A young man seeking answers - pics included

[azazelgs]

Hello everyone,

 

Sorry for the depressive mood, my hairloss has taken over me for the last month. It literaly destroys my life right now. I really can't feel like myself anymore. So , I'm at the egde of making a decision.

 

I'm 25 years old, nw5-6 scale. Crown is still looking good and based on my family pattern , I hope it will be for a long time. I've been on propecia for 2 years and minoxidil for a year.

 

I started my researches when I was 22 at the egde of nw2-3 pattern. I'm thankful to this site that i did not jump to anything like local butchers , someone claiming that a ht that will last me for a life-time. Now I see that it will be a long journey for me , especially based on my age, pattern and family history.So it's so crucial to make the right moves, which I'm hoping from you guys enlighten me through the road.

 

Last month I focused with researching about the FUE since I buzz my hair for a year now and I really like it that way but just one thing , I hate my hairline! When I was 16-17 , I saw some guys with my hairline like now and I wished to god I won't be like that. Now I'm living my worst nightmare.

 

So, I first saw Armani hairlines and as many of you had , I was fascinated! But then after more research..... That guy cannot be trusted. Some results seem over the moon but in every web site there are the same 10-15 results! No one (except feelzgood in this forum I guess) has a blog in this site so this is very suspicious.

 

So I continued to fue and read alot about Dr. Bisanga in Brussels. Since I live in Turkey, a great FUE guy in Europe , why not? I sent my pictures for online consultation. He was very quick replier, based on my pattern and donor , I'd only be getting 1500 grafts which is nothing and he refused me. You guys can't imagine how I feel. 25 year old bald , no option just to accept his baldness which is impossible.

 

Then , other options besides ht, hair system and scalp micro pigmentation. I don't want to go to pros and cons about both , but my main point was ; if one of them would be found out, I'd freak myself out and never live with the tension of if someone notices.

 

Last week while I was searching this forum , I thought to myself :" Hey azazel, you 've been on this site for nearly 2 years now and all you see is H&W everywhere. Just send your pictures , see what happens." and I did. Same pictures that I sent to Dr. Bisanga, Joe told me to get more clear photos ,so I did and add something for them to estimate the laxity.The next day Joe replied and I quote:

 

 

"Thank you for sending the new photos. They show a lot more detail especially what appears to be your fantastic donor laxity. Combined with your average donor density you could most likely get well above 5000 grafts in one session".

 

2 days ago I was told 1500 grafts and now I hear more than 5000??!? And not from anyone, from H&W?? The feeling was unbelieble, to see that there is still hope. The first thing I thought was what i'm gonna end up if I start scalp exercises:)

 

Now comes the egde; I know this road will be long and hard. And one thing I learned from you guys is to plan for the worst ,hope for the best. I believe H&W is one of the best places for me to start. 5000 for the first is not a bad thing to go, especially for the frontal third. Then 2nd procedure to address the crown.

 

So my worst case scenario: To get what I can get from H&W. If the density wont be good enough , I'm not afraid to buzz my hair which I'm doing for a year. And I'll have a good hairline with thinning all over look. Then FUE my scar or to scalp micro pigmentation. As far as I researched, there are plenty of ways to cover my scar.The most important scar for me to have at the front , to have a pluggy look or some surgical scars at the hairline and top , which I believe I won't have that problem if I go with Dr.Hasson or Wong. I'll talk about this with them more.

 

Best case scenario: To be the new jotronic, Falceros, Nicnitro, Bobman and many more that we all jealous of! Until Joe's response , all I was dreaming of was a good ,thinning but solid hairline that I can be happy with. Now I'm imagining myself with a good long hair which I was stopped dreaming about a year ago.

 

Sorry for the long post , here are the pictures. ALL responses and comments are highly welcomed.Up to this time, this forum has gained me a great benefits. Now, it's my most important decision in life and I'll be more than happy to see some responses.

[aseda1979]

Im not a doctor, but looking at the pics a session of ~ 3000 will do the job unless you want super high density hair.

Your balding is not extensive. The pics show a lot of hair on your midscalp, and your crown looks fine. The frontal third and parts of midscalp might be the targeted zone.

[corvettester]

azazelgs,

 

I don't understand how you concluded that you were a NW5/6. To me, you look like a NW2/3 with some thinning in the midsection. How are the meds working out for you?

 

Your case looks particularly auspicious to me: good laxity, good donor supply, good hair characteristics, minimal balding, etc...

 

Also, why the dramatic title? If anything, you're one of the lucky ones.

 

 

Corvettester

[Dutch]

Why the suicidal title dude? As Corv said you look like a N2-3 if that. Not 5-6! And you are one of the lucky ones. It looks like you have density.

I'm very jealous of your laxity, I certainly don't have a quarter of that, so what shall I be saying then? You don't need 5k grafts now!

Bisanga was telling you thats what you need maybe- 1500 grafts via FUE? Isn't that what you asked him for, FUE?

[mattj]

Add me to the list of guys confused about the Nw5/6 thing.

