Recently 30 with receding hairline...need answers

[bestinthebusiness]

I have been losing my hair for approximately 5-6 years now, and am now at the point where, like many other posters, I am changing my hairstyle to cover the fact of my hairline. I have moved to a shorter hair style and my haircutter leaves the front a little long, so I can brush it over to the side, thus concealing my baldness. I will post pics eventually, but I am at work now and wanted to get this discussion going.

 

I am interested in HT, but after reading some of the warning signs from other gentlemen on the site I am concerned. My hair is still quite full in the top and back, but I am starting to see signs of an isolated forelock (I saw that term used in an earlier post). I don't want that look at all and I will do whatever I can to restore my hairline.

 

I live in New York City, and I'm sure being in a metropolitan area, I have access to some great surgeons. Price is not a problem.

 

1. Can anyone recommend a top-notch surgeon for a consultation in Manhattan?

 

2. Is propecia a viable solution, or should I just suck it up and pay for the HT? I have heard wonderful things about HT's from my hairstylist, especially about one of his clients who was extremely bald and now has a full head of hair.

 

3. Can you direct me to any posts or resources about scalp treatment and other products that will help keep my existing hair healthy and full?

 

Thank you for your assistance.

 

Kenneth

[bestinthebusiness]

Just to update my previous post...I'm between a II and III on the Norwood scale.

[the B spot]

B-I-B, Dr's Feller, Dorin, and Epstein are located in New York, and I think a consult with any of these doctors would be a great start. I do hope that you do not limit yourself geographically as you are a relatively short flight from Dr.Shapiro in Minnesota who performed my HT. I would recommed physically visiting a few clinics and then taking a few high quality photos and sending them to a few clinics via the internet. Keep spending some time here and you will do well.

BTW, I do like the work that Dr. Dorin is doing from some of the photos I have seen, but all the docs in your area are good(IMO only).

[hairbank]

Ditto B-spot's post regarding location. The Doc's mentioned are great, but there are several Coalition Surgeons that have great reps and results that you can research, consult with and choose from. For the consultation, usually you'll email pics to them then set up a time for a phone meeting. Many clinics offer to give you a credit for grafts to cover airfare and will pay 2 nights hotel stay for you if you travel so pick the one you're most comfortable with......regardless of location.

 

IMO you should get on Propecia whether you get a HT or not. It's been proven to halt hair loss in many cases or drastically slow it down. If you're experiencing loss it will likely continue. Since yours is mainly in the front, Propecia will more likely help you keep what you have as "most" regrowth experienced is in the crown. Anything toward the front would be a bonus. There are many, many threads here for you to research.

 

Use the find feature on this site and also look in the Shampoos, Sprays and Conditioners folder on the main page for information about scalp and hair care. I use Nizoral 1% and Nioxin though there are others. The goal is to provide optimal growth conditions for your hair and keep what hair you are growing as healthy as possible.

[bestinthebusiness]

So I took everyone's advice and went for a consultation today with Drs. True and Dorin in NYC. Dr. True was the one who actually saw me. He said my current spot on the Norwood is a 3-V. Because of my profession (I'm an attorney) he recommended a two phase surgery where I would go for 700 grafts and then six to twelve months later, an additional 600 grafts for a total of 1300 grafts. With the two phase process the transition would be seamless and less noticeable, especially because in the first phase he would take care of most of the high frontal hair (including the thinning near my isolating forelock) and the sutures would be covered by my original/existing hair. The second procedure, theoretically would take care of bringing the peaks down further on the right and left sides, and those, also theoretically, would be hidden by the last procedure's hair, so less noticeable.

 

Next, Dr. True showed me photos of some of his patients, and also took photos of my scalp. The whole consultation was very thorough, in my opinion, but then again it was my first one. I have an appointment with Dr. Epstein in May, but he charges $175 for the consult, which of course gets applied to your procedure. Not sure if I want to do that.

 

Anyway, Dr. True recommended I start taking propecia. He of course explained the side-effects and risks.

 

Here is my problem...my wife and I are planning on having kids sometime this year. I know the risks of women who are trying to have kids or are pregnant and their handling of propecia. I also understand that some (let's say paranoid) people go the extra step and refrain from taking propecia while trying to conceive or during pregnancy because they are concerned the propecia will travel through bodily fluids and may cause problems that way. My wife is one of those paranoid people, and frankly if she is concerned about harm to my future child, then so am I.

 

I'd like to know what everyone's thoughts are on a few things:

 

1. What do you think about my procedure and the two phase idea?

 

2. What do you think about our concerns about propecia and the fact that we are trying to have kids?

 

3. Any other comments or questions based on my scenario/situation would be greatly appreciated. B Spot and Hairbank's quick and informative responses prompted me to get my consult and I'm glad I did. I appreciate everyone's support.

 

Kenneth

[troy]

well i am not doctor, but i disagree. I would try to get it done in one session so you dont have to go through it again for awhile. It sucks have stitches or staples in your head. Also I would recommend a few consults, you can do it online through this forum. And 1300 seems very small amount, maybe not worth it for that amount. If you could post pics , cover your face if you choose but it would give us a much better idea of what we are talking about, also the better quality pics the better advise you will recieve. good luck

[Alexander]

You do NOT want to get strip surgery for that small amount of grafts. If you are minimally receding, then FUE is probably the best method for you situation. There are a few good Drs in NYC doing this, Feller is one of the top FUE docs in the country, and he does smaller sessions as well.

