How awful is my donor zone?

[DarGek]

The first picture is at 3 weeks and the last one is from 1.5 months. I typically shave it with no guard for good reason. One surgeon was fine with doing FUT, another with FUE and a final one for FUE said it probably wasn't good. No one has ever told me I had a not so great donor region though but looking at it, it doesn't seem to be a good thing going on.

 

Edit: I had LPP around 10 years ago and it has remained inactive since that time which might explain the part you are seeing at the bottom although maybe not.

Edited September 1, 2017 by DarGek

[Transhair]

The shaved picture looks kind of moth eaten at the bottom. I think you might have donor thinning

[DarGek]

The shaved picture looks kind of moth eaten at the bottom. I think you might have donor thinning

 

It's more likely from the LPP I had 10 years ago but haven't had it since. I am not definitely sure about that though.

[HairThereAndEverywhere]

I'm not sure what your asking. Have you had an HT? What is LPP?

[DarGek]

I'm not sure what your asking. Have you had an HT? What is LPP?

 

I am asking how bad the donor area looks for a future FUE or FT. LPP is lichenplanopilaris, a form of scarring alopecia which was surprisingly slow but was left untreated and did add to the natural progression of hair loss.

[Melvin- Admin]

What are your goals? The donor seems sparse, and the bottom nape appears to have retrograde alopecia, that doesn't necessarily mean you're not a candidate, it just means you have less grafts to work with, so it all depends on your expectations and goals, it's best to consult with doctors in person to asses the donor area.

[DarGek]

Goalbis to be able to maintain forelock, create more density in mid section and partially add more to crown. I want just enough where I can buzz my head without guard and it will appear to have more density than is actually there.

[voxman]

I want just enough where I can buzz my head without guard and it will appear to have more density than is actually there.

 

You, sir, are the perfect candidate then for SMP.

[DarGek]

Honestly dont want any form of ink on me, especially on my scalp.

[Bill - Seemiller]

DarGek,

 

Photos aren't the best way to evaluate the donor area however, in one of the photos, it does appear that your donor area is quite thin. If I were you, I would consult one of our recommended hair transplant surgeons so they can evaluate your scalp and help you develop realistic expectations for surgery.

 

Best wishes,

 

Bill

[voxman]

Honestly dont want any form of ink on me, especially on my scalp.

 

I can appreciate that as I have no ink anywhere on my body, and I am 99.9% sure I never will - but some recent posts of SMP results in the past year or so are pretty impressive and given the pics you have submitted, it should at least be put down (low albeit) on the list as a possible solution.

[Gasthoerer]

I have to agree with voxman.

 

Your Goal and (!) your Status make SMP the only Option in my opinion.

Maybe a Combo of FUE and SMP would be Option 1b.

[Speegs]

I'd go in person for a consult with a reputable doctor if you can, but based on that first picture I wouldn't want to operate on you.

[Spanker]

If day it's pretty bad. Wether from lip or not. I wouldn't consider you a great candidate base on your age and donor area. Sorry man.

[hairthere]

Hi Dargek,

I own a non-permanent/temporary SMP clinic in Northern New Jersey. I'd be happy to discuss your options not only for SMP but hair transplant as well. I work with most of the top HT docs in the area (all recommended by this forum) and can point you in the right direction if you decided SMP wasn't for you. (I'm also a HT vet having had 8 surgeries.) You can email me at info@aheadink.com to set up a free consultation.