New - Considering HT and timing

[Hollywood]

Hi Guys,

I've been losing hair for about 5 years. Mostly from the temples and the top. The back seemed to have started losing hair but then just stopped shedding and its still pretty thick. I tried minoxidil for like a year. There was absolutely no effect except my thinning wallet. So I decided I either accept baldness or get a HT. I'm not too afraid of going bald but if I can have my hair back who would honestly say no to that?

I will post pictures later of my head, I just don't have my camera with me. However my hair was pretty thick and dark so the camera doesn't give a best picture of the situation. It will likely look like I'm not losing hair on the top just the temples. But I'm definitely losing hair on the top and temples.

I guess my first questions will be:
Who are the best doctors in the Toronto, Canada area? as I know none and would really want to go to the best.
How do I know if HT is right for me?
When should I go? Should I go soon and start slowly filling up my before I go noticeably bald? or should I go when I've lost more hair so I won't have the "shockloss" I read about on this forum?
Is there a chance that hair won't grow after the HT?

Should I really be asking these questions here or the doctor?

Thanks again, I will post pictures soon.

Really appreciate the help!

[Spex]

Get a consult lined up with Dr Rahal - he wil best advise you

[mattj]

Spex was kind enough to recommend Dr Rahal. Dr Rahal performs surgery in Ottawa but has a consultation office in Toronto that he visits frequently. He'll tell you honestly whether an HT is right for you or not at this time.

You don't mention Propecia. Rogaine might have been a bust for you but Finasteride could help.

You can ask doctors but also put your questions to the forum. It's what we're here for.

If you take photos, take them in good light so that they show us what your eyes are seeing. Good lighting conditions not only ensure that the photos aren't too dark, but due to the shorter exposure time they make it easier to turn out a photo that isn't blurry.

[Hollywood]

Thanks, I will post a photo once I get my camera back.
Meanwhile, I was wondering how people deal with a transplant? As I understand your head is pretty bloody for a while. I can't imagine I could take more than 3 weeks off work and no way I will be able to show myself to work with a bloody head day in day out, especially since I'm in a very client facing line of business.
Does it really take that long to heal?

[Spex]

down time is a VERY common anxiety we HT patients have to process. However you cant make an omelette without breaking some eggs ;-)

See some tips on my info topic here to help : http://www.baldtruthtalk.com/showthread.php?t=230

Its not the healing but the having to be shaved down for surgery in most cases.

Everyones gut reaction it "NO WAY " however with appropriate coordination its possibly to get a ht and get away with it in the majority of cases especially if you can get yourself a 3-4 week downtime window.

Obviously it all depends on the individual

[Dr. Glenn Charles]

It genreally only takes 7-10 to completely heal. Especailly with some of the new post wound healing solutions that are available. Have it on a Friday and take the next week off and return to work the following Monday.

[Hollywood]

well, got the camera, got a haircut, and discovered that the problem is worse by now. Also, just saw another thread were the guy barely lost any hair and his doctor recommended 1600-2100 grafts to repair his hair ... which will prob mean ill need double than that and given 10 dollars a graft cost. definitely price me out

[Hollywood]

aaah wtf happened to the pictures i posted???

[Hollywood]

im just gonna post the links

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/3/img2935qu.jpg

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/199/img2936te.jpg

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/84/img2937w.jpg

[Hollywood]

down time is a VERY common anxiety we HT patients have to process. However you cant make an omelette without breaking some eggs ;-)

See some tips on my info topic here to help : http://www.baldtruthtalk.com/showthread.php?t=230

Its not the healing but the having to be shaved down for surgery in most cases.

Everyones gut reaction it "NO WAY " however with appropriate coordination its possibly to get a ht and get away with it in the majority of cases especially if you can get yourself a 3-4 week downtime window.

Obviously it all depends on the individual

honestly, i dont have a problem with a shaved head since my haircut is most of the time either shaved or near shaved anyway. also, not very nervous about letting the people i work with know "hey guys, going in for a hairtransplant, be back in 3 weeks". but the bloody head will definitely freak clients out who don't know i just undergone the procedure. and im concerned with that given the pictures of wayne rooneys transplant.... but but but, honestly the more i think about it the more i realize that there really isnt going to be much of a problem for me with the recovery phase.

oh and thanks alot btw! much appreciate the help!!!!

[VictimOfDHT]

What bloody head !! There is no bloody head after the procedure. Well, maybe immediately after the surgery yeah.

Dude, if I were you I wouldn't do it. You're not bald in the front. If you do get an HT you'd be lucky to get the same amount of hair you have now (in the hairline) but chances are you won't. People think HTs can give them the thickness they dream of, but in reality it does NOT unless you have a small balding area and more than enough donor hair. So, unless you have less hair than what the pics show - I know pics can be deceiving- don't get an HT now.

WTF, Rooney's had an HT ? I gotta see this.

[VictimOfDHT]

Oh yeah, he did have an HT. Just checked it out. That's not bad. Only 10,000 pounds. I really wanna see what his HT will look like. That would be good publicity for the doctor.

[Hollywood]

10K? i read somewhere it was 33K pounds! which is astronomical fee.
right now the hair is pretty thin, i think after todays haircut it will be the first time people will be able to notice my hair has thinned. given the speed and amount of shedding i think ill have jason statham's head in about 1-2 years. which is probably when ill start the HT consultation process. from rooney's pictures it looks like he almost got his whole hair back! which is really why im here.

[VictimOfDHT]

Well, maybe in 2 years we'll know if we're any closer to those promised treatments, or maybe they'll be available, I hope.

I read two articles on Rooney and the first said the cost was 10,000 and the other said it was 12,000. That's pocket change for him.

[mattj]

from rooney's pictures it looks like he almost got his whole hair back! which is really why im here.

Hollywood, Wayne Rooney has only just had his hair transplant. The photos post-op showed that his entire balding area was covered with grafts, but it'll be a while before we get to see the results. The degree to which he achieves a non-balding look will depend on the number of grafts he received. It's important not to judge a result too early.

By the way, $10 per graft is at the upper end of the pay range (not including the absurdly-priced docs who shall remain nameless) for FUE and strip is considerably less.

Well, maybe in 2 years we'll know if we're any closer to those promised treatments, or maybe they'll be available, I hope.

I read two articles on Rooney and the first said the cost was 10,000 and the other said it was 12,000. That's pocket change for him.

You aren't exaggerating. I read he gets 250k per week! Madness.