SecretlyThinning

Not common. The majority of those who develop gynecomastia as a result of taking Finasteride are taking 5 mg, which is a much higher dose than the 1 mg Propecia dose. In a four-year controlled study of over 3,000 men on a 5 mg dose, less than 1% reported breast enlargement (0.5%, as opposed to the Placebo group at 0.1%) in the first year. Usually this side effect exhibits itself in the first 2-6 months, though, and once you stop taking it, the effect reverses, i.e. the man boobs disappear. If you think you're developing gynecomastia, though, you should see your doctor to confirm this. Breast tissue is different than fatty tissue, and sometimes it's just fat, which would not be a result of taking Finasteride/Propecia/Proscar. Look up the studies on drugs.com for data tables, their explanations, etc.

Scalp micro-pigmentation can actually render EXCELLENT results, and if you're going to wear hair anyway, it'll just create a shadow--that is, the appearance of more follicles. If you go to someone who specializes in it, you have to realize that this cosmetic tattoo (it is a tattoo after all) is very different than the tattoo you get at your regular tattoo parlor. The pigements are different, too. Regular tattoos "smear," but cosmetic tattoos -- micropigmentation of the scalp, eyebrows, eyeliner, lip liner, etc., etc., etc. -- will fade long before that. They only last a few years before they're virtually undetectable. In other words, you'll be back to get it redone, but they won't smear, smudge, or turn blue if you're going to someone who specializes in the art of micropigmentation and using very specific tools and pigments. Honestly, I'm considering having it done on my scar (had a HT three weeks ago) when all is said and done. I'm in no rush, but if/when I decide to cut my hair short (and once I've confirmed I won't require another procedure...at least for a while), I'd definitely consider it. That said, yes...get back on the propecia/proscar! And Dr. Wong should definitely be commended for giving you the honest truth about your situation.

I would use dermmatch first and shadow your hairline forward slightly (especially if there's existing hair there). Then, I'd put the toppik, nanogen, or caboki (my new favorite) on. You can use a spray applicator, guard with your finger, or this little tool they have called the "hairline optimizer" (a jagged guard). The notch in the middle looks like an easier fix than the temporal recession, but I think you can bring that forward considerably with styling and concealers. Do you ever wear your hair forward a bit? Use a paste or a pomade to mess it up a bit and bring it forward -- a destructured look. You don't want the hair all going uniformly in the same direction for this kind of look. You have great texture, and you're young enough to pull this off well -- even at a wedding. For the dermmatch and Toppik (or other concealer), I'd go with a light brown. You look heavily lit in these photos, so if that's altering the color, that could be an issue. HOWEVER, if photos will be taken outdoors, you may want to go lighter anyway, since too dark of a concealer would look horrible in natural lighting, whereas slightly lighter would actually look pretty good (providing just a bit of shadow to your scalp and in between natural hair). If you're not sure, get two colors and mix them. I mix the blonde and light brown Dermmatch as well as the blonde and light brown Caboki (and did the same with Toppik). Get it all now and start playing with it. You appear to have great texture, so you'll no doubt have excellent results from a transplant surgery should you decide to go that route. If you're a 3V, it's great that you're going ahead and using the Propecia (if your profile is accurate). A HT doctor will likely NOT touch your crown -- especially at your age. (I know because I started Propecia to stop my own receding/thinning and only had miniaturization in my crown, but Dr. Dorin said he wouldn't address my crown at my age. Others concurred.) That said, hair fibers will really thicken up the crown nicely. I can easily go without it in the crown with no issue, but sometimes I apply it there just to affect a denser look (for my own self-satisfaction).

YES! And you can get inexpensive sulfate-free shampoos at your local drug store. Some studies suggest they're carcinogenic. However, even if you chalk that up to hype, they do strip your hair (excessively so) of natural oils -- much more than is necessary for cleaning. Furthermore, daily shampooing with such a shampoo will irritate your scalp (whether you can see it immediately or not). For healthy hair AND a healthy scalp, use a sulfate-free shampoo. Actually, unless your hair is naturally oily, you don't want to shampoo more than every other day or so anyway.

Homophobia and transphobia are not one in the same, but their roots are the same -- roots of ignorance. And, while we're at it, transgender and gay are not the same, and being transgender doesn't make you gay. (We could go on: transgendered individuals are not necessarily transsexuals...) Calling the procedures creepy (particularly without qualifying that word choice) may seem clever at first -- after all, we're all dudes here, right? -- but it's not really. I'm not saying Dr. Epstein is a great doctor, but the procedures aren't that far-fetched, and I think you'd be shocked to know that some surgeons whose work you do admire actually perform such procedures. They simply choose not to showcase that work for various reasons. Finally, we're all on an online forum, aren't we? If we're confused about something, we can just open another tab in our explorer and do a quick google search to educate ourselves. That's the beauty of the internet; you don't have to take a Gender & Sexuality course at Sarah Lawrence to be informed and speak thoughtfully about such matters. ;-) Back to the issue at hand, though, you should feel comfortable wherever you decide to get your procedure done, and if the hard sell bothers you and the general atmosphere bothers you...go elsewhere.

