AsianBoyHairLoss

After some re-evaluating and some more research, I've settled on two surgeons: 

Doctor Wong from Hasson and Wong 

Doctor Raymond Konior from Chicago Hair Institute

Anyone have experience with these two surgeons in particular? 

14 minutes ago, mister_25 said:

You have alot of hair already. If you do not take DHT prevention medication you will probably have to go through a similar journey as Melvin. A Norwood 6 with nothing exhausting every possible resource he can to get hair on top, including hair that is prone to thinning later.

There are other lesser known forms of balding such as Retrograde Alopecia and DUPA. Retrograde is where you thin at the bottom of the nape and above the ears. This compromises your Donor. DUPA is significantly worse where you cant guarantee ANY hair on your head will go or not. INCLUDING your donor. Finasteride and other DHT prevention medication is the only way to combat this possibility. Not only does it strengthen/prevent hair loss on top of your head. But also affects your donor if you take it Orally or apply it topically to that region. This could strengthen donor areas that were prone to thinning to be transplanted. Increasing your overall donor.

I went pretty much bald at 20 and a Norwood 5 and I didn't even know hair loss medication existed. Its a taboo topic for men to open up about personal struggles and feelings in society. 

Every person reacts to DHT differently. Generally speaking, the younger you are the more DHT you produce and the older you are the more DHT Sensitive you are. Some people get lucky where the sensitivity as they get older isn't affected because the lack of DHT levels they are on. Some peoples hair are only prone to Norwood 3 with Super thick remaining hair. You cant guarantee anything, even looking at family history is no promise but a decent indication of "FINAL PATTERN" not rate of balding

These cases are mostly people that have their frontal third transplanted. Then quit meds, then bald everywhere behind it. Giving them a Island of hair in the front and bald everywhere else. Tory Lanez is a celebrity example

 

You got this the other way around. Hair transplants are a temporary solution. Medication could make them a permanent solution. This is why you test your reaction to Finasteride/DHT Blockers before you get a hair transplant. You stabilize then hair transplants can become more "permanent"

 

Still can't guarantee, your not doing anything to actually inhibit hair loss. Remember as I stated earlier. Younger you are the more DHT you produce, older you are the more DHT Sensitive you are.  Its a gamble that you are talking about right now

People overrate family balding as a good indicator so I'll tell you my story

Father. Norwood 5 Diffused at 50. Norwood 2.5 at 40.

Paternal Grandfather  Norwood 5 slick bald or Norwood 6

Maternal Grandfather Norwood 4 or Norwood 3A. in his 50s before passing.

Maternal Uncle Norwood 3 60s

Maternal Cousin - Alopecia Areata (I am not blood related to the side of the family that was prone to this)

Paternal Cousin - Norwood 1 50s

Paternal Cousin - Norwood 3 45?

Myself - Norwood 5 20 years old

As you can clearly see from myself example the general idea of final pattern is evident in family members. But not the rate of balding.

You aren't guaranteed to get your hair back from medication, so lets say with medication you stabilize but don't get regrowth. You will need to get another transplant to fix what you lost. Nothing is a guarantee, and most good doctors have ethical reputations. They will only accept if you are on medication because they want what's best for you. And ethical doctors are more trustworthy and trustworthy doctors have better reputations and better reputations are better business.

Thanks for breaking it down and explaining each point. I really don't want to step into medication, so I will continue to look for other surgeon's/clinic's opinions. There is a Turkish clinic-- Long Hair Center who claims that their doctor is with me throughout most of/the entire procedure, and they've shown me adequate asian patient's results. Their rep hasn't mentioned anything about meds or my age. Yet despite all that, their reputation is pretty good and there are plenty of youtube videos documenting their practice and results. What is your opinion on this?

Thanks again

1 minute ago, Britalien said:

Anybody showing a predisposition to lose so young, will continue to do so, those are the facts. At what rate it’s Impossible to say, just that it’s much more likely. 
This is why it’s better to wait until around the age of 25, If you do happen to retain what you have now, then great, if not the Dr/Clinic will plan accordingly. 
It’s not a absolute must for anyone to go on Fin/Dut, just that happens to be the only proven thing which works, to either enhance or maintain you’re existing hair.

