Getting on with life

Stem cell; cell based hair therapy
1

Although I’ve rarely ever posted here, I’ve been lurking a lot and like most of you, I’ve been hoping and waiting for that breakthrough that never seems to come. I’ve actually been checking this site for a number of years now.

Seeing that no significant progress has been made in HM, I’ve decided to go for an FUE hair transplant instead (probably later this year). I’m a NW 3 to 4 so I think it’ll work out well for me-having seen the great results of people who’s hairloss is worse than mine.

Hair is a social handicap and the kind of thing you rarely think about when you have it. When you don’t its a blow to your confidence as we all know and have experienced.

I’m 35 now and don’t want to miss out on what’s left of my youth. I’d suggest the same to others who are in a similar position as mine. I can’t wait another 2 to 5 or 10 years on false hope. If in that time a cure is developed-excellent, I’ll buy into it then, but I’m not going to hold my breath. Life is short and not worth squandering on things that might not come to pass.

2

» Although I’ve rarely ever posted here, I’ve been lurking a lot and like
» most of you, I’ve been hoping and waiting for that breakthrough that never
» seems to come. I’ve actually been checking this site for a number of years
» now.
»
» Seeing that no significant progress has been made in HM, I’ve decided to
» go for an FUE hair transplant instead (probably later this year). I’m a NW
» 3 to 4 so I think it’ll work out well for me-having seen the great results
» of people who’s hairloss is worse than mine.
»
» Hair is a social handicap and the kind of thing you rarely think about
» when you have it. When you don’t its a blow to your confidence as we all
» know and have experienced.
»
» I’m 35 now and don’t want to miss out on what’s left of my youth. I’d
» suggest the same to others who are in a similar position as mine. I can’t
» wait another 2 to 5 or 10 years on false hope. If in that time a cure is
» developed-excellent, I’ll buy into it then, but I’m not going to hold my
» breath. Life is short and not worth squandering on things that might not
» come to pass.

i used to think hair transplants were my ace in the hole, and i thought soon hey even if its 20,000 dollars, i can have a great head of hair and look normal again

the more i investigated the hair transplant board the last three years the less enthusiasm i have about transplants

I do know this, if you cannot get a handle on your hairloss and your hair is continuing to thin at a rapid pace, lets say towards a NW 6 or 7, I think you are wasting your money

if you are in your twenties you are too young to see the progession and eventual state of your future loss also, personal opinion

if you have stabilized your hair loss and you can say my hair has looked the same for 5 yrs or more i would say , you might think about a transplant

are you thinking about strip.? if so have you seen some of the nasty horrible scars out there,

have you considered future thinning? lets say you spend 30 or 40k on a nice transplant your hair looks fantastic, easy to do nowadays with the top surgeons out there. lets say you used up 7000 grafts.

ok now 10 yrs later you thin way more dramatically and you have a bald rim around the transplanted hairline on top that looked so great before

now you have pretty much tapped out your donor hair, 7k hairs, is getting to the upper limits, so what do you do now. ? if you just went bald naturally you would be ok shave your head whatever , Now you pretty much have no choice you HAVE to do something you have a freakish bald rim around a thick top and front hairline and you basically have no scalp donor hair left. so what now? body hair?

see what I mean

thats what would keep me from having a transplant. unknown future thinning

better to look naturally bald than look like a freak with an island of hair that you cannot fix

this is a real possibility that has happened to a lot of guys, especially ones who tap out their donor hair early in life

