25 yo, Considering Hair Transplant, Have a few Questions About it

[New_Barnet_Please]

23 minutes ago, Ferris said:

 

I agree, nothing against an internet forum but it's a good call to speak with a HT specialist about my situation. I'm quite clueless about how consolations really work with this, get the feeling they are not free and might cost me a bit especially if I speak with multiple Dr's about it

Where do I even go for consultations, do we have a repository of contact info lying around here I can use?

It’s good you are cautious and are taking time to research. Try consultations with some of the doctors that people have recommended to you here or others you see well regarded on the forum, as if you go to a hair mill consultation it will basically just be an unethical sales person who will lie and tell you whatever you want to hear. 

[Berba11]

16 hours ago, duckling said:

then i guess 2000 grafts just like the case i posted should be enough for you. maybe with 2500 they can give you little temples if you need. Doctor will let you know  though if temples needed to frame your face or work can be done with just hairline. 

That's way too many grafts.

To conservatively fill in the corners from the pictures shown would or should only be around 1,000-1,500 grafts especially given the age of the OP. There's no need to lower the hairline and the forelock looks very strong (and hopefully medication continues to work), so it's literally just the corners that could benefit a transplant, which won't require many grafts at all.

[Berba11]

1 hour ago, Ferris said:

I can get HT unshaven? Cost aside, Is that a good idea? 

Given that you only need a conservative number of grafts in the temple corners and seem to have pretty long hair on top, then you'd probably be an ideal candidate for a no shave procedure. I had a no shave surgery of 796 grafts that was more complicated than your case, so yes, it's likely doable for you as well.

[Dillpickle123]

Hi I’m younger then you a lot of ppl here will tell you not to get it unless

1. your on finasteride and it’s stopped your hair-loss

2. you don’t go crazy with your design 

3. you use a conservative amount of grafts 

like others have said 2k grafts seems about right for a transplant but you need to get your donor checked to see the capacity 

[ThePerseverantWarrior]

19 hours ago, Ferris said:

1. Dads completely bald and as for my grandads, Dad's side kept his hair but my Mom's side he receded quite heavily.TBH I have no clue where in the genetic lottery I stand but as shown in the pictures above in 5 months not much has changed and I have not lost ground, just gained some
2. I just want to address the front part, no issues on the back of my head or anywhere else ever really before/after I started meds

If you just wanna address the frontal part then you could certainly go for a transplant. 2.5k kinda grafts should be good enough for you

[Berik]

33 minutes ago, ThePerseverantWarrior said:

If you just wanna address the frontal part then you could certainly go for a transplant. 2.5k kinda grafts should be good enough for you

What an absurd estimate/piece of advice. He doesn't need anywhere near that number. 

[duckling]

2 hours ago, Berba11 said:

That's way too many grafts.

To conservatively fill in the corners from the pictures shown would or should only be around 1,000-1,500 grafts especially given the age of the OP. There's no need to lower the hairline and the forelock looks very strong (and hopefully medication continues to work), so it's literally just the corners that could benefit a transplant, which won't require many grafts at all.

I get your point of using conservative approach but a hairline given to a nw5 or nw6 is what he has drawn. I dont think given his age and grade the surgeon will like idea of going that conservative. The hairline makes his forehead look big.

If he does go with what he has drawn and eventually its upto the patient what he wants so your graft estimate the surgeon will use is falling in range given by you.  

But 2000 grafts for hairline isn't aggressive in my opinion. Because that hairline is what is gonna cover his eventually thinning mid-scalp after many years. He can easily delay another HT for mid-scalp if his hairline is good. He will just use the pulled back hairstyle which he has been doing.

[Mike10]

in my opinion 25 is just very young for HT. just think about what will happen at 35, 45, 55....Long way to go.It is often overlooked when you are  young. 

Now, in term of grafts, I think a good 2K are necessary., even if you go conservative. The hair is combed back  and kinda hides  thinning area. (look at the right side).

