Maz_a

Hi Hairtroubles, as the above poster wrote, I would discuss potential side effects of Citalopram with your doctor rather than anecdotal advice given on this forum. You can review the scientific literature yourself online, for which there seems to be generally weak evidence that Citalopram is routinely linked to hair loss. Whilst your GP may not be a specialist in hair loss, he/she will have prescribed Citalopram hundreds/thousands of times and subsequently had reviews with those patients (unlike most hair loss doctors). You could always ask if hair loss ever came up as an issue in any of those patients. PRP & Vitamin injections? My own view is that it is a complete waste of money. Think about it... If PRP & Vitamins really had any degree of long-term efficacy, nobody in their right mind would even consider taking Finasteride. And that would be common knowledge on this forum. But again, do your own research and speak to experts. I say this because I have been there myself. I didn't want to take Finasteride, but was desperate to stop my hair loss. I spent a lot of money on PRP and taking all sorts of hair loss shakes, vitamins etc. It did nothing and I wasted several thousands of pounds. Know one thing my friend: However tough a time you feel you're going through right now, you'll come through the other side. Drop me a private message if you ever feel like it. I went through the same path! Cheers Maz

I think there has to be a stream of positive feedback from real patients for some time before a recommendation to the recommended list should be approved. Just my view. I think I would start to doubt the integrity of the recommended list otherwise.

Hi baalloss, I'm very sorry to hear about your outcome and hope you have since been able to make some steps in the right direction. Thank you for your honest review, which you wrote in a very balanced way, giving credit where it was due and pointing out problems. Without these reviews, people aren't able to trust these forums and make decisions taking into account all of the positives and negatives, so you're a credit to the community for doing so. Ironically, what put me off going with Dr Lupanzula was Scott's attitude on the phone to me before I had my procedure booked (bad mouthing other clinics / surgeons etc.). It just left a bad taste in my mouth and came off as very unprofessional. Dr Lupanzula would be wise to consider the impact the behavior of his team can have on the overall clinic and choices people make. And hopefully all can learn from the experience here. As I said, I hope you have been able to take positive steps forwards in whatever form and wish you the best. Maz

As Melvin said, GroMD is just overpriced and doesn't contain anything that will make a material difference to the amount of hair on your head. Spex also tried to sell me GroMD like it was the second coming of Christ via e-mail. Quite depressing in a way, but not all that surprising. I understand people's interest in these "other" treatments. People will understandably try and do anything to avoid Finasteride if they can.

Likewise, I didn't agree with everything Kevin Mann said, but I completely agree. The "Cancel Culture" whereby anything you said or did, no matter how many years, decades or whatever ago it was, is brought up to smear your character and force your cancellation. Surely almost everyone has at some point made stupid comments or done stupid, even reprehensible things that they reflect back on and are ashamed of or at least embarrassed about. This "cancel culture" is a slippery slope.

Hard to argue with that.

I sunk £800 or so and used the LH80 pro (laser helmet) religiously for nearly a year and it did absolutely nothing for me. I continued to lose hair at a similar rate. I can't speak for other people, but if they really were worth the investment, then you would hear people talking about them on these forums and the success they've had with them a lot more. My personal view is they are largely crap, a waste of money and lining somebody's pockets without the data to back up their efficacy. But we do desperate things when we're losing our hair, don't we... I hope I have just saved you some money. Keep fighting my friend and best wishes to you.

I had Help-Hair recommended to me after my visit to the Maitland Clinic. As Melvin said, it is just overpriced protein - think it was around £55 for a kilo bag. They sell it on their website via the store section. Why a clinic of the calibre of Maitland would push this crap and run the risk of looking money-grabbing (at least in my opinion) is beyond me. When you are genuinely one of the best surgeons in the world, your results do all the selling you'll ever need (the Maitland results gallery would have most people sold).

Good luck Buddy! Looks like clean work and got my fingers crossed that you're pleased with the eventual result.

Hi John, Your hair loss is advanced for your age, which doesn't mean that all hope is lost, but it means you have to look very carefully at the reality of your situation. From the photos, I'd guess you'd be classified as advanced NW5, possibly NW6. People can and do get some results in your shoes if they pursue the Finasteride/Minoxidil + hair transplant route, but it would be at great expense requiring multiple surgeries in your case and even then you may not get a result that you're really satisfied with. If Melvin reads this (forum moderator), he is a voice you should listen to, particularly having had advanced hair loss himself at a young age. My advice would be: 1. Speak with at least 3-4 recommended & reputable doctors, such as those recommended on here (i.e. Dr Bisanga). Get their informed & qualified views on your situation. 2. Know that alternatives outside of Fin/Minox/Surgery do exist (SMP / Systems). 3. Have a beer and have great New Year. Maz

Regarding the topic of "Should I have a transplant without Finasteride?"; I met with a well respected hair loss surgeon in London the other week, who told me that it is really a case of donor capacity/quality and a willingness to undergo multiple procedures potentially in future. Apparently many of his patients are not on Fin, so people clearly do it, but it's for you to discuss the pros and cons with several doctors and take a calculated risk, or not. I think if you proceed without Fin then it's all the more important to save some cash to go with one of the very best surgeons with a track record of big time procedures and results. That's the path I'm likely heading down, even though I'm currently undecided when it comes to surgeons.

Yes, however Breezula didn't receive the FDA approval, only Winlevi. But it's the same ingredient. It might be that some doctors would prescribe Winlevi off-label. Who knows. Here's hoping. #lovemyhairbutlovemydi**more

The drug that has just been approved by the FDA is Winlevi, as a treatment for acne. The company is Cassiopea, which is simultaneously developing Breezula, which contains exactly the same active ingredient (Clascoterone) but at a higher concentration (circa 7%) for male pattern baldness. I believe the intended market launch would be 2022 for Breezula, were it to be FDA approved. But Winlevi getting the approval is obviously a good sign, even though it's for a different indication. https://www.cassiopea.com/company/ I think it's something to be optimistic about. And I am optimistic and hopeful that better stabilising alternatives to Finasteride will come out in the next 1-3 years. Finasteride's side-effect profile is just not acceptable to a lot of guys, me included, even though it's a very small number of users being adversely impacted.

Agreed. Could be a fan, but certainly reads very suspiciously.

Just another sleazy salesperson masquerading as a consumer advocate. Had a chat with him not long ago and he just tried to hard sell me GroMD shampoo like it was the second coming of Christ. It's obviously ironic and depressing in equal measure that he does this off the back of being screwed over himself as a youngster in this industry.