At crossroads with regards to getting a hair transplant

[AI 7]

Hey guys,

I have posted a previous thread a few weeks ago with regards to my hair loss and I have currently been using minoxidil and dutasteride for over nine months with zero improvement. I have made an appointment with a few hair transplant clinics with each one showing different views. The most recent one was with The Hair Dr in Leeds with lead surgeon Dr Arshad. I was very happy with the consultation as it was a lot more realistic and informative as compared to the other clinics. Additionally, they have a great reputation with a vast amount of patients who have had successful hair transplants. I have also been given an option to attend the clinic for a hair transplant for two separate dates but it was very unlikely for me to attend those dates in such short notice given the problems I will discuss below. However, I do see myself getting a hair transplant in the future, it is just a matter of when. I am considering to arrange another date with the clinic in the near future but I'm not too sure when.

In terms of what I have been doing with regards to my hair loss journey I feel that I have been doing the right things such as using over the counter treatments from pharmacies to help stabilise my hair loss; also using hairlossexperiences is very insightful and helpful to many people. However I do have a few things I need to work on.

I need to stop smoking cigarettes (which I started due to depression) and this has turned into a bad habit, I have been regularly smoking for just over a year and I have been reaching out to external professional support to stop completely. With regards to my depression I have been working extremely hard to rectify the issues by seeking external help and I am also looking to have CBT (was supposed to have it earlier but one of the professionals are off sick for a few days). I have been reading books to combat depression, anxiety and trauma and this has literally changed everything for the better.

I am also 25 years old and this is a very young age to get a hair transplant, would it be best to just wait until I'm "much older" or would getting one now be an ok option? I have been using hair fibres in the past but it does make my crown area look "flat" and definitely shows the shape of the skull. In other words, the hair fibres do an amazing job in covering the entire scalp but I can definitely see the shape of the back of my head as I have more hair growing towards the front of my head. I have also bought a hair concealer but I have never used one before, this is something that I will be looking to use if I really need to go somewhere without wearing a cap.

The final thing is the slight dip I have in into the donor region. Is this really a bad thing? How worried should I be? My donor area was considered to be "very good" after I got feedback from my consultation, this is something I agree with given the fact that I couldn't get a haircut between December and April due to the lockdown so my donor area grew out a lot and was very thick.

Cheers guys!

 

[Coopman]

If you post some pics of your hair under bright light you should get some good advice from forum members.

You are doing the right thing in regards to Dutasteride to slow/stabilise your loss, but being 25 you need to be able to plan a hair transplant to cater for your later years which takes into account future loss.

 

[smokeybacon]

Hi AI7. You say you have used mx and fin for 9 months with no improvement but then say you used over counter from pharmacies to help stabilise, what have you been using different to mx and fin then?

How many grafts were you told you needed by each clinic? Cooperman is right, 25 is young and important to think of the future. Would be helpful to see pictures. If you are still losing hair maybe you need to wait. It´s good to take your time. In my opinion when young and keep your options open, you can check things over, make sure a clinic is consistent in what they say overtime, if they have any problems like bad growth it´s not an ongoing risk and make sure they stay around for years. Compare to others that have been around for years.

 

[AI 7]

If you post some pics of your hair under bright light you should get some good advice from forum members.

You are doing the right thing in regards to Dutasteride to slow/stabilise your loss, but being 25 you need to be able to plan a hair transplant to cater for your later years which takes into account future loss.

That’s true, I need to keep taking dutasteride and use minoxidil continuously. For the first month, I have taken a dutasteride tablet once a day. When I got to the second month I have been taking dutasteride twice a week (every Wednesday and Sunday). The age of mine doesn’t help given that I’m very young and I’m not too sure when the best time to get one is.

 

[AI 7]

Hi AI7. You say you have used mx and fin for 9 months with no improvement but then say you used over counter from pharmacies to help stabilise, what have you been using different to mx and fin then?

How many grafts were you told you needed by each clinic? Cooperman is right, 25 is young and important to think of the future. Would be helpful to see pictures. If you are still losing hair maybe you need to wait. It´s good to take your time. In my opinion when young and keep your options open, you can check things over, make sure a clinic is consistent in what they say overtime, if they have any problems like bad growth it´s not an ongoing risk and make sure they stay around for years. Compare to others that have been around for years.

