I'm at the hairline crossroads.. advice??

[jonnymilad]

Hi all,

I'm 27 and first noticed receding at the temples when i was about 22. It was a pretty slow process, and a couple of years ago i started using regaine which slowed things down even more. However, recently i switched to regaine foam for a few months and (it may just have been happening anyway) things have gotten noticeably worse. I now using original regaine again, but having had people notice and comment on my hairline much more frequently of late, im trying to weigh up some options.

I would like to know what my options are with surgery, or any other medication. I dont use propecia for two reasons: the side effects sound grim (impotence etc) and it isn't proven to work for my kindof receding hearline. Am i wrong about this?? Failing that, is surgery something i can think about??? i am not rich, and i dont have money to waste, but i'd still like to consider it (even long term). How much does it actually cost these days?

I would just like some honest advice about what action (if any) to take. I live in Glasgow, Scotland btw

Cheers

 

[martinvain]

I live in Glasgow mate and have had a hair transplant a year ago. I would be happy to give you a phone and have a chat about it.

I have a thread on here detailing it.

Let me know.

 

[Bigmac]

I would do a little more research on doctors/clinics and take Martinvains offer up of meeting as then you can see a HT in person and have a good chat.

 

[sweetfreedom]

Jonny,welcome to the forum

At just 27 time is on your side, in that advances recently in this field have changed everything. And also your hairloss thus far, although worrying I am sure for you, is still easily disguisable with styling and haircuts, and to most not noticeable at all.

I share your fear of propecia and a search on YouTube will put you off it for life! Though some people swear by it and have no sides.

In your shoes I would look at Saw Palmetto, anti-fungal shampoos and keep on with the Rogaine.

I would think 27 alittle too young for surgery though of course Rooney has been transformed recently. Most HT docs wouldn't consider surgery at your age though that would depend on your donor area, density etc. The danger is you get a great new hairline with HT then continually 'filling-in' behind as your natural hairline continues it's retreat.

Either way best to see a surgeon and go the FUE route. Only one worth considering in the UK is Dr Reddy who has a clinic in London and in the Midlands somewhere. Or if you can travel outside of the UK then BHR in Belgium.

Best wishes.

 

[jonnymilad]

Thanks for the replies!

I've read through martins posts about his procedure, and it seems like a best case scenario! However, i don't think i've quite got the balls yet to go skinhead for 6 months or so... Although, i have been pretty much in denial about hair loss until very recently, since the regaine seemed to be working, so maybe my attitude will change. I certainly wont be rushing into anything anyway.

Martin talked about his fear that people he knew would be very sceptical about surgery and all too happy to play the 'i told you so' card if it all went wrong. This would be my main fear too... And of course it is vanity (shock, horror i do care about my appearance), but the attitude that you must go bald with dignity, while suffering the taunts of those more follically fortunate, is almost bordering on discrimination!!

Anyway, not going to rant on...

Im presuming the costs of surgery would be ~ £5000. I certainly don't have that sort of cash lying around, and would be interested to know how others financed it (was there a good payment plan?). As i say though, this is something i will seriously think about over the next while. And as has been said, time is (hopefully!!!) on my side, with respect to new treatments

I know the youtube video that sweetfreedom mentioned, and it's a scary watch. However, desperate times and all that. Would that treatment work since i am not thinning at the crown and mainly from the front/sides? As far as shampoos go, can you recommend any?

Cheers

 

[sweetfreedom]

Nizoral is the shampoo in most people's hairloss armoury.
Yahoo it for more details. I find it on Ebay, cheap simple product that stops itchiness and keeps the scalp healthy and clean.

 

[Bigmac]

Not all clinics will shave you down for your procedure if you opt for a Ht. Consult with a few and ask them.

 

[martinvain]

Big Mac is of course right about this.

What I would say however is if you perceive hairloss to be worthy of surgery then you should also take every step to ensure that the procedure works.

At my consultation I talked about not wanting to shave my hair because I knew it would expose my recession and people I knew would see it. It was a massive fear of mine that people would tell me I was balding. About 6 months before my surgery I got sick of caking on concealer to wear my hair the way I wanted and decided to shave it down to a number 1.

When I first met my pals and went into work with it I got a few comments asking why I buzzed my hair. For the first time in my life I decided to tell the truth about my hair "im beginning to bald"I told them. That was the end of the discussion. They didn't care. I did get the odd comment amongst friends about balding but you should expect that and it is an inevitable price to pay I feel.

Shaving early also meant that when I came back from surgery less attention would be drawn to my head meaning that I had less to worry about and less explaining to do. Once the surgery had passed and the scabs had fallen off it was more or less back to life as normal - barring a few red patches .

I guess my point is if solving your hairloss is important to you then focus on the end result. If you can deal with the emotional side before your operation then things will be easier.

I hope thats reasonable advice.

 

[Sparky]

Its well worth doing the shaved head thing before you go down any surgery route. I didn't do that, I rushed into surgery without trying the shaved head, deffo try it before surgery.

 

[Jessop]

I really don't want to have to shave my head either.

My frontal loss is prett bad and if i shaved it, the difference after HT would be really, really noticeable.

Will your hairline look better immediately after surgery? Then fall out abd come back about six months later?

 

[Bigmac]

Take a look at beardywierdys thread in the patient section, you`ll get a good idea of how your hairline can look after a Ht. There are lots of examples in the docs sections also.

Yes in most cases your transpanted hair will fall out approximately 2 weeks after surgery, then regrow some months later.