I started losing hair at the age of 17, hair around the temples gradually got thinner and thinner until now, age of 22, I reached class 3 stage as you can see from pics... I was dying my hair blonde which I really doubt was doing any good to my very fragile hair.
I remember since 16 my hair was very very frail, everytime I'd even scratch my head I'd get bunch of hair falling. Needless to say it was very discomforting. My father went through a very similar pattern around the same age as me, he's now almost completely bald now, I could then picture clearly that that was what was expecting me.
I decided to act on it early enought so that the area I'd need to cover with surgery wouldn't be too extended. After months of reading and documenting I decided to start taking Proscar and then go for the transplant.
I've been taking 1.25 grams of Proscar for almost 9 months and I must say that starting from less then two weeks since I started taking it I noticed drastic decrease of the hair falling, no more handfull of hair everytime i'd scratch my head or on the pillow in the morning....
I decided to go for doctor Rahal as I really couln't find not one person dissatisfied with his work. Plus a few accounts from people I contacted from this forum that warmly recommended him.
Doctor Rahal and Adrian at the office in Ottawa were very prompt in replying my emails, answering all my questions and concerns, understanding my views. He didn't even make a big deal out of my young age (21) like most GPs or Dermatologists I'd spoken to did. He did warn me that further receeding is to be expected, and that I might have to come back in a couple of years should I decide to go off Proscar, or should the Proscar stop giving the desired effects, and I accepted that. At the end of the day you only get to live your 20s once in your life... It's a unique period of your life, the last years of really being able to feel young and enjoy your good looks with people of similar age around you.... so why not have a nice good looking head full of hair right now instead of "waiting until your 30s" like everybody else would recommend?
So I have my op in Ottawa in late August. The operation lasted about 6 hours, flew by thanks to the films, music and the funny staff... The first cut, for the removal of the donor area is the only part that I really felt and maybe caused pain and discomfort, but that lasts maybe 15 minutes? Then the incisions and the implanting are totally pain free.
I was totally concentrating my strengh for the op, thinking that that'd be the toughest part but I must say that tough only came afterwards, the 5 days after. I really didn't read too many comments about that part but I must say that the pain was quite considerable. The doctor obviously equips you with all the necessary medication to keep it under control but it's five days of bed rest in the same 45° position to avoid swelling, and the donor area hurts quite terribly. So yeah that's 5 days of no sleep and being segregated to a hotel room if you want the convalescence to pass by as quickly as possible. I say it'd really help to have someone there with you, for the washing of the area and for pretty much everything. I was on my own and I survived but it would have been easier to have company.
But past the 5 days it's pretty much all gone. I wore a hat for the first 4 weeks until I had the sutures removed and most of the scabs had fallen off. Obviously it does attract a bit of attention but it was better than having to answer unwanted question. Past four weeks I just shaved down to a number 3, most of the implanted hair had fallen off with the scabs like predicted by the doctor and the scar in the back could really hardly be seen under the hair. So it was pretty much like nothing had really happened.
Scar in donor area was completely undetectable by month 2. First sprouts started to come out during the 3rd month post op. Very very thin hair that I tried to keep not too noticeble by shaving my hair down to 3 or 2 every two or three weeks. I'm now at the 6th month post op. As you can see from the pics the whole area the doctor operated on is now covered by nice thick air. It was already like this by the 5th month I'd say. And it looks like quite a nice, natural hairline to me at least. I'm still keeping it very short and I go very gently on the temples when washing my hair, but it seems all good for now. At the same time the proscar i think is still doing well. Haven't noticed any further loss or thinning in any area, hope it stays this way.
Have already come to terms with the idea of having to keep taking it for the rest of my life, at least until maybe something else comes out... At the end of the day it takes a second every day and you easily get used to it, pretty much like having to wear contact lenses maybe? It's definitely better than the minutes of sadness that I'd be spending every morning looking at a balding head in the mirror. And when you use proscar and you cut each tablet in four it lasts for 4 months so it's something you only buy 3 times a year.
I'm going to start letting my hair grow maybe in a couple of months, guess we'll see how the transplanted hair will look like then.
I'd sincerely like to recommend Dr Rahal, my pics I'd say speak for themselves for now but also on a personal level he was comprehensive, very human (he had a meal prepared for me for after the op!), understaning and flexible.
Will keep updating with more pictures.
Feel free to contact me for any questions! |
Before and after
