In need for answers and advices for a future hair transplant!

[Mitsen]

Hello everyone!
I'm new in this forum even though I've been researching for hair transplants for years now.
Since It's difficult to come to a conclusion by myself I need to ask some questions and by providing some photos of my hair to make my case more clear.

I've been losing my hair since I was 22-23, now I'm 32. I've been taking finasteride(1mg, for the past 2 years 1.25mg) and applying minoxidil (5%) on my scalp for the past 8 years. My hairloss didn't stop, though, I don't know If it slowed down because of the medication.
Hairloss really hit me hard because I was fixated all life with my hair, how to style them etc.
After some research I decided to avoid Turkey and go for Spain or Portugal after reading many topics on this website.
I've been thinking either dr. Bruno Ferreira in Portugal or Clinica de Freitas in Spain. My budget is arround 9k euros and I really want to get the best out of it.

I would like to ask you guys some questions and I hope I'm not wasting your time because I don't really know well how to search for the answers I'm looking for.

1. Which doctor would you advice me to pick for my first HT?
2. Is there a way to find their latest prices (cost per graft)?
3. How long does it usually take to get booked for an ht?
4. Do I have to travel there prior for a consultation?
5. Am I a good candidate for a transplant?

[mister_25]

1. Ferreira and Freitas are both great options, I would add Pinto on a list if your looking for surgeons in Portugal/Spain. Your starting point reminds me of Rolandas who had a amazing comeback from Ferreira. Unfortunately since you are a high Norwood (Norwood 5) it’s going to be take two HTs for you most likely.

3. Freitas from what I heard has longer wait times, unsure about the others. I would say 1-2 years but that’s just a ballpark guess.

4. You can send pictures online, but you won’t get a accurate answer back unless it’s in person

5. Positives: Your donor seems good, doesn’t look like you have retrograde so you could get more grafts out than others, from the pictures it looks like you don’t have any signs of going into a 6 but you won’t know for sure until the doctor sees you. Negatives: The fact that you haven’t stabilised your hair loss is not a good sign. Finasteride may of slowed it down but usually you want to halt the progression or slow it to a very slow progression. You could consider Dutasteride. 
 

Don’t limit yourself to budget, you have finite grafts so make sure you feel confident in who you are picking and not confined by restraints like budget and location. If you do this right you can have a strong head of hair, Best of luck!

 

Edited December 30, 2022 by mister_25

[HappyMan2021]

6 minutes ago, mister_25 said:

since you are a high Norwood (Norwood 5) it’s going to be take two HTs for you most likely.

yes, please keep this in mind OP. It's important to have realistic expectations. Even a 10/10 homerun 1st HT is likely not going to give you full coverage. 

Only begin the hair transplant journey if you are mentally and financially prepared for multiple surgeries, or if you feel that 1 HT with significant coverage will be acceptable and good enough for you. 

[Mitsen]

9 hours ago, mister_25 said:

1. Ferreira and Freitas are both great options, I would add Pinto on a list if your looking for surgeons in Portugal/Spain. Your starting point reminds me of Rolandas who had a amazing comeback from Ferreira. Unfortunately since you are a high Norwood (Norwood 5) it’s going to be take two HTs for you most likely.

I know, I had in mind at least 2 HTs. I've followed Rolandas jurney on youtube and I'm amazed from his final results!

9 hours ago, mister_25 said:

3. Freitas from what I heard has longer wait times, unsure about the others. I would say 1-2 years but that’s just a ballpark guess.

I've applied for a consultation with dr. Bruno Ferreira but unfortunatly the told me that they are fully booked up until 2024. I might send applications for a consultation to the other clinics as well and test my luck.

9 hours ago, mister_25 said:

5. ... Negatives: The fact that you haven’t stabilised your hair loss is not a good sign. Finasteride may of slowed it down but usually you want to halt the progression or slow it to a very slow progression. You could consider Dutasteride. 

For the past month I've added to my hairloss treatment derma rolling 1mm once per week. When I apply minoxidil to my scalp I see only a couple of hairs on my hands. Before that I usually saw 10-20 hairs on my hands each time I applied minoxidil. I'll keep using derma roller and post here my progress until I finaly have my first HT and start a new topic for it.
I've considered Dutasteride, but to be honest, dutasteride is too strong and I'm afraid of getting any unwanted sides that I was lucky enough not to get by taking finasteride. I might give it a try though in the near future!

Thanks for the replies guys! Deeply appreciated!

[Mitsen]

Hello again!

I've booked a day for a procedure with Dr. Freitas for next year unless I get a spot sooner due to a potential cancelation.
Until then, he prescribed me 1mg fin 5 days a week, 0.5mg dut the other 2 days and oral min 5mg daily. Seems that I'm about to nuke myself with medication but hopefully all is going to be fine. Best case I believe my crown will fill a little bit with all that.

I'm planning to take a blood test to mesure my DHT levels just because I'm curious to see after all those years of taking fin at which point I'm at. Even though I have no idea what to or should expect.

I'll make a new thread when the time comes for the procedure. 

[TheGreatPretender]

On 1/23/2023 at 12:51 PM, Mitsen said:

Hello again!

I've booked a day for a procedure with Dr. Freitas for next year unless I get a spot sooner due to a potential cancelation.
Until then, he prescribed me 1mg fin 5 days a week, 0.5mg dut the other 2 days and oral min 5mg daily. Seems that I'm about to nuke myself with medication but hopefully all is going to be fine. Best case I believe my crown will fill a little bit with all that.

I'm planning to take a blood test to mesure my DHT levels just because I'm curious to see after all those years of taking fin at which point I'm at. Even though I have no idea what to or should expect.

I'll make a new thread when the time comes for the procedure. 

I have a similar pattern and will go to De Freitas this June aswell. Good choice overall, hopefully we will both get some good results out of the surgery.

[Mitsen]

Nice man! I rooting for you to have the best possible results!
Quick question. Did he prescribed to you Dutasteride? He prescribed me twice a week 0.5mg but I'm afraid to take it even if it's twice or even once a week. If I get any side effects it will take too long to reverse them since Dut has a half life of 5-6 weeks.

[TheGreatPretender]

2 hours ago, Mitsen said:

Nice man! I rooting for you to have the best possible results!
Quick question. Did he prescribed to you Dutasteride? He prescribed me twice a week 0.5mg but I'm afraid to take it even if it's twice or even once a week. If I get any side effects it will take too long to reverse them since Dut has a half life of 5-6 weeks.

Nop, he recommended me Finasteride 6 days a week when I already have been in it for 2 years back then.

[A_4_Archan]

All the best...de freitas is an excellent surgeon....and it would be a worthy wait..