I was checking this website out:

[promotional content removed by forum moderator - Robert]

And the pictures look nice. I'm wondering if any of you guys have tried it. If so, what made you change to a hair transplant. Are they too costly? Do they not look as good and real as the pictures make them out to be? Whats the deal?

I'm not sure I want to get a transplant because I've always kept the hair on my sides and back short, making that scar quite noticeable. I'm also a long ways away from needing a transplant. I'd like a solution right now as the propecia doesn't seem to be helping at all.

Thanks in advance.

Taoofjord,

The pictures are always going to look nicer than how most systems look face-to-face. Try going in one of their centers and see if you can hang around for awhile to see different clients in person.

Although the quality of hair systems have improved greatly especially from the time I wore them, they are for the most part pretty detectable. Most guys are very challenged in styling and grooming the system to get it as natural appearing as possible. It took me close to six months before I felt somewhat able to do it. And unless you have a perm put into it, you'll spend literally hours trying to get it to look just right and then you have to use gels and maximum hold hairsprays etc, etc, etc. For me, I hated it the whole ten years! There's guys out there that can really relate to what I am saying here.

Somee other issues with hair systems are fine tuning the density levels, keeping the color right because ultra-violet light especially in the summer months will change the color. And depending on the competence of the center, they may not get the color right. Don't forget about "hair-adds" that your system(s) will need unless you enroll in their most expensive program where you get a new system every month. $$$$$$$$$$!!!!!!

The BIGGEST drawback is the expense, both for your systems and "the on-going maintenance". That's where they really get you over the long haul. Just be sure to add up "everything" and you'll see over time that a HT is not only the best option aesthetically speaking and providing you have a competent HT surgeon, but a much better value over time.

So why pay all your hard earned money for something superficial when you can have your own transplanted hair instead.

Let me also be very careful to not completely shun hair systems. They can be the most pratical resolve for those individuals who are not candidates for HT surgery or not the best candidates when equating donor limitations to those with extensive or very advanced forms of alopecia.

Really do your research on this one guys.

quote:

with hair systems are fine tuning the density levels, keeping the color right because ultra-violet light especially in the summer months will change the color. And depending on the competence of the center, they may not get the color right. Don't forget about "hair-adds" that your system(s) will need unless you enroll in their most expensive program where you get a new system every month. $$$$$$$$$$!!!!!!

The BIGGEST drawback is the expense, both for your systems and "the on-going maintenance". That's where they really get you over the long haul. Just be sure to add up "everything" and you'll see over time that a HT is not only the best option aesthetically speaking and providing you have a competent HT surgeon, but a much better value over time.

So why pay all your hard earned money for something superficial when you can have your own transplanted hair instead.

Let me also be very careful to not completely shun hair systems. They can be the most pratical resolve for those individuals who are not candidates for HT surgery or not the best candidates when equating donor limitations to those with extensive or very advanced forms of alopecia.

Thank you very much for the info. After I posted this thread, I realised that I should have done a search on the boards before posting.

Well I searched and came across one thread that had a lot of positive things to say about the hair club for men. I'm glad you posted here so I could hear a more negative reaction to it.


I'm pretty early on in my hair loss. My temples are receding, the center of my hair line line is receding, the crown is thinning (no bald spot yet), and the top fo my head in general is slowly thinning.

Its all pretty early, so I'm guessing I should wait a few years before I get a transplant?

By the way, I'm 23.


A couple questions:

- How long should someone wait to get their hair transplant done?

- How long does the hair in the back of your head have to be to cover the typical donar scar?

Hair Club for Men is a scam. Don't even think about it. First they'll charge you about $1500 just to JOIN the club and from there on out you'll be spending hundreds and thousands of dollars on hair pieces and maintenance.

They essentially glue the wigs to your head with industrial-strength medical adhesive and then you'll have to regularly travel to their offices for hair cuts and more glue. If you think that these wigs are undetectable think again. People WILL know that you're wearing one. And you will be constantly aware of it too. You'll feel like you're wearing a hat 24/7 and believe me when I say that you'll be MORE nervous and self-conscious with the "hair system" on than without.

If you absolutely must use a hair piece then there are better and cheaper alternatives to Hair Club. Do some research.

If you really are a long way away from needing a transplant, then just enjoy the hair now while you have it. Don't fret over what you cannot change and don't even think of a transplant until you know your long-term prognosis. Look into coverup products like Toppik which will help you maintain a full look for as long as possible.

I'm really not interested in using toppik as I hear you can't use it on your hairline. While yhe crown of my head isn't bad enough to start using it yet.

