Tweet
Here is my story, any advice from others would be greatly appreciated:
History
- Noticed thinning in 2002 (age 21)
- Went on Advanced Hair program 2004, didn't like the use of minoxidil and I don't think the program regrew hair
- 2005 I heard about hair transplants and after not much research I decided on a hair transplant at the end of the year (about 1200 grafts I think through hairline and a little in the crown)
- I was very happy with the result and it gave me a lot of confidence
- My family history is extensive, uncles are NW7 and my grandpa on my mums side, I don't really know my dad but I think he still has full head of hair
- In 2008 I started on propecia after continual but slow thinning, no side effects, difficult to determine if I regrew hair, likely to have slowed loss
- End of 2009 changed to dutasteride, no side effects, again difficult to determine if I regrew hair, hair loss has continued as a slow progression
- 2009 started using toppik and have used since, usage has increased over the years but not highly significant, also use caboki
- 2013 had PRP sessions, I felt it helped the quality of hair improved and may have slowed down loss for a period of time
Hair Characteristics
- Medium brown in colour
- Fine hair and oily
- I've been told donor density is average/good
- I feel over the years my hair has changed, I feel I noticed a change after starting propecia, compared to my mid twenties my hair is finer/oilier and less manageable with some grey hairs
Current Predicament
- Been dating an amazing girl for nearly 5 months who I haven't yet discussed my hair loss issues with, I can see myself with this girl for a long time. I feel the hair loss thing is the only negative that could impact the relationship. I do want to discuss with her in the coming month.
- Over past few months I have given significant thought to a 2nd hair transplant
- Increasingly worried about my future hair loss pattern and whether I will be happy with results in long term (I'm dreading ending up NW7 and I think about being NW7 a lot in recent times and worried hair transplants won't give me the results I want)
- Sick of using concealers
- Sick of worrying about windy days
- I have wondered if my 1st hair transplant was wrong decision, as I said it was great at the time but now I realise it is a limitation in terms of the appearance of transplanted hair and donor scar if I was to shave down
- I do however feel if I hadn't a hair transplant I would now be at the point of considering having one
- I am worried about quality of my hair, thin, fine and oily hair and realise these characteristics limit my expectations
- I think I have realistic expectations and would be happy with a particular outcome that is by far less than a full head of hair, yet I worry a lot about the worst case scenario (ie further progression towards NW7 which is likely to make hair transplant/s look less natural
- I am a professional engineer and meet with lots of clients, confidence is recent times has dropped as my worry about hair loss has increased
I feel my options are:
- Do Nothing - not ideal as I don't like my current hair cut which is cut to conceal hair loss and over time I feel frontal transplants will look out of place if I change hair cut, plus can't shave down because of scar
- 2nd Hair Transplant - not ideal either but potential to improve situation significantly if I can stop further loss and get a good result, I am confident I have found a good doctor
- Try to reverse hair transplant - ie have grafts extracted and fill in around scar combined with refinement of recipient scars (I have seen this online but not convinced it is for me - end of the day I want to maximise my coverage and I know hair transplants combined with medication are the best option for this)
End of the day, I feel hair transplant is likely my best option. However, I am really worried about what the future holds and where my hair loss journey takes me on the NW scale.
I would appreciate any advice you guys have.
Cheers
Scott
History
- Noticed thinning in 2002 (age 21)
- Went on Advanced Hair program 2004, didn't like the use of minoxidil and I don't think the program regrew hair
- 2005 I heard about hair transplants and after not much research I decided on a hair transplant at the end of the year (about 1200 grafts I think through hairline and a little in the crown)
- I was very happy with the result and it gave me a lot of confidence
- My family history is extensive, uncles are NW7 and my grandpa on my mums side, I don't really know my dad but I think he still has full head of hair
- In 2008 I started on propecia after continual but slow thinning, no side effects, difficult to determine if I regrew hair, likely to have slowed loss
- End of 2009 changed to dutasteride, no side effects, again difficult to determine if I regrew hair, hair loss has continued as a slow progression
- 2009 started using toppik and have used since, usage has increased over the years but not highly significant, also use caboki
- 2013 had PRP sessions, I felt it helped the quality of hair improved and may have slowed down loss for a period of time
Hair Characteristics
- Medium brown in colour
- Fine hair and oily
- I've been told donor density is average/good
- I feel over the years my hair has changed, I feel I noticed a change after starting propecia, compared to my mid twenties my hair is finer/oilier and less manageable with some grey hairs
Current Predicament
- Been dating an amazing girl for nearly 5 months who I haven't yet discussed my hair loss issues with, I can see myself with this girl for a long time. I feel the hair loss thing is the only negative that could impact the relationship. I do want to discuss with her in the coming month.
- Over past few months I have given significant thought to a 2nd hair transplant
- Increasingly worried about my future hair loss pattern and whether I will be happy with results in long term (I'm dreading ending up NW7 and I think about being NW7 a lot in recent times and worried hair transplants won't give me the results I want)
- Sick of using concealers
- Sick of worrying about windy days
- I have wondered if my 1st hair transplant was wrong decision, as I said it was great at the time but now I realise it is a limitation in terms of the appearance of transplanted hair and donor scar if I was to shave down
- I do however feel if I hadn't a hair transplant I would now be at the point of considering having one
- I am worried about quality of my hair, thin, fine and oily hair and realise these characteristics limit my expectations
- I think I have realistic expectations and would be happy with a particular outcome that is by far less than a full head of hair, yet I worry a lot about the worst case scenario (ie further progression towards NW7 which is likely to make hair transplant/s look less natural
- I am a professional engineer and meet with lots of clients, confidence is recent times has dropped as my worry about hair loss has increased
I feel my options are:
- Do Nothing - not ideal as I don't like my current hair cut which is cut to conceal hair loss and over time I feel frontal transplants will look out of place if I change hair cut, plus can't shave down because of scar
- 2nd Hair Transplant - not ideal either but potential to improve situation significantly if I can stop further loss and get a good result, I am confident I have found a good doctor
- Try to reverse hair transplant - ie have grafts extracted and fill in around scar combined with refinement of recipient scars (I have seen this online but not convinced it is for me - end of the day I want to maximise my coverage and I know hair transplants combined with medication are the best option for this)
End of the day, I feel hair transplant is likely my best option. However, I am really worried about what the future holds and where my hair loss journey takes me on the NW scale.
I would appreciate any advice you guys have.
Cheers
Scott
Comment