2007 FUE After 10 yrs, now and 2011 comparison

[Marley76]

hi everybody,

 

WARNING - LONG POST!

 

hope everybody is doing ok, and managing not to stress about their hair too much. This is my first post - apologies to admin if it's in the wrong place - it contains a bit of everything, so I thought this would be the best section to put it. Apologies also, as it's pretty long, so get a coffee if you're reading it!

 

I'm posting this up, firstly as info and help to those who are wondering about transplants, who wonder what they'll look like in 10 years - I believe this answers an important question which others must think of when making the final decision - especially when work in the temples is concerned - what will it look like a decade down the track? well, I'm your proof - not that bad, not that good, could be better. I am also posting this up to get some advice from other members about what my next step should be. I've attached photos, which i hope others will find interesting.

 

Quick story RE my experience - I am about to hit 41 years old - I noticed I was receding back in 2006 when I was approaching my 30th birthday - I kept tabs on it as it was quite slow, by age 31 and 2007 I noticed it was getting a little worse - so in an already unstable mental state (at the time I didn't realise I suffer from anxiety) I jumped in head first and got a small hair transplant. Probably a stupid move - didn't research properly and was young and gung ho.

 

I think I got around 600 grafts, 300 to each temple - with FUE, and a less than reputable clinic here in the UK.

 

All was fine though, I had long curly hair anyway, the grafts grew in a matter of months, and added with my existing hair to help cover the receding part - the problem disappeared, I relaxed and completely forgot about my hair for a good few years, such a great feeling!

 

Now, I guess it didn't really occur to me that the grafts maybe weren't so dense - this become noticeable around the 2011 mark, as my hair began to recede. At that point I almost took the plunge again and almost got a 2nd hair transplant - but something stopped me - and I decided to wait.

 

Now it's 2017, and you'll see from the photos that my hair, since 2011, has receded again, but not that much, it appears to be going on but appears to have slowed somewhat at the temples (I hope). I do believe it's thinner though. Also concerning is visible thinning and a bald spot beginning at the crown.

 

Last year around June I experimented with minoxidil, however I hated it, it sky rocketed my anxiety and gave me heart palpitations so I discontinued use.

 

So where to go from here? I am thankful I still have a lot of hair up there, probably a lot more than many on this site, I know that. so am aware it's not panic stations just yet - however, this year and at the latest next year I will need to once again address my hair, it's definitely thinning/receding. Budding HT patients take note of this - do you really want to enter into a life long battle? Perhaps it's better to shave it off? Or wait? Who knows.

 

There are only 2 people on this entire planet who know about my hair transplant, it's the only big secret I have. My family doesn't even know, and if anybody within my circle found out, it would be game over for me.

 

My options ten years later in 2017 I've researched, are as follows:

 

1) Do nothing. Perhaps it might not get any worse, this is my least preferred option, as it will thin out.

 

2) Look into taking finestaride or something to stem the hair loss - although I'm petrified of the sexual disfunction and shedding aspect

 

3) Look into future technologies which should be coming onto markets this year and next. Histogen, replicel, PRP (Not new), hair cloning etc - some of you I know will dismiss these straight away, but I am open to them, and like to remain positive

 

4) Get another hair transplant, this time taking into account future loss, and with a more mature outlook on it. I'm unsure about this - largely based on experience, of what it could look like 10, 20 years down the line, will it leave me with an island of unnatural looking hair? My hair type is very fine, what would the density be like? My hair transplant is small - it could be removed at the moment - but a second transplant I probably couldn't remove - and people would notice it if I tried.

 

5) Get the grafts out. Buzz cut to a 2 or 3 all over and move on with life and give up. I would do this, but i'm a fighter. I am in two minds about this, plus I like having hair. However I refer people to the following thread:

 

Hair loss, hair transplant and hair restoration advice

 

there's the FUE extraction method, however I reckon electrolysis may be better - I'm aware that with both, multiple sessions may be required. Scarring may be an issue here though - however I don't think I have cobble stoning, the dots you can see are I think because there is more than one hair growing out. any scarring could be addressed with lasers, or another form of cosmetic application. I will have some FUE scarring which I may be able to address with SMP?

