Would I Hate Myself If I Had a Transplant at Age 26?

I’m a 25 yr. old guy. I visited [a well known doctor] and he told me that if I had a hair transplant procedure, I’d “hate myself for the rest of my life.” Pretty harsh. I appreciate his honesty, but am disappointed that this is not an option for me. I’m confused! I would be more than pleased with the results that I have seen on various good physician web-sites. I’ll be 26 shortly, and am wondering what my options really are if the best results are so bad that I’d hate myself for the rest of my life.

You can always get a second opinion. If the doctor is well respected, there are a number of questions I first would want to know about you, so seeing a photo/meeting with you and speaking with you would be invaluable. Things that may make the doctor have hesitatations with transplanting a man of your age would be:

1. Unrealistic expectations (which is why we don’t do computer imaging)
2. Body Dysmorphic Disorder (see BBC News: Health)
3. Poor donor supply (possibly from DUPA)
4. Too early
5. Unable to face the consequences of progressive balding
6. Psychiatric problems
7. Financial problems

Many times when I want to point a patient to a psychiatrist, they resist. After all, I am a hair transplant doctor and not a ‘shrink’, so it is not often that I give a special speech on this subject, and certainly not like the one the doctor you discussed gave to you. If you do not communicate with your chosen doctor, that would be one way for him to get your attention. Remember, you do have options, and if you are not comfortable with what you were told by one doctor, you are free to see another.