Regular Member Jaxl Posted July 27, 2020 Regular Member Share Posted July 27, 2020 (edited) Hello all, Brief background, I've had two previous FUT hair transplants by two different HT surgeons both of whom are recommended on this site. I am 39 years of age and my last HT was in 2011. Not on any medications at present. Would like your opinions on whether I am a suitable candidate for a third HT preferably FUE from the video of my donor area provided in the link below. Thank you Edited July 27, 2020 by Jaxl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Melvin- Admin Posted July 27, 2020 Administrators Share Posted July 27, 2020 The donor looks okay, I would say another FUT would be better, since you already have the scar. The donor doesn’t look very robust if I’m being honest. FUE may thin out the area and make it harder to conceal the scar. I’m a paid admin for Hair Transplant Network. I do not receive any compensation from any clinic. My comments are not medical advice. Check out my final hair transplant and topical dutasteride journey: View my thread Topical dutasteride journey Melvin- Managing Publisher and Forum Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Coalition Hair Loss Learning Center, and the Hair Loss Q&A Blog. Follow our Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, and YouTube. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Jaxl Posted July 27, 2020 Author Regular Member Share Posted July 27, 2020 Thanks Melvin shall keep this in mind. I had a feeling as well that my donor isn't very good. Btw do you think I may become a NW 7 by the time I get to 60 or 70 years of age considering that I am not on any medication? And can you please guesstimate the number of grafts I maybe able to extract for one final FUT? Of course I do understand that I would need to meet with. a doctor to get a correct assessment but its always good to get peoples opinions on this forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Melvin- Admin Posted July 27, 2020 Administrators Share Posted July 27, 2020 I would say you’re a norwood 6, your sides look relatively high and healthy. The amount of grafts depends on the laxity. I would say maybe 1,500-2,000, if you got good laxity. 1 I’m a paid admin for Hair Transplant Network. I do not receive any compensation from any clinic. My comments are not medical advice. Check out my final hair transplant and topical dutasteride journey: View my thread Topical dutasteride journey Melvin- Managing Publisher and Forum Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Coalition Hair Loss Learning Center, and the Hair Loss Q&A Blog. Follow our Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, and YouTube. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Gabreille Nelson Mukhia Posted July 27, 2020 Senior Member Share Posted July 27, 2020 How is your beard density? If you can give donor hair from the scalp and beard then you can cover your crown with 3000 grafts approximately. 1 Official representative of Eugenix Hair Sciences Dr. Arika Bansal & Dr. Pradeep Sethi https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5crlGyTac2hlU1gHneADzQ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Jaxl Posted July 27, 2020 Author Regular Member Share Posted July 27, 2020 (edited) Thanks Nelson. My beard is about medium in density and yes can always use hair from there to get those extra number of grafts. Edited July 27, 2020 by Jaxl 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member gillenator Posted July 29, 2020 Senior Member Share Posted July 29, 2020 Jaxl, A couple of things...only by buzzing down your donor area (occipital zone) would it be possible to evaluate your donor density for FUE...if the donor density is on the lower side, then might it be possible for your strip scar to show as Melvin pointed out...based on the video you provided, it looks ok but only an in person evaluation will provide accuracy. Since your last FUHT procedure was in 2011, you should have enough laxity for another strip but that also must be tested before surgery....and I agree, since you already have the scar, why not do another FUHT and get as many grafts as possible? How many grafts are you hoping the surgeon will harvest? Lastly, do you any NW 7s in your family history? 1 Gillenator Independent Patient Advocate I am not a physician and not employed by any doctor/clinic. My opinions are not medical advice, but are my own views which you read at your own risk. Supporting Physicians: Dr. Robert Dorin: The Hairloss Doctors in New York, NY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Jaxl Posted July 29, 2020 Author Regular Member Share Posted July 29, 2020 (edited) Thanks for your comment Gill. My fathers cousin is a NW7 going by his photos as I've never met him but my father isn't bald nor was his father. I think I got it from my mothers side and their level of baldness looks around NW 6s. Shall look into FUHT since I can get more grafts. The only reason why I wanted to avoid FUHT was that I see so many videos on youtube especially with the Spanish doctors where they post all these impressive FUE results with so little grafts that I thought FUE was the way to go. I did get my hair assessed in person by a HT doctor recommended on this forum in January 2019 and I was told that they could extract 3500 grafts which I think is wishful thinking Though still odd that someone qualified would have come up with that figure. Edited July 29, 2020 by Jaxl 