john2008

I know that there are a lot of opinions about the Hairmax LaserComb. But I have to be honest. I have been using it since Oct 2008 and it truly has reduced that irritated, itchy feeling and I have had hair counts done and shows that I went from 16 hairs pcm on my crown to 24 hairs pcm, and the hair shafts seem healthier as well. So, since I started using it with only 16 hairs pcm, I am probably not going to me the marketing miracle that they would want, but it does seem to work. I still had another HT done on 03/18/09, because I didn't and still refuse to believe that it will get me back to 100 hairs pcm (I had a lot of dead follicles and nothing saves them without a HT), so an HT was needed. But I also have to say that I have been using it for about 5 min a day since the HT (okay - the 3rd night) and it is helping the grafts to heal quicker than my first HT. Not much help on the donor slit though, but what is other than time and Vicoden and an anti-inflammatory. I think that if one is in the early stages of balding that this could be a great help. It can be hard for us to look at it and see the success as the user, I had my wife look and she would find little fine, white hairs and I went to my HT doc to have hair counts. But to the point of some others - the bottom line was I got a transplant anyway. The unfortunate fact is most of us try a lot of things and they all (or most) seem to help - but most of us end up back in the clinic. John

I lost a graft 2 days after my 1st transplant in '98. I was sleeping and didn't protect my head and scratched an itch in my sleep. I never found it - but it bled like a fountain. So, although I have not seen a missing graft. I can tell you that you will definitely know if you lose one. I take that back... I just had a 2nd HT on 03/18/2009 just the other day and Dr. Markou's staff showed me my disected graft - so I assume that it would look the same. Like fatty chicken meat with hair sticking out.

Thanks Spex!!

have been on Rogaine and Propecia for 11 years now. My wife and I are wanting to have a baby and we are a little concerned over the drug's possible affects on male fetuses (as we obviously don't know what we will end up with). Another curve ball is that I just had my 2nd HT done yesterday so I want to keep my new and remaining hair in healthy. Yesterday the HT doctor mentioned a topical Avodart as a possible substitute to the propecia while my wife is pregnant. But I cannot find any other information on this and I am wondering how concerned I should be that the Propecia could harm our future child(ren) while conceiving and while in the womb? Also, are there any good substitutes while pregnant and do any of you know about this topical version of avodart, or more importantly - does it work? Worst case scenario, how devastating will a nine month hiatus from Propecia to my hair goals (keep and try to grow more)? I have heard that Propecia is out of the system in 3 days, so I am off of it for a few weeks to get pregnant then use a barrier for the rest of the pregnancy - will that prevent issues? I may be over thinking this a lot, but realistically my child will be more important than my hair and I do not know if I would live with myself if my hair pill ruined my child's life. Thank you for your help, John

Thanks imissthebarber. This is actually my second. The first was 11 years ago, I was 21 I don't remember the Rogaine rules. I am already prepping up for the shock loss.

If I wait the full 14 days - which I guess I have to - am I majorly increasing my risk to lose my original hair or hair in the area(s) that did not receive the new transplants? Thanks again, John

Hello Bigeasy, Rogaine says that it is to be applied to a clean scalp, so if you are using Rogaine you should shampoo daily. This was a huge concern for me because I did not want shampooing to take my hair out. But in my 11 year experience with hair loss, the fact is - the hair that is going to fall out it due to DHT, is going to fall out without Rogaine and propecia. A third thing that I have been using for about 6-7 months now if the HairMax Lasercomb. I know that there are opinions galore on this site about the product, but it has increased my crown from 16 hairs pcm to 24 hairs pcm. If you are not that thin yet, this may be something to add to whatever else you are doing. Hope this helps, John

Well, I bought the lasercomb in October '08, and after multiple hair counts my crown went from 16 hpcm to 24hpcm, so I would not say that it is junk. It also increased the volume of my hairshaft. That being said it is not a magic device, I just got a second HT on 03/18/2009 and I am using it to help with the healing process. John

I love Nioxin. I have been using it since 1998. It is a great shampoo and maybe the scalp therapy as well. But the rest of it has never worked for me. I say to just stick to the shampoo and use minoxidil and propecia John

Hello Mark, D I have been using both together for about 10 years. Over that time I have some personal opinions about Nioxin. I love it as a shampoo, it cleans great and my wife loves the minty smell. I know that it says that it cleans away DHT - and it may if the DHT is at the surface, but it is not going to get DHT in the root or bulb of the hair strand. I think that it helps keep the hair shaft healthy - more so that most shampoos, and it will clean the scalp very well, but it is not going to give the effects of rogaine and/or propecia. But I love the shampoo and will continue to use it. Thanks, John

I know that I am a bit late of this string, but I have been taking propecia since 1998 when I was 20. I have had no side effects. It was something that I was concerned about at first because I was 20 and single and the major potential side effect 'ED' scared me at the age. But - no issues. Try it out, it you like the results after 5-6 months keep it. If not drop it. If you are balding and do not want to take it, I think that at least 75% of the people on this forum would probably agree to wait until you lose the rest and have a HT if you have enough remaining donor area. But it is worth a shot. John

Thank you Leeson

Hello All, If I just got an HT yesterday, when should I start using Rogaine again? Thanks, John

Hello All, If I just got an HT yesterday, when should I start using Rogaine again? Thanks, John

