CMaso99

Thanks, I don't mean to whine -- I know some guys have had to deal with worse, and at a much younger age. It was just a shock at first, because from the front (the angle which I usually see) it doesn't look nearly as bad. From the sides/back/top, the loss is plain. And I've been noticing that more hair comes out when it's brushed than used to. I've tried mid-length layered, and didn't really like it. Long and black seems to have gotten the best reviews. I went ahead and made an appointment for a Zoom consult with a well-rated hair restoration clinic in Albuquerque, so I'll see what they recommend afa meds. Clearly, looking into med solutions first is the next logical step.

Ah, gotcha. Yeah, I tried that look a few years ago, and it didn't look good. Plus it comes in mostly gray, which doesn't look good either after even 1 or 2 days' growth.

I'd have to shave my head to try Xyon? Is that true of all topical meds?

But I'd prefer not to take any meds without medical advice, because maybe it simply wouldn't help in my case, and then there's the expense and possible side effects. Finasteride has some particularly unappealing ones -- "you should know that finasteride may decrease fertility in men; decreased sexual desire, ejaculation problems, and inability to have or maintain an erection may occur during and after your treatment is stopped." No thanks; I'll take surgery and a temporarily shaved head before that. As far as the head shave -- yes, that would be tough, and it sounds like the weeks immediately following a procedure are no fun, but I'm in this for the long haul. If I have to spend several months before it looks presentable, but then it will keep growing and I don't have to worry about hair loss ever again, I'm willing to pay that price.

For this, I assume I don't need to consult a surgeon, though. I want to see a dermatologist, correct?

Thank you -- I certainly will!

Thanks much for your response. I'm 55, and I'm not on any medication. I wasn't even aware of how bad my hair loss was until I recently noticed it from a top/rear video shot. I've attached shots of my hair (2 from top, plus front/back/left/right). Seems to be an ongoing problem, because I've also noticed hair comes out every time it's brushed. So you think I should get on medication before doing an HT? That was my very next question, in fact--if my hair is falling out, won't it keep coming out after the HT? Either way, yes, I definitely want to do this the informed and calm way, not the quick and panicked way. I've since read this promising GQ article (https://www.gq.com/story/how-istanbul-became-the-global-capital-of-the-hair-transplant). HOI doesn't sound like it would be a bad option, but I saw from the list of best surgeons that you linked that a few of them are based there in Istanbul, as well. That seems to be the best location for finding a low-cost/high-quality provider. My wife really wants to visit there, too, so it looks like Istanbul's a likely location for my HT. Hopefully I can send pics to one of the surgeons there, start a dialog, and that'll be sufficient for them to diagnose and determine what I need, yes? There's still the question of medications, though, as far as if I should use and which I should use. So I may still take a trip to someone here in the U.S. that's on the recommended list, first. These pics are hard for me to look at, but they are what they are, and I have hope. I'll definitely be giving your book a read. Thanks again!

I just recently noticed that my hair's thinning all over, and I've just begun to educate myself on hair restoration options. So far all I've gathered are some of the different options (FUT, FUE, NeoGraft), and that getting a procedure done in the U.S. will be more expensive (but not necessarily better) than elsewhere else in the world. I figure the first thing to do is travel to a relatively close clinic or specialist here in the U.S., who can best analyze what's happening with my hair, how many grafts I need, etc. Then, once I have a good idea of what I need and what will have the best result, travel to wherever I need outside the U.S. to get it done inexpensively, but well. Any impartial advice on a top clinic in the U.S. for the analysis (relatively close to SW New Mexico), or top clinic outside the U.S. to get a procedure done? Any advice on impartial websites that will get me up to speed on options and best clinics/surgeons in the world? Thanks much -- I know it's on me to learn what I need to learn, but would appreciate any point in the right direction.