Have you been told about these things before having a HT?

[MartinDubravka]

I know HT is a surgical procedure and needs consenting but from your experience, does any of the HT doctors actually discuss these HT issues with their patients before committing them to this long journey?

1. One HT is usually not enough and most likely you will need multiple HTs as baldness progress. You may also run out of donor hair.

2. Hair density after HT is much less than natural density and most HTs are see through under light. 

3. You need to be on long term medications which has some potential side effects for the rest of your life to maintain your hair and slow down future baldness.

4. Transplanted hair might not be permanent and might thin out with time.

5. Transplanted hair most of the time need special care, certain length, combing, styling products and sometimes concealers to look good.

6. HT scars could be obvious if you shave your head or cut your hair short.

7. Transplanted hair might not look exactly like natural hair especially when it’s short.

 

[Melvin- Admin]

I regularly discuss these issues with our recommended surgeons on Instagram live. Check out the series @thehairtransplantnetwork

[A Fue Good Men]

I highly doubt most doctors are discussing these issues in full detail to prospective patients- it would just scare them away IMO.

 

ive visited ethical doctors who will tell it like it is but usually consultations are not long enough to discuss everything related to HTs

[MartinDubravka]

36 minutes ago, 5BetaReductase said:

I highly doubt most doctors are discussing these issues in full detail to prospective patients- it would just scare them away IMO.

 

ive visited ethical doctors who will tell it like it is but usually consultations are not long enough to discuss everything related to HTs

I believe legally the surgeon need to inform the patient about all possible complications even if they are rare?

[ciaus]

2 hours ago, MartinDubravka said:

I believe legally the surgeon need to inform the patient about all possible complications even if they are rare?

Other than the one about density, and even there 'natural' density is a moving target as loss progresses, your list is more or less worse case scenarios and probability outcomes. It would be like legally requiring used car salesmen to go over all the different ways their car might cause you do be stuck on the side of the road in freezing temps out in the middle of nowhere, or to seriously disfigure or even kill you. Maybe that would work in a communist economy for a while on its way to inevitable collapse. But otherwise its never going to happen, unless the salesman happens to be your mom or dad. And even then maybe.

And if you try to legislate it you're only clogging up the world with more govt regulation and making adults even less responsible for their actions and decisions. Its up to the consumer/patient to do some research, or like the saying goes " A fool and his money are lucky enough to meet up in the first place."

[MartinDubravka]

25 minutes ago, ciaus said:

Other than the one about density, and even there 'natural' density is a moving target as loss progresses, your list is more or less worse case scenarios and probability outcomes. It would be like legally requiring used car salesmen to go over all the different ways their car might cause you do be stuck on the side of the road in freezing temps out in the middle of nowhere, or to seriously disfigure or even kill you. Maybe that would work in a communist economy for a while on its way to inevitable collapse. But otherwise its never going to happen, unless the salesman happens to be your mom or dad. And even then maybe.

And if you try to legislate it you're only clogging up the world with more govt regulation and making adults even less responsible for their actions and decisions. Its up to the consumer/patient to do some research, or like the saying goes " A fool and his money are lucky enough to meet up in the first place."

Although cosmetic, It is a surgery at end and when you have any surgery you  always need to sign a consent form with all possible complications even if they are very rare !

Edited June 17, 2021 by MartinDubravka

[ciaus]

1 minute ago, MartinDubravka said:

Although cosmetic, It is a surgery at end and when you have any surgery you  always need to sign a consent form with all possible complications even if they are very rare !

Yes and its up to the patient to read and sign. But your list doesn't have any complications.

[A Fue Good Men]

4 hours ago, MartinDubravka said:

I believe legally the surgeon need to inform the patient about all possible complications even if they are rare?

It’s probably somewhere in the paperwork you sign the morning of your surgery. You think people will back out after making a commitment, paying fees, taking time off, etc?

Edited June 17, 2021 by 5BetaReductase

[A Fue Good Men]

1 hour ago, MartinDubravka said:

Although cosmetic, It is a surgery at end and when you have any surgery you  always need to sign a consent form with all possible complications even if they are very rare !