[Gorpy]

I would go for the entire 1300 at once. That is a fairly small amount by today's standards. If you look at some of the photos on this site of some of the top doctor's work, after a week or less, the HT is hardly noticable. Are you worried about it being noticable afterwards? If so, be sure you understand that some doctors will require you to shave the recipient area. Also, some will leave a noticable shaved area in your donar site.

 

As far as taking propecia and having a child - being a dad, I would not take any risk with my child. There are unknowns with this kind of hormonal therapy. Who really knows?

[Alexander]

Oh and the Propecia I believe is out of your system quickly after you stop taking it, which is why you need to take it everyday. Ask a doc to be sure, but if you stop taking it, then after a few days it should be out of the system completely.

[Hoping]

I'm a trial attorney myself. I had 2800 at one time. I think you are making a big mistake not to have everything done at once. An HT from a top doc is hardly noticeable just a week or so after the Surgery and why go through two surgeries if you don't have to. As for Propecia, I am now taking it myself but I am 50 and I have already had children. I would think you are taking an unreasonable chance taking Propecia if you are planning on having kids. There is undoubtedly a small amount that will be transmitted to you wife and why take the risk. If your baby has any problems you will always wonder if Propecia was the cause. We all know that the FDA is woefully inadequate in doing its jobs and you can not depend on the pharmaceutical industry to give it to you entirely straight. Bottom line, get as many grafts as you can at one time and stay away from Propecia until your wife is pregnant. My opinion only of course.

[tkerr22]

My wife and I are going to try and have a baby in the near future and I am worried about the fact I take propecia as well. I found this article that was very interesting, if anyone has other articles or info on the subject it would be great! basically article states being on propecia while conceiving and during pregnancy has not turned up any side effects

 

http://www.hairlosstalk.com/newsletter/article255.htm

[JohnH]

BITB, I totally agree with the above responses. One session should do for now. I've had several strip surgeries and trust me, it gets tougher each time. Scar tissue develops around the strip closure. So after the first one it takes more time to numb, requires more skill from the surgeon, and tends to be a bit more painful while healing.

 

Get it all done at once - you'll be happier.

[Beefy]

B.I.B go to dr feller he can give you all you need in one shot

[kamin]

Make sure that 1300 grafts is enough to get the hairline that you're looking for. I've read time and time again of patients who wish that they had gotten more grafts (providing you have sufficient donor hair). Keep going to the consultations to get some more opinions.

 

I also agree to get it all done at the same time. I've had two HT's and it would have been easier to get it all done at once had I been a little more aggressive. I thought that 1500 grafts would do the job but ended up going for another 1000.

[hairbank]

Oops! Was editing my post post below but accidentially clicked the wrong button.....sorry.

[hairbank]

Originally posted by bestinthebusiness:

I'd like to know what everyone's thoughts are on a few things:

 

1. What do you think about my procedure and the two phase idea?

 

2. What do you think about our concerns about propecia and the fact that we are trying to have kids?

 

Kenneth

 

Kenneth-

 

I'd call Dr. True and ask why the two sessions?? Even 1300 total grafts isn't that many......see my Hair Loss Weblog for comparison, I received 1200 grafts my first HT. I'm pleased with the results but I'd much rather done it in one pass. Recovery, growth..etc.....it's really no big deal but why do it twice especially with such a small session? I'd get another consult for comparison or find out if there's a specific reason you should do it in two sessions.

 

2. If you're trying to have kids don't get on Propecia. I'm not sure there would be harm other than a potential reduction in sperm count........... but who knows. The risk isn't worth it. You will eventually want to get on it to keep what you have because it's a necessary internal blocker of DHT which attacks MPB susceptible hair. You may research some topicals to use in the meantime but I'd hold off until your family planning is over. Many stay away from several of the topicals altogether because the regimen is a pain.

 

Hope this helps!

[bestinthebusiness]

Thank you all for your responses. After much deliberation I have my first HT scheduled for tomorrow. I have decided to stick with the two part procedure because my hair line is not that bad, and I am extremely self-conscious about the procedure being visible to my co-workers and friends. That said, I am scheduled for 500-600 grafts tomorrow and the remaining, if and when I choose to do it, next year. Dr. True has reassured me that this is the best method for my situation.

 

I am pretty nervous about tomorrow, but he said since it's a fairly minor transplant, things would be relatively quick and painless. Fortunately I have the long weekend to recover, but have to be back at work on Tuesday for a 9am conference call with one of my partners, so I'm nervous that he will notice. After the conference call I will return to True & Dorin to have my grafts/stitches cleaned and then go back to work. It is possible that after the 600 grafts I may be content with my hair line, but only time will tell. I know many of you have advised to knock it all out in one shot, but I personally just can't take the risk that people will notice. I can't wear a hat to work and I want the procedure and transition to be smooth and unnoticeable.

 

This forum has been extremely helpful in allaying my fears and answering my questions. Fortunately with you guys and a very supportive wife, I should get through this thing fairly well.

[nikkop23]

I would have said go for as much as possible in one pass, but Dr. Dorin himself has had four minor transplants of 700 to 1000 or so grafts (perhaps not an ideal approach given current standards) and as you'll see tomorrow, he appears to have fabulous results from Dr. True. Good luck and keep us updated.