Bonkerstonker, yes, yes, you ARE 'being' (not 'been') thick. And, the way you decided to phrase that question only emphasizes that. To answer your question, gender reassignment surgery may prevent future hair loss, but it won't reverse hair loss. Hormone replacement therapy can aid in preventing future hair loss, but likewise, it won't be effective for reversing hair loss. A hair transplant is the only way for her to go. Furthermore, gender reassignment surgery and hormone replacement therapy aren't as effective later in life as they are when you aren't as far removed from puberty. Lastly, gender reassignment surgery is not an easy surgery, and it's VERY expensive. Also, she has to be on hormone replacement therapy and receiving psychological treatment for a period of years before any reputable doctor would perform such a surgery. A hair transplant is a walk in the park (perhaps even a lounge on a blanket in a park) in comparison. On the agenda of things a transgendered (or pre-op transsexual) individual would be considering, a hair transplant is something she can more quickly check off the list.

Propecia's half-life is actually longer than some other medications, and it takes longer to metabolize than many, too. As such, you can go longer between doses if it's already in your system. However, if you stop altogether due to side effects, it'll take a while to over them. On the other hand, side effects happen gradually, so if you noticed something very real and very immediate, it could (for argument's sake) be psychosomatic.

I think the best thing you can do is change your diet. Yes, you can completely change your blood pressure and cholesterol with diet alone. Then, you won't have to worry about it interfering with the Propecia. You're far too young to be on blood pressure medication. Change your diet, stay on the Propecia. Keep your arteries and heart healthy...and keep your hair! That may not be what you want to hear, but having worked with a cardiologist in the past and having seen real case studies, I can assure you that it's the absolute, 100% truth.

Take the finasteride (Propecia/Procar). I've been taking it since I was 24, when I finally admitted to myself that my hairline was receding. Given the fact that there are a variety of balding patterns in my family, I decided not to wait and see if I lost it from my crown, too. I'm sure there's some miniaturization in my crown, but it's something only I notice because my hair is finer than it was when I was 17, 18, and 19 years old. After taking Propecia for a year, Dr. Dorin could see that not only had my hairloss NOT progressed, but the texture of the hair in my crown AS WELL AS in my hairline (where it was receding, it was getting fine and fuzzy first) had completely changed. The hair cuticle was both smoother and stronger. Seriously, get on it. The sexual side effects may be real for some people, but for some who think they're experiencing them, they may also be imagined. Less of a desire and inability to achieve an erection can totally be in your head. I'm gay (obviously), and half the gay men my age and older that I know take Propecia--many of them out of sheer FEAR of losing their hair, even though there's no evidence to suggest they actually are. None of us are suffering sexual side effects. Ha! I doubt it's a sexual orientation thing, either. A dude is a dude is a dude, and you will most likely NOT experience sexual side effects. I understand about the relaxing, too. I have very coarse, curly hair and have done the same. (I actually had a nice "chemical haircut" about 10 years ago from a relaxer that was left on too long.) If you do grow your hair back out, I find keratin treatments to be great for smoothing out the hair and giving it a nice texture...and it won't f*ck with your scalp! (I use Coppola Keratin Complex, which is formaldehyde-free.) For the crown, I'd also suggest using Toppik, xFusion fibers, or Caboki fibers. Seriously. I've used these fibers on me AND others. A transplant surgeon would likely be reticent to work on your crown just yet. They'll probably address your hairline first. Hair building fibers on your crown in the meantime will give you a great result -- especially if you want to book a modeling job or even just take new pics for your portfolio. In the meantime, I'd suggest you take Propecia...especially since you're thinning so much in the crown. I just had my first HT with Dr. True and Dr. Dorin, and like corvettester, I can attest to their work. If nothing else, schedule a consultation.

Great results! I just looked through all of your albums, and you're definitely fortunate. This procedure brought your hairline down considerably lower than the last, and the last one brought your hairline considerably forward from your starting point. I definitely can't see you bringing the hairline down anymore since it appears--especially in profile--that your hairline now reaches your frontalis muscles. The forehead angle appears more flat now, which gives you a more youthful AND masculine appearance, particularly with the stronger temporal points. As conservative in graft numbers as these procedures were, the results are dramatic. You appear to have gone from prematurely approaching a NWIV to being able to expect a very youthful NWI when it's all said and done...and you have plenty left in your donor area! Congrats! I, too, had the fortune of seeing both Dr. True and Dr. Dorin, and I can attest that they're the real deal and at the very top of their game. You'd be hard-pressed to find anyone else in the field with their level of expertise and their sheer artistry!

