Z--

We have similar hair loss. I'm assuming you are Mediterranean? I'll give you some useful advice when I was 26 and going through that type of loss (and was not, and still not on fin for additional context). All of the doctors that denied me at the time requested I wait an additional year or two, as I was due to lose more hair...and wouldn't you know it, a NW6/NW7 pattern reveled itself in that time. I'm glad I waited and can better set my expectations now. All that is to say: waiting isn't a bad option in this case. You can press forward, but I think right now, given the potential for future loss, you should seek out a top surgeon who works with higher Norwoods instead of price/time concerns, both of which are a receipt for disaster. I'd do some research into doctors in NA and Europe, and save up for the next few months. Best of luck!

One of the best results I've seen. Congrats!

Honestly, you're headed to a high Norwood and it looks like a tad bit of thinning in the donor. I'd really recommend not trying to push the hairline too far down. You have limited donor and a large area to cover. Personally, I don't think surgery is a bad idea. Most of the balding is behind the frontal third and there isn't much to save back there. At most you could lose some hair in the front without medication. I'd look into H&W/Eugenix. I've seen them provide great results for higher NWs.

Yep, I get your point. I'd say replace Guardiola with Conte, though I do think Conte pulled off the shaved head very well (even if he is better looking with hair). I'm fairly convinced that bald works better for men with angular jawlines and thicker eyebrows (and any other pseudo-indicators of testosterone). It probably explains the desire to get buff/toned when losing hair, as it removes face fat. That said, appreciate you man. It's good to know that having a totally exposed crown can still look decent a-la Zidane (WC 1998) if the hairline remains intact. That's where I'm at in terms of hair loss lol.

I think that's fair. I think my point is that some men bald more 'gracefully' than others. Of the above, all three men on the right don't lose too much in terms of appearance, imo. Did you ever see pictures of Zidane or Conte without hair? They actually are still better than 99% of men. That said, for the majority of us, unfortunately, that isn't the case. Might be a bone structure thing. Likely a strong jaw and possible beard growth correspond to baldness taking a less devastating toll on appearance.

Most of these guys are still in the top 1% even without hair. Pitt and Efron really do need the hair, though...

Cinik is a bit risky. There's some good results and some bad ones. The problem is that his clinic don't seem to be held accountable for the bad results. While I'd be weary of having a transplant done in Turkey, there are far, far better surgeons there that I'd put my faith in.

First - condolences regarding your mother. Wishing you and your family the best. As for the result: Holy. With only 2000 grafts, he's managed near to full coverage in the crown area? Extraordinary work. I've seen some controversial Diep results here, but this is an absolute winner. Congrats man. Soon, no one will even know you had hair loss. Cheers.

This is incredible! Such a jump since month four. I'm jealous lol. Congrats man!! I can't image how great it'll be in month 12.

Will defer to any doctors here or doctors that you see in person, and you can have it microscopically checked to verify, but this doesn't look like DUPA to me. All the cases I've seen confirmed here and elsewhere of DUPA usually involve some pretty bad diffuse thinning in the donor region. Your hair is pretty thick (you're pulling it back, so not unexpected to see some skin) and the donor region looks good, I wouldn't worry about it, tbh.

Not sure why anyone would want to defend the obvious underreporting regarding finasteride. It obviously works for the majority who take it, and if it works, that's great for them. I'm not pointing fingers here, but the problem is that proponents of it, particularly on places like tressless or other hair loss forums, seem to balk at the notion of someone not wanting to risk the side affects (and downplay those that do). Assuming they aren't paid shills, why the staunch insistence that people make the same choice they do? It's just peculiar. The truth with finasteride is that you're playing Russian roulette, particularly due to change in hormones. Family member of mine had taken it for nearly decade without any issues, but after around 7 or 8 years, they had all sorts of libido problems. After they'd been off the drug, they'd slowly recovered for the first three or so months and claim to have completely recovered after around 6 months. Sadly, can't say the same about their hair. It's gone from a NW4 to at least a NW6 over that same year. Other people unfortunately never recover. I don't think anyone is a corporate conspiracy theorist or foolish to avoid taking this drug.

DUPA is incredibly rare, so it's unlikely. Do you have photos you can share? It's hard to say without.

Super impressive donor even after 3 surgeries. Honestly, you'd probably be okay with either, though completely agreed with @Curious25regarding scalp laxity.

Flights are around $900. With the massive housing crisis, I'd guess housing would set you back $150 - 300 in total. That leaves around $500 for them to do the surgery. You'd be lucky to even have a tech operating you. Wouldn't be surprised if a local meat butcher or 18 year old student operated on you with that price. Avoid.

Dude, I totally feel you on the shock of discovering that you're a NW7. Never pleasant (thought I was a NW4 as well). Love your attitude and how you've handled it. This looks incredibly clean and I like that he was a more conservative given your pattern. Hasson does great work and this looks to be no exception. Can't wait to follow this. Do you have a sense of how much donor is remaining? I'm thinking the 3,500 placed should sufficiently cover the areas above. Looks like you've got a beard; did he suggest using some BHT to cover the crown in a later session? Also, when are you planning on going back for the crown (assuming if you indeed are) -- I know his wait time is longer but curious how soon one is able to get a second session. Cheers!

