What are my options with this level of baldness?

[Stu50]

Bit new to all this so any advice welcome. Hair loss kicked in in my 30s and eventually settled into classic monk look. Runs in family as both dad and grandad had it. Apart from top of head, growth is good. Is this the sort of thing that can be treated with a transplant? If so, any idea what sort of cost I might be looking at in UK? Guess with the amount of loss it might be towards the higher end of the scale.

 

[Bigmac]

Hi Stu. Unfortunately your loss is quite extensive, plus your remaining donor looks weak. I would say you're not a good candidate for a hair transplant. There is the possibility of using body hair. Other options are wig, as in your other thread or SMP.
Take a look at Doc1. He got a conservative hairline that will frame his face but his loss was not as aggressive as yours.
Doc1 hair transplant

 

[Stu50]

Strange thing is I look at that picture and wonder why I bother not just shaving what's left off. It looks awful. Guess I just don't see myself from that angle very often.

 

[Kevboy]

Shaving it off will look better. Otherwise you will be stuck in a rut trying to get something that I do not think is possible gives how much donor is left.

 

[Stu50]

Could I look at a hair replacement system or would a wig be the only option?

 

[Bigmac]

You could email a few pictures to HT clinics to see what they suggest.
What are you wanting to achieve?

 

[Stu50]

Not sure. I'm one of those people who look awful without hair. I feel I look aged. Just a simple thing like putting a hat on for example makes me look younger I think.

 

[Bigmac]

The problem is your hair style which is associated with being older. Why don’t you try shaving it off first to see how you look.

 

[Philw]

Options for u
#Hair system ie wig it will look good but after a while u will throw it away in the bin as u will get fed up with it, trust me
#smp u will have to keep short zero guard at all times it will look good depending on who u go 2 make sure u have a soft look
#just shave off, grow a beard or stubble, get urself a tan etc, u will look x100 better and u would have saved loads of money and ur time

 

[Stu50]

Thanks for the advice. Always fought against the idea of shaving it all off, even though above picture looks awful. Something about hair being associated with youth and not wanting to give it up, no matter how bad it is. Maybe it's something I need to think about again though.

I can see the point about getting bored with a wig but it would be nice just once in a while to look in a mirror and see myself with hair again.

Not sure if SMP would suit. Not huge fan of overly short but maybe it's something I should consider.

Facial hair now too much of a light and dark mixture to think about stubble or a beard. Pity as I used to have a goatee which looked quite good.

 

[Philw]

Deffo dont go for wig cos u will feel even worse about ur hairloss when u remove the wig, u will get fed up with it ie matanience, i tried it 3 times and always got fed up with them
Regards to smp ive seen great results but end of the day its dots of ink on scalp so not sure how it looks in 10 to 15 yrs??
My mate had same hairloss as u and he has got gingery beard, pale skin etc and we took the piss out of him
He shaved it all off no 1 or zero he grew subble and got a tan
Mate he looked really cool and modern looking
Trust me if u go for wig, transplants, smp u will be paranoid about it.
everyday u look in mirror or go outside etc u will constantly be thinking about how it looks
Just be free about it.yeah know its hard but over time u will just get used to ur new look and so will everybody else

 

[Coopman]

I don’t feel like you have any other option other than shaving it down to stubble, it will look much better.

Realistically you maybe have 1000 grafts and say 250 body hair grafts. That will create a hairline that could be boosted with some SMP to create the balding look of Zinedine Zidane from a few years ago. Hence you will need to keep your hair buzzed. But it is a lot of hassle and who knows what it will look like in the future.

 

[loui]

In my opinion it would looke miles better shaved off to zero.

You are textbook Norwood 7 with what seems like retrograde alopecia aswell, thinning from the nape and up aswell leaving a extremely small safe zone.

 

[Stu50]

Thanks for the advice. There's plenty I need to think about. Shaving it off may be the best option but it's a huge step psychologically. Something I maybe need to get my head around.

 

[Kevboy]

Try buzzing it down before shaving it slick bald. Growing a beard again helps change your appearance.

 

[Philw]

Agree
Dont bic shave,
Always looks better with stubble
I always seem to think when guys bic shave it u tend to lose ur facial features,
I cant explain it but stubble looks better.
Its like drawing eyes nose mouth on a balloon
U get what i mean i hope

 

[Wolfy]

You really have to go with your gut instinct. From what you've said, it sounds like you would like to experiment with a hair system. There's nothing to lose by trying. I manage my situation by wearing hats - they have become my new hair! Some people, including myself, find them surprisingly comforting. I wear them most of the year, but am intending to try a system at some point. Maybe I'll get on with it, maybe not. If not, I'll go back to the hats. I keep a number one or number two clipper look at the sides and back - I do it myself and, truly. no one would guess I'm a Norwood 6!

Perhaps trying some fake hair would be an option for you too? You can always change your mind if it doesn't work out. Most important thing is to go with what you feel, and you want. Trust your instincts - they're usually a pretty reliable guide.