tripleg

Are there any concerns with the FUT procedure and scalp tightness long term? I know in the short term there is some tightness for a few months or a little more, but how about longer term? Does anyone end up with permanently tight scalp? I've seen a lot about scars stretching after FUT in a small number of cases (or a large number of cases when the surgeon in incompetent). But how about other long term consequences after FUT? Also it seems one can't really gauge one's own scalp laxity? I can the skin a bit, but I can't tell on this basis how large a strip a surgeon would be able to cut in a single procedure. I'm exploring an option of FUT megasession of 4,500+ grafts. How would I go about determining if that's an option for me? I've calculate my approximate density in the prime donor region based using a USB microscope, but it all depends on the size of a strip that possible to take out in a single session without too much risk of scar stretching. Here's my thread with pics:

Was your sole reason for brining up FUE the fact the scar may be harder to conceal with fine hair? In this video Dr. Lindsey says that patients with thin hair in particular should avoid favor FUT because thinner hair doesn't tolerate avulsion with FUE well. But I have seen finer hair FUE results that seem to be looking good. @Rolandas comes to mind.

Thanks a lot! This whole post super-helpful!

Do you mean that if going with FUE trying to extract too many grafts at once is a bad idea or do you mean that with FUT as well? I believe with FUE the issues are blood supply and donor overharvesting?

It seems I would need a minimum of 4500 grafts to get a decent result. How common are FUE "megasessions" of this size? I would guess you'd need to have above average donor for it?

Thanks!

Here's a pic of my hair before I lost too much. Not sure if that helps.

Thanks, man! Yeah my hair is on the thing side for sure! Does fine hair mean growing it longer to hide the FUT scar?

Can you explain exactly how he cut it? I didn't see an explanation in the original thread? Is the idea to grow it a bit longer above the FUT scar and let the hair grow down and cover it, and then have it cut shorter below the scar?

I don't get it? He had FUE not FUT? And what did he do to conceal exactly? Or are you just highlighting a good result?

Thanks! I split my time between Moscow and New York City. I'm targeting Europe for surgery. I'd rather not mention surgeons right now, unless someone believes some surgeon is particularly well suited for my case.

Yeah NW 5a is about right! The area that needs coverage is approximately 90 centimeters squared.

Thanks! Thanks for that link! Yeah "some kind of hairline" 😂 (but hey I'll take it!). I have some "weak" fuzz time hairs on top and I think there is a chance fin might strengthen some of those. Not sure how much that would change the equation for the surgeon, but I'm leaning towards staying on fin for at least a year before doing surgery. Assessing donor is presumably something that needs to happen in person at the doctors office?

Attached are some photos where the hair is grown out slightly longer. This is the longest I have in the last few years. Not sure exactly what you're asking? What kind of coverage I can get from the currently existing hair? Basically that round bare patch that you see offers minimal coverage. The longer I grow it out, the more the barren area stands out. I keep my hair super short - shaved down to 0.3 mm with a trimmer every ~3 days. Typically don't let it grow longer than the original photos.

Hello, gentlemen! (and ladies?) I am considering a hair transplant and want to get some advice. In the pictures you can see my situation. I’m 38. I started losing my hair in my early to mid twenties. My father is a Norwood 7, but his hair loss was more aggressive at an earlier age. I started finasteride two months ago; plan to stay on it for life. No other treatments. No previous hair transplants. My hair is on the thin side. I've had online consults with two clinics and I'm now reflecting. It seems I'll need 4,500 - 6,000 grafts to get reasonable coverage. My donor is average based USB microscope eval by an HT surgeon in an online consult. I'm debating FUE, FUT, or no surgery. Here is the pros/cons summarized: * FUE * Two procedures * Shorter hair possible * Potentially fewer lifetime grafts * FUT * Possibly one procedure might be enough (for now) * Longer hair to mask scar * Potentially more lifetime grafts. Higher quality grafts (from prime donor area) * No weight training for a few months Here are my concerns that I'd like some feedback on: Since transplanted hair takes 6-12 month to grow out, there is a period where the top of my head will still be bald, while the scaring in the back will necessitate longer hair on the back. The minimum with FUE seems to be 3mm - 6mm and with FUT 6mm - 10mm. At these lengths the horseshoe pattern becomes more and more prominent. How do I navigate this transition period? Roughly how long do the donor and recipient areas remain red/noticeable? What is a safe minimum period between two procedures? With FUE I'd need two procedures N months apart. What is the minimum N that would minimize all risks and maximize the chances of a good outcome? Should I wait for finasteride to potentially strengthen and if I’m lucky regrow some of the hairs before the surgery? Or would the surgeon be able to just transplant into areas where there is no chance for strengthening/regrowth. Would having more “mature” finasteride results help the surgeon make better cosmetic decisions? Is FUE even an option for me? Is it possible to safely harvest as many grafts as I would need in my situation? And and all feedback is much appreciated!

Thanks guys. Does anyone have experience getting touch ups where they have ink of different ages? Right now I'm talking about regular, more permanent SMP that takes longer to fade rather than tricopigmentation that fades quicker. Let's assume on your head the ink takes 4 years to fade to the point where you need a touch up. You get SMP, then two years later get more SMP to fill in newly bald areas. THEN 4 years after your original SMP you go for a touch because the original ink has faded. How does the touch up work if you have areas of ink on your head that is 4 years old (original SMP), and 2 years old (fill in of newly bald areas)? Does that mean you have to touch up each area separately when the ink has sufficiently faded in each area and you'd have to come back for touch ups every two years? Thanks guys. Does anyone have experience getting touch ups where they have ink of different ages? Right now I'm talking about regular, more permanent SMP that takes longer to fade rather than tricopigmentation that fades quicker. Let's assume on your head the ink takes 4 years to fade to the point where you need a touch up. You get SMP, then two years later get more SMP to fill in newly bald areas. THEN 4 years after your original SMP you go for a touch because the original ink has faded. How does the touch up work if you have areas of ink on your head that is 4 years old (original SMP), and 2 years old (fill in of newly bald areas)? Does that mean you have to touch up each area separately when the ink has sufficiently faded in each area and you'd have to come back for touch ups every two years?

I'm set on getting some kinda "hair tattoo" in 2020. I'm deciding between SMP and Tricopigmentation. I know that both options performed by a good practitioner will give good and realistic results. That's not my question. I'm a NW3 or NW4 and I'm still balding. My dad is a NW7. I'll probably reach NW7 one day. I'm only 37. If I weren't balding anymore I would definitely go for SMP because I don't have to do touch ups as frequently. But since I'm still balding I'm wondering if it makes sense to go for Trico instead. If I get SMP and I need a touch up, say in 2 years, to cover the newly bald areas, then the newly applied pigment on my head will be fresh, but I'd also have pigment from 2 years ago that may have faded by say 40-50%. So when I go for my next touch up, say in another 2 years, I'll now have fresh pigment, pigment that's 2 years old, and pigment that's 4 years old. Is this an issue in any way? Can those of you with experience comment on whether it is a problem to do touch ups on a head that has pigments of different age? As far as I know pigment doesn't fade evenly on all parts of the scalp anyway, so then I'd have this problem whether I'm still balding or not. So then does it make sense to go for Trico because I'm still balding. I prefer SMP, but if there is a strong argument for Trico, then I'd like to hear it. Thanks.