Why don't many men consider hair transplants?

[helpimonly15]

I'm only 15 & I'm already certainly considering it, however I was born with a bad hairline so I don't know if I'll have the option

 

[Willowwisp]

they should

they should

 

[F2005]

I turned 44 last summer. I survived far longer than i ever anticipated (noticed in mid 20's i was receding) and now I'm finally entering NW3 territory and it "looks" like my pattern will be mainly frontal loss, with a caveat, of course. I've recession in the corners and noticed my frontal core has been diminishing in width (just about 10% remaining of original hairline) and is thinning out. It's starting to impact my looks, making me look older and tired. So, i've an interest in treating it. I would think I'm nearly an ideal transplant candidate, advanced age, minimal loss and probably could be fixed up to look 100% non-balding. I have money, so finances are not an issue. But, i'm hesistant to get a hair transplant and here's why:

1. And this is the main reason holding me back - I don't know how extensive my loss will get. As i menitioned i've held up well but, my front has taken a beating. Frontal loss is a non-issue as it's easily fixable, but the crown is not. So far my crown looks good, but (there's always a but) I notice my whorl doesn't have as much hair as it used to, the gap has increased in size. There is no noticeable bald spot but it's definitely not where it was even 5 years ago. So, maybe something is cooking there. The top of my head, in general, has thinned a bit. It's not visible thining but, based on touch i can tell it's taken a hit. So, I don't know what's going on and the fear of going full NW5-6 in the next 10 yrs, or even less, prevents me from pulling the trigger. Losing it at the crown would make a frontal transplant look weird, IMO, and is keeping me from taking the plunge. I've seen guys who reach their late 30's and then within 5 years they go significantly bald. So it's very possible it could happen. If i knew it was going to stay contained to just frontal i would go ahead with hair transplant, but the uncertainty is troubling.

2. My donor is not the densest hair ever - probably considered average. Plus my hair diameter i think is probably considered thin. Never measured it but it's pretty fine and brown/blonde in color. Most of the good results i see are from people with dense donor and thick diameter hairs. So, i don't know how well i would fare, even with good growth from a dense transplant.

3. Related to number 1, i'm not willing to take propecia. Tried it, had horrible side effects. I'm not messing with it. I can take minoxidil but that gives me sides too. There is always an adjustment period for me where it's making me feel light headed and dizzy for weeks on end. It's not pleasant and that's on once a day dosing. It affects my blood pressure which is what causes the dizziness. So, i hesitate to take it. So, basically my male pattern baldness will progress unabated.

4. This is a minor issue, but still is in play: I wouldn't want people to know. My workplace is a gossip mill. The overhead lighting is brutal and hats are not really something that is acceptable as it's a professional environment. The recovery period from hair transplant would be nearly impossible to hide from people. Especially if i went fue and shaved my head. I cringe to think of the chatter that would generate. This wouldn't hold me be back from a procedure, but, it's just another factor which adds up with the others.

5. Results are not guaranteed. Even the best surgeons have the occasional flop.

I'm on the fence and the reasons above are the main reasons why. I haven't done a in person consult yet, so, that would be something i need to do to get a better idea of my prognosis. I'd need a doctor who'd give me an honest assessment and would do a thorough miniaturization mapping. Docs i'd consider: Konior, Cooley, H&W, Rahal

Anyway, just thought i'd share my 2 cents. You guys who are young and going through this have my deepest sympathies. It's not an easy thing at any age but being young is just flat out unfair.

I agree with a lot of your points and that is why I haven't gotten a hair transplant. The flaws and limitations of the procedure make it far from an ideal or mainstream solution for hair loss. I've seen stats bandied about that only like 5% of hair loss sufferers get hair transplant's due to these drawbacks. Like you, I cannot take finasteride either because I got terrible side effects. And I believe that it is essential to get your hair loss stabilized before you proceed with a big procedure like an hair transplant. So since I am unable to take finasteride, my hair loss has progressed and will progress even further. If you do not have your hair loss stabilized, then you are just constantly playing "catch-up" in trying to fill in areas of hair loss that you are going to continue to lose, and will therefore be a never-ending, uphill battle.

I also hear what you are saying with point number 5. On the other forum, there is a poor guy who had a botched hair transplant by some one who was apparently a highly-regarded IAHRS surgeon. Even the best surgeons can have bad days, and they are only going to post their best results. It's like Spencer from the other forum says "once you are cut, you are cut". I've read horror stories from hair transplant casualty patients who say that although hair loss is bad, being butchered by an hair transplant is 100 times worse. And given the limitations of an hair transplant, I do not want to put all my eggs in that one basket and eliminate the option of shaving my head.

It also cannot create anything close to a full head of hair. I come from the rock n roll scene and one of the main reasons why hair loss hit me so hard is that I can no longer look like some of my favorite hard rock musicians. And the look of a buzzcut or a "frame" for my face will not even come close to achieving the look that I so desire. Facts are facts: an hair transplant cannot even come close to achieving even the look of a full head of hair. And although a frame for the face does help, I don't think it does all that much if you have a bald crown. And that is the last thing that I want: some kind of hairline but a big bald spot in the back.

