topccat29
29 year HT veteran
Yes ziggs makes a good point younger guys simply do not want that linear scar as the hair styles are now much shorter than in the recent past and most are not interested in a hairstyle from the 70 s/80 s.
Let me please add a few additional thoughts on why I believe FUE is the best way to start for most guys especially those that are younger. You can go in and have a very small procedure say 500 or less even if you have to pay some type of minimum you can still go in and have that much smaller procedure. Now there are some in the industry who would state that this will not make a cosmetic difference so it s both a waste of time and money. The point they are missing is that it is not necessarily for cosmetic improvement but simply an insurance plan that you have chosen the right clinic and that you now fully understand what surgical hair restoration entails. Shave it down after a year and take a look. Can you deal with what you see and can you envision having more work performed in your mind. If you can see it in your mind then chances are you will have realistic expectations going forward. Alternatively you might decide that this is not something you want to pursue and chances are you will still be in a position to walk away without having been damaged. This helps to keep you safe and places you in a position that is empowering. If you choose wrong and you have had a larger procedure you can easily become trapped having to go back again to that same clinic ¦ ¦ ¦not a good position to be as it is often out of desperation and weakness and very often does not end well.
Another very good reason to start with FUE, most young guys tend to concentrate on the frontal 1/3 as that is usually where their hair loss starts. FUE allows for thinner caliber hairs to be cherry picked from the periphery of the donor area offering a higher chance that the hairline will appear natural. Some techniques even with FUE like to harvest from a square box at the back of the head. That s a mistake in my opinion as one needs to harvest very often outside that box in order to extract just the right hairs. Same goes for placement. The technician needs to understand that those thinner hairs need to go into the hairline zone which can easily be seen with a set of human eyes.
Strip can do well at times but very often since hair transplantation can t achieve original density and can take on a see through appearance in certain lighting the thicker caliber of those hairs coming from that dense donor area of the occipital zone stand out and often catches the eye of the casual observer as something not being right. They just can t figure it out so they tend to stare and a good number of hair transplant patient would agree. But please don t misunderstand strip with a patient that has the right hair characteristics can do very well but I believe FUE has that slight edge when it comes to hairlines and that edge matters more than most may believe in my opinion.
What I have found to be true as a general observer is that as the balding process starts not only does the area thin but the caliber of hair thins as well and others I m sure would agree. With this in mind having see through hair in certain types of lighting can work well and look normal but only if the caliber of the hair is thinner at the hairline zone and slightly behind it. If it is thick it simply stands out as hair transplant and the same reason beard hair can t be used in the hairline. Makes more sense to move from thinner to thicker density while also using thinner to thicker caliber hair in the frontal 1/3 of the balding area. Most young guys believe they need this dense placement at the hairline. I think those that believe this have got it wrong. Not only is it not sustainable it often can look odd. It appears odd and this bears repeating because often times the caliber is simply too thick. I also believe sometimes the patient s mind plays a trick on them and what they are actually seeing and the solution they have in their mind when it doesn t look right is often wrong. It s not more hair they need it hair that is of a thinner caliber.
I believe some patients start to understand some of these points when it s a little too late and they are standing under a strong beam of light. Anyway just a few thoughts and something to consider. If someone has researched long enough and they want strip I would say go for it ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦.everyone should do what they believe is best.
This post is for readers, simply thoughts to ponder as others will disagree. If it makes sense then hopefully it will be of benefit if not then simply dismiss it as not sounding credible.
For those that like to experiment I would suggest the following, although not perfect it does kind of give you an idea I what I am trying to explain here.
Apply mascara to only your hairline area. It should become thicker and darker ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦..assess it. Alternatively apply some honey to your hairline area and snip off some hairs from the occipital zone. Apply these hairs to the area where the honey has been placed ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦assess how well it matches. Does it all blend together well? Some in the industry might say that this is ridiculous ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦..maybe they don t want you to try it ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦doesn t hurt. I can tell you to try this and you will not be harmed and I will sleep very well.
This is not a perfect test but understand hair transplantation is not simple. Not only does it take skill but it takes vision. The doctor needs to be able to look at something in a short amount of time and visualize it. Will it work? Can he/her make it all blend together seamlessly? I believe this to be a very unique skill.
