24 year old, candidate for HT? Seeking advice / opinions

[thebmkb]

Hello everyone,

 

First, this forum has been great. I've asked about various doctors and a question regarding HT, and everyone has been so helpful. Thank you for that.

 

I wanted to make this thread as my all encompassing thread.

 

Here is my situation

 

I'm 24, about to be 25 in a couple months. I've been experiencing hair loss for about 3-4 years now. I tried laser treatment a couple years ago, but not sure how useful it ended being. Have not taken propecia or used rogaine yet. I am hesitant on rogaine because it's topical and twice a day which I think will be a pain for me, not to mention having to use it perpetually.

 

The hair loss I have experienced has primarily been in the temples, but also now has went to the top of my hair, and a bit in the crown. It's really effecting my self esteem and confidence, even though my hair isn't necessarily "that bad", I still struggle with dealing my hair loss. This is obviously why I'm considering getting it done. I figure I'm still young, and why continue to struggle with this issue on a daily basis if I can take care of it now and be happy?

 

I've seen a couple HT doctors. They have approximated 2000 grafts, from front to back. I thought it seemed a bit much, since I've seen pics of people with much worse hair loss than me, and after getting ~1500 grafts, seemed to have much better density.

 

Any way, I have attached pictures to this message. These are probably as good as my h air looks (typically after I wash my hair and towel dry), otherwise on the bad days it looks worse because it ends up being flat on one side, can't style it, not enough hair to style, etc. Just a disaster.

 

My questions are as follows --

 

1. Considering my situation, does it make sense to go through with the HT procedure right now?

2. If I do go through with the procedure, I will be getting on the propecia afterward. But am wondering about shock hair loss? Is this expected, common, or atypical?

3. I am considering a couple different doctors (Hair Restoration Specialists of Atlanta, and then Dr. Arnowitz in Michigan). I can't find any info on HRS on this site, but when I google, I find good reviews on random websites. Should I be wary (the quoted price was ~6K for 2K grafts, whereas Dr. Arnowitz will be ~6700 for 1500 grafts). Both procedures would be FUT.

4. The dreaded scar. Just how short can I cut my hair and not have the scar noticeable? I never cut my hair short anyways, but just curious.

 

Thank you so much for your time. Your opinions / perspective is invaluable.

Edited October 14, 2011 by thebmkb

[Thehairupthere]

Your hair loss is at the beginning stages of thinning and at your age I personally suggest getting on the meds before having the procedure because it can regrow a lot of your native hair and you may not need a procedure. That being said most people see a noticeable change with the medication on top of their head and crown as opposed to the temples and hairline, but still it's important to stabilize those areas. You could have a procedure now if you'd like and 1500 sounds about right, I think you would experience some shock loss in the hairline after the procedure but that's to be expected. If that hair was healthy than it should regrow but if it's miniaturizing than it may not survive but your doctor will more than compensate for that loss with the transplanted hair. The medication will also cause some shocking or shedding around 2-4 months after starting, but will stabilize and improve starting after 6 months.

[NEWHAIRPLEASE]

your hair loss is at the beginning stages of thinning and at your age i personally suggest getting on the meds before having the procedure because it can regrow a lot of your native hair and you may not need a procedure. That being said most people see a noticeable change with the medication on top of their head and crown as opposed to the temples and hairline, but still it's important to stabilize those areas. You could have a procedure now if you'd like and 1500 sounds about right, i think you would experience some shock loss in the hairline after the procedure but that's to be expected. If that hair was healthy than it should regrow but if it's miniaturizing than it may not survive but your doctor will more than compensate for that loss with the transplanted hair. The medication will also cause some shocking or shedding around 2-4 months after starting, but will stabilize and improve starting after 6 months.

 

agree!

[Spanker]

You can cut it down to a 4 gaurd.

 

You need to get on propecia like yesterday and spend the next 6 months to a year doing research. Then you will be able to make the best decision. I would not wait to get on meds.

 

I can not speak for those docs, all I can say is that just because they are not recommended does not mean they are not good, and just becasue they are recommended, does not mean that they are good. (IMO)

 

Spending a lot of time on a forum like this will let you really learn which doctor's hands you should be in.

 

It would be silly to jump fast.

 

Also, at your level of loss, I would be conservative. You are quite young, but I wouldnt say too yound as long as you keep it conservative. abd have the grafts placed in an area that you would have placed anyway if you were a nw5 or 6.

[ziggy00]

Like others have said: get on Propecia, and be prepared to spend a lot of time researching and reading these forums.

[mattj]

I'll echo the others to help reinforce the good advice: it's definitely best to get on the Propecia now rather than later. If you respond well you could see the crown and midscalp thicken up (like Thehairupthere said). You're unlikely to improve the front with drugs alone to the point where a transplant would be unnecessary, but the size of the procedure needed would be smaller.

[thebmkb]

Thank you everyone for the advice!

 

Here's my concern --

 

mattj - "You're unlikely to improve the front with drugs alone to the point where a transplant would be unnecessary, but the size of the procedure needed would be smaller."

 

I'm trying to weigh the cost vs. benefit, and I keep thinking that if I'm going to have to get the procedure, I'd rather it be now (was planning on Thanksgiving week -if I decide to do it-), rather than waiting say another 6 months or 1 year, and getting it done at that time. Although I could theoretically need less, there's also the time aspect of about 1 year before the hair fully grows in, and so I'd like to get that started now.

 

Obviously it will cost me more now as I haven't regrown any hair with the meds, but how many less grafts would I need say 6 months from now even if I did respond well to the propecia? I want to stay away from rogaine because I have read once you stop using it, you start losing the hair you regrew again.

 

spanker - Going down to a 4 guard isn't bad at all. I never really get my hair cut that short anyway (I just don't think I have the right facial type for buzz cuts and short hair).

 

I think 1500 grafts would seem conservative. And considering my hair loss right now, do you guys think I'll notice a good improvement? I feel that while I haven't lost THAT much hair, if I can get that density back, I'd feel so much better about myself. I've researched the methods (FUT vs. FUE) and some of the doctors (Dr. Arnowitz is recommended on this site, and seems to have good reviews in general). Not sure what else I need to be thinking about or looking into right now?

 

I suppose I just want to make sure I'm not missing out any critical information as this is a major decision. The propecia is a must, which I understand. But as far as age and my hair loss, just want to see if my rationale for getting it done within the next few weeks makes sense (I do trust the doctor based on what I've read).

[NEWHAIRPLEASE]

I think the point everyone is trying to make is that if you get on meds now it's possible you won't even need a hair transplant

[ashwalker]

( where is the 'post new thread'?? )

Sorry first time on here....

I have just moved to Canada, Ontario from the UK and ran out of my propecia. Any suggestions on the best place to get it from ( website or shop) any canadians out there?

 

Thanks....

[thebmkb]

I think the point everyone is trying to make is that if you get on meds now it's possible you won't even need a hair transplant

 

I certainly think that would be great! But I'm not sure how realistic it is, since I seem to have read that propecia is more preventive instead of restoring much. I'm not so sure about rogaine though. While it may bring back some of my hair as others have said, won't I have to keep using it, and then if I stop using it (warning - obviously joke coming), I'll lose it? As in, what I regrew with rogaine, I lose if I stop using it.

 

I just don't want to use rogaine the rest of my life, as I find it to be a hassle, as opposed to getting the hair transplant which would require me to take propecia, but at least I won't have to use the rogaine.

 

I don't know if I'm being impatient, but just want to clarify my perspective and continue to discuss as this is obviously a huge decision.

[thebmkb]

( where is the 'post new thread'?? )

Sorry first time on here....

I have just moved to Canada, Ontario from the UK and ran out of my propecia. Any suggestions on the best place to get it from ( website or shop) any canadians out there?

 

Thanks....

 

Toward the top of the page when you first enter this subforum.

 

I've looked into getting propecia from an online pharmacy as well, so that would be a good thread to start (though I'm sure it's been asked and answered before).

[NEWHAIRPLEASE]

I certainly think that would be great! But I'm not sure how realistic it is, since I seem to have read that propecia is more preventive instead of restoring much. I'm not so sure about rogaine though. While it may bring back some of my hair as others have said, won't I have to keep using it, and then if I stop using it (warning - obviously joke coming), I'll lose it? As in, what I regrew with rogaine, I lose if I stop using it.

 

I just don't want to use rogaine the rest of my life, as I find it to be a hassle, as opposed to getting the hair transplant which would require me to take propecia, but at least I won't have to use the rogaine.

 

I don't know if I'm being impatient, but just want to clarify my perspective and continue to discuss as this is obviously a huge decision.

 

I can assure you that you are being impatient...surgery is not something you should rush in too! You are young and look like you still have a great deal of native hair..TRUST ME WHEN I SAY THIS, Rogaine is worth the hassle!! Get the foam, its not that bad, also use propecia like you said. If you use the two together you will be creating a synergistic effect and this will be your best protection for keeping your hair! Then, if a year from now you decide to have surgery, you will have had the benefits of being on meds for a year..also, YOU WILL LOSE YOU NATIVE HAIR if you don't get on something. if your gonna spend that much money on a transplant I would do everything possible to keep every existing hair on my head!