Believe me though, I can understand where some guys are coming from. Shookwun was apparently only an Norwood 2.5 and got his hair loss stabilized through medication so he was a very good candidate. And Fred started losing his hair younger than anyone I've ever heard of, so I can sympathize with the devastation, and the desperation to do anything humanly possible to get out of being horseshoe bald in his early 20's. I do not know what the hell I would've done if I started to lose my hair as a teenager.

 

[testingit]

Even if I had all the money in the world, there are limitations today to hair transplants with the fact it relies on the donor hair from the sides and back. Especially with certain hair types, it can be difficult to provide someone who is (or destined) for NW7 to end up with a full looking head of hair. I've seen a few pictures of guys going from slick bald to hair transplant and in some cases it looks like you get just a few strands to comb through to pretend you have real hair. Then there are others that look better but hair transplant is clearly not a full proof way to fix things. Yes better than the old hair plugs and other methods of the past, but still far from perfect. Not everyone is a good candidate for transplant either. Secondly, unless you can stop your loss or have stopped balding, a transplant today is meaningless down the road. And another fact is that if you keep balding and decide to just 'shave' it off you could end up with visible scarring even with FUE.

Now with replicel or hair cloning this could be a totally different game. Of course we are who knows how many years away from that ever being available.

 

[what]

I agree with a lot of your points and that is why I haven't gotten a hair transplant. The flaws and limitations of the procedure make it far from an ideal or mainstream solution for hair loss. I've seen stats bandied about that only like 5% of hair loss sufferers get hair transplant's due to these drawbacks. Like you, I cannot take finasteride either because I got terrible side effects. And I believe that it is essential to get your hair loss stabilized before you proceed with a big procedure like an hair transplant. So since I am unable to take finasteride, my hair loss has progressed and will progress even further. If you do not have your hair loss stabilized, then you are just constantly playing "catch-up" in trying to fill in areas of hair loss that you are going to continue to lose, and will therefore be a never-ending, uphill battle.

I also hear what you are saying with point number 5. On the other forum, there is a poor guy who had a botched hair transplant by some one who was apparently a highly-regarded IAHRS surgeon. Even the best surgeons can have bad days, and they are only going to post their best results. It's like Spencer from the other forum says "once you are cut, you are cut". I've read horror stories from hair transplant casualty patients who say that although hair loss is bad, being butchered by an hair transplant is 100 times worse. And given the limitations of an hair transplant, I do not want to put all my eggs in that one basket and eliminate the option of shaving my head.

It also cannot create anything close to a full head of hair. I come from the rock n roll scene and one of the main reasons why hair loss hit me so hard is that I can no longer look like some of my favorite hard rock musicians. And the look of a buzzcut or a "frame" for my face will not even come close to achieving the look that I so desire. Facts are facts: an hair transplant cannot even come close to achieving even the look of a full head of hair. And although a frame for the face does help, I don't think it does all that much if you have a bald crown. And that is the last thing that I want: some kind of hairline but a big bald spot in the back.

Believe me though, I can understand where some guys are coming from. Shookwun was apparently only an Norwood 2.5 and got his hair loss stabilized through medication so he was a very good candidate. And Fred started losing his hair younger than anyone I've ever heard of, so I can sympathize with the devastation, and the desperation to do anything humanly possible to get out of being horseshoe bald in his early 20's. I do not know what the hell I would've done if I started to lose my hair as a teenager.

If there were some way to slow or halt hairloss, i'd go ahead with the hair transplant in a minute. Something like histogen where i knew i could take it and not suffer any side effects. That's all i would need - i'm not even asking for regrowth, just stop it or slow it down considerably . Unfortunately, we don't even have that and it's 2016. It's a bummer for sure. Especially when you've been hanging around these forums for years and years watching promising treatments and research announcements come and go.

- - - Updated - - -

Even if I had all the money in the world, there are limitations today to hair transplants with the fact it relies on the donor hair from the sides and back. Especially with certain hair types, it can be difficult to provide someone who is (or destined) for NW7 to end up with a full looking head of hair. I've seen a few pictures of guys going from slick bald to hair transplant and in some cases it looks like you get just a few strands to comb through to pretend you have real hair. Then there are others that look better but hair transplant is clearly not a full proof way to fix things. Yes better than the old hair plugs and other methods of the past, but still far from perfect. Not everyone is a good candidate for transplant either. Secondly, unless you can stop your loss or have stopped balding, a transplant today is meaningless down the road. And another fact is that if you keep balding and decide to just 'shave' it off you could end up with visible scarring even with FUE.

Now with replicel or hair cloning this could be a totally different game. Of course we are who knows how many years away from that ever being available.

Agree with this. I'm keeping my eye on piloscopy and hoping that will usher in a new era of non visible scarring hair transplant's. Though the dr's trials seem to be proceeding at a glacial pace.

 

[HLTMichaelSheen]

Why is hair transplant not recommended for young men(18-25) ?

