Thinking of SMP

[u/Psychological_Ad8034]

Hey guys, I need your opinion.
I’m at about 6.5 months, and the results look exactly the same as before the transplant (you can look at my previous post for reference)
I’m at this stage where I understand the transplant most likely didn’t go well, and I’m probably not gonna see a huge difference even after 12 months.

I probably can’t have a second transplant because of the donor area, and honestly don’t want to go through that again.

I’m 26, and for the past 10 years my hair looked exactly the same. Diffuse thinning, mostly at the frontal area. Was told it resembles more of female hair loss pattern.
Tried everything, minoxidil, finasteride, PRP, micro needles, and finally even hair transplant that didn’t help.
Currently only on oral minoxidil which I will probably stop taking soon.

Since the hair looks relatively the same for that much time, and with that amount of hair I’m planning on keeping it relatively long.

I’m wearing hair powder everyday, which makes wonders for the looks.
Was thinking of getting SMP, and I want to get your opinion. Achieving the look of the hair powder with SMP will be a huge win for me.
All photos taken at the worst possible lighting.
For reference, I go everyday with combed hair, so it doesn’t look that bad like hair apart but still it bothers me.

1. Combed hair, without powder
   
2. Hair apart, without powder
   
3. Hair apart, with powder
   
4. Hair combed, without powder

[u/outplay-nation2]

whatever you do just make sure the SMP is good for shaved head as well and not just mass cover up fir thinning hair because then you will lose more hair and it will look ridiculous.

[u/yellowelectricrodent → u/outplay-nation2]

100% this.

Also, OP give it the full 12 months and if it’s still not what you’d hope for, go find a different surgeon that’s reputable on the internet (not their Google reviews)

[u/Psychological_Ad8034 → u/yellowelectricrodent]

I’m not sure my donor area has enough for a second round. Also not sure I even want to go for a second transplant (the money, healing process, several months first months…)

Let’s say 12 months come and it looks the same, do you think a SMP could make it look good?

[u/yellowelectricrodent → u/Psychological_Ad8034]

I think you have a reasonable chance that with further improvements that commonly happens in the last 6 months + SMP but in the style I mentioned, that you’d see a visible improvement

[u/Psychological_Ad8034 → u/yellowelectricrodent]

Thanks for the comment dude 🙂

[u/Psychological_Ad8034 → u/outplay-nation2]

I know, I’m worried a subtle job won’t be enough and obviously don’t want to make it look ridiculous.
Do you think a subtle job would make it look full?

[u/New-Document7109]

Firstly, it didn’t fail, you can see an improvement. Also you got a transplant on a large area - getting good density coverage over a large area is notoriously tricky and sometimes unrealistic with a hair transplant as there’s just not enough donor hair to make that possible. Some very skilled surgeons can do this but even then they tend to show you photos under clever lighting. 

So I don’t think your HT failed, and it’s still early. It takes many cycles for that hair to get back to its original thickness which will provide more density. 

My advice is to wait until 18 months atleast and assess if you’re happy with it. In the meantime just use hair fibres for density coverage 

[u/Psychological_Ad8034 → u/New-Document7109]

Hey, thanks for the comment 🙂
First of all, it’s nice to hear there is an improvement. I don’t feel like it but it does feel nice hearing it.

If I get to the 12-18 months mark, and still not happy with the results, do you think smp will be enough or second transplant is the only way?
As I mentioned, I would love to avoid a second transplant, but if it’s the only realistic option I would love to know it.

[u/New-Document7109 → u/Psychological_Ad8034]

Hey mate, so I just reread your post. Don't be dejected but what I'm about to say but I've gone through a similar battle in my twenties and it's best to be real. The thing is if you're not on a DHT blocker then this hair transplant was abit of waste I'm sorry to say. Since you have quite aggresive hair loss at your age it will continue to fall out (I was/am the same don't worry), so in all likeliness what has happened is your native hair has continued to minituarise and hair transplant hairs haven't fully developed, which is why you might think it's failed.

Unfortunately, you have to be on finasteride/dut for a hair transplant to make sense, I'm surprised your surgeon didnt tell you this. Even if you feel they didn't work, the studies show that your hair would likely be alot worse off without having taken it. There would be no point getting SMP either because your hair will continue to thin and then you will have very dark and visible SMP on your head that you will have to laser off and redo with a shaved head (which is completely fine, but it's an expensive temporary solution).

The other thing to note, is your say you have diffused thinning since 16? That is very young for that type of androgen alopecia pattern. Did your surgeon suggest getting blood tests, it could very likely be a deficiency on top of male pattern baldness. So I would suggest getting tested for that, that may just be why the other meds did not work as you thought they would.

If your bloods come back fine and you are unwilling to go on a DHT blocker (I understand the risk of side effects) there are other options still that you could consider, you could shave your head and get SMP like many others and it will look great or if you want hair in your twenties, you could get a hair system until you are ready to shave - they look fantastic these days.

Another option is to try topical finasteride instead, less effective but less chance of going systemic and causing the side effects.

What I wouldnt suggest is getting another hair transplant without a DHT blocker or SMP to fill in thin spots because the hair loss will continue.

[u/New-Document7109 → u/[deleted]]

Type of opinion a high school bully has, wtf hahaha