Mark H

This is what I was told without quoting doctor names, that there have been studies indicating that it stays in your system at good strength that long, but that having gotten FDA approval for once a day, we shouldn't look for the Propecia people to cut their sales by 2/3's until hell freezes over. I take it Sunday eve, Tues eve, and Friday morning to space it out as best I can so that I actually stay just under 72 hours. And I'll tell you something else, I'm getting some action at my hairline at 6 weeks, and I think the minox there is helping, and I'm cranking up on copper peptides when I receive some more in a few days. My "authority" indicates that it does stimulate hair growth, whether new or not. I used it several weeks after HT, and then switched to Folligen copper peptide shampoo...now I'm going to add in between minox sessions with copper pep spray. Full metal jacket here! I'm letting no hair go unchallenged! mark h

He looks great, and he's starting to hook up. I'm really jealous!

A quick check of medical authorities online will show rather quickly that its minoxidil, propecia, and HT's. Anything else is speculative, and that usually but not always means bunk. mark

You may be right about copper peptides not growing new hair, but there is still some controversy over whether Minoxidil is growing new hair or thckening existing, and shortening Telogen. Copper Peptides too seem to be able to shorten telogen.

Ask what size instruments he uses to make incisions, and how dense he can put grafts into a square cm. Also ask him what kind of closure he does. thats just a start, but get answers and compare to coalitino docs. mark

Yes Bill, I understood that Proscar was a bigger dose, but I've never heard anyone recommend a larger dose for hair loss...although my experience is limited. My understanding is that you take Proscar to save money by cutting up the pill down to 1 to 1.25mg's. kjp seems to be under the impression that he's taking something different because Propecia is no longer working. I only take propecia 3 times a week because it stays in your system for about 72 hours.

Customs....hope your no-name doc will do a good job, and you'll end up looking like a discount kewpie doll. If you learn enough here, you might be able to vet the doctor you want to see, but the odds of him doing a good job and knowing the cutting edge techniques available today without being on anyone's radar is so small, you're better off taking your money to a casino.... My recommendation: go to a coalition doctor, or put your money on 17 black.

Bill, I've got the 1 per cent Nizoral, and I've been using it once a week, but the rest of the time I've been using Follegen Shampoo with Copper Peptides. Little appears to have been said about Copper Peptides on this site, but it appears that it may be the next best add on after Minoxidil. I've just sent for an additional Copper Peptide spray to use in between Minoxidil applications. The research looks very promising. mark h

I haven't been on Propecia that long, but I've been watching this issue. You say our doctor switched you to Proscar from Propecia because the latter wasn't working...Isn't Proscar just another brand of Propecia? As for Avodart, its likely a good substitute for Propecia, but the last I heard, the makers of it have stopped pursuing it as a hair loss product. mark

Robert, if you're blow drying for 45 seconds it might not make a diff, but don't the foam directions specifically tell you not to blow dry? I've also found their simple instruction to put your applying hand under cold water and then dry and important element in getting it on right. Finally, I think this forum should explore what appear to be benefits from the use of copper peptide solutions. There appears to be some real evidence that copper peptides encourage hair growth including a shortening of the Telogen cycle, and that it may even have a hair regrowing effect, although probably not as strong as minoxidil. I've also been reading some evidence indicating that Minoxidil may be better at thickening and strengthening existing hair, than bringing back hair that is gone. I've been using Minox all over my HT and not just on the top, but even at the hairline. I have actually seen it grow hair at the hairline in the past using 2 per cent, but of course my key hope is that I can shorten Telogen phase on my transplanted hairs. I think it may be working. I am concerned that I may have difficulty keeping the minox up all over after significant growth. mark

John, you must mean 6000 over the course of his life, right? Because I can't see where he'd put them just at the moment, but given his relative youth, he would want to keep good reserves. mark

whynot, choose the right doctor. Thats it. If you choose a coalition doctor such as Dr. True, your chances of disappointment are rather small I think. Choose someone else, and the subsequent months of baldness will sink you in a pool of doubt, and the result may well be second rate.