 

6) Use a combination of current methods to preserve and address any loss that require minimal intrusion, and simply wait it out over the next years to see where the industry goes, and what new things become available?

 

So there goes, hope some of you found the time to read this, I hope it was informative to newcomers too. I've attached pics I found of my head 5 months post op (although these are just FB pics) and comparisons between 6 years ago, and what it looks like when I took pics yesterday. I've also attached other ones I took yesterday. Please bear in mind in the comparison pics my hair is cut shorter and it's wetter!

 

thanks everyone, have a nice day!

[Marley76]

Ok maybe a bit long winded

 

but nobody's got any suggestions as to what to do next?

[Melvin- Admin]

It doesn't look unnatural just looks like you're thinning at the hairline, I suggest trying low dose propecia and researching a hair transplant, what you have is definitely fixable, I was 10x balder than you and still got a favorable outcome, I understand the hesitation so it's really up to you, I would understand if you wanted to remove the grafts and shave your head, there is no wrong answer, it all depends on how you feel, many guys don't want to deal with drugs or surgeries and would rather just accept it, absolutely no shame in that, but again it all boils down to how you feel personally about your hair loss. You could also try dermmatch, it would pretty much conceal the loss you have, you could start propecia and possibly stop any further hair loss that's another possibility.

[Mick50]

just goes to show how we are all different I personally wouldn't even have thought about getting a hair transplant with your degree of hair-loss ,I can say that because I can remember quite clearly when my hair line started to recede a long time ago it didn't really bother me it was only when it turned in to a full blown NW 5 that I couldn't handle it anymore, but as I say we are all different , your hair looks very good for a 41 year old ,but I can see no reason why you wouldn't have success with a hair transplant ,I would avoid the

uk clinics if I were you apart form Farjo but they are expensive.

[rev333]

Get on propecia 1mg before it's too late. Your hair can still be saved by this medication. Minoxidil used concurrently can provide synergistic effects. After 1 year one these you may not even need a mother HT. You still have some hair remaining in those temple areas and have seen wonders from Minox and Fin combined. BEST TO YOU ON YOUR DECISION.

[Marley76]

It doesn't look unnatural just looks like you're thinning at the hairline, I suggest trying low dose propecia and researching a hair transplant

 

Thanks for the advice, yeah I'm researching propecia, are you on it too? Did it cause shedding like minoxidil?

 

Your transplant looks amazing, just had a look at your pics - you must be really happy with it

[Marley76]

I can see no reason why you wouldn't have success with a hair transplant ,I would avoid the uk clinics if I were you apart form Farjo but they are expensive.

 

Yeah there doesn't seem to be many UK clinics, there is another in Manchester asides Farjo, who did footballer Wayne Rooney and some other celebrities here - but you're right he will be expensive. I'm going to do my research thoroughly this time - I might nip over to mainland Europe if I decide to get it done. My only issue with another transplant is if my hair suddenly starts receding quickly again. I would love to go and get some professional advice from an all rounder who's an expert in hair restoration, but I'd like impartial advice and don't want to speak to a salesman - where would be the best place to look for this? Do organizations like this even exist?

[Marley76]

Get on propecia 1mg before it's too late. Your hair can still be saved by this medication. Minoxidil used concurrently can provide synergistic effects

 

Thanks for your reply rev333, I tried minoxidil but it heavily increased the anxiety i had and seemed to make my heart beat really fast, I had palpitations so I discontinued use, it was horrible. Are you on propecia? Did you shed a lot and have you seen an improvement?

[Melvin- Admin]

Thanks for the advice, yeah I'm researching propecia, are you on it too? Did it cause shedding like minoxidil?