Let us know when you find a surgeon that will review all these details with you. See you in about 5673578 years 

[HappyMan2021]

15 hours ago, MartinDubravka said:

I know HT is a surgical procedure and needs consenting but from your experience, does any of the HT doctors actually discuss these HT issues with their patients before committing them to this long journey?

1. One HT is usually not enough and most likely you will need multiple HTs as baldness progress. You may also run out of donor hair.

2. Hair density after HT is much less than natural density and most HTs are see through under light. 

3. You need to be on long term medications which has some potential side effects for the rest of your life to maintain your hair and slow down future baldness.

4. Transplanted hair might not be permanent and might thin out with time.

5. Transplanted hair most of the time need special care, certain length, combing, styling products and sometimes concealers to look good.

6. HT scars could be obvious if you shave your head or cut your hair short.

7. Transplanted hair might not look exactly like natural hair especially when it’s short.

 

you hit the nail on the head with all of these. HT candidates should have realistic expectations and know the end-goal, while it can be a very significant improvement, will never be perfection. 

 

[aaron1234]

16 hours ago, MartinDubravka said:

1. One HT is usually not enough and most likely you will need multiple HTs as baldness progress. You may also run out of donor hair.

Mostly true unless you are a NW2.

16 hours ago, MartinDubravka said:

2. Hair density after HT is much less than natural density and most HTs are see through under light. 

True, which is why Fin is so crucial in preserving as much native hair as possible.  See through transplanted hair can be remedied if styled in a manner that layers the hair to shield it from overhead light/sun.  This may or may not be the patients preferred style.  

16 hours ago, MartinDubravka said:

3. You need to be on long term medications which has some potential side effects for the rest of your life to maintain your hair and slow down future baldness.

"Need" is relative, but for those with remaining native hair medication becomes more important.

16 hours ago, MartinDubravka said:

4. Transplanted hair might not be permanent and might thin out with time.

Dr. Wong confirmed this in a recent interview with Melvin.  Nothing is permanent. 

16 hours ago, MartinDubravka said:

5. Transplanted hair most of the time need special care, certain length, combing, styling products and sometimes concealers to look good.

This is patient dependent, but I will say that investing in a talented stylist also helps.  

16 hours ago, MartinDubravka said:

6. HT scars could be obvious if you shave your head or cut your hair short.

True with both FUE and FUT.  It's a trade off.  You want more hair?  You'll have to accept scars in exchange.

16 hours ago, MartinDubravka said:

7. Transplanted hair might not look exactly like natural hair especially when it’s short.

Depends on the skill of the surgeon, but transplanted hair does need to have a certain length to appear more dense.  In fact, after haircuts my hair looks thinner for about a week, then it looks more full as it grows out.  

[deeznuts]

I feel like all hair thins out with time. My grandpa was a NW1 at 85 but you could kinda see through it, not because of diffuse loss, but because of age related thinning. He had light skin and white hair so the contrast wasn't an issue either. I can understand that if you're 85, and you lose 50% density, you still have coverage due to the "illusion". But if you're 85, and you only have 50% density due to a hair transplant, and then you lose another 50% to age related thinning, then you're at 25% and you no longer have coverage.

Is there any proof that transplanted hair thins out at a greater rate than non transplanted hair? I read a Carlos Wesley post about how if the donor has more than 25% miniaturization (or some number I forget), that they won't do a hair transplant. Which raises the question when there's say... 20% miniaturization or 15% miniaturization in the donor. Is the transplanted donor hair more subject to thinning than the non transplanted donor hair? Seems like even if you didn't do anything, your donors would thin out anyway.

Dr. Bisanga mentioned the transplants thinning thing too in his interview. His great results from X amount of years ago have ended up only being good results when he sees them now. 

Edited June 18, 2021 by deeznuts

[RandoBrando517]

12 hours ago, MartinDubravka said:

I believe legally the surgeon need to inform the patient about all possible complications even if they are rare?

