My story and...Shaving after FIT?

Bradley

New to this site, although I have bean an active member of other forums since i first started realizing I was loosing my hair in febuary of this year. Im 25 years old and a NW 2ish. Mostly my right temple has receeded back much worse than my left. Everything else is looking good. Despite some minor side effects, the Propecia has stabalized my hair loss quite well. Dr. Cole seems to be the best of the best and I plan at some point in the future to seek his services. The question is when and how long I can put up with my hair loss. Here comes my question: How short can one shave his head after FIT. I want to have a back-up plan. Say I wanted to get some touch -up in the hairline, and perhaps have a few sessions of Fit as the Hair Loss progresses. BUT, years down the road when hairloss has gotten the best of me or i simply dont want to have anymore HT's I decide to shave my head. How short can I shave it. Is it ever going to be possilbe to "bic" the scalp? I have heard mixed answers to this questions and would like to see where any of the doctors stand on it. Scarring? How natural would a hairline look shaved? any responses would be greatly appreciated...

FITLocks

You will be able to clip your hair with a #1 guard without evidence of surgery (with FIT). Some patients will be able to bic there heads and some will not.

The hairline will look natural shaved down because of the way the grafts are angled and directed.

Bradley

Much thanks for the helpful replies. At earliest convenience, further questions I have....

1) Is the scaring from the donor area (where the graft is punched out) equivalent to the potential scaring in the recipient area (hairline)? In other words, when shaving ones head post FIT, is the potential scaring just from the back of the head or is there scaring in the front as well?

2) Early twenties is young for any HT. So of course I struggle with the balance between waiting for future technology and having the work done. Do you feel future technology will allow for less and less scaring when doing FIT. It is my understanding that the tools for removal of grafts designed by IHTI are becoming smaller and smaller with time. If anyone could comment on this, it would be much appreciated.

3) I understand it varies, but could you please comment on the rate of shock loss when one implements FIT - especially in the hairline.

Again, much thanks for any replies...this is a great website for such a revolutionary technique. I am surprised there are not more postings on it. One last thing, in the last 7 moths of reading over five major hair restoration forums....I have never heard one negative comment made directly about Dr. Cole or IHTI. I have a feeling that in the realm of cyber hairloss, this is impressive! Congrats...

Skywalker

How short can I shave it. Is it ever going to be possilbe to "bic" the scalp?

It's the $64,000 dollar question - it seems to be a combination of extraction size and personal physiology but the quantification of these variables is vague to put it mildly.
Basically nobody appears to be able to confidently predict what you will end up with unless they are bullsh*tting you. It is my biggest worry and is very frustrating. For people who never want to buzz below a #1 cut I figure it should be alright.

FITLocks

Bradley,

The hairline will have no visible scarring as grafts are being placed into the incisions. The donor will have inconspicuous gaps or very small white dots in some cases.

Technology always improves. HTs have improved dramatically in the past 10 years. FIT is cutting edge now but it will get better.

Shockloss can happen. With the type of heavy magnification we use the trauma is usually very small. You must accept the small risk with the knowlegde that Dr. Cole and the team do everything possible to avoid shock.

Skywalker,

I can say with confidence that FIT is undetectable with a no. 1 shave. I feel that a full shave can be noticeable in the donor from a few feet away. This is a limitation that we might overcome with FIT/hair farming (moving body hair into the donor area of the scalp)

Skywalker

I can say with confidence that FIT is undetectable with a no. 1 shave. I feel that a full shave can be noticeable in the donor from a few feet away. This is a limitation that we might overcome with FIT/hair farming (moving body hair into the donor area of the scalp)

FitLocks, I think what you guys are doing is very exciting, and frankly if I was even 10 years younger I would wait it out, but the truth of the matter is I am out of time. I cut below no.1 and have done for years (stubble length), I have (in my opinion) the right shaped head for it and in my opinion this is the way to take maximum advantage of 'less is more'. The problem is I think at 1mm stubble length the extractions might well be noticeable in the donor and if they are it screws up my whole gameplan. A tough call to make, which is why I keep prevaricating Sad

Skywalker

I can say with confidence that FIT is undetectable with a no. 1 shave. I feel that a full shave can be noticeable in the donor from a few feet away. This is a limitation that we might overcome with FIT/hair farming (moving body hair into the donor area of the scalp)

FitLocks, I think what you guys are doing is very exciting, and frankly if I was even 10 years younger I would wait it out, but the truth of the matter is I am out of time. I cut below no.1 and have done for years (stubble length), I have (in my opinion) the right shaped head for it and in my opinion this is the way to take maximum advantage of 'less is more'. The problem is I think at 1mm stubble length the extractions might well be noticeable in the donor and if they are it screws up my whole gameplan. A tough call to make, which is why I keep prevaricating Sad

Bradley

Sky,
Whats your age and NW please....just curious. Are you a virgin scalp? I had that fear as well, but #1 is pretty dam short especially if you have light blond hair. My gameplan sounds very similar. Get FIT done and hold on to my hair as long as I can, probably multiple sessions...and in the next ten or so years either hope for a miracle in HM or future treatment or shave it all off. At least i should have a filled in hairline and i think ill be able to live with a little exposure on the crown. These are my expectations and I feel that they are atleast somewhat realistic. My fear at present (and they do change as I research more and more) is shockloss. Ive been hearing some horror stories on other forums recently. I do have some hair left in my recipient areas right now and surely dont want to loose that.

Skywalker

Bradley,
you are in a much much better position than me, to be honest as a NW2 I am surprised you are doing anything. I am about 40, NW6+, fine calibre black hair with low density. I do not use or believe in the efficacy of Finasteride or Dutasteride or minoxidil for a NW6, I think the side-effects and risks are unacceptable anyway but that is just me. I am a virgin scalp. I am not personally worried about shock loss at all as I do not have any hair in the recipient area left! I have had a consultation with Dr Cole and he agrees my hair characteristics are crap Sad