24M Sikh Traction Alopecia. Need Advice. And Perhaps Surgeon Recommendation.

[Kickbuttmario]

Hey there. Title says it all.

 

Basically, I am a Sikh male that has basically been suffering with traction alopecia for many years. The hair loss scar is basically, for the most part, a majority of frontal hair gone due to hair being pulled out because of turban. Last year, I finally started thinning (weird tension on scalp, burning, that jazz).

 

Anywho, it has become obvious to me that I need a transplant. Believe me, ive been on the fence on it for a long time. I tried seeing Donovan back in September 2014 but I was still not sure and wondered if I could "own it". I was young, and just too naive to see that my anxiety levels were off the charts to not see the obviousness.

 

I preferred to keep my hair short nearly bald but, again, hair line is fucked up due to traction alopecia. Donovan recommended me FUE because scars aren't a big deal, even if you wish to shave or keep it short, but decided to not go through with it.

 

Last year, I saw Robert Jones and he said most of my frontal hair would be gone in 5 years, which scared me quite a bit. So i kinda ended up leaving in a sad mood. Now thar i am losing hair, no one really knows when I will go bald. Robert Jones said 28-30, my family doctor said mid 30s with a big line on my center of scalp but who knows.

 

However, I realized I need help. I am one of those fellers that has a hard time even going to school or work because of my hair. Nothing really helped solve it except a hoodie or a doorag.

 

Donovan quit doing hair transplant, so he's pretty much out. I live near Toronto of Canada. I was thinking of Robert Jones and I am seeing him this Tuesday but I've been worried about what kind of answer he could give, he gives the impression that he does care but is also business-talk. I saw the Canadian Health Assocation of hair and scalp (the guys located in Mississauga) fellers and they recommended FUT since I'm young and FUE isn't guaranteed. I'm also seeing Dr.Gupta on next Sunday in Toronto (of Seager Hair).

 

Just wanted to know what you guys think of all this. Any help:, or recommendations can help. I'm also trying NOFAP to help with confidence but, failing miserably (stressed out :c).

 

Thanks to those that can help.

[mikeyhwk]

Have any of the doctors you met told you if you have hair loss progression coming beyond the traction alopecia or is it limited to what was caused by the patka? If you are looking at further progression then absolutely fut is the best and only option going forward, and it may still be even if there is little to no progression coming past the T.A. depending on the level of loss which is hard to advise on without pictures. I believe Dr Rahal consults out of Toronto sometimes tho his main office is in Ottawa, I would get in front of him and get an in person done and see what he advises. He does excellent fut work. I would not go near Seager Hair nor Dr Jones, there are superior options. Another option is to fly out to Vancouver and visit Hasson and Wong. They do amazing Fut work. I fly out to Toronto from here in Vancouver all the time and I know it's a short 4 hr flight so you can do it over a weekend and get a consult done. Both those clinics offer Fue as well, tho of the 2 I think only H&W is usable for fue, but since both offer it, both could advise you without bias as to which procedure would be your best course of action and if it is FUT then those 2 are your best options domestically. I would start there.

[Shera]

Hi Kickbuttmario,

 

Is traveling to India an option for you?

 

It's just that I have personally dealt with many Sikh Aplopecia cases here in the UK sending patients to Dr Bhatti in Chandigarh, India for surgery. Dr Bhatti is a specialist in this area and has probably successfully treated more similar cases than any surgeon on the planet.

 

I can put you through to some patients if need be.

 

If you think I can help you, then feel free to get in touch.

 

All the best

[Kickbuttmario]

Have any of the doctors you met told you if you have hair loss progression coming beyond the traction alopecia or is it limited to what was caused by the patka? If you are looking at further progression then absolutely fut is the best and only option going forward, and it may still be even if there is little to no progression coming past the T.A. depending on the level of loss which is hard to advise on without pictures. I believe Dr Rahal consults out of Toronto sometimes tho his main office is in Ottawa, I would get in front of him and get an in person done and see what he advises. He does excellent fut work. I would not go near Seager Hair nor Dr Jones, there are superior options. Another option is to fly out to Vancouver and visit Hasson and Wong. They do amazing Fut work. I fly out to Toronto from here in Vancouver all the time and I know it's a short 4 hr flight so you can do it over a weekend and get a consult done. Both those clinics offer Fue as well, tho of the 2 I think only H&W is usable for fue, but since both offer it, both could advise you without bias as to which procedure would be your best course of action and if it is FUT then those 2 are your best options domestically. I would start there.

 

Apologies for the late reply and thank you for understanding the issue with the traction alopecia. So yes, looking at the hair line, I will be losing hair that is beyond the scar. So when I saw doctor Donovan and Robert Jones a while back, they both suggested similar hair lines.

 

However, , I mostly want to fix the hair line. Personally if there is a way to get rid of my hair, j would. Going completely bald would end so much unnecessary bs. I mostly want to keep hair small and shaved, as I don't think for my facial structure, longer hair will look good.

 

I included pictures. Forgive the bad acne. :c. Also included pictures of thinning on top of scalp toom

 

PS. What is bad about Robert Jones and Seager (aka Doctor Gupta)? I know Robert Jones advertises on a scarless hair transplant but who knows, I will have to see on Tuesday and next Sunday.

[Kickbuttmario]

Hi Kickbuttmario,

 

Is traveling to India an option for you?

 

It's just that I have personally dealt with many Sikh Aplopecia cases here in the UK sending patients to Dr Bhatti in Chandigarh, India for surgery. Dr Bhatti is a specialist in this area and has probably successfully treated more similar cases than any surgeon on the planet.

