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  1. #1
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    Mar 2012
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    Default Hi, 33 yr old, hair loss rapidly picking up pace!

    Hey everyone - I'd like to take a moment to introduce myself to the community and tell you my story. Thanks in advance for any advice or comments you may have or just for taking the time to read this.

    I stumbled upon this site a few weeks ago and have picked up quite a bit of good information so far. There seems to be a lot of very knowledgable people who frequent this site. Before going into my situation I will say that if I decide to go through with the surgery I will definitely come back and share my results and try and contribute back to the board in any way I can.

    Now, having said all that, I'm a 33 yr old single male that's considering a hair transplant. My grandfather on my Mom's side was completely bald at age 30, so I sort of always knew this was coming. However, my older brother has not experienced nearly as much hair loss as I have. My loss was slow and steady for several years but seems to have picked up speed the last 2-3 years. I'm now getting to the point where I think I'll have to either shave my head or consider surgery.

    I live in Baltimore, MD and recently had a consultation with Dr. Jeffrey Schreiber. I didn't see any specific posts about him, although I'm not sure if that necessarily is a bad thing or not. I've read how important it is to find a good doctor though, so I'm hoping to find some reviews on him. My impression of him was good...seemed very knowledgeable and answered all my questions. His qualifications seem good as he's Hopkins trained, although I think plastic surgery is his primary focus. I would be comfortable using him based upon my initial consultation, although I feel like I should probably get a second opinion from someone before deciding on anything (if anyone has a recommendation in the Maryland area I'd appreciate it!) Dr. Schreiber believes that eventually I will end up with a George Costanza look (I forget the technical definition). His recommendation was to do 1,500 grafts and spread them out along 3 areas (front, top-middle, top-back). My hairline has always been a little on the high side, so I don't think he's planning on bringing my hairline down too far in the front...just far enough on the sides to look natural. He thought that 1,500 may be all I need or that in another 10-15 years I may need another round. Cost is $6,000 and would be 1 session.

    I have a lot of concerns, but my biggest is the hair not looking natural and what I'll look like immediately post-surgery, and months thereafter. It's my understanding that the transplanted hair will fall out after 10 days on avg, but I would already be back at work by then. So I'm envisioning having hair fuzz-like hair (Dr. says he cuts the donor hairs down very short) on the front-side portion of my forehead immediately following the surgery. But then those will fall out and I'll be back to looking like I currently do for a few months (or worse if other existing hairs fall out) until the hairs start to grow back in. I don't see how you can possibly conceal having had the surgery with all that change going on, not to mention having hairs that are different length than the others on my head?

    Other concerns that I was hoping folks could comment on are:

    1) Scarring? I know there will be a scar from the donor area, but I'm wondering how visible it may be down the road...should I want to buzz my head would it be very visible?

    2) Propecia side-effects: In conjuncture with the surgery he's recommending I start taking Propecia. To this point I've not tried any hair loss treatment, but have heard of mixed reports on various side effects, some of which don't sound too good if you like to be active in a particular area.

    3) Dealing with the social stigma of having the surgery. I don't understand why it exists, but it seems to be there and is a concern for me. While the Dr. said the only person who would know I had the surgery was if I was sitting across from another patient or Dr., I'm not entirely sold on that at this point. Would others agree with his comment?

    4) 1,500 grafts right amount? I've attached some current pics.

    5) Working out? I'm pretty active person and was told no working out for 2 weeks, but I've read things on here that contradict that. What is the main concern with working out and avg time off needed?

    Sorry for the long post and thanks again for reading my story. I appreciate any comments or advice you may have, good or bad. Thanks!
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  2. #2
    Senior Member
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    Jan 2011
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    Default

    I would nt recommend HT at this point. First, get on propecia and see if it arrests your hairfall.

  3. #3
    Senior Member
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    Aug 2011
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    Default

    Try a buzz cut first; you're head shape looks great for it.

  4. #4
    Senior Member
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    Sep 2011
    Location
    Ohio
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    3,125

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Highlander View Post
    If you go for an FUE transplant you shouldn't find any scarring. You can see on here there was a thread covering this topic. FUT is the one that I believe leaves with you a big scar across the back of you head due to the technique used.
    FUE does scar. They are tiny white dots all over the donor area that do not tan. A gifted surgeon can hide the scar from strip procedures really well. You can't even find my scar even if you know exactly where it is. Though to be honest, there is no way I am going to buzz my hair off to find out if it is visible with really short hair.



    LB33,

    If this bothers you, you need to see a doctor who specializes in treating hair loss and talk about getting on proven treatments. It is best to try to treat the problem for at least a full year to determine if you can arrest he hair loss and possibly reverse some of it before going for hair transplant surgery. If by the end of that year you find that it is reversing, continue treating ot for another year to find out how much it will reverse before considering hair transplant surgery. If you are unwilling or unable to use the proven treatments, you need to learn how to accept that you will be bald and learn how to live your life to the fullest anyways.

  5. #5
    Senior Member
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    Sep 2010
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    776

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by LB33 View Post

    5) Working out? I'm pretty active person and was told no working out for 2 weeks, but I've read things on here that contradict that. What is the main concern with working out and avg time off needed?!
    I think it has something to do with the grafts popping out duirng physical exercise and possibly the scar stretching before it is properly healed .

  6. #6
    Senior Member
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    Quote Originally Posted by clandestine View Post
    Try a buzz cut first; you're head shape looks great for it.
    Yup
    Probably the best thing you could do .......wish I would have tried it

  7. #7
    Junior Member
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    Mar 2012
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    Default

    Thanks everyone for the feedback. I think I will try these other steps first before considering surgery more seriously. I wish I would have started on medication earlier but was a little lazy getting around to it and thought it was pretty expensive for something that wasn't guaranteed to work. Of course when comparing to surgery, the cost (both actual dollars and more importantly, the non-monetary costs of going through the whole process) seem immaterial. Who knows, maybe I'll just try shaving it this summer and see how it looks...hope Clandestine is right, haha!

  8. #8
    Member
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    Oct 2010
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    It worries me read how a lot of people here immediatelly says get in Propecia/Proscar/Finasteride, even me in past months thought it was the right thing to do, but what happens if you (as happened to me) experience side effects?

    I only took the pill for 6 months and now after 2 of being off the pill still dealing with them and questioning me why did I have to take it? I know suppousdly 2% deal with the side effects, but even at 1-1000 what would you do if you were that person experiencing them?

    Now I stil have mpb but I have to be worried for other things too. Please stop recommendig the pill, even if you go with a respectable Hair Specialist as I did that doesn't mean that's not going to happen to you.

  9. #9
    Junior Member JohnBurnette's Avatar
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    Default

    It worries me read how a lot of people here immediatelly says get in Propecia/Proscar/Finasteride...
    I look at myself in the mirror and can’t believe it. Propecia has given me the hair I had ten years ago and is still improving. Works very well for me and I've been lucky enough not to get any noticeable side effects.

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