Looking Into A Hair Transplant, Could Do With Some Advice...

[James227]

Hello everybody, not been on here in a while, just looking for a bit of advice. I've been on Finasteride for about 3 years, using Minoxidil for maybe 5 years, I take biotin, use a DHT blocking shampoo, use a dermaneedle once or twice a week etc, etc... You get the gist. Basically, I'm doing my best. But, it ain't working and I would say over the last 12+ months I've been shedding more and more for months on end (currently been shedding pretty badly for last 4+ months). Anyway, I've really looked into getting a transplant (I'm in the U.K) and Dr Ball at The Maitland Clinic is where I would like to go, but they have told me I'm not a good candidate for a hair transplant. Now, granted I'm not bald, I still have hair and when I use concealers which I do all the time my hair loss isn't really that noticeable. But, it's there and it's been bothering me for the last 7 years (it used to be much worse before treatments). Anyway, my question(s) are this:

1. Do I accept what they're saying and wait until my hair loss gets worse, then get back in touch?

2. Do I just kind of force the situation and do my best to encourage them to go through with the transplant and say if the results aren't great then that's on me?

3. Look elsewhere. I'm sure there are other places that would do it, I just kind of like the sound of this guy and his clinic.

Sorry it's a bit long winded, I have tried to keep it as short and to the point as possible. I can go into more detail if that would help? Anyway, any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you, James.

 

[Rocknroutlaw]

1. What is the extent of your hair loss, and are you diffusely thinned or are some parts slick bald? some pics could be helpful. Your age and whether your current hair loss is stablised could also play a role.
2. No, UK clinics should generally be avoided anyway so I would get many more opinions.
3. Yes, absolutely.

My opinion is narrow down a list a surgeons who you feel would suit your needs, have a quote with each one of those and get a better idea of what is realistically achievable at your budget. I understand the hesitance of travelling abroad for the procedure, but there are few good clinics around the world as it is, and they are definitely NOT in the UK, so I would personally consider somewhere easily reached such as Belgium or Spain. If you do change your mind about going abroad, Turkey is obviously the affordable option but much more of a landmine with many clinics competing for your business.

I was also like you - having been on a combo of Finasteride/Minoxidil/Microneedling for years with only minimal gain, so I went for the transplant. 11 months later Im feeling great.

 

[James227]

Thank you very much for your reply. I have just read your hair transplant thread - looking good, congratulations! Very inspiring! I too have had long hair (right down my back) all my life, well over 20 years, until I finally bit the bullet last year just after my 30th birthday and shaved my head! I'm 31 now and have let it grow back out, but it's just a bit of a mess to be honest. I have got diffused thinning all over, that is why the clinics that I have been to don't want to 'risk' surgery. Too worried about shock loss they say.

My crown has always been my worst spot, though I have seen some slight improvements there since I started microneedling. My left side temple is pretty far back, and my forelock/parting has that wide, wispy almost stingy look to it, if you know what I mean? I will post some pictures later on today once I've washed all the concealer sh*t out of it.

And no, my hairloss hasn't stabilised. It did, for about 2 years. But I can honestly say that over these last 12+ months, I would say that for roughly 8 of them I have been shedding way worse than normal. Like back to how it was before I started treatments. Hairs on pillow, in my hands when I wash it, in my comb, on my clothes, stuck in my beard - everywhere!

I used to think that I would love to have my crown filled in, but to be honest, if I could just get my hairline sorted out I would be thrilled with that and settle for just using concealers on my crown. I'm not saying I'm cool with it or whatever, you just kind of get used to your own routine, if you know what I mean?

Anyway, I must say I am very worried about the whole hair transplant thing anyway as I feel I would have such a lot riding on it, but I would be absolutely scared shitless if was going abroad to have the surgery! I know that's where a lot of the best surgeons are, but I just can't make it sit right in my head. Once I've posted some pictures, do you think you might be able to advise me on a particular surgeon or surgeons abroad who might be specific options for me? I'm so uneducated when it comes to this kind of thing is all and would appreciate all the advice o can get. Also, have you ever looked up The Maitland Clinic? Honestly, they look good, to me at least? They have a website and some videos on YouTube. Again, I would appreciate your feedback.

Goddamn, this is a long reply! Sorry man, got carried away but wanted to include as much detail as I could.

Thanks again, James.

 

[Rocknroutlaw]

Thanks for your kind words. I wouldn't go as far as claiming my experience to be 'inspiring' . What is inspiring however is all the forum members' posting with regular updates, giving all of us a good insight before taking the big step. There certainly has been results which are much more convincing than mine, and there certainly are worse...but without everyone documenting their progress (good or bad), I never would have come this far.
The continuation of your shedding despite being on Finasteride/Minoxidil/microneedling could be concerning. You managed to maintain for 2 years, then it started deteriorating again? I can't comment on Dutasteride etc but it seems to be something that has been used in place of Finasteride once it stops working. ..perhaps someone more knowledgeable can comment on that.
Could it be that your hairloss is due to sensitivity of even a small amount of DHT, in which case an anti-androgen couldn't help maintaining over long term? Perhaps read more about such cases in the relevant section?

As for diffuse thinning, it is definitely something which surgeons dislike working on, but it shouldn't stop you from getting more personal opinions. My temples were reaching the slick bald stage until I began using Finasteride which brought it to more or less a diffuse thinning appearance with peachy fuzz. The results seemed to have come out ok after the transplant.

I must say your case does sound challenging, and you have to rely on the opinions of ethical surgeons with your interest at heart (rather than someone who just wants your business). My only personal experience is obviously the one who worked on me - B-sanga. He does come to London on a regular basis so you could make an appointment and see what his views are? Of course also search for other names which have been known to be reputable/ethical by personal testimony on this forum.

The Maitland clinic seems to be one of the only clinics in the UK which receives positive words, however I still feel that I don't see enough personal testimonies on here to justify paying a higher price just to have it done in UK (and ending up with results that are most likely lesser than what reputable clinics abroad can achieve). I guess you could ask yourself why you are reluctant to travel - if it is due to the reluctance to use a Turkish clinic, then I totally understand as it is a massive landmine. However, if you feel that there is a surgeon within easy reach by Eurostar or a short flight, there is no reason why you should be afraid of such a travel. If you're concerned about the lack of personal follow-ups, just think how little you actually need the clinic once a successful procedure is done.

 

[James227]

Thanks again for your response. Sorry I haven't uploaded any photos, I was going to do so earlier today but the process is just too depressing. This whole thing is on top of me at the moment and photographing my thinning hair seems about as much fun as sticking pins in my eyes right now! I will post some over the next few days however as I do value your input.

You make some really good points and the next thing I'm going to do is find out when your surgeon is next coming to London and try to book a consultation with him? How would I go about finding out when hell next be over and do you remember if it was a paid consultation or not?

I have gone through some awful sheds over the years and then all of a sudden it's stopped and I've even recovered some or nearly the full amount it would seem. But this time feels different? I can't touch my hair at all without it falling out and you can really see the damage this time. My hairline, which thankfully has always been okay, has taken a massive hit. I've gone from worrying about my crown and using concealer there, to pulling my hair over my forehead. I'm running out of hairs to comb in all these bloody directions! Ha ha!

And I guess if I'm going to go ahead with this I need to come to terms with my concerns about going abroad for surgery. It's for the reasons you mentioned by the way. On the other hand, I don't want to drop thousands of pounds which I can ill afford on something that I'm not gonna be totally happy with? Maybe it's finally time to just try and accept what's going on and move past it? Ah man, it's just such a shitty situation! I know there's much worse things in the world, but it still sucks all the same!