LaserCap

Extensive loss.....I gather it is the same on the other side. Seems there is a lot of miniaturized hair as well. My first thought is to start Laser therapy and consider PRP. It seems the overall quality of the hair is on the "fine" side and the PRP may help strengthen all of that. And, that in itself, means that she will need more grafts than someone with courser hair. Visit with a hair transplant doctor so they can look at the donor and confirm candidacy. Seems the density elsewhere is adequate and no grafts will be needed. To achieve the density she currently has will take multiple procedures depending on what the doctor recommends and what she decides to do per procedure. In cases similar to hers, I've seen recommendations of 1200-1800 grafts per procedure. Perhaps 2 procedures of 1500 grafts each will do. It will all depend on her density goals considering that this is one of the first areas others see when interacting. Many would recommend she gets a full panel done to confirm there is nothing else going on.....

I would check with a hair transplant doctor. While the donor, towards the center of the back, may be a bit weak, the doctor may find grafts on the sides. Have him tell you what you have per procedure and and estimate of how many grafts you have lifetime. You may be surprised. I am glad you are doing some medical therapy. Stay on it.

This is common of patients experiencing the same thing. There is a particular length, say about 1/4 inch, when the hair looks the best and fullest. As the hair gets lengthier it starts weighing and pulls away, making the loss far more pronounced. And, I venture to say, that your hair is black. With the added contrast of dark hair and light scalp, not good. We all strive to look the best we can. And, at the end of the day, you need to be comfortable with yourself. Continue doing what you're doing while Propecia and Rogaine do their thing. It is typically at a year that you get to see the most with the use of meds. You may want to add PRP and laser. Once you reach a plateau, you may want to add grafts to the frontal area so it will frame your face and add a layer of security when interacting with others. Oh, and stay away from the light......

Agree...in all fronts, as a matter of fact. From doctors, consultants, clinical staff and even marketing companies which we seldom discuss.

If you do FUE, the hike will not cause any issues. It will if you do FUT. Why not wait? Go on your trip. Remember. you can always take memories with you. Travel as much as you can. Can't take hair.

All right, this does bring up a point. So, you have a full set of hair, enjoying your youth, The whirl bothers you and you have tons of donor. I typically do not suggest patients this but, if you are experiencing no loss and this bothers you, why not fill it in? Have a consultation with a doctor and see what their suggestion is. 100 grafts? Is this really bothering you? Unfortunately we can not see if there is miniaturized hair. If so, meds is the way to go for now.

Artist, Brilliant, Ethical

Typically you can return back to normal after 7 days, no restrictions. The concern, however, is the fact that you will be carrying gear. I get it, not heavy. But, when you hike a lot of forces come into play. Even light gear will pull. Why risk it? Go on your hike...enjoy...and do the procedure at a later time when you have nothing going on. And overseas? I would wait. The other concern is "small FUT" What you are doing? How many grafts?

Smart to keep your hair salt & pepper. It helps camouflage the thinning. Not as much contrast as when the hair is stark black. Seems like early signs. The four modalities we typically discuss are Propecia, Rogaine, PRP and laser. Both Propecia and Rogaine tend to show more effectiveness towards the crown. The question then becomes, if you start using them, which is the one really helping you. So, considering all we know about both, I would start with Rogaine twice a day. Just put a cap full in that area and massage. Keep a photo record. Give it 6 months and see. If you stay the same or get some enhancement, would just keep up with the regimen. If you notice more loss, add Propecia). A word of caution....when you start using Rogaine you may see aggressive shedding. Don't freak out, this is normal. Once the body figures out what is going on, you'll start noticing no fallout.

Call Arocha, he can do a skype consult. They trained in Italy, (Beauty Medical), and have been doing SMP for a long time. Takes a few days as they like to do the process and then enhance it. They do guarantee the work as well.

Lots of variations to discuss. When you got it done, where exactly are the scars, etc.... In the late 80 the universal thought was the hair from the nape was exactly what was needed for hairline work. Thus, if you see anyone with small scars really low in the donor area, you can estimate when the work was completed. Are you scars, one above one below? Or one by each side of your ears? Perhaps they are so close together when the doctor excises he can then combine them and leave you with only one. How many grafts did you have done in each procedure? If 2 small procedures, perhaps there is still laxity. I do have a question, how soon after the procedure, the one corresponding to the wide scar, did you start exercising? It is imperative to avoid pulling on the neck as this will result in a wide scar. Also sleeping positions are an issue. Lastly, before addressing the options you do have. Scarring has to do with wound physiology and has little to do with the doctor., (assuming the doctor knows what he's doing). So, you could go through this again only to end up with the same result. If you do have tons of give in the donor, this should not be an issue. Now for your options, are you considering more grafts? if so, he can use the upper border of the existing scar and go about 1/8 inch below the lower border. There are no grafts in the scar portion, but there will be some in the 1/8 he took. Not many grafts and so the question becomes, is it worth it? I think not. It is likely you'll end up on the same boat. Your best approach is just to have the doctor excise the scar and replace it with a new one. (Is the whole scar wide or just the end of it)? The other option is FUE. You can put FUE grafts on the scar to camouflage. It will not take the scar away, but it will help with concealment. The issue here is you may need lots of grafts that could have been used elsewhere. Can you send a photo? This would help