 

Your transplant looks amazing, just had a look at your pics - you must be really happy with it

 

I'm not on propecia, I tried it but got side effects so I stopped taking it, the only way to know if you'll get side effects is to try it, if you do stop taking it. You can try starting off at a very low dose something that I didn't do, maybe try 0.5mg M,W,F see how that goes for you. In my experience finasteride did not cause any shedding.

[MAGNUMpi]

Great post Marley76!

It's good to see a HT 10 years later. Thanks for all the info.

I think your hair still looks really good.

If I were in your shoes I would give propecia a try. I've been on it for years with no side effects. It really helped stop my loss and fill in what I have. If you get sides you can simply stop.

I would try it for a year and see how you feel then.

After a year on propecia if you weren't satisfied you could get a HT but budget for the possibility of travel. See who the top doctors are at that time and be willing to fly to them. Could be Europe, Canada, USA etc.

Again your hair looks really good now. Waiting might give you more clarity.

[Marley76]

Great post Marley76!

It's good to see a HT 10 years later. Thanks for all the info.

I think your hair still looks really good.

If I were in your shoes I would give propecia a try. I've been on it for years with no side effects. It really helped stop my loss and fill in what I have. If you get sides you can simply stop.

I would try it for a year and see how you feel then.

After a year on propecia if you weren't satisfied you could get a HT but budget for the possibility of travel. See who the top doctors are at that time and be willing to fly to them. Could be Europe, Canada, USA etc.

Again your hair looks really good now. Waiting might give you more clarity.

 

Thanks Magnum P.I, I think I'll give this a shot!

[Marley76]

Just like to say thanks to everyone that contributed and answered this thread. I came here looking for some advice and I've got it.

 

One question - may seem daft - how do you get propecia in the UK, do you need a prescription? I've no doubt there'll be lots of ways to get it online, but I want the real deal. I see places like Belgravia offer it, but surely this will be double the price of sourcing it yourself?

[Postdoc]

Just like to say thanks to everyone that contributed and answered this thread. I came here looking for some advice and I've got it.

 

One question - may seem daft - how do you get propecia in the UK, do you need a prescription? I've no doubt there'll be lots of ways to get it online, but I want the real deal. I see places like Belgravia offer it, but surely this will be double the price of sourcing it yourself?

 

Hi Marley76,

 

Branded finasteride (Propecia) is double the price of the generic drug (Aindeem). Try Assured Pharmacy in the UK. Their price includes an online prescription.

 

As others have said, your hair looks good, but some filling in at the temples would be worth considering. As far as UK surgeons go, I'd recommend The Maitland Clinic. I've had two HTs before at Hasson & Wong and the third with The Maitland Clinic. I know which I'd choose if I was starting afresh.

 

Regards,

 

Postdoc

[Melvin- Admin]

Just like to say thanks to everyone that contributed and answered this thread. I came here looking for some advice and I've got it.

 

One question - may seem daft - how do you get propecia in the UK, do you need a prescription? I've no doubt there'll be lots of ways to get it online, but I want the real deal. I see places like Belgravia offer it, but surely this will be double the price of sourcing it yourself?

 

Pm spex, he's in the U.K. and I believe he works with a doctor that gives prescriptions he will help you out.

[Spidey]

For 41, I would leave it. I know it is easier said than done, but if my hair looked like that at 41, I would be happy. I definitely wouldn't go on FIN. I am on MIN right now and have been for the last 10 years, but honestly I don't think it did anything for my receding hairline, and def nothing for my crown since I had the impression my crown was thinning but it was just the way I styled my hair back then (spiky) and the use of flash exacerbated it. I am too afraid to stop using MIN due to the post MIN shed in the event it did help me keep some of my hair.

 

That all said, your hairloss seems very slow. Ten years post HT and your hair still looks natural, which is the most important thing. I think it is safe to say you won't be a very high NW in the years to come, I would either leave it (or leave it and buzz it down like you said), or get a small touch up procedure with a reputable clinic.