Long time lurker, first time poster

[HighPlainsDrifter]

Hi All,

 

I've been lurking on this site for a while but this is my first post. I was hoping I could get some neutral 3rd party advice because as much as our friends and families love us, they can also be big fat liars when you ask them how the hairline is doing.

 

Info about me:

Turning 33 soon.

Started thinning about 4 years ago.

I have been taking 1mg propecia everyday and minoxidil for the past 3 years (religiously). While I do believe the meds have slowed down the thinning and receding I think they are losing their super powers. Specifically in the past 3-6 months I have noticed much more thinning on the crown and the hairline at the temple is starting to disappear like the glaciers of the north pole.

 

Over the past few years I've been abel to hide it well since I have blonde hair but as of recently I've become much more self conscious about it. So my questions are the following:

 

It is too early in my balding process to get an HT? I ask this because I'd rather not go bald and then fix it. I'd like to get in front of this but would like to know if that's just an absurd expectation. If an HT is a viable option, what do you think would be the required number of graphs? (I have attached pics)

 

I have yet to schedule any consultations but traveling is not an issue. Also, I've tried to search this before and I've seen it asked elsewhere but couldn't find any answers so I will ask again: are there any doctors that specialize in blond hair? Or does color of hair even matter?

 

Any advice would be much appreciated. I'm continually impressed by how knowledgeable and well informed people are on this forum. So thanks for any wisdom!

[Rootz]

It's great you've been on propecia and minoxidil consistently for 3 years. With that said I think you should absolutely get a HT if it is something you really want (and it sounds like it is). In your case I see no point in waiting just for the sake of "seeing what else happens". That is silly. You're not getting any younger.

 

Just choose your surgeon wisely and use your available grafts wisely. Keep in mind you will lose more hair later on down the road and at some point probably need to stop and reasses your situation again. In your pics I can't really see your crown, but it would seem you have general mild thinning. I don't know what you have in mind, but you might want to consider just improving your hairline/temple area and leave the areas that already have hair alone for now.

 

Also your hair already looks pretty good. My honest opinion.

[HighPlainsDrifter]

Thanks Rootz. I really appreciate the feedback.

[1978matt]

Your hairstyle reminded me of this guy:

 

http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/170419-%2A%2Aupdate%2A%2Adr-ron-shapiro-%96-fue-1-yr-result-1831gr-3896-hairs.html

 

2000-3000 grafts concentrated in the front half might do it if you don't advance the hairline too much. Send your pics to the top docs and see what they think.

[gillenator]

HPD,

 

Hey buddy, welcome to this community. Not sure if you have PM'd me in the past, but you sound familiar. Most of the guys that I hear from, do not post, but they do surf these communities just like you.

 

OK, a couple of things my friend. Nice to hear that your hair loss has slowed down with the meds and yes they can vary in their efficiency over a lifetime. I have a question. What is the most advanced class of hair loss in your family history on both sides. Do any men reach the upper classes of Norwood 5-7 and if so, then you undoubtedly have more loss in the coming years as MPB is progressive in nature.

 

Only you can decide when it is time for a HT procedure. You probably would not be posting for advice if you felt differently, yet surgery should always be the last option and never the first. You have obviously educated yourself in the meds and experience using them.

 

But my larger point is to only consider doing the procedure after you fully understand the benefits as well as the risks of surgical hair restoration. Then you will have a much better platform of knowledge to know if you want to move forward.

 

Blonde hair is not a problem for experienced competent doctors. Your issue is not the blonde hair, it's more of maintaining an improvement of coverage while considering you are still young (33) and will need more work as you progress with MPB. In other words, knowing there will be more recessionary loss and your crown will open up with added loss, you need to work within the confines of your limited donor.

 

The more dense the available donor is, the better. The less density means you have less potential harvestable grafts to work with. So you do not want to drop your hairline but rather reinforce it. I would also recommend that you leave the crown alone for now until the frontal zone is restored at an appropriate level of density considering your age.

 

Lastly, are you a fan of Clint Eastwood by any chance? Best wishes to you and again, welcome to this community!

[HighPlainsDrifter]

1978Matt,

Thanks for that link, I've been searching for results for someone with similar hair and I think you've found the perfect one. Appreciate the info.

 

Gillenator,

Regarding my family history it's hit or miss: my dad is 66 and has one of the thickest heads of hair I've ever seen and I curse him everyday for not giving me his hair genes. And my Dad's bother is probably Norwood 6-7 at this point. So its pretty polarized.

 

In reality, I'm ok with the hairline receding. I've convinced myself that just means I'm more interesting and full of wisdom. I do have a problem with losing it in the front center and the thinning on the crown.

 

Thanks for taking the time to give me some advice. And yes, I grew up on Dirty Harry movies and Clint Eastwood westerns. Got to love that sneer of his before ices the bad guy.

[gillenator]

If we only had his head of hair, and he still has it in his late 70's?

[Spanker]

Well, you are definitely receding, but the photos make it a little difficult to tell what is happening. It appears that you may be developing an advanced pattern but again, it is a little hard to tell. I would recommend an in-person consult with a top doctor and I wouldn't lower the hair line much if any....maaaybe close the corners a tad. If your top actually is thinning, like it appears to be, then your donor supply will be important to know, like your density and your laxity if you are considering strip. On the plus side, blonde hair on light skin produces good results.

 

I see no reason to wait, but you need to know more about your pattern and your donor to make a good decision. I agree that you should leave the back half, or at least the back third of your head alone for now. You also look like you make be subject to shock loss given the appearance of a diffused type pattern.

 

It would be nice to see photos from 3 years ago to gauge you stability.

 

Good luck to you.

[Brad3451]

We all are faced with these type of decisions and you have arrived at the right place for some answers from people that are very well versed in this area. As it has been said, we are not getting any younger buddy and nature will win out in the end. IMO you look fine but a HT would tighten you up for sure. Thing is these HT really do work and it's no myth that hair can be moved to other locations to a place we need em more. Blond hair really does well with the color contrast against the skin. Do research many Dr.s and results and talk with some past clients....I'm rootin for you.....

[HighPlainsDrifter]

Thanks for the feedback Brad3451 and Spanker. Really appreciate it.

 

I have to travel to NYC & LA in April so right now I'm researching a few docs to go see for a consultation.