HelpfulFriend

This is more relevant to those of us travelling internationally for a HT.

A lot of people say that a true assessment can only be made in person, and that despite pictures, video-calls, etc - the real number of grafts can change when you get in the chair.

I'm wondering if anyone has ever had this happen?

E.g. what if the surgeon realises that you need more grafts than estimated? Perhaps there's more thinning than was obvious in photos, etc.

You've already paid, so they can't really adjust their estimate one would assume.

Do you simply get your number of grafts and then book a follow up down the track?

I'm travelling from Aus to USA, and it's something I've been thinking about.

Hey all,

I'm getting a small FUE from Dr Konior this year, about 1500 grafts for the frontal region/temples - and I'm wondering how long I can expect to be out of action?

I am flying out 5 days after my operation, and was planning on returning to work a few days after that. I work in an office, so nothing physical.

Is this reasonable? I kind of assumed minimal downtime because it's not a huge session.

Cheers

Looks great mate! Happy growing 

I feel like in almost every HT I see, there is clear, and sometimes extensive thinning.

I.e. Someone will be NW 3/4, and their frontal lock will have 1-2cm of clearly miniaturised hairs - but there doesn't seem to be any hesitation from actual surgeons.

The general advice is to have your loss stabilised, before you embark on the HT journey - but wouldn't most candidates technically be excluded based on such criteria?

Does anyone have any instances where they've been turned away due to instability of progressing hair loss?

Just trying to figure some stuff out.

Cheers all

Depends on how much this hairline bothers you. Your hair still looks great, but I've also seen NW2's get conservative surgeries to fill in the corners. 

What's your family history like? Having your hair stable for 5 years is great.

It depends on what you wish to achieve. 

Do you want the NW0 straight hairline? Or something a bit more conservative, i.e. NW1

Keep in mind that I've seen surgeons cover this area with ease, using this many grafts.

I definitely would not go higher unless the in-person consult changed his opinion. Future-proofing your hair loss is arguably the most important aspect.

4 minutes ago, NARMAK said:

I think part of it is definitely that people don't understand the hair cycle phases and the way that DHT inhibition via Dutasteride etc. is over a much longer term when it works too. 

That's why it's important imo for people to see studies like the 10 year Japanese Finasteride study to see how much difference it can make on the responders. It just takes years of consistent use though

Exactly. You need to break through the rough patch, and whilst it may not halt your loss, it will slow it considerably in almost all cases. 

I've been in FIN for about 6 years, loss has slowed considerably. Might switch to DUT in the future just to see if I can absolutely halt it.

From cursory forum reading, I think a lot of the "DUT ruined my hairline" experiences are people not understanding how badly these meds can give you a shed. 

Some doc's advise that it can take up to two years to see the effect of FIN/DUT, and prior to this, they can really thin you out whilst your hair cycles through phases.

I've seen people claim it's ruined their hair before they give it a chance. Which is why it's important to talk to a Dr/dermatologist, so we can get a realistic perspective on what it to come.

I can't see any credible reason as to how DUT can ruin a hairline.

4 minutes ago, HortonC said:

I think everybody is a bit different. I personally hunkered down in my hotel room for 4 days and just went down for breakfast and ordered room service. You can definitely go out for walks or to restaurants after 1-2 days already. I've read from some people in here who went sight seeing the day after the procedure.

Thanks mate. I think that will be me. I won't be overly keen on heading out to see any sights. I would be most comfortable just relaxing until I leave I think 

Ended up finding a place not far from the clinic (sleep inn). No frills, but walking distance to the shops and essentials.

Hey all,

Seeing Dr Konior in November, and I'm flying from Aus - going to be there for about 5 nights.

Can anyone share insight into how groggy/reluctant I may be to leave?

I don't want to book a hotel with nothing but a bed, and then be forced to leave each day if I don't feel up to it.

Essentially, do I get a hotel, and then venture out for necessities each day? Or, a self-contained unit, and just stock up on food/drink and stay put for a few days?

Thanks all

We all know that virtually everyone will continue to lose hair.

On medical therapy, lots will have their loss slowed, but ultimately, they will continue to recede. 

