Breaking The Negative Stigma Surrounding Hair Transplant Surgery

[Melvin- Admin]

Becoming the moderator of this popular forum has taught me that no one is safe from shaming. I have had high-profile people message me asking me to delete their posts from over a decade ago. There is this sense of fear, that they would be discovered and viewed and perceived as weak. 

I had one person even say tell me that they were being blackmailed. It's absolutely insane the lengths that we go to, to conceal our surgeries. I used to be the same way. I have my face all over the place. I don't regret it at all. There is NOTHING WRONG WITH HAVING SURGERY! What are your guys thoughts. Will some of you join the fight?

Breaking The Negative Stigma Surrounding Hair Transplant Surgery

[MrZennie]

I've heard that in some circles, hair transplants are viewed as a status symbol!  I can't remember where I heard this, I think it was a youtube comment.  They said something like some younger guys are wanting insanely dense hairlines so it actually looks like they had a procedure done. 

Just yesterday I told my older brother I was thinking about getting a HT.  He was pretty surprised.  I told him it would be the ballsiest (Most courageous) thing I've ever done.  He replied "the vainest".  I didn't expect that reply.  I guess I view it like how you described it another comment I just read  "...it's simply about keeping what you were born with". 

Exactly!  I just want the hairline that I would have if I didn't have MPB.  I replied to him that I really liked and enjoyed having hair.  (You wrote something similar to this in another thread too Melvin!)  In my 20s and early 30s I enjoyed styling my hair.  Sometimes I would slick back with pomade, or use other products etc. After we talked a few minutes, he seemed to come around a bit and basically supported my decision if I go through with it.  

Honestly I think it's much, much less of a stigma these days than even ten years ago.  So many celebrities and public figures have had them that it's almost dare I say normal, and borderline status symbol territory.   

Edited August 27, 2019 by MrZennie

[Greg_Swanson]

It's an absurd stigma, and almost sexist, in a weird way.

Women can augment their appearance in a multitude of ways, yet men are seen as weak, or insanely vain for wanting to keep their hair. 

Keep their fucking hair, how is that extreme vanity? It's not like getting a minuscule change, it's literally keeping hair on your head that you have had your whole life. 

Though, I feel like this is changing. The world is becoming more superficial, and as such, more people are opting for all manner of cosmetic changes. Things that seemed crazy, are now becoming normal, and I think this is the case for transplants.

I would also extend this to hair systems. They have even a far-greater stigma than transplants, and are a real, and great option for some people. E.g. people who aren't suited to a transplant, or don't want to get on meds/have surgery.

In the end, we all do these things for ourselves, and that's all that matters. If any of the above make a person happy, they should go for it. We only get one life, why not live it being as confident as you can?

Edited August 27, 2019 by Greg_Swanson

[jonnyalex]

I have noticed that this stigma seems to exist almost solely in the English speaking world. I know that French, German's, Spaniards and Italians etc seem to talk about it with pride (which is how it should be). Here in the UK, god forbid you try to do something to improve your appearances as male, you get slaughtered. 

[harry_potter1]

I am not sure if women plastic surgery isn't stigma tbh, here it seems stigma. But in many cases women surgeries are covered with their clothes and can relatively hide them (or show what they want) from them. 

 

Anyway, I've seen around 5 men who had HT in Cairo. 2 of them were just walking in the street, 2 of them were sitting in front of me waiting for our turn in a Bank, and an old friend of mine.  4 of them I recognized it due to FUT scar, one of them was clearly fresh from FUE surgery

I approached one of them before (surprisingly not my friend) and he was really open about it, embraced it a lot and didn't have that stigma on him at all. Probably because I was clearly balding so he was talking to a fellow "bald" man

Many men don't care about it and open about it tbh. But many women or men who don't suffer it still don't get i. Which put us in bad situations sometimes. You never hear the end of the jokes about our lack of hair at times, or jokes about HT if you do it

[LaserCap]

My grandfather was bald and I wanted to be just like him.  Didn't care about transplants.  Then I was hired and have been directly and indirectly involved in the industry since.  Immediately I was told I had to get this done otherwise how could I convince anyone to get transplants. So I did it, and I'm glad. My face has been in guidebooks and in commercials.  No stigma.  

I've met thousands of people along the way. Some amazing work. Superb work always yielded positive comments, "I am glad I did it, "should have done it sooner."

For the patients that came to me that needed help, (unnatural previous work), "I should have never done this."  So, like I've always said, "it is about results."

I think we can all agree, we are a society of "looks."  We get inundated with commercials about beauty products all the time,  Looking younger and fit it's where its at.  Nothing wrong with trying to look younger.  Surgery is part of our world and, if you can afford it, DO IT! Just please, do your research first.

[Melvin- Admin]

7 hours ago, Greg_Swanson said:

It's an absurd stigma, and almost sexist, in a weird way.

Women can augment their appearance in a multitude of ways, yet men are seen as weak, or insanely vain for wanting to keep their hair. 

Keep their fucking hair, how is that extreme vanity? It's not like getting a minuscule change, it's literally keeping hair on your head that you have had your whole life. 

Though, I feel like this is changing. The world is becoming more superficial, and as such, more people are opting for all manner of cosmetic changes. Things that seemed crazy, are now becoming normal, and I think this is the case for transplants.

I would also extend this to hair systems. They have even a far-greater stigma than transplants, and are a real, and great option for some people. E.g. people who aren't suited to a transplant, or don't want to get on meds/have surgery.

