HAIR TRANSPLANT FORUM

Dr. Cole is out of town until tuesday, we will try to give you our 2 cents on your situation.
Here is the link to the photos:
http://www.forhair.com/hairtransplant/a ... ser_id=513

I think you have a nice looking head too.

You appear to be a Norwood 3. So you are not in bad shape at 29. Considering FIT is wise if want to keep a tighter hair cut (it seems to suit you) without the worry of visible donor scarring.

To me your hairline request is reasonable as is the graft count you suggested. Good work

Medium/fine hair, while not advantageous for overall coverage, will produce a soft and natural hairline with the use of irregularly placed single hair follicular units.

Density - hair and follicular - is best measure under magnification. But I do not think that your donor area presents a problem given your goals.

If you have not noted extreme hair loss in your family it is a good sign.

If the minox and the finasteride are treating you well (with no side effects) you may want to just stick with them (just my opinion). Keep the advodart idea in your back pocket for later if need be.

While strip does have its place, I fully agree that well executed Follicular Isolation will offer many advantages and an overall better result. Dr. Cole is masterful in both of these arenas.

Don't know what to say about your "vein self." I know you were joking but vanity has a negative connotation to me. It is important to remember that while hair loss will not kill you, it does really hurt some people. Some people could care less, others are devastated by it. For a good, level headed, and informed candidate, there is no shame in seeking out hair restoration solutions.

I agree with FIT LOCKS that you are a class3A. the hair line you have drawn in is not too aggressive, but it is a significant advancement over the existing hair line. You will also need some grafts in the frontal forelock that you presently have. I feel this degree of advancement will require between 1200 to 1500 grafts. The 1000 that you have noted will be acceptable if you raise the hairline slightly or are comfortable with a lower density.

The donor area appears average in terms of density. I suspect the follicular density is slightly below average. This will not affect you should you remain a class 3A, but it it advances, you could run into problems with enough hair to keep up with the advancing hair loss. therefore, i recommend that you stay on the propecia and perhaps rogaine. since the propecia is holding things for now, i would stay on this for a while longer rather than moving to avodart. we simply don't know the long term consequences of avodart in the young patient. there are plenty of guys out there willing to take their chances with avodart. there is no question that avodart is more effective based on phase II clinical trials. if you are not responding to propecia, you should definitely consider a move to avodart. avodart will not grow back the hair at your hairline.

with your very short hair, you should not consider a strip. also, you age presents a problem too. furthermore, a strip scar might bother you later in life. You appear to be reasonable comfortable with you hair loss. therefore, there is no reason to create a surgical incision that has the capacity to make you self conscious.

i suspect you had a higher hairline in the past based on your photos. the hairline you want now is a mature hairline.