[A_4_Archan]

Imo 2k grafts will be adequate to get a good hairline and a bit towards the mid scalp as you are willing to stay conservative...its good that you got a positive result through meds...but to keep you native hair strong you have to take medicine for life..thts how you will be able to delay your hairloss and will benefit from surgery ....to choose a good surgeon you can go through recommended list and see results of all the doctors and than shortlist 3-4 from them and than consult them and see what their opinion is and than take your decision ....if your budget is around 3.5 euros than de freitas is a good surgeon to consider cause he makes awesome hairlines...

[Britanium]

@Ferrisit seems that most members are guesstimating at around 2k worth of grafts, however I was wondering how you’re hair is behind that strong frontal tuft, as it’s being combed back then it’s entirely possible you have loss behind it too?

If you do have any other pics when you have shorter hair or it’s combed forward then it may be easier to guess or give a approx amount of grafts.

[Ferris]

14 minutes ago, BRITA-XL said:

@Ferrisit seems that most members are guesstimating at around 2k worth of grafts, however I was wondering how you’re hair is behind that strong frontal tuft, as it’s being combed back then it’s entirely possible you have loss behind it too?

If you do have any other pics when you have shorter hair or it’s combed forward then it may be easier to guess or give a approx amount of grafts.

The hair loss isn't creeping behind my fringe, the minox pretty much fixed that area but it's cutting closer than I'd like

(Also, can posters please stop arguing about how many grafts I need. Happy to let a surgeon decide what's best for me. It's good to know it's about 2000~ however)

Also, how do consultations work, do I need to pay for each individual one? Also, Is there a repository of contact info I can use?

[mister_25]

11 minutes ago, Ferris said:

The hair loss isn't creeping behind my fringe, the minox pretty much fixed that area but it's cutting closer than I'd like

(Also, can posters please stop arguing about how many grafts I need. Happy to let a surgeon decide what's best for me. It's good to know it's about 2000~ however)

Also, how do consultations work, do I need to pay for each individual one? Also, Is there a repository of contact info I can use?

Online consultations where you just send some photos then they reply back in a email are free. Usually though if you want to go in depth on a Skype or zoom call that would cost you.

on the top right of this website there is the “forums recommended surgeons” in orange, hopefully that can help you find contact info for surgeons you are interested in.

[Britanium]

15 minutes ago, Ferris said:

The hair loss isn't creeping behind my fringe, the minox pretty much fixed that area but it's cutting closer than I'd like

(Also, can posters please stop arguing about how many grafts I need. Happy to let a surgeon decide what's best for me. It's good to know it's about 2000~ however)

Also, how do consultations work, do I need to pay for each individual one? Also, Is there a repository of contact info I can use?

Yeah you’re right it will be down to the Drs to give you a better idea of the graft count, it always changes on surgery day, or if/when they see you in person.

Pretty sure that Drs on the recommended list will not change for consultations:

https://hairtransplantnetwork.com/best-hair-transplant-surgeons
 

But this list isn’t by any means definitive, check out other Drs which have good results here on the forum (and elsewhere) 

Edited April 10, 2023 by BRITA-XL

[Mike10]

We need more pics to estimate the grafts count. The pics show some thinning which is hidden by the hair combed back. Also taking medicine for life may not be a choice. One may have to come off the medicine for one reason or another (e.g. sides or family)

[Ferris]

3 month Update from me, really appreciate the honest advice given here. Based off the posts given here and posts across the forum I decided a HT was simply not for me for a few reasons:

- Risk of surgery leaving me in a worse place via over harvesting/necrosis, I've seen enough horror stories on here 😔
- Upfront cost being simply too much for me (Especially for a good surgeon and even then great results are not a guarantee as pointed out)
- A transplant can't achieve the thickness/texture my old hair had

So I booked a few consultations around my city and in the end got a frontal Hair System last month

It's been an honest surprise just how good a hair system is. It's somehow less trouble than my old hair would you believe it. I'm not having to style my hair into a dumb frontal comb over which is held up by too much product and hairspray that I spend 15mins in the morning styling. You know it was bad when bedhead looks better than your old styled receeding hair 🥲. I can even go gym and swim in it. Most days I don't even notice I have this thing taped and glued to my head!

