Regular Member thewalker431 Posted April 19, 2015 Regular Member Share Posted April 19, 2015 Hello, I'd contacted an Indian doctor for Fue procedure. At first, he said I'd be needing 2000 grafts for my crown area. I sent him more pictures following which, he sent this message "You seem to have diffuse alopecia and that does not make you an ideal candidate for a hair transplant." What does this mean? Do I not have any hope? Here are some pictures taken last week. My scalp might appear shiny because I'd applied Minoxil 10% moments ago. 1. http://i.imgur.com/5NvKgPG.jpg 2. http://i.imgur.com/HXElsU5.jpg 3. http://i.imgur.com/9cPUXNL.jpg 4.http://i.imgur.com/uCsPKmn.jpg 5. http://i.imgur.com/QxmbQdV.jpg 6. http://i.imgur.com/qMWUZKT.jpg 7. http://i.imgur.com/4WXpLbp.jpg 8. http://i.imgur.com/jr5KFwH.jpg What should I do? I'm really confused. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member CalvinJR Posted April 19, 2015 Senior Member Share Posted April 19, 2015 Dr batthi I presume. He told me the same thing, which I have never heard before. Have consulted 6 other docs, same pics, no mention of diffused alo. Only Batthi mentioned this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member CalvinJR Posted April 19, 2015 Senior Member Share Posted April 19, 2015 You should get another opinion than dr. batthis. He told me the same thing, which none of the 4-5 other docs (incl. dr konior), looking at the same pics., mentioned anything about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member thewalker431 Posted April 19, 2015 Author Regular Member Share Posted April 19, 2015 Would you care to share your journey? Who did you opt for? I'm leaning towards Dr. Rahal at this point.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member CalvinJR Posted April 19, 2015 Senior Member Share Posted April 19, 2015 thewalker: I opted in for Demirsoy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Blake Bloxham Posted April 19, 2015 Senior Member Share Posted April 19, 2015 Walker, I'm on the fence. In some of those pictures, it does look like you're thinning in the donor area. If this is the case, I agree with Dr. Bhatti's assessment: you're not a good hair transplant candidate. Any transplanted hair could thin over time, and this just isn't fair to put a patient through a procedure that won't last. In other pictures, however, it doesn't look like you're thinning in the donor region. It looks like you suffer from more of a female patterned hair loss. This is graded with the Ludwig, opposed to the Hamilton-NW balding scale, and I would rate you around a Ludwig 2-3. This means you have central thinning with a semi-preserved hairline. If this is the case, you would be a hair transplant candidate. It would be a challenging case, but your donor area would be stable. Knowing this, I recommend two things: 1. Do not undergo surgery with with a doctor unless he/she has evaluated your scalp in person and feels comfortable moving forward. It's too hard to tell what's going on from those images alone. You need to be evaluated by a doctor in person. 2. If you are not already, you should speak with a physician about preventive medications. Patients with Ludwig hair loss patterns tend to respond pretty dramatically to these medications. This is because they are really tested for the midscalp, which is where you're really thinning. If you retained your hairline and restored the thinning regions in the midscalp with meds, you'd have a pretty good transformation on your hands! Hope this helps. Please feel free to ask any additional questions or send me a private message. "Doc" Blake Bloxham - formerly "Future_HT_Doc" Forum Co-Moderator and Editorial Assistant for the Hair Transplant Network, the Hair Loss Learning Center, the Hair Loss Q&A Blog, and the Hair Restoration Forum All opinions are my own and my advice does not constitute as medical advice. All medical questions and concerns should be addressed by a personal physician. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeTillman Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 You should take new photos without a flash. In the second image, the flat of the crown is at a 90° angle to the camera lens so the flash is bouncing off of the scalp and reflecting directly back into the lens. The area just below the occipital hump is at an angle leading away from the lens so the flash is not affecting it as much and in fact it is potentially creating a shadow effect on this inverted downslope which makes this area potentially look thicker. Use good ambient lighting with no shadows and it will be more accurate. I also think your hair should be a bit longer as hair that is too short can be difficult to assess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member BaldingInReverse Posted April 19, 2015 Regular Member Share Posted April 19, 2015 Agree with Blake, it's hard to tell. I don't blame Dr. Bhatti one bit, if he sees anything indicative of diffused thinning, why would he make you travel all the way to India just to send you home. Darker skin doesn't help the pictures either. See an expert then see another expert. If multiple MD's give you the okee-dokee than move forward. In any case, meds should be of service to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member thewalker431 Posted April 21, 2015 Author Regular Member Share Posted April 21, 2015 Thanks guys. Dr. Bhatti sent me another email saying Micor Hair Pigmentation or a hair system might be the only sources of hope for me. I'll try to take a few pics without flash after I've let my hair grow a bit longer and then go from there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member thewalker431 Posted April 21, 2015 Author Regular Member Share Posted April 21, 2015 Also, ironically, Dr. Dua and Dr. Doganey (Turkey) have both responded saying I'll need about 4500-5500 grafts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member ontop Posted April 21, 2015 Senior Member Share Posted April 21, 2015 Have you thought about taking Meds such as Fin & rogain? Ive seen guys like your hairloss work wonders. Looking at your pics IMO & I'm no Dr but I still think HT could be done down the line after you give meds a shot. Wish you well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Rawkerboi Posted April 21, 2015 Senior Member Share Posted April 21, 2015 Even I am not a doctor, but yes you can have HT Add Fin in your regime and keep a watch on your progress for a year at-least Then you may have HT! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Spanker Posted April 21, 2015 Senior Member Share Posted April 21, 2015 I think there is a very large portion of is that have general thinning of the donor as time goes on. Not everyone, but a lot. I am an online representative for Dr. Raymond Konior who is an elite member of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians. View Dr. Konior's Website View Spanker's Website I am not a medical professional and my opinions should not be taken as medical advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member ontop Posted April 21, 2015 Senior Member Share Posted April 21, 2015 Agreed spank... The more I look at them Pics & seen plenty of asia guys with same hairloss do really well on Fin & even Min & with short buzz hair Rogain / Min is easy to apply also. & I guess this fella is under 30 which also helps & 12/18mths could very well be a different story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member California Posted April 21, 2015 Senior Member Share Posted April 21, 2015 Thanks guys. Dr. Bhatti sent me another email saying Micor Hair Pigmentation or a hair system might be the only sources of hope for me. I'll try to take a few pics without flash after I've let my hair grow a bit longer and then go from there. Hi thewalker431, Since you seem to have been in contact with Dr. Bhatti via email, I am sure that you must have realized by now that he tends to be very concerned about the Patient's future hair growth. If he feels that an HT would not meet the Patient's goals, needs and aspirations, he says that upfront without any sugar coating. I wish you all the best. Best regards, California North America Representative and Patient Advisor for: Dr. Tejinder Bhatti, Darling Buds Hair Transplant Center, Chandigarh, India. Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional and my words should not be taken as medical advice. All opinions and views shared are my own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member 1978matt Posted April 21, 2015 Senior Member Share Posted April 21, 2015 I'd agree with Dr Bhatti on this one. You seem to have a lot of diffused loss and not much indication of where the safe zone is. Even if there is a safe zone it is going to be lacking in density. Any limited grafts you can get should be saved for a hairline. Since you still have a hairline there would not be much point in wasting those grafts. Fortunately you have a great shaped head for the buzzed look which is some consolation. However, I am aware in countries like India people are not very forgiving towards people with hair loss, so that is a bummer. 4,312 FUT grafts (7,676 hairs) with Ray Konior, MD - August 2013 1,145 FUE grafts (3,152 hairs) with Ray Konior, MD - August 2018 763 FUE grafts (2,094 hairs) with Ray Konior, MD - January 2020 Proscar 1.25mg every 3rd day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Rawkerboi Posted April 22, 2015 Senior Member Share Posted April 22, 2015 He is from Nepal not India Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member KO Posted April 22, 2015 Senior Member Share Posted April 22, 2015 I don't think you have donor thinning. Your hair is very short, and you have lower density it is perhaps the curvature of the skin which makes some corners look thinner. Personally, I'm a fan of the hairstyle you have as you have a good hairline, you should take finasteride of course if you consider surgery. 3382 FUE Lupanzula http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/185463-3382-grafts-lupanzula.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member thewalker431 Posted April 22, 2015 Author Regular Member Share Posted April 22, 2015 Appreciate it, fellows. I'm a Nepali-American that's moved back to Nepal. And since bald/buzzed looks aren't really appreciated over here, I'm thinking real hard about getting a transplant. I used to have great hair 3-4 years ago, not just in terms of volume. Then I started losing it and my crown is making me feel super insecure. I'd visited Dr. Ak Babbar in Oakland 3 summers ago and he asked me to wait. He'd also told me that my decision to discontinue Rogaine due to added hairloss was a poor was because that probably meant it was working. I went to see a local doctor a couple months ago and he prescribed finasteride and Minox - 10% (I don't know if its stronger/better than Rogaine 5% that I brought from the US). Back to Dr. Bhatti's comment. I get it that he was being honest and I prefer honesty over delusional comments but at the same time, I was really disheartened by his email that said wearing a hairpiece or getting Scalp Micro Pigmentation was my only hope. I have emailed Dr. Radha in India but I'm kinda skeptical because she only does FUT. I also emailed Dr. Dua but I honestly don't have 10-12k to spend on hair transplant at the moment. I'm not sure if I'm going to be patient enough to wait for another 6-12 months to see if Minox and finasteride will do the trick. I tried Rogaine on and off for 3 years and it didn't really yield any result. It's a shame that I never knew of finasteride until 6-7 weeks ago. Just the thoughts of attending my best friend's wedding in May with a buzzed hair makes me feel awkward. