Who is delaying hair transplant and waiting on HM? And does it matter?

[casperz]

After a year of applying all kinds of crap to my scalp and taking finasteride and a shitload of
vitamins I'm at the point where I realize that my hair is not going to return
to how it was when I was say 25 before my hairloss started. I've gotten good
results to go from almost slick to where I am but the bottom line is I'm still
bald. And I think the biggest gains are behind me. What I've regained at one
year is what... maybe 90% of what I'm getting back?

So I need to decide if I want to go ahead and do hair transplant now or wait and do
HM if and when it comes out.

Does anyone think that getting a hair transplant now in any way would affect the possibility of
getting HM later. Would the scaring from hair transplant make it impossible to get HM?

Is hair transplant really cosmetically acceptable or do you still look like your thinning? The pictures
look great but what's it like in person? If it's so great why do big name celebs not all do
it? Does it look un-natural?

And will HM look natural and give us the hair of a young guy again?

What would you guys do?

 

[Petchsky]

Hey casperz,

I think this would be better in hair transplant section.

If i were you i'd get a hair transplant now. I cannot see a hair transplant interfering with HM. In fact quite the opposite. Some believe that when HM comes out you will still need a hair transplant Dr to carry out work on the hairline, as this needs to be a soft look with many 1 hair grafts being implanted, as naturally, the hairline is not as thick as the rest of your hair.

The best advise anyone can give you about a H/T is three things, research, research, you guessed it, research! You can get excellent results from a hair transplant if you choose the right Dr. There are still many crooks in the H/T industry and doing your research ensures you avoid these people. You will never get back the hair you had at 21, give it up...but you can get very good coverage, and that thing you need...a hairline.

Go on consultations, meet previous patients, all top clinics arrange this for you as they know seeing is believing and use the H/T section here, lots of experienced people to help you along the way.

 

[Hope4hair]

I believe the wisest step would be to wait for HM.

HM is an up and coming treatment. There is a lot of debate surrounding HM, of how many years away we are from actual HM treatment, of whether it will work as well as we hope , of how much it will cost, of the waiting list (supply verses demand) and so on. Although there are a lot of issues with HM, I think the best possibility is surely to wait.

We know that, for example, most electonic products only get better and cheaper. We know that today, in the 21st century, Science is making unparalleled breakthroughs. Science and technology is making breakthroughs that even 50 years ago we wouldn't have dreamt possible. Take the mobile phone for example - although in today's world we now take this pieice of technology for granted, 50 years ago this would have seemed impossible.

There is now much evidence to suggest that HM is well on its way. Intercytex and Follica are both working on it, and there may be numerous other companies working on it. I am only 19 so I wouldn't mind waiting five or even ten years to have HM. I don't know how old you are - but at least wait another five to ten years, and by that stage we will all have a better idea of the reality of HM. If it isn't here in ten years, like scientists, doctors and many male pattern baldness sufferers have been predicting then perhaps it may not even happen in our lifetime - but I have a strong gut feeling that it will happen within the next five years or so.

To me hair transplant's look tacky and horrible. Although I am no authority on them, they seem very expensive for what they are, and they don't solve the problem. And you'll need to keep on having transplants as you hair recedes. The whole process seems, to me, impracticable and fruitless. In fact all the current 'treatments' seem to me impracticable and fruitless. All these lotions, creams, pills, Lazer combs and what have-you do not do much for an individual with male pattern baldness. Work on acceptance of who you are. Wait for HM. This is my thought.

 

[debris]

Well if you can afford waiting 5-15 years, then sure why not.

 

[Matt27]

I'm not delaying anything. I'll be sitting in Rahal's chair in a little over 3 months. I still believe HM (or something similar, i.e. Follica) will be out in ~10 years (hopefully sooner), but I'll be in my mid 40's in 10 years so what's the point of waiting? Maybe if you're 12 or 14 you can afford to wait, but if you're already in your 20's or older you'll be wasting a lot of years.