I have been on Rogaine and Propecia for 11 years now. My wife and I are wanting to have a baby and we are a little concerned over the drug's possible affects on male fetuses (as we obviously don't know what we will end up with). Another curve ball is that I just had my 2nd HT done yesterday so I want to keep my new and remaining hair in healthy. Yesterday the HT doctor mentioned a topical Avodart as a possible substitute to the propecia while my wife is pregnant. But I cannot find any other information on this and I am wondering how concerned I should be that the Propecia could harm our future child(ren) while conceiving and while in the womb? Also, are there any good substitutes while pregnant and do any of you know about this topical version of avodart, or more importantly - does it work? Worst case scenario, how devastating will a nine month hiatus from Propecia to my hair goals (keep and try to grow more)? I have heard that Propecia is out of the system in 3 days, so I am off of it for a few weeks to get pregnant then use a barrier for the rest of the pregnancy - will that prevent issues? I may be over thinking this a lot, but realistically my child will be more important than my hair and I do not know if I would live with myself if my hair pill ruined my child's life. Thank you for your help, John

I have been on Rogaine and Propecia for 11 years now. My wife and I are wanting to have a baby and we are a little concerned over the drug's possible affects on male fetuses (as we obviously don't know what we will end up with). Another curve ball is that I just had my 2nd HT done yesterday so I want to keep my new and remaining hair in healthy. Yesterday the HT doctor mentioned a topical Avodart as a possible substitute to the propecia while my wife is pregnant. But I cannot find any other information on this and I am wondering how concerned I should be that the Propecia could harm our future child(ren) while conceiving and while in the womb? Also, are there any good substitutes while pregnant and do any of you know about this topical version of avodart, or more importantly - does it work? Worst case scenario, how devastating will a nine month hiatus from Propecia to my hair goals (keep and try to grow more)? I have heard that Propecia is out of the system in 3 days, so I am off of it for a few weeks to get pregnant then use a barrier for the rest of the pregnancy - will that prevent issues? I may be over thinking this a lot, but realistically my child will be more important than my hair and I do not know if I would live with myself if my hair pill ruined my child's life. Thank you for your help, John

Are there any HT doctors out there who may have some ideas as to whether or not taking propecia while trying to have a child, could affect the baby? And if so, do you know of true products to that could be used as alternatives until the baby is born? Thanks for your help, John

Thank you. I went to Hair and Scalp Laser Clinic in Clearwater, Florida.

Thank you for your help Leeson. I looked at your Weblog. Congratulations on finally reaching your HT goals! This was my 2nd and hopefully my last. I saw that you are using Dutasteride (Avodart) I am using Rogaine (for 11 years now - not overly great) and Proscar (Propecia) which has been helpful and I also have a Hairmax comb which believe it of not, helped increase from 16 hairs per cm to 24 hpcm. Still wanted more so I went for the HT. He told me that he is using a liquid version of the Avodart drug for topical use and I am not able to find any research on it. I was wondering if you have. My wife and I are looking to have a baby and although their is no proof of Proscar hurting fetuses I would prefer to play it safe anyway, so for nine months I may go for the topical Avodart, but I can't find any research outside of my doctor. He has done both of my HT's and so far I am happy and I trust him - but I was looking for some extra opinions. Thanks, John

Good point!! They smell a drop of blood from a mile a way. I guess in Florida I was chum!! If I do it again tomorrow, I will just bring a cup and gently rinse it. Thanks for that reminder. I lived here all my life and have seen them swimming around me. No way to really know if their was damaged caused at this point though - right? Thanks, John

I understand Leeson. I had my doubts, but I figured that he is the doctor.. Do you know if I had lost anything that I would know it? I had a frontal line transplant about 11 years ago in my early 20's and accidentally knocked out a hair grouping and it bled like crazy, but I do not know if it would be the same with water. Any thoughts? John

Hey Everyone, Yesterday I had about 3000 hair groupings transplanted. I went back to get cleaned up today and he told me (since I am in Florida) to go to the beach and soak my hair for about 10 minutes to help with healing. I did and I think everything went well, but if I lost my transplanted hair, would I know? Would I see blood or would it just disappear? Thanks for your help, John

Hey Everyone, Yesterday I had about 3000 hair groupings transplanted. I went back to get cleaned up today and he told me (since I am in Florida) to go to the beach and soak my hair for about 10 minutes to help with healing. I did and I think everything went well, but if I lost my transplanted hair, would I know? Would I see blood or would it just disappear? Thanks for your help, John

I was 21 when I had my first transplant for the frontal line. As far as the Armani thing, there all several doctors out there to take care of FUE (depending on location) search the Web. Minimal work (depending on whether it is worth the price) would make sense, you never know what your hair will do - you might be fine for the rest of your life. It can be a little confusing so the doctors can tell you the possibilities. Your face is supposed to be 3 equal size breaks aesthetically (those with HT's know what I am saying, but by reading what I am writing I can tell it is getting confusing). So, bottom line - it may be a good idea. I am going in next month to get another transplant for the area behind my frontal line as my original hair is receding back from my line. But this took 11 years to happen. If you think about the price $1,000 - $3000 every 10 years is not all that bad if it makes you happy and raises your self esteem.

I had a laser transplant in 1998 when I was 21 for the frontal line, as I had a full head of hair except for a receding hair line. Turned out great and I held on to most of my hair until now while using rogaine, procecia (switched to liquid avodart about 3 years ago) and about six months ago got a hairmax - Actually worked to an extent. I am going back to my old clinic to have the rest done. They only use a CO2 laser and the laser that they used 11 years ago went well, but that was 300 hairs and now we are looking at about 2500. I am sure that technology has changed in the conventional HT world in the last 10 years. Can someone please give me some real and honest pros and cons to laser and conventional? Thanks for your help!