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member thewalker431 Posted April 22, 2015 Author Regular Member Share Posted April 22, 2015 I'm going to wait out for 2 weeks or so and take some more pics of donor region so that it should give an idea on if I can have hopes from getting a HT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member arussell Posted April 22, 2015 Regular Member Share Posted April 22, 2015 A key question here would be if you are on medications and treatments to inhibit future and ongoing hair loss? Ailene Russell, NCMA Clinical Supervisor for Dr. Jerry Cooley Carolina Dermatology Haircenter Charlotte, NC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Dr Tejinder Bhatti Posted April 23, 2015 Senior Member Share Posted April 23, 2015 Appreciate it, fellows. I'm a Nepali-American that's moved back to Nepal. And since bald/buzzed looks aren't really appreciated over here, I'm thinking real hard about getting a transplant. I used to have great hair 3-4 years ago, not just in terms of volume. Then I started losing it and my crown is making me feel super insecure. I'd visited Dr. Ak Babbar in Oakland 3 summers ago and he asked me to wait. He'd also told me that my decision to discontinue Rogaine due to added hairloss was a poor was because that probably meant it was working. I went to see a local doctor a couple months ago and he prescribed finasteride and Minox - 10% (I don't know if its stronger/better than Rogaine 5% that I brought from the US). Back to Dr. Bhatti's comment. I get it that he was being honest and I prefer honesty over delusional comments but at the same time, I was really disheartened by his email that said wearing a hairpiece or getting Scalp Micro Pigmentation was my only hope. I have emailed Dr. Radha in India but I'm kinda skeptical because she only does FUT. I also emailed Dr. Dua but I honestly don't have 10-12k to spend on hair transplant at the moment. I'm not sure if I'm going to be patient enough to wait for another 6-12 months to see if Minox and finasteride will do the trick. I tried Rogaine on and off for 3 years and it didn't really yield any result. It's a shame that I never knew of finasteride until 6-7 weeks ago. Just the thoughts of attending my best friend's wedding in May with a buzzed hair makes me feel awkward. Hi "thewalker431", I can understand how hair loss consequent to genetic balding is upsetting. I too am a hair loss sufferer. The following points need to be pondered before you proceed further- 1. You have generalised thinning as it looks in the pictures provided. This is not an indication for a successful hair transplant. A successful hair transplant is one which not only grows hair but makes the patient and the surgeon happy! 2. Trying to get the hair better with use of DHT blockers and then getting a hair transplant means that you shall have to sustain these planted hairs lifelong with the same medication; an arduous and at times an impractical task with possible adverse effects. 3. Lastly, what I suggested to you- a hair piece or SMP are just mere options you could explore if hair loss is affecting your psyche deeply. That is something I am not an expert in and you should consider after due research. these 2 options do not compare with the result a hair transplant can give. I wish you the very best. And never hesitate in mailing me if you wish advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member thewalker431 Posted April 23, 2015 Author Regular Member Share Posted April 23, 2015 Hi "thewalker431", I can understand how hair loss consequent to genetic balding is upsetting. I too am a hair loss sufferer. The following points need to be pondered before you proceed further- 1. You have generalised thinning as it looks in the pictures provided. This is not an indication for a successful hair transplant. A successful hair transplant is one which not only grows hair but makes the patient and the surgeon happy! 2. Trying to get the hair better with use of DHT blockers and then getting a hair transplant means that you shall have to sustain these planted hairs lifelong with the same medication; an arduous and at times an impractical task with possible adverse effects. 3. Lastly, what I suggested to you- a hair piece or SMP are just mere options you could explore if hair loss is affecting your psyche deeply. That is something I am not an expert in and you should consider after due research. these 2 options do not compare with the result a hair transplant can give. I wish you the very best. And never hesitate in mailing me if you wish advice. I appreciate your response, Dr. Bhatti. Just can't help but feel disheartened as I've come across a ton of threads pertaining to successful transplant cases from you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member matt3480 Posted April 24, 2015 Senior Member Share Posted April 24, 2015 I think if you just started fin 7 weeks ago....you might be surprised about what it does for you after a year or so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member thewalker431 Posted April 24, 2015 Author Regular Member Share Posted April 24, 2015 Yeah. I've decided to give it a try, especially after finding out about Caboki concealers. Then depending on the progress after a year or so, I'll decide if I should go get HT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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