Considering FUE for hairline

[fishburgers]

I'm 27 and am new on the forum. Was wondering if I could have some advice please.
Over the last few years my hairline has started to slowly recede. From looking at it you can tell it is really not that bad but it is reaching the stage where it is started to bother me a fair amount. I current use minoxidil & ketaconazole shampoo.
I am considering FUE. I know my hairs inot terrible but I emailed a few clinics in Belgium to see what they thought.
Dr de reys clinic contacted me and said I needed around 1000 grafts and that I'm a Norwood 3a. Seems reasonably priced and I was told this will leave plenty of donor hair left for future procedures.
I also contacted prohairclinic who told me my situation was still very good, and I would be best not to have a procedure. If I did the density would be noticeably lower than the rest of my hairs.
Finally I've contacted bhr clinic who recommended 1800 grafts for my hairline, but also to have a face to face consultion.
All three clinics are reputable so I was wondering if there was any advice that I could be given on this forum.

 

[Nightowl]

A side view would be helpful. Looking at your pictures I would suggest somewhere in the region of 1500 grafts to restore the hairline. Is there a reason you're not on Finasteride?

 

[fishburgers]

Here it is from the side. I don't like the side effects when I read about it, and it could be years before I start to recede elsewhere.

 

[Bigmac]

If you were to have a Ht I would guess between 1500 to 2000 grafts to fill both sides and maybe lower it slightly. Your remaining hair looks very dense so getting somewhere near the same density will require a decent amount of grafts imo.

 

[janna]

I would estimate that you'd need 1500 to 1800 grafts like BHR estimated, however, without meds helping to retain your native hairs, you'll most likely need more ht surgeries in your future.

 

[Nightowl]

It's only a small percentage who suffer sides. Like Janna pointed out you will need further surgery if you continue to lose your hair.

 

[dia24]

Your Doctor is write you suffer from 3a Norwood pattern. This is the level of fair to moderate hair loss. At this stage there is a strong opportunity of saving or regaining much of your hair and returing to a better stage. Cosmetic treatments such as Toppik, Couvre and Fullmore are often use to stop this hair loss. However other regrowth methods have slow effect. If these treatments doesn't effect your condition then you go for a Hair transplant after consulting a good Hair doctor.

 

[lifeisbeautiful]

starting fin at this stage would be more logical in my opinion. If you experience side effects, you can stop that. You should know that after hair transplant, most people use fin to support their hair growth so it may be a better move to try it before.

 

[garageland]

It really depends on what the Doctor has in mind for your hairline position and what you are expecting. I don't think 1000 is going to get you where you want to be. The grafts have to be dense packed to try to match as closely as possible the native hair behind or the contrast becomes too noticeable. I would agree with BHR but a final in person consultation may well increase that number to around 2000.

 

[Coopman]

Fishburgers


To the average person on the street you do not have a hairloss problem.

But hey i know exactly where you are coming from when you mention it is now only starting to bother you.

Finasteride could maintain your hair as it is for the next 15yrs, but taking it is your decision alone.

I would add Nizoral 2% to the mix. Use it at least 5 times a week and leave it on your head for at least 3-5minutes per application. This stuff really makes a difference to the feel of my hair, seems to give it more body.

1500-2000 grafts is a lot for such a small area especially if you decide to get it densely packed. A few things i would consider if i were you are;-

1. Find out how much donor hair you have available?
2. What is the balding history of your family in particular your mothers side? You should be designing your hair transplants in respect to how much you will have left of your native hair in 20 years time.
3. How long exactly have you been balding?
4. If you use 2000grafts for this dense hairline work, how many grafts will you have left when your remaining native hair dissapears?
5. Shockloss. Some of this hairline work will be grafted into existing hair areas. Are your existing hairs around your hairline minitaurising?


I would have a few in person consultations. Its exactly what i have done. Its good to get different views which are not always obvious from looking at photos.

 

[fishburgers]

Thanks for the advice everyone. After thinking about it maybe my best option would be to go on finisteride for now and see if I experience some sides. Maybe the thinning parts will even improve.

I'm not actually too bothered about having a completely straight or lower hairline, I just think the gaps at the sides are going back around an inch too far. So I guess if I got a 1000 fue transplant it would do what I want. However I'm worried about what could happen if hair thins further after having a transplant - I'll have wierd gaps behind the front of the hair. Dr de Reys was very much implying to remain conservative if I do have a procedure to preserve hair in the donar area for future transplants.

 

[Bigmac]

I'd say you're making the right decision trying the meds first, hopefully you respond well to them and won't need a HT.

 

[toni]

Meds are the way to go before pulling the trigger.