 

How cosmetically acceptable (when grown out) is the hair at the frontal and mid-scalp regions? I'm having trouble seeing which areas need addressing and just how much work they need. From where I sit they still look pretty solid, although obviously showing signs of thinning. I suppose they could be quite miniaturized.

 

If you like the buzzed look (and I can tell that it suits you) then I think you still have enough of a hairline shadow that you shouldn't be concerned that this area lets you down. Don't listen to your 16-year-old self. I despise the hairstyle I had at 16 and would not take any notice of my opinions and tastes at that age. Our tastes mature with age. Most twenty or thirty-somethings would say that you look good.

 

I am conscious that I'm trying to talk someone out of surgery with another clinic. Rest assured, that's not my intention. You could get an astounding restoration of what you've lost at H&W, but I just think it's a shame to go to such lengths when you already look good.

[Jotronic]

I think I need to nip this in the bud and make our position crystal clear. We have not given Azazelgs a recommendation for surgery. I agree that he looks good with a shaved head and it is a very viable option for him to consider. However I see a distinct NW5A (diffused) pattern developing so we are waiting for new photos where the hair is grown out longer so we can make a solid assessment.

 

Just because the pattern is there with his hair shaved does not mean that with a bit of length that there is not enough hair to style and look good. Shaved heads are notoriously difficult to assess as even the fullest head of hair can and DOES look thin when shaved so short. And just because I told him that 5000 should be possible in one session certainly does not mean he should have 5000 in one session. It was an observation about his characteristics, nothing more.

 

Mattj,

 

I am conscious that I'm trying to talk someone out of surgery with another clinic. Rest assured, that's not my intention. You could get an astounding restoration of what you've lost at H&W, but I just think it's a shame to go to such lengths when you already look good.

No worries. I try to talk people out of going to your clinic all the time:) I kid! There is nothing wrong with solid advice especially from a consultant with a good track record like yourself. Edited June 6, 2011 by Jotronic

[hairthere]

I was expecting to see something far, far worse in your pics. Also, why would you stop posting here if you are about to possibly start on the HT journey? If anything, you're probably going to be spending a lot more time here, especially if you go forward with it...

[Sigildark]

It's really hard to gauge with such short hair, afterall that's why people go short like that.

Truth be told, like the others i was expecting alot worse, along the lines of nothing at all left on top. But i understand the whole messed up feeling thing. You can't let that it get the best of you though, easier said then done i know.

Edited June 7, 2011 by Sigildark

[phil mascallpen]

Azazelgs you need to realize that just because it might look like you have a pattern of loss your hair could stay the same for the next 10 years or more. Since you are on propecia you have an even better chance of maintaining what you have.

 

My advice would be to hold off on this for several years as like mattj said as you get older a slightly higher hairline actually becomes more desirable.

 

Be content for now knowing that H&W can give you a meg session down the road IF you end up needing it.

[aaron1234]

It's impossible to tell how thin your hair is when it's shaved that low. Either way, your hair looks pretty good that way. Sure you might want a better hairline but just enjoy what you have for a few more years before getting a HT. Besides, a little more time will give you a better idea of where your hair loss is progressing. And I'm sure H&W will still be around!

[aim4hair]

im not an expert but i can tell that ur hair looks pretty good shaved. it's not east to hide the scar in the future, and if you go for HT now you will defiantly keep lose more hair in the coming few years, where you will have 2 options:

1) Start shaving again where the scar will be your worst nightmare and ppl will be looking weird at you, you will reach the point where you wish to go back to the time before your HT, believe when it comes to shaving, living with no hair line is much better than living with a big scar on the back of your head.

2) Go through other HT (which you won't have much supply if you go for 5k grafts now).

My suggestion for you would be to either wait for couple of years whee things will be more visible, or if you have to go through HT then do FUE, at least if things go wrong you can start shaving (BTW even with FUE if you shave too short like 0 or 1 most likely the scars will be visible) but they are like small dots, that you can live with and ppl won't really notice them unless they really pay alot of attention).

My hair line is much much worst than yours and im considering FUE, i might do it in turkey with Dr. Keser, he is specialized with FUE and his results looks great, but im still confused whether to go for it or wait, im 28 btw.

 

 

 

[azazelgs]

Thanks everyone for so quick replies!

 

Again , sorry for the dramatic post. This hair loss issue has taken over me for the last month, and since I buzz my hair ,I can see clearly that I lost a lot in the last month due to some SSRI's and personal issues.

 

Joe,

 

I know you and I never talked about ht options, you just give opinions based on my photos. So , sorry if I mislead anyone.

 

Mattj,

 

I've never claimed that I'll get 5000 immediately.One of the main goals i opened this thread is to get some opinions wheter I need 5000 or not. And I think I got my answer:)

 

Sigildark,

 

Thank you. It's just sometimes gets you a lot , I believe this is one of the times.

 

 

Maybe I relate a lot what is going on with my life and my hairloss, I don't know. 3 years ago when I didn't jump in this site ,I thought baldness is my curse because ht's are weird , pluggy looking things. But more and more research showed me that there are great surgeons that no one in the world except the experts tell me that I had something done.