John, since I'm 52 and not quite as young as the morning dew, I asked Dr. Cooley if I could expect slower development. He indicated that there appeared to be no predictable pattern based on age. There are apparently predictable differences based on race, and perhaps hair type, but I can't recall where I read that. I'm at the 6 week mark now, and my pre existing hair that I had shaved is starting to grow like gangbusters, and there is just a hint that the transplanted hairs are going to start throwing a party soon. Oddly, my pre existing hair is growing stronger and straight up to the sky! I've no idea what that is about unless the rogaine is making it thicker already. It doesn't lay flat like it used too....its odd. I put rogaine ALL over my HT area, and not just on the crown. It may not be spec'd to grow hairline, but it has been known too and it sure won't work if you don't put it there. I've also been using a Follogen Shampoo with copper peptides. How can you go wrong with copper peptides? Oh, I forgot my pep talk John. You know, every spring I look at my lawn after the snow is gone and think: man this lawn is dead, it ain't coming back. But it does...big time. Me? After six weeks I get a little less ugly every day. mark

Bravo B Spot, you've earned your pay for the day. As for me, when I decided I was going to get an HT, I made the decision that I wanted the best, and that I wasn't going to limit the results based on my wallet graft-wise either. So, when I went in to see Dr. Cooley, and was immediately impressed....as I still am...I said, "hair me, doc!"

Customs, If you're smart you'll go to the doctor mentioned by B Spot. He has to be the best doctor down there if he's in the coalition. Is he as good as the American coalition doctors? I've no idea, but theoretically it should mean that he's using the latest techniques, and thats key. Also, although I'm no real judge, it sees to me that you've enough donor hair, and enough hair on your head to make a good go of it. Dump the rug buddy, you'll be glad you did. i've been to brazil a couple of times, loved it. cheers, mark

The foam does not contain the scalp irritants found in the liquid form. My experience is that it dries up fairly quickly, but if you're trying to figure out a morning program to get you to work, that can be a challenge. You're going to want to shower, wait for a fairly dry head...that doesn't take long, but then after you apply you also have to wait for awhile to add in toppik. I do NOT find it greasy, but the drying time I'm not sure about, and also I'm using it on short hair. I don't know yet what it will be like when my hair is long.

See the several comments against your photo album.] cheers, mark

I will only humbly try to augment what Bill has provided. You have loss on top of your head, but you may be more concerned about your hairline. Minox and Propicia may not do anything for that...although it has been known to. It may well help your other baldness up top though. As for an HT, even if all the stars align themselves as far as your age and donor hair, India isn't the place to get it. At least, there is nobody on this forum who could tell you who might be good there. There might be some doctors there that could do an adequate job if you're willing to settle based on location, but frankly I don't think anyone here knows who it would be. There is apparently a pretty decent doctor in Thailand if your wallet will stretch to that.

Your youth unfortunately is working against you in the HT department too. A doctor (a good one anyway) is going to want to be conservative with your limited amount of donor hair. Without reviewing earlier messages ...as I should... you should add in Rogaine foam along with Propecia. There is reason to believe they ar ecomplimentary. mark h

I don't think that's an issue. HT surgeons wear these magnifying glasses while operating, and i'm guessing some of these guys can pass their drivers test without glasses. Anyway, my head was shaved in the recipient area, so if he can avoid a shaved hair, I'm guessing he can avoid one in Telogen phase. Also, 10-15 per cent of your hair is always in Telogen without meds, so transection is always a worry. The bottom line is you must choose a best of the best HT doctor who as good at avoiding transection. How can you know? You can't, but you can research, as you're doing now, and choose wisely. Here is another point, if you're on Propecia for awhile it may strengthen hair so that it doesn't shock out for good because of surgery. Bottom line, nobody here recommends not being on Propecia first. In fact, I only started it a month before my HT session, and I wish I'd started earlier...a LOT earlier. mark h

Good to see you back P, haven't seen you in awhile! mark

Arabian, I have high confidence in Dr. Cooley. He did my HT six weeks ago. I'm walking through that long dry hairless desert right now, but I have a lot more confidence because I chose the right doctor. GL, mark

Hairbank, is your avatar Mark Twain? It reminds me of his self introduction at a speech he gave: "I was once introduced by a Lawyer, who kept his hands in his pockets. He said, that I was Mark Twain, a humorist, who was really funny. However, we had a more extraordinary person in our midst than a humorist who was really funny, we had a lawyer who kept his hands in his own pockets."

The laugh could be on us John, new techniques such as hair multiplication could change the situation. However, you're definitely rolling the dice if you overdo now.