but it is not talked about much

there are tens of thousands of guys who wish they had never gotten a transplant

its not something to be entered into lightly

3

» » Although I’ve rarely ever posted here, I’ve been lurking a lot and like
» » most of you, I’ve been hoping and waiting for that breakthrough that
» never
» » seems to come. I’ve actually been checking this site for a number of
» years
» » now.
» »
» » Seeing that no significant progress has been made in HM, I’ve decided
» to
» » go for an FUE hair transplant instead (probably later this year). I’m a
» NW
» » 3 to 4 so I think it’ll work out well for me-having seen the great
» results
» » of people who’s hairloss is worse than mine.
» »
» » Hair is a social handicap and the kind of thing you rarely think about
» » when you have it. When you don’t its a blow to your confidence as we
» all
» » know and have experienced.
» »
» » I’m 35 now and don’t want to miss out on what’s left of my youth. I’d
» » suggest the same to others who are in a similar position as mine. I
» can’t
» » wait another 2 to 5 or 10 years on false hope. If in that time a cure
» is
» » developed-excellent, I’ll buy into it then, but I’m not going to hold
» my
» » breath. Life is short and not worth squandering on things that might
» not
» » come to pass.
»
» i used to think hair transplants were my ace in the hole, and i thought
» soon hey even if its 20,000 dollars, i can have a great head of hair and
» look normal again
»
» the more i investigated the hair transplant board the last three years the
» less enthusiasm i have about transplants
»
» I do know this, if you cannot get a handle on your hairloss and your hair
» is continuing to thin at a rapid pace, lets say towards a NW 6 or 7, I
» think you are wasting your money
»
» if you are in your twenties you are too young to see the progession and
» eventual state of your future loss also, personal opinion
»
» if you have stabilized your hair loss and you can say my hair has looked
» the same for 5 yrs or more i would say , you might think about a
» transplant
»
» are you thinking about strip.? if so have you seen some of the nasty
» horrible scars out there,
»
» have you considered future thinning? lets say you spend 30 or 40k on a
» nice transplant your hair looks fantastic, easy to do nowadays with the top
» surgeons out there. lets say you used up 7000 grafts.
»
» ok now 10 yrs later you thin way more dramatically and you have a bald rim
» around the transplanted hairline on top that looked so great before
»
» now you have pretty much tapped out your donor hair, 7k hairs, is getting
» to the upper limits, so what do you do now. ? if you just went bald
» naturally you would be ok shave your head whatever , Now you pretty much
» have no choice you HAVE to do something you have a freakish bald rim around
» a thick top and front hairline and you basically have no scalp donor hair
» left. so what now? body hair?
»
» see what I mean
»
» thats what would keep me from having a transplant. unknown future
» thinning
»
» better to look naturally bald than look like a freak with an island of
» hair that you cannot fix
»
» this is a real possibility that has happened to a lot of guys, especially
» ones who tap out their donor hair early in life
»
» but it is not talked about much
»
» there are tens of thousands of guys who wish they had never gotten a
» transplant
»
» its not something to be entered into lightly

Hangin’ just nailed it as well as it can be done. Thats precisely the problem with transplants. Look at old bald guys in their sixties…look at that donor area hard, now try to imagine spreading that sparse hair all over their heads. If you do a big strip, and thus have a big donor scar, a buzz is out of the question…if you FUE, you can at least still buzz and look like that you balded in a funny way (Zinedene Zidane) and just have a large bald spot in the back.

I would never transplant donor hair into the vertex bald spot, you really might need it for later up front…the whole board is comprised of men who know this fundamental truth about the severe limit of transplantation.

[

4

Hey,

The best way to “get on with life” is to stop thinking about hair loss. A transplant will not necessarily stop you from thining about your hair loss. Of course not thinking about something is very difficult to do, which is why I still visit this site. I hope everyone is well.

Best,
BB

5

So much depends on the lifetime loss situation that a person is in for.

Transplants for anyone who could go NW#6 are a risky idea AT BEST. We all know that. Under 30yo + NW#6 in the family should usually equal being rejected as a HT candidate on the spot.

But a NW#3 in his mid-30s, recently divorced and trying to be single again, probably only ever going to N#4-4.5 in his whole life . . . a round of 3000 grafts might be the best thing he ever did for his looks.

6

Thanks for the comments. To address a couple of points that were raised, I plan to get a FUE transplant not strip because I’ve seen how awful that can be. Also my hairloss is gradual, its thinning like my father’s so I expect to be a NW 6/7 in my 60’s. If I was balding rapidly I wouldn’t consider a transplant.

The aim is to get most of my hair back (via the transplant) so I can enjoy it now while I’m still in the prime of my life. Once I’m older and have settled down with a decent woman it won’t really matter if I go bald.