Most people also suggest to stabilse one's loss before they get a HT, yet, it's never truly stable.

How do surgeons reconcile this? What does stabilise actually mean in the hair loss industry?

Is thinning acceptable but major unsteady loss isn't?

I ask as I often see HT's performed on people that have very heavy thinning over large areas, and have always wondered this.

Cheers!

Hi @Rahal Hair Transplant hope you don't mind me tagging you. I was just wondering if you had a preliminary assessment for my case? I.e. whether you'd recommend surgery, and whether your team performs surgery on those who have current thinning?

I only ask as I've seen lots of valuable input you have across the forum, and you've helped me out on many posts.

Thanks in advance 

5 hours ago, pkipling said:

Not to be the lone dissenting voice, but I totally understand why you'd want to address this - and it doesn't seem that outlandish to me for you to do so. I understand the arguments on both sides, but the surgeons you've mentioned are quite reputable and don't strike me as the types to take you on if they felt it was unethical. There are sound arguments for why you should and should not get a procedure - and I don't think there's a definitive right answer in this case. The main point of concern for me would be if you're currently in the midst of ongoing significant hair loss? If that's the case, I do understand wanting to wait and see how this current phase ends up and where it eventually settles next. Have you addressed this with the surgeons you mentioned? Did they give the recommendation before or after the current hair loss progression? 

That said - here are a few of my thoughts/arguments as to why it doesn't otherwise seem crazy to me for you to want to move forward with this:

Yes, your hair looks great and there are many men who would be thrilled to have hair like yours and wouldn't want to risk messing with it. But just because other people have it worse doesn't mean your situation isn't worth addressing if it's important to you... And given that they're recommending a very conservative approach paints a different picture here, it adds to why I don't think it would necessarily be a horrible decision for you. 

You're also not that young - and getting a hair transplant at 32 isn't the same as getting one at 22. 

Hair loss is progressive and even with medication, it may never stop completely. So just because it hasn't stabilized 100% forever doesn't mean that you're on track to be a NW6. 

As for setting yourself up for potentially needing more procedures in the future, I think that's a general rule for every single person getting/considering a hair transplant. We should all expect to need at least one followup procedure in the future. It's great if that doesn't turn out to be the case, but also shouldn't be a surprise when/if that happens. 

Thanks a lot for this message.

You've eloquently explained exactly where my head is at - if I had written something like this for the jump, it would have been a lot clearer.

The main point of concern for me would be if you're currently in the midst of ongoing significant hair loss? - this is the crux of the issue. Will I get a HT, then continue to lose ground? Or, will this HT serve me for many years to come, and meds will keep me somewhat stable. I've asked surgeons, and they've said it's very hard to tell, and that they do have patients who are currently thinning come into their practice. 

I've been at this NW pattern for years, mixing with all my friends who are all NW 1, wearing hats, shunning from formal events, and so on. Maybe it is in my head, to an extent, but I'd just love to experience my 30's without stressing about hair. I feel as though if people saw me in person, hair pulled back, they wouldn't so readily be happy with how my hair looks. As mentioned, conservative doctors had no hesitation in suggesting a procedure.

I guess it's about a risk vs reward, am I willing to risk a bigger problem down the road for the procedure.

Thanks again for the message.

6 hours ago, Boomerang said:

Personally I wouldn’t be going for HT if my hair were like yours. They look great in pics.

first step should be the steps to stabilise the recession. 
I would trace back my steps what has changed in last 6 months in terms of lifestyle, regularity of hairloss prevention protocols, etc 

then maybe add micro needling and dut once a week.

see for 3 months how you respond. There’s a good chance that you thinning hair will thicken up. 
 

Good luck!

Thanks Boomerang,

That's a good point. I can't really think of anything that has changed, but i have teased the idea of DUT recently.

10 hours ago, Gatsby said:

It would be a huge mistake to have surgery. Medication for the past six years has held your hairline until recently. What has your dermatologist recommended? You could try tweaking the medication, etc.

Thanks Gatsby, I've always valued your input on these forums.

