Long term - how to manage things?

[hair-today]

Hi, I was about to take a leap of faith but one of my biggest worries is how things will look long term? Isn't it practically a given that once you've started on the route of a HT that you'll need more done in the future? Even if you do use medications to slow further hair loss.

It must also be impossible to know that you won't just go so bald that it's not feasable to keep up with it?

Then what?

If you're stuck with a bald head, but with hair where the initial balding was. Even if you go ok I'll just shave it, won't it still look odd?

I just want to make sure I won't regret in 20 or 30 years time.

While researching I found the attached imagine. Yes this person had his HT in his 20's so I guess this was inevitable, BUT any of us could end up like this years down the line. What can be done?

Thanks

 

[Salazar]

Isn't it practically a given that once you've started on the route of a HT that you'll need more done in the future?

This is my biggest fear. All the celebrities that I read about who've undergone surgery, have done so multiple times. That's okay if you have deep pockets.

I just want to make sure I won't regret in 20 or 30 years time.

This is the final hurdle that always prevents me from getting surgery. I mean, genetics is pretty unpredictable -- Bryan Cranston lost some hair in early 20s, but has since remained stable for the last 40 years; James Spader never lost a single hair before he was in his 40s, but is now essentially a bald man.

 

[hair-today]

Agggh, I was hoping someone would give me the key to solving these concerns.

 

[Salazar]

Agggh, I was hoping someone would give me the key to solving these concerns.

I don't think there is a key. Getting surgery is a gamble. You have to weigh up the risks, based on your own circumstances, and decide if you're willingly to accept them -- do the potential benefits outweigh the potential pitfalls? Some people have better circumstances than others. Generally, the longer that you can hold off getting a transplant, the better. I'm sorry that I can only offer you platitudes.

 

[Bobbins]

Agggh, I was hoping someone would give me the key to solving these concerns.

There is no guarantee, though many have sustained their hair with meds, and that was what convinced me to take the plunge.

Obviously, ensuring you can tolerate meds before a procedure is a good precaution!

 

[hair-today]

There is no guarantee, though many have sustained their hair with meds, and that was what convinced me to take the plunge.

Obviously, ensuring you can tolerate meds before a procedure is a good precaution!

Mmmm yes I can't take finasteride, but I've been using minoxidil for over a year. I still have what seems to me to be an alarming amount of shedding, but in fact over the year how things look have not got any worse. In fact I think it looks ever so slightly better. BUT.......it may not work forever, and what if I just get fed up of using it. I have no idea if I'll be arsed in 20-30 years time to apply this twice a day! Sigh


How have your results been? How long ago was this, and any signs of it chaging so much that it may look unatural? Hope it was the right choice for you!!

 

[hair-today]

One thing that's going through my mind is that the picture I posted earlier is one of the worst-case-scenarios. So let's say this person walks into a top surgeon's clinic and says, please help me sort this. There must be an answer. Whether it's do more because there's enough donor area to look ok and he's unlikely to lose much more hair. Or well we can remove what you have and you just live as you would have been if you'd not had it done, just with some scarring of course. If it meant he had 10 years or so looking good because of the HT then that's what his money bought for him.

Basically if it can be fixed somehow, I'd live with 5-10 years benefit of the procedure, especially as there's a chance it could be 10-20 years benefit, plus maybe one or two more procedures and it's sorted for life.

 

[MPBsucks1234]

Good planning and choosing a good surgeon. I have surgery in my 20s and lately my most recent last year at 34. Key is to have enough donor. IMO if you are not on any meds surgery in 20s is very risky I would say if you have one in your 20s be prepared for future surgeries to play catchup as it is likely you would continue to lose hair.

 

[loui]

Hi, I was about to take a leap of faith but one of my biggest worries is how things will look long term? Isn't it practically a given that once you've started on the route of a HT that you'll need more done in the future? Even if you do use medications to slow further hair loss.

It must also be impossible to know that you won't just go so bald that it's not feasable to keep up with it?

Then what?

If you're stuck with a bald head, but with hair where the initial balding was. Even if you go ok I'll just shave it, won't it still look odd?

I just want to make sure I won't regret in 20 or 30 years time.

While researching I found the attached imagine. Yes this person had his HT in his 20's so I guess this was inevitable, BUT any of us could end up like this years down the line. What can be done?
View attachment 33965
Thanks

Its not true though that anyone can end up with plugs these days like the guy in your photo, its extreme and does not happen today if you choose a reputable Dr.

If you do FUE, a easy solution will be to shave it off and add SMP in the donor where the white dots are located, or keep your hair at a couple millimetre length to camouflage it and just have a natural balding look.

If your hairline looks unnatural, my solution would be to Electrolysis away the front tuft if thats the only thing you have left. I think kept short it would look normal aswell.

 

[Bobbins]

Mmmm yes I can't take finasteride, but I've been using minoxidil for over a year. I still have what seems to me to be an alarming amount of shedding, but in fact over the year how things look have not got any worse. In fact I think it looks ever so slightly better. BUT.......it may not work forever, and what if I just get fed up of using it. I have no idea if I'll be arsed in 20-30 years time to apply this twice a day! Sigh


How have your results been? How long ago was this, and any signs of it chaging so much that it may look unatural? Hope it was the right choice for you!!

Just seen this. I’m approaching 7 months post surgery so have no idea what the future holds.

I waited until my mid 40s and can tolerate finasteride, so am hopeful I’ll maintain what I’ve got.