In the end, we all do these things for ourselves, and that's all that matters. If any of the above make a person happy, they should go for it. We only get one life, why not live it being as confident as you can?

Exactly, it’s ok for women to wear wigs, but heaven forbid a guy wear a hair piece.

[Dr Blake Bloxham]

Good topic. 

Altogether, I think the stigma is decreasing. Doctors have told me that 25 years or so ago, patients would try to set up consultations during weird hours of the day and nearly run in and out of the office as to not be spotted anywhere near a hair transplant clinic. I think the fact that the surgery itself has improved so dramatically and people are becoming more open about discussing it online is really breaking down walls. I am always impressed when a patient allows us to use their full face in presentations or even refers acquaintances and colleagues to the office. I find it happening more frequently each year, and it seems to indicate that the stigma is decreasing. 

[gillenator]

The negative stigma stemmed from those individuals who experienced bad results and felt shamed they made the worst mistake of their life.  In addition, the techniques decades ago were terrible and many times produced horrific results.  The stigma then became that HT surgeons were witch doctors and people who got HTs were nuts!

Having said all that, so much has changed and the industry has come such a long way and is it not amazing how wonderful a truly nice result is and the corresponding transformation it can be to one's appearance?

When I used to wear hair systems, I would at times receive cruel comments and glaring looks of surprise.

Yet when I started receiving the most natural and becoming results from my procedures, I would tell some people that I had work done and then get countless positive and nice compliments.

It has positively changed my life beyond what words can express!...

[Melvin- Admin]

I agree, the stigma is improving, but there are still so many men ashamed to admit it. I mean I have at least a few guys message me every week asking me to delete their photos and posts. 

Some have even told me they’ve been ridiculed and blackmailed for it. This didn’t happen 10 years ago, this happening today! I think we need to make a stand. If someone tried to blackmail me about my hair transplant I’d out myself and out the shameful blackmailer as well. Those are the ones who need to be ashamed.

[Gabreille Nelson Mukhia]

On 8/27/2019 at 7:21 AM, Melvin-Moderator said:

Becoming the moderator of this popular forum has taught me that no one is safe from shaming. I have had high-profile people message me asking me to delete their posts from over a decade ago. There is this sense of fear, that they would be discovered and viewed and perceived as weak. 

I had one person even say tell me that they were being blackmailed. It's absolutely insane the lengths that we go to, to conceal our surgeries. I used to be the same way. I have my face all over the place. I don't regret it at all. There is NOTHING WRONG WITH HAVING SURGERY! What are your guys thoughts. Will some of you join the fight?

Breaking The Negative Stigma Surrounding Hair Transplant Surgery

Beautiful topic to have a discussion on. Such a sad thing that something which could give one confidence and happiness is frowned upon in most parts of the world. Surprisingly, in India, people are very accepting of the hair transplantation phenomenon. They obviously hide it for vain reasons. They never want to be perceived as bald or just want to erase their bald look forever. Sometimes, it also provides fodder for unnecessary gossip. But amazingly, people here have been extremely supportive of me when I started sharing my pictures and videos. They never judged me or made fun of my choice to go for a cosmetic surgery. We have so many youngsters going in for this here.

[Melvin- Admin]

1 hour ago, Gabreille Nelson Mukhia said:

Beautiful topic to have a discussion on. Such a sad thing that something which could give one confidence and happiness is frowned upon in most parts of the world. Surprisingly, in India, people are very accepting of the hair transplantation phenomenon. They obviously hide it for vain reasons. They never want to be perceived as bald or just want to erase their bald look forever. Sometimes, it also provides fodder for unnecessary gossip. But amazingly, people here have been extremely supportive of me when I started sharing my pictures and videos. They never judged me or made fun of my choice to go for a cosmetic surgery. We have so many youngsters going in for this here.

I think if you're honest with people they'll be supportive. You will get the occasional person who is unhappy with their own life who will try and put you down, but for the most part people are curious. I think being honest normalizes hair transplant surgery. 

[Gabreille Nelson Mukhia]

On 8/28/2019 at 9:21 PM, Melvin-Moderator said:

I think if you're honest with people they'll be supportive. You will get the occasional person who is unhappy with their own life who will try and put you down, but for the most part people are curious. I think being honest normalizes hair transplant surgery. 

It is true. When you are honest about your procedure, there is nothing to hide. And thus, nothing for anybody to use against you.

[Melvin- Admin]

1 hour ago, transplantedphil said:

When you are honest about anything in life, you "own it". But that doesnt overcome the general stigma attached to this industry

This is true, but I do think things are improving. Public figures being honest about it definitely helps. I mean I think as a society, we should get to the point of treating hair loss like we do braces. No one is going to think someone is vain for getting their teeth fixed, it's a no-brainer. 

[gillenator]

On ‎8‎/‎27‎/‎2019 at 4:33 PM, Melvin-Moderator said:

I agree, the stigma is improving, but there are still so many men ashamed to admit it. I mean I have at least a few guys message me every week asking me to delete their photos and posts. 

Some have even told me they’ve been ridiculed and blackmailed for it. This didn’t happen 10 years ago, this happening today! I think we need to make a stand. If someone tried to blackmail me about my hair transplant I’d out myself and out the shameful blackmailer as well. Those are the ones who need to be ashamed.

 

That is very true...most individuals who have experienced a poor result will not go public and share what happened...that's why it's so important to provide support to the ones who do...these communities need to be a safe place to communicate.

It's also a fact that far more individuals simply surf the online communities for information but do not actively participate.

So we can be grateful for the ones who do share their story and encourage one another in our journeys.