Ja-Man

Hey Mercer, congrats one your HT, it looks like you've had good growth. With your "front on" or hairlie shots, your hair seems pretty long and is combed back/straight up, not sure if you have quite enough density for that style. IMO- I would try a shorter hairstyle.

I think you can tell the progress you've made from the top-down shot. Do you plan to address your crown in the future, or let it be?

Could you quit the dermmatch use on the crown and learn to accept the balding/thin crown (at least for now)? Sometimes, we are our own worst critics. If your friends didn't know about your HT's, they may suspect you did something, but I don't think they should "make fun" of your insecurity. That's the problem with HT's, sometimes over time they can bring more attention to one's hair loss insecurity, than away from it.

I agree that getting a 3rd HT before 30 would be too risky considering your level of loss (we all wish we knew HM was around the corner). I think you just need to find ways to turn your attention to other matters in life, try to accept your thinning crown, and re-evaluate your hair down the road.

Nice! I agree w/ MikeTheDane, a 3k graft procedure, most likely wouldn't have given you enough coverage. Even w/ 5k grafts, I wouldn't expect much density, but hopefully a cosmetically pleasing, natural-looking coverage. Please keep up updated on your progress! Because of your advance NW level, will you be taking propecia/fin, or will you not be taking the meds?

For only using 2500 grafts on this patient, which he looks to be a NW6, I think it's a great result!

Nice - one of the best overall results that I've seen! It's great that the patient is able to keep a shorter style. Over the course of the last 8 yrs I'm sure the patient has lost or would have lost more of his native hair. I'd be very surprised if he wasn't on meds. He's on propecia/fin correct?

InQbus - It really depends on where you'll end up on the NW scale and if you have relatives that are NW6-7. At 26, if you have significant loss, most likely you'll end on the higher side of the NW scale (although I hear only a small percentage end up a 7).

If you get an HT, you'd have to plan conservatively and commit to more HT's down the road (even if you were on fin, you'd have to commit to more down the road). Personally, I'd recommend waiting until your 30, you may feel differently about the hair loss at that time, and you'll have a better idea where the hair loss is headed on the NW scale...

I just want to let them know that their minds can change. What seems so important now may not be so important in a matter of a just a few years.

So very true. I see hair loss in a different light now versus 5 yrs ago in my mid-20's. Let's face it, hair loss is natural in men, versus HT's that can "look" natural in most conditions. Great thread for the younger guys. The problem w/ HT's for young guys is that it sets them up for a lifelong battle with mother nature. Thanks for sharing your story.

Hi OM,

I think all of us that are higher on the NW scale are hopefull of a major breakthorugh in the next 10-20 years. From pics I thought you could've waited a few years on the HT, but realize how tough hairloss can be on a young guy. I think you'll see a really nice improvement.

Your donor looks very good, but I think donors would be difficult to evaluate at a really young age. I know the docs have told you that you'd max at NW6, but look for pics of male relatives (grandparents on both sides, father, etc.) and if you could locate pics through their ealier years on how their hairloss progressed, that would help. I found mine closely matches my maternal grandfather, and saw pics of when he was in his 30's and his pattern was exactly like mine. Grow well!

Bullitnut,

The work looks great! Thanks for sharing your story. I realize you had some previous scarring excised, do you recall how many grafts Dr. Shapiro was able to harvest? Also, just curious, what Norwood level would you consider yourself pre-op? Grow well!

The scary thing is there are alot of 30yo NW5s getting operations.

 

Being in my early 30's, this really worries me about HT. Not only does a higher NW level at a younger age make you more likely to become a NW6 or 7, but donor hair can thin over time as well. Meds can slow things down, but sooner or later mother nature will continue to run her course. I just wish one could accurately predit future advances.

It's a tough decision. The best results that I find on the forum are from those that take the meds (propecia/rogaine foam) to complement their HT surgery.

A benefit of doing it know is that it would be easier to keep the HT a private matter since you have some native hair. The downside of doing it know is that very rarely is hair restoration a one and done deal. The vast majority of HT patients will require/want an additional procedure/s at some point down the road.

It looks like your crown has thinned out, I would at minimum consider getting on Rogaine foam, since the hairloss has bothered you enough to consider restoration. It's very easy to appy, and I have seen some benefit to it's long term use.

Dewayne,

You must be very pleased with your results so far. Really big difference from 5 months to 7 months! Surely much more thickening/growth to come! Please keep us updated and try taking pics in a variety of lighting conditions if you can, in the future. Thanks!

John36 - thanks for sharing your story. Sorry to hear about your experience w/ this doctor. On a positive note, you have some good things going for you. At 35, it looks as though you have a decent amount of native hair and your donor looks to be ample, having only used 1800+ grafts. I imagine getting into the chair again may be difficult due to lack of trust, but there are some amazing documented repair cases on this site, with the right doctor.

Are you on propecia/proscar yet? IMHO, the best, long-term results are those that are on the meds.