 

I can put you through to some patients if need be.

 

If you think I can help you, then feel free to get in touch.

 

All the best

 

Hey. Thanks for the reply. As a Sikh, it's annoying for us to face the issues we deal with, because of cultural beliefs on religion and vanity . Unfortunately I don't know if I can get to India. I'm young and working minimum wage, but going to school in the winter., At the beginning of 2018.

 

Can you look at the picture and tell me if you think which FuT or FuE transplant you can recommend. Do you know any surgeons in Canada that are good?

 

Again, just wanting to keep hair short with a clean hair line.

 

Cause fuck this shit.

[Shera]

Hey. Thanks for the reply. As a Sikh, it's annoying for us to face the issues we deal with, because of cultural beliefs on religion and vanity . Unfortunately I don't know if I can get to India. I'm young and working minimum wage, but going to school in the winter., At the beginning of 2018.

 

Can you look at the picture and tell me if you think which FuT or FuE transplant you can recommend. Do you know any surgeons in Canada that are good?

 

Again, just wanting to keep hair short with a clean hair line.

 

Cause fuck this shit.

 

I totally understand where you are coming from. It's a shame you can't make India but that's OK. If you really want to get a hair transplant then from experience the best length to keep your hair will be an inch to an inch and a half in order to create the best illusion of a full set.

 

However you have already stated that you prefer your hair short, near shaved by the look in your pictures. In that case I would recommend you look into Scalp Micro Pigmentation (SMP), the tattooing of the scalp. I have seen it done on a few guys with similar cases to yours and it makes a world of difference. I think it will work really well on you if you want to keep your hair short with a clean line.

 

If you are really into going for a transplant then I would grow your hair out for a couple of weeks before going for a consultation as it will be easier to assess your donor area. Again, feel free to email me the pics and I'll get Dr Bhatti to assess your hair transplant options. As for surgeons near you in Canada, Dr Rahal is nearby in Ontario and is rated highly, get in touch with his rep Mattj on this site, I'm sure he'll assist you.

 

I wish you all the best, I'm sure either option above will enable you to move on and put your hair worries behind you.

Edited September 10, 2017 by Shera

[Kickbuttmario]

I totally understand where you are coming from. It's a shame you can't make India but that's OK. If you really want to get a hair transplant then from experience the best length to keep your hair will be an inch to an inch and a half in order to create the best illusion of a full set.

 

However you have already stated that you prefer your hair short, near shaved by the look in your pictures. In that case I would recommend you look into Scalp Micro Pigmentation (SMP), the tattooing of the scalp. I have seen it done on a few guys with similar cases to yours and it makes a world of difference. I think it will work really well on you if you want to keep your hair short with a clean line.

 

If you are really into going for a transplant then I would grow your hair out for a couple of weeks before going for a consultation as it will be easier to assess your donor area. Again, feel free to email me the pics and I'll get Dr Bhatti to assess your hair transplant options. As for surgeons near you in Canada, Dr Rahal is nearby in Ontario and is rated highly, get in touch with his rep Mattj on this site, I'm sure he'll assist you.

 

I wish you all the best, I'm sure either option above will enable you to move on and put your hair worries behind you.

 

Thank you for your suggestion and your kind words. After I read your post and learned about micro (and the temporary SMP) pigmentation, I was immediately taken back. I wonder if doctor Donovan or Robert Jones or the specialist at the Canadian Assocation of hair and scalp told me about this, and perhaps I was just too depressed to consider it.

 

Either way, it looks in line on what I truly want. Though it sucks that I have to update every few 1.5 years (if temporary) or 3-5 years (SMP) but the results look good. There are some reddit posts where people said it make a world of a difference. Some though have said that there are many terrible horror stories to this.

 

Did the people you know also had traction alopecia, we're thinning on top, and considered HTs? Do you know any surgeons around my area (Toronto Ontario) that you or your pals would consider? I've done research on Rahal and he seems great, though he works in Vancouver :c.

[Shera]

I think you need to seriously look into SMP, there are quite a few places near you, just google it. Hishair clinic does come to mind, a friend of mine had his SMP done by them in the UK and it was real good, they got the artistry just right and the pigmentation colour is not in your face, it blends in well with the rest of his non balding scalp. No one had ever picked up on it, it looks that natural.

 

Also I think it may last longer than the 1.5 years, it may fade but will maybe still look perfectly OK. As always do your research, try to meet up with similar patients in your area who have had it done, it is quite popular, you may be surprised.

 

The guys I have seen it done on kept their hair short like you, they would have had to have more than one hair transplant procedure due to excessive balding coupled with limited donor supply so opted for the SMP route instead.

 

As far as I know Dr Rahal is in Toronto, Hasson and Wong are in Vancouver.

[Bill - Seemiller]

kickbuttmario,

 

Welcome to our community. I highly recommend taking a look at our list of recommended hair restoration physicians. Each have been prescreened and approved by this community. View our selection criteria here.

 

You can also search this forum to view results posted by both patients and physicians, from many surgeons. In my opinion, that would be the best place to start.

 

Best wishes,

 

Bill

[Kickbuttmario]

kickbuttmario,

 

Welcome to our community. I highly recommend taking a look at our list of recommended hair restoration physicians. Each have been prescreened and approved by this community. View our selection criteria here.

 

You can also search this forum to view results posted by both patients and physicians, from many surgeons. In my opinion, that would be the best place to start.

 

Best wishes,

 

Bill

 

Thank you sir, I will look into Doctor Rahal. Just to ask though, looking at Robert Jones throughout the forum, many say to stay away from the guy. Just looking for more info.