I'm a 23 year old male and i'm seriously balding. I've been on Propecia for the past year and a half and it seems to have maintained the small amount of hair that i still have on the top of my head. I've been shaving my head with a razor for the past year and a half or so and i'm starting to get tired of this. I'm contemplating getting a FUT. I'm very worried about having the procedure done and it not looking very natural. I was wondering who the absolute best doctors are for the procedure, i have no limitations as far as travel and money simply due to the fact that i would want the absolute best, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Hi Paul and welcome to the forums,

We can all relate here to the burden of hairloss. You've come to the right place to seek information.

The fact that you are only 23 would normally send me spinning into an email about how it's important to stay on the medication and wait until you are at least in your later 20s before considering an HT...but the fact that you said you have "very little hair on top of your head" might put a different spin on it. So I ask...since "very little hair" is relative...can you post some pictures for us?

The problem with the age factor is that people who are 23 and losing their hair typically have lost/are losing hair very aggressively and getting an HT too early might utilize a finite donor supply inappropriately. However, if the majority of your hair is gone on top, then perhaps considering an HT at this point is worthwhile.

I'm not sure how much research you've done...but you have to remember to stay realistic. If the fact that you may be able to regain some hair excites you, then HT's are a consideration for sure. However, if you are thinking you'll be able to regain a full head of hair like you wore in high school or younger....then HT is not a consideration for you.

My advice...

1. Post some pictures
2. Find out where you are on the NW scale
3. Get some advice from the veterans here (hopefully I being one of them am being helpful)
4. Research other patients who are on a similar NW scale as you, see how many grafts they had, and what difference their HT has made in their appearance. Pictures are good, in person is better
5. Talk to top coalition doc which can be found here to get their advice: http://www.hairlosslearningcenter.org/hair-loss-content...s/our_physicians.asp
6. Come up with some realistic goals for yourself (with help from a doctor)
7. Research, Research, Research
8. Consider all your options and think CAREFULLY before you act

I hope this helps

Falc

here is a photograph of where i'm at right now, i've been on propecia for a year and half and have maintained this amount. please let me know what you all think. photo is attached

2006_1101hair0110.JPG (56 Kb, 130 downloads) hair right now

you don't look that bad bald. I would stay on the meds for a few years and then decide. You will need lots of grafts and you will not be able to have ever again--without an ear-to-ear scar showing.

Hi Paul,

Thanks for the picture. From that angle it's difficult to see everything...but it looks like if I'm correct you have a good amount of temple loss too. How does the crown/back look? You definately have a lot of loss for your age...but don't feel bad...a lot of people are in your boat. Just because I may have been older before I lost close to that much doesn't make it any easier.

I think utilizing my advice above is still appropriate. I think it would be safe to consider an HT if you remain realistic as to what you want to accomplish. With your level of loss, and the fact that you are 23, you will never be able to recover a full head of hair. What are you looking to accomplish? Do you want to rebuild the hairline and temples? If you intend on beefing up the mid section and crown (if there's a lot of loss there), you will not want to go too dense in the front and will want a very conservative hairline. Keep in mind you will not be able to shave your head that closely again once you get an HT, that is, unless you aren't afraid to reveal the HT scar to the world.

Also, I'm attaching your photos with some editing by yours truly. I'm not a doctor, but I suspect these are the problem areas. I know if I were you, according to that picture alone, the areas I drew lines around are the areas I'd probably want to do something about. The areas that are drawn in black are what seem to be the most extensive loss and will need a good number of grafts. The area in red were areas that according to the picture look thinner and would need potentially some grafting but not that much. Keep in mind I'm not an artist and the hairline I drew would not be this perfect hairline...but I purposely tried to draw it conservatively (despite all the wavy lines). It's hard to judge because your hair is so short that I'm not sure what it would look like grown out.

