OttawaJay

Hi Bill. Ultimately my question is what will you look like in another 10+ years as the rest of your naturally located hair falls out, leaving just the transplanted stuff.

Greetings all. I'm in my 40's and have been on propecia and rogaine for almost 5 years now. They have been successful in stalling my hair recession, even re-thickened my scalp hair a little, but have noticed some side effects from the drugs over the years and am considering a hair transplant instead. I am concerned though about what the results would look like 10-20 years down the road. My father is a Norwood 6 or 7, so I presume that's my ultimate destiny. Getting an HT done now will surely generate great results, but won't the rest of the hair around the plugs eventually fall out over the long run, making for an awkwardly bald area in the future, as well as noticeable sporadic plugs? Last thing I want is people to say "I see you got a hair transplant in the past... you can really tell now." Please consider your answer both if I were to continue or discontinue the hair-loss drugs.

So many people post problem with propecia, I wonder if the side effect rate is much higher than reported. Anyone stay on it long term and NOT suffer serious side effects?

I think, to get half decent coverage, you need to both stay on fin AND get HT. By the time most of us get on hair loss drugs, we're already at a somewhat advanced stage of loss, and the drugs just maintain it. Or more so, just slow the loss. So drugs alone won't give you back what you once had. If you get a transplant and abandon the drugs, you'll just keep losing around it and have to get it done again.

I've been on Propecia and Rogaine for almost 2 month now. Lots of shedding but no results yet. How long before it kicks in? For side effects, I've had some head numbing, but minor. Not even a headache really. No ED but ejaculate is a little thinner. No emotional side effects. Sometimes some minor flushing in my face.

Wow that was extremely informative. Thanks! If shock loss is not permanent, then there really nothing to fear.

I'm at NW3 and considering HT. Dr Rahal suggested I need 2500 graphs in a consultation but didn't intend on going into my widows peak, which still has hair but is awfully thin. (You can easily see the scalp.) His reason is the possibility of shock loss, which is certainly something to be fearful of. I'm happy to know he's considerate of it and not just ready to jump in. But when I said I don't think I should bother getting HT done until I lose more hair, as I specifically want more hair in peak, he said he'd be comfortable doing it after re-reviewing my photos. Kind of a flip, so not sure how to take that. Is shock loss from HT permanent or does it grow back? Is shock loss a handful of hairs here and there or whole areas? Any idea how likely?

Let's build a list of actors who have had a hair transplant... both good and bad. I'll start it. John Travolta. Worse I've ever seen.

I'm so close to taking the plunge but I'm scared to death. Dr Rahal in my town, so that's convenient... though I don't know if he does the procedure himself.

What are the right questions to ask your HT doctor in the consultation?

I read on another message that it'll take 12-18 months before you get the full effect of a hair transplant. Why does it take that long for these newly transplanted hairs to get their act together? The rest of my hair will have grown several inches by then.

That's a great question... if you cut your hair really short, can the HT be not noticeable as early as a couple weeks later and beyond?

I'm giving Propecia and Rogaine a try. How long should I be on them before I get a HT done?

Looking at your images, it looks like he implanted hair into your widow's peak which still had hair left. I thought they went around your existing hairline with HT. No?

Concealer is not for me. HST is pretty interesting. I wonder how far away a legit and acception HST option is? Body hair? I'm actually having laser surgery to remove the hair from my back now.