Hi Smokeybacon,

My apologies, I should have worded my first post better. I have been using minoxidil (regaine) which itself is an “over the counter” product which you can get from pharmacies. I’ve been purchasing minoxidil from an online website that’s reputable but if it’s sold out I’ll just go on Amazon. The first clinic I went to for a pre consultation prescribed me some dutasteride which I’m still using.

The first clinic said I was too young to get a transplant and said that PRP was better suited for me to get. I was then told by others that this wasn’t true. I then went to Fortes clinic by Dr Saeed who said I can have 3000 grafts for a good price but it seemed too good to be true. I then went for an online pre consultation with the hair dr and they explained everything in much better detail. They said I can have two sessions of 2500 grafts 12 months apart. I’ve still got a lot of time to think things over but a transplant looks like an extremely likely option in the future. I will include pictures at the bottom of my reply. Thank you!

 

[Coopman]

Is dutasteride twice a week the recommended dosage? I don’t know as i use Finasteride 1mg per day.

Your hairloss is extensive and your options are very limited.

I would go to 3 or 4 reputable clinics to get an estimate of the number of grafts you have available. Then do some research to see what that number of grafts can do for you. I feel you would need to visit whichever clinic to get an exact number of grafts you have available Due to your extensive loss.

You really must choose a reputable clinic and not take a gamble. There are some less than reputable clinics in the UK and you need to avoid them.

 

[Kevboy]

Your loss is quite extensive because your crown has dipped down and your nape hair is thin going upwards. Getting 5000 grafts without leaving a moth eaten look might not be achievable unless you have extraordinary donor density.

 

[AI 7]

Is dutasteride twice a week the recommended dosage? I don’t know as i use Finasteride 1mg per day.

Your hairloss is extensive and your options are very limited.

I would go to 3 or 4 reputable clinics to get an estimate of the number of grafts you have available. Then do some research to see what that number of grafts can do for you. I feel you would need to visit whichever clinic to get an exact number of grafts you have available Due to your extensive loss.

You really must choose a reputable clinic and not take a gamble. There are some less than reputable clinics in the UK and you need to avoid them.

Yeah twice a week of dutasteride is recommended after having one month of 30. I think I’ll do more research on this forum about some good clinics because I know I can get a good transplant.

 

[AI 7]

Your loss is quite extensive because your crown has dipped down and your nape hair is thin going upwards. Getting 5000 grafts without leaving a moth eaten look might not be achievable unless you have extraordinary donor density.

The dip is a bit of a concern. In terms of the nape hair, I’ve had a haircut as shown in the first picture so the nape hair grows thick when I don’t get a haircut. I’ve got told by the latest clinic I went to that my donor area is very good. I’ll have a check with some other clinics and see which one is best for me.

 

[smokeybacon]

I agree with many others here. Your hair loss can continue and your donor is only going to get smaller. Getting big numbers is probably going to be a gamble. Surprised a clinic would say your donor area was very good. That sounds to me like telling you what they think you want to hear. Red flag all the way. Like Kevboy said, your nape moving up and your crown moving down.

 

[Bigmac]

Definitely deal with your depression and anxiety with professional help. Quitting smoking is a good idea too, hopefully, you can achieve this. Once these issues have been dealt with you can then think about hair restoration. Your loss is substantial at 25 and as others have already said, it could progress further. Having read your other thread I think it’s best to keep on your hair loss regimen for now, sort out the afore mentioned issues and possibly buzz your hair short which helps mask the thinned out areas.
Do you have a picture of your hairline? It looks intact from what I can make out.

 

[AI 7]

I agree with many others here. Your hair loss can continue and your donor is only going to get smaller. Getting big numbers is probably going to be a gamble. Surprised a clinic would say your donor area was very good. That sounds to me like telling you what they think you want to hear. Red flag all the way. Like Kevboy said, your nape moving up and your crown moving down.