 

 

I hate my hairline. Sometimes it affects a lot , sometimes it's not. I really want to make something about it. I'm not a fool to use 5000 to frontal or to expect a baby hairline. I just want to do something about it , that's all. That's why I posted this thread in order to get some opinions about you guys. Again and again, sorry for the dramatic posts, hair loss can be tough on me personally sometimes.

[bonkerstonker]

Azazelgs i feel your pain pal but making a thread with a title like this will push a lot of surgeons away imo, i wouldn't want to work on someone who seemed to be mentally unstable like that it's just not common sense.

 

Having said that if i was you i'd get on meds if you're not already on them to get things stable then have the biggest ht you can get safely, if you're gonna have a scar make it worth while another option is to have a fue session and keep your head shaved for the less is more look as you look pretty good with your hair shaved now anyway, you have plenty of options.

[azazelgs]

Bonkerstonker,

 

Thanks for your reply. It's true that I'm having a rough time in my life (not because of hairloss) and may be relate that to my hairloss, but believe me I'm not mentally instable.

 

For a year now I've been buzzing my head and try to forget my hairloss. But I've always been on this forums and checked other options such as scalp micropigmentation etc.. Some people are issue multipliers ,such as myself , if i'm depressed , I can easily find other things that depress me more.

 

And I want to do something for my life, so I started for researching again for ht which I've been thinking about for 3 years now. But I'm no stupid or mentally insane , thats why I'm here and seek for support and get some wise answers.

 

You are right about the dramatic title, so sorry again for that from everyone.

[mattj]

You could maybe ask a mod to change the title if you don't like it.

[Sigildark]

I do have a feeling that azazelgs' 1st language isn't english. And the title well, 1st impression for me is that he was giving up and was going to stop caring. Nothing too crazy

[TakingThePlunge]

I took this title to simply mean that azazelgs was potentially giving up on hair restoration. Nothing sinister came to mind when I read it. However, if he would like me to edit the title, I'd be happy to do so.

[bonkerstonker]

Aza stick with the fight and work through your problems and you will vanquish anything you stick at. I lost a huge amount of hair at age 20 and I've battled through for the last 11 years with some periods of great success and regrowth, hopefully this year at 31 hairloss will be a distant memory if my latest ht works out like it should. I could of done things quicker but there was no need to as I had grown plenty of hair to have a happy life over the last 5 years but was recently forced to have more ht work this year due to losing my hairline slightly. Never give up on anything you care about mate.

 

My bad for misunderstanding the title.

Edited June 8, 2011 by bonkerstonker

[SkinUpPinUp]

Hi Aza,

 

I think it would be easier for everyone to judge graft count if you had slightly longer hair. If you do indeed have diffuse thinning on the top of the head, it is hidden by the fact that your hair is shaved down.

 

If you post some pictures of longer hair we can make a better assessment because, at this stage, you're looking like a Norwood 2/3 - which is why Bisanga may be reluctant to operate.

 

Also, bear in mind that H&W only do strip surgery. A scar on the back of the head for a N2/3 is overkill and you may regret it later.

[azazelgs]

bonkerstonker,

thanks for the encouraging messages!! By the way , are you from greece??

 

sigildark,

exactly! English not my native language but I don't think I'm that bad:D

 

skinuppinup,

 

thanks for the reply.Joe (jotronic) told me the same that I should get my hair longer in order to understand better about my loss which I'm doing for a week now.

 

About the scar, yes it's scary. But it's the only way to get the maximum graft and I'm not a good candidate for FUE concerning my age , pattern and donor availibility. After I max out my grafts fith strip, I'll try to do something to cover the scar which there are some good opportunuties availible such as fue into scar or tattooing a scar. That's my worst case scenario.

[bonkerstonker]

I'm from england pal.

[azazelgs]

Bonkerstonker,

 

sorry, based on your first doc, I thought you were from Greece. Anyways, very nice to meet such a guy like you!!

 

Note to everyone,

 

Since I continue to research more and more , and my main concern is to have a hairline, is there any other option for me to buzz my hair with a hairline shadow type of thing with FUE only??

[bonkerstonker]

My first dr was Greek. Nice to meet you too. There is a newish tattoo option available that apparently looks amazing nowadays and I have to say from the pictures I've seen it really is good but I have not seen it in person. The idea is they make a shadow on your head and you shave down the hair to match I'd research that a bit too. Ultimately fue would be much better though I think and you probably wouldn't need too many grafts.

[aim4hair]

can you shave your head really short with FUE ? like with trimmer (0 or 1) ?? or there would be little scars (dots) showing all over your head ??

and can i use my body hair for FUE ?

[azazelgs]

bonderstonker,

 

I've looked into that option (scalp micro pigmentation) many times mate but I think it's not for me. Some results look fantastic but I'm not type of guy that always be triggered by if someones notices or not. At the end of the day, it's a tattoo!! I have plenty of them on my body but on my head, I really doubt it...

 

Aim4hair,

 

Thanks for the reply, that's what im certainly seeking for right now! Is there anyone who can clarify that??