[GoneGirl]

I'm nearly bald on the top of my head despite some new growth having come in since starting NBE. I'm a victim of androgenic alopecia or male pattern baldness (MPB). It started in my 40s as a receding hairline which continued to recede for 20 years. My pattern is shown in the two rightmost columns in this chart:



I understand that being afflicted by this cruel joke on men is mainly a question of one's genetics. If your father or grandfathers were bald, you are likely to become bald, as well. But MPB is also aggravated by the presence of DHT. I'm also told that taking a 1 mg/day dose of finasteride can slow down MPB by lowering one's DHT level. Now you tell me!

I've talked to a surgeon about having a hair transplant where they remove individual hair follicles from a strip of scalp sliced from the back of my head, and 'replant' them on top. Depending on the extent of one's hair loss, it can take up to three sessions spaced months apart to restore one's hair. The cool thing is that this new hair is not affected by DHT, so the hair is not lost all over again.

So, have I decided to have it done? Not yet. I AM a good candidate, though, because I have lots of good follicles on the back of my head. The problem is cost. A single transplant session (2200 follicles) costs about 10 grand. That's a lot of money no matter how you slice it (pun intended).....It's another reason not to put off transitioning if that's your intention. MTF HRT will stop hair loss cold in most cases.

Has anyone here had this procedure?

Clara

[Jaded Jade]

I was lucky, hair loss wise my genetics are so-so.

But in my 20's I had a lucky conversation with a coworker in his 50's.

The basic content was that you need to halt the hair loss process ASAP when it starts. Because reversing it is very hard.

So I was ready with mad science once I saw the early signs.

So here is the stuff I did, might not help you as much, but it is a multi-teir approach:

(Block-DHT, systemic supplements, topical solutions)


1) Block DHT - SP or whatever.

2) Don't be deficient on Iron or Zinc, this alone will cause hair loss.

3) Biotin 5-10mg (5000-10000mcg) I only use 5mg 10 can cause adverse effects.

4) Swanson's Hair Skin & Nails - Thanks to AbiDrew's plan... : )

5) Hair Surge shampoo, from amazon, sounds silly, but it contains a bunch of things purported to help. The comments show people getting regrowth, and most of those people are in the T > E camp. I think that I have gotten some regrowth in the peaks where I saw early signs of loss.
http://www.amazon.com/Ultrax-Caffeine-Growth-Stimulating-Shampoo/dp/B007SZCG0C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1411710070&sr=8-1&keywords=hair+surge


- Jaded Jade

[AnnieBL]

I am not only the tallest member of my family but also the baldest. My hair started receding in my late teens, and loss was severe by my early twenties. Also I lost a great deal of hair around my 12th birthday, causing me to be taken to a specialist, but I've no idea now what the verdict was. That time it grew back. What is now left around the edges seems hardly robust enough or sufficient to warrant transplanting. In any case I encountered some people at SCC whose obviously transplanted hair seemed to constitute an Awful Warning. They may of course only been examples of bad technique, but nevertheless the high cost and possibility of poor results have certainly put me off even trying.

On the other hand, my DW says she finds it somewhat unsettling when my apparent gender seems to quick change as my wig come on and off in the morning and at bed-time, so I'm now trying to pull one on, even if ill-adjusted and without a wig cap, so as to produce a more consistent gender presentation whenever likely to be in her view.

[RobinMurphy]

Clara it is a lot of money but your worth it. If you have the money you should do it. That is coming from someone with no money and whose only hair problem is not wanting to get a hair cut.

[undecided]

10K is a lot of money. Unfortunately A lot more other pressing things would need 10 spent before my head. If I had the $$$ yes I would.

There are also different techniques out there now. One of the latest takes individual hair follicles and plants them one at a time, with no plug.

With any technique the hair is NOT immune to DHT, the hair follicle will still eventually stop growing, it will just take the same time line it had in the original location. Of course getting rid of the testosterone factories will help stop any future hair loss.

[Samantha Rogers]

I think at my age Id rather spend ten grand on a face lift...haha

[EvaMarie]

How about 15K on just the facelift (40K on full FFS) and 30-35K on a hair restoration attempt that might just be pointless in the end

Oh then another 10-12K on "body contouring", basically lipo/tummy tuck with the fat transplanted to my skinny little ass and hips....

Hey after all that why not 8K on an attempt at voice feminization surgery too...

AND then hey if I live through all that whats another 30K on SRS by then

[GoneGirl]

Wow, what an encouraging bunch you all are (Robin excepted).

Hair transplant technology has come a long way since Joe Biden's plugs. A transplant can look very natural if conditions are favorable. I, fortunately, have plenty of donor hair and good scalp elasticity.

It helps to find a doctor who works on women and transgenders. Most work almost exclusively on men, so it may require going to a bigger city to find one. A feminine hairline is different than a man's and must be done properly to avoid the bad transplant look.

I've been told that hair from a section of the scalp, typically the back of the head, that is not affected by DHT will still be unaffected by DHT after transplant. For transgenders on HRT it's not a problem regardless.

It all come down to a question of affordability, no arguing that. There are so many other things that are competing for those scarce dollars. Plenty of women my age have thinning hair and choose to wear a wig every day, so it's a perfectly acceptable thing to do as a woman. It all comes down to personal needs and priorities.

I can relate to what Annie wrote, though, about removing a wig at night and instantly reverting to your former male appearance. Big problem for me, too.

There are many reasons gender dysphoria persists even after transition, and for me, not achieving a sufficiently feminine appearance would be a constant source of frustration and unhappiness in my life.

Clara

[RobinMurphy]

Clara I'm sorry if you took my post as being unsympathetic. I think you should do it if if it is important to you. You know I have major body issues. Sorry again. Robin.

[froger]

I remember reading about MSM for aiding in hair growth. Also when reading many elected to go to Cape Town for hair transplant surgery. Apparently they could book round trip air fare and surgery for less than surgery alone in the US.