ttaco

I took finasteride every day and my wife and I conceived a healthy baby boy 2 years ago. No problems.

Futzy ... yours is still the best HT result I've ever seen. Results of my 1424 FU transplant procedure on 8/16/02 can be viewed at... http://community.webshots.com/user/ttaco

Mr. T, your hair looks awesome. Congratulations. A huge improvement! Results of my 1424 FU transplant procedure on 8/16/02 can be viewed at... http://community.webshots.com/user/ttaco

I apply the minox twice - once in the morning after I shower on towel dried hair, and then before bed. I only use the spiro before bed; I apply it about 10 minutes after the minox. I get mine from Dr. Lee at www.minoxidil.com. Results of my 1424 FU transplant procedure on 8/16/02 can be viewed at... http://community.webshots.com/user/ttaco

I've been taking 5% minox for many years (don't remember exactly but it's probably been over 5). I started taking 1/5 proscar daily since 8/1/02, and started using 5% spiro on 12/1/02. My vertex and crown are in much better shape since I've started proscar and spiro. I also use Nizoral shampoo twice per week. I wish I had a "before" pic of the top of my head to show a comparison. Results of my 1424 FU transplant procedure on 8/16/02 can be viewed at... http://community.webshots.com/user/ttaco

I've been using the 5% cream from Dr. Lee for about a year now in conjunction with 5% minoxidil and propecia. I can't say for sure how much it's working since I'm using all 3 at once, but I'm doing everything possible to keep the remianing non transplanted hair that I have. Results of my 1424 FU transplant procedure on 8/16/02 can be viewed at... http://community.webshots.com/user/ttaco

Thanks, Paul. Hope all is well here with everyone, I haven't checked in in a while. Results of my 1424 FU transplant procedure on 8/16/02 can be viewed at... http://community.webshots.com/user/ttaco

His website says he uses minis and micros. Results of my 1424 FU transplant procedure on 8/16/02 can be viewed at... http://community.webshots.com/user/ttaco

I had the same frayed/frazzled look, but it straightened out after about 11 months. Results of my 1424 FU transplant procedure on 8/16/02 can be viewed at... http://community.webshots.com/user/ttaco

I agree that it's not very good, but I'll bet you 99% of the population would never look at that picture and say that he had a hair transplant. I pointed out Senator Biden's transplant to my wife and parents one time when he was on TV, and they said they couldn't tell. Yet we all talk about how bad it looks. Unless it's a complete chop job of huge, widely spaced plugs most people just don't notice. We are definitely our own worst enemy. Results of my 1424 FU transplant procedure on 8/16/02 can be viewed at... http://community.webshots.com/user/ttaco

I asked Dr. Richard Lee from www.minoxidil.com this very question a few months ago. Here was his reply: ------------------------------------------------- It is true that small amounts of finasteride is excreted in the semen, but the important question is how much is excreted? I've called Merck, and they informed me that the absorption rate of finasteride via the semen is 750 times lower than the 'no effect rate' tested on Rhesus monkeys. In essence, there is no risk, because it would be impossible to have a ejaculate of 3750ml. The average volume is 5 ml. There is no correlation between taking finasteride and birth defects. While it is known that women who have a congenital 5-alpha reductase deficiency can give birth to a male child with hypoplasia of the external genital tract, it does not happen by taking finasteride to reduce the DHT. That's why the package insert in the U.S. doesn't include the warning anymore. To be on the safe side, it is still recommended that women in the child bearing age do not take finasteride. Richard Lee, M.D. ------------------------------------------------- Hope this helps. Results of my 1424 FU transplant procedure on 8/16/02 can be viewed at... http://community.webshots.com/user/ttaco

Who was your doctor? Did he use microscopes to dissect the grafts? Results of my 1424 FU transplant procedure on 8/16/02 can be viewed at... http://community.webshots.com/user/ttaco

Big difference from where you used to be. Looks great. Congrats. Results of my 1424 FU transplant procedure on 8/16/02 can be viewed at... http://community.webshots.com/user/ttaco

McFly, try the very short/shaved look and see if it works. A lot of guys really do look good with it. Have you tried this already? Regarding getting a hair system: I talked to a guy who has to wear one behind his transplant (he's 33 now) and he says wearing a system should be someone's absolute last resort and that it is a MAJOR pain in the butt. The monthly maintenance is a hassle and also expensive. He said if he could do it all over again he would have done nothing. He's spent a fortune on transplants and systems and it hasn't been worth the $ or hassle. Sharp's correct - in another few years, many of your friends will be thinning too and it won't be such a big deal. If reputable docs are telling you to wait, you should. Sorry it's not what you want to hear. Results of my 1424 FU transplant procedure on 8/16/02 can be viewed at... http://community.webshots.com/user/ttaco

It's the same. I have been using the Kirkland brand 5% from Costco for years. $20 for 4 bottles. I've yet to see anyone beat that price. $5 a month. Results of my 1424 FU transplant procedure on 8/16/02 can be viewed at... http://community.webshots.com/user/ttaco

A good HT surgeon can also prescribe medication and may advise you not to get a HT if they do not think you are a candidate for one. A hairmill on the other hand will advise just about everyone to get a HT so they can collect your cash. I would start by visiting recommended docs in your area and see what they say. Dr. Feller (office in Long Island) is supposed to be very good, and I think Dr. Paul Rose travels to NY too. Results of my 1424 FU transplant procedure on 8/16/02 can be viewed at... http://community.webshots.com/user/ttaco