I do get that it's risky, I just really want a better hairline for my 30's. I'd love to experience life without a hat. The pics are a bit misleading, it looks more recessed with full photos.

My dermatologist offered to up my oral Minox dosage (I'm at 2.5), which I've declined. I don't want to go any higher. They've simply suggested a small FUE if I want to fill the corners in.

Do you think the risk vs reward just isn't there for a transplant?

11 hours ago, Mike10 said:

they just want to see you in that chair.once you do it, you are committed for further HTs. Now, I do not see a NW3 in your case. I am 41 and have been estimated as a NW2 by several Top Drs. But you pics could be misleading. How many grafts did tehy estimate? 

You raise a good point. They were all very conservative, roughly 1000-1500 grafts.

For reference I've added a side profile picture - the others I took were unintentionally misleading

On 9/28/2022 at 11:31 AM, Mike10 said:

you guys just need to do a lot more research. This was to be expected. Most men continue to lose ground with time despite of Propecia. And you hair looks totally fine at age 32. You do not need a HT.    

I get that there's a lot of people in my range, around my age. But I don't really want to spend my 30's being NW 3. I've been at this level since I was mid-20's, and would love to get back to even a NW 1 haha.

Conservative doctor's have said I am bordering on NW 3 and are happy to take me as a patient. 

3 hours ago, MissMyLongHair said:

Only after 6 years? Now I'm terrified for the future, even as a Dutasteride user. Can I ask how old you are?

I'm 31, 32 in a few months.

Yeah it sucks. At least with DUT you're on a much, much stronger med, so I wouldn't stress too much man. I might just be unlucky 

On 9/27/2022 at 7:16 PM, StillAlive said:

Dude it is way way way too early for you to get an HT. 

Yes you have some temporal recession but the prudent approach would be to continue on meds until you are stable and THEN get an HT. Otherwise you are essentially booking your second one behind it to fill in the gaps. 

Hey mate, thanks for the reply.

The pictures don't really show the extent. I've cut off a lot of my face, but the front and temples have both recessed quite a bit. I've sent full photos to conservative surgeons, and they've all said I'm NW 3. 

Apologies for the bad pics. I just wanted to highlight the thinning points.

I was stable for 6 years, now I'm not. So I don't know if I will ever be stable again. That's the part that is really making it hard for me.

Hey all,

Bit of background: I've been on Fin and Minox for about 6 years. Hair has held at baseline, hasn't moved since I started (which was great). 

As of about 7 months ago, my frontal lock started to thin. Where I've drawn in red, was normal and full last year.

I also get my hair checked every 6 months by a dermatologist, and she's confirmed it's thinning in these areas - and has compared them to previous photos.

I'm getting a HT in November, and now I'm just stressing that I've started another round of recession despite the meds.

Should I be worried about going ahead with the surgery? I don't want to postpone as I'm seeing a really good Dr with a long wait. Could really use that crystal ball right about now 

Hey all, 

Visiting Dr K in November, and still trying to figure out where to stay.

Distance to the clinic probably isn't that much of an issue, as I'll just be there a couple of times at most.

I'm more concerned with being close to somewhere for food and stuff. I'm only there for about 5 days, and I don't really plan on sight-seeing. Just recovering and prepping for my long flight home (to Australia).

Anywhere you can recommend that will provide me easy access to essentials? Preferably walking distance?

Cheers

On 9/18/2022 at 11:57 PM, yesplease said:

Having photos taken over the long term by a medical professional with an eye for clinical change (ie hair quality and quantity in this case) is amazing. 
 

Any chance you’d be willing to share your journey/results/photos with these medical therapies? I’d venture to say that not many people have documented as well as you have with regards to multiple medical modalities. Would be very helpful for the community to see. 
 

Thanks for considering. 

Hey mate, I actually plan on doing this. I've sent my derm a message to ask for all my photos to be sent to me.

Ill do a big post and let you know when I get around to it. 

If you have any questions, feel free to ask

1 hour ago, GoliGoliGoli said:

And you were on topical prior to switching to oral? 

Yeah, although I probably wasn't as diligent as I should have been