This, too, can happen. Seems the meds tend to be far more effective in the crown. Mind you, when I say effective, patients are actually seeing a visual difference. This means you are reversing miniaturization and the hair is actually enhancing. Only a small percentage of patients achieve this. Continue doing what you're doing. With regards to the 5 mg, or .5 mg, whatever it is, talk to your doctor about changing this to 1 mg which is all that's needed to take advantage of hair retention properties. If less than 1% experience side effect at this dose, you are taking 5 times the dose and exposing yourself to potentially more of a chance to experience side effects.

That will depend on how much native hair they currently have. So, if you have lots that still hasn't left the building, I would get on all of them. Give them a year. Keep a photo record. You could photo every 3 months. If you look the same or better, than you know the medication is helping. If you are losing, despite the meds, get off of them because they are not being effective.

Most believe Rogaine helps retain...towards the crown, for about 7 years. The effect does decline somewhat, but you are still experiencing retention. Getting off the med can lead to the loss you would have experienced had you not been on the medication. My suggestion is to combine this with the other modalities available to you. Rogaine, Propecia, PRP and laser are the modalities we typically discussed when dealing with hair loss. The mechanism of action is totally different for each and thus, there is synergism with used at the same time. I would encourage you to talk to your doctor about continuing the use of Rogaine and combining this with something else.

I love this post. It reminds me the many patients that would call, ask for the price and hang up. The patient would then call the next clinic and so on. Eventually he would find the one for the right price. And then disaster. My suggestion to you is to research and look at tons of photos. Forget price for a minute. Once you see cases similar to your own, and like the results, (it is about results after all), call the clinic and speak with the consultant or the doctor. Explain your dilemma and ask if they can help you fee wise. If you are flexible with your schedule and can help the clinic fill a last minute slot, I am sure they will work with you. (70% of something is better than 100% of nothing). Most in this industry are in it for the love of helping people. The doctors want to do great work, and the consultants truly want to help. If your approach is right, you'll find the right group.

Dark hair, light scalp...that will get you every time. You seem to have thick hair, nice donor....Are you thinning? Sure. But, by looking at your photos, I also see a hairline in the middle of your forehead. Typically it is only patients that have full sets of hair that enjoy a hairline such as yours. So, the positives are that you have lots of hair to work with. Can you add density? Sure, whenever you want. But, what I can't see, if what miniaturized hair you have in between the hair that we do see. So, why not try medical therapy for a full year? Propecia, Rogaine, PRP and laser are the four modalities we typically we discuss with patients that are experiencing loss. (Two types. The loss you see and the loss you don't see. The hair you do see, that's shedding which is normal. Most believe 100 hair a day is normal. What you don't see is hair that is miniaturizing, dissipating and going away. It is this hair that we want to protect and enhance). I would encourage you to talk to your doctor, take plenty of photos and have him scope you, (which, unfortunately, it's not done enough), so there is a record. Give meds a year and then decide. More often than not, the patients are thrilled. The question then becomes, are you going to do them. Procrastinating and making a decision to take meds for the rest of your life is not easy.

Doctor, nice work.... Unfortunately there is lots of misunderstanding out there from both patients and doctors. How many times we see an early twenties patient wanting "sloping down" corners similar to a juvenile or a woman. I understand, everyone wants to have the hairline they once enjoyed. But, as you have stated in other posts, we need to think long term. That's coming. Blunting the corners adds another dimension of naturalness as well as staggering. You accomplished both of these things in this case and the patient has to be thrilled. By the way, I am enjoying your posts....keep it up.

Get in the shower, let them soak under warm water. Use whatever shampoo you typically use and start massaging the scalp with the tips of your fingers. At this point you do not need to be gentle. You can not harm the grafts. With regards to hair length, I would wait 6 months before we answer that. It will be 3-4 months before the hair starts growing, (it is the time the follicle needs to reincorporate into the blood supply).

