First time post - considering smp or hair transplant

[degenerate bum]

Hello guys, first time poster here. It's so great to have somewhere to post/learn and share experiences when it comes to male pattern baldness. I've been reading forums like this for a while but never joined, probablu due to denial.
I've been weighing my options for some time about getting a hair transplant. I have become fascinated by the results of smp though, and I guess I'm just looking for some advice.
A bit about myself - 28 years old, decent sized bald spot at the top of the crown.
Balding is nothing to be ashamed of but alas I've been living under a hat for some time. Im sure people will tell me not to get a hair transplant because if the hair loss continues i will have to follow up with subsequent transplants. At this point I just want to be able to take my hat off again even if it only buys me a couple years. My confidence has been greatly effected by this and I have to do something. Im sick of wearing a hat and dont look good with a totally shaved down head.
So I'm also considering smp. I have a question. Is it practical to use smp to make thinning areas appear more filled out? Or am I better off shaving my head and getting smp on my crown? Is it possible for me to get smp that gives the crown the illusion it is filled out when my hair is grown out? And if thats th case, could I shave it down and still appear to have a full head of hair? There is temporary smp right? Would this be the preffered method before I jump into getting permanent work done.
One more thing, I live in Canada. Are there reputable smp clinics anywhere here? Thanks so much guys.

 

[Bigmac]

Hi there,
Hasson and Wong offer temporary Smp in Canada, their patient Garageland has had the procedure. If you get the temp option it will fade over a short period of time and disappear altogether unless you get it topped up, I don't know how many top ups are advisable in your treatment, if you get permanent Smp you are stuck with it for life unless you have it removed by laser, just like in hair transplants you will come across clinics doing sub par work so you will need to do plenty of research.If it's only your crown Balding I would personally go for a Ht if this is something you have researched enough and came to the conclusion you want to do it. You could always try Meds and concealers first to see how that goes or maybe just trim or shave the hair down as you may suit that look.
Have some consultations, try to meet some real patients to see their results, not ones who are immediate post op, 12 months out if possible.
Have you any pictures of your hairloss you can share.
Good luck with your research.
Bm.

 

[degenerate bum]

Thanks for the advice.
I've used caboki as a concealer and was surprised how well it works, i was in a basketball league and would put it in before games and always expected it to be gone by the end of a 40 minute game when I was sweating my ass off and it always seemed to work. I just hate having to hide/cover my head when it rains and not being able to rest my head on anything and i just dread the moment a girl runs her hands through my hair. Great short term solution though.
I'm not too into taking meds because of the side effects I've heard, unless you can reccomend meds that dont have any detrimental side effects.
Im definitely considering a HT but they say someone my age who is balding in the crown shouldnt get a HT, but like I said I live under a hat now, I would rather buy a couple years and be free now. I hope that I can get a HT and follow up with one more then hope by then there are stem cell transplants available or some other advancement in the industry.
As far as smp would I be better off shavin my head and getting it or would it be possible to get it done to make the crown look fuller when I have a full head of hair.? I'm going to post some pictures.
Thanks so much for your time.

 

[Bigmac]

If you get a Ht you may never need Smp. If you have some consults they will check your hair for miniaturision, if ts strong and healthy over the rest of your head I see no reason why you can't have a procedure on your crown. Depending on your level of loss a small Fue procedure may work out well for you.
Some people do have sides from the meds, however in my non medical opinion it's a small percentage of the actual people who use it with no problems. Alternatively there is Saw Palmetto and other natural things you can try, there are topics on these in the Meds section.

 

[degenerate bum]

Here is a pic

 

[Bigmac]

IMO Smp is not for you, maybe if like I said before you get a Ht first then see what it turns out like, or you may try temporary Smp with a Ht.
Smp only suits short or the shaved look or into scars to conceal them.
You could try Rogaine foam on the crown, see how that goes.

 

[bullitnut]

Welcome to the forum dude...SMP would look very odd if you kept your hair that length and just hit the crown area, as Bigmac says its best for the shaved look and for disguising scars. The problem i have with you just having a crown HT is you seem very young and have said your not on meds to stabilize your loss.....this could look very bad if your loss progresses fast and your left with just a circle of transplanted hair in the crown.
I personally would wait and try Rogaine as BM suggests or try Saw Palmetto if your dead against Propecia.
I'm not saying a HT won't help for now it would, an FUE would improve the situation for sure i'm just worried about you having aggressive loss at such a young age dude.
If you go the SMP route and decide to shave please make sure you go to a place where you can see first hand results on patients that have had this done.
Best wishes BN

 

[salvar]

I have to agree with billinut that MSP might look odd for you, dont think its the solution you are looking for, if the area grows bigger MSP would look odd as you have to either go for a slightly darker colour to match the longer hair (in this case it would look weird shaved) or a lighter colour and shave the hair which I would say is the only SMP option that makes sense for you but your balding is hardly bad enough to justify that unless you thats the look you want.

Agree as well with the recommendation of medicationtreatment and some grafts to fill in once the treatment has stopped the hair loss, you are in a privileged position, early stage balding with plenty of options.