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member gillenator Posted August 3, 2020 Senior Member Share Posted August 3, 2020 Well as long as you have the accommodating scalp laxity, you will get more grafts harvested via FUHT in a strip than FUE. You can always do FUE when you are crossing the finish line...your final procedure. Gillenator Independent Patient Advocate I am not a physician and not employed by any doctor/clinic. My opinions are not medical advice, but are my own views which you read at your own risk. Supporting Physicians: Dr. Robert Dorin: The Hairloss Doctors in New York, NY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Curious25 Posted August 3, 2020 Senior Member Share Posted August 3, 2020 On 7/30/2020 at 12:43 AM, Jaxl said: Thanks for your comment Gill. My fathers cousin is a NW7 going by his photos as I've never met him but my father isn't bald nor was his father. I think I got it from my mothers side and their level of baldness looks around NW 6s. Shall look into FUHT since I can get more grafts. The only reason why I wanted to avoid FUHT was that I see so many videos on youtube especially with the Spanish doctors where they post all these impressive FUE results with so little grafts that I thought FUE was the way to go. I did get my hair assessed in person by a HT doctor recommended on this forum in January 2019 and I was told that they could extract 3500 grafts which I think is wishful thinking Though still odd that someone qualified would have come up with that figure. If it was a reputable surgeon recommended on here, then I wouldn't worry and think it as odd - as an in person consultation is the most accurate way of assessing you, so I have full faith that this is likely a good estimate - and a positive one at that, 3500 grafts plus a further 750-1000 beard grafts should be more than enough for a skilled surgeon to re-vamp your balding area, and give you a full head illusion. Have you any pics of the front? RE. your NW status, your donor seems to be in good shape, especially post two HT's, so I agree with Melvin and would guess your final pattern to be where you are at now, however allowing room for some loss in hair shaft thickness. NW 7's are usually dramatically bald by their 30's, and you don't fit this category IMO. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Jaxl Posted August 4, 2020 Author Regular Member Share Posted August 4, 2020 Thanks for your comment curious25. Will get my hair reassessed in person with a doctor to get a second opinion once things get back to some normalcy. I’d be over the moon tbh if I could actually get 3500 hair grafts plus another 1000 beard grafts which as you correctly mention would be sufficient to cover my bald spots.Though I am aware that only medication will be able to stop future hairloss. Have taken some photos of my hairline as well as sides. My right temple including the area just above my right sideburn has faded quite a lot over the years. I could be wrong but from my observation most bald people usually never lose hair directly above their sideburns which was what prompted me to think I could get to a nw7. Or I could have retrograde alopecia? My left temple region is faring better for now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Melvin- Admin Posted August 6, 2020 Administrators Share Posted August 6, 2020 Do you have Norwood 7s in your family? I’m a paid admin for Hair Transplant Network. I do not receive any compensation from any clinic. My comments are not medical advice. Check out my final hair transplant and topical dutasteride journey: View my thread Topical dutasteride journey Melvin- Managing Publisher and Forum Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Coalition Hair Loss Learning Center, and the Hair Loss Q&A Blog. Follow our Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, and YouTube. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member gillenator Posted August 7, 2020 Senior Member Share Posted August 7, 2020 Jaxl, Got your PM and thought it might be better to post in this thread rather than privately and glad you are ok with that...chance are there are others who may be in a similar situation who are following this thread. Now the real critical aspect to your case IMHO, is the fact that you are not on any medications for treating your loss...we understand that and although it comes down to a personal decision as to why anyone chooses to not use hair loss meds, the risk for future loss is high and certain. Having said that, I do think you are headed for class 7 based on the photos you provided. If you decide to continue to not use any meds, your restoration goals and plans would need to be evaluated in a very conservative and realistic way...in other words, something has to give because you will eventually lose the hair on top of your head and only the grafts from your previous procedures will remain....the thinning and progressive loss is also impeding your lateral humps, sideburns, etc. So although you do currently have hair on top, your restoration plan must account for the fact that you will lose it....although you are 39, I am basing this on your photos. Again, only an in person evaluation will provide you with how much available donor to use, I still think FUHT and not FUE is going to provide the most harvestable grafts for the future and I also would not do anything in the crown until your frontal zone is satisfactory with a higher placed hairline. Gillenator Independent Patient