Good subject, particularly when you consider all the factors that go into it. Yes, family history is important as it will give you information. At least you know that the possibility exists and, if you are going to be proactive, start by visiting a dermatologist or a hair transplant specialist. Medical therapy should be the next consideration. (There are several tests out there in the mail order form which can help confirm if hair loss is in your future. A derm can also biopsy and give you that information). I have homework for you. Go to the mall....Look at all the people that are truly class 7s. They lose hair in a particular way. They tend to keep a bit in the forelock, they tend to lose everything else, and will typically dip in the back considerable. There is then some hair in the donor. And not enough to allow for a full set of hair. There may be enough, however, to allow for a forelock....which, again, is how a class 7 typically loses hair. The main thing to consider is looking natural and pattern appropriate. Got to work with what you have. Returning to the subject of family history.......this is a complicated message that is passed to the offspring. It can skip generations. Plenty of documented cases out there...Everyone is fine and, all of the sudden, someone experiences severe loss. Upon researching they learn that a great uncle experienced hair loss. It happens. In my own family.. My grandfather was a class 20. My grandmother had tons of hair. Everyone, except for my uncle, has hair loss. My uncle, however, seemed to have kept his mother's genes. Awesome hair. This also can happen. My suggestion, given your question, consider medical therapy and visit with a doctor.

I am 59 and experiencing much of the same. I've been on medical therapy for more than 25 years and have had 7 hair transplants. I was a consultant for various doctors throughout my career and I think I can at least give you my point of view. Is there value to meeting with a consultant? Sure. I think the question is, for how long has the consultant worked with the doctor. You have to realize the consultant is there daily with the doctor. He hears the spill every day. There is knowledge and experience. Short of doing the actual procedure, there is a lot of info he can provide. Funny how people can smell a fake. If this person is really trying to help you, you'll feel it. Is there value to visiting directly with the doctor? Sure. You can confirm you actually like him, he makes sense when talking to you, and can conduct an examination. This is the time he has to rule out conditions other than a hereditary one. I do have a question, Why didn't you see the doctor? Was he sleeping? Reading a book? In procedure? (I've seen each of these happen). The consultant will almost always tell you that he is with another patient regardless of what's going on. Perhaps the consultant is under the impression you are just not serious about this. Who knows. I truly think that most "employees" of the clinic are under the belief that they are working under the umbrella of the doctor. And, if the doctor lets them, they'll be doing sites, harvesting, etc. Given the education difference between an MA and a Doctor, I think it is outrageous when this is allowed. And the worse thing is the fact the patient is under local and has no idea what happened. Do you think they'll say something at the end of the day? It is always about results. My suggestion is, when doing research, concentrate on photos of patients similar to you and the result. View thousands and then make a decision. If you only see 4-5 photos, go to the next. If the doctor is any good, he'll be proud to show you his work. Do you still have native hair? Are you doing any type of medical therapy?

My wife keeps telling me that I am getting white in the donor. I can see my sides turning to snow....tough getting old...and to think that my transplanted hair will also turn white is becoming a nightmare.....Coloring hair, that's the next step in fighting mother age.........

If they gray in the donor area, they will gray in the recipient site. It is interesting how the donor does keep a memory on various fronts. First, the fact it will remain permanent, and keeping its characteristics. So say you will be graying in 20 years....the same thing will happen to the transplanted hair. It is such a random placement, however, that it will look normal. (Unless you are just covering a spot, say for a birthmark. Then that entire spot will turn white).

You've waited all this time, what's 6 months. I doubt much is going to happen in the 6 months anyway given you'be been using Rogaine consistently, at least I hope. Most doctors believe, for finasteride to have an effect, a man needs to ejaculate a quart. Not even an elephant can do that. For the potential side effect of hypospadias, the woman would need to break a pill, (they come coated now), put it in her mouth, and must happen on the 3rd month of pregnancy. If you believe this could happen, take the pills to your office. If this is your first child, lots will go through your head....responsibility, fun, care for another human being, other worries, love, etc....why compound the problem and then say...."I should have waited" Again, wait. 6 months will fly by.....And, if you eventually do decide to take the med, stay on it.

Most agree that you can return to normal after 7-10 days post op. This means that you should wash all the crusts off. You can then use whatever. Be sure to wash off daily as you normally would. Most doctors I've spoken to say that after 3 days it is very difficult to harm a graft as they are very sturdy. To be on the safe side as most are very conservative, they'll tell patients 7-10 days.

In the 30 years I've been involved in this industry I think I've experienced all. I've seen patients remain stable for years only to find, within 1 year, they lost a considerable amount of hair. Seems, by what you've written, that you have experience very gradual loss. If there is family history and you know it's coming, I would encourage you to speak with your doctor or derm about getting on medical therapy ASAP. Once you lose it, it's not coming back, so be proactive.