Of course this only applies if hair loss effects you. If it doesn't then you might as well wait forever.

 

[BlahBlah12]

Im not exactly waiting on HM. But, I would like to know there is some kind of working protocol before I make a decision. If I heard tomorrow that one of the companies working on it made a huge breakthrough and are now offering treatment, even if not perfected, i would book a transplant and fix my hairline immediately. then fix up the remaining hair as necessary with the new technology

 

[CCS]

If you are going to need hair transplant for your hairline later, I would save the donor hair. Though I think the front is supposed to be as thick as the rest. It is just thinner on thinning hair.

I got at least 2800 grafts, and my grafts are less than 1/3 as thick as my other hair. You need a LOT of grafts if you want nearly natural density. 50% does not look like full density, except in certain photographs.

If you got a small area, maybe do hair transplant. But if you got a big area, give the new hair pieces a try. Might take $500 away from your hair transplant money though, but you got much thicker hair that way, and no scars or lost donor hair. The best time to get a piece is when you don't have grafts under it ruining the bond.

 

[uncomfortable man]

HM? Pull up a coffin, you're going to be waiting till yer dead.

 

[Petchsky]

HM? Pull up a coffin, you're going to be waiting till yer dead.

LOL pull up a coffin :mrgreen: - that tickled me

 

[iwantperfection]

all this talk about hm annoys me. you guys are tripping. seriously. You all talk about it like it if becomes available it will be as easy and as cheap as going to the local pharmacy to buy a bottle of rogaine. guys hm hairs need cultured and IMPLANTED!hence at very least 4$ a hair. meaning nw4+ will be paying megabucks. hm to me is no cure.. its an hair transplant with unlimited donor hairs. the real cure is when something can be taken to prevent baldness. Most guys here cant afford hair transplant. so hm? keep dreaming.

 

[casperz]

Now, here I am after 3 hair transplant's and over 7,000 FU's later with my "see-through" hair on top - still looking balder than ever.

That is the very reason why I've decided to wait for HM. It may
be a long wait but it's better than spending a wad of cash on
see through hair. I want the cure that gives me the hair
I had at 16, not a band aid fix like we have now where the best
you can hope for is a "mature hairline". Which is the biggest line
of BS any hair transplant doctor has ever used.

 

[Whoop]

all this talk about hm annoys me. you guys are tripping. seriously. You all talk about it like it if becomes available it will be as easy and as cheap as going to the local pharmacy to buy a bottle of rogaine. guys hm hairs need cultured and IMPLANTED!hence at very least 4$ a hair. meaning nw4+ will be paying megabucks. hm to me is no cure.. its an hair transplant with unlimited donor hairs. the real cure is when something can be taken to prevent baldness. Most guys here cant afford hair transplant. so hm? keep dreaming.

You're right about the fact that it will be an expensive thing. Though I do not think it will be unaffordable. Sure at first prices will be very high as there will be enough 'early adopters' to take this at a very high price.
But in a later stage when competition shows up it will get affordable. They don't want to create something they can't sell because it's too expensive right?

Yes it will be expensive, no megabucks though

 

[TheOne]

Histogens predicted price for it's hair version of regenica , if it gets to market is 5 grand if I recall correctly.

 

[Whoop]

Histogens predicted price for it's hair version of regenica , if it gets to market is 5 grand if I recall correctly.

They could have said that just to be attractive to the public and thus for investors. I think 5 grand is very cheap and too good to be true, but then again, I'm no scientist and Histogen is half past dead anyways .

 

[uncomfortable man]

As discouraging as Histogen going down along with icx and follicia before that and countless others before that, the fact that there was another company right behind them getting ever closer is an encouraging thing. I have hope for this, as foolish as that sounds.

 

[CCS]

When they die, do they pass their findings on to other hair companies, or just scrap it all?

 

[banco]

When they die, do they pass their findings on to other hair companies, or just scrap it all?

If they have patents etc. they would probably be sold in a fire sale if the company went under.