Arfy, I agree with you too. I wish I didn't have the minigrafts, but at least they are camouflaged very well now. I don't have any in my hairline or crown, which is the 2 most noticeable areas. There is no point in getting minis when you can get FU's. At some point I may have the remaining minis dissected and re-imlanted as FU's, but that will take considerable $. I may do it gradually over time via FIT/FUE. At leats now my new hairline will help conceal the work. Results of my 1424 FU transplant procedure on 8/16/02 can be viewed at... http://community.webshots.com/user/ttaco

I agree with Jotronic - just because you had a bad experience with a doc who performed a FU transplant doesn't mean you should go back to minis and micros. My minis and micros grew real well too - but they looked like crap! You can have naturalness and growth at the sae time. Results of my 1424 FU transplant procedure on 8/16/02 can be viewed at... http://community.webshots.com/user/ttaco

Yes, I live in Olney and work in Laurel. If you ever want to see the fu's and minigrafts in person, just let me know. ttm27@hotmail.com. Results of my 1424 FU transplant procedure on 8/16/02 can be viewed at... http://community.webshots.com/user/ttaco

Sharp, maybe it was me you were referring to - I had 400 micros and minis (although most were minis, probably 300) and had an FU procedure to restore the hairline. Yes, my hair does look dense, although less so from a top view than a straight on view. But I agree with what someone said in a post above, that as time goes on and I lose more hair, I still will have to deal with the minis in the mid scalp showing their ugly heads. At that point I will probably have to have them extracted and re-implanted as dissected FU's, or have another all FU procedure just behind them to camouflage them. One other thing I want to point out ... while I am happy with how my hairline looks now, and I'm sure absolutely no one can spot my old ugly looking minigraft hairline ... I know it's there. If my bright bathroom lights are on, I can still see kind of see it. It doesn't bother me necessarily, but it would be nice peace of mind knowing they were gone, as in re-implanted as FU's, more as mother nature would have it. Results of my 1424 FU transplant procedure on 8/16/02 can be viewed at... http://community.webshots.com/user/ttaco

What did you cut your dose down to when you you cut it down "too far"? Results of my 1424 FU transplant procedure on 8/16/02 can be viewed at... http://community.webshots.com/user/ttaco

I asked Dr. Richard Lee about what hairport had read and here is what he said... Dr. Lee, I just read this posting from someone on the Internet. WHat are your thoughts? "I read in the British National Formulary that Finesteride is also excreted in semen. Therefore I would suggest to those of you who are planning to have a baby, to come off Finesteride for more than 2 weeks before attempting. You can go back on it once pregnancy is achieved but to use condoms thereafter." Dr. Lee's response: "It is true that small amounts of finasteride is excreted in the semen, but the important question is how much is excreted? I've called Merck, and they informed me that the absorption rate of finasteride via the semen is 750 times lower than the 'no effect rate' tested on Rhesus monkeys. In essence, there is no risk, because it would be impossible to have a ejaculate of 3750ml. The average volume is 5 ml. There is no correlation between taking finasteride and birth defects. While it is known that women who have a congenital 5-alpha reductase deficiency can give birth to a male child with hypoplasia of the external genital tract, it does not happen by taking finasteride to reduce the DHT. That's why the package insert in the U.S. doesn't include the warning anymore. To be on the safe side, it is still recommended that women in the child bearing age do not take finasteride." FYI, Dr. Lee's website is www.minoxidil.com. Results of my 1424 FU transplant procedure on 8/16/02 can be viewed at... http://community.webshots.com/user/ttaco [This message was edited by ttaco on July 15, 2003 at 04:55 PM.]

Is what you read in the British National Formulary results of a new study? I've heard very differing opinions on the subject of "should you be taking finasteride while trying to get your wife pregnant" issue. Here is a website that says you don't have to get off it. http://www.otispregnancy.org/pdf/propecia.pdf I'd like to hear what doctors who frequent the site think. Thanks. Results of my 1424 FU transplant procedure on 8/16/02 can be viewed at... http://community.webshots.com/user/ttaco [This message was edited by ttaco on July 14, 2003 at 01:22 PM.]

You can go out in the sun, but just avoid sunbathing with your head uncovered or staying outside for a long period of time without protecting your head. If you go out on a boat or go play golf or anything else that requires you staying outside for several hours, wear a hat. Better safe than sorry. Results of my 1424 FU transplant procedure on 8/16/02 can be viewed at... http://community.webshots.com/user/ttaco

Unfortunately your hairline looks too low, so if you have corrective work done I think the doc will have to excise the old grafts, cut them down into FU's and re-implant them to create a softer hairline. I think you should concentrate on the front before worrying about the crown. You look like you still have hair back there, and if you take Propecia you may be able to keep it. Also, since your hair is straight, you can comb it back once you get the hairline fixed and it will help cover the back half of your head if it gets thinner. I had similar large grafts but lucky for me the hairline was placed very high so I didn't need the old ones taken out. You look like you have good quality donor hair from what I can see. Check with some of the top docs mentioned fequently on this board and see what they say about your situation. Best of luck to you. Results of my 1424 FU transplant procedure on 8/16/02 can be viewed at... http://community.webshots.com/user/ttaco