Advocate I am not a physician and not employed by any doctor/clinic. My opinions are not medical advice, but are my own views which you read at your own risk. Supporting Physicians: Dr. Robert Dorin: The Hairloss Doctors in New York, NY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Jaxl Posted August 8, 2020 Author Regular Member Share Posted August 8, 2020 (edited) Thanks so much for that informative reply Gill. It would have been helpful had the HT doctor that I met in January 2019 explained things the way you have done instead of telling me that I have 3500 grafts and was ready to book me in if I was interested. I also remember showing him my hairloss above my sideburns but he didn't seem too concerned inspite knowing that I wasn't on any meds. Just for everyones information the doctor is recommended here and was the doctor that I went to for my first HT. So the key takeaway message for anyone following this thread is that if you have any doubts then please ask around. It could help you in the long run. Edited August 8, 2020 by Jaxl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Curious25 Posted August 8, 2020 Senior Member Share Posted August 8, 2020 5 minutes ago, Jaxl said: Thanks so much for that informative reply Gill. It would have been helpful had the HT doctor that I met in January 2019 explained things the way you have done instead of telling me that I have 3500 grafts and was ready to book me in if I was interested. I also remember showing him my hairloss above my sideburns but he didn't seem too concerned inspite knowing that I wasn't on any meds. Just for everyones information the doctor is recommended here and was the doctor that I went to for my first HT. So the takeaway message for anyone following this thread is that f you have any doubts then please ask around. It could help in the long run. With the upmost respect for @gillenator - I would be inclined to suggest an in person consultation with a recommended surgeon from here to be a more accurate measure of your current state of play, as opposed to that of a forum poster with no medical background, looking at some photos you've stuck up. Second opinions are important, I agree - however a second opinion from another medically trained hair restoration professional, in person! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Jaxl Posted August 8, 2020 Author Regular Member Share Posted August 8, 2020 (edited) On 8/8/2020 at 11:56 AM, Curious25 said: With the upmost respect for @gillenator - I would be inclined to suggest an in person consultation with a recommended surgeon from here to be a more accurate measure of your current state of play, as opposed to that of a forum poster with no medical background, looking at some photos you've stuck up. Second opinions are important, I agree - however a second opinion from another medically trained hair restoration professional, in person! While I agree that getting an opinion from a qualified hair transplant is the way to go but its always good to get different peoples opinions from this forum even though they may not be medically qualified. There was a thread where this patient had his donor hair butchered from a non Hair Restoration Network doctor and guys like Melvin and Gill came to his defence as they could clearly see that something was wrong with the way the doctor had handled that patients case. Similarly I am just looking for some opinions whether good or bad. Thanks though to everyone who took the time to comment as I found the feedback helpful. Edited August 14, 2020 by Jaxl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member gillenator Posted August 11, 2020 Senior Member Share Posted August 11, 2020 It's true that I do not have any medical license, and that my opinions are simply my views and clearly not medical advice...this is why I include a disclaimer at my forum signature on every post...and also why I routinely recommend that individuals seeking help should see a licensed physician (ideally in person) who is experienced and skilled in treating their hair loss...someone with a proven track record. Having said that, I do have credible experience (through past employment) working in this field in the clinical setting...I started researching this field in 1980 and have spent 4 decades now interacting with many individuals experiencing hair loss and subsequently having the benefit of seeing a countless number of cases. It has always been my passion to help other individuals who suffer from hair loss as I have myself...not for money, not for notoriety, but solely to improve quality of life. I sincerely feel that if I am not fulfilling this passion to help my brother, then I have failed. So while Curious25 makes a legitimate point, hopefully there are some of us that can offer some credible unbiased help free of charge with no conflict of interest. 