No, you shave NOTHING. I repeat...NOTHING for a lace wig. N-O-T-H-I-N-G. No shaving. NO SHAVING. The lace is glued or taped down at the hairline. THAT'S ALL. That holds it in place. They can be glued/taped down around the entire perimenter, but you DO NOT SHAVE. I'm talking about wigs like you see in film/television. Trust me, these stars are NOT SHAVING their heads. Some don't even glue/tape the hairline down. They just use pins. (This, of course, requires that you have hair at your hairline. Otherwise, you have to tape or glue.) Look at (Link removed by moderator). However, as i said before, a lot of African American salons make the same quality wigs for much, much cheaper.

brw989, I just posted pics in my profile album showing the results I get from combining Dermmatch and Toppik. I think the results are pretty undetectable. (Please excuse my poor photography skills. I used my phone.)

I just posted pics in my album so that you can see the results I get from combining Dermmatch and Toppik.

I'm not talking necessarily about a full on "hair system" like you'd get from Hair Club for Men or something. I'm talking about lace front (and full lace) wigs that celebrities wear and that are used in film and theater. You don't have to shave your head for those. Thin Skin is another option. You do glue or tape down the hairline, but because it's only the hairline, you don't have to shave your head and bond it to your scalp. Like I said, if you're not ready to shave, just get a custom, lace front or full lace wig. You glue or tape down at the hairline, and if you're worried about extra security, they often come with clips that will clip into your existing hair (or you can have them sewn in) at undetectable areas NOT at the hairline. Steps 2 - 6 can be used as advice for hair systems as well, though.

jessie1, I'd think you could have accomplished more with 1,000 grafts as well. Given the length of your hair, I guess you're within reason to have expected to have seen greater change by now. Keep us posted, though!

LondonHT, I think it would be worth your while to get an opinion from a separate doctor. I am also surprised at the lack of density. I think you can use Topikk (or another hair building fiber) to thicken the appearance some, but if you're interested in getting additional work done in the future, I'd see someone else -- if for no other reason than to get their opinion on your results. You may even want to see multiple doctors and get multiple opinions.

Albion, I wouldn't go to Dr. Kulachi again. If nothing else, I think you at least owe it to yourself to visit other doctors for separate opinions. In terms of your results, I see slightly more area coverage, but no real density change at all. I wouldn't call the procedure a great success -- certainly not for the amount of grafts used. That said, if you're self-conscious about your appearance, I wouldn't say your results look bad, just [almost] non-existent. Your trip back gave you insight into her thinking -- that she believes this was largely a success. That thinking has hopefully been a great education to you, and you're fortunate it was free. The lesson learned is that she's too proud to admit when an operation she performed was not a success. THAT is not a quality you want in your HT doctor. Take care! Best of luck with whatever you decide your next step should be!

Corvettester, I think your results are great! I'm going in for a transplant to either side of my hairline in about a month, and I must say...even your earlier results were good enough at the hairline to mix with a Toppik that should mine be similar, I'd feel much more comfortable personally (you know...with wind and such) than I do now. I can't wait!

If you're going to wear a wig... Here's my two cents on having them look as natural as possible: 1) Especially if you're not ready to shave your head and bond it to your scalp, get a black sista to hook you up, white brothas! I'M SERIOUS!!! I've worked in film, television, and theater, and there are a lot of African American hairstylists that do handmade wigs for under $1,000 -- under $500 if the hair used is 8 inches long or shorter. Also, when choosing a density, choose light. Don't even choose medium density. Choose light. Don't choose light-medium. Choose light. You can even order online! 2) Get a blend of colors. Your hair is not all one color -- even if you think it is. It isn't. Even if you think you have black hair (1b), get a blend of black (1b) and darkest brown (2). 3) Your hair isn't as dark as you think it is. Really. If you think your hair is dark brown, it's probably medium brown. If you think it's medium brown, it's probably light brown. Choose a shade lighter than you think your hair looks and then have it blended with another shade lighter. 4) Wear it longer--not necessarily long, but of good length (I'd say at least four inches long). This helps a LOT. If you're willing to embrace a little length -- especially if you go with a straighter texture, it won't look nearly as bad as quickly. Also, the more hip your style (e.g., longer bangs, height at the crown, shaggy layers...those sorts of things), the easier it'll be for you to get away with it. 5) It will fade if exposed to a lot of sunlight, and that can make it look bad if it's a medium to darker brunette shade. (Conversely, if you're a blond, you may actually like it a bit more after fading.) If the wig is still in good condition, you can have it toned. Take it to a professional and have them apply an ash toner at the same level to get rid of the faded brassy, red tones. 6) GYM AND WORKING OUT: Be funky. Seriously. Wear a bandana or sweat band around the hairline...or even like Brett Michaels. I don't wear wigs (except for a couple of instances when I was in shows), but I have some girlfriends who do (and one guy friend). This works for them.

