Strumming The Final Chords Of The Post-op Blues

[JohnsonDDG]

Rahal does great FUT work but FUE is more spotty with some good and some not-so-good results. FUE in general is more unpredictable though. The hairline design is usually top notch which is why I went with him. Unlike some I wasn't really interested in perfect dense twink hair and just wanted an aesthetic, natural-looking frame and more freedom in constructing my image.

He has a solid policy to sort out patients that are not satisfied including a growth guarantee which @Bobster231 mentioned. I couldn't handle the added anxieties of going to Turkey and my first choice Feriduni just had too long of a waiting list, so in the end I went for Rahal. Time will tell if it was a good decision. It was indeed expensive but I had the cash to fund it and the timing was right.

We only ask that you don't forget your hair loss buddies on here when you are a full head and conquering the world. Pop in from time to time and let us know how it feels.

 

[Afro_Vacancy]

What's the argument against a juvenile hairline?

 

[sunchyme1]

My argument would be that a slightly receded hair line looks more badass.

Otherwise it's a case by case situation. Seeing grandpa's with juvenile hair lines just looks out of place to me.

Incongruent .

did u not like my pic freddy?

 

[rclark]

I'm so jealous - I don't have the money to have one!

I hope it makes you feel like a million bucks. It must be wonderful to have your hair back after feeling like you are losing it for all those years.

It makes the density more even, and look more natural.

However, it might make a lower density in some spots, such as back and sides.

Whenever it's wet, you can see guys who didn't have good luck, unfortunately. Some have spots
scabs in the back of their scalp.

For Norwood three/four, it's a good option. Not so sure for a Norwood six or higher.

 

[Afro_Vacancy]

There is no argument against it for people who naturally retain one and are not balding. I saw a 72 year old black guy with a juvenile hairline and it looked fine. There are some relatives on my mum's side who have it too. It looks good. I had the option of attaining one and my circumstances being ideal (donor numbers, hair final pattern, finasteride, hair diameter, age e.t.c).

But these are things that led me not to opt for a juvenile one:

1) Once balding, you may get some further balding and a juvenile hairline with thinning in other areas, is a bit of a give away. Of course, corrected with further surgeries though, but it's a waiting game and things may become apparent on social media.

2) You save grafts which you can potentially use later and money.

3) Mature hairline generally looks more natural especially once you have male pattern baldness. Will ensure the hair transplant is more subtle. People will see an improvement but not necessarily know where it came from.

4) I saw pictures of me with juvenile and mature and concluded I preferred the mature one to complement angulated facial features. I could pull off both though.

5) Surgeon drew both (it's important) and also felt the mature one was better. He said though it must be Norwood 2 or below to be non balding and appropriate grafts per cm2 - can't emphasise how important this is - don't walk away without this. Dr Rassman and the Norwood status chart also say balding begins after Norwood 2 so I was comfortable with a 1.5 as I had done my research.

Side note: mature is down to measurements and not guess work. They make you wrinkle your forehead and draw the juve one. After that, they place a mature one about half inch higher in the middle and maximum 1 inch higher in the corners. Or some measure in a different way: rule of 1/3s and eye brow distance. You get what you pay for.

edit: and forgot to add, get some temple points at least, especially if they are completely gone.

Thank you.

Were all of your new hairs placed at your new hairline? Or did you instead have some placed within your existing hairline as reinforcement?

It seems like the latter might be necessary as an existing hairline is not necessarily stable. On the other hand, I've heard about "shock loss" being a potential issue, suggesting new hairs should be placed away from existing hairs.

 

[JohnsonDDG]

My argument would be that a slightly receded hair line looks more badass.

Otherwise it's a case by case situation. Seeing grandpa's with juvenile hair lines just looks out of place to me.

Incongruent .

Isnt it also a waste of donor hair? You may want to save some hair in case the back ever goes.

 

[Dench57]

Isnt it also a waste of donor hair? You may want to save some hair in case the back ever goes.

depends on usual factors (age, rate of loss, final pattern, response to meds, donor capacity)

to give an extreme example, a 40 year old with a NW2-3 on Finasteride with 12k donor is never going remotely bald and can afford to dense pack a NW0

 

[hairblues]

I remember you spoke in past about topik...do you think this transplant will make Topic unnecessary going forward?

