SuperC

Yes. No one can tell you how likely it is, though. If you can mitigate the issue safely, such as taking a doctor-recommended dosage of Finasteride, for example, then that's generally the way to go. My hair loss has been perfectly stable since my early 20s and I'm 38 now, but I still take Finasteride because otherwise I'd be risking the time, effort, and money spent on having my transplant. Is there some concern with doing so for you?

Why risk it?

If you want to get technical about it, too much of anything can cause damage in extreme cases. A gentle breeze will eventually erode mountains into canyons. We're not invincible, and our actions and behaviors can wear on our bodies. However, under normal circumstances, including above average amounts of hair combing, washing, rinsing, shampooing, etc., you are not going to permanently damage your hair follicles. If you are having trouble letting this worry go, I'd consider talking to a professional about it. Otherwise, go live your life and stop worrying about everyday tasks like brushing your hair. It's fine.

Nope.

Once the transplanted grafts are 100% secure (~2 weeks post-op), the risk becomes about equal to that of your native hair. That is to say, you can damage the hair itself and cause breakage, but you aren't going to damage the follicles or cause the hair to stop growing altogether. Scientifically, it's because you're not interacting with the follicles directly. They are safe under your skin, so don't worry about it. Just take care of your hair and enjoy it.

I did this a few days after the transplant, just out of curiosity. I found that the new hairline received about 45 FU/cm^2, and my native density outside of the thinning/receding area was around 70 hairs per cm^2. I haven't bothered to count since it began growing in, however. If I were unhappy with my results, I might do some spot checks, but it's not really a concern for me.

There's certainly still time. I've seen plenty of cases where waves of new growth occur after 8 months. Hopefully you'll be one of those. I just hit 5 months post-op and I'm really happy with my results so far. Like you, I'm still hoping for some new hairs in the next few months, and I can see quite a few that are still just barely poking through the skin, but I'm trying to keep my expectations realistic and avoid setting myself up for disappointment. I know it's still quite early for me, but even if this is all I get, I think I can work with it. It's so, so much better than what I had before.

You can relax now. I'd recommend still being gentle, but at 21 days post-op, you don't need to worry about casually touching the recipient area.

Please talk to actual doctors about medication and dosages.

Why wouldn't you just ask the clinic?

Hey @Bucky O Hair Any improvement in the last 5 weeks? I'd love to see some progress pictures if you're comfortable sharing.

The transplanted hair is only resistant to DHT, but not necessarily completely immune. That said, I think a more common use of Finasteride is to prevent further loss of the native hair, e.g. behind a transplanted hairline.

You've not provided much information about your situation for anyone here to help. Can you include some good, clear photos with adequate lighting and explain your goals in more detail? I had a great experience with Dr. Rahal and his clinic in Toronto about 3 months ago. Communication has always been good and the procedure itself went well. They provided clear post-op instructions and everything I needed for the first few weeks of recovery, and have been following up with me regularly to see how things are progressing. I try not to vouch for clinics I've not personally been to, so I can't speak for the others, but I know Hasson & Wong are very popular as well.

No one can tell you chances. It just doesn't work that way. I created a similar thread about my own anxieties before my procedure, as have countless others, and it seems that we all eventually realize that we're taking a leap of faith in having the procedure. Like all things in life, there is some risk. You could end up with a bad result and/or other complications. However, if you're a good candidate, and you go to a reputable clinic with reasonable expectations, and then carefully follow all pre- and post-operative care instructions, the odds are definitely in your favor.

How could anyone possibly know that?

No one can know that. Talk to a doctor. Come up with a plan. Give it time and adjust accordingly.

Try to relax. You are totally fine. I understand anxiety, but nothing you've described is the least bit concerning. You are obviously being very careful and mindful about your recovery process. A good surgeon knows to give instructions that are extra cautious because patients will often "bend the rules" to some extent. If you tell someone not to wear a hat for 2 weeks, they will wait 10 days, you know? You've done nothing to ruin your transplant, and at this point in your recovery, there's very little you can do to cause problems. The only challenge now is being patient.

No. That's nonsense.

Regardless of what we know about the process, we all get a little anxiety sometimes, don't we?

Looks normal to me. At 12 weeks, I'd say things are just getting started. Try not to worry.

Looking better doesn't always mean looking good. I'm not sure that you have realistic expectations. If not, you're setting yourself up for disappointment. My native hair density is somewhere around 75-80 grafts per cm^2. My recent transplant has filled in my hairline at about 45 grafts per cm^2 at the front, tapering off as it moves back toward my native hair and begins to overlap it. The transplanted hair will grow and look better than the bare skin that was there before. But at short length, it will still look bad against the higher density areas where my native hair still grows. I'll likely need to grow it out a few inches before it all blends nicely, and if I weren't willing to grow it out, I'd probably have been better off not having the procedure at all. Even if I were to have a super dense transplant by an elite surgeon where and 100% of the transplanted grafts survived, there are still things like angulation and hair texture to consider, which can still easily create a visible contrast between the native and transplanted areas at a short length. I think a natural-looking result depends heavily how you grow and style it. Wearing a buzz cut or similar almost completely defeats the purpose.

Absolutely. And paying a consultation fee shows that you are serious about the procedure. Many of the top surgeons are booked months or years in advance. At some point, it only makes sense for them to talk to only the most serious patients and let their representatives handle communications with those who are in earlier stages of their research.

If you're researching surgeons and one of your top picks charges for a consultation, then I'd say it's worth it for the opportunity to talk directly with them. It could be the deciding factor in selecting your surgeon. It also can't hurt to ask if the consultation fee can be applied toward the overall cost of the procedure later if you decide to book.

This is nothing new. The explanation is in the original post of the first topic you linked to. Whether or not the strategy is effective is another matter, but the results should speak for themselves.

Please share the clinic names. Also, posting some photos would be helpful.