Hair transplant or hairpiece for me? =[PICS]= (age 46; Norwood 7)

[Headless]

Hi, guys....I'm new here.

 

 

 

I've been thinking about this recently, and I've suddenly realized that I am growing increasingly weary of staring at the top of my head.

 

 

I am a 46-year-old man, with a Norwood 7, which is nuclear level baldness. I first experienced hair loss at age 17, and gradually lost more hair over time.....until experiencing extreme hair loss by age 33. For the past 13 years, I've lived with my hair loss....and I've long accepted it. Until now.

 

 

Until two years ago....I've had bigger muscles, better skin, less gray hair, slightly thicker eyebrows, slightly thicker sideburns, a younger face, and better health. My health is poor now, my muscles have shrunk, and my face has noticeably aged. So I feel like I cannot ignore being bald any more.

 

 

 

Basically, I've experienced a lot of stress-related aging over the past two years.....and it's high time that I facilitated some positive changes in my life. While there are many things I need to do to fix the recent aging of my neck and face (I look much older now than only two years ago), I'm thinking about my hair at the moment.

 

 

 

My hair loss is very extreme at this point. I have a low density "horseshoe", with hair loss at the nape of my neck, thinning and graying sideburns, noticeable recession at the temples and side hairline.......and of course, I'm completely bald on top. Even my eyebrows are thinning out.

 

 

I sometimes experience acne breakouts at the hairline at the nape of my neck, due to the loss of hair there.

 

 

 

For many years (since age 22), I took a medication (Depakote ER) that had hair loss as a possible side effect. I stopped taking this medicine about 18 months ago. However, both sides of my family have genetic hair loss....so this situation cannot be entirely blamed on medication. I even experienced folliculitis six years ago (causing more hair loss at the nape of my neck), and then also an extreme case of poison ivy on my head six years ago (causing even more hair loss).

 

 

So I do not have a lot of donor hair left. :mad:

 

 

 

At the very least, I'd like to use a hair transplant to thicken my EYEBROWS and my SIDEBURNS.....even assuming that I am not an acceptable candidate for a regular hair transplant.

 

 

I believe that I have two choices:

 

 

(1.) Hair Transplant: Maybe I could get myself a LOW DENSITY, mature hairline....and then just shave it into a buzzcut. I'd also try to get an EYEBROW TRANSPLANT, as well as transplant some of my darker hair into my SIDEBURNS and into the NAPE of my neck.

 

 

It wouldn't be anywhere close to perfect, but maybe I could have a subtle halo of hair framing my face. The thicker eyebrows would be nice too. This would (theoretically) be a subtle improvement.

 

 

 

(2.) Hairpiece (enhanced with transplant): If I were to get a HAIRPIECE, I would still need to transplant some hair into my SIDEBURNS and into the NAPE OF MY NECK. I'd probably have to transplant a little hair into my TEMPLES too, in order to properly frame my face for a hairpiece. And of course, I'd also transplant hair into my EYEBROWS.

 

 

However, hair systems can be a bit of a pain. I'm in my mid-40's, and my friends and family have already seen me bald for the past 13 years.....so it doesn't really matter to me that much if people know that I'm wearing a hair system. But this would mean that I'd have to deal with regular hair maintenance and upkeep, and maybe even have to deal with traction alopecia.

 

 

So basically.....my health, youth, and looks have deteriorated over the past two years....and I now need to take steps to fix things. Here are some pics that I took today. Take note that my hair is buzzed down, so I don't know if I should grow it longer to give you guys a clearer picture of my true level of hair loss. Of course, I don't even know if I am a suitable candidate for hair transplantation.

 

I hope you gentlemen have some good advice.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 18, 2017 by Headless
for reasons of clarity

[Dolph1969]

By the sound of things, you're not going to be a good candidate for a hair transplant, unless you have a good supply of body hair or beard hair a surgeon could use.

 

A hair system is a lot of hassle, and essentially "a wig".. You say your family have been used to seeing you bald for the last 13 years, so a full head of hair again is probably going to look strange to many.

 

I think SMP could be a good half way house at your age. There are some great results on here, if you have a look at the section that covers SMP. You could perhaps get your eyebrows done with a body hair transplant as well as smp. You'll get a good shaved effect and facial framing with a hairline.

 

Some pictures are usually helpful for people to give advice..

 

Good luck anyway, it sounds like you're at a bit of a mid life crisis point with things. I've been there...

[KO]

IF you want to sport the buzzcut, explore SMP. I'm not knowledgeable about it and can't give recos, but SMP's goal is similar to what you're after.

[MayiraP0chu]

(1.) Hair Transplant: Maybe I could get myself a LOW DENSITY, mature hairline....and then just shave it into a buzzcut.

 

I echo the boys above. SMP mate!

 

I have always been against having hair for the name sake. Be it natural or transplanted. The idea should be is to have hair that defines your face. To give your face that shape. The pictures you have posted are not visible. So, from what you have described, I believe SMP is the way to go. It will give all those things I have described, albeit a level or a few levels below a hair transplant.

 

Basically, I've experienced a lot of stress-related aging over the past two years.....and it's high time that I facilitated some positive changes in my life.

 

Absolutely! Go for it! Its your second wind. Sometimes, it turns out to be the best.

[Djlazerblue]

Do NOT wear a hairpiece they look ridiculous, also don’t bother with a transplant it’s not worth the money your look very odd with a hairline and nothing behind people will stare at that more than you being completely bald, I’ve seen SMP in person and tell it a mile off, what’s wrong with being bald at your age it shouldn’t even matter

[MayiraP0chu]

So what if people can tell if some job is done? The only thing you have to care about is if it makes you aesthetically better. From a couple of cases presented in the SMP section, it clearly elevates the appearance. Can’t say how it will look real-time though.

 

If you can pull off the bald look, nothing like it. Most hassle free. Unfortunately, not all can. A bald man who is oblong faced, egg headed with a small jaw and a chin will look like a alien.

[Djlazerblue]

Well I can’t see he’s photos I think he’s removed them, but from what he described he’s baldness is very advanced and he’s worried about he’s family and friends suddenly seeing him with hair, if that’s the case I would say why would you put yourself through anything if you feel that uncomfortable from the start about how others are going to perceive you

[MayiraP0chu]

On the contrary, he has said,

 

However, hair systems can be a bit of a pain. I'm in my mid-40's, and my friends and family have already seen me bald for the past 13 years.....so it doesn't really matter to me that much if people know that I'm wearing a hair system. But this would mean that I'd have to deal with regular hair maintenance and upkeep, and maybe even have to deal with traction alopecia.

 

You must have misunderstood. Though, I completely agree with you. A shaven, bald head should be your first try before moving on to other stuff. I shaved my perfectly good hair a few weeks before my surgery just to see if I can pull it off. I partially could, courtesy - my complexion. But, it’s not my style. Too coarse for my taste.