Am I a candidate for HT?

[novakia7]

Hi everyone. I have been lurking around for a while, but this is my first post!

 

I am 36 and have been losing hair for the past 10 years. I have been using minoxidil for the past 4 years, but have not used any other hair treatments or prescriptions. I am interested in achieving a thicker, fuller, and lower hairline including temples. And if possible, the crown as well. I have never had a hair transplant surgery.

 

As you can tell, I have diffuse thinning. In your opinion, am I a candidate for HT? If you believe I am, what is your opinion regarding number of grafts I will need?

 

Thanks!

[mattj]

Would you say that your hairloss has slowed to the point of being stable? You appear to have good donor plus favourable hair characteristics. You'd probably be looking at at least 4000 grafts. Fewer if just addressing the very front. Basically (and obviously) the higher the number the larger the area that can be covered and the best thing is to work back from the front. Complete crown coverage might not be advisable as the hairloss pattern can 'expand' outwards.

[novakia7]

I would say that the hair loss has been pretty stable over the past few years, with the exception of the crown area. Crown was about where it is now a few years back, but then I started Rogaine and it got a lot better. However, over the past 6 months the crown seems to have regressed to where it was before I started Rogaine.

 

Your input is appreciated!

[mattj]

That's rather a short period of time for Rogaine to work for. Presumably you have been consistent with it. This uncertainty over the crown would be another reason to avoid transplanting to the area.