Future_HT_Doc's Hair Loss Story

My hair loss story is still in its infancy, and at this point, I'm unsure how the journey will progress.

My experience with hair loss began four years ago during a seemingly innocent family dinner. It was Summer, and after spending several months "growing-out" my hair, I grew tired of the excessive length and impulsively cut it off (leaving 2 to 2.5 inches). At dinner, my mother continually, passively starred at me, and after a few extended glances, I realized something was odd. She was looking at me, but not into my eyes, or even at my face - she was looking at my hairline.

After a brief exchange, she began questioning the density and shape of my hairline, commenting that she didn't precisely remember how it looked before my recent growth, but something appeared "different." At this point in my life (around 19 years old), I never gave the idea of hair loss much consideration. My father is 50 years old, and a matured Norwood I/II at the most. His father suffers from isolated vertex/crown thinning, and my mother's father is 70 years old with a perfect head of hair. Initially, I brushed this comment aside, and ignored my mother's curiosity and concern. However, several hours later, ignoring these comments was no longer an option.

I panicked, and began anxiously scrutinizing my hairline in the mirror. Wet, dry, up, down - every conceivable combination. I began taking pictures, alternating the flash, lens distance, and even the styling products used in my hair. I began experiencing an unfamiliar range of emotions. At one moment, I'd convince myself that it was all in my head:

"My mother simply hadn't seen my natural hairline in several months, and she mistakenly assumed my hair was thinning."

After reaching a small sense of resolution, I would compare my current hairline to older pictures, or stare into the mirror again, and convince myself that the fronto-temporal area was receding. Several days of internal debate developed into questioning friends and family. I interrogated my girlfriend with a seemingly endless array of questions, but received only passive avoidance in return (she's too nice). I began speaking with a friend in medical school. He provided some textbook information, but really couldn't offer much resolution or assess my hairline on a professional level.

At this point, I was sure of several things: first, if I was thinning, I caught it at an early stage and was determined not to let it progress. Second, this internal debate and emotional see-saw was going nowhere. Third, I needed to see a physician, undergo an evaluation, and obtain an expert opinion.

I initially saw my family practice physician, who discussed my diet, exercise routine, stress level, family baldness patterns, and analyzed the stereotypical problem zones (fronto-temporal zone and vertex). After a fairly thorough examination, he stated that my hair looked fine, and didn't recommend any particular therapy at that point in time. Relieved, but still wary, I requested a dermatology referral, and sought a second opinion. The dermatologist performed similar analysis, and essentially echoed my primary care physician's opinion - monitor your hairline, but at this point, restoration therapy is not necessary. Relieved, I left the office, but expressed my desire to return for routine, hair loss "check-ups."

By this point in time, the Summer was coming to a close, and I returned to school at the University of California - Los Angeles (UCLA). As a Biology major, with an emphasis in pre-medical studies, I began taking classes in Biochemistry, Genetics, and Physiology, and my interest in science, medicine, and hair loss resulted in massive amounts of personal research. I began ordering textbooks, searching article databases, and scouring the internet for information on hair loss, causes, and restorative options. During this period, I first discovered the follicular unit transplant procedure, and stumbled upon a site called the Hair Transplant Network. I became fascinated with medical hair restoration - the biochemical mechanisms behind oral and topical medications, the science and art of follicular unit transplantation (FUT) and follicular unit extraction (FUE), research in genetics, hair cloning, and hair multiplication. Before long, I was a continual "lurker" on the hair transplant discussion forums, and after reviewing hundreds of cases, discussions, and interesting topics, I signed up for an account.

Since becoming a member, I've really taken a proactive approach to both my own hair and my interest in the entirety of medical hair restoration. I'm beginning medical school in August of 2010, and plan on furthering my knowledge of hair restoration through this experience. I'm also monitoring my hair very closely, and currently utilizing a nutritional regimen of appropriate levels of Protein, Zinc, Iron, Biotin, Magnesium, and Vitamins A, B, C, and E. Furthermore, after an extended lapse, I'm seeing my dermatologist in June (2010) for a miniaturization test, a visual analysis, and, if necessary, to discuss and begin utilizing Minoxidil and Propecia. I personally think my fronto-temporal area is beginning to look thinner, but I will definitely discuss this with the doctor, and use both my opinion, her opinion, and the results of the tests to make a decision. In the future (if my loss progresses to that point), I'm extremely interested in a platelet-rich-plasma (PRP) treatment, and a transplant procedure.

As I said before, my journey with hair loss and medical hair restoration is in its infancy, but I'm utilizing a proactive approach, and keeping updated (through the Hair Transplant Network) on all my current and future options!

UPDATE: In May 2010, I saw my primary care physician for a hair-loss/miniaturization check-up. Although he agreed that my hairline has matured, he did not think it changed from our last appointment, and did not recommend any oral or topical medication at this time. I'm currently awaiting an appointment with a dermatologist, and may look into adding Nizoral (1%) to my routine as an additional preventative measure.

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