It’s the responsibility of us patients to become informed. Its not like this info isn’t out there that’s what makes this forum great 

[MartinDubravka]

2 hours ago, RandoBrando517 said:

It’s the responsibility of us patients to become informed. Its not like this info isn’t out there that’s what makes this forum great 

Off course but my point is about the legal aspect. My understanding is If you develop any side effect /risk after any kind of surgery (not only HT), you can sue the doctor / hospital if it’s not clearly documented in your notes / consent that you were informed about this particular risk.
 

I agree that you need to do your own research but not everyone has the same access to all information and it is still the doctor’s responsibility to make sure that you understand all the possible risks of any surgery before doing it !

[MartinDubravka]

15 hours ago, 5BetaReductase said:

I highly doubt most doctors are discussing these issues in full detail to prospective patients- it would just scare them away IMO.

 

ive visited ethical doctors who will tell it like it is but usually consultations are not long enough to discuss everything related to HTs

I understand that they might not have enough time to discuss everything but they can simply give you information paper or booklet to read before or after seeing the doctor as the ones you get before any other type of surgery !

[Al - Moderator]

7 hours ago, deeznuts said:

I read a Carlos Wesley post about how if the donor has more than 25% miniaturization (or some number I forget), that they won't do a hair transplant. Which raises the question when there's say... 20% miniaturization or 15% miniaturization in the donor. Is the transplanted donor hair more subject to thinning than the non transplanted donor hair? Seems like even if you didn't do anything, your donors would thin out anyway.

 

If you have a high miniaturization in the donor area then it may mean your donor area is thinning which is why it's not a good idea to do a hair transplant on that person. The transplanted hair will begin thinning at the same rate as it would have if it was left in the donor area and never transplanted.

 

[Al - Moderator]

4 hours ago, MartinDubravka said:

Off course but my point is about the legal aspect. My understanding is If you develop any side effect /risk after any kind of surgery (not only HT), you can sue the doctor / hospital if it’s not clearly documented in your notes / consent that you were informed about this particular risk.

 

I'm sure all countries have their own varying laws on this, but in the USA elective surgery puts much more of the responsibility on the patient rather than the Dr. I went through this experience years ago and got nowhere. I couldn't even bring a malpractice case to court because the state said the law did not allow it.

 

Edited June 18, 2021 by BeHappy

[Melvin- Admin]

8 hours ago, MartinDubravka said:

Off course but my point is about the legal aspect. My understanding is If you develop any side effect /risk after any kind of surgery (not only HT), you can sue the doctor / hospital if it’s not clearly documented in your notes / consent that you were informed about this particular risk.
 

I agree that you need to do your own research but not everyone has the same access to all information and it is still the doctor’s responsibility to make sure that you understand all the possible risks of any surgery before doing it !

Every single ethical doctor I’ve ever seen has patients sign paperwork advising them of the potential risks. Here’s what I signed before surgery which every patient should receive. It’s your job as a patient to do your due diligence before going through with surgery.
 

[Britanium]

@Melvin- Moderatoryes but do they offer a “warranty/guarantee” 😂

[MartinDubravka]

Scars are covered in this consent which is great but for me, other things as hair thinning and the need for multiple surgeries in the future are also important risks that needs to be discussed !

[Al - Moderator]

Consent forms sure have come a long way. You should have seen mine years ago. It was less than one page and basically said I agree to have a hair transplant and they will do it the way they told me and it will turn out the way they said.

 

[gentel_man83]

On 6/17/2021 at 12:05 PM, MartinDubravka said:

4. Transplanted hair might not be permanent and might thin out with time

@Melvin- ModeratorCorrect me if I am wrong, but almost all HT surgeons used to say it is permanent. 

[Al - Moderator]

On 6/25/2021 at 8:13 AM, gentel_man83 said:

@Melvin- ModeratorCorrect me if I am wrong, but almost all HT surgeons used to say it is permanent. 

All of them.

 

[dtap]

Been told that i'd need more than 1 trnsplant but to be fair wit myself i feel i dont need more than 1. I say this cuz I know my body more than anyone including doctors.