When star Perth Heat pitcher Daniel Schmidt first started
noticing his thinning hair at 18 he was determined to ensure he didn’t waste
‘the best years of his life” feeling low on confidence.
He researched solutions, sought a medical consultation and
took Proscar to slow down his hair loss.
While the medication didn’t promote renewed growth it helped
to preserve precious existing hair follicles so that, if he eventually chose to,
he could successfully have a hair transplant.
Daniel says he knew he ‘had to take care of ” the
genetically inherited male pattern baldness - possibly brought on early by the
stress of a busy school and sporting schedule - that was making him
increasingly self conscious.
At the age of 21 and after several consultations with renowned
Perth based
hair restoration physician, Dr Jennifer Martinick, Daniel had a hair transplant.
Now, at 25, after having two procedures, there are no signs
of the former hair loss that once affected his confidence.
Daniel, who spends six months of the year playing baseball
in the United States ,
says he is fortunate that, unlike many young men, he received appropriate
treatment from the outset.
Although generally guarded about his privacy, Daniel is sharing
his story to help other young men.
“Your early to mid twenties are meant to be the best years
of your life and I didn’t want to spend those years with poor confidence and
self esteem,” Daniel says.
“Losing your hair in your late teens and early twenties
really does affect your confidence.
“I was a bit worried about the questions I may get from
other guys after surgery, however I decided not to let that stop me.”
Daniel says young men’s concerns about hair loss are often
trivialised and this deters them from seeking appropriate medical treatment.
Also, a lot of young men tend to put off obtaining a medical
consultation because they hope the many promoted ‘quick fix miracle cures’ will
renew their hair growth.
He says young men must be aware that the more they delay seeking
appropriate treatment, the more time they waste on preserving their precious
hair follicles.
“My advice is to get the first consultation with the right
doctor as quickly as possible to ensure they take the treatment path that is
right for them,” Daniel says.
“I think a lot of young men want to tell themselves that
some of these promoted cures work, but there’s no miracle shampoo out there. ‘“
Daniel says he gained the confidence to go ahead with a hair
transplant after witnessing the results on several men.
“A defining moment for me was when I saw just how good a
hair transplant can look,” Daniel says.
“I have heard and read of cases where people have very
obvious looking hair transplants, but after seeing the results of hair
transplants by a local physician I felt very comfortable about going ahead.”
Dr Martinick, the former President of the International
Society of Hair Restoration Surgery, (ISHRS) says she hopes young men will
share their concerns about hair loss with a doctor.
She advises young men with male pattern baldness to seek
treatment as early as possible to prevent further hair loss and, in the event
that they may eventually choose to have a hair transplant, ensure they preserve
precious donor follicles
Dr Martinick says she receives a lot of requests from young
men for hair transplants, but as a general rule she doesn’t perform hair
transplants on men under 26.
However, she believes there are circumstances, where a more
flexible approach is needed.
She says her professional concerns are that young men can be
unrealistic about what can be achieved from a hair transplant and expect to
regain the hair line of an eighteen year old.
In many cases, these young men do not comprehend that they
only have a limited number of follicles for transplanting to achieve the
results they desire.
“But if I am presented with a mature 21 year-old with a
realistic perception of what hair transplanting can achieve - and his hair loss is interfering with his
quality of life – then I’ll consider undertaking a transplant,” Dr Martinick
says.
“I have a much more open mind about transplanting young men
than I had a couple of years ago as I understand they are only young
once.”
