Loki

Groin pain and nipple sensitivity and burning are possible side effects... Blocking DHT will also have an impact on Testosterone and Estrogen... A terrible paradox for men to have to deal with... Masculinity and hair...

It's true. When you research what DHT is responsible for in the male body it becomes about more than just the side effects you notice right now. It's powerful stuff. I only experienced a light mental fog but wasnt going to wait for what came next. Everyone's different.

 

I joked with someone that for me a 2% risk of ED (we all know its much higher) is the equivalent of a 75% risk of a heart attack lol. Extreme analogy but just the way I feel. Could never hurt my best friend.

 

On the same page though--would be happy with a few micro-solutions that were safer and less sides. Have you guys tried LLLT? I was using the lasecap prior to surgery. Nobody talks about it bc its a very expensive potential maintenance tool, but there's some efficacy there. A few good reads on pubmed.

I use LLLT... I use the Hairmax Lux 3-4 times per week.... I think it has mild effectiveness but I will take it... As with anything I think the key to making it work is consistency... I have read some positive stuff on it from Cleveland Clinic and other sources...

People associate Testosterone with manliness but DHT is 10 times more potent.... WHY!!!!!!

I agree, messing with any hormonal functions can have significant long term effects, just from knowing the bodybuilding scene even taking anabolic steroids can shut your system down for life, of course it's not the norm but it is a risk anytime you tamper with your endocrine system.

 

However, if you look at it this way ketocanazole we know is an anti androgen, it is mild but it still has been shown to be as effective as 2% minoxidil, let's say topical fin was a bit more effective than 5% minoxidil, with less adverse effects similar to ketocanazole. We would then have a viable alternative, and in conjunction all three could prove to be effective at least in the maintenance of your hair. I'm seriously considering just giving it a trial, I know when I took finasteride orally and dutasteride, I suffered bad side effects, fatigue, sex drive of an 80 year old, trouble maintaining erections, prolonged ejaculation (that one doesn't bother me as much lol), but I got the trifecta of side effects, I'd be willing to live with a lower libido as long as I have no problem with anything else.

 

It's a shame balding men have to deal with this, just to maintain your hair, some of us like myself were already substantially bald, there needs to be something else, attacking the very androgen responsible for mood, erectile function, body hair etc. it seems that we are basically removing that which makes us men, why can't we just remove androgen receptors in the scalp, just like gyno surgery they remove the gland and it becomes impossible to ever get gyno again.

Total agree... Sometimes I really think about SMP and saying bye to it forever... Then keeping my T at the highest end of the healthy range and not caring about DHT....

Agree. Also belive the premise remains in question--can you localize DHT reduction?

 

Is it all or nothing--enters the bloodstream and effects everything, or can a topical solution legitimately minimize the attack on scalp-DHT only.

 

I believe we still drastically underestimate the long term impact of tampering w/ DHT levels. It's a pretty big risk. But that's another thread. This would present a nice middle ground.

I want the best of both worlds... I am now on TRT and I would only guess it is a result of suppressing DHT for so many years... So now I am trying to balance my hormonal health and hang on to hair... I am almost 2 months on the topical and I think it is still too soon to tell.. I have noticed a lot of small hairs growing and I only noticed this in the light of my Laser comb... They look maybe a little over a qtr inch... I know almost every drug you take has a different impact taken orally, topical or intra muscular.... I know topical testosterone spikes DHT because the receptors are in the skin, oral impacts liver enzymes and intra muscular seems to elevate Estrogen a little more... I wonder if topical daily with 2.5 MG orally twice per week would be even more so effective but not tanking serum level DHT as much?

Its not a carrier agent, its a "penetration enhancer" (no sex jokes please...LOL).

 

The only effective ones I know (and please doctors, if I'm wrong you can correct me) are:

 

1. Propylene glycol

2. PEG400

3. Lipo's

4. Micelles

 

There might be others, but those are the main 4 I have worked on the last 20 years or so

Ok Dutchie I am looking at the device. It says Finasteride gel Liposomial 2.5%. If you want or need me to and can put in the entire label if that helps.