The Dr will want to know they are doing the best for you, when they make recommendations it’s with good reason. Get some consultations done and you should see some similar advice given, or they may just ask you wait for a few years. Dr Diep & Dr Konior have also shown a lot of Asian hair results, maybe consult with them. Im older but started my procedures later, and don’t take Fin, Im on ht 5 and still need another. 

Thank you for your input. I will consult with some more doctors. You have had 5 HT? How has each procedure been?

12 minutes ago, Britalien said:

Most if not all ethical Drs/Clinics won’t operate at people under the age of 25, and especially ones that are not on any med regime. What’s more than likely is you will continue to lose hair, especially as you have started to already at such a young age. For most of us a clear pattern of balding won’t really be fully apparent until around 25. The last thing a Dr wants is to not plan properly, not just for now, but the future too. They will want to be considering a hairline appropriate for you now, but again for the future too. And from a finite area of grafts they need to ensure their is going to be enough for the inevitable multiple procedures. Using meds will help strengthen and maintain your existing hair. Without it (you’re choice) you will continue to lose and be chasing the loss through multiple procedures until the donor area runs out. 

As of now, the only issue is my hairline. If it continues to recede into my crown, couldn't I address that with meds and/or another transplant? I'm 100% certain that there HAS to be individuals who have had hair transplants without having to combine it with meds to maintain their hair. Unless this is all too good to be true?

4 minutes ago, mister_25 said:

You need to stabilize your hair loss to be any form of a candidate. Just because you have receded a tiny bit or lost a bit in your crown doesn't mean that's it not going to get worse.

Hair loss is progressive, you need to stabilize and monitor your situation for around 6 months to a year. If you get regrowth on meds, or no hair loss has been visibly noticeable for 6 months to a year (would recommend a year) than you can consider getting a hair transplant. 

Also your third point. People that get surgery are on Finasteride/Minoxidil for the rest of their life to maintain their hair. Its a life long war/battle. Don't treat Hair Transplants as one and done because you will probably need to do it again if you thin out across 10-20 years. Hair transplants are a temporary solution, they will get your hair back but not address progressive hair loss and balding. That's what medication is for. Hair transplants to win the battle, Medication to win the war.

Dr Hasson is a top choice of Surgeon, I would recommend listening to his advice as he is one of the only people I would let touch my head (I'm getting a HT with him at the end of the year)

Why is this knowledge not common enough? I'm sure there are cases where people are not or are no longer taking meds after their procedure. It just doesn't sit right with me that I have to rely on medication for temporary results.

I have seen cases where people with full heads of hair after a procedure who claim to be on no medication.

Also, my hair loss has slowed to the point where there has not been any further recession for about a year. I have monitored the state of my hairline for a year without medication and can confidently claim that there hasn't been dramatic recession like the previous 2 years. I am also looking at my father (who is also receding, though still has hair in his crown area) for reference. I am sure I won't experience any notable recession for some time. Also, couldn't I just take meds in the future if I do see the hair loss progress after the transplant? 

8 hours ago, Gatsby said:

How long have you been taking minoxidil and finasteride for @AsianBoyHairLoss?

Hi, I have not started either. I don't wish to take hair loss medication for 3 reasons:

1. Potential Side Effects 

2. Temporary Effects 

3. My body getting used to the medicine and relying on it

I have consulted Hasson and Wong, they are asking me to take finasteride for at least 6 months just to be CONSIDERED for surgery. Why is this? 

Thanks

Thanks for your input. I still want to get this procedure done now considering how much I’ve already lost in just a few years. My hair loss has also slowed down recently. I’m preferably looking for clinics within or near the USA. I don’t think I’ll get an opportunity to visit asia for a while. Thanks

Hi, I'm attaching pictures of what my hair used to look like, which is ultimately my ideal goal. I want to grow my transplanted hair out to cover my forehead instead of slicking it back like 99% of the patients do. I started experiencing hair loss from when I was 17-18 years old. 

One of the biggest and most frustrating difficulties is finding a clinic with proper documentation of asian male patients. Everything I've come across Youtube, Google, and Reddit have felt iffy or inconsistent. I don't want to be pressured into a turkey mill, I'm willing to pay proper money for someone who can restore my naturally m-shaped hairline. Does anyone know a surgeon or clinic that has experience with asian male patients and is publicly sharing conclusive results? Thanks

This is how I look now: