New to this - advice please

[west33]

Hello all, I'm a new member. I've viewed this website casually for several years, and much more seriously in recent months. I'm now considering a hair transplant. I've taken a lot from reading what others have to say on this forum so I'd like to share my story, but I've never discussed this before so please bear with me!

 

I'm nearly 31. I guess I first started noticing hair loss at 23/24 - hair coming out in the shower, visible thinning. I couldn't really believe it as I'd never thought it would happen to me - I've always had very thick hair, and my dad has too (his is incredibly thick & curly - like a white man's afro!). When I was younger I grew it long and it was thick and bushy, not straight and thin. At the time I thought it may have been stress-related (had some heavy stuff going on with my girlfriend at the time, and life in general) - but over time it has followed typical MPB so I guess it's just genetic. My mum's dad was very bald as an older man, but I'm pretty sure not at my age. My dad (and younger brother are/were both very grey at a young age - I'm not - but no thinning, although my bro has a few signs recentl). Anyway...

 

So I did panic a bit, got conned into some stupid 'Centre for Trichology' scheme, applying something to my scalp twice a day, cost ?750 which was a lot for me then. Complete waste of money. I never considered taking any medication, never wanted to introduce that into my body, didn't want to be chained to it forever, and frankly was put off by side-effects (let's face it - those sexual problems can be self-fulfilling if it's on your mind at all).

 

As my hair got thinner (just generally on the top at this stage, receding a bit), I became more and more obsessed with it - checking myself in every mirror, hating wind or rain, self conscious (sound familiar?). I came across Nanogen on the internet - sounded great, bought some, worked like magic. My hair was at the perfect stage for it, just needed the illusion of being thicker. Amazing. Always remember going back home after splitting with my long-term girlfriend and my dad saying 'your hair even looks thicker' - as if it was linked to my new freedom or something. I shrugged it off. But it did show that people had clearly noticed the thinning before.

 

So ever since I have been using Nanogen religiously, it's been a life-saver. I'm a pretty tall, good-looking guy, well built and keep in shape (play lots of football), and have always done well with women. Nothing has changed there all this time. I can count on one hand the number of hair/nanogen incidents ('what's all that stuff on the pillow?'), so aside from extreme paranoia when a hand goes through the 'hair' - no difference.

 

Obviously in general it's been a pain putting it on every morning, being beholden, in recent years having it on me if there's a chance I might not sleep at home. And other things are annoying - having a towel over my head every time I come out of the shower, having to go to the bathroom first thing if I'm with a girl to check all ok, becoming increasingly worried if I've been out in rain, wind. Also taking it on every holiday, paranoia about customs finding it and someone else seeing, not diving into swimming pools, if you knock your head, someone touches it, needing a mirror to check all ok, blah blah blah, you get the picture.

 

Problem - over the years my hair has got thinner and thinner. It was difficult to analyse because I'd only see it uncovered briefly between washing hair, re-applying (in truth I don't like to look at myself like that for too long!). And I knew inside that the day would come when the Nanogen would become obvious (I remember an ex-colleague who was clearly bald but putting some sort of oil-slick over his head - is that Dermatch? - and looked ridiculous) but I guess I was just thankful for the time I had. Now after all this time I'm at that stage - I look at least a bit ridiculous and anyone who paused to look at my head would know something was up. Only 3 times has anyone ever said anything in my presence, but I'm sure at least close friends and family suspect, up until now no-one has said anything, but it can't go on any more. I need to act one way or another. Always had it in the back of my mind that I would get a transplant down the line. So here I am.

 

I took a good look this morning uncovered, and photos, and I'm def a Norwood 6 now (will post photos this wknd). Unbelievable to me really but there is basically nothing left at the front, on top or the crown. The back hasn't started to go down towards my neck yet, nor the sides towards my ears, so I'm not a 7, but I suppose I could be (does a 6 always become a 7?) Amazing really that I can even use Nanogen (I still have a lot of very fine hairs which i guess are saving me, but it has become harder and harder to do in the morns, and the hairline looks stupid/too perfectly straight to anyone bothering to look.

 

I know I need to be realistic. I know I'll never go back to age 17, but right now I'd give anything to have as much coverage as possible, even thinning, but hair that would stay that way for ever (could use Nanogen on special occasions maybe), and not having to worry any more about people noticing something strange, and not having to apply this stuff for ever, being a slave to it as detailed above.

