1st time poster long time lurker - about to make a decision

[raziel]

So I've been on this forums on and off since 99, depending on how busy I was or whether I was ready to give up or not. Although Im married and had a gret run for years until then, hairloss effects everyone and in several ways.

So here I am, 35 yrs old, N3V but always had a high forehead even at 18. I've started slowly thinning 10 yrs ago, the crown started becoming a problem 2 yrs ago and the hairline keeps thinning but I keep it farily long so its covering up and may last a while longer. my father still has a full head of hair (although his dad was bald young), all my mom's side men kept their hair until old age. my young brother seems to have the same hair loss as me but more agressive, my other 2 bros are still young to tell.

I tried propecia in 2001, stopped after a while due to loss of libido (althugh not severe), I just dont like drugs that mess with my body's chemestry (unless they make you happy of course :lol:
I realize I'll probably have to bite the bullet and go on it again to keep the fight going in the long term. Im not happy about this life commitment but hope for a total cure in 10-15 years so I can drop it. I cant commit to rubbing sh*t on my head, so minoxidil is out (although I used Nano shampoo for years).

So travel and money are no objects, it shouldnt be for anyone. I simply want the best. I think FUE gives me more options and seems more advanced and since I dont expect youthful apperance just to bring me back 4-5 years and keep me there. Im not an expert on number of grafts but I think 1000-2000 can get me there, maybe...
It sounds from you - experts that H&W should be the 1st stop, so I made an appointment in 2 weeks in BC. They seem artful, conservative and I hope they specilize in FUE not just strip. Maybe I'll just do the crown now and if Im a good responder and all seem well I'll come back to get some density in the front.

I work in high profile exec position so I'll need minimum healing time to go back to work (I can do a lot from home but not important meetings).
I hope I dont have to get a crop (I've havnt had one in 15 yrs), so maybe I can get away from looking like a clown for the first few months.

OK, guys, give me some input, am I on the right track ?

 

[Guest]

Raziel,

First off, congrats on posting and sharing with the rest of us for the first time since you joined this forum. I love to read personal stories just like yours because you're not only sharing some important relative information, but you have done research and you also have been very pro-active BEFORE jumping into surgery. I mean you are 35 years old, and actually good you have not yet advanced beyond the NW3V class. In the same breath let me say that does not imply you would never advance further and obviously from your comments, you are aware of that.

A couple of things about Propecia. Glad to hear you got on it and the interesting thing you said was that your side-effects were not at a high or intense level. The good thing about that is the probability that if you stay on it, the side-effects should resolve, no guarantees of course. Some docs will advise at times to take Propecia every other day. For some, that can help with the symptoms, but you'll never know until you experiment with it a little bit. As you know I am not a doctor so I highly encourage you to speak with your hair transplant docs about the meds. Maybe you were referring to HM or cloning, duplication, etc as the coming cure for baldness in ten years, but who knows.

Another thing. If I were you I would not do any surgery in the crown yet until you have been on Propecia for better than one year. It will take at least one year to be able to accurately evaluate any efficiency and/or regrowth in your crown. Plus it will help to minimize shock to the existing hair unless it is already very diffused.

Not that I want to speak for H&W, but I do not believe they do any FUE procedures. They both are very talented surgeons whom I have a great deal of respect for. You may also want to consider long term reputable surgeons who do both FUHT and FUE, although that does not leave many to choose from at that point. Otherwise if you have your mind set on FUE then that's fine UNLESS IMO, you will potentially need in excess of 3,000 grafts in your lifetime.

Here's my concern for you Raziel. You stated that a number of men in your family history have advanced classes of male pattern baldness. But it skipped certain men and there are those like your younger brother when male pattern baldness hit at an early age. There does not appear to be alot of consistency in your Norwood class history but most of us have family histories just like you.

My point is that if you do end up needing more than the 1,000 to 2,000 grafts you spoke of in your lifetime, FUE can leave your donor looking motheaten. And the interesting thing is that an EXTREMELY HIGH percent of men with male pattern baldness who start surgical hair restoration, end up needing more than 3,000 grafts over time. Why? Because male pattern baldness continues to progress as they get older. It's genetics.

Hope this makes some sense to you and thanks again for sharing with the rest of us here.

 

[raziel]

Gillenator, thanks man I started thinking no one cared :x

Seriously, these forums are my main source of education, after 6 yrs of reading about propecia on HairLossTalk.com, I still dont feel I have enough info to make an educated decision, this is how conservative I am about medications/hair transplant/etc.
Having said that Im superficial enough to care about my looks to be proactive and not let myself go bald.

