DarkKnight

Yea i can live with that, as long as my current hairloss stops and i get to maintain my current hair. Any significant change in quality of hair thinning wise?

Interesting... So fin alone seems to be working for you? Is your hairloss under control? What about regrowth? Apologies for the questions but i realise i am getting more helpful stuff here instead of from the three specialists i have visited.

Appreciate the response, all the best. Is that the only treatment you are on currently?

Are you on it? Care to share your experience?

About points 1 and 4, how efficient is dutasteryde for you? And about the sides, did you say you are experiencing sides from dutasteryde? I didn't get that part. Rebounded meaning the sides came back? And how old are you? How progressive is your hair loss? How many grafts will you be getting next month? And isn't eugenix like extremely expensive according to Indian prices? I wish you all the best for your transplant.

How long were you on the program? Did you go through the min/fin regime? Also is it true that people with lower baseline testosterone are more susceptible to the sides? Did you eventually go through a HT? One more question, let's say i do eventually go through a hair transplant once my hairfall stabilizes, would i still need to be on fin/min? Is the maintenance post transplant a permanent thing?

I mean it's just a preference that i don't want to get on minoxidil, can't fathom signing on for a treatment that will last decades. But if i do get my hands on topical fin i will have to stick with it no matter my own reservations, needs to be done. So in that case, would it be a just as good alternative to oral?

So you were on fin for 2 years and then the sides started?? Idk why but i was under the impression that if you don't develop sides in the beginning you wont have any problems in the future. Damn. So did the sides go away after discontinuing it? What happened to your progress once you stopped? I notice you Said "was on minoxidil", i take it you aren't anymore, may i ask why? And did you lose your hair once you stopped?

I was under the impression topical finasteride can be low maintenance as well, (might not be the best source out there but got this directly from people who have been through it), read it from people on reddit that they use topical finasteride 0.5mg 3x a week. Not like minoxidil where you have to be extremely diligent with it and use it daily without any skips. My problem with fin the last time wasn't exactly ED, I'm almost 70% sure it was a mental thing, the problem was the increased anxiety levels which made little insignificant things seem like 10x times worse. I don't know why it happened, this symptom seems kinda unheard of. But like i said wasn't a good time at the moment so just quit. Yes I'll do that, get some blood work done and hop on fin. Can't get my hands on topical anywhere in the country unless i get a chemist to do it for me,so does 0.25 mg starting out sound like a good idea? I'll give it a shot for a month then up it to 0.5.

Yea a few minutes on this forum and i am glad i decided to consult here before going ahead with the doctor's recommendation. Btw did you refer to my stage as early for transplant or my age? My hairloss seems like its advanced a lot, pics might not say it but my crown is gone. So what did you end up doing? From what you said you should be in your 40s now? Did you end up getting your HT? How long did you have to wait? Also how well did fin work for you? Are you still on it? I apologise for being too intrusive but asking these questions and getting to know your experiences are really helpful. Thanks

Please can i ask what you are currently on apart from fin since you quit on minoxidil? Did you have your HT yet? I am thinking of giving fin another go this time starting with 0.25mg. Also does a dermaroller work? Too many off brand products that just seem like marketing products with no proper specs. I asked one of the hair specialists I went to about using dermaroller. He told me my bald areas do not have any active follicles with roots that can produce hair, although he was also adamant on getting me to do prp. Few more questions, you said to consider waiting till at least 25 years of age, so does it vary from person to person or is 25 considered as a benchmark? Could it be that in my case i would have to wait longer? The only reason i seem to be in a rush is that once i leave India, i won't be able to afford it in canada, specially as a student. The thought of moving to a new country with no hair kills all the excitement about going there. Lastly do you have any recommendation on a brand of dermapen or derma roller? Depth to use etc? And you have no idea how much i appreciate what you have said. Means a looot coming from someone who actually understands.