 

[Thinning Sucks]

My main issue is how many days of recovery time after for example FUE that the graphs are visable red and scaly? Do FUE implants heal faster these days than older graphs?

 

[shookwun]

The recovery sucks. Expect redness to last 3-6 months before it completely dissipates. (especially for fair skinned)

Major surgeries will take awhile to heal, and being bluntly obvious.

When I had my NW3 transplanted, I came in thinking the surgeon would work around my hair and just transplant the bare spots, but that wasn't the case, The entire frontal third was shaven down, and the whole surrounding areas including forelock were all reinforced. More or less the technique is in addition to the sly areas, future spots are reinforced for the inevitable.

it's important to understand that transplants are a long term goal, and you need to work with your surgeon accordingly. it's to be expected additional work will need to be done.

That being said I think to many people jump into the whole idea they will be fine after one transplant, for most that will not be the case. hence why the surgeon, and you need to create a long term plan for your hair loss.






I would strongly advice against FUE. This method is good for advance hair loss suffers that need additional grafts harvested, but for those on the lower scale I don't see it being a good approach. Not only is recovery extremely long, but you will have a great deal of shock loss around the scared area for a couple months if not more. What should concern those the most who opt for FUT is that their is guarantee that the scar will be pencil thin. Shock loss, scar tissue build up and many other factors can happen. it may even be permanent

 

[myfish]

Hair transplant is expensive and not work well (heard from people that worked there). Regarding about not working is understandable, if the scalp as soil for the plants to grow, and if the soil is not healthy, the plants will eventually die too.

The doctor might give u hormone to stay longer, this time your body will be affected by female hormone:sad:

 

[Cue Bald]

I've like to get nose job to fix my bent and ugly nose, but I haven't because I'd have no idea where to go to get one, how to avoid a butcher "Michael Jackson" clinic, and the fear of walking into a clinic and being laughed out for being a male.
Then there's all the embarassment of all my friends and colleagues saying "omg you got a nose job? i didn't know you were gay?" and stuff like that. fact is a decent nose can massively improve a bald face subconsciously when it comes to girls. All the websites have pictures of pretty smiling girls on them.
I guess it is the intimidation of going into a medical setting for something like this that puts people off. I know I'd love a nose job if they came to my house with their sterile tools and did the job here.

 

[jaycarleton]

I think no doubt the biggest issue for many is simply stigma and lack of knowledge. A good hair transplant was considered impossible not too long ago, and seeing how they looked before I can see why. People assume that they look bad because its invasive surgery, and also because for the most part cosmetic surgery is frowned upon(at least in Western society), and this goes double for men who are almost exclusively the candidates.

Also, secondary reasons likely include the associated costs, as well as the fact the majority of men have a good head of hair well into their later years and simply don't consider it a big enough issue to warrant surgery.

 

[Viper5]

I am currently considering this.

 

[AlexieJ]

For men hair transplants can be a big deal because of some reasons. One could be money issue, let's admit that hair transplant is expensive and if you want to undergo that process you really need to go to the real expert otherwise don't do it. Another reason is since you're not fully oriented of the things that might happen you are then afraid to try it. Of course, we should consider so many things before consider hair transplants.

 

[Joan]

I've like to get nose job to fix my bent and ugly nose, but I haven't because I'd have no idea where to go to get one, how to avoid a butcher "Michael Jackson" clinic, and the fear of walking into a clinic and being laughed out for being a male.
Then there's all the embarassment of all my friends and colleagues saying "omg you got a nose job? i didn't know you were gay?" and stuff like that. fact is a decent nose can massively improve a bald face subconsciously when it comes to girls. All the websites have pictures of pretty smiling girls on them.
I guess it is the intimidation of going into a medical setting for something like this that puts people off. I know I'd love a nose job if they came to my house with their sterile tools and did the job here.

I had a successful rhinoplasty when I was 15 (I'm 52 now). It literally changed my life. You can check out RealSelf, where you can see many before/after pictures and read doctor reviews. Regarding Michael Jackson, he chose to have numerous revisions, which a reputable surgeon simply would refuse to do. I do understand your hesitancy because of friends'/colleagues' reactions. You can simply tell them you had your deviated septum repaired. My son is losing his hair at 20 (started when he was 18). Unfortunately, he inherited my old nose. I feel as you do, that a decent nose would make a world of difference on a bald face, or any face really. I'm hoping he'll choose to have a rhinoplasty when his hair starts looking really bad.

 

[oye_rg]

I old (late thirties) and responding well to treatments for 10 months. I want to give it atleast 2 years to find out how much treatment can do and will think about transplant once its not improving any more.

 

[Thinning Sucks]

The recovery time is my issue. Having to take off work and not being able to walk in public. Surprised FUE stays red so long.

 

[shookwun]

The recovery time is my issue. Having to take off work and not being able to walk in public. Surprised FUE stays red so long.

The donor zone isn't a problem for recovery. it's major surger that involves the recipient area that poses the biggest down time for recovery.

 

[Eazy12]

Id rather have micropigmentation than a hair transplant