I was Norwood 5a and my hair is currently looking like this:

 

[hair-today]

Just seen this. I’m approaching 7 months post surgery so have no idea what the future holds.

I waited until my mid 40s and can tolerate finasteride, so am hopeful I’ll maintain what I’ve got.

I was Norwood 5a and my hair is currently looking like this:

Wow, your picture is looking great. Especially for 7 months, you should still have some growing and thickening to happen yet.

I am far less worried about the future now, and in case you haven;t seen my other posts I actually went ahead. So I had my procedure done just over 2 weeks ago now. I'm mega happy and already can't imagine going back to my old, thinned out, hairline (I've added a pic from a few days ago).

I went and asked all the questions I had and my fears were alleviated. I'm also right now on oral minoxidil (as can't use topical again until the redness has settled), and am deciding whether to see if I can stick with that instead of the faff of topical. I'm worried about it's effects though as it's a blood pressure medication (albeit in much higher doses) and can cause extra hair elswhere on the body. But I'll see how it goes. I just feel my overall health is more important than my hair, esecially when I can use topical minoxodil.

Another consideration I have though is that I only started using minxidil for my forlock area as that's where the thinning started. Shortly after beginning it I started shedding further back even thought I wasn;t really putting it there I figured that might be that initial shedding you can get. In the past I've had times when I've shed and then it stops, but this just didn't stop. I thought wow, imagine without minoxidil, I'd be completely bald by now. However I had to stop for surgery and on day 4, they shedding completely stopped. For the first time since starting I only had about 4 or 5 hairs come out in my hands while showering. Instead of the usual 20-40 or so. I am wondering if teh minoxidil is actually causing the shedding on top and around my crown.

There is a chance I could try finasteride in the future, so that may be an option (I'm trans so it messes with hormone levels, not gonna explain fully why in the future, but as of now it's not possible)

Anyway, good luck with your growth and I hope you manage to maintain

 

[Bobbins]

From anecdotal information posted on here, it does seem that for certain people minoxidil does cause lots of shedding (and a game of chicken as to whether you stop or continue).

Hopefully your switch to oral minoxidil won’t trigger that. As with all meds, it’s a case of ‘suck it and see’ it would seem.

Congrats on getting your surgery done. I’m really pleased you managed to overcome your anxieties about it, and that you found a clinic that provided the support you needed.

Your work looks great. Try not to get too attached as you’re approaching the dreaded shedding and ugly ducking phase. It’ll soon be back I’m sure!

 

[hair-today]

From anecdotal information posted on here, it does seem that for certain people minoxidil does cause lots of shedding (and a game of chicken as to whether you stop or continue).

Mmmm yes exactly. Scared to stop but worried to continue. I will see how it goes on the oral minoxidil for the time being. I asked Dr Reddy about this and he didnt comment at all about the posibility for the minoxidil causing hair loss, and just said with hesitation, don't stop! It's been hard to tell post surgery of course because it's so short.

Hopefully your switch to oral minoxidil won’t trigger that. As with all meds, it’s a case of ‘suck it and see’ it would seem.

Yes

Congrats on getting your surgery done. I’m really pleased you managed to overcome your anxieties about it, and that you found a clinic that provided the support you needed.

Thanks. I was lucky also as I booked it for the earliest date I oculd get, in Oct, and then a few days later a cancellation came up, with less than 2 weeks notice. So I got in really quick.

Your work looks great. Try not to get too attached as you’re approaching the dreaded shedding and ugly ducking phase. It’ll soon be back I’m sure!

Yes I know, and in the last few days I've experienced finding hairs on my hands while showering. Not enough to show yet, but I know it's likely in the first 3-6 weeks, and I'm not even at 3 weeks yet. I'm happy to have seen a preview, or a trailer if you like, of things to come. I'm also quite lucky in that I didn;t have a lot done, so I hope it won't be too, too noticable, unless of course I get shock-loss of the non transplanted hair too!

 

[Philw]

I would stop minoxide all together cos eventually u will get fed up rubbing it on your head everyday and stop and u lose all that u got
Go on meds finesteride 1mg take daily if u get sides take x3 a week
If u do have sugery have fue not strip
Created a nice soft mature hairline if ur loss is at the front
Leave crown for now
If u do lose more hair at least u can clipper short no 1 guard and have no sign if scarring, yes fue does leave u with scars but to the normal eye nobody would notice
Go to a surgeon who will plan it all for u

 

[hair-today]

I would stop minoxide all together cos eventually u will get fed up rubbing it on your head everyday and stop and u lose all that u got

I was worried about that, but actually it's been pretty easy, when I get up and when I got to bed, just like cleaning my teeth - never got fed up with that Yes I'd rather not have to do it, and minoxidil leaves your hair dry, but i consider it a very small price to pay. Now just deciding whether to continue with oral minoxidil or go back to topical.

Go on meds finesteride 1mg take daily if u get sides take x3 a week

I can't take finasteride.

If u do have sugery have fue not strip

I've just had FUE

 

[Philw]

Oh i see sorry didnt read the post as i should have
Its good u had fue cos if u do thin more u can just clipper down
Wish u all the luck

 

[hair-today]

Oh i see sorry didnt read the post as i should have

When I started the post I hadn't of course. It all happened so quickly as I decided to ahead, booked for 12 weeks time, and then got a cancellation. Which I grabbed of course.

Wish u all the luck

Thanks

 

[Bigmac]

This thread privides a lot of information on long term planning.

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