MrMike

Totally agree.

I don't mean to sound like a cynic but I am up in the air about Nizoral. It is a cheap $5 shampoo here in Australia (have used for HL in the big 3, did't rate it at all), how come other countries require prescription's for this? Slightly confusing issue? Or am I mislead? How many studies have been conducted in relation to it's effects with DHT on the scalp? Cheers, MrMike

Also, For the record I took SP for a Year maybe longer when I first noticed my hair thinning in my final school year (recommended by a "Health nut") which lead to this research project I did. When I began treatment at Advanced Hair (I use the term "treatment" lightly) they had SP in their hair loss package, so of course I threw the bottles out. Hope I am not coming across as a know it all here, even though I am new to this forum I have been researching for years prior. Cheers MrMike

Hi VeniVidiVici, I will try not to be to nerdy here I conducted a year 12 Biology thesis on Saw Palmetto for my final grade, everyone laughed of course being year 12's. As this is known mostly to aid with urinary issues and natural antisepctic I was hesitant to believe it would assist with Hair Loss. It turns out SP does inhibit DHT but not in the form that Propecia does, the catabolic breakdown is very slow, it can cause ulcers in the stomatch, liver issues etc, (over periods of time) and overall would be far far less effective to assist HL when compared to Fin (obviously), because no complete detailed studies with Bio breakdowns have been done on SP and of course being in yr 12 I had limited time to spend devoted to it I came to the conclusion that it would assist on a percentage scale of 5-15%. Of course I this was 9 years ago when percentages were all the rage. Don't really know if this helps, but IMO SP is about as useful as a condom with air holes.

MrBSharp, I think your Dr is uneducated about HT surgery, the hair from your donor supply that is transplanted to your thinning/bald areas will not fall out (unless you are one of the worst case scenarios). It is just highly unlikely, Depending on your situation and you want to wait around for another 20 year advancement in Hair Loss technology I would say todays modern HT procedures are quite an amazing breakthrough. I think you need to search not only this forum but many other forums to see exactly what HT's can offer. I don't believe you have to accept it if you do not want to, with a world class surgeon anything is possible IMO. Propecia is not a cure but if you were considering a HT you would be crazy not to try this approach first, possibly with a mix in of a topical like minox. I am only trying to help Cheers, MrMike

Hey mattj nice to meet you! Yeah, I realise different Dr's will have different views on which surgical route to take. I have seen people with similar loss treated in the same areas with great results (I do know results vary) but given my hair type I have a good feeling it will turn out okay. I will post some photos for you viewing pleasure. The issue I have with posting photos is due to the fact my hair is longer (Emo styled) It is hard to depict the difffused situation properly, it is noticable but does not show as well.

Anyone else have an opinion with regards to my case? Bill? I am kinda looking in your direction buddy =) this decision is taking up my daily thought process. Thanks Mrmike

MrBSharp, I would personally stay away from most Australian HT doctors at this stage, they are fairly outdated and I am claiming this after many many hours of research on OZ HT surgeons. I would look to travel to a top Dr for sure. (Which I will) I have also been down on the Advanced Hair wagon, If I could walk in there with an UZI with no repercussions I would Are you on Fin? That would most certainly be my first line of defense before even considering having a HT if I was only just noticing MPB. I wouldn't really go as far to say Minox will stop your hair loss, it is a proven growth stimulant not a DHT blocker.

Raph (hopfully i can call you this) I just viewed your Pre HT photo, your diffused situation would be slightly more advanced than mine and my hairline is lower (it is hard to tell exactly) do you have a double crown?? Or is that how you had you hair styled that particular day? Thanks mate. PS Please excuse any spelling or sentence structure issues, It is far to early!

