I Want a Hair Transplant to Strengthen My Hairline, But I’m Worried It Would Accelerate My Loss

Hi Dr. Rassman. Thank you for this website. I visit every single day and gain some comfort in the support here.

I am a 38 yo male with stong family history on both sides of my family. I started to thin in the front/hairline of my scalp at 22 years old, and started minoxidil immediately. After adding Propecia when it came on the market, I feel have done a good job at slowing down the blading process. My father and only brother were both almost totally bald at my age. I am probably a Norwood 3 – my mid-scalp and crown are still quite thick. My hairline has suffered and is loosing ground slowly every year. Temples are receeding and “widow’s peak” is now almost gone. Watching this happen, as everyone here knows, is devastating. I am contemplating having a consult with Dr. Bernstein for a transplant as he is close to me (NYC), but I am concerned that having a transplant to strengthen my hairline may accelerate my recession and compromise what I do have. I also am not sure whether to opt for FUE or FUT since I beleive around 1000 grafts would do the trick for me at this point. After viewing some of the photos on Dr. Berstein’s website et al., where he strengthens hairlines with approx. 900 or so grafts, the results look so amazing that I want to move forward. Any advice?

Dr Robert Bernstein is a great doctor who worked with me for over 10 years. If you were contemplating seeing Dr. Bernstein, go see him and he will be able to give you good medical advice after he has examined you. At 38 years old, with the type of hair loss you describe above, a transplant can be a good option (obviously I haven’t seen you so I can’t say for 100%). Follicular unit extraction (FUE) or follicular unit transplantation (FUT or “strip procedure”) will both work, but the likelihood of less surgeries with the strip technique has its advantages.