 

I had a consultation with Farjo (I live in London) - they said they would do a strip, probably not too ambitious as he said it was difficult to predict future pattern (ie. the back going downwards, sides towards ears), but the main problem would be they wouldn't recommend my putting concealer on afterwards, and especially not caking it on as it is now. This is a large part of the problem. If I had an HT, I wouldn't feel comfortable potentially hindering growth by using Nanogen afterwards, but if I didn't use it I'd either have to a) come out to everyone as completely bald (having concealed it all these years - really terrifies me), or take an extended break somewhere (go travelling?) - at least until there was enough growth and it was safe to use Nanogen again.

 

My vague plan is: do lots of research, think long and hard, have as many consultations as possible and collate the results/recommendations, pick a surgeon (leaning towards Belgium at the moment). Then have it done (hopefully this year) and possibly go off alone for 6 months or longer to travel (I could afford to and, aside from the effect on my career possibly, would like to travel a bit, get it out of the way while I'm free enough). I'd really want to give an HT the best chance to work so no concealer would be ideal - but don't think I could face everyone here - given I've hidden it for so long. Also if it started to grow they would know about the transplant so you'd have that nagging forever.

 

This has been a super long post, guess I had a lot to get off my chest! I'd love to hear anyone's thoughts, advice, questions. My main areas of concern are as follows:

 

- First off - at NW6, am I candidate for HT? Farjo seemed to think so. I appreciate it would take 2 or 3 sessions (for the front/top/crown) - any idea how many grafts that would be? My extremely amateur opinion is that my donor area is good as the hair still seems thick there, plus my hair was kind of wavy as well (which I think helps?)

- Are the Belgium surgeons as good as the US? How do they compare price-wise? And for someone with my loss?

- I wonder if all these years of increasingly heavy Nanogen usage have impaired my scalp on top - receipient area?

- Seems FUT is best for severe loss like mine?

- what's the post HT period like in terms of treatment - could I go off round the world for 6-12 months or would I need regular checkups/access to certain medication/creams, etc?

 

Please I would love to hear anything anyone can contribute. Need to hear honest thoughts, however difficult. I will add photos and probably more thoughts of my own. Anything I haven't covered let me know.

 

Thanks for listening.

[west33]

Ps. Read this back and realise it sounds as if this hasn't all been something of a nightmare for me - it most certainly has and I have suffered the same paranoia, lack of confidence, extreme sensitivity and ego crushing that I've read about on here from so many others. I guess I've just always put a brave face on it and even now am trying to be philosophical about it, plus optimistic - hoping I can do something to help me reach a satisfactory place without experiencing too much trauma, or having it derail my life in a meaningful way. If I could get that bare minimum I'd consider myself extremely fortunate.

[MrJobi]

Hello

 

First of all , I totally "feell your pain". Millions of men are in your shoes including most of the people on this forum. I started losing my hair at 23 and tried every potion in the world before focusing on proven solutions (including hair transplantation)

 

First of all, see a doctor concerning your hair loss and inquire about Finasteride. Stabilizing hairloss is a very good first step in treating hairloss . I have been on it for over 10 years and it have haulted my hairloss.

 

As far as doctors, there are great doctors everywhere. Do your research and select a reputible surgeon. After the initial HT, there is one follow up needed after and then the removal of stitches ( if you go FUT). After that, excluding complications which are rare, you are free to travel the world!

[TakingThePlunge]

west33,

 

Your story is all too familiar but, you are taking the right steps.

 

- First off - at NW6, am I candidate for HT? Farjo seemed to think so. I appreciate it would take 2 or 3 sessions (for the front/top/crown) - any idea how many grafts that would be? My extremely amateur opinion is that my donor area is good as the hair still seems thick there, plus my hair was kind of wavy as well (which I think helps?)

 

Dr. Farjo is one of the world's leading hair transplant surgeons. If he's evaluated you in person and feels you are a candidate, you can rest assured that you are. Click here for examples of NW VI hair transplant results. Before proceeding, you will need to be sure that your expectations are realistic and correspond with the plan the doctor has laid out.

 

- Are the Belgium surgeons as good as the US? How do they compare price-wise? And for someone with my loss?

