Opinions on Reinforcing Hairline, FUE with 1600 Grafts

[djohnson]

I’ve been reading posts here for the last few years as my hairline continued to recede and have found it super informative. I have a surgery scheduled with a reputable IAHRS doctor (thanks in large part to this forum). I’m 32, and I’m scheduled for 1600 grafts FUE, not to lower the forelock at all, but to increase density and fill in the sides to connect with rest of the hairline. (The planned outline is attached.)

I’m scheduled for surgery next month. I had it planned for a year ago, but got cold feet and put it on hold. It’s still think about it almost every day, and though I’m not completely unhappy with my current hair, I’m thinking of this as a nip-it-in-the-bud-type approach with the expectation the entire forelock will be gone in the coming years. If I’m honestly not a great candidate I’d love to hear that, but everything I see suggests this is a lower-risk operation as far as getting a natural-looking result.

Concerns:

1. Are there any unforeseen downsides I should be prepared for, given my particular circumstances?

2. Due to side effects, I can’t tale Finasteride or Minoxidil in perpetuity. I will take it immediately after the surgery to help the procedure, but I will stop eventually. Will that be an issue?

3. I don’t seem to have any noticeable loss aside from the hairline. Is there any way to perume I’ll only need one procedure? I know you say I should be prepared for a lifetime of work, but still.

4. Also, if I am unhappy with the results and decide to buzz my hair short, which is the shortest setting where the FUE scars won’t show? 1 or a 2 or what? My donor area is apparently very good, so I don’t think it should be too thin.

5. Is there a most common complaint from people who don’t like their result? Just curious.

Thanks in advance.

[djohnson]

[djohnson]

no impressions?

[Sean]

Be very careful having 1600 grafts densed packed into an area where you have lots of native hair. Looking at the line you drew, most grafts will be in native hair territory that already is loaded with native hairs. This procedure can impact native hair negatively. You can even have shockloss in your donor region if done wrong. I hope the surgeon you go to has a proper FUE surgery protocol and some sort of plan to help you if surgery doesnt put out a good yield or there are issues. Some folks think its one and done but if you become a repair patient, it can be 3 or more procedures easily. Knowing what I know, if you are adamant about having surgery, make sure tge surgical protocol is properly followed. That includes doctor doing all aspects of surgery and using the right tools with the utmost care. No assistant or nondoctor should be extracting your grafts. Your safety is important. Best of luck.

[djohnson]

Thanks a lot, Sean.

The prospect of shock loss certainly concerns me. But as far as I can tell, the other option would be to wait until the native hair is gone even further before getting the FUE. But it sort of defeats the purpose to wait until it gets worse to improve, right?

I’m getting it done in NYC by Dr Wesley, who appears well-respected on this board and otherwise. Is there any extra precautions I can take to avoid shock loss in the recipient area?

[abandonhope]

No there are no extra precautions you can take. Your doc will give you post-op instructions which you will obey religiously.

The only thing to be aware of is that once you go down this path, you should know you will have to pay a lot more later for more procedures, once your top and side hair keep receding. Otherwise, you will look much worse than if you let nature take its course.

If you go into it with that attitude, I think you know everything you need to know.