Jayson1361

Do you have a picture of your experience?

Well I’ve looked for photos when I was 15 but here is one in aug 2016. Funny enough it looks better now. Went back in time on the ol phone to find one but I think I can find some others. The second one is Aug 2016. The first one is year and a half later I believe as meds were kicking in as I became very consistent with Avodart and I grew my hair out. Dec 2017 I mean it’s no lie when people say on this forum that dutasteride works. Of course I did have my hair styled and had a leave in conditioner which kinda thickens hair so there’s that too, in the first picture

I’ve been on meds for 15 years. I don’t know if being on meds makes me a good candidate or not actually. So, what you’re saying is by being an excellent HT candidate is that you don’t think I need a HT?

Yeah the years thing could be an issue I just don’t know yet. Maybe I am hyper critical but I feel I can see progression of MPB or maturing I really don’t know. But hairloss is hairloss. I’ve included some pictures in harsh lighting today. Styled hair again a leave on conditioner, styler and later in the day some dry shampoo as the leave in can get kinda greasy and dry shampoo feels like it kinda thickens and/or breaks down the greasy feeling a bit

I’ve been thinking about that. The whole density thing and transplants along the hairline. Dr. K has stated that he needs enough space between hairs to place his knife, which I’m assuming is sapphire sub 1mm, like maybe .8mm not sure. I seem to have some terminal hairs left along the hairline as others have miniaturized … with from what I can tell enough space to fit a donor so…maybe 1 pass 🤷‍♂️ but who knows if these other native terminal hairs will stick around.

You’re persuasive with this comment. I suppose there is a reason why some or most wait until thinning has progressed to get a HT. Dr. K is one of the best and known for his natural results which is why I chose to wait for him. But, even the best of the best can only do so much. I do have some things to consider. At the moment I think, logically, my approach is wait and see how meds and progression go this next 12 months. But I do have this feeling of progression, visibly as well over the past 24 months, which makes me wonder what people mean when they say stabilization is needed for a HT. How is MPB ever truly stabilized?

Well I certainly appreciate your upbeat message. However, I don’t think I’m NW1. Maybe with hair styled which is why I present these pictures. If you can style your hair and be happy….ish… let’s say 60-70% is it greedy to want to fix what has been broken? That’s why I chose styled pictures. I have others where my hair is over conditioned or has build up from crap products that honestly looks terrible I feel.

I do take meds. Avodart for 15 years and oral Min now. Hate it but I do. Plus I do have pictures with wet hair depicting thinning in the front. I certainly didn’t just walk into a surgeons office without actual thinning or miniaturization.

See that’s kinda my question as well… Lets say I was supposed to be like my dad. Here he was at my age but also was basically bald on his crown as well. Let’s say I was supposed to be like that approaching 50. Can dutasteride really delay that level of balding? Honestly, I’m doubting it. I know it helps delays, regrows, thickens…etc but can it delay or keep someone from advancing to that level for…I don’t know…20+ years for example? This was a topic I posted in another forum basically, titled how good are hairloss drugs really?

This thought, this statement is what heightens my empathy. Strangely enough given the BS level of social media and what is seemingly a heightened awareness of people’s online presence and now physical presence based on instant comparison between real life and online presence I’ve decided to consciously stop judging people…ever! I hate it even. I stop now, in real time, look at someone in their eyes, consider the moments they went through, that I can imagine, before we got to the point where I’m observing them… and then react based on my empathy and their personality, statements and charisma in real time, in the here and now…. Regardless of hair, clothes, money, status…whatever…. etc. I strive very hard to conduct myself this way and could only hope others do to. So much of life has nothing to do with hair or any of the other things mentioned, but sadly here I am🤦‍♂️. However, dealing with this, despite responses here and pictures posted…despite any of this, it’s where I put my mind. Compassion and understanding has brought me to a state where all moments with people have nothing to do with the way they look or their status, and I can only hope that others treat me the same. Here I am on my pulpit, but I mean it. Anyone that knows me could say that. So I say, to die for? Yeah I get it, but not, but I do.

I do appreciate your comment. I think that getting on Avodart non generic has helped. Oddly, it seems, explained by a doctor that hormonal aging with hair and possibly other aging, skin and such is slowed down visibly due to this type of drug. Obviously, joint health, cellular regeneration and such, muscular deterioration..etc may not be effected. But, secondary sexual traits…body hair and such are impacted by these drugs.

I have had an in person consultation. He stated he could lower the hairline and on a minor level fill in other areas to give me time if there is further progression. He also stated he’d bet the bank I’m not going to be bald or lose much more hair, which led me to a post on another forum titled how good are hairloss drugs really. I can’t debate the guy, he’s seen more than I have, but who knows. My mothers dad had hair with some recession at the hairline. My dad was way beyond me at my age. All my brothers have very good hair save my older brother who has some recession at the hair line but looks fine otherwise. Moms brothers have great hair. Regardless, seeing Dr. K’s work…man it’s hard not to want to proceed with HT on some level. Even just to fill in where there is miniaturization or recession or whatever. Donor management, finesse of placement, whatever…. His work mostly looks great for natural results. I’m definitely perplexed right now. Maybe over the next year it’ll get way worse maybe it won’t. One thing I can say I will update these forums for others.

Such a fair statement. We have only once. I researched and read, Dr. K is the GOAT. It is about your mindset. What I see is what I see. The camera absent high resolution only captures what it can. I do have some miniature hairs on the hairline indicating that perhaps this is age related thinning or MPB is taking place. I can’t condemn myself to the exact science of microscopic examination of my scalp for some reason, which sits juxtaposed to taking medications for hairloss. I want to know the extent of any miniaturization, has medication delayed an inevitability… but my mind doesn’t want this final or unpredictable information, as if some how my energy of habit might have some power over the outcome without this informational influence. Naïve? Probably. Sadly but maybe not…I don’t know.