Yeah that's true, the donor area gets smaller when more grafts are harvested. To be honest it's quite difficult to judge the donor area based on pictures since it's easier to see in real life, but I consider my donor area to be very good due to the thickness and density. The second clinic I went to offered my 3000 grafts. The first picture is a bit misleading, I came back from a haircut and immediately took a picture of the thinning areas. I tend to get a mid skin fade all the time for my haircut so it gives an illusion that my nape hair is thin. Pictures 2-4 show how my hair looks like when I didn't have a haircut after a long time.

Definitely deal with your depression and anxiety with professional help. Quitting smoking is a good idea too, hopefully, you can achieve this. Once these issues have been dealt with you can then think about hair restoration. Your loss is substantial at 25 and as others have already said, it could progress further. Having read your other thread I think it’s best to keep on your hair loss regimen for now, sort out the afore mentioned issues and possibly buzz your hair short which helps mask the thinned out areas.
Do you have a picture of your hairline? It looks intact from what I can make out.

Thank you, I'm very hopeful that I can sort these things out with regards to mental health, I'm going about everything the right way since I have been seeking help. I am currently waiting for a CBT appointment to help me further. With regards to a buzz cut I'm not a fan of them, I tend to have my hair cut short and have a skin fade on the sides and back and to get my beard trimmed and lined up. I didn't include my hairline since my hairline hasn't changed since birth, it is pretty much the same. The only thing I can say is that the hair on top is thinning, so this also applies to the hairs that are on the hairline.

For male pattern baldness, some men tend to have a receding hairline whereas others just lose their hair from the crown area (which is mainly for me). Although my right temple isn't as straight as compared to the rest of the hairline but this was how it was since birth, I've seen baby pictures of myself in which my right temple isn't the best. Although I do go to the barbers and get my hairline shaped and boxed up so it's not that much of a problem.

 

[smokeybacon]

Out of curiosity the clinics you have spoken to what has been their plan? You have a decent amount of hair at the front and it look healthy. So I assume it´s not going to be touched or your hairline lowered any. So what was the plan to where the grafts are going to go. Also what is the long term plan if you lost your front hair are they banking on you having enough in the donor to replace it all after 3-5000 grafts taken before? Coming back to your age again.

 

[AI 7]

Out of curiosity the clinics you have spoken to what has been their plan? You have a decent amount of hair at the front and it look healthy. So I assume it´s not going to be touched or your hairline lowered any. So what was the plan to where the grafts are going to go. Also what is the long term plan if you lost your front hair are they banking on you having enough in the donor to replace it all after 3-5000 grafts taken before? Coming back to your age again.

I have been to 3 clinic.

1.) The first clinic told me that I'm too young for a hair transplant and that if I was to have one, then the existing hairs on my head would experience shock loss. Also they were concerned about the dip into the donor area (I'm not too sure what to say about that) and said that the best option for me was to get PRP with 3 sessions. They then prescribed me some dutasteride which I am currently taking alongside minoxidil but I don't think they're regrowing my hair or thickening them. I feel that these medications are only to halt your hair loss and stop further loss. They basically said to me that my hair loss was aggressive and upon looking at my body hair (I was wearing a t-shirt with shorts) they said that I have classic testosterone in which I grew arm and leg hair earlier compared to other males if that made sense, so I don't know what the link is between classic testosterone and hair loss. I personally think it's genetics.

2.) With the second clinic I had a face to face consultation with the lead surgeon who said to me that PRP is not clinically proven and that you don't necessarily need it before having a transplant, but you can consider having PRP after surgery. He had a look at my hair condition and donor area and said that I can have 3000 grafts for 4500. Price wise I think it's too good to be true and plus this clinic was in Harley street London. I think the reason why he told me I can have 3000 grafts was because I have been on minoxidil for 9 months now with no progress.