7

» Thanks for the comments. To address a couple of points that were raised, I
» plan to get a FUE transplant not strip because I’ve seen how awful that can
» be. Also my hairloss is gradual, its thinning like my father’s so I expect
» to be a NW 6/7 in my 60’s. If I was balding rapidly I wouldn’t consider a
» transplant.
»
» The aim is to get most of my hair back (via the transplant) so I can enjoy
» it now while I’m still in the prime of my life. Once I’m older and have
» settled down with a decent woman it won’t really matter if I go bald.

you completely missed the whole point

if you are headed to a NW7 And you go in now and thickly transplant the areas where you lost it and you look great, the more hair you use the worse it is

when you are in your 50s heading to the final stages you will not have enough hair to chase your balding, and you will have a thick crop of hair surrounded by a bald ring and you will not be able to fix it
you will have no donor hair left

then you will look like a freak

so you are saying since you will be in your 60s you wont mind it? think again

You would be a fool to get a transplant

8

hanginginthere
you completely missed the whole point

if you are headed to a NW7 And you go in now and thickly transplant the areas where you lost it and you look great, the more hair you use the worse it is

when you are in your 50s heading to the final stages you will not have enough hair to chase your balding, and you will have a thick crop of hair surrounded by a bald ring and you will not be able to fix it
you will have no donor hair left

then you will look like a freak

so you are saying since you will be in your 60s you wont mind it? think again

You would be a fool to get a transplant

How would he be a fool in his 50s/60s after using a virtually scar-free procedure like FUE in his mid 30s? I’m dying to hear an explanation… hopefully one without emoticons, crybaby comments, or calling people fools.

You’re quite the character hanging… you’re a member on a hair forum, you’re against the latest non-invasive hair transplant surgeries, you don’t believe in future hair treatments like cloning, and you can’t substantiate your so-called natural regime.

So please… by all means… go on.

.

9

» hanginginthere
» you completely missed the whole point
»
» if you are headed to a NW7 And you go in now and thickly transplant the
» areas where you lost it and you look great, the more hair you use the worse
» it is
»
» when you are in your 50s heading to the final stages you will not have
» enough hair to chase your balding, and you will have a thick crop of hair
» surrounded by a bald ring and you will not be able to fix it
» you will have no donor hair left
»
» then you will look like a freak
»
» so you are saying since you will be in your 60s you wont mind it? think
» again
»
» You would be a fool to get a transplant
»
» How would he be a fool in his 50s/60s after using a virtually scar-free
» procedure like FUE in his mid 30s? I’m dying to hear an explanation…
» hopefully one without emoticons, crybaby comments, or calling people
» fools.

Epiker, Rev is right. If you are thinning slowly and plan to use FUE, then I don’t think it is a problem if you become a NW6 or NW7. At worst you can have the transplanted hairs replanted somewhere else via FUE again - I’ve seen this happen.

I think the people to get best advice from are those who have had a HT and have gone through that experience, rather than someone who hasn’t.

10

» Epiker, Rev is right. If you are thinning slowly and plan to use FUE, then
» I don’t think it is a problem if you become a NW6 or NW7. At worst you can
» have the transplanted hairs replanted somewhere else via FUE again - I’ve
» seen this happen.
»
» I think the people to get best advice from are those who have had a HT and
» have gone through that experience, rather than someone who hasn’t.

Exactly, he could always get a very small fue session to see if the procedure leaves any “dot” scars before he continues. With FUE, he could always buzz his head in his 50s/ 60s and people will be none-the-wiser.

.

11

» » Thanks for the comments. To address a couple of points that were raised,
» I
» » plan to get a FUE transplant not strip because I’ve seen how awful that
» can
» » be. Also my hairloss is gradual, its thinning like my father’s so I
» expect
» » to be a NW 6/7 in my 60’s. If I was balding rapidly I wouldn’t consider
» a
» » transplant.
» »
» » The aim is to get most of my hair back (via the transplant) so I can
» enjoy
» » it now while I’m still in the prime of my life. Once I’m older and have
» » settled down with a decent woman it won’t really matter if I go bald.
»
» you completely missed the whole point
»
» if you are headed to a NW7 And you go in now and thickly transplant the
» areas where you lost it and you look great, the more hair you use the worse
» it is
»
» when you are in your 50s heading to the final stages you will not have
» enough hair to chase your balding, and you will have a thick crop of hair
» surrounded by a bald ring and you will not be able to fix it
» you will have no donor hair left
»
» then you will look like a freak
»
» so you are saying since you will be in your 60s you wont mind it? think
» again
»
» You would be a fool to get a transplant

I think many of these points are valid outside of the possibility of a future protocol. The OP is young. If he gets a FUE now, is it unlikley that ten years from now there won’t be a legitimate HM technique? How about in 15 years? I think anyone in their early 30s can safely get a HT and count on a future treatment that will nullify the downsides. The OP is 35 - I’d say he’s about as old as you can be and still safely bet on a future treatment being available in time to save him from the potential negatives.

