Help! My Case as a 28 year old

[TooYoung28]

Hey guys,

I have been following the forum and doing research for many months now. I figured before I make any moves towards a procedure, I should run my background by you all for your input and assistance. As the title indicates, I am 28 years old and facing thinning on the crown. I also have a hairline that has receded a bit, but I can live with it. 
 

My hair loss first started with a receding hairline around 21 or so. I do believe the hairline has reached maturity as it has been at approximately the same level for 3-4 years now. I first started noticing hair loss on the crown around 26 years old. I would run my fingers through my hair with a number of hairs falling out. This lead me to jump on fin/min quickly (I will outline my regimen below, but have been on the pair consistently for 18 months). I have had no side effects to any medications. 
 

Over the last year I believe the hair loss has stabilized a bit, however you can never be certain. I was hoping for some slight growth in the thinning regions, but after 18 months of meds, I do not believe I will get any. This lead me to a consultation with Dr. Jerry Cooley’s office in NC. Lollie was very helpful and after an hour and a half phone call she tried to talk me out of an operation, which I respected. She did however say that Dr. Cooley can perform the light work if I really wanted it and provided a very high level quote for FUT which seemed reasonable to me. 
 

My question for you all: given my age and location of the work (crown), would it be advisable to have a light “filling” performed? I prefer to wear my hair shorter, but have been hesitant to do so recently as it accentuates the balding. I am not opposed to having future work done if needed, as long as my donor region is thick enough (I do not have any indications as to whether or not it is). Finally, from my understanding, it would be 9-12 months of waiting to get into Dr. Copley’s chair. This would put me near 29 years of age, and over 2 years on medication. I appreciate any advice.
 

Medications:

- Finasteride: 1mg daily for 15 months, 2.5mg 3x weekly for last 3 months

- Minoxidil: topical for 15 months, topical and 2.5mg oral daily for last 3 months

- Micro-needling: 1x weekly at 1.25mm for last 3 months

Photos: short hair is from August, 2022, long hair is today.

  
 

 

[davidn]

You can cover it with toppik:)

[Melvin- Admin]

I would give the meds another 6 months before considering surgery. Your situation may improve vastly.

[pkipling]

I think you're definitely doing the right thing by waiting and trying all other avenues before rushing into a HT... Although, based on the current state of your hair, if it does end up being a viable option for you, I would definitely recommend it. Was your consultation in person? If so, did they give any feedback on your donor area? It looks great in the photos, which would be a big point in your favor considering you'd likely need followup procedures down the road. 

And since you like to keep your hair longer anyway, you could experiment with Toppik, as Davidn suggested. I don't have personal experience with it, but a lot of guys swear by it, and it may give you just enough coverage that it takes any urgency of a hair transplant off the table for a bit.  

[Doron Harati]

In your case, it's better to consider meds right now, it's too for surgery.

[Dr. Guncel Ozturk]

Based on your description, it sounds like you have been proactively addressing your hair loss for some time which is great. You have been consistent with your finasteride and minoxidil regimen for 18 months and have not reported any side effects.

I do believe hair transplant should be the last resort, considering your young age & the location of your thinning (crown), and the fact that your hairline has stabilized for several years. Tho that is up to you, if you want to get it I believe that a "light filling" procedure, also known as a "spot" or "filling" transplant, may be a good option for you. This procedure involves transplanting a smaller number of grafts to specific areas of the scalp to add density and improve the appearance of thinning.

Keep in mind that hair restoration is not a one-time procedure, it may require multiple sessions to achieve the desired results. And it's also important to keep in mind that hair restoration will not stop your hair loss, but it can improve the appearance of thinning.

In conclusion, I would recommend that you consider going with your current meds with natural treatments supporting. Go with a light filling procedure if you want it badly, but it's important to weigh the pros and cons, and consider your age, location of thinning, your hair loss progression, and your aesthetic goals. Remember that hair restoration is a personal journey and it's important to choose the treatment that best suits your needs and goals.