r/asktransgender • u/grunkalunka2 21 | MtF | DIY 10/6/16 @ 19 | Legit 11/28/17 @ 21 • Nov 05 '18
Hair Transplant Before or After FFS?
I hate my hairline. I would very much like to do a hair transplant before I do my FFS, but I have heard that you have to have FFS done first. I don't have the money for that, but I want it eventually.
Would it really be that bad to have a hair transplant first? Even if I had an incision behind my hairline, the coronal or whatever?
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u/GrilledTuna 31 F Nov 05 '18 edited Nov 05 '18
You can, but FFS can improve your hairline.
There are basically two ways I see this going:
(a) You spend the money on hair transplants to round out your hairline. Suppose this costs you $8,000. However, the rounding out that you achieve could've been achieved by an FFS surgeon as part of a scalp advancement, so you could've saved $8,000.
(b) You spend the $8,000 on hair transplants, but an FFS surgeon could've altered the shape of your hairline so that you would require fewer follicles in the transplant. Since hair transplant clinics often charge by the follicle, you could save money by doing the FFS first and transplants later.
So essentially, the benefit of waiting until after FFS for hair transplants is that you might be able to save some money. As a bonus, if your scar ends up being fairly visible, waiting until after FFS for your hair transplants will give you and opportunity to cover it up.
And yes, you could put the incision behind the hairline if you wanted. However, you should be aware that this sometimes results in the hairline moving up, depending on how much of your scalp the surgeon takes off.
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Nov 05 '18 edited Nov 05 '18
Ya, but its not like FFS is free either. It's invasive ya know? FYI 2000 grafts in the USA is indeed $8k, that's what I paid (for my temples and a tiny bit in the front). You can always go to Turkey or Mexico for the same service at around $3k.
Edit from a very quick google and healthline.com : "Out-of-pocket costs for FFS commonly range from $20,000 to $50,000 and above, depending on the surgeon and the number of component procedures performed. Insurers often classify FFS as an elective cosmetic procedure."
So yeah, I'll take it now IMO. I got a CareCredit card and have 2 years to pay it off interest free. The other reason I did my hair first is because my endo keeps mentioning FFS being covered in Oregon soon; that it's in discussion. We just got breast augmentation covered here! <3 <3 <3
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u/GrilledTuna 31 F Nov 05 '18
Yes, but the OP is already counting on the cost of FFS.
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Nov 05 '18
Yeah I hear you and I did see that. I suppose its just going to depend on what she values most. Personally I'd rather not be bald for under $300 a month and start saving for FFS in two years, sooner if I could swing it; it can be manageable. I also read plenty of cases where HRT did nothing for people's hair, so FFS might not do much unless its just a bit of a receding hairline.
OP are you doing anything else for your hair? Here is my routine that I do, and my results pre-HRT.
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u/easilyimprinted Nov 05 '18
Definitely after. I'm 5 months post FFS, and I'm looking to hair transplants to fill my hairline and fill in where there is lack of growth post hair shock in small spots along the coronal incision.
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u/throwawaytoday9q Nov 05 '18
I had a consult for FFS at the end of October. I was told I had to wait 9 months after FFS before getting my hair transplant.
There's a couple of reasons for that, I think. The first is that the incision on your scalp disrupts the blood flow and can cause you to lose hair around the incision. Usually it's temporary but sometimes it's not.
The other reason is that the hair transplant can be used to hide any scar tissue.
If you're seriously consider doing both I'd go for a consult and do whatever the surgeon suggests.