Advice on Norwood Level and transplant

[MattDober]

I have the cash put together for a transplant. Starting to do research on doctors and whether to do it here in the States or fly out to Turkey or something. A good result is more important than the money.

Looking at these pics, would I make a good candidate? Hairline is trash but I think I have good donor areas. Is this Norwood 4 yet?

Also, what is this weird low density spot on the right side (right side is much more receded in general)

Edit- this paragraph references the pics with the red towel in the 2nd post. Shaved my head a week 1.5 weeks ago and this light shining down from the top isn't the best but density is reduced all over the top even though I think finasteride/minoxidil have saved the vertex for the most part so far

Edit: Attached some new pictures with outdoor light. This is 2 weeks since shaved head.

 

[MattDober]

 

[MattDober]

To add. I'm 35.5 years old. Hair loss has been stable for years and not really progressing much at all. Most of this damage was done in my 20s before I got on minoxidil. I don't really have much hair fall out at all anymore and don't really notice further progression of loss although it is probably slowly getting worse. Losing a couple hairs at the front every so often

I've always had a big/high forehead too

 

[NW9000]

I would say try oral minoxidil for a year before contemplating surgery

Maybe it will revive a lot of follicles
Or maybe not
Just try and see

 

[Kieran843]

Minoxidil wont stop it getting worse. Most reputable clinics will want you on finasteride for at least a year before getting a hair transplant.

All the the hair you still have on your head is still prone to falling out if you don't use finasteride.

 

[MattDober]

I'm on finasteride and my hair loss has virtually stood still for years. I have had very little further hair loss the last few years. Most of this damage was done in my 20s (35 now).

However it is hard to say whether the crown miniaturization has gotten worse because i couldn't really see it until shaving my head a few weeks ago.

 

[MattDober]

I would say try oral minoxidil for a year before contemplating surgery

Maybe it will revive a lot of follicles
Or maybe not
Just try and see

I have already ready been on Finasteride and topical minoxidil for years. Do you think adding oral minoxidil on top would help?

I had to stop dermarolling (it was great for my hair and reversed a decent bit of miniaturization) because even spacing 24 hours between topical minoxidil, it was causing the minoxidil to get in my blood. I got some pretty bad palpitations and was even diagnosed with a minor case of pericarditis. It may have been a much larger amount getting in my blood versus a standard oral dose though.

I may schedule a 2000 graft surgery with Dr. Cole tomorrow. He recommended 2,000 grafts as did konior. They suggested leaving the crown alone for now and just focusing on the hairline and mid scalp.

Hassan and Wong recommended 3,500 and Vories 4,000 over 2 days - i think they saw the top down view of the top of my head that may not have been uploaded to Cole which looks worse than the other pics. Either way the graft count discrepancy is a bit alarming but from what I understand, not uncommon