24 - About to have a Hair Transplant

[Topi]

I am 24 years old and as you can see from my pictures attached, my hair line has receded quite significantly as well losing hair in my crown area. I have drawn my ideal hairline shown on the pictures also, although on reflection this is probably quite an aggressive expectation. I definitely want a hair transplant (HT) otherwise i will become a Norwood 6 by the time i am 30, just want some opinions on me having a HT. As I am new here I have some questions that are of most concern to me in the below 4 bullet points. If anyone can give any insight to these it would be very much appreciated. Thanks for your help!

 

• I am considering having a hair transplant, at my age (24) and considering how much hair i have lost already, would it be worth it?
  

 

 

• I am looking to have 4500 follicles (in one session) which requires both the Strip and FUE method. Would i be able to have my hair as short as in my pictures or would the strip be too recognisable? This would be a major consideration for me.
  

 

 

• Would there be enough density/coverage and would the rest of my hair just not fall out anyway? If i did have a HT for 4500 follicles now, i would still probably need another 2 sessions of 3000-4000 follicles within the next 6 years to prevent me from coming a Norwood 6. What is the maximum number of follicles i can take from the back and sides of my head? Probably different for each individual but as an approx. I also have more than enough hair on my chest to be donated to my crown area, can this not be done? (I am not too concerned about the quality of my hair on my crown area).
  

 

 

• I have not started taking Minoxidil or Finasteride, would this at least stabilise my hairline and crown area and prevent further baldness? Are you able to take both? How long would this last for considering i am 24 years old? Are there any medical procedures available (apart from HT) to guarantee prevention of further baldness and stabilisation of my current hair?
  

Thanks for your assistance.

Regards.

[moses0324]

Let me try to tackle all of your questions...

 

I am considering having a hair transplant, at my age (24) and considering how much hair i have lost already, would it be worth it?

 

I would not pursue a hair transplant at this time. I would recommend starting a rogaine, nizoral, and finasteride regiment. They will help stop further hairloss and potentially regrow already lost hairs. Continue these therapies for at least a year and determine your hairloss status.

 

I am looking to have 4500 follicles (in one session) which requires both the Strip and FUE method. Would i be able to have my hair as short as in my pictures or would the strip be too recognisable? This would be a major consideration for me.

 

In my opinion 4500 looks appropriate however you probably could not wear your hair that short. To me (just my 0.02) the FUT scar would show thru your current haircut. Also there is no way that hairline could be done with 4500. You would have to settle for a higher hairline.

 

 

Would there be enough density/coverage and would the rest of my hair just not fall out anyway? If i did have a HT for 4500 follicles now, i would still probably need another 2 sessions of 3000-4000 follicles within the next 6 years to prevent me from coming a Norwood 6. What is the maximum number of follicles i can take from the back and sides of my head? Probably different for each individual but as an approx. I also have more than enough hair on my chest to be donated to my crown area, can this not be done? (I am not too concerned about the quality of my hair on my crown area).

 

As you said this all depends on donor availibility, density, laxity, etc...A recommended HT doctor could help determine this. I dont want to give an answer that could be potentially incorrect. To be honest you probably wont have enough density in 4500 grafts to cover a complete norwood 6.

 

I have not started taking Minoxidil or Finasteride, would this at least stabilise my hairline and crown area and prevent further baldness? Are you able to take both? How long would this last for considering i am 24 years old? Are there any medical procedures available (apart from HT) to guarantee prevention of further baldness and stabilisation of my current hair?

 

I would start taking the aforementioned medications immediatley if you are serious about keeping your hair. You are able to take both as they work synergistcally. These medications have been known to last anywhere from 5-20 years. It differs from person to person. You wont know until you start the meds.

 

Hope this helped a little...Let me know if you have additional questions.

[mattj]

Has a doctor recommended you have a strip and FUE procedure together?

[Topi]

Moses0324 - Thanks for your feedback, i'll take everything you have said on board. I am about to take Minoxidil and Finasteride straight away.

 

MattJ - A clininc has suggested i have a strip on day one and then a FUE on day two in order to have a 4500 grafts in one session, i won't name them here.

[justlooking1]

Moses0324 - Thanks for your feedback, i'll take everything you have said on board. I am about to take Minoxidil and Finasteride straight away.

 

MattJ - A clininc has suggested i have a strip on day one and then a FUE on day two in order to have a 4500 grafts in one session, i won't name them here.

What is the cost?

[moses0324]

Costs vary...

 

FUE is from $7-$12 per graft...More tedious work when extracting

 

FUT is from $4-$7 per graft

 

So for a FUT of about 3000 grafts you can expect to pay $15,000 unless...the doctor offers mega-sessions where you can save considerable amounts of money...

 

examples:

 

Megasessions:

 

2,300- 2,450

2,500-2,700

2,800-3,000

3,100-3,300

3,400- 3,600

3,700- 3,900

4,000$10,000

$11,000

$12,000

$13,250

$14,000

$15,000

$15,500

 

Hope this helped...

[TC17]

You don't look like a candidate for any type of surgery. Your donor appears to be thinning, and you already have extensive baldness at a very young age.

[Sean]

Any consultation with a doctor to assess the donor hair in person? That may help give an accurate figure of how many hairs you may use for current procedure to future procedures. As for using chest hair or etc for crown or mid scalp, I think beard hairs would probably have better characteristics then chest hair. You can use it if you have limited donor hair for future surgeries.

 

You really have to plan this out carefully. You do not really know how much further the hair loss can progress. But if you got the money, and your willing to get multiple surgeries, then anything is possible.

 

As far as strip goes, I have no idea if it will be visible with that short hair. Some people can pull it off and some people it may show. You do not know how you are going to heal. It all depends on your physiology. But that hair is pretty short, so it may show. Check out patient photos and compare their scars and hair length.

 

Like others have said, I'd get on Rogaine/Propecia asap. Especially, since you are 24, it may work better. It can thicken your hair and help you regrow and conserve hairs. It's very important at this stage. The downside is some people may have side effects and when you stop using it, you'll lose what you gained. good luck

[Tonycc]

I wouldn't even think to consider surgery. Or at least FUT. Your scar would be visible.

 

It says that you have started taking meds for this. I really hope this will work for you.

 

I wouldn't make any sort of decision on this until 6 monthish when you can start to see results from this.

 

Wishing you the best. Please keep us updated on your progress.