Quick Graft Guestimate

[mocachin]

(question at the bottoms.. otherwise the history and general thoughts first)

 

Hi chaps,

 

In brief, I'm 33, light brown/mid brown hair, noticed thinning about 2 years ago on the top/crown area, i'm something like a vertex 3 however my hairline is good and has been like this since i was 19 when i lost the 'kids' hairline, when my hair is grown its was always about an inch long so the thinning wasn't really that noticeable but as soon as I noticed it started I panicked and in June this year I went for SMP in the UK.

 

 

 

I have had a shaved head before so it was really a no brainer and when i saw various pictures from around the web of people having SMP + FUE combination surgery or people that were thinning and had just SMP to add some shade to the scalp it made sense for me to get SMP as it would only enhaunce the FUE surgery at late date.

 

The SMP was great, i have nothing against SMP as you can see in the pic I just keep my hair shaved quite short and because my hairline is a good already and I have hair on top the illusion works well. The main problem I get is I often get "you should grow your hair out" or from balding friends "if i had as much hair as you i'd grow it out mate"

 

My Brother is 5 years old than me and started losing his at 27 in the same area until about 31 and since then its stayed the same where it looks noticeable in certain lights like outside.

 

I have been looking into travelling from the UK to Turkey, from my research its a great place for HT and of course the price makes it possible for me to get this done sooner.

 

Would love to hear from any SMP+FUE people

 

just a couple videos i've found on the net from a surgeon who talks of the benefits of SMP+FUE

 

 

 

 

------------

Q.

Could anyone take a look at my pics and give me an idea of how many grafts I will need.

 

Photo 1 = hair cut with clippers quite short - before SMP + artificial light

Photo 2 = hair cut with clippers quite short - before SMP + artificial light + Flash AKA the killer!

Photo 3 = after SMP (sorry its not a great photo)

[Melvin- Admin]

I'd say 2,000 grafts would make a huge difference on you especially with the smp, are you on any hairloss meds like fin or minoxidil? Also have you ever thought of growing your hair out? I think you'd be surprised if you did, your hair looks pretty good probably even better if you grew it out.

[mocachin]

I'd say 2,000 grafts would make a huge difference on you especially with the smp,

 

2000 ok, quite a bit higher than I anticipated really. The flash photo + artificial light really is a killer

 

I will get a better picture of the SMP but basically I went from having a slight thinning area on the crown that looked like to looking like someone that shaves there head... I have hair so I don't have to wet shave my head but keep it quite short, about half a centimeter max and the illusion works well and

 

From doing more reading i've not seen any negatives and only positives about combining SMP and FUE so i'm really happy about that.

 

 

 

are you on any hairloss meds like fin or minoxidil?

 

 

Meds - nope, I have started looking into minoxdil... fin seemed to have some sides that i didn't like the sound of.

 

 

Also have you ever thought of growing your hair out? I think you'd be surprised if you did, your hair looks pretty good probably even better if you grew it out.

 

Before I shaved my head and had SMP i had it like 1 inch classic short back and sides with quiff... it does look good from the front but I had a real hang up about even just going a little thin, i'm quite healthy, gym, weights so I made the choice i'd rather have shaved head with SMP so i just look like someone that shaves their head. In retrospect it was wasn't all noticeable unless under certain light and I could have probably styled my hair better, blow dry and used the other little tricks to conceal it however I just panicked a little and went with a shaved head then SMP.. which I am ok with but currently I am in a situation where i can afford to try FUE.

 

Thanks again.

 

oh btw... hairline, would it be worth softening the widows peaks a little while I can?

[Melvin- Admin]

2,000 grafts is a high number but I feel like that number would leave you with a satisfied result, you could get away with 1,200 but the density is not gonna be as good, I don't recommend having a procedure though with out first getting on some sort of medication to slow hair loss, because you have a lot of hair that puts you at a higher risk for shock loss and id hate for you to look worse after the procedure.

 

Minoxidil worked great for me, and I get no side effects other than occasional itchy scalp or greasy hair texture, but thats nothing compared to finasteride side effects. I recommend growing your hair out, I honestly think that with some good styling and the SMP you might not even need an HT yet, some thickening hair product and the SMP might be enough try it out before you really consider going the surgical route, I will say this, once you commit to surgery, you're basically committing yourself to more than one, its just the way it is, you'll always need to get more procedures to make up for continued hair loss, even those on finasteride end up getting more than one procedure, something to consider.

