How many grafts do I need?

[givememyhair]

Hi Guys,

 

I am pretty much all geared up to go ahead with an FUE treatment and am now in the process of shortlisting doctors. I would also appreciate some advice on how many grafts do you guys think I may need to achieve my objective based on the attached pics. I know its hard to give an accurate judgement, simply based on pictures, but it would certainly allow me to do some budgeting. My aim is to pretty much cover get back a "normal head" of hair, i.e. to cover the hair loss in my crown, temples and the area between the crown and temples.

 

 

I would also like to know your opinion on my Norwood classification. I feel I am a 4, but would appreciate some feedback on this. I also wonder, if finax & minoxidil would be any good for me at this stage (I have used both of these at various stages in the last 4 years but irregularly). Minoxidil seems to give me breathing difficulties though.

Edited December 2, 2013 by givememyhair

[Spanker]

NW4, 4000 grafts depending on your goals.I would figure 1500 for your hairline and another 2000 to 2500 for the rest of your head. You can get away with less which will be fine. It all depends on how much density you are looking for.

[givememyhair]

Thanks. That was exactly my estimate too, i.e. 4K, however one of the docs I emailed (in scotland) suggested that 2.5k would suffice. I also, I have been adviced by a doc to look at FUT (Because the doctor specialises in FUT), but I do believe FUE might be best for me as I am indeed concerned about scarring. Would appreciate any thought on this?

 

Look forward to some more opinions.

[Spanker]

There is scarring in both procedures and I feel that you have to use both methods eventually if you intend to "max out" your donor. However, anytime someone is overly concerned with linear scarring and understand that they will still have scarring through FUE, just less noticeable and a different kind, then I advise them to go FUE. There are very happy patients that have done FUE and FUT and there are very unhappy patients that have done FUE and FUT. I think that the most important thing that you can do is put yourself in the hands on one the best in the world and everything else will likely work itself into place.

[1978matt]

Essentially an emerging NW5/5A for me.

 

Docs have a sixth sense when it comes to estimating the number of grafts. I think 4500-5000.

 

I would put the hairline that outlines roughly where you currently have thin hair. Forget about filling in the temples - better to go with something that will look good now and in 20-30 years time.

[givememyhair]

There is scarring in both procedures and I feel that you have to use both methods eventually if you intend to "max out" your donor. However, anytime someone is overly concerned with linear scarring and understand that they will still have scarring through FUE, just less noticeable and a different kind, then I advise them to go FUE. There are very happy patients that have done FUE and FUT and there are very unhappy patients that have done FUE and FUT. I think that the most important thing that you can do is put yourself in the hands on one the best in the world and everything else will likely work itself into place.

 

Thanks. One of the issues that I am concerned about is, I was to go with FUE and eventually lose all my hair day 10-20 years down the line. As of today are there any technologies at all to cover the little white scars that might form? (I do hope the technology would have evolved by then, but I wonder if any solutions exist as of today (probably BHT?)

 

Essentially an emerging NW5/5A for me.

 

Docs have a sixth sense when it comes to estimating the number of grafts. I think 4500-5000.

 

I would put the hairline that outlines roughly where you currently have thin hair. Forget about filling in the temples - better to go with something that will look good now and in 20-30 years time.

 

Yeah 4K is looking like a figure that a couple of docs have suggested based on the pictures and I also feel that would sufficiently cover me. You make an interesting point about not trying to fill up the temples. Could you elaborate your thoughts on this.

 

Thanks

[home1212]

you're a young guy, you will have continuous and progressive hair loss despite the HT you are considering now, don't be overly aggressive with your hairline or temples to the point where you're trying to play "catch-up" in 10 or 20 years - think about how your hairline, including temples, will continue to move backwards despite the HT you are considering or may have now or in the near future

[Spanker]

I think Matt is saying to stay with your existing hairline. I decided not to close my temples as well, as I wanted some recession for when I got older. If you plant your hairline where it is right now, you should be fine, as it does not seem too aggressive to me. Some clinics may want to go higher, and some would be willing to drop it. I would keep it right there.

[hsrp10]

I think temple points when terribly receded behind the ears for example should be addressed, otherwise it could even look silly to have aggressively closed temples with a HT because the new density will not be enough to match the closure. I agree with Spanker's point of view here.

Leaving the temples as are and boosting the hairline and front is the best approach in my opinion.

[givememyhair]

Thanks guys, I can see the logic in that.

[cueball35]

I would say your heading towards a norwood 5, 4000-4500 would give you a nice result but id leave the crown be if i were you and see does fin and minox improve this area, your likely to need a second op in the future and you should plan long term for this, do you know how many fue grafts you have available?

[givememyhair]

Hi,

 

I was also thinking about 4k, but I was hoping that would cover the crown and front?

 

This would be my first procedure.

[cueball35]

I think 4000 would cover the whole lot if you had a HT now. My loss was quite similar to yours in the crown area when i was your age but it got progressively worse during the next 10 years. I think you should have a few face to face consults with some of the top docs listed here so that they can examine your donor and loss in more detail. 4000 fue is a large session and even if you can get that many grafts what happens in 10 years time if you have more crown loss, will you have maxed out your fue grafts and have to resort to strip? all hypothetical i know but you got to plan long term with these things.

[givememyhair]

Hi,

 

I have decided to go with 4k grafts with Dr. Hakan in Feb. However, I noticed most of the Belgium based doctors said anything over 3k is risky in one session (2 days) and suggest at least a 1 yr gap. Do you feel 4k with FUE is risky in any way?

[rev333]

some clinics are not equipped to handle that many extractions, slit formations, and placements

 

also of concern is the amount of time the grafts are kept out of the scalp

 

blood supply to the grafts once placed....

 

many more variables with FUE

 

have you seen any patients from the Dr. you are going that have had 4,000 FUE at a year out?

 

if you haven't then

 

maybe it is better to split the work and wait the year