I don't think it matters. I mean, obviously don't go out into the scolding hot sun immediately post-transplant, but honestly, from what I've seen, after around a month (or perhaps less), you can almost treat the transplanted hairs like any other. I've seen people put fibers in and wear caps before the two month mark without any issues.

Yeah man, I have to remind myself that Hollywood actors probably use a fair amount of Toppik or other concealers to appear better, but this man looks great in everything. I'm big fan of Villeneuve ever since Enemy, but I thought Dune was too lifeless. It often feels like there's proper transition scenes missing in the film and, beyond that, some fairly bad dialogue. Main actor is too unemotive as well and as perhaps poor casting. Otherwise, was disappointing that the more Islamic/Middle Eastern influences had been cut out. I think the saving grace is that it's very pretty to look at. Oddly, one of the few instances that I think it would have succeeded on an artistic level more as a TV show than a film.

Didn't care for the film. But damn, Oscar Isaac has a perfect beard and hair. It isn't fair!

Exactly this. Think of it this way -- you could probably do two to three transplants with a top surgeon for the price of a Telsa Model Y. I understand its a matter of preference, but honestly, looking in the mirror each day without (or perhaps with less) worry is worth more to me, and I'd imagine many who have done enough research to find this forum, that I find it strange that people balk at the prices. No one seems to question paying for the Model Y -- which will likely be half its value after a few years. Weird that people freak out for paying for a hair transplant surgeon. For context, when I was younger I had to do a 20k facial-bone correction surgery with a top surgeon in the U.S.. When I was in mid-twenties, I'd done LASIK with a pioneer of the field, charging 5k (in comparison to others charging 2.5k nearby). However, unlike a few people who've had less than stellar results doing a similar surgeries, I've never had a problem in either case (and both I'd say are the best investments I've ever done for myself) because I'd picked the best, regardless of price. These doctors typically see less people, and it was incredibly comforting that I could reach out to them, regardless of time of day and they would answer my inquiries. They'd see me for consistently free follow-ups to ensure everything was 100%. All this is to say: keep in mind that you aren't just paying for surgery, but for an ethical surgeon, who will make things right in the event of an issue and provide a more personalized experience, instead of treating you like just another customer. For my fellow users in the U.S., our healthcare system is broken, so naturally we tend to pay more, but it's easier to fly or drive back to great doctor in the states in the event of an issue than having to go back and forth overseas.

For 5,000 grafts this is a 10/10 result. Just a crown filling and a few hundred grafts in the frontal third and you're golden!

Just wanted to personally thank you, Tao. I'd seen your blog and your hair pre-transplant. I'm a bit younger than you, but am nearing your level of hair loss. Your pictures convinced me to reach out to Konior in the first place, so it's great to see this amazing result and I often look at this and other great Dr. K results when I start to panic about my level of hair loss. But your case remains the best I've seen. I'm certain I'll need 2 to 3 transplants and I'd initially been booked to do an FUE but wondering now if I should do FUT first...I'd absolutely kill to have a result that's even 50% as great as yours! Hope life has been great with the hair. Cheers.

Good luck man! I'm interested in SMP myself. Keep us updated.

I appreciate the thoughtful response, even if we disagree! I recognize that donor hairs can thin over time, but they are already far more likely to be DHT resistant. The dip from NW6 to NW7 should be something an ethical doctor can predict through microscopic assessment of the donor hair and looking through family history, as the top of the donor region should certainly be looked at -- and those that have already landed at NW6 likely have plenty of signs of becoming a NW7. I am of the belief that one should always keep a reserve of donor in the event of future loss, whether that be in the form of body-hair or donor in side-banks or back, which I think achieves the concern. That said, I recognize your point and that Finn may have benefit for a NW6 or even NW7, who is at risk of further donor depletion. Life is a matter of risk and rewards, though. The thing about Finn is that it's sides are so numerous, that the benefits you've mentioned (which I think can be achieved via proper donor management and planning), have to be counterbalanced. I recognize the majority don't get sides. I'd gotten heart palpations from minox (family history of a bad heart) alone, so I think I'm the type who is likely to suffer from sides generally. The possibility of sexual libido loss (for months if not years for some), weakening of body-hair (albeit only personal accounts), gyno and more difficulty in assessing prostate cancer risks, just don't make it worth it for me. I understand if you haven't had these problems, the assessment might argue in favor of Finn and that's totally great and I'm genuinely happy for you. FWIW, I'm not against it on principle for all cases, I just don't believe the risk is worth it in my case. Besides, being on medication for life is exhausting and isn't spoken about enough. I'd done LASIK and besides the benefits of better of vision, one of the best perks is not having to deal with contacts day-in, day-out.

I guess I just don't see the point for higher Norwoods, particularly a nearly bald NW6 or someone well on their way to a NW7. If the only way to preserve donor is with Finn, that would imply that it'll thin out once Finn loses its efficacy, so that person would be bound to lose that hair in any case. Worse yet, I've read that it impacts body-hair, which could be used for higher Norwoods. I'm in the same boat Melvin -- I won't be taking Finn either, topical or oral. I have no interest in the risk of sides and benefits seem so marginal in my case.

This is exactly correct. All of the ethical doctors I'd spoken to would either (i) propose doing less than 3k grafts (not one agreed to more, and I'm in a worse situation than you) or (ii) would outright reject me until later. I would be super cautious if you're going to proceed without Fin. Unfortunately, for many of us, that is the reality we have to live with (as I cannot take it either).