SV_08

Sup fellas,

So a little intro before I get into my questions... I have been away from this forum the past few years. I got my first HT in 2006. About 900 or so grafts in the hairline. Now Im looking into getting my 2nd one sometime this year. The plan is to reinforce the hairline and cover the front third/half.

My hair loss can best be described as diffuse thinning. I still have hair throughout my head, but it is very thin. Im on finas/rogaine.

-Can anyone suggest some good dr's out in LA? I actually have a consult with Dr Siporin today. I will let you all know how that goes.

-I live next to an LA Center for Hair Restoration. The name of the person is Richard Ochs. Has anyone heard/can recommend him? I havent been for a consult yet, but will set one up soon.

look forward to any advice and help that you all can provide. this forum was great to me first time around. Looking forward to it helping me again.

2nd question...

i know it has been beaten to death, but i my doc told me taking it EOD was not a strong enough dose.

im going to start at Every Other Day dose. How long should i wait before determining if its working, or if i should increase to 1/4 pill Every Day??

thanks all for the replys... i was really taken aback by how small they were, but from your responses, that seems about right...

if i did switch em to name brand, i would just pay for them straight up. i just wanted to see if it was worth it or not, cuzz i know the pharmacist is going to tell me they are the exact same thing (thinking its for prostrate and not hair).

i rec'd 30 pills of generic version- that comes out to a 4 month supply for only $5

finally took the plunge and got a prescription from my HT doc. asked for proscar to save money... when i got it filled i noticed 2 things..

1. The pills are incredibly small. i cant see how splitting them into quarters will work. I attached a pic for reference. are they normally this size??

2. i was given the GENERIC version. the pharmacist said that is what my plan covered. is it worth taking them back to cvs and paying extra for the name brand??

thanks for any help

finally took the plunge and got a prescription from my HT doc. asked for proscar to save money... when i got it filled i noticed 2 things..

1. The pills are incredibly small. i cant see how splitting them into quarters will work. I attached a pic for reference. are they normally this size??

2. i was given the GENERIC version. the pharmacist said that is what my plan covered. is it worth taking them back to cvs and paying extra for the name brand??

thanks for any help

so i went into vitaminshoppe today and came across this. anyone have any experience/reviews?? i did a search on this forum and didnt really get a solid answer.

i have an appt with my doc this week to get a script for finasteride... bein 25, single, with an active sex life im pretty nervous bout the sides im not gonna lie, so im lookin for something more 'natural' to try first.

so i went into vitaminshoppe today and came across this. anyone have any experience/reviews?? i did a search on this forum and didnt really get a solid answer.

i have an appt with my doc this week to get a script for finasteride... bein 25, single, with an active sex life im pretty nervous bout the sides im not gonna lie, so im lookin for something more 'natural' to try first.

thanks Bill... at what age/dose did u start the meds?? i was thinkin 1/4 proscar every other day..

i guess its just a balancing act. i read a few threads about people's side effects and get freaked out. could i try taking it for a few months and if im experiencing sides (ED, test pain, etc) just stop it, or is that not enough time to tell??

Its been over a year since my HT, and since then my hair loss has been non-existent until recently. Now i'm starting to shed again. Last time I went down this road I did nothing and ended up losing a LOT. Don't want to make the same mistake twice. I'm thinking its time to start takin meds (proscar??) however everywhere I read about the sides are scaring the sh*t outta me- decreased libido, more shedding etc... being 25 and single that could pose a bit of a problem. Any other suggestions/advice for me??

Its been over a year since my HT, and since then my hair loss has been non-existent until recently. Now i'm starting to shed again. Last time I went down this road I did nothing and ended up losing a LOT. Don't want to make the same mistake twice. I'm thinking its time to start takin meds (proscar??) however everywhere I read about the sides are scaring the sh*t outta me- decreased libido, more shedding etc... being 25 and single that could pose a bit of a problem. Any other suggestions/advice for me??

Originally posted by Mrjb:

The directions require you use it twice in one shower, first allowing to sit on the hair for 1-2 minutes and then repeating with a 3-5 minute lathering while massaging into the scalp.

MrJB,

How many times a week do u use it??

(i.e. if Revita should be used 3x a week, should i still use my other shampoo- pantene full n thick- on the other days??)

Originally posted by johnnie69:

Again, what are you cycling..? You talking of a natural test booster like DIM (boosts test/lowers estrogen) or an injectible like test cypionate used as both a "steroid' and in TRT, depending on the dose and hormonal levels of the individual....

 

im talking about a natural test booster, taken orally...

At first I was lookin into a cycle of test cypionate/ deca but to be honest i'm not sure how that's gonna affect my hairloss so I want to see how my body responds to a natural test booster first.

ive been lifting for about 6 yrs... my diet and training is on point. jus lookin to 'get bigger' of course i understand that propecia is NOT something to just use on and off, u learn that after 10 minutes on this forum. thats why im asking.

i'm about to start a cycle of supps... mainly test boosters (not illegal roids)... it was recommended to me by someone that I get on either propecia or rogaine while on the cycle, then stop it once i'm done. Being a long-time member of this forum, I know that's completely wrong, as rogaine/propecia is not a temporary commitment.

So my quest is what else can I use temp while on this cycle?? Is nizoral/revita shampoo something I can jump on for a few months then discontinue??