Dr. Shapiro is reporting the same success as Dr. Hasson... And yes I agree that delivery is critical so I would only go with the compounding pharmacy that the clinics are using... I will check my label tonight for the delivery method... The things you mention on the thread earlier look familiar.. I will update soon...

So do you order it straight from Dr. Shapiro? Or do you go through the pharmacy? How much is the 3 month supply? I found a source online it's from India a one month supply is $27.40 pretty pricey, but if it can work half as good as oral fin with less systemic effects it's a good buy to me.

Dr. Shapiro emails the prescription to the pharmacy and then I deal with them moving forward... You get 3 top click dispensers, each one last 30-35 days (all meds I have received in this format last a little longer than prescribed). The price comes out to be about $50 bucks a month... I am not sure on the source from India, if you can have them email a pic of the label we can compare. The delivery method on topical is very important.... But the price is close to half of what I am paying so worth looking into...

Dr. Shapiro prescribes it as well... I have been using it for about 7 weeks so it is hard to say anything concrete.. I can say this without certainty is that within about a week I noticed the hairs I would see in my sink after I shower (towel dry and comb at sink) went from 15-20 down to 1 or 2... Really a pretty drastic reduction. What does that really mean? Too soon to say.... It is shipped to me from a Pharmacy in Italy... 3 Month supply at a time...

On any forum I can't get a single hit on this product... Has anybody ever heard of it? You can find it in this product ADENOVITAL Scalp Essence... Here is a study on it compared to Minox 5%... Seems favorable to Adenosine...

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/24183218/

Any input?

Yes, testosterone replacement can accelerate hair loss because it is converted to DHT. If the patient is on finasteride, there will be much less DHT and hence the hair is protected. I actually prefer dutasteride in this situation because it gives more DHT suppression. I also talk to men about considering an aromatase inhibitor to prevent a build up of estrogen in this situation. Most men can get the benefits of testosterone replacement without hairloss by managing their hormone levels intelligently. I work with their other physician (who is giving them their testosterone) to make sure we're on the same page.

Dr. Cooley I am in a very similar situation... Recently I have switched from Propecia to a topical fin because I was tanking my DHT... I know it will go systemic but do you think it has a chance to localize and become more effective?

Did airport security make you take your hat off??

 

Cause that would scare me even more....LOL.

Everybody in line will see your butchered scalp and start pointing fingers at you :eek:

They did make me in Minneapolis.. I just asked for a private screening and they pulled me in a separate room... It was a little scary...

thanks for your feedback. Loki- who did your procedure?

Dr. Ron Shapiro on February 3rd. So far all good and I think I have some early growth.

Looking to get FUT done with Dr Cooley in Charlotte. Can you give me some feedback on how many grafts you think I need for the following.

 

1. Crown- I'm looking to fill in my bald spot. I'm 38 years old and am on Finasteride

2. Frontal area- Not looking for my 18 year old hairline. Looking to fill in and have a solid age appropriate hairline.

3. How short can I cut my hair to avoid showing a visible scar. 2 guard? 3 guard/

 

Thanks for taking the time.

I have always been able to go down to a 2 guard...I expect this scar to least visible as well....

Good luck Loki.

I'll be following the progress.

Thanks, I will have to submit some pictures as I have some interesting growth early... I have not cut my hair since December.... Dr. Shapiro did cut the hair from just behind my hairline to the crown... So I have hair on top of my head about 4-5 inches long, the hair Dr. Ron cut about an inch long... Here is the interesting part... In my hairline I have several hairs (maybe a hundred or so) about 1/4 inch long... Also I can feel the tiny hairs (feels like a 5 o' clock shadow) barely visible but I can feel it...

I get the hair uncut and the Hair Dr. Ron trimmed but what do you think I can attribute the other hairs growing from? I would assume the stubble is HT hair but what about the hundred or so in the hairline around 1/4 inch long?

