hairyharry

I've seen the pics of FUT so I know it's more invasive than FUE. I'm starting to have second thoughts about going forward with FUT. Can anyone who has had this procedure tell me it's not that bad and are glad they did it? Or should I reconsider and have FUE instead? I need some encouragement I'm doing the right thing and should move forward with confidence.

This doesn't exactly give me a nice feeling going forward with an FUT. 🤣

My understanding from my surgeon is that FUE can be used to cover the scar left from FUT if needed. He's even offered to use this approach at no extra charge if I'm not happy with the scar once it's healed. Also, it appears because of my level of hair loss that the FUT would yield significantly more grafts.

I'm scheduled for an FUT with a highly regarded surgeon this coming May. My surgeon recommended FUT saying he could get more bang for the buck/follicles/better result for the money. I'm starting to have second thoughts about whether I should do FUT or FUE. I like my sides and back relatively short and afraid I'll regret having the scar. Is this just jitters or has anyone who has had an FUT regret it and wished they had done an FUE?

My wife and I are recovering from COVID. Thank the Lord mild symptoms. A friend of mind had hair loss (Telogen effluvium) after COVID which apparently is common. I read the hair loss can occur 3 months after COVID which is when I've been scheduled for my FUT. Could the donor site be compromised and the hair loss interfere with a successful FUT? Should I push out my FUT procedure?

I'm scheduled for an FUT early next year with a highly regarded HT surgeon who recommended an FUT. Since I scheduled my procedure, I discovered I sort of like my hair shorter on the back and sides. 🙂 Now I'm concerned that the FUT scar might show. A friend of mine got an FUT last year and she ran his hands through his hair and I could not see any visible scar. How short is too short once you've healed from an FUT?

Thanks for the helpful feedback! Here is a pick of my donor area.

I've met with several HT surgeons and have narrowed my choice down to an awesome world-class surgeon. He is recommending a 3500 FUT procedure. A few years ago I started taking finasteride and had some bad side effects and stopped taking it and unfortunately don't intend to take it again. My only hesitation about moving forward with a HT is that if I don't take finasteride am I just throwing my money away. Worse yet, as I continue loosing what's left of my native hair, will my hair look strange with just the transplanted hair once my native hair is gone? If so, would a second procedure down the road resolve any concerns? I'm 55 years old. I've included a photo for reference. Thanks in advance for your advice!

The two surgeons I'm considering are Jerry Cooley and Michael W. Vories

I'm sure the topic of "FUT vs FUE" has been posted many, many times. My question is a bit different. I've met with two awesome HT surgeons. Both are recommended by the International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons. Both are highly recommended by folks on this forum. Both have awesome online photos with very natural results. Both are about the same price. Both are within driving distance for me. One does FUE and the other recommends FUT. I'm 59 years old and will likely not get additional surgeries so my expectation is I want to reconstruct my hairline and most of my crown. The doctor who recommends FUT has given me an estimate of 3500 follicles and the doctor who does FUE 3000 follicles. As I mention above, they are roughly the same cost. I understand the pros and cons of both FUT and FUE so what I'm looking for are actual experiences with both and recommendations for which surgeon to go with. Considering all other things are pretty much equal, except one does FUE and the other FUT. Will 500 follicles make a lot of difference? Is there any risk of nerve damage from the FUT incision? Thoughts?

I'm in the process of scheduling a FUE procedure and trying to schedule around holidays, birthdays, etc., when the family will get together. How long after a HT procedure is the recipient and donor sites not visible of a procedure? In other words, how long after a procedure is it not obvious and you can be safely seen by people? My understanding is for a FUE the back has to be shaved and it takes a while for the donor area to heal and that the recipient area will be red for a couple weeks. Thoughts/experiences?

No, not stressed and get plenty of exercise and sleep and good nutrition. My experience is that traditional physicians typically only know how to prescribe drugs and are not properly trained with respect to holistic natural non-drug approaches. No offense to any traditional medical doctors that may be on the forum. 🙂 Although one poster suggested there are several alternatives, I've yet to see any on this or other posts other than PRP and laser. I'm not a doctor or HT expert for sure but seems to me that although PRP and laser don't resolve the root cause of hair loss (DHT) they do keep the existing hair healthy and strong. Wouldn't that itself at least slow down hair loss. What am I missing?

What are the many alternative options to finasteride? I started a separate thread regarding this topic but so far, from the responses I'm getting, there appear to be NO alternatives. I don't like the idea of altering my body chemistry and the risk of the many possible side effects from this drug. I've decided I won't get a HT if it means taking fin the rest of my life so I either need to find a viable alternative or it's bye-bye to the idea of a HT for me.

So are you saying don't get a HT unless I'm willing to take finasteride or equivalent? Is that really the only option? I was hoping there was a natural and healthier alternative.

Thanks for the informative response. Regarding the other med I took, it wasn't equivalent to finasteride but it did warn of potential phycological side effects, like finasteride warns of possible impotence, depression, etc. Since I already know I'm susceptible to those symptoms I don't want to risk potentially years of post symptoms like I experienced in the past. I wouldn't call myself neurotic, just had a very bad experience with medication that was supposed to be "safe" but caused years of side effects so I'm very cautious not to repeat that experience. I'd also just generally prefer an natural alternative to drugs. I'm 55 years old and have attached a pic of my crown. Seems like I don't have much more to lose. If I only have the equivalent of a couple HT treatments, couldn't I go without finasteride treatment and instead have a couple HT treatments instead? If there is little to lose, seems to me the health risk considerations and low return on investment might not justify taking the drug. I'm not good at estimating number of follicles by looking at a picture, but I can't imagine there'd be more than 3k left on the crown?

I'm about ready to pull the trigger and schedule a HT procedure but I have concerns about using finasteride and minoxidil. I took a med similar to finasteride a few years ago and had a bad reaction psychologically. I've also ready of the negative effects of minoxidil as well. Although I realize the percent of people with issues is relatively small, I still don't want to risk side affects of ingesting these meds for the rest of my life. My hairline is mostly gone and very little hair left on the crown so I wonder if there is much more I could loose anyway. That said, I don't think it would be wise to invest all this money in a HT if I don't protect the little existing hair I have left. I've read (and been told) that there are other alternatives, such as regular PRP and laser hats. Are these valid alternatives to finasteride and minoxidil?