly see what the native hair in the forelock looks like. How old are you? You mentioned that you're on medication, but how long have you been taking it? These are also factors that might have influenced the doctor.

I'm certainly interested to see how you progress. I'm not fluent in Spanish so browsing the Spanish forums using Google translate is difficult and often makes patient reviews a bit confusing. Diffuse thinning is a definite gamble, but I hope you get the kind of result you're looking for.

Looks like some pretty early growth. Who was the surgeon?

Love to see the longer term patient updates. The work still looks solid and his hairline is probably the envy of many peers.

The back squat has gotten way overhyped as a "necessary" leg movement. I promise you that you can get a hell of a leg workout without the barbell back squat. Check with the clinic, but I'd hazard a guess that front squats, split squats, goblet squats, and probably even Zercher squats are all better alternatives if you can't get it out of your head that you must squat for whatever reason.

Why not? Your physique isn't going to know the difference but your scar probably will.

My guess would be a combination of competition for blood supply with compromised vascularity (new hairs have been added and your scalp tissue just got ravaged) and maybe some possible shock loss. You won't know if it's the latter for a bit longer though, and in those areas I wouldn't expect it to be permanent.

Doesn't look like it. His hairline and temporal recessions are full of terminal hair and he's bald everywhere else. Those are definitely the areas that were transplanted.

I have to say that's an impressive amount of ground to cover with that number of grafts. Well done.

I agree that this guy is super fortunate. He actually looks good with the shaved scalp and the hairline works well enough that if it was as at least blended a bit more rather than being a clear line I think he'd be all set. Scalp pigmentation might very well help him out in this respect. Not everybody is so fortunate.

I wish we had one image of the hairline that had the patient looking directly at the camera, but this looks pretty darn good.

I wish we could have this video stickied for all of those guys who are just starting to see the maturation of their hairline and post here unwilling to touch medication her asking how they can make their hairline a box.

I'd avoid microneedling the recipient area until the grafts are fully grown in unless the clinic gives you the okay to do otherwise.

A very nice result. The hairline has to be pretty strong to still look good with one of those hairbands holding the hair back.

You should be able to achieve a lean and muscular physique at 32 without TRT. If you can't do that you're not trying hard enough. Your testosterone being "a little low" won't prevent that, just means you have to wait a little longer or work a little harder. TRT is also going to exacerbate your genetic potential for hair loss, especially if you're not taking medication.

Any pre-op photos of your hair so we have an idea of your baseline starting point?

There's obviously not a bunch of regulation or standardization in the industry, but then again they are functionally artists. The individual approach and techniques of doctors is part of what should draw you to them in the first place. It's a very individualistic thing. I would say there are a number of able doctors out there, but of those doctors there may be only a few that can best help you achieve your goals.

That's a tricky case with all of the diffuse thinning but it looks like he didn't suffer much or any permanent shock loss. The end result blends perfectly.