 

In Belgium we recommend Dr. Feriduni and Dr. Devroye. Like Dr. Farjo, both are members of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians and have long histories of producing excellent results. I highly recommend consulting with each of them.

 

- I wonder if all these years of increasingly heavy Nanogen usage have impaired my scalp on top - receipient area?

 

I doubt that you will have anything to worry about but any of these doctors will be able to evaluate your recipient area.

 

- Seems FUT is best for severe loss like mine?

 

Yes, FUT is capable of producing larger sessions in many patients.

 

- what's the post HT period like in terms of treatment - could I go off round the world for 6-12 months or would I need regular checkups/access to certain medication/creams, etc?

 

Once your procedure is done you will typically see your doc for a one month checkup unless you experience any complications. After that there is normally a six month and one year follow-up. You could travel with no worries.

 

Hope this helps.

[StaggerLee123]

It feels good to vent doesn't it? Do your homework, visit clinic web sites, talk to as many people as you can and make a calm and informed decision about how best to deal with your situation.

 

As down as you are feeling now, it is nothing compared to how you'd feel if you get bad work done and the mental anguish that accompanies that. I speak from experience so trust me on that. It may feel as if things are in emergency mode but they are not. This forum is a great place to start forming some rational opinions.

 

Best wishes.

[oceanchild]

West33, I had my surgery in Belgium by Dr. Feriduni. I'm only 1.5 months post op, so still early days. I think he is one of the best in Europe and also a very nice person. So I highly recommend to have a consultation with Dr. Feriduni.

[west33]

Thanks guys - I've attached some photos to this post (or attempted to anyway). Could you confirm which NW you think I am? Also there are more photos on my profile, (album called 'hair loss') including a couple showing my head with concealer on.

 

If there are any other people on here who are/were very reliant on concealers, and then went for an HT, how did you manage the process? What did you do in the period following the surgery? Seems that heavy concealer use could well do harm to new growth, I would be reluctant to pile it on, but then if you've never been out without it, how do you live your life? I've read a lot of posts from guys who use concealer occasionally, but there musty be people in my boat who used it heavily every day, but then came up against a big problem when deciding on a HT....

 

Also, on the subject of meds, it seems that everyone on here says to get on meds asap to halt the loss and therefore making it easier for the doctor to make a call on what will happen in the future, but if you are dead set against going on any treatment would that impact massively on going ahead with an HT?

 

What are the waiting lists like for the main guys - H&W, the popular Belgian guys? After a consultation are we talking a 6-month waiting list?

Attached Thumbnails

[west33]

And one other thing, Ocean Child I guess this is one for you among others: for me the thing of utmost importance is the results of an HT. Yes being looked after, made comfortable, price, etc are all important, but the great results of the surgery are head & shoulders (pun intended) above the rest - it's all about the hair after all. So I don't quite understand all the raving about surgeons before the results are seen. I mean if you're only 1.5 months post-op, presumably you're seeing no results yet but still highly recommending Dr. Feriduni - calling him the best in Europe? I find that slightly odd. The recommendations that will carry the most weight for me are those guys at the end of journey who have seen the work pay off. If that makes sense? Just a thought really.

[AdamAJ]

id say your 5a on the scale...and there is no waiting list...trust me. As long as you have the money...one lump sum or payments it can happen when you want.

[dingdong12]

well i finally got my hair transplant last wed by dr saifi of am med clinic in poland.

 

i am over the moon of how surgery went and how i was looked after. i hope the results are too match

 

the facilities of dr saifi are top notch .

 

some people on here are sceptical of doctors not reccommended by the coalition ,i would urge others that there are surgeons out there practicing ht that are equally as competent.

[Tjavs]

well i finally got my hair transplant last wed by dr saifi of am med clinic in poland.

 

i am over the moon of how surgery went and how i was looked after. i hope the results are too match

 

the facilities of dr saifi are top notch .

 

some people on here are sceptical of doctors not reccommended by the coalition ,i would urge others that there are surgeons out there practicing ht that are equally as competent.

 

What type of ht was it? - and do you have any pictures?

[dingdong12]

hi tjavs

 

i opted for the strip option . the doctor took lots of pics and as soon as i recieve then i shall upload them.

 

this is day number 7 after procedure the redness has died down somewhat and i think some of the newly planted hairs are falling out.