Hair Worries

[OhAmanda]

I've learned a lot about hair transplants and forehead reduction surgery by searching posts here and at other sites recently, and am not sure how to proceed.

I have a bald spot in back, thinning up top, and a receded hairline, Norwood 5 or so.  There is a family history of hair loss; I am 47 and usually wear a buzz cut.  I also have always had a high hairline.  All of which to say this is a big job and I'm not even sure it's viable.  I just want to wear simple shoulder length hair when I have fully transitioned, but if it's too thin on top I wonder if that's even possible. 

Users here and elsewhere have advised if getting forehead reduction surgery to do it before getting transplants b/c of scars but in my unique case I would need multiple transplants.  At least one doctor I've seen advises in cases like mine getting a hairline transplant first before reduction, and the scars can be covered in a later transplant.

I have so much forehead to deal with that a 2 stage treatment with an inflatable device may yield best results (would love to hear from anyone who had this). I'm not sure I can justify spending for a 1 stage treatment as it seems to give only 1-2 cm.

Options include
-just get hair transplants
-transplant, forehead reduction surgery, and another transplant
-Wear a good wig, look fabulous, stop worrying about hair, and spend the $$$ on FFS and maybe hips/buttocks work.

My breast augmentation will be covered and I already have a small chin and nose, that's partly why I'm stressing so much about hair.  It could take 3 years, several surgeries and $20,000 to find I am unhappy with the results.  I'm not wild about the idea of wearing a wig permanently, but the goal is to look good, and a quality wig will accomplish that.

I am guessing many here have had to make this decision and I'd be grateful for any thoughts.


xoxoxoxoxo
Amanada

[Rachel]

Hi, I had FFS with forehead reduction. The scar was a bit much. Then GCS then 2 rounds of hair transplants. 1st in the front 2/3 and second on the back 1/3 of the head. I had 3500 then 2500 grafts. I went to Dr. Cooley in NC. The cost was covered by my insurance.

I am extremely happy with the results.

Contact Carolina Dermatology Hair Center. They will ask for pics of your head. They can give you advise and cost estimate.   

One of the things Dr. Cooley asked after I had my 3500 transplants was how are you going to keep testosterone from affecting the new hair. Basically asking if I was on any anti T therapy. I said I was post op. He said there is no issue then.

[Harley Quinn]

Hi Amanda.  There's nothing wrong with wigs.  I wore them for years.  I was a Norwood III vertex to a IV.  A lot depends on how dense your remaining hair is, the size of the hair folicle, and the skill of the surgeon.  Some comes back with the reduction in DHT, and introduction of Estrogen (if it hasn't been gone too long). 

I had pretty dense, but fine hair and I've been very happy with the results.  Granted, yes, it will be very expensive to undergo hair restoration (unless you can find an insurance to cover it).  Dr. Gabel in Hillsboro, Oregon did my hair restoration.  He is an amazing surgeon and does quite a bit of work at MtF hair restoration/ hairline design.  He pretty much wrote the teaching text on MtF hair restoration.  He also specializes in Mega Sessions.  He does 3000+ transplants at a time.  That was a big selling point for me.  I had all my hair back on my temples and at a good length in about 5 months.

Now I started with my temples because I was getting decent regrowth on my crown at the time and wanted to see just how much would come back before undergoing surgery in that area.  I got a little regroth on my temples from hormones, but it wasn't enough to really make a difference.  So my decision was to start in the front and come back to the back at a later date.

I would check with a couple of hair restoration specialists as to whether or not you can achieve your goal of shoulder length hair before you discount hair restoration.  Having my own hair was a huge deal to me...  Wigs were just too hot and bothersome to me.

[Sonja]

@Harley Quinn

Thank you for sharing this, its incredibly helpful for so many people on here for various reasons.
I see what you mean about your new hair going curly!
I myself am definitely going to get hair transplants so I'm very interested to see and hear about results, I'm not in the USA, but I'm curious how much does something like this cost? Was this the same procedure as Kendra? a slight pull on the front face when they fill the gap left by the skin graft taken at the back?
Also - Do you prefer to be called Harley or Victoria? I can see you're a batman fan! Batman was, is and will always be my favourite superhero.

Now you've got the most gorgeous hair that everyone admires!

Sonja.

[Harley Quinn]

@Harley Quinn

Thank you for sharing this, its incredibly helpful for so many people on here for various reasons.
I see what you mean about your new hair going curly!
I myself am definitely going to get hair transplants so I'm very interested to see and hear about results, I'm not in the USA, but I'm curious how much does something like this cost? Was this the same procedure as Kendra? a slight pull on the front face when they fill the gap left by the skin graft taken at the back?
Also - Do you prefer to be called Harley or Victoria? I can see you're a batman fan! Batman was, is and will always be my favourite superhero.

Now you've got the most gorgeous hair that everyone admires!

Sonja.

lol...  Yeah, my hair went pretty curly.     I had FUT (strip method) hair replacement.  They cut a thin strip out of the back, extracted the hair folicles and placed them individually into the temples.  That procedure was about $13,000.  They do a set up fee and then it's priced per graft.

Victoria or Harley is fine.  I'm pretty easy going.

[OhAmanda]

@Rachel - I'd be over the moon with your results!  Nice to see what is possible with the procedures I am seeking.  I am looking at the timeline in your sig for your surgeries and it is helpful, thanks.

@Harley Quinn That is spectacular work!  I would need a bit more hair than you did to cover my front and don't have a widow's peak.  Still, I wonder if I'd even need forehead reduction surgery if I could get the coverage you have.  Seeing so much growth on your crown also gives me some hope, thanks for the detailed response.

I'm paying out of pocket for hair and FFS, but work is going well, so is saving, and overtime looks available for the foreseeable future.   

[Harley Quinn]

@Harley Quinn That is spectacular work!  I would need a bit more hair than you did to cover my front and don't have a widow's peak.  Still, I wonder if I'd even need forehead reduction surgery if I could get the coverage you have.  Seeing so much growth on your crown also gives me some hope, thanks for the detailed response.

I'm paying out of pocket for hair and FFS, but work is going well, so is saving, and overtime looks available for the foreseeable future.   

Well, thank you.  Although I didn't do much but lay there...  lol!  But yeah, it gets spendy...  I was paying out of pocket for hair as well.  I have no regrets, well worth the money.