Am I a candidate for FUE? (photos)

Question

Hello. I'm a mid-30s male, doing some prelim research on hair restoration options for my temple area. I’m attaching a current photo of my hairline, which seems to have stabilized at its current point (and, for whatever it’s worth, is almost identical to my 65-year-old father’s). FUE strikes me as a very interesting option. In short, I'm wondering: (1) Does this seem like a reasonable goal? (2) Could I do this without Finasteride? (am risk-averse re sexual side effects, even if rare) Thanks!

Jae Pak, MD · Answer

Your photos show genetic male pattern hair loss.  If your examination show good donor hair supply with no further hair loss (stable pattern), you may be a great candidate for surgery (with or without medication).FUE (follicular unit extraction) is just one surgical technique in harvesting the grafts.  It has nothing to do with the end results.  Many companies or doctors promote FUE, ARTAS, and Neograft because the technique of harvesting the graft does not leave a linear scar on the back of your head. However, we routinely see patients with bad FUE scars wanting a fix with SMP.FUE leaves hundreds or thousands of dot scars.  These dot scars are not usually noticeable with a short hair cut.  If you are ever considering shaving or buzzing your hair shorter than a #2 guard, FUE method of harvest is recommended. FUE is not the latest or the greatest, it is just one way of doing a hair transplant surgery.Don't get the wrong message: FUE can be a GREAT SURGERY for some people and we routinely perform FUE using all the latest tools including ARTAS or Neograft or manual (since 2002).The end result of a hair transplant surgery (to look better) has more to do with the doctor and his/herexperience than the technique.  You can choose the FUE, ARTAS, or Neograft technique and still end up with bad results as well as bad scarring.

Tim Neavin, MD · Answer

Thanks for the photos.  Yes, you appear to be a good candidate for hair transplantation. We prefer automated FUE using NeoGraft to avoid a linear scar and provide a very high graft survival rate.  Finasteride can work well in preserving hair but you are right, there are side effects that have to be considered.  Some people have many.  Some have virtually none. However, I don't think medication will restore your hair to the point where you were 5 or 10 years ago.  It has its limitations.

John E. Frank, MD · Answer

You may me a good candidate for this type of procedure however based on the limited photos that you are submitting it's impossible to tell. In addition there are multiple other factors involved such as your state of hair loss, genetics, expectations etc.

Shim Ching, MD · Answer

Since you hair loss is more limited to the hairline, FUE would be a good option in you.  This would avoid the linear scar in the back of the head.  However, if this scar is not that much a concern for you, a strip procedure would offer you more grafts in a single procedure at less cost to you.

M. Khawar Nazir, MBBS, MS(Derm) · Answer

Both FUE & FUT are good option with their pro & cons.FUE offers limited number of grafts as compared to FUT in singe session.Your bi tepmoral recession's area can be covered easily with FUE single session.It is very important to take Finasteride & Minoxin application to improve your existing hair for longer duration.Regards,Dr. M. Khawar NazirLahore, Pakistan

Parsa Mohebi, MD, FISHRS · Answer

FUE is a great option for young men who are willing to keep their hair short on the donor area.  It is pretty reasonable to consider that.  However, whether you need finasteride with hair transplant or after that has to do with the future pattern of your hair loss that your hair transplant surgeon can evaluate and discuss with you after a microscopic evaluation of your scalp.The type of your procedure such as FUE vs. strip can also determine your candidacy since some of the limitations of each method may exclude you from having a hair transpalnt.

Victoria Karlinsky-Bellini, MD · Answer

Looking at the photos, and based on the fact that you feel that the loss of hair along the hairline had stabilized, you are a very good candidate for FUE.  Another important factor to consider is the density of your hair in the back of your head.  As long as your hair is fairly thick, you should have no issues with filling in the defects in your hair line.  Based on the photos, 1500 grafts should be fairly sufficient to improve the hairline.

Jeffrey Epstein, MD, FACS · Answer

FUE is a wonderful
technique, now constituting over 60% of the procedures I perform because it
allows patients to shave their head in the future in most cases.  As far as your case-  your genetics are both of your mom and dad,
so there can be a risk-  actually a quite
high one-  of you continuing to lose more
hair in the future, thus a somewhat conservative approach to your hairline
restoration would be advisable, and continuing to take finasteride would
probably be beneficial, although laser light therapy can be an option.

Jeff Donovan, MD, PhD · Answer

It's likely that FUE is a good option. Be sure to have  a discussion with your surgeon about the long term. It appears that your genetics is quite favourable from the perspective of hair loss - but it's not a guarantee.  If you were to restore the front and develop further balding (recession etc) in your 40s you may want to consider movement of additional grafts at that point.

Rashid M. Rashid, PhD, MD · Answer

From the photo it looks possible. You have lots of good new york docs and should get an in person consult.  It is always good to meet the doctor who will be doing the restoration.

Am I a candidate for FUE? (photos)

Answers (14)

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