Calgacus

I've been using minoxidil and nizoral for around 2 months. Today I woke up with a very painful pimple/zit on the hairline at the left temple. I dont ever remember getting acne on my head before. Could this be a side effect of using Kirkland Minoxidil 5% or Nizoral shampoo? Is it a positive sign of hair regrowth? Or is it an allergic reaction to applying a topical solution?

No need, Bill, but thanks. I shall keep your offer in mind should such a situation arise personally effecting me or anyone I am acquainted with. All the best and thanks for clarifying the forum's modus operandi with regards to investigating patients' concerns and/or complaints. Cal.

The generic version of finasteride where I am based (Indonesia) goes by the trading name "Prostacom". It costs the equivalent of $17.50USD for 10 pills. 40 days supply if quartered. does anyone know if I am getting a good price? has anyone here ever heard of Prostacom?

Thanks Future_HT_Doc. You have been most helpful. Unfortunately with the American Board of Plastic Surgery's evasive language and non-commital to clearly defining ethics in their terms, the ownness of trust remains, rightly or wrongly, but ultimately solely, with the patient, and not with the surgeon. I now appreciate that this non-commital of defining ethical standards is a problem rooted in American trading standards and is not associated with the forum. I guess you guys have to obtain a standard from somewhere and I suppose the American Board of Plastic Surgery is as good (or bad?) as any other board in defining trading standards between corporate enterprises and consumers.

There's "making judgements" and then there's "requesting clarification" in what HRN deems as "high ethics". Please do not confuse the two. You say "high ethics" doesnt require further explanation. However, your assuming that everyone here comes from a cultural singularity. for instance, Western Europeans are accustomed to the moral norm of free health care. Americans are not. To Americans health care is a priviledge. Just a brief example of digressing on the subjectivity of moral outlooks. but there are many more examples i cpuld cite before even considering whats right and wrong in cosmetic surgery. Cal.

With regards to: "[surgeons must have] A reputation for high ethics and quality amongst colleagues and former patients." Could someone clarify what is deemed as "high ethics" in this case? Very subjective terminology. What may be highly ethical to one person, could be of dubious moral value to someone else. I dont intend to be a pain in the behind, it's just that I have heard about various ethically questionable surgeries performed by HRN recommended surgeons yet they did not get removed from the list while other surgeons DID get removed for similar misconduct. What justification is there for ostresizing one but continue accepting sponsorship from another? Of course, I cant prove any of this because it is 2nd hand info which I have gathered here and elsewhere in other hairloss social networks and forums, but where there is smoke, there is the possibility of fire. I would never name them in an open forum for libel reasons but I'd be more than happy to PM them to an administrative moderator if it is of concern.

Apologies if this has been done to death, but where can I find info regarding the requirements HT surgeons must meet in order to have their sponsorship approved by HRN?

Cheers, Mick. Thanks for sharing.

"You're travelling through another dimension, a dimension not only of reading and posting but of mind; a journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of imagination - Next stop, the Twilight Thread....."

Care to divulge? Your opinion is as valid as anyone's.

Aye, alright lads! Keep your hair on! :-P

Serious question: Does such sponsorship compromise the integrity and impartiality of the forum's purpose of providing unbiased critique? I understand that the HT surgeons and clinics must meet the HRN high standards. However, hypothetically speaking, would the forum no longer accept sponsorship from a clinic or surgeon that no longer met those standards? What's the policy on this issue?

Well, I went for the free consultation. I found Dr. Bambang to be pleasant enough, sincere, and very informative about his technique and method. I too didnt feel the photos of his patients results to be overwhelming and I said as much during the consultation. He responded by saying that those patients -being as mature as they were- specifically requested those kind of hairlines and density. Whether or not that is true, is, of course, entirely up for debate. However, at one point during the consultation, when leaning in to have a look at my hair, he accidently knocked over his hand mirror, which, in turn, fell and shattered into pieces on the floor. Could that be a bad omen? I am not usually superstitious, but when it comes to our thinning locks, which one of us is willing to take any chances?

Good question. I too would love to hear some expert opinions on this issue. Any takers?

Thanks for the info QuestionMark. I'll keep that in mind. Do you know what issues people had in terms of ethics with the Transhair Group? Could you specify what some of the main gripes were?

Has anyone heard of or had any experience with Dr. Med. Bambang Soegianto at The Hair Trans Clinic? The reason I ask is because he is based in Surabaya, Indonesia, and I also happen to live in Surabaya. I was quoted a price of 20,000 Rupiah per graft (roughly $2USD). I agreed to meet him tomorrow just for a consultation. I haven't committed to anything other than that. I don't want convenience to blind my judgment, therefore 2nd, 3rd and 4th opinions are welcome and appreciated. Thanks, Calgacus.

Jotron, I understand that shedding caused by the lesion surgery would be minor. I just meant might my overall shedding be more than the average person when considering the head surgery, finasteride, minoxidil and nizoral altogether? The head surgery was only a month ago and I startes the finasteride 2 months ago along with the minoxidil. I stopped the minoxidil temporarily while my stitches were healing.

Do they have any before and after pics? Are their surgeons registered with any recognized official bodies? Did they provide you with sufficient consultation? These are just some of the main questions one should have adequate answers to before even considering HT surgery.

Great hair mate. Nothing at all to worry about IMHO. Keep an eye on it closely and if you notice a significant loss over the next year pr so, then get on the finasteride. I'd forget about an HT for the time being if I were you.

I seem to be following the same pattern as my dad. If that's indeed the case, then the good news is that I won't lose much more hair between now and 70. His father had a full head of hair when he died in his 60s. As for the grandfather on my mother's side, that I do not know, he had already lost most of his hair by the time I got to know him. By then he was in his 60s. I was young when he died of a stroke. My older brother had really thick presedential Kennedy-like hair, ...he was the last person you'd expect to go bald. But he lost it rapidly in his mid-20s. Maybe stress induced as opposed to MPB. Me, I always had fine, thin hair. Many were convinced I'd be a cueball before my 21st birthday. I noticed my hairline was receding when I was 15!!!!!! No joke! It's a miracle at 33yo that I have any hair at all TBH.

Amazing results. And I have to agree about the minoxidil foam. It does tend to get stuck to the hair. When my foam runs out I shall only buy and use the liquid topical solution from then on.

Thanks guys. Input much appreciated. Jotronic, Could the retrograde alopecia be part of the shedding process caused by the meds? Btw, I should mention that I recently had minor head surgery to remove 2 benign lesions (one at the left side and one om the crown), could that also have induced shockloss causing retrograde alopecia? I'd also like to point out that in some pics my hair is wet, and in others towel dried. I marked the jpegs as such but I don't think they show after being uploaded. Would it be better if I uploaded pics of my hair when completely dry?

Looking at the pic taken from behind, it looks like you have plenty of donor hair at your disposal. The general consensus amongst many posters here seems to be that one should stick with the meds for a year, then evaluate one's situation. I too have just started meds - 2 months on finasteride and minoxidil - but by all accounts my impatience is getting the better of me and, just like the "Queen" hit, I want it all, and I want it now. Good luck to you.

Hairline pic.

Also, I've always had fine hair and a high forehead. So I keep my target realistic. I have included some more pics. NB I have a huge head shaped like a Roswell Alien nogan, so buzz cuts are totally out of the question.