Diffuse thinning donor concerns

[Diffuseloser]

Hello everyone,

I have been a long time lurker using this site as a source for research. I want to thank everyone who posts their experiences here; it really helps out. I decided it was time to post some pictures of my own and to ask for advice about my situation.

I am a very diffuse thinner, I probably started noticing my hair loss sometime between 2014 to 2015 but probably started losing before that. Started finasteride/liquid minoxidil treatment on April 2019. I think I am very lucky to still have as much hair as I do now considering I waited so long to do anything. Toppik still looks very good on me considering my hair loss pattern. 

Here is a list of concerns I am hoping people will comment on:

1. Not knowing if finasteride will work for me long term - As you can see from the April 2020 pic, I regrew some hair but now I am losing hundreds of hairs daily worse than it has ever been. My routine has not changed, 1mg finasteride a day, 4mls/day of minoxidil (the brand changed from Kirkland to Great value, shouldn’t matter). Also tried foam don’t know if that affected anything.
2. Thinning donor/retrograde alopecia (Do I have DUPA?)
3. Distrust of surgeons/outcome of procedure - I went to one of the top doctors in the US and he completely dismissed that I had retrograde alopecia. Said I was a good candidate for at least 3 FUT's and maybe one final FUE. Additionally in general, there are plenty of bad or disappointing outcomes from even top doctors.
4. FUT/FUE concern - Even if I were a candidate for FUT surgery I am concerned about a visible scar at the sides where my donor is thin and if the surgery fails I will always have that scar. If FUE fails there is no concern but then I have affected my lifetime graft supply.
5. Hair transplant so close to native hairs as I am so diffuse, will it affect my native hair not really fixing anything?

Please ask any questions and I hope to get some responses.

1.  

Edited September 7, 2020 by Diffuseloser

[Gabreille Nelson Mukhia]

The results of Finasteride cannot be judged within such a short time period. Keep using it for at least a year.

You don't have donor thinning. Your hair is wet. Everybody's hair looks thinner when wet. 

For diffused hair loss pattern, the plantation is done in the areas where there is sufficient distance between the native hair to avoid any form of damage.

[Diffuseloser]

4 hours ago, Gabreille Nelson Mukhia said:

The results of Finasteride cannot be judged within such a short time period. Keep using it for at least a year.

You don't have donor thinning. Your hair is wet. Everybody's hair looks thinner when wet. 

For diffused hair loss pattern, the plantation is done in the areas where there is sufficient distance between the native hair to avoid any form of damage.

Thank you for your response. I have been on finasteride for over a year now. I started back in April 2019. 
 

As for my donor, my hair was dry in those pics. Clearly some thinning around the ears which I am concerned would make the linear scar very visible. 

[Melvin- Admin]

Are you on minoxidil? What other treatment besides finasteride? 

[Diffuseloser]

Hi Melvin, 

Thanks replying and thanks for keeping this site running. I started finasteride and minoxidil back in April 2019, that’s all I do except the occasional Nizoral because the liquid minoxidil gives me severe dandruff and I have to use that to remove the excess dead skin. 
 

What are your general thoughts on my situation? Assuming finasteride and minoxidil work and this crazy shed is temporary, am I in a good spot for restoration?

I am 33 btw  

Edited September 8, 2020 by Diffuseloser

[Melvin- Admin]

At 33 you should be okay, be conservative and assume you will end up a Norwood 6 eventually. Plan your hairline and use your grafts strategically.

[LonelyGraft]

23 hours ago, Gabreille Nelson Mukhia said:

The results of Finasteride cannot be judged within such a short time period. Keep using it for at least a year.

You don't have donor thinning. Your hair is wet. Everybody's hair looks thinner when wet. 

For diffused hair loss pattern, the plantation is done in the areas where there is sufficient distance between the native hair to avoid any form of damage.

This is not a fair statement to make. Since the op has diffuse loss there is a chance the donor is affected as well. He needs a microscopic evaluation to look for miniaturization in the donor.

[LonelyGraft]

OP I would visit a few reputable surgeons in person and have them give you an evaluation of your donor among other things to tell you how good of a candidate you are. Diffuse loss is a little more risky but can be done with the right candidate and good doctor.

[Gabreille Nelson Mukhia]

Well. You can visit exprienced surgeons and take their advice in person regarding the donor. Each person's donor looks different. Hence, it would be better to see whether there really is thinning or not.