Southeast Asian Hair Transplant - A Question

[seanvandamme]

Hello everyone,

I have my hair transplant due in June and have a few concerns I would like to clarify with the more experienced members here. I am Singaporean with thick, black hair. I suffer from temporal recession with slight thinning of the frontal tuft area as well (Norwood 2-3). I do not have an idea of what my original follicular unit is like, but would assume that it ranges from 60-70 follicular units per centimetre square (Based on a study on East Asian men:http://www.ishrs.org/content/assessment-follicular-unit-density-asian-men-androgenetic-alopecia)

With that in mind, is it wise to hope for a density of 60FU/cm2 for my hair transplant? I know the current hair transplant literature sees that as a reasonable density for dense packing, but it does sound too good to be true that I'll be able to have close or even the exact same density, simply on account of my genetics. I know transplanting at densities close to one's original is usually very risky for Caucasian men, but it seems to be a peculiar case for East Asians.

 

[Obesecat]

You really need need to do research before getting an hair transplant. This is really basic stuff.

THERE IS NO WAY (with current surgical methods) TO )ACHIEVE ORIGINAL (non balding) DENSITY,

Original density is 100 follicle units per cm for most people

The most you can achieve is 25-50 percent of that (50 on the high end). This is because of scaring and grafts competing for blood flow. Even native hairs die off sometimes "shock loss" because of this. If anyone claims they can transplant more than 50 units per cm they are lying or are a poor surgeon as half the grafts will die.

Not to be rude but these are things you need to research before signing up for an hair transplant. If you dont your expectations are going to be unrealistic and you are going to be disappointing with your results

 

[seanvandamme]

You really need need to do research before getting an hair transplant. This is really basic stuff.

THERE IS NO WAY (with current surgical methods) TO )ACHIEVE ORIGINAL (non balding) DENSITY,

Original density is 100 follicle units per cm for most people

The most you can achieve is 25-50 percent of that (50 on the high end). This is because of scaring and grafts competing for blood flow. Even native hairs die off sometimes "shock loss" because of this. If anyone claims they can transplant more than 50 units per cm they are lying or are a poor surgeon as half the grafts will die.

Not to be rude but these are things you need to research before signing up for an hair transplant. If you dont your expectations are going to be unrealistic and you are going to be disappointing with your results

Thank you for your reply. I totally understand that there is no way we can gain back original density. However, you are using the follicular unit density of a typical Caucasian male as an example. As I've mentioned, I am Southeast Asian with an original follicular unit density of about 60-70 per centimeter square.

Transplanting at 50-60 grafts for a Caucasian is considered dense packing, but for me would almost definitely restore my original density. I am only curious whether this is too good to be true, or if there are complications I should be aware of.

 

[Obesecat]

Yes i was using that as an example, it is the percentages that are important NOT counts. As a Southeastern asian you still run into the same problem. You have less hair per cm because your hairs are thicker thus requiring more blood flow and takeing up more space = same problem.

Let me clarify. It its not possible to regain more than 25- 50 percent of original density with a transplant.. This is true of all races. The most you can hope for is 50 percent (on the high end) of your original density. I really feel your expectations are unrealistic. To be blunt it is not possible to restore your original density.

Fyi many docs warn against dense packing because of the low suitability of grafts.

Would appreciat you answering my question also https://www.hairlosstalk.com/intera...-make-me-look-to-old-to-be-in-college.112036/

 

[JohnsonDDG]

You really need need to do research before getting an hair transplant. This is really basic stuff.

THERE IS NO WAY (with current surgical methods) TO )ACHIEVE ORIGINAL (non balding) DENSITY,

Original density is 100 follicle units per cm for most people

The most you can achieve is 25-50 percent of that (50 on the high end). This is because of scaring and grafts competing for blood flow. Even native hairs die off sometimes "shock loss" because of this. If anyone claims they can transplant more than 50 units per cm they are lying or are a poor surgeon as half the grafts will die.

Not to be rude but these are things you need to research before signing up for an hair transplant. If you dont your expectations are going to be unrealistic and you are going to be disappointing with your results

Great response.

I will add though that some hair transplant's can look like a normal and natural head of hair even though there isn't as much hair as would normally be on a full head of hair.

 

[seanvandamme]

Yes i was using that as an example, it is the percentages that are important NOT counts. As a Southeastern asian you still run into the same problem. You have less hair per cm because your hairs are thicker thus requiring more blood flow and takeing up more space = same problem.

Let me clarify. It its not possible to regain more than 25- 50 percent of original density with a transplant.. This is true of all races. The most you can hope for is 50 percent (on the high end) of your original density. I really feel your expectations are unrealistic. To be blunt it is not possible to restore your original density.

Fyi many docs warn against dense packing because of the low suitability of grafts.

Would appreciat you answering my question also https://www.hairlosstalk.com/intera...-make-me-look-to-old-to-be-in-college.112036/

Thanks for the reply once again. I've also replied to your thread.

Well, I definitely doubted that I would get my original density back, that's why I started this thread. I think a lot of the reason why doctors don't pack more densely is that they are afraid to deplete the existing donor supply for fear of future hair loss. I've seen many cases where patients received super dense packing (60-70%) of original density with good yield. The doctors usually feel comfortable because of good donor supply and halting of hair loss progression. I know graft survivability gets lower the denser doctors try to pack, but I think the risks get mitigated if the patient meets certain criteria.

EDIT: Oh yeah, just to add on. Density at frontal area is usually lesser so planting at a density considered adequate for the crown could produce good results.

 

[seanvandamme]

Great response.

I will add though that some hair transplant's can look like a normal and natural head of hair even though there isn't as much hair as would normally be on a full head of hair.

Do you think 50% of original density at temples could do the trick? I'm really hoping for 70% of original density at least
I've undergone an examination and my doctor has verified that I have good donor supply and am unlikely to progress beyond my current Norwood 2.5. Still, the anxiety of having a see-through hairline after the transplant is killing me...

 

[Obesecat]

Well you only need 25percent density to create the illusion of a full head so I don’t know if that’s true. They might just look like full heads and only have 25 percent. Out of all the docs I have scene only 1 reputable one said 60 percent was possible and that it’s extremely rare. If you search YouTube lies hair transplant surgeons tell you: Being able to “achieve original density” is at the top of the list. I would be extremely skeptical of any Doctor who claims to be able to go past 50%.

All I’m saying here is be careful. Unfortunately the hair transplant industry is all about high-pressure sales. Just don’t go to a doctor just because of price and unrealistic claims of what can be achieved.

Most docs won’t transplant past a N2 because of donor preservation but that has nothing to do with how dense you are pack the hair.

Honestly when terms like “dense packing and mega sessions” get used, it makes me feel like they are advertising a cheap infomercial product that doesn’t work.