This just in: I'm going to have 800 grafts done in the front temporal regions of my hairline in about four weeks. Because they said that I should be able to take a taxi after the procedure, I'm going to try my best to keep this a secret as well. We'll see how it goes. It was a spur of the moment decision, but I got really frustrated by not feeling comfortable enough to jump in a pool with friends. I've told them it's because my hair is naturally curly, and that it would go crazy if it got wet (true), but that's not the real issue. The real issue is exposing my hairline. Now, mind you, my hair is nearly shoulder length, and the front/bangs layer is just below my earlobes, so even post-surgery (minus concealers), I think I'll be able to keep it to myself. I may rock an oversized beanie for a few days. I may also have to fess up to the bf. We'll see...I'd like to NOT have to do that.

I'm gay, but I do have the issue with my boyfriend (as well as flirtatious other guys when I'm out at night). My boyfriend and I have lived together for five years, and he has no idea that I use Propecia, Dermmatch, or XFusion hair fibers. Really. Clueless. I'm sure the fact that I have naturally dark blonde/light brown hair (with highlights) and have opted for beige/taupe bedding helps. Also, dim lighting works wonders, too. ;-) However, when a guy reaches to touch my hair--or even a girl since a lot of girls really like my hair and think they should then touch it--I automatically say, "I'm using a LOT of product right now, so you're going to be really grossed out if you touch it." That usually stops them. If they actually touch my hair, they won't linger because my disclaimer has made them aware that I'm rather "particular" about my hair. My boyfriend knows to leave my hair alone. Oddly, he's the same way. Even though he's not thinning and doesn't even use product, he won't even let ME touch his hair (unless I'm cutting or styling it for him). No playing in it, though. In other words, it's a common quirk you can play off. The real trick is the styling. Fortunately, he sleeps a LOT later than I do, so I can handle the styling before he gets up. If we're away, though, I take care of it all while he's showering. I keep all of my "tools" in a work bag I use when I'm on set or location or something. He has no need or desire to go into the bag, and even if he did, he'd just assume it's something I use on others (which I have).

You can use a combination. Get a shade of Dermmatch that's just a tad lighter than your hair--mix two colors even--and then fill in your hairline where there's existing hair. This will create a soft shadow on your scalp. Then, sprinkle the Toppik on, using the hairline optimizer tool, and spray with the locking mist or hairspray to set. If you want to take it one step further, you can get a bronzer (sans glitter please!) and brush it on around your hairline afterwards--just don't go too far down onto your forehead. That's really the icing on the cake when I do hair for shows and shoots.

Here's what I'd suggest. My hair is fairly long right now, but when it was shorter, this is what I'd do: 1. Wash and dry your hair. 2. Apply a cover formula like Dermmatch in a shade lighter than you think you need. In a pinch, you can also use a matte eyeshadow if you're not too proud to buy it. Either way, I find applying either with a professional foundation brush to work best. 3. Apply your pomade and style your hair as usual. Since you're going to go back with the Toppik, you can go a little heavier than you would have normally. 4. Sprinkle the Toppik on, but hold it very close to the scalp, lifting your longer hair away. 5. Spray with the locking spray or hairspray. Here's the other thing. If you're going out at night, and you do this in the morning, the Toppik will settle a bit and the pomade/oils will spread a bit, and it'll look better. You can even take the pomade and apply a little more just to the tips. That said, while a little settling can look good, when you start approaching that third day, it not only settles, it starts to clump on the scalp and doesn't look as good. Hope that helps!

The idea to use a combination of Dermmatch and Toppik is an excellent idea. That's what I do. Your hair color is about the same color as mine, and I find that the light brown is a pretty good match, but it looks even better when you take the blonde and lightly go across the top (after putting the brown on first). Also, before any of that, I like to use a combo of the blonde and light brown Dermmatch. The goal isn't to go on too thick with the Dermmatch, but just to cast a shadow on the scalp. Then, style, sprinkle on the Toppik--or other fibers--and spray. Yes, you're buying double the product up front, but you're not using quite as much of either color, so you're getting just as much use out of them as you would with one color.