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25 yrs old... First HT 6/9/06

i'm about to start a cycle of supps... mainly test boosters (not illegal roids)... it was recommended to me by someone that I get on either propecia or rogaine while on the cycle, then stop it once i'm done. Being a long-time member of this forum, I know that's completely wrong, as rogaine/propecia is not a temporary commitment.

So my quest is what else can I use temp while on this cycle?? Is nizoral/revita shampoo something I can jump on for a few months then discontinue??

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25 yrs old... First HT 6/9/06

Originally posted by nobuzz4me:

Spiral,

You look a little too young to be considering a HT. How old are you? You look just fine at this point IMO. There is no reason for you to get into this for such a small session. You should wait until it is really needed on the top and then do it all in one session.

Follow B-spots advice.

Im 25. Already had a HT done about a year ago, 900 grafts in the hairline. The reason for me wanting to restore the temples is because I feel like something is a little off, especially when my hair is wet or pushed back.

I have spoken with my original doctor, and the plan would be to restore the temples and refine the existing hairline... Give everything more of a balance.

NN, your assessment was right on.......

It just looks to me like he is diffuse, even through his laterals, so to create permanent temples could result in excessive frontloading in the future to try and balance him out.

I could be wrong though, and that is why I requested some outdoor pics without the hair gel.

B-spot you are correct in that I am thinning on top, however, my hair is pretty long as of now and without hair gel you would never notice. I can try to get a pic up.

From estimates given, I figured that another 400 or so grafts should not really affect my donor supply, leaving more than enough donor hair for future procedures. My concern lies with getting a second strip procedure at such a young age. Any thoughts???

Right Temple... want to fill in the area behind the blue line

heyy all...

regarding temple point restoration,

1. When transplanted to the top, grafts from the back of ur head seem to grow in thick and long... How will they grow when placed on the sides? Seems like the native hairs are finer/shorter.. will the grafts assume these characteristics??

2. How many grafts do u guys think it will take for me to fill in both temple points? still leavin a 'natural' recession look.

there are pics from my first procedure in the photo album section...

heyy all...

regarding temple point restoration,

1. When transplanted to the top, grafts from the back of ur head seem to grow in thick and long... How will they grow when placed on the sides? Seems like the native hairs are finer/shorter.. will the grafts assume these characteristics??

2. How many grafts do u guys think it will take for me to fill in both temple points? still leavin a 'natural' recession look.

there are pics from my first procedure in the photo album section...

Originally posted by GrowPlease:

dood, I started loosing hair at 21 and prolly was almost a NW 3 when I decided to start propecia and minoxidil. I also was able to muster up some courage and get my parents involved. At first they kept on blowing it off saying things like don't worry about it and hair doesn't matter just look at your dad, he's bald and perfectly happy. After 3 years of bitching...they totally support the use of meds and even my HT.

Being in this age group, Im gonna chime in and agree with growplease... havin your parents support is a huge plus (even though it took over 2 years to get it)

I take 0.5 mg every other day.

soccerguy,

if im not mistaken that comes out to .25mg/day. do you find this low of a dose to be effective?? (like you, im very concerned w/ side effects being in my mid 20's)

Originally posted by hairbank:

I'll chime in with the rest............I wouldn't bring your hairline down any further, it looks low enough as-is. I don't know your history but how old are you?

im 25, got the procedure done at 24. my original posts were back in june. havent started on any meds yet, ill talk to my doc about a prescription when i go in for my 6 month follow up.

Originally posted by Beefy:

Be patient you look good for only 4 months out you have another 8-10 months of growth and maturing. I would wait at least 14 months post op b4 considering another procedure.

the general consensus here seems to be wait it out until AT LEAST one year, possibly more... so i think ill err on the side of caution n listen. im not too sold on armani either (from what i have read).

Originally posted by Eman:

Spirall,

 

Your hair and hairline looks great now...I would say just wait and enjoy the hairline you have. Your results look really good at 4 months and will only get better in the next eight months.

eman, thanks man...

guess thats why this forum exists.. to stop some of us from jumping into things we otherwise shouldnt.

Mark, thanks for the compliment...

although the hairline is restored, it seems the sides/temples look a lil receded. I read a post by jotronic that said the sides could be just as important as the top. Maybe im just getting a lil hair greedy ... I think ill wait to the 6 month mark and try setting up some online/in person consults

Thanks for the advice guys

October 9th made 4 months... 870 in the hairline... pretty satisfied with the growth so far... no itching, shedding, etc... one question: thinking about getting a 2nd procedure, prob FUE, to bring the sides/temple points forward a little more, as well as possibly refining the hairline. Being from NYC, I hear tons on Feller being a top FUE doc... any suggestions/Comments???

October 9th made 4 months... 870 in the hairline... pretty satisfied with the growth so far... no itching, shedding, etc... one question: thinking about getting a 2nd procedure, prob FUE, to bring the sides/temple points forward a little more, as well as possibly refining the hairline. Being from NYC, I hear tons on Feller being a top FUE doc... any suggestions/Comments???

bikemike

06/09/06

10:23 AM

Utah, USA

"MSM also works. David Barr has written previously that glucosamine,

condroitin sulfate, and MSM may inhibit muscle growth because of

their anti-inflammatory properties."

just an FYI... they arent completly sure of this yet, but i figure its worth mentioning as theres a few other posts just like it on t-nation... I jus started msm and will continue for now until more research is done