 

[CopeForLife]

depends on usual factors (age, rate of loss, final pattern, response to meds, donor capacity)

to give an extreme example, a 40 year old with a NW2-3 on Finasteride with 12k donor is never going remotely bald and can afford to dense pack a NW0

ehh balding from 15 with retrograde on sides and diffuse on scalp

 

[Dench57]

ehh balding from 15 with retrograde on sides and diffuse on scalp

Are you certain it's full retrograde? Some people thin slightly at the sides and nape but still retain a safe zone at the back

@shookwun posted a good pic earlier

I suggest intravenous dutasteride for the diffuse thinning

 

[CopeForLife]

View attachment 47908

Are you certain it's full retrograde? Some people thin slightly at the sides and nape but still retain a safe zone at the back

@shookwun posted a good pic earlier

I suggest intravenous dutasteride for the diffuse thinning

It is decent.

On my scalp I have more density than on the sides.

Napes are almost bald, there are like 20%.

Scalp was like Djokovic level but now it is diffused.

It escalated fast... Like no more than few weeks!

I had (and have) these temples from teens.

 

[JohnsonDDG]

It is decent.

On my scalp I have more density than on the sides.

Napes are almost bald, there are like 20%.

Scalp was like Djokovic level but now it is diffused.

It escalated fast... Like no more than few weeks!

I had (and have) these temples from teens.

How old is he? His face says late forties

 

[CopeForLife]

How old is he? His face says late forties

this photo was done around his 35 I think, he is 37 now

you can google tho, just type "ignashevich"

 

[hairblues]

this photo was done around his 35 I think, he is 37 now

you can google tho, just type "ignashevich"

wow to me he looks 50s...its so funny how some age better than others. Look at his eyes awful.

 

[CopeForLife]

wow to me he looks 50s...its so funny how some age better than others. Look at his eyes awful.

That's unfortunate.

 

[pjhair]

Rahal. I did north of 2500 grafts.

Rahal is my top choice for hair transplant as I want a densely packed NW1 hairline and he is a master of creating those. Other surgeon that I am considering is Raymond Konior.

 

[Afro_Vacancy]

Rahal is my top choice for hair transplant as I want a densely packed NW1 hairline and he is a master of creating those. Other surgeon that I am considering is Raymond Konior.

When did you change your mind?
You told me previously you didn't want a transplant.

 

[Dench57]

It is decent.

On my scalp I have more density than on the sides.

Napes are almost bald, there are like 20%.

Scalp was like Djokovic level but now it is diffused.

It escalated fast... Like no more than few weeks!

I had (and have) these temples from teens.

are you planning hair transplant for those subhuman temples? or dependent on finasteride stopping the diffuse thinning?

 

[pjhair]

When did you change your mind?
You told me previously you didn't want a transplant.

I am not 100% committed yet and probably wouldn't have transplant any time soon. But I have been looking at pics and videos of densely packed hairlines lately and really like them. Also, as the corners in my temples have gotten bigger in past two years, it's getting harder and harder to style my hair the way I like. It will be nice to not have to worry about it.

For next 1-3 years, I plan to just monitor my hair and see if my hairline continues to recede. If recession stops on it's own, great, otherwise I will jump on a treatment plan possibly starting with S5 cream and RU(still debating RU). If meds halt the hair loss then I will get a transplant when I am between 40 - 45 years old. If meds don't halt my hair loss, I will just wait and see when my hair loss stabilizes and final pattern emerges.Once I know my final pattern, I will get hair transplant if I am still left with sufficient hair. If not, I will try shaving my head to see if the look works on me. If not, I will be left with no option but toupee.

 

[pjhair]

If you can handle the scar I advice you go with a FUT procedure then. Large FUE procedures with Rahal are essentially a crapshoot with some cases having very poor yields while others are comparable to the FUT results. I'm understandably a bit nervous about my results for this reason. I made it clear to the Doctor before the procedure that I was going to document my results and experience extensively so I'll make sure to sound a clear warning to everyone if this turns out poorly.

The euro doctors tend to have more consistent yields but generally their designs are not as good. Feriduni is the rare bird of the flock in that he has very consistent yields and great artistic designs. This is also why he has a super-long waiting list, maybe the longest of all.

Looking forward to a gut-wrenching few months as things start to come in.

FUT is my preferred choice with Rahal because of the reasons you stated but it will take away the option of shaving my head if my hair loss continues to get worse. That's one of the reasons I just want to monitor my hair loss for next 5-10 years and see what my final pattern is.