Getting closer to booking first procedure

[kramer79]

Hi guys, after spending some time on the forum seems like there is a genuine interest in helping one another through experiences and knowledge which is why i would appreciate your input on moving towards a first procedure.

 

I am currently 28 years old turning 29 when i plan to get my first procedure. I am not on meds and only use Regenepure and Biotin. I will post some pictures so that you guys can see where things are at as well as my 2 older brothers and father to have an idea for the pattern. I definitely see a trend in all our hair loss patterns except my one brother seems to be a bit better off.

 

My brother at 38 years old is no worse off than me. My oldest brother at 43 years old has a small bald spot that he was maintaining while on propecia for 15 years. He stopped taking it a few years ago and lost hair in the crown and now has a small bald spot (Im guessing the thinning i have in the crown will take the same course eventually). His hair slightly recited (after stopping propecia) where he had a transplant back in 2000 but it's not really noticeable to the untrained eye.

 

I guess we don't have aggressive hair loss in the family and kind of a progression over time.

 

I'm currently heavily leaning towards an FUT procedure. Between 1500-2000 grafts? (most likely closer to 2000) I never wear my hair short but going scar free is always a plus for sure. I'm simply choosing FUT to maximize donor potential. I know i will have to get another procedure but i would like to very much approach the situation strategically to ultimately have maximum coverage in the future.

 

Seeing my family hair loss pattern and my current situation do you guys think i should consider FUE?

Given how beard hair is being used now for procedures, i think i can definitely spare a lot for the crown as my beard hair is very thick. So is a combination of FUE and beard hair moving forward doable?

 

So I was wondering what you guys think in general on my situation...

 

Thanks!

 

ficker1's Recent Uploads | Photobucket

Edited March 15, 2017 by kramer79

[kramer79]

no input guys?

[Slush]

Given that you want to maintain maximum donor potential, and that you never wear your hair short, FUT sounds like a great route for you if you are set on a HT.

[kramer79]

I just wonder if a combination of FUE/BHT (predominately beard grafts) is a feasible option long term...

 

If the hairline is done first then couldn't one use BHT/FUE going forward to reinforce everything behind?

 

When you say if i am set on a hair transplant... Are you thinking it's too early?

[Slush]

While it could be feasible, it may not give you the result you desire. BH isn't exactly like hair on your head. In fact, a doctor posted on here within the last few weeks about a BHT. Its facinating, but the conclusion was that it's best as a last resources and better for thickening "coverage". Essentially, it likely won't grow or match typical head hair.

 

 

If you are not opposed to Propecia (I have been), then it may be best to wait. Try it and or minoxidil and see if you are comfortable delaying things for a while. In some ways this is a game of patience, if you can protect what you have long enough maybe another treatment comes available, like a better medicine, stem cells, etc. You're young, who knows?

[Slush]

Link to BHT thread

[Ernie]

I've always thought of body hair as "filler", for say, the crown or the area between the crown and mid-scalp area

[Bill - Seemiller]

I was 27 when I underwent my first hair transplant with significant hair loss. Let's just say that you are a lot luckier or blessed than I am having that much hair. It seems like you have mild thinning in the crown/mid area but if you aren't using any non-surgical treatments like Propecia and Rogaine, this will likely continue to worsen over time. Your hairline still looks pretty full with only some mild recession.

 

If you are going to undergo hair transplant surgery, I suggest only a nominal number of grafts leaving a large quantity left in reserve for future work as needed. But if you haven't already started, you may want to consider Propecia and/or Rogaine.

 

As for body hair, I wouldn't consider using that at this stage in the game. In my opinion, body hair should be reserved for when all scalp donor hair has been depleted. Of course, that's just my opinion.

 

Best wishes,

 

Bill

[kramer79]

I am not really open to taking propecia. My brother took it for 15 years and now has some certain "issues" that may or may not be linked to propecia use. I just don't like the idea of taking something like that forever.

 

I agree Bill that a conservative approach is best. I am not looking to lower the hairline or get my 18 year old hairline back. Just want to reinforce and bring temporal recession forward.

 

I guess given my family's history and progression, it's slow although does get relatively extreme in my father's case as you can see.

 

So let's say i end up like my dad for instance in the pictures (Norwood 6??) ...

What kind of coverage would he able to get?