I think my male pattern baldness is like Woody Allen, looks very balding from a young age, but somehow still have hair 30 yrs later. I've grown my hair long 12 yrs ago and cut it 9 yrs ago becasue its started to look too thin.
Since my forhead was always very high and my hair was pretty fine, my crown is my main problem since its somewhat new for me.

As for hair transplant, very high chances I'll need more than 1000-2000 grafts, since I'll need some on the halrline and I have to factor I'll be sick of Propecia at some point therefore accelarating my loss on the crown even more.
So strip and FUE differ only in the extraction right ? the actual placement of grafts is the same and rely on the artistry and skill of hte surgeon ?

Im just worried at some point I'll have to shave my head (to still have a cool look) and would have ugly scar. Also most of sites in my research said FUE is more advanced and natural looking...
Can you recommend the best man alive to preform FUE if I choose that way (which is less likely after your explanation)?

As for propecia, I'll wait 2 weeks till my H&W consultation (actually its W that I'll be seeing) and hold my breath, start cutting pills and hope for hte best. BTW is ordering from this site as good as the Merck stuff, I know generics but sometimes there are small differnences.
I dont think I can wait a year before filling in my crown, unless the Doctor tells me the regrowth from propecia will harm my transplanted hairs regrowing or something. Hairline can perhaps wait a year since Im kinda used to its pathetic look (and so is everyone else).

Anyway, I hope to talk to you and many others on hte forum to make the best educated decisions, I've been sitting on the bench for too long.

Raz

 

[rawbd]

Raziel,

First off, congrats on posting and sharing with the rest of us for the first time since you joined this forum. I love to read personal stories just like yours because you're not only sharing some important relative information, but you have done research and you also have been very pro-active BEFORE jumping into surgery. I mean you are 35 years old, and actually good you have not yet advanced beyond the NW3V class. In the same breath let me say that does not imply you would never advance further and obviously from your comments, you are aware of that.

A couple of things about Propecia. Glad to hear you got on it and the interesting thing you said was that your side-effects were not at a high or intense level. The good thing about that is the probability that if you stay on it, the side-effects should resolve, no guarantees of course. Some docs will advise at times to take Propecia every other day. For some, that can help with the symptoms, but you'll never know until you experiment with it a little bit. As you know I am not a doctor so I highly encourage you to speak with your hair transplant docs about the meds. Maybe you were referring to HM or cloning, duplication, etc as the coming cure for baldness in ten years, but who knows.

Another thing. If I were you I would not do any surgery in the crown yet until you have been on Propecia for better than one year. It will take at least one year to be able to accurately evaluate any efficiency and/or regrowth in your crown. Plus it will help to minimize shock to the existing hair unless it is already very diffused.

Not that I want to speak for H&W, but I do not believe they do any FUE procedures. They both are very talented surgeons whom I have a great deal of respect for. You may also want to consider long term reputable surgeons who do both FUHT and FUE, although that does not leave many to choose from at that point. Otherwise if you have your mind set on FUE then that's fine UNLESS IMO, you will potentially need in excess of 3,000 grafts in your lifetime.

Here's my concern for you Raziel. You stated that a number of men in your family history have advanced classes of male pattern baldness. But it skipped certain men and there are those like your younger brother when male pattern baldness hit at an early age. There does not appear to be alot of consistency in your Norwood class history but most of us have family histories just like you.

My point is that if you do end up needing more than the 1,000 to 2,000 grafts you spoke of in your lifetime, FUE can leave your donor looking motheaten. And the interesting thing is that an EXTREMELY HIGH percent of men with male pattern baldness who start surgical hair restoration, end up needing more than 3,000 grafts over time. Why? Because male pattern baldness continues to progress as they get older. It's genetics.

Hope this makes some sense to you and thanks again for sharing with the rest of us here.

Gillenator, you're not a doctor but your sig is confusing as hell. What's with all those contributing physicians? And I think I've read previous posts of yours where you say you had a hair transplant so why not post that in your profile?

 

[Guest]

You're very welcome Raziel. See, there are others out here who do care, you're not alone.

Be sure you talk to Dr. Wong about Propecia and the possibility of taking it every other day if he suggests that for the side-effects. You may want to wait on surgery until you see how the meds all work out. And yes an extremely high percent of men who elect to do hair transplant surgery will end up needing more than 3,000 grafts. That's why FUE may not be your ultimate answer because if you ever see anyone's donor after 3,000 plus extractions, you'll see what I mean.

Ultimately, anyone who decides on doing surgical hair restoration really needs to recognize that the probability of wearing their hair extremely short is not possible after strip or FUE. That's just the reality of it. For me, I would rather have a restored look even though I will never cut my hair that short. But I never liked short hair anyway so it is not an issue with me. If you do end up deciding on FUE, read the Hairsite.com forum and research the many FUE docs presented there.