3.) The third clinic (The hair dr Leeds with Dr Arshad as lead surgeon) have given me two separate sessions of 2500 grafts 12 months apart. They said to me to not get a hair system or anything, and that PRP is not necessary, if I need to go somewhere without my hat I can use a concealer spray or hair fibres (which I have used before they're amazing). They want to see how the donor areas recover after having the first session so they can plan ahead with the second session. They have given me some literature to which they have sent to my email, mostly it's to do with information regarding hair loss and how smoking is not good for you. The first document told me about the plan and cost and how I have a "very good donor area". The second document was a Microsoft word document which was kind of the "opposite", where they basically tell you the negatives and suggest that the donor area is "poor" even though they finish off the document by saying that we could reach a successful transplant with your expectations. It's similar to how the risk of dying from treating a benign tumour is very low but the doctors will give you the precautions anyway.

 

[smokeybacon]

Good on you for doing your research. That last bit - "It's similar to how the risk of dying from treating a benign tumour is very low but the doctors will give you the precautions anyway." sounds almost like their get out of jail free card lol. I agree with clinic 1 only on the basis of age for what it´s worth. Wait a while longer. The others sound hit and miss, do a little and see how it goes, what happens if it doesn´t go and you get left starting something you can´t finish.

 

[AI 7]

Good on you for doing your research. That last bit - "It's similar to how the risk of dying from treating a benign tumour is very low but the doctors will give you the precautions anyway." sounds almost like their get out of jail free card lol. I agree with clinic 1 only on the basis of age for what it´s worth. Wait a while longer. The others sound hit and miss, do a little and see how it goes, what happens if it doesn´t go and you get left starting something you can´t finish.

It does sound like a get out of jail card but I am very happy that the third clinic (The Hair Dr) sent this to me because it is extremely important. Whilst a majority of transplants are successful, there are some very minor cases in which some transplants do not work so you have to be careful and each individual patient is different. To be honest with you, clinic 1 did come across as cash grabbing in a discrete way by milking a lot of money before the transplant even happens. I wasn't too hopeful of PRP since it is not clinically proven. The Hair Dr also told me that I am also on the very young end of the spectrum and I agree with that, they're essentially telling me everything I need to know before going ahead with surgery because at the end of the day it's all down to my decision and what I want to go ahead with. I'm having a face to face pre consultation with the Hair Dr on Monday so I can have a much better insight, they are probably the best clinic I've seen so far in the UK and are extremely supportive of their patients based on the reviews and what people say on this forum.

 

[Kevboy]

Who were the other 2 clinic? I’d be cautious with the crown dip but you do look hairy, what about using your beard and chest hair?

 

[smokeybacon]

The first clinic saying you are too young for a hair transplant. That is almost certainly the right thing to say to you. If you use any treatment they recommend and they work or not is a different issue. The underlying advice of no transplant at the moment is probably good advice. Being told a little information, by the way would be interested if you could share the information on smoking. But giving you information should not take away the ethical responsibility of a clinic. You don´t have to research much on here to see 20 something guys now regretting their hair transplant. Some blame themselves and some blame the clinic. But it is the clinic that took them. If they all said no you couldn´t make the mistake. Preying on wanting more hair, then using the get out of jail card.

 

[AI 7]

Who were the other 2 clinic? I’d be cautious with the crown dip but you do look hairy, what about using your beard and chest hair?

The first clinic was The Kensington Hair clinic and the second one was Fortes Clinic by Dr Saeed which is located on harley street. He offered to give me 3000 grafts for £4500. Yeah I got body hair but I think transplanting those would make the hair on my scalp unnatural.

 

[AI 7]

The first clinic saying you are too young for a hair transplant. That is almost certainly the right thing to say to you. If you use any treatment they recommend and they work or not is a different issue. The underlying advice of no transplant at the moment is probably good advice. Being told a little information, by the way would be interested if you could share the information on smoking. But giving you information should not take away the ethical responsibility of a clinic. You don´t have to research much on here to see 20 something guys now regretting their hair transplant. Some blame themselves and some blame the clinic. But it is the clinic that took them. If they all said no you couldn´t make the mistake. Preying on wanting more hair, then using the get out of jail card.

It is the right thing because most reputable clinics will say that 25 is young for a hair transplant. I'm thinking of taking finasteride instead of dutasteride. I feel nearly all the reputable clinics who say no to a transplant are correct whereas the ones who offer to give one are dodgy. I'm going to try Westminister medical group for a consultation.