 

Thanks for the input guys

[kramer79]

I've always thought of body hair as "filler", for say, the crown or the area between the crown and mid-scalp area

 

Exactly, I wouldn't put it in the hair line but i would where it it's more inconspicuous.

 

I see you had your procedure with Rahal. I am leaning towards going with him... I read your thread, very nice result man. You must be super happy.

 

Any advice going forward? Have you ever mentioned BHT to him?

[Ernie]

Hi Kramer, since you asked me directly above, I can tell you that my experience with Rahal for FUT was exceptional. So much so that I'm getting another FUT with him in two weeks, just to make things 'perfect'.

 

Other FUT guys I like, Konior, Gabel, H&W, Cooley, R. Shapiro, Feller (not sure he's really available anymore??)

[kramer79]

Hi Kramer, since you asked me directly above, I can tell you that my experience with Rahal for FUT was exceptional. So much so that I'm getting another FUT with him in two weeks, just to make things 'perfect'.

 

Other FUT guys I like, Konior, Gabel, H&W, Cooley, R. Shapiro, Feller (not sure he's really available anymore??)

 

Any reason you didn't go FUE since you are maintaining your hair really well with propecia? How are you handling the scar? any regrets?

 

I'm starting to believe that if one is not open to medications and ultimately wants maximum possible coverage in the future then i guess FUT should always be chosen until tapped out (assuming one doesn't wear short hairstyles).

I guess i started second guessing myself to get FUE because i see that i'm thinning in the crown area. So i was thinking with FUE, I could wear a shorter hair style temporarily when i do lose the crown and then address the crown with beard grafts.

 

I guess it made sense in my head lol

[Ernie]

Any reason you didn't go FUE since you are maintaining your hair really well with propecia? How are you handling the scar? any regrets?

 

My scar is only detectable at a #3 or lower. I had such a good result w FUT the first time, so I'm going to do it again.

 

Obvioudly I have no experience with FUE on my head... and I prefer to limit any "unknown" factors that may deter me from getting optimal results.

[kramer79]

My scar is only detectable at a #3 or lower. I had such a good result w FUT the first time, so I'm going to do it again.

 

Obvioudly I have no experience with FUE on my head... and I prefer to limit any "unknown" factors that may deter me from getting optimal results.

 

No I meant for your first procedure. Any reason you chose to go with FUT for your first procedure instead of FUE?

[Hairhope4ever]

Hi Kramer,

 

First and foremost, I wish you the best of luck whichever route you choose. From a personal standpoint, I would refrain going down the FUT route. This is just my subjective opinion because I had an unsuccessful FUT procedure at the age of 19. I did it out of desperation. To be transparent, I also had 3 unsuccessful FUE procedures afterwards with the same doctor. The 3rd and 4th procedure were repair jobs. FUE has come a long way in the years, and just as Bill earlier mentioned, I had a completely depleted donor area, thus I literally spent 5 years researching Dr. Umar's FUE work with both head and body hair before finally pulling the trigger last years. Long story short, I wish I would have had procedures with him from the beginning. It would have saved my donor, and I would have an even better result due to the fact that I would not have needed to utilize body hair. I would not want to have a strip scar if I know there is a successful alternative out there. It will give you a lot of flexibility with hairstyles due to not having to worry about the scar being exposed.

 

The link to my blog, which details my story is in the link below. Hope that helps, and all the best to you.

 

 

http://hairtransplanttestimonial.blogspot.com/

Edited April 13, 2017 by Hairhope4ever
forgot to post my link

[mattj]

Hi Kramer79,

 

You definitely look to be following along a similar hairloss course to your brothers. There is no absolute certainty that your hair loss will progress exactly as theirs has, but it's a good indicator and HT surgeons will see this as a very positive factor.

 

Some people are very pro-FUE - others tend to think FUT is the way to go. It's a very personal choice. I know that I always wanted FUE and I certainly have no regrets. As you seem to know the difference and everything involved then you're in a position to make an informed decision.

 

I definitely agree with everyone who has said that BHT should be seen as a last resort. Patients who have extensive hairloss but have exhausted their donor supply (often through botched procedures or a tendency for poor graft yield) are those who normally seek BHT. You certainly aren't in that category. It doesn't harm to see beard or body hair as a backup plan, but I would definitely urge you not to consider BHT right now.

[Sean]

FUT may not be a bad option. It will probably maximize donor. You do not want any donor damage. Think it through, take it nice and slow. Wish you the best.