best local surgeon for low cost solution

[enigma]

hi im in college and semi in debt as it is. i would very much like to get a hair transplant as my hair is thinning and the crown of my head is thinning to the point of baldness. i currently cover it up with toppik most days and use toppek shampoo and conditioner, but that obviously wont fix anything.

 

out of a necessity to start doing something to help my hair ive ordered some rogain but im almost afraid to start using it as i wont be able to stop after that. 20 years of using rogain will end up costing roughly $2880, which isnt that bad comparitively, but i dont even know if the stuff is going to work for me or not.

 

in dire need of some sound advice from a real person and not the thousands of fake and phoney website reviews boasting all this crap about different meds and other methods that dont actually work.

 

i would be ok with a smaller transplant to start, just enough to cover up the very visable bald spot. (about 2-3 inches in diameter). ive read up briefly on the fue and fut methods and some pluses and minuses associated with them, but if someone could lay out all options and cost scale as to which is most and least expensive i would very much appreciate it.

 

please and thankyou.

 

it astounds me that this kind of information cannot be easily found online and that there is so much phoney info up front. i spent hours upon hours scouering different pages and reviews and there was almost no consistency.

Edited August 11, 2010 by Future_HT_Doc

[haircut]

First, take a deep breath. Then use Rogaine and Finiesteride for at least 12 months before doing anything else. You have just begun a life journey!

[jacksonbrowne]

Ten years ago I was in the same spot. At an infosession, Robert Bernstein, MD told me in no uncertain terms he wouldn't even consider HT's for anyone under 25 except for NW7's.

 

I asked him about medical breakthroughs like cloning and magic pills. All he could muster was Propecia.

 

This showed me that he was no hair God, just a mortal like me. No ethical Dr. will work on you at your age. It's nothing personal.

[enigma]

ok fair enough, thanks for honest advice.

[NotUrAvg]

In my non-expert opinion, I think you have to differentiate the role of medical therapy versus surgical therapy. They have two different functions. Surgical therapy can only serve to replace lost hair in areas of concern. And even then, there are limitations, as you cannot replicate your natural hair density with surgery. Medical therapy, to a certain degree can cause some regrowth, but in my opinion, it's greatest stregnth is prevention of hair loss... especially for younger people with active hair loss. There is no question it is better to maintain what you have, then to try to replace what you lost. The $2880 you quoted for 20 years of rogaine use is much less than what a typical HT surgery costs. If it can prevent you from slipping from a NW3 to 4, or 5 to 6, it has more than paid for itself. In regards to being "stuck on rogaine" I don't think it will cause you to lose more hair than you are destined to. The worst case scenario for non-compliant rogaine use is that you would end looking the way you did if you never used rogaine. That being said, medical therapy is not indicated for everybody, and you would probably best be served by being examined by an experienced doctor so they can decide it's appropriateness for you. It's is definitely an additional cost to consider, and there are no guarantees, so only you can make decision if the price is worth the potential benefit.

[Blake Bloxham]

Enigma,

 

I wanted to both answer your initial question and add my personal opinion on your situation.

 

To find an effective, world-class surgeon near you, take a look at our recommended hair transplant surgeons. Having said that, if you are the age of a normal college student (18 - 22 years old), you are (in my opinion) too young for a hair transplant procedure. At your age, I would highly recommend investigating minoxidil (Rogaine) and finasteride (Propecia). Both these preventive methods are proven, effective, safe, and should really help you stabilize your loss until a time when a transplant procedure is more appropriate. Furthermore, consulting with one of our recommended physicians could help analyze your current level of loss and create an effective treatment plan, but I would be wary of any surgeon who agreed to operate at your current age. I hope this helps! Please keep us updated on your situation.

[enigma]

i have heard some bad things about propecia too like reducing sperm count and sex drive and all that. is that permenant or at least active as long as you take it?

[hairthere]

If you experience side effects they will go away when you stop taking the drug