The mind is soo powerful, and as you're rightfully upset, there is definitely hope.

Hi Reptile, I agree w/ the others that 2500 will not be enough. Even 2 surgeries of 3000+ grafts each, may still leave you with a bald or very thin crown (however, I believe a nice cosmetic difference). Also, being 30 and having a significant amount of loss, there's always a chance that you could end up a NW7 (check your family history). Are you on any hair loss meds (propecia/proscar) to stabilize your hair loss? Doctors will strongly recommend the hair loss meds.

Imissme - it depends on the condition of the underlying skin along your hairline (where grafts were placed). If they were follicular units and the skin is not damaged (pitting), a few on the forum have zapped the transplanted hair out with laser hair removal. Just keep in mind that it may take more than 1 session and will not improve the skin if there is any scarring. Also, you'd have to be confident that you wouldn't want any more work done (transplants) in the future.

Hi ElectraGlide71, I feel for ya. It sounds like you are putting yourself through the ringer with your hair loss. Are you currently shaving it off and still having this anxiety? There are other things you can do to increase your self confidence such as getting fit, furthering your education and career, further develop your sense of humor.

Just remember, the only one that can make you feel bad about your hairloss is yourself. While you feel that women are rejecting you because of your hairloss, they most likely are doing this because of your lack of confidence in yourself.

While an HT can give one a boost in confidence, it's not going to solve all of your problems.

With the financial situation you mention,focus on the things that you have total control over. Hope this helps.

Congrats, post op looks very good, the 4000K should provide very good coverage to the front half and frame your face. Do you plan to have a 2nd procedure to attack the back and crown? Just curious, are you currently on any hair loss meds? If so, for how long have you been on the meds?

Great topic Than, could agree more on the monumental effects that exercise has on oneself; mind, body, and spirit. While we don't have 100% total control on our rate of hair loss,hair appearance, etc it is reassuring to know that we do have total control on what we can do to exercise and lead a healthy lifestyle.

badger_01, I just saw your 4 week pics and IMO you could easily ditch the hat. There is a bit of lingering redness, but with this time of the year it would easily be mistaken for a sunburn.

Also agree w/ Arrie, that it'd be better to ditch the hat a day or 2 before the presentation, so it wouldn't be a surprise to people who notice your hair is shorter.

B Spot - thanks for this info on Dr. Shapiro. If one were to get 200 fue grafts into their donor scar, how much of their donor would need to be shaved? I'm just wondering if this could be concealed, or if one would have to shave a significant portion of their donor, thus missing work, social functions, etc...

jw34 - for fue docs in SoCal - possibly Dr. Umar, who has posted quite a bit recently. Not sure what he charges.

As the others mentioned, you would have to have realistic expectations (high hairline, thin crown).

You do have to remember that once you go down the HT path, you will not be able to shave your head ever again (w/o revealing the long, thin scar). Which may not sound like a big deal now, but it might one day if you ever get tired of it all.

Personally, I'd wait until cloning becomes available (looks to be years away). But, it all depends on how bad you miss the hair (and you've come to the right place to find the best HT docs).

I have to say that I actually prefer the foam to the liquid rogaine solution. It's less messy, easier to apply, and not that much more $$.

(To the newbies), if you're on the liquid rogaine and not entirely happy, give the foam a try. IMO, the foam does work for many in its "limited" ways (mainly the crown area), and is a lot less hassle.

Bill had mentioned in a previous thread that very generally speaking, you can take the NW level times 1000. So, Geoge Costanze, being approx a NW6, would need at least 6000 grafts.

Of course other factors must be taken into consideration such as his donor density, hair characteristics, hair color, etc.

A person who had a transplant that shaved his head, there would be a thin scare on the back of their head. Couldn't a person who had a transplant shave his head and then go to a tattoo shop? You could have the tattoo artist just tattoo little dots within the scar (Whatever color your hair color), that way the dots within the scar would look like hair stuble or hair?

Even with tatoo on donor scar (which I haven't seen a true success story), one will never be able to shave thier head after FUT surgery (without revealing the scar). The best case senario I suppose is a thin donor scar (possibly with some FUE implanted) getting down to a #2, 1/4 inch buzz.

"If there are some that have successfully had tatoo to their donor scar and shaved, please post your pics."

So, make sure you don't go into it thinking you one day won't care what it looks like because you will certainly be depressed.

Dewayne, I have to somewhat disagree on this one. The negative feelings of balding are certainly much worse at 24 that at 42. At 42, your peers may still give you crap, but many of them are also balding. At 24, it can seem like you are the only one going through it. Sure, I agree that at 42 you will still care about your appearance, no doubt about it.

You need to focus on the things that you have total control over such as further developing your career, self-esteem, relationships, etc. The problem is that if you have extensive balding at 24, you will surely be a NW6-7 in your 40's and 50's, with or without meds.

22 years, put this off for 5-10 years...