[JohnCasper]

It's very difficult to estimate a number of grafts based on a few pictures but typically 2,000 grafts clearly improves thinning hairline. Find a doctor you're comfortable with, look at lots of their before/after photos and get a consultation. Best of luck. I'm glad you're considering FUE. NO visible scarring versus the lengthy scar with FUT.

[Cant decide]

My opinion is 0 grafts. Your hairline still looks good. Focus on preventative mediations at this point and SMP if need be. HT should be a last resort.

[1978matt]

My opinion is 0 grafts. Your hairline still looks good. Focus on preventative mediations at this point and SMP if need be. HT should be a last resort.

 

Agreed. Thank god there are still people on here giving good advice!

[octave]

Agreed. Thank god there are still people on here giving good advice!

 

I agree with matt you don't need grafts

[home1212]

don't mess with God's perfection - I would not consider undergoing HT sugery if I were in your shoes -

[mocachin]

My opinion is 0 grafts. Your hairline still looks good. Focus on preventative mediations at this point and SMP if need be. HT should be a last resort.

 

Agreed. Thank god there are still people on here giving good advice!

 

I appreciate your comments guys... although my hairline is good and has been strong since i was 19 the top is definately thinning, when i had 1 inch hair it was noticeable. I do see what you mean about hairline, i realise that its more important and i am lucky that the thinning isnt there.

 

Please look at the attached photo that was taken pre-SMP in the day under artifical light with a 1.5-2cm cut... its clear there is a big lack of density and if you zoom in its very apparent.

 

 

don't mess with God's perfection - I would not consider undergoing HT sugery if I were in your shoes -

 

Perfection? I am not someone that is really pissed off with my situation however I do think that a conservative 1500 or 2000 fue would be ok and leave me with enough donor to fix the front if ever my hairline started to start going back. I'm not looking to get a 4500 mega session to give me my 12 year old hair again

 

I took a little glance at your pics... you must be happy, great difference.

Edited October 14, 2015 by mocachin

[mocachin]

2,000 grafts is a high number but I feel like that number would leave you with a satisfied result, you could get away with 1,200 but the density is not gonna be as good, I don't recommend having a procedure though with out first getting on some sort of medication to slow hair loss, because you have a lot of hair that puts you at a higher risk for shock loss and id hate for you to look worse after the procedure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minoxidil worked great for me, and I get no side effects other than occasional itchy scalp or greasy hair texture, but thats nothing compared to finasteride side effects. I recommend growing your hair out, I honestly think that with some good styling and the SMP you might not even need an HT yet, some thickening hair product and the SMP might be enough try it out before you really consider going the surgical route, I will say this, once you commit to surgery, you're basically committing yourself to more than one, its just the way it is, you'll always need to get more procedures to make up for continued hair loss, even those on finasteride end up getting more than one procedure, something to consider.

 

Thanks again.

 

I have purcahsed Minoxidil (regaine foam) and also some Alpecin Double Effect Shampoo

 

I understand about not just having one procedure, I did think I would have this done now and then leave it until my hairline starts moving back that is if it does ever.

 

It's very difficult to estimate a number of grafts based on a few pictures but typically 2,000 grafts clearly improves thinning hairline. Find a doctor you're comfortable with, look at lots of their before/after photos and get a consultation. Best of luck. I'm glad you're considering FUE. NO visible scarring versus the lengthy scar with FUT.

 

You worried me when you said 2,000 grafts clearly improves thinning hairline. My issue isn't the hairline

 

Good advice about Doctors, there are 4 IAHRS doctos that are in Turkey and at the moment I'm thinking Erdogan(asmed), Doganay or Civas. I'm not only looking at the before and afters (as i'm not always convinced with the 'wet hair' before and the 'blow dry' and styled afters) but reviews/journals etc.