That being said, I can think of a lot better ways to spend 20k than on a procedure that will not truly restore you hair and will still have most people assume you’re balding. If I were him, I’d try some more extreme dosages (15% minox formulas, Dut, etc.) and go bald gracefully with a buzz cut (don’t shave it bald - most guys think that’s a cool look, but it really, really isn’t for most men). But only he can make that decision.

12

» » Thanks for the comments. To address a couple of points that were raised,
» I
» » plan to get a FUE transplant not strip because I’ve seen how awful that
» can
» » be. Also my hairloss is gradual, its thinning like my father’s so I
» expect
» » to be a NW 6/7 in my 60’s. If I was balding rapidly I wouldn’t consider
» a
» » transplant.
» »
» » The aim is to get most of my hair back (via the transplant) so I can
» enjoy
» » it now while I’m still in the prime of my life. Once I’m older and have
» » settled down with a decent woman it won’t really matter if I go bald.
»
» you completely missed the whole point
»
» if you are headed to a NW7 And you go in now and thickly transplant the
» areas where you lost it and you look great, the more hair you use the worse
» it is
»
» when you are in your 50s heading to the final stages you will not have
» enough hair to chase your balding, and you will have a thick crop of hair
» surrounded by a bald ring and you will not be able to fix it
» you will have no donor hair left
»
» then you will look like a freak
»
» so you are saying since you will be in your 60s you wont mind it? think
» again
»
» You would be a fool to get a transplant

You have certainly painted a worst case scenario, and to think that anyone would enter into a HT after researching both doctors and techniques makes this scenario unlikely.

I dont think anyone who has done their research has to worry about such a result

13

» have you considered future thinning? lets say you spend 30 or 40k on a
» nice transplant your hair looks fantastic, easy to do nowadays with the top
» surgeons out there. lets say you used up 7000 grafts.
»
» ok now 10 yrs later you thin way more dramatically and you have a bald rim
» around the transplanted hairline on top that looked so great before
»
» now you have pretty much tapped out your donor hair, 7k hairs, is getting
» to the upper limits, so what do you do now. ? if you just went bald
» naturally you would be ok shave your head whatever , Now you pretty much
» have no choice you HAVE to do something you have a freakish bald rim around
» a thick top and front hairline and you basically have no scalp donor hair
» left. so what now? body hair?
»
» see what I mean
»
» thats what would keep me from having a transplant. unknown future
» thinning
»

The real question is, how does one know if their hairloss has stabalized? The OP is 35. Can he expect further loss? Or does loss continue throughout life until you’re a NW7?
» better to look naturally bald than look like a freak with an island of
» hair that you cannot fix

14

» hanginginthere
» you completely missed the whole point
»
» if you are headed to a NW7 And you go in now and thickly transplant the
» areas where you lost it and you look great, the more hair you use the worse
» it is
»
» when you are in your 50s heading to the final stages you will not have
» enough hair to chase your balding, and you will have a thick crop of hair
» surrounded by a bald ring and you will not be able to fix it
» you will have no donor hair left
»
» then you will look like a freak
»
» so you are saying since you will be in your 60s you wont mind it? think
» again
»
» You would be a fool to get a transplant
»
» How would he be a fool in his 50s/60s after using a virtually scar-free
» procedure like FUE in his mid 30s? I’m dying to hear an explanation…
» hopefully one without emoticons, crybaby comments, or calling people
» fools.
»
» You’re quite the character hanging… you’re a member on a hair forum,
» you’re against the latest non-invasive hair transplant surgeries, you don’t
» believe in future hair treatments like cloning, and you can’t substantiate
» your so-called natural regime.
»
» So please… by all means… go on.
»
»
»
» .

you are assuming that HM will be here by the time he gets into his 60s , otherwise if he progresses to a NW7 and has used up all his donor hair many years ago, then how is he going to fix the huge additional balding that has taken place with no scalp donor hair left? body hair? its iffy and expensive

if he taps out his donor hair early then goes to a NW7 he is totally screwed unless HM is here,

can you comprehend that…Little man?

15

» you are assuming that HM will be here by the time he gets into his 60s ,
» otherwise if he progresses to a NW7 and has used up all his donor hair many
» years ago, then how is he going to fix the huge additional balding that has
» taken place with no scalp donor hair left? body hair? its iffy and
» expensive
»
» if he taps out his donor hair early then goes to a NW7 he is totally
» screwed unless HM is here,
»
» can you comprehend that…Little man?

