GoliGoliGoli

I think i was maybe not reading between the lines carefully enough. Melvin is saying the pattern for NW6 develops by 35, not that all NW6's occur by 35.

Just so I understand, you're saying if you're not NW6 by 35 you aren't likely to ever become NW6?

I think he absolutely qualifies. I'm super impressed by how he detailed documents his results in the pics and videos he posts. His density and design is great as well. He is a bit under the radar because he's only been on the forum for a short time, but his result speak for themselves.

And even here I am speaking very broadly. I get that a NW 2.5 looks fine on some guys and not fine on others. HT's are very context specific, so it's really tough to have any sort of "rules of thumb" that can apply to the population at large given that balding effects all ages, races, head types, face types ect

I agree. I understand the surgeon's perspective (If ethical) of not wanting to bring someone back to NW 0.5, but aesthetically the difference between NW 1.5 and NW 2.5 is really not that much IMO. So just wait and bide your time, otherwise you're forced into the position of chasing it if and when further recession happens. IMO, HT's are really best left to guys who have significant balding where anything is going to be an improvement over their baseline. In the meantime, embrace your early 80's Bruce Willis and find a style that works for you.

HT without medication comes down to a lot of things, it's impossible to paint with too broad of a brush and say it's not worth it. But I agree if you are going without med's, you should hold off on doing the hairline for as long as possible. I see a lot of guys on here who are like NW 2.5 or below getting HT's and honestly it strikes me as body dysmorphia. You're better off just accepting it, finding a style you can live with, and waiting until you really need a HT. I don't think anyone should be going in for first time HT's if it's below 2000 grafts. But yes agreed, it doesn't seem that getting a FUE really removes the possibility for shaving down the line. I've never really bought the idea that it does, but again it also comes down to a lot of factors.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but you've never posted a picture right?

What's your hat size or head circumference? Did you have a lot of 3 and 4 hair grafts?

Haha I think the relationship is fairly minimal. I'm 6'0 with a 60.6 hat size, so probably like a 58.6ish head circumference? So according to @mr_peanutbutter chart I am well within the top 90% biggest heads for my height. Basically I'd look like a Lolipop if I went bald I think I'm more of a Meso head shape but I'll still likely need a ton of grafts if I ever get to NW6. So everything's a trade off

You also have to be careful if you're judging mainly off pictures of yourself. The lighting and the background color is very different in the two sets of pictures. I'm not saying you are wrong either whatsoever, but just many things to consider when comparing apples to apples.

There is a lot of debate about whether the topic discussed in the below video is true or not. But it's possible this is what you're experiencing. Although I think 7 months is early for that type of thing, IIRC they discuss that below in the video. Did you get a haircut between the two pictures? Is the length different?

A Scottish guy with a large head? I refuse to believe it! Haha I also have a lot of Scottish ancestry and have a very large head. We can console ourselves by Googling "IQ and head size".

You should listen to Melvin's recent podcast with Dr Zarev, he gives his philosophy on temple points at some point in it, and his philosophy is generally the one i agree with.

Tremendous info. The posters on this forum are far and away the best informed of any HT forum and it isn't even close. Add this to the list of things that makes one either a good or bad canidate for HT surgery.

Is 2000-3000 for your average person with average scalp elasticity? Frankly even for 3000 I'm not sure I would allow them to slice the back of my head open. But of course it all comes down to personal factors.

The potential for complications and the increased recovery time is what puts me off to FUT. Just doesn't seem worth it for a thousand more grafts or something like that. I also don't understand: how do people fly to a different country and then get the staples removed at home? Can you just go to any urgent care clinic to have them removed?

I think 7 to 7 1/8 is pretty small. At least according to the New Era size chart

What a great and detailed answer.

As a guy who wears a hat size of 7 5/8 (which I think is big but not huge) this is what I have both feared and expected to be true. I wish you would've asked him his thoughts on whether guys with big heads have correspondingly large donor areas on a more or less 1:1 ratio?

Based on those pics no one in the general public will be able to tell that's a hair transplant. We are all our own biggest critics and whatnot. When did you get the repair done?

First of all, you are doing things exactly right in thinking for yourself and not just outsourcing the hairline design to the doctor. Of course take his expertise into consideration, but really you are the one who needs to do the research and the planning for yourself. How aggressive you can afford to be on the hairline depends on whether your using medication (and which kinds) and whether you have a bad, average, or good donor. I will say, I like your plan to basically transplant into the entire circled area of the hairline. Some doctors will do everything they can to preserve whatever hair you have left, and work around your existing hair to give you the best result. I personally don't like this plan because as you continue to lose, it will not look very natural. I prefer the option to say "Damn the torpedo's" and blow through those minitaurizing hairs because they are likely going to fall eventually. So saying damn the torpedo's I think future proofs your HT a little bit more in terms of how long you can go without getting a second HT. The problem with this route is that it will take up a lot more grafts, and the Dr may say he can't do both the entire circled hairline and the crown all in 1 surgery. Or will only be able to put a few hundred into the crown which may actually be enough for you. But a lot depends on if you are on fin or not. If you just started fin maybe those hairs will come back strong and you don't need to say damn the torpedo's. I hope this makes sense. You're a bit late to be asking these questions if your HT is tomorrow, but better late than never.

There's no hope for a cure until we have more than a tentative grasp on what actually causes balding. How exactly is it that DHT effects that hair follicle? No one knows. How does inflamation effect the hair follicle? No one really knows. How exactly does blood flood effect the hair follicle? No one really knows.

Thank you for sharing your experience. I know sharing this type of thing is not easy but it may save another patient from going to these clowns. Was your repair successful at least?

Do you mind posting some current pictures of the hairline area? I'm not really seeing anything in your pictures that looks unnatural. The crown looks thin but not as thin as pre-op so definitely some improvement.

Turan and Gur really out here doing God's work for those of us who can't or don't want to take out a mortgage for a HT. Great result, enjoy!