Anyway...I'd consider talking to some of the top docs on this form to see what they think also. I'm glad to hear that you've been able to stop your hairloss with medication.

untitled.JPG (49 Kb, 51 downloads) Your Picture Edited

I should clarify that even though the very front middle has the black circle around it, I didn't intend it. In other words, it seems like that section might be thick enough that you don't need any grafts there....maybe...again, it's according to the pic.

Like Falc said,
you need to realize that you will never have a full head of hair again--short of a cloning miracle--so before you start you need to see a few docs, and see what they can do for you. In adition, you need to see a few patients who have gotten a similar number of grafts and see if you like the density. There's no turning back; you cannot get a strip and shave without looking odd.

Lastly, you need to plan as if the thinning hair does not exist, if propecia keeps it or brings some back great, consider that as an added bonus but don't count on it. It may not work on you, or years later you may decide, or have to, stop taking it.

Good luck.

I would actually prefer to bulk up the crown and mid section. Although i do have a considerable amount of loss in the temple/hairline area, i would actually prefer to have a more conservative hairline, kind of working with where it is at now. The crown and mid section are my main concerns, and i also would not shave my head if i were to get the HT, what does everyone think? I was also wondering if someone could tell me who are the best doctors out there regardless of location. thanks

quote:

Originally posted by falceros:
Hi Paul,

Thanks for the picture. From that angle it's difficult to see everything...but it looks like if I'm correct you have a good amount of temple loss too. How does the crown/back look? You definately have a lot of loss for your age...but don't feel bad...a lot of people are in your boat. Just because I may have been older before I lost close to that much doesn't make it any easier.

I think utilizing my advice above is still appropriate. I think it would be safe to consider an HT if you remain realistic as to what you want to accomplish. With your level of loss, and the fact that you are 23, you will never be able to recover a full head of hair. What are you looking to accomplish? Do you want to rebuild the hairline and temples? If you intend on beefing up the mid section and crown (if there's a lot of loss there), you will not want to go too dense in the front and will want a very conservative hairline. Keep in mind you will not be able to shave your head that closely again once you get an HT, that is, unless you aren't afraid to reveal the HT scar to the world.

Also, I'm attaching your photos with some editing by yours truly. I'm not a doctor, but I suspect these are the problem areas. I know if I were you, according to that picture alone, the areas I drew lines around are the areas I'd probably want to do something about. The areas that are drawn in black are what seem to be the most extensive loss and will need a good number of grafts. The area in red were areas that according to the picture look thinner and would need potentially some grafting but not that much. Keep in mind I'm not an artist and the hairline I drew would not be this perfect hairline...but I purposely tried to draw it conservatively (despite all the wavy lines). It's hard to judge because your hair is so short that I'm not sure what it would look like grown out.

Anyway...I'd consider talking to some of the top docs on this form to see what they think also. I'm glad to hear that you've been able to stop your hairloss with medication.

If you would prefer to work from the "middle out" I would suggest Dr. Shapiro. He has a more conservative approach, (not necessarily grafts per session), that will take into consideration both now and in the future.

Any of the Coalition doc's will be able to take care of you, so do several consults and compare and contrast.

I do not know if any of the docs will operate on you right now because of your age.
However, given you level of baldness they may make an exception.

Let us know how things are progressing!

Paul,

Whether you want work in the middle and crown or the front temple and hairline is up to you totally. If you are satisfied with your temples and hairline, then don't do work there. It's all about what YOU are satisfied with.

I haven't seen a picture of the crown. the one thing I'm concerned about for you, however, is the level of loss for such an early age. I know I've said this before, but if you lose all the hair in the crown and then the dip below, it will take a very large number of grafts to fill that in totally. BUT, since you aren't concerned about the hairline or temples, you MIGHT just be able to pull it off.

I agree with B spot...any of the coalition docs should be able to take care of you. Due to your age, B Spot might be right on about the conservative approach. I would go more for coverage at this point than dense packing....this is especially a good plan if you are going to lose more hair. Doing too much dense packing early could be catastrophic if you run out of donor and continue to lose the rest of your native hair.

Talk to some docs and good luck to you.

Falc