SBSinNYC

What is the lowest dose of finasteride that is still likely to provide most of its effectiveness?  I saw one study that showed a dose as low as 0.2mg per day was still around 75% as effective as 1.0mg.   Trying to diminish some side effects without stopping completely.  Thoughts?

Causation is hard to figure out as I am diabetic, take a pharmacy full of other meds, and am in my fifties.   I’d prefer to take the lowest dose possible while still accruing most of the benefits.  

Had my one year checkup today and I am very happy with the results.  I told my doc that I had some concerns about finasteride side effects and he recommended cutting the dose from 1.0mg to 0.5mg.   Does anyone have any experience with trying this?   

3 hours ago, AnalogFeel said:

its the camera and lighting they use

after a shower, i still look bald as hell 

Hair always appears less dense when wet.    Maybe you should avoid showering.  Doubt it will affect you much. 

Hair transplants do not recreate density.  They create the illusion of density.   If your hair looks better when the doctor’s office styles it, learn how they do it.  

Maybe you should enroll in beauty school?

I think it looks pretty good TBH, but since there aren’t any real “questions or answers” at this point, could we move this thread to the “Whimpering Like A Toddler” sub-forum?

This is childish.

”I paid 14k.  My results should be better, right?”. 

Wrong.  They are what they are.  The money is a sunk cost.  

“Nobody here told me Keller was a bad idea”.

So what.  It’s not hard to find out that $3.5 per graft is half the going rate for top notch FUT in a major U.S. city.  Less than half for FUE.   But you know everything so that didn’t give you pause.  

So, you might ask what wouldn’t be childish?  OK.  Wait until 12 months to fully assess.  18 might be better. If you aren’t happy then, do a few consults with truly top of the line guys.  The kind of docs who would be happy to turn you away if you are unrealistic after being presented with a brutally honest assessment.  

Then decide.  Not before.  That’s what an adult would do.

10 hours ago, AnalogFeel said:

 

There are only 2 explanations here

1)I had very unrealistic expectations. I had a decent amount of native hair left and I figured 11K transplanted, considering my thick/wavy/coarse ethnic hair, would make me no longer noticeably bald (although obviously i would never have my teenage density)

2)The yield from the surgery was horrible

What's the answer here? 

Both are quite possible.   However, your incessant childishness makes me think number 1 is the greater contributor.   It’s really embarrassing. 

14 minutes ago, mrmane85 said:

Yeah I think I would prefer to go with the FUT option, especially as Dr K specialises in this. I was quoted $17K for 2000 grafts...does this seem right??

It seems a little high.  Top guy in NYC was $7 per graft last summer.  Could even go to $6 if I had schedule flexibility.  

How old are you now?  What did you have done before?  Do you have pictures?

This information will be helpful in answering your questions.  

When are each of those photos from?  They aren‘t all current are they?

It‘s a good question, but if you can‘t trust your doctor to correctly account for the number of grafts, then you certainly shouldn‘t trust him to slice open your skull.  

In my case, the final count was below the initial estimate by about 100 grafts and I was refunded the difference.  I would have never known if not told.  

If you intend to sue the doctor, you will need to make the case that he did something wrong.  A poor result if his other patients have adequate results is not very convincing.   A judge or jury would probably just shrug.   Tough break. 

It doesn’t matter what we think.  It doesn’t matter what you think.   You either will have a failed procedure or, in time, a successful one.   Do yourself and everyone else a favor and STFU and report back in a couple months.  There’s really nothing else to be done. 

So, you really don’t want to do another surgeon.  (Whatever that means in English).  You thought Keller was elite, a great doctor.  Yet, you are six months post HT, having serious concerns about your result, but can’t be bothered to drive an hour to have this elite, great, and very nice doctor take a look at your progress or lack thereof.  

Would you like me to call him for you?  You had surgery on June 29th?  

I’m dialing now...

If he’s a VERY, VERY nice man, pick up the phone and call RIGHT NOW!!!!

Are you a complete idiot?

How good can he be, if you aren’t even willing to call him with your concerns?  He’s only your doctor after all.  

Have you called your doctor?  At this point you should.  

My doctor contacted me, unsolicited, at five months just to see if growth had started.  

You paid them a lot of money, because you trusted them.   Have them take a look. 

2nd HT’s tend to grow more slowly than 1st HT’s.   Shock loss is usually temporary if the shocked hair is strong enough.  It will come back.  The more hair in a recepient area, the greater chance of temporary shock loss.  

I would recommend staying calm and being patient.  There’s really nothing else to do.   Way too early to think about botched procedure. 

I am five months post FUT (2400 grafts) and things seem to be proceeding just fine.  One thing I noticed is the growth along the hairline seems to be faster than the growth just behind it, and the growth just in front of the crown vertex is even slower.   Is that typical?  Are there blood flow or other issues that cause that difference?  

Post op for me was 3 very gentle washings on day 1, 2 very gentle washings for days 2-7, 1 gentle washing through day 10.  Try to sleep more upright for first few days.  Baby Shampoo.  Dr. Bernstein.   That’s it. 

4.5 months in and things seem to be proceeding as expected.  

You’re back.  Like clockwork!!   Maybe your’re growing slow because of stress/anxiety.   You’ve been coming on this board every month with the same tale...4,000 grafts, over 13,000 hairs, wavy, high sides, just look at these pictures of people who aren’t me!, how fucked are you poor NW7 guys?  Sure glad that’s not me! Oh no, what if it IS me?  The stress is killing me!! I need to whack off and change my username!

Every month people tell you to calm down and be patient.  You can’t manage to do it. No wonder you’re going bald.  Now please, for your own good, and the good of humanity, calm down and wait 7 g-d damn months  

Melvin, you should change your name to Saint Melvin!!

“Put money last” is good advice and one that, at least on this site, that gets short shrift.   It seems crazy to me to fly half way around the world for a quick meet and greet with a doctor who then slices your scalp open the next day and sends you home a few days later.   Patient has no ability to truly follow up if there are issues. I would be curious what percent of the true  top doctors procedures are repairs from these cheap less regulated operations overseas.  

I’m curious, what is the point of this thread?  You aren’t NW7.  You’ve already had a transplant.   Are you just trying to make people feel bad about their situation?  Is this what this forum is for?

Hair that sheds will return unless it was so weakened that you’d lose it eventually anyway.  You are proceeding nicely.  That’s what matters.   Relax.