Reactions from friends and work were, memorable to say the least

I've also stopped taking oral minoxidil all together as whilst I'm fine rn, I have 0 idea how in 10, 20, 30+ years it will affect me. Still take fin to keep my current hair however, do want to avoid the cost and discomfort of a full HS for now

Edited July 22, 2023 by Ferris

[SeanT1]

On 7/22/2023 at 6:21 AM, Ferris said:

3 month Update from me, really appreciate the honest advice given here. Based off the posts given here and posts across the forum I decided a HT was simply not for me for a few reasons:

- Risk of surgery leaving me in a worse place via over harvesting/necrosis, I've seen enough horror stories on here 😔
- Upfront cost being simply too much for me (Especially for a good surgeon and even then great results are not a guarantee as pointed out)
- A transplant can't achieve the thickness/texture my old hair had

So I booked a few consultations around my city and in the end got a frontal Hair System last month

It's been an honest surprise just how good a hair system is. It's somehow less trouble than my old hair would you believe it. I'm not having to style my hair into a dumb frontal comb over which is held up by too much product and hairspray that I spend 15mins in the morning styling. You know it was bad when bedhead looks better than your old styled receeding hair 🥲. I can even go gym and swim in it. Most days I don't even notice I have this thing taped and glued to my head!

Reactions from friends and work were, memorable to say the least

I've also stopped taking oral minoxidil all together as whilst I'm fine rn, I have 0 idea how in 10, 20, 30+ years it will affect me. Still take fin to keep my current hair however, do want to avoid the cost and discomfort of a full HS for now

I also tried a hair system at 23.. I have to say it was a nightmare to maintain.  The glue/tape was a total pain and I was very limited to what kind of styles I could go for.  Personally I had a hair transplant at 25, I don't regret it.

Hair systems also damage follicles under your head, the concept that your scalp is able to breathe through a hair transplant is simply a myth.
Do what you believe is best, I personally think younger people such as ourselves can get transplants assuming we remain on finasteride.

Rooting for you friend!

(References)

Hair system at 23 (I could never style it up since the front was so obvious, people pointed out the color difference between my natural hair and hair system hair in the sunlight.. it made me feel more insecure with it. )

 

Natural hair (dyed) at 24;

 

Hair transplant design at 25;

2 years after hair transplant (22 months result);

 

Full thread here;

 

Edited July 23, 2023 by SeanToman

[Ferris]

On 7/23/2023 at 8:37 PM, SeanToman said:

I also tried a hair system at 23.. I have to say it was a nightmare to maintain.  The glue/tape was a total pain and I was very limited to what kind of styles I could go for.  Personally I had a hair transplant at 25, I don't regret it.

Hair systems also damage follicles under your head, the concept that your scalp is able to breathe through a hair transplant is simply a myth.
Do what you believe is best, I personally think younger people such as ourselves can get transplants assuming we remain on finasteride.

Rooting for you friend!

(References)

Hair system at 23 (I could never style it up since the front was so obvious, people pointed out the color difference between my natural hair and hair system hair in the sunlight.. it made me feel more insecure with it. )

 

Natural hair (dyed) at 24;

 

Hair transplant design at 25;

2 years after hair transplant (22 months result);

 

Full thread here;

 

Thanks for sharing your HS to HT experience!

I don't find the maintenance all that bad and have taken steps to make it as simple as possible

Typically I like wearing an unexposed hairline and realised I don't need tape+glue, tape is more than enough even if I go to the gym every day

Only takes me 45m now to do a full maintenance and refit

I also just don't care about being exposed as a HS wearer. Don't get me wrong I want it to pass as real 99% of the time, but I have no shame, I love the experience of wearing one and I've fooled more than enough people with it so far

The whole it damages follicles underneath is a myth and tbh even if it did I simply don't care because I know I will never manage to make a transplant match a HS in density and volume. I also don't want to blow all my savings on surgery too...

HS isn't for everyone but I beginning to realise it's for me

Edited August 2, 2023 by Ferris