Thanks a lot for being patient with me on this, means a lot that you are just not telling me to let it go or just accept it get over it, really really hate when people say that. Regarding meds, do you have any take on topical finasteride? Also i might just start with 0.25mg per day and try not to overthink it this time. What do you think? Not to sound ignorant or anything, i know minoxidil works wonders, but for now i am not at a stage in my life where i can commit to minoxidil for the long run. So do i with my current state have any hopes with fin (0.25 mg) as a standalone treatment? Will it be enough to curb my hairloss for the time being? People say it can also cause regrowth in some cases so what do you think from the pics i have seen? I know it sounds counterproductive asking these here instead of asking it directly to a hair specialist, but i have been to three, one of them suggested hair transplant the other wanted me to sign up for a 10 session prp package, and the third was honest enough to tell me min/fin is my only hope. So at the risk of undergoing the wrong treatment cuz i listened to a greedy doctor, this forum seems like my only hope. Again, can't tell you how much i appreciate you guys for this.

Two weeks into finasteride with 0.5 mg daily started having ED issues and started experiencing a lot of anxiety. Had other stuff going on at that time so just quit fin. Tried looking for topical fin but couldn't find it and dont think i can manage to make it myself, need a good chemist to get the right dosage. Really skeptical about minoxidil. Have friends that have been on minoxidil for 4-5 years now and it stopped working for them after the first two years. They on 10% now but results have stopped, they still use it because they are afraid they will lose whatever they have left. So i guess it doesn't work on everyone, and by the time you find out if it is working seems like it will be too late. About the transplant, so you don't suggest getting my crown and top filled now and when it progresses i can just get another one? How long do i have to wait before it stablizes? I don't think i can handle the thought of waiting and going completely bald then attempting to restore it. Thanks for your input you are right but i am still very confused.

Seems like a silly question at this point but do i have any hopes at all with prp at this stage?

I turn 23 this year. Hair loss began when i was 16/17. Shedding was minimal when it began, didn't pay much attention to it as i had really good volume so any hairfall that happened wasn't visible; until i turned 20. I always knew i would go bald soon, but i thought it would be when i am in my 30s. Anyway, as i turned 20, the last two years i shed a looot of hair, i mean a loot of hair. Practically my entire crown area and top part is visible. Almost no volume there, i always kept long hair which covered the scalp so it wasn't visible when dry, until now. Now there's like a few hair on my side that's just barely covering my crown and top. Consulted a dermatologist, she suggested min/fin, i only took finasteride as it was low maintenance, really didn't want to start on minoxidil as i guess i wasn't too comfortable with the idea of a huge commitment from a young age. Stopped finasteride a few weeks in because of the sides. Looked for topical finasteride but apparently it's not available in India in topical form (only available in combination with minoxidil). Another hair specialist suggested a hair transplant, said 2500 grafts would completely full the bald spot. Cost isn't an issue since hair transplantations are cheap in india.. But i need advice from a neutral who would give me the right advice on whether i am the right candidate for a hair transplant at this age. I don't want to go and ask specialists as i fear they might tell me to go ahead purely to put money in their pockets and won't be looking out for my best interests. I have been considering the idea of getting a transplant with 2500-3000 grafts on the crown and top Balding area. But i fear once it spreads to my frontal hairline i am screwed and will definitely need another transplant. Can someone please advise? Do i go through with the transplant now? Do i wait another few years? Do i hop on meds? Fyi, about the pics, the wet hair pic is the latest one. My current condition. The dry hair pics of my top area were taken roughly 3 months ago. And i added another pic of side/back to show I still have considerable density over there and could be a good donor site. Also it might be worth mentioning that my hairline is still intact, no receding there, still good density in the front, slight thinning but barely noticeable when dry and in the right lighting. I am worried the hair loss from the top and rear might progress towards the front and i start losing my frontal hairline as well. (Looks like it's already happening can't seem to get a good picture) Anyway I am getting desperate as i move to Canada in 6 months for masters and once i go there transplant won't be an option since it is 10x times as expensive. And the stress is eating me alive and Messing with my mood, work and day to day stuff. Can't think about anything else. (I know there will be people who will tell me to accept the condition and move on and tell me to not stress or overthink, thank you i get it but i just can't seem to help it. Going bald is a major insecurity of me. I am already short and skinny, can't afford to go bald as well, that will really mess up my confidence and self esteem.)