Let me please add a few additional thoughts on why I believe FUE is the best way to start for most guys especially those that are younger. You can go in and have a very small procedure say 500 or less even if you have to pay some type of minimum you can still go in and have that much smaller procedure. Now there are some in the industry who would state that this will not make a cosmetic difference so it s both a waste of time and money. The point they are missing is that it is not necessarily for cosmetic improvement but simply an insurance plan that you have chosen the right clinic and that you now fully understand what surgical hair restoration entails. Shave it down after a year and take a look. Can you deal with what you see and can you envision having more work performed in your mind. If you can see it in your mind then chances are you will have realistic expectations going forward. Alternatively you might decide that this is not something you want to pursue and chances are you will still be in a position to walk away without having been damaged. This helps to keep you safe and places you in a position that is empowering. If you choose wrong and you have had a larger procedure you can easily become trapped having to go back again to that same clinic ¦ ¦ ¦not a good position to be as it is often out of desperation and weakness and very often does not end well.
Another very good reason to start with FUE, most young guys tend to concentrate on the frontal 1/3 as that is usually where their hair loss starts. FUE allows for thinner caliber hairs to be cherry picked from the periphery of the donor area offering a higher chance that the hairline will appear natural. Some techniques even with FUE like to harvest from a square box at the back of the head. That s a mistake in my opinion as one needs to harvest very often outside that box in order to extract just the right hairs. Same goes for placement. The technician needs to understand that those thinner hairs need to go into the hairline zone which can easily be seen with a set of human eyes.
Strip can do well at times but very often since hair transplantation can t achieve original density and can take on a see through appearance in certain lighting the thicker caliber of those hairs coming from that dense donor area of the occipital zone stand out and often catches the eye of the casual observer as something not being right. They just can t figure it out so they tend to stare and a good number of hair transplant patient would agree. But please don t misunderstand strip with a patient that has the right hair characteristics can do very well but I believe FUE has that slight edge when it comes to hairlines and that edge matters more than most may believe in my opinion.
What I have found to be true as a general observer is that as the balding process starts not only does the area thin but the caliber of hair thins as well and others I m sure would agree. With this in mind having see through hair in certain types of lighting can work well and look normal but only if the caliber of the hair is thinner at the hairline zone and slightly behind it. If it is thick it simply stands out as hair transplant and the same reason beard hair can t be used in the hairline. Makes more sense to move from thinner to thicker density while also using thinner to thicker caliber hair in the frontal 1/3 of the balding area. Most young guys believe they need this dense placement at the hairline. I think those that believe this have got it wrong. Not only is it not sustainable it often can look odd. It appears odd and this bears repeating because often times the caliber is simply too thick. I also believe sometimes the patient s mind plays a trick on them and what they are actually seeing and the solution they have in their mind when it doesn t look right is often wrong. It s not more hair they need it hair that is of a thinner caliber.
I believe some patients start to understand some of these points when it s a little too late and they are standing under a strong beam of light. Anyway just a few thoughts and something to consider. If someone has researched long enough and they want strip I would say go for it ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦.everyone should do what they believe is best.
This post is for readers, simply thoughts to ponder as others will disagree. If it makes sense then hopefully it will be of benefit if not then simply dismiss it as not sounding credible.
For those that like to experiment I would suggest the following, although not perfect it does kind of give you an idea I what I am trying to explain here.
Apply mascara to only your hairline area. It should become thicker and darker ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦..assess it. Alternatively apply some honey to your hairline area and snip off some hairs from the occipital zone. Apply these hairs to the area where the honey has been placed ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦assess how well it matches. Does it all blend together well? Some in the industry might say that this is ridiculous ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦..maybe they don t want you to try it ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦doesn t hurt. I can tell you to try this and you will not be harmed and I will sleep very well.
This is not a perfect test but understand hair transplantation is not simple. Not only does it take skill but it takes vision. The doctor needs to be able to look at something in a short amount of time and visualize it. Will it work? Can he/her make it all blend together seamlessly? I believe this to be a very unique skill.
