Planning for a Hair Transplant….Your Feedback Needed!

[amtoo55]

Hello Folks,

 

I am a 29 year old male and I have been thinking a lot about hair transplant lately. I have attached my pictures from different angles to get your opinion regarding number of grafts needed and if transplant can give me a better hairline. These are latest pictures. I have also attached two pictures from 2008 just to give you guys a perspective on my hair fall.

 

Couple of facts: Taking Finasteride for about 5 years, Minoxodil 5 % for about 7 months.

 

Last visit to doctor: Last year, I was recommended by a surgeon that I should go for a shorter hair style and not opt for transplant. Doctor said that injections they would give will result in significant hair fall for the existing hair (I guess that’s called aftershock loss).

 

My Plan: Go for FUT to repair the hairline. Hair fall has minimized (or so it seems) for last few year (I have attached a picture of June 2008 for reference)

 

What I need from my peers on this forum:

 

i) Recommendation about number of grafts I would need?

 

ii) What would be visibility of hair transplant? Will I be able to hide it with my existing hair (considering I let them growth for 2 months)

 

Thanks a lot friends. This is my first post and I am looking forward to all your comments/feedback/suggestions.

 

Have a great day.

 

Amtoo

[amtoo55]

Come on guys waiting for your comments

[Icecreamman]

Hey man, if you want to restore hairline only, I guess somewhere in the ballpark of 2500-3000 grafts. Of course I'm no expert and some may say 3000-4000.

 

As far as hiding, it really is different for everybody. Some doctors shave recipient area and recipient area can stay red for awhile. Your skin tone however looks like it wont sty red for too long but you never know.

 

Personally it was impossible for me to look normal for 3 months after my ht. however, there are many guys who are able to look normal and hide a ht not too far afterward.

 

Have you consulted with some reputable doctors yet? If so, what have they said? Good luck with everything.

[amtoo55]

Thanks for your comments icecreamman. I consulted a doctor in Jul 2011 and he suggested I go for a shorter hairstyle instead of hair transplant. But I am seriously considering it done very soon. The problem is I want to get it done from Pakistan and I am currently in Canada. Would be traveling in two months time hopefully.

[Icecreamman]

Hey, I understand your traveling but you have 2 of the top clinics in the world in rahal and hasson and Wong in Canada. You can't go wrong with either.

[1978matt]

I can see where the doctor's coming from in terms of not having a HT.

 

If you do I reckon you should go for a fairly conservative but improved hairline, 3000-3500 grafts.

 

If you can hold out another 5 years that might be better.

[Shampoo]

amtoo55...It's good you are on meds or you may have already lost more hair. Not sure where you are in Canada, but at the very least if you are close to Hasson-Wong or Dr. Rahal you should see them for a consult. It would be a great learning experience for you. They will see things you can't and will have advice you cant get from friends or on a message board. We are talking about something you will have to live with a lifetime, why not at least consult with the very best and take advantage of their expertise?

 

Looking at your pictures, unlike the doctor you have already seen, I would think both Rahal and Hasson-Wong would see you as a candidate for hair transplant. Of course at your age you are going to need to use your donor hair very wisely.

 

If I were you, at your age I would not attempt to lower your hairline very much, maybe just a little. Remember everyone has limited donor hair and you may need more donor hair if your middle starts to thin ten years from now when you are 39 years old.

 

Although a crown can eat up donor hair, with a skilled doctor even at your age I think you should consider some crown work too. The crown loss makes you look older than you are. If you could start to fill that in you would look your age again. But realize you will probably need some "crown touchups" down the line.

 

Just a wild guess but I'd say your crown will need 1000-1500 strip grafts now and your front just depends on what you want to do. If I were you I would approach all surgeries knowing that with your loss pattern and at your age it looks like you will probably need more work down the line and just be sure and save enough donor hair for later. At 29 years old 40, 45, 50 seems like an eternity away....but it will be here before you know it and having hair will be just as important then as it is now....maybe more so. Save donor hair for areas that aren't thin now, but very well could be in 10-15 years. Of course as young as you are there may be some type of medical breakthroughs that could make a huge difference as well.

[amtoo55]

Thanks a lot guys. I really appreciate your feedback. I will definately get in touch with Dr. Rahal or Hasson-Wong very soon. Thanks again!