The only assumption I made was that you’d reply with another insulting, and rather uneducated comment. Nice touch calling me a Little Man.

Even if he lost the rest of his hair in his 60s, he could buzz his head without worry of hiding that unsightly scar associated with FUT. I’m pretty sure I already made that point.

.

16

» » you are assuming that HM will be here by the time he gets into his 60s ,
» » otherwise if he progresses to a NW7 and has used up all his donor hair
» many
» » years ago, then how is he going to fix the huge additional balding that
» has
» » taken place with no scalp donor hair left? body hair? its iffy and
» » expensive
» »
» » if he taps out his donor hair early then goes to a NW7 he is totally
» » screwed unless HM is here,
» »
» » can you comprehend that…Little man?
»
» The only assumption I made was that you’d reply with another insulting,
» and rather uneducated comment. Nice touch calling me a Little Man.
»
» Even if he lost the rest of his hair in his 60s, he could buzz his head
» without worry of hiding that unsightly scar associated with FUT. I’m pretty
» sure I already made that point.
»
»
»
»

no, you said how would he be a fool in his 60s if he used FUE now since it is scar free

who is talking about scars

I am talking about him having an island of hair, with a huge bald ring around it, that he cannot fix…since he tapped out his donor hair years ago

he himself admitted he is headed to NW7

guess that goes over your head

17

» no, you said how would he be a fool in his 60s if he used FUE now since it
» is scar free
»
» who is talking about scars
»
» I am talking about him having an island of hair, with a huge bald ring
» around it, that he cannot fix…since he tapped out his donor hair
» years ago
»
» he himself admitted he is headed to NW7
»
» guess that goes over your head

Who is talking about scars?
He is in his very first post !!!

.

18

» » no, you said how would he be a fool in his 60s if he used FUE now since
» it
» » is scar free
» »
» » who is talking about scars
» »
» » I am talking about him having an island of hair, with a huge bald ring
» » around it, that he cannot fix…since he tapped out his donor
» hair
» » years ago
» »
» » he himself admitted he is headed to NW7
» »
» » guess that goes over your head
»
» Who is talking about scars?
» He is in his very first post !!!
»
»
»
» .

what good is having no scarring…anyone can do that if they get FUE assuming they dont overharvest the donor

what good is no scars if you look like a freak with a bald ring around an island of hair

i would choose scars over that situation

that was my point in telling him he is a fool to get a transplant

obviously you think he is a good choice for a tranplant being he is only headed for a NW SEVEN :smiley: :smiley: :smiley:

Yes anyone headed to a NW7 those guys are the best candidates for transplants arent they…:rotfl:

19

» what good is having no scarring…anyone can do that if
» they get FUE assuming they dont overharvest the donor
»
» what good is no scars if you look like a freak with a bald ring around an
» island of hair
»
» i would choose scars over that situation
»
» that was my point in telling him he is a fool to get a transplant
»
» obviously you think he is a good choice for a tranplant being he is only
» headed for a NW SEVEN :smiley: :smiley: :smiley:
»
» Yes anyone headed to a NW7 those guys are the best candidates for
» transplants arent they…:rotfl:

First. Seriously, you talk too much. try to condense your comments. I don’t have time to spoon feed you common facts.
Second. Please try to cut-back on the freak/ fool garbage. you’re 42. act like it.
Third. He’s a NW3/4 which means any procedure will involve filling in the head (not just building a hairline)… which means no rings (even if he shed the rest of his hair).
Fourth. He could get a medium density NW3 procedure & buzz his head anytime he wants – illusion of hair achieved.
Fifth. It’s his decision, and his money.
Sixth. Any good surgeon will advise him of his options/ drawbacks.
Seventh. You’re not a surgeon.

.

20

you fill in the head on a nw 3, keep chasing that balding, then later you go to a NW7, You are going to have a huge bald ring, surrounding a thick tuft of hair on the top…and no donor hair left…

this is what he can expect if he fills in his hair now, at a lower norwood level, and then progresses later to a NW7

then where is he going to get the hair to fill THIS in once he already tapped out his donor to have a nice thick top…NOWHERE , unless HM comes to the rescue…and he still has body hair as an option but look at that HUGE BALD RING, how is body hair going to fix that?