Hey Raph, Thanks for the support! I appreciate it. As I stand with my loss to date a mega session would not really be in my sights, I would not require one unless I let it go for another maybe ten years. In regards to hairline work, I am aware that most Dr's like to begin here with a strong foundation, I guess I will be able to request it to be slightly higher, I do not want to look super young in my Mid 40's. My hair line is fairly low at the moment and I measure roughly 15cm from the front point to the crown. I have a small surface area which I believe will be in my favour. I though about both Dr's last night and kept going through forums checking work/denstiy/scars/Cm2 of grafts etc..I think for my first procedure Rahal may be the right Dr but Hasson really does pull off great work on diffused thinner such as myself..Ahhhh there I go again, I'll have to find my lucky coin and just write H&W on one side and Rahal on the other, but I bet it will land standing up right!!

C'mon somebody lol. I know I wrote alot.

Hi Parable, I am from Australia =) and have been researching HT's and Hairloss for a long time mate. Nice to mee you! MrMike

Hi guys, I am a very LONG time lurker of HT Boards, I apologise If I am in the worng section of the forum I do not want to upset anybody. I am 26 years old from Australia and have been thinning for around 8 years now I would say, I have been on Fin for roughly 4 years and Minox for 6 years which has held up the hair pretty darn well. In between all of this I have tried many different hyped lotions/creams etc but many did not contribute enough to justify the price per month. My hair is pretty thick along the sides and back of my head and my dermatologist mentioned I had one of the most elastic scalps she had ever seen (I can move it around like I have a wig on haha). My hair has receded to roughly a NW2 and is just messy and the top/crown has become see through heading to a NW4 I guess, due to the fact that the hair I have remaining is quite thick I can mask this fairly well with the style I wear but is becoming slowly troublesome and is slowly getting thinner. I have been looking at a transplant for the last year (have previously researched for 100's of hours) I have had a consult with a local Dr who was very arrogant and did not make me feel welcome one bit, he said I did not need any work on top only at the hairline and recommended 1000 grafts (strip surgery), He obviously thought I had no idea about HT when I mentioned I was contacting H&W he got kind of angry and said oh well see if they have the ethics to transplant you diffused hair. I then consulted with Hasson and Wong and emailed Doug some photo's which could have been of a higher standard but they gave me a good rough guess on the amount of grafts I would require to satisfy my needs I think it was around 4000 but I believe I would require much less to start with. I still have to send new photos but my camera was dropped off of a balcony. Sorry for the lack of photos H&W they are coming! I have recently taken a liking to Dr Rahal also, he seems to pull off very good hairlines and density on most patients I have researched. I find it hard to justify patient results from the Dr's websites I like to research the average Joe on forums and keep monitoring their progress as much as I can for a more realistic approach. So far I have had no contact from the Rahal Clinic but the email was only sent 3 days ago. I just addressed the issues of shock loss/diffuse thinning the usual questions I always ask, Because I will most likely have future loss (depending on the drugs) I want to account for this but at the same time I see most procedures start at the hair line and work back. I am opposite I do not like wearing my hair up at all so the front is not my biggest concern I want it to look good but if it came down to it I would rather have a full top than a dense lowered hairline. I have been trying to work out my own hairline design based on my shaped head and hair loss characteristics (based on my father) trying to keep it as high as possible without an aged look. This would seem crazy to others I guess. My derm also mentioned I have a small scalp area with the particular haed shape I have which could well be beneficial in the long run of HT's. I am really at the point of a coin toss between Dr Hasson and Dr Rahal atm, both of them are amazing surgeons the decision is starting to get to me and I would like other opinions I guess, I realise most will say choose who you are comfortable with etc etc but I feel both would really be quite close in most areas. Can I also point out I have no "over" expectations of this procedure I am not going to have Brad Pitt hair I am willing to have a scar I am just after the best i can get from a procedure even if it gives me a denstiy I am at now for the future I would be pretty stoked. I will post some pic's this week for ppl's viewing pleasure. Thanks for reading. PS: If it were not for sites such as this I would truly be lost in the dark and have had a botch surgery by now so thankyou very much for all the information contributed on here.