[home1212]

you wear your hair so short, even FUE surgeries leave scars - albeit small white dots - do you want to do that to the back of your head? I doubt you'll be able to shave it as far down as you do now without there being some small signs of surgery. Remember any HT surgery is merely an "illusion" of density - at the expense of your donor area in the back & sides. And for most of us, in order to pull off that illusion, we normally have to wear your hair a little longer than how you wear yours - any surgery is always a personal thing, my biggest regret was doing a small procedure in my mid 20's that I had to chase to keep up to and had to have corrected as well -

[mocachin]

you wear your hair so short, even FUE surgeries leave scars - albeit small white dots - do you want to do that to the back of your head? I doubt you'll be able to shave it as far down as you do now without there being some small signs of surgery. Remember any HT surgery is merely an "illusion" of density - at the expense of your donor area in the back & sides. And for most of us, in order to pull off that illusion, we normally have to wear your hair a little longer than how you wear yours - any surgery is always a personal thing, my biggest regret was doing a small procedure in my mid 20's that I had to chase to keep up to and had to have corrected as well -

 

I would grow my hair out to about an inch or so again. If I was wanting to keep my hair this short then I wouldn't go for FUE.

 

I see quite a lot of people putting off really young guys in there twenties but I can understand why they must really want to especially when you're a really young guy.

[mocachin]

1 doc replied and wasn't confident about my donor area, so that's a no.

[mocachin]

Another doc said that the donor area wasn't great so I'd have to be careful if in the future the hairline moved using up a lot on the crown.

 

I've taken the advice on this thread on board, had a good think about things and this is my plan...

 

 

1. start taking rogaine (minoxidil)
   
2. grow the hair out in about 3-4 weeks after the shedding that you (hopefully) get with rogaine
   
   
3. take some natural dht blockers
   
4. decent shampoos
   
   
5. good haircuts - short back and sides
   
   
6. and.... toppik.... if i actually knew what this stuff was capable was I probably wouldn't have started this topic... i'm amazed with what i've seen and diffusers like me it seems to work wonders for in a few seconds. I know its a bit of a routine but that's fine.
   

I think the SMP will mask the scalp and the toppik will make the appear hair thicker and the rogaine etc will hopefully be a bonus.

 

 

 

If the above doesn't work its back to the shaved head look that I'm fine with.. I guess I would just like the option to have hair and while I'm stil quite youthful I probably don't want to be in my 40's 50's with a shaved SMP head.

 

 

 

FUE - perhaps, I think I should take the advice from this thread and wait, who knows what the future holds and I would rather use my limited donor if my hairline decides to go back

 

 

 

thanks guys

[pkipling]

Sounds like you came to a very good conclusion to be honest. If you don't have a great donor area, your hairline is fully intact, and you can successfully pull off the buzzcut, I don't see a reason why you would want to pursue a HT at this point. All of the steps you plan on taking sound perfectly reasonable and can hopefully lead to a satisfying outcome for you.

 

Also, I wonder how the SMP would look once your hair was grown out. It's hard to tell in the pictures with your hair so short, but maybe once your hair is grown out, the SMP will add enough illusion to the midscalp/crown that you won't even need anything else to be able to keep your hair long.

 

Update this thread once your hair grows out. I'd be interested to see how it works out.

[mocachin]

Thanks pkipling.

 

Always helps to take a step back and analyse

 

I think the SMP will help, its basically a permanent dermatch so it will hide add shade to the scalp areas.

 

You might be right about not needing toppik but I think with SMP i have the scalp sorted now it will be making the hair a bit thicking especially around the cowlick area.

 

I'll update when it gets longer.. its just annoying at the moment where its in this limbo stage where it looks like an unkept shaved head and its too short still to think about adding fibres. Not looking forward to the next few weeks where the SMP is more obvious through the hair.

[Cant decide]

Again. A HT is huge step (I took it twice). If your hair looks DECENT, leave it alone and live to fight another day. Rely on the meds for now. HT is a HUGE step so deal with what you have and if it progresses, revisit a HT option in 5 years. This is coming from a person who has had great success with HT so take it to heart friend!!

[Rawkerboi]

As good as Toppik looks, its also quite pain to apply daily. Mostly importantly you will be addicted to it, even after HT, you will apply it, coz of the dense illusion it gives.

Also during windy and rainy seasons it can messed up!

[mocachin]

As good as Toppik looks, its also quite pain to apply daily. Mostly importantly you will be addicted to it, even after HT, you will apply it, coz of the dense illusion it gives.

Also during windy and rainy seasons it can messed up!

 

I've been doing lots of research hair spray before and after applying is the way to it from what i've heard, a lot of people either don't use spray or don't only use it afterwards