3 Gillenator Independent Patient Advocate I am not a physician and not employed by any doctor/clinic. My opinions are not medical advice, but are my own views which you read at your own risk. Supporting Physicians: Dr. Robert Dorin: The Hairloss Doctors in New York, NY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Curious25 Posted August 12, 2020 Senior Member Share Posted August 12, 2020 On 8/8/2020 at 2:45 AM, Jaxl said: Thanks so much for that informative reply Gill. It would have been helpful had the HT doctor that I met in January 2019 explained things the way you have done instead of telling me that I have 3500 grafts and was ready to book me in if I was interested. I also remember showing him my hairloss above my sideburns but he didn't seem too concerned inspite knowing that I wasn't on any meds. Just for everyones information the doctor is recommended here and was the doctor that I went to for my first HT. So the key takeaway message for anyone following this thread is that if you have any doubts then please ask around. It could help you in the long run. I once again refer you to what you previously wrote, in which my response was aimed at. I am not discrediting @gillenator as such, as there is no question he has been around the industry for a lengthy amount of time, and adds valuable input to the forum on a regular basis. However: 1) Your summarising point was in essence advising the community for it to be important to seek second opinions from non medically trained strangers on a forum, via photos, to that of an in person consultation with a HRN recommended surgeon, 2) The points that @gillenator made, in reference to your NW7 progression (in his opinion based from the photos), and thinning lateral humps and sideburns (again his opinion based from the photos), if true, should have and would have, been picked up during the consultation by any skilled, reputable and ethical surgeon - three attributes the HRN prides all of its recommended surgeons on being, 3) This therefore insinuates you are dubious of the credibility of the surgeon, in which should you have a dispute for whatever reason with any of the HRN recommended doctors, this should be raised as a separate issue altogether, and be bought up with the community and @Melvin-Moderator , alongside the provision of evidence as to why in the form of a case study, 4) My advice to you would remain the same even had it been one of the medically trained professionals on the boards commenting on this thread as, simply put, you cannot compare an in person examination to that of viewing some photos online, (something that @gillenator himself highlighted). An ethical, skilled, and reputable surgeon would not have recommended you had a further 3500 available donor grafts for surgery, unless you did have an available 3500 donor grafts for surgery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Jaxl Posted August 12, 2020 Author Regular Member Share Posted August 12, 2020 I did mention that I will be meeting with another hair transplant doctor in person once things get back to normal and travel restrictions are lifted. Not sure why you missed that part? And the reason why I chose to get advice from forum members in spite them not being medically qualified was to get ideas and opinions which could help me better prepare in asking the right questions when I meet with a doctor in person. If you look at other threads on this forum such as. "Can I get FUT done after damage due to FUE" you'll see that @Melvin-Moderator and @gillenator have provided their feedback which I thought was extremely helpful to the OP. This in spite them the not being medically qualified which is why I sent @gillenator a PM requesting him to give me his feedback on my donor hair which he graciously did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Jaxl Posted August 14, 2020 Author Regular Member Share Posted August 14, 2020 On 8/13/2020 at 8:23 AM, Curious25 said: An ethical, skilled, and reputable surgeon would not have recommended you had a further 3500 available donor grafts for surgery, unless you did have an available 3500 donor grafts for surgery. Not 100% sure on that which is why I'll have to get a second opinion in person. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Curious25 Posted August 14, 2020 Senior Member Share Posted August 14, 2020 Worthwhile doing! Hope it goes well for you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member gillenator Posted August 15, 2020 Senior Member Share Posted August 15, 2020 I also wish you well Jaxl and glad to see that you are getting another "in person" exam and evaluation...and try to make sure that the next doctor uses a scope to examine your scalp as a microscopic examination is invaluable for evaluating miniaturization and useable FUs. 1 Gillenator Independent Patient Advocate I am not a physician and not employed by any doctor/clinic. My opinions are not medical advice, but are my own views which you read at your own risk. Supporting Physicians: Dr. Robert Dorin: The Hairloss Doctors in New York, NY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Jaxl Posted August 16, 2020 Author Regular Member Share Posted August 16, 2020 On 8/15/2020 at 10:01 AM, gillenator said: I also wish you well Jaxl and glad to see that you are getting another "in person" exam and evaluation...and try to make sure that the next doctor uses a scope to examine your scalp as a microscopic examination is invaluable for evaluating miniaturization and useable FUs. Thank you again @gillenator for your good wishes. Now I would have never thought of "try to make sure that the next doctor uses a scope to examine your scalp as a microscopic examination is invaluable for evaluating miniaturization and useable FUs." its advice like that that can make a huge difference in the end. Something that I am grateful for that a forum like this exists but most importantly there are kind and helpful people like yourself who are willing to share whatever they know. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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