I'm about to get my 3rd HT later this year from Dr. Shapiro in Minnesota. One of the concerns that was discussed was the possibility of the scar becoming a bit worse as the scalp tightens with each HT. I didn't really notice a difference in the visibility of the scar with the 2nd HT, but I'm concerned about the 3rd. The phrase "unpredictable" was thrown around quite a bit.

 

So this question is especially for the people who have gone through 3 strip version HT's....how is your scar? Did it get a bit worse after your 3rd HT? Or about the same?

 

Hope that all makes sense. Thanks.

 

-JBaxter

Hello, I was in a similar situation to you... Dr. Ron Shapiro performed by 3rd HT this year on 2/3... For this procedure he was able to get around 3,300 grafts (more than we excepted) and I had my staples removed locally at day 9. The doctor could not believe how well the wound healed and looked for just 9 days post op... I am around day 35 and I have a pencil line or less mildly pink line... I have do doubts it will be the best scar of any procedure.. Prior to this I shaved sides and back down with a 2 guard and it was undetectable and this at a minimum will be the same.... So up to this point all is good and I am in a similar situation...

Now I am just holding my breathe waiting for growth!

I have a thread as well... Keep us posted!!!

Wow. Amazing result... Excellent work!!! Thanks for sharing. Getting me anxious as I am one month in...

My name is "Loki" and I am a conceal-a-holic.... They had to cut some of my hair from crown to just behind hairline for my procedure (just 1 month ago)... Somehow on Saturday I was able to pull of a full head of hair with some toppix.... When my hair and transplants grow in I hope I don't need it but I still see myself dusting some on the crown or just on top to thicken some.... But you are right, they are addicting.....

Looking good!!! I've got one month out of the way. Sunnycool, thanks for the thread. I can defiantly see the framing and use of temple points. I've been growing by beard out and it sorta does the same thing.

Man am I ready to ditch the hat!!!!

Very nice!!! Excellent work!!!

Cleveland clinic did a study as well and concluded it worked as well. I think they used the hairmax lux... They are a top, if not the top research/clinic/hospital in the world. Maybe second to the Mayo Clinic. I'll try to find the link. As far as timing if you can remove the teeth I would say use day one. After 10 days return to normal use. I spoke with Dr Ron Shapiro and Dr Joe from SMG. Both reccomened to use them (didn't try to sell me anything) but said as with anything be consistent.

Thanks guys! She cut it with scissors. I believe it looks like about a 4. The stylist was very excited to hear all about it. First one she knows of she has done. I put two photos up for you. First with Toppik and the second without for comparison. The other three were without.

They both look good... The Toppix is not detectable at all...

Looks great.... And the second pic really shows the temple points and the aesthetic benefits... Never really thought about it but now that it has been explained and I see it makes perfect sense... Thanks for sharing!

Yes, those are the hair points that stick out a little bit toward the eyebrows on the side of the head. I personally think temple points give a younger appearance and help the temple corners from being too much of a 90-degree angle transitioning from the top to the sides, which can tip off that a HT has been done. Have to be careful though, as poorly done temple points can look fake and thus doubly-defeating the purpose (actually could make a HT more obvious). They need to be very subtle and not result in being too thick.

 

That's why it is always better if the patient has retained his natural points, such as Squatch. They help enhance the naturalness of a completed HT.

Ok, thanks for the response... I have them mine are just going grey... I have heard people talk about them and even one time I heard a guy say "look at that guys thick hair on top but no temporal points, I bet he's had a hair transplant"...

I wonder if they a susceptible to DHT?

I see lots of new growth happening there. You have great temple points - will re-frame your face nicely when growth matures!

I see a lot of comments regarding temple points... Out curiosity what is this in reference to... I assume it's the hair on the sides of the face below temples but aesthetically what are the thoughts on men with or without them and value of rebuilding them....

Looking good!!!