How long should one wait before getting their (first?) transplant done?

You can't use it ON your hairline but you can use it just behind your hairline which can produce some pretty good results. From about age 23 - 27 I used Toppik with very good results until it got to the point where I could not hide it anymore.

I guess when you get your first HT done depends on how much you think you're going to lose. Look at your family (on both sides), your father, grandfathers, uncles, brothers and find the one with the least amount of hair and use that as your worst case scenario. Then try to imagine, if you got a HT now, how you will look with it in the future. If you're going to progress to a Norwood 5 or 6 then getting extensive work done on your temples or crown will probably be a waste. There are a lot of other factors to consider. Donor density, hair thickness, etc.

If you really want to know, try to find an honest and experienced HT doctor in your area and set up a consultation. Don't hesitate to get a second opinion, or third. Consultations are free.

Taoofjord,

WAIT on a HT procedure. If you are 23 you need to start on Propecia first and I am not a doctor but any prudent one will inform you to do the same.

At 23 and with the early signs of MPB you need to get a better handle on slowing down the loss before you would ever consider HT surgery. I mean what happens if Propecia (finasteride) does not work for you? If there are advanced levels of MPB in your family history you need to take extreme caution in not using up all of your available donor too early.

Make an appointment with a competent HT doctor or dermatologist who treats hairloss as soon as you can if you are serious about slowing down the effects of MPB. You can then go back for follow-up evaluations to see if Propecia is working for you as it does for the 90% of men who ingest it. Best wishes.

I agree with Gillenator you must get on Propecia and 5% Rogaine as the combine synergy is the best on the market right now by the FDA. Use a good shampoo, Nioxon is good probably one of the better ones for thinning hair.
If for some reason a HT is not right for you, then I would say HairClubForMen is probably the better of the systems out there. As mentioned above it is more expensive with 6-8 week maintance appointments. If you decide to go the system route for whatever personal reasons, then make sure you do not get a "thick" looking system-- get one that has a natural look as the thick ones can be detected a mile away.

quote:

Originally posted by gillenator:
Taoofjord,

WAIT on a HT procedure. If you are 23 you need to start on Propecia first and I am not a doctor but any prudent one will inform you to do the same.

At 23 and with the early signs of MPB you need to get a better handle on slowing down the loss before you would ever consider HT surgery. I mean what happens if Propecia (finasteride) does not work for you? If there are advanced levels of MPB in your family history you need to take extreme caution in not using up all of your available donor too early.

Make an appointment with a competent HT doctor or dermatologist who treats hairloss as soon as you can if you are serious about slowing down the effects of MPB. You can then go back for follow-up evaluations to see if Propecia is working for you as it does for the 90% of men who ingest it. Best wishes.

Well I'm on Propecia, Nizoral 2%, and I'm using Nioxin. I know I'd never be able to use Rogaine for the rest of my life as it seems like such a hassle. I started on propecia almost two years ago when my hair first started falling out. I haven't lost a lot of hair yet, so maybe it IS slowing it down or maybe its not doing anything at all.

Taoofjord,

Here is some more information on hair systems for you. I won't try to swerve you one way or the other but I will urge you to conduct a whole lot of research before going somewhere that will potentially try to "hard sell" you into something.

Twenty-three is not too young for a hair transplant procedure, in my opinion, BUT I believe that there are steps that you can take far in advance before you get to that point.

You take finasteride. That is great. Remember, finasteride is more like a deterrent than a growing mechanism. Not seeing any change is actually an indication that it is working - it is slowing or even stopping your hairloss. Any growth you may experience is simply a bonus.

Nizoral 2% - great stuff. It works much like Minoxidil in that it creates optimal scalp conditions for regrowth to take place.

Nioxin - I went back to using this myself. While I comment on all of the products Nioxin has and I cannot back up the science behind it, I find that it is simply a great shampoo of very high quality and I love it for that and that alone. I use the "Actives" cleanser and scalp therapy and nothing else.

Minoxidil - This can actually be less of a pain that you may think. Yes, it is greasy. Yes, it takes a while to dry. I have gotten around this by making both applications at night 4 hours apart. Once at around 7 or 8 and the other at around 11 or 12. Is this optimal? Perhaps not, but I am still getting 2 applications in a day and that is better than none. Also, it sure beats trying to style my hair in the morning with that greasy texture in there. On days when I know that I will be going out at night I will simply skip that day. I don't think that it is an exact science and, in my opinion, as long as I don't skip more than two days a week I am fine. This may or may not work for you but I find that it makes my life much easier.

Good luck on your whatever your decision and your regimen and hang in there!

-Robert