Dear Doctor:

I am 35 years of age, and have been balding since my early 20's. I would say that I am a NW6. I started wearing a hairpiece 8 years ago. 6 months ago I had an FUE done with another doctor of 750 grafts to create a hairline. This has been successful. However I am wanting to have the hairline thickened.

I can't take any of donor scalp at the moment as I have my hairpiece attached so it would be hard to show in a photo what was my own hair. I was told that I would be able to have another 6 to 8 procedures (500 grafts per procedure) from my scalp. However I would prefer to use body hair instead of scalp hair anyway. In fact I would prefer to only use another 500 grafts from my scalp and have the rest from my body.

My Goals:

I should state that my goals are not necessarily to do away with the hairpiece. I would much rather achieve density from a transplant rather than coverage. I want to achieve maximum density in the recipient area. I am quite happy to wear a piece behind the hairline. I would much rather do this than have a thin look.

To give an extreme example, given the choice of overall coverage of 40 grafts per cm squared or just a 1 cm squared strip at the hairline that contained 100 grafts per cm squared I would choose the latter.

Thus my goals are : to cover as large an area as possible with maximum
density.

As my hair is quite fine and dark, and my skin is white, I want 100 grafts per cm squared. I have seen 60 grafts per cm squared and don’t like the results.

I have quite a lot of body hair so I hope that this would help to achieve
the density I require. I would want between 4000 and 8000 grafts done in the first session.

I asked the hair replacement company that I am a client of to draw a
template of my balding area. They did this (I cannot vouch for their
accuracy) and then I calculated the area. I found it to be about 170 cm
squared (I am a mathematician so I am confident this is about right). To
play it safe I would round to 200 cm squared. (Note that since I use a
bonding method of attachment an amount of healthy hair is shaved every month so the balding area in the photos is not quite as large as it may seem.)

On the basis of these figures, I would want 8000 grafts placed into about a
third of the balding area.

Allow me to say again that I am intending to wear a hairpiece behind the transplant. However if I have sufficient donor hair I would consider having 20,000 or so done if very good density could be achieved. I think it would be best to try 4000 - 8000 in the front first to see if the density is ok.

I do wish to stress that the most important thing for me is density. I am not interested in trying to cover the entire area with 8000 grafts.

Questions
 

1. Do you think the comments stated under the GOALS section above is realistic ? Please offer any suggestions.

2. I realise that body hair transplants are in their infancy. However, from the results that you have observed thus far would you say that body hair always takes on the characteristics of scalp hair? ie the length and diameter of scalp hair.

3. Does the location of the body hair make any difference to the final result ie is hair taken from the legs and arms likely to grow as well and achieve
the same look as hair taken from the chest?

4. During the procedure, how many people would be involved? ie would the doctor (you) be involved in the removal of the grafts, or only in the placing of them? I am assuming that the doctor would always do the implanting. Is that correct?

5. How soon after the procedure would I be able to resume wearing a hairpiece? Would I be able to continue with an all over bond?

6. How soon could the procedure be done? I would prefer as soon as possible, even in mid to late Feb 2005. I realise that it is likely that you will be booked out months in advance however I would consider travelling to your location and remaining there over a month so that I could be taken on days that were free. Lastly could you give me an idea of the total cost.

Thanks again for your help.

HairSite Visitor.
Case 180