How does a person do that? I see a therapist for life/age related problems and certainly your statement has not gone unconsidered. How do you check that? What are the baselines for distortion of mind and body and self perception? This statement above all these responses I struggle with.

You…my man.. are an inspiration. No lie. Looking at your story, into your pictures, your humanity… you my friend are the guy, the man on these forums here. A true inspiration. I honestly feel if I had your mindset I’d live a significantly more inspired life. I love reading your posts!

Mmmm yeah, maybe. I do see progression, MPB or age related. Wax hair styling does well but even without that…dry hair…. and unkept… there’s a lot there but I still can see some miniaturization over time.

I can appreciate that and I thank you for your compliment. Sometimes I think I’m chasing 5 years ago, but then I think that 5 years ago I didn’t look incredibly different, but then I see some thinning about 1 centimeter behind my hairline. Is it age related thinning, FGF5 related, DHT related… I don’t know. Then I think if I have the money why not see the GOAT as they say… but then I think what if progression continues. Then I hesitate, healthy hair in front of dying hair… do I want a microscopic inspection of my scalp, do I want to put in my mind what science tells me is possible or final or probable? Or should I continue on, with hope, with life with the power of mind not polluted with the finality of science or with the probable/possible finality of science? Does the mind have power enough to move forward with that information steering me towards some Norwood level I don’t want to be, and yet fight it with habit, and behavior, thought and energy? Am I condemned due to genetics or rather condemned with that and the information I feed my mind? If I see a doctor that examines my hair microscopically and tells me I’m going to be bald, if I examine myself as close as I can every day am I feeding into this self/science diagnosed inevitably? Laughably, but not I think too much which goes hand in hand with hair loss.

He mentioned that. I think in the end that’s essentially what it’s about.

I certainly appreciate positive feedback. Let it be said I didn’t post looking for affirmations of thinking I’m not a candidate… even though it’s appreciated. Sincerely. This leads to another question… should someone look for hair restoration via surgery based on how they can style there hair vs what it looks like wet? If I wash and dry my hair with let’s say, Nioxin or say a thickening shampoo most people would tell me to F off with your hair loss! Even I think that sometimes but my dried hair is curly and wavy and any thinning is easily concealed. But if I want a decent look, a controlled look things start to change. Regardless, thinning is evident at the hairline and even some minor thinning on top. Sometimes I don’t know because it seems similar to when I was 25 at least on top, but not the hairline. i know this community reserves responses and feedback for those afflicted perhaps more so than myself, but the feeling, that look in the eyes, the emotion is there regardless of age or extent of loss. It seems like minor loss or whatever gets the response of…dude chill you look fine…vs wow man you’re chemo patient. But minor loss progresses does it not? Is it less likely for people approaching 50 vs 60 vs 30 or 40? I seriously don’t know I only know what I see and read. This is all to say I appreciate your response but I’m seriously in question about proceeding. Do I wait for extensive loss if that’s the case? Or do it within a year from now? I do see small miniaturized hairs in my hairline. Resolution on iPhones may not be good enough to show that.

Definitely a long time lurker here on these forums. I have a high level of empathy and have provided positive feedback and real feedback starting recently after watching from a distance many people’s stories. I have an appointment with Dr. Konior next year and was told by him that he can restore/adjust my hairline which I feel and can see has receded. I’ve always had a V shaped hairline but with relative density that was just fine. I’ve styled my hair this way for quite some time. I felt particularly bad today and came home from work, styled my hair as usual with the typical hair wax and wanted to post part of my story. Dr. K said he likes the way my hair looks and he wouldn’t do anything at all, at least for a while. I take .5mg Avodart for 15 years and 2.5mg oral minoxidil EOD for almost 2 months. I do see recession starting over the past year I feel which prompted my consult with Dr. K. He told me that if I was in a room with 100 other patients of his that I had more hair than 99% of them. My question is am I being greedy? I feel that some days I look good feel good and other days I hate my progression. Obviously, it’s an emotional up and down. I’m 48 soon to be 49 in 6 months and to be honest holding onto hair into and approaching my 50s I feel fortunate but want to maintain my look and feeling of esteem and confidence. I suppose I’m looking for guidance or really feedback. I’ve posted pictures of my hair styled. Reason being you only feel as good as you can get your hair to look on any given day even with perceived thinning or recession or balding. Any feedback would be appreciated.

Updates??

Almost year later, how does it look???

You start reading these things and then, BAM…No update. Why? What’s the most common reason people don’t come back to update? They are not happy with results?

How extensive is balding in your family? Because, your native hair looks pretty solid🤷‍♂️ just saying. Like your dad was bald? Or your dad, your dads brothers, your grandfathers…etc. Or, was just your dad bald but his dad fine moms dad fine…I suppose I’m wondering how extensive and how Dr. K came to the understanding that long term planning was needed? I mean yeah anything can happen but I mean the rest of your hair looks solid.

Well you have a good camera on your phone. I particularly like your comments and humility in regard to holding on to what you have approaching 50, respecting those who read your post and identifying with those that perceive importance in your documentation. I am in a similar situation as I plan an op with a leading doctor in this field, being Dr. K. I too approach it with a sense of humility and planning for the future if need be. Perhaps medication will mitigate another procedure. Perhaps not. Regardless, I’ve no doubt you’ll keep up with your progress and it’s much appreciated. Cheers to you, and your efforts. Much respect.