 

[Guest]

rawbd,

Maybe if you were not so opinionated you would not be so confused by a sig so plainly simple. And for not knowing A THING about me you sure are assuming alot with your conclusions. :?

Obviously you have not read my story and introduction in the "Tell your Story" section of this site. That's what it is there for, if you want to know someone's profile or hairloss history, surgery experience, etc.

If you do not like the way I make proper disclosure or the doctors who contribute through me, then don't read my posts.

 

[rawbd]

rawbd,

Maybe if you were not so opinionated you would not be so confused by a sig so plainly simple. And for not knowing A THING about me you sure are assuming alot with your conclusions. :?

Obviously you have not read my story and introduction in the "Tell your Story" section of this site. That's what it is there for, if you want to know someone's profile or hairloss history, surgery experience, etc.

If you do not like the way I make proper disclosure or the doctors who contribute through me, then don't read my posts.

Nah, I think you misread the tone of my post. I apologize if I came off the wrong way. I seriously think you have good advice, but often I read your posts where you state you're not a doctor but then I see your sig and get confused.

 

[Guest]

No problem. I just want you to understand that as an independent advocate I need to have the skin of an alligator, but the heart of a dove. If you have read any of my posts on any of these internet forums, then you know I am tuly here to help other hairloss sufferers. But there are those with an agenda and even the radical doomsayers that will try to imply that I am some kind of salesperson or seeking financial gain in the hairloss community which is ANYTHING BUT THE TRUTH. Any of the patients here and elsewhere that have PM or e-mailed me know this for a fact. But it is because I will call the radicals out when they try to push all the unjustifed negativity and doom when they know NOTHING about the patients they are dialoging with. The fact is that many of these individuals have made bad judgements and mistakes in their hair transplants and now they are bent on making sure no one else enjoys the success they could not have. And of course they are not going to tell anyone the real motives they have for making these forums their life. Many of them have deep-seated anger and resentment that they try to bring to others.

But don't take this wrong, I am not accusing you of anything. Because you responded in a decent manner, I just wanted you to know that I don't back down or lay down to ANYBODY. Enough said on that note.

Let me give you a quick synopsis of the signature and disclosure thing. I basically have 26 years experience in this field both working inside the clinics and outside. With all of the information and knowledge gained, I have to be very careful that others (especially newbies) do not take me as a doctor or that I practice medicine. That's the reason for the notice and disclaimer. Because I have been around for nearly three decades, many of the reputable doctors know me and each of the doctors at my signature split and pay for my overhead expenses I incur as an advocate. I do not even pay myself a salary because my efforts are voluntary. But it is because of ethics that I disclose the financially contributing doctors. I am simply being upfront and honest with everyone with nothing to hide. In addition I do mediation for patients free of charge.

I hope this explanation was helpful to you Rawbd and thanks for your response.

 

[rawbd]

No problem. I just want you to understand that as an independent advocate I need to have the skin of an alligator, but the heart of a dove. If you have read any of my posts on any of these internet forums, then you know I am tuly here to help other hairloss sufferers. But there are those with an agenda and even the radical doomsayers that will try to imply that I am some kind of salesperson or seeking financial gain in the hairloss community which is ANYTHING BUT THE TRUTH. Any of the patients here and elsewhere that have PM or e-mailed me know this for a fact. But it is because I will call the radicals out when they try to push all the unjustifed negativity and doom when they know NOTHING about the patients they are dialoging with. The fact is that many of these individuals have made bad judgements and mistakes in their hair transplants and now they are bent on making sure no one else enjoys the success they could not have. And of course they are not going to tell anyone the real motives they have for making these forums their life. Many of them have deep-seated anger and resentment that they try to bring to others.

But don't take this wrong, I am not accusing you of anything. Because you responded in a decent manner, I just wanted you to know that I don't back down or lay down to ANYBODY. Enough said on that note.

Let me give you a quick synopsis of the signature and disclosure thing. I basically have 26 years experience in this field both working inside the clinics and outside. With all of the information and knowledge gained, I have to be very careful that others (especially newbies) do not take me as a doctor or that I practice medicine. That's the reason for the notice and disclaimer. Because I have been around for nearly three decades, many of the reputable doctors know me and each of the doctors at my signature split and pay for my overhead expenses I incur as an advocate. I do not even pay myself a salary because my efforts are voluntary. But it is because of ethics that I disclose the financially contributing doctors. I am simply being upfront and honest with everyone with nothing to hide. In addition I do mediation for patients free of charge.

I hope this explanation was helpful to you Rawbd and thanks for your response.

Cool, yeah I read "your story" yesterday so it's all clear now. Anyways, keep up the good advice!

 

[Guest]

Thanks. I appreciate your confidence. :wink: