matey

Pics: https://imgur.com/a/VB9g9Zc As mentioned in the title, I'm unsure of the cause of my hair loss, which includes a bald spot on the crown and overall thinning of the top of my head, as well as slight receding hairline. While 9 years ago, aggressive use of a dandruff comb as a teenager may have played a role, I also underwent chemotherapy around the same time, which could have contributed. I'm currently torn between pursuing surgery or medication as a potential solution. I guess regardless of the way I lost my hair, whether from chemo or aggressive dandruff comb, my hair loss is pretty obvious, with a clear bald spot to the crown, some thinning top of the head, and a slight receding hairline. Personally I am not as concerned about the others as much as I am concerned about the bald spot on the crown since that looks pretty aggressive tbh. My bald spot and thinning more or less looks slightly worse now than 9 years ago but nothing major. My initial step towards hair restoration was to use foam Rogaine from Costco twice daily for about 6-8 months, although I stopped using it a year ago. However, I'm now interested in exploring other options. While researching the best doctors in TJ for FUE, I learned about the "big 3" and Dutasteride as popular treatments, which led me to reconsider surgery. However, I have reservations about taking Dutasteride or finasteride due to potential side effects, particularly since my fertility may have already been affected by chemotherapy. Furthermore, my suspicion that my hair loss is related to the aggressive use of a dandruff comb as well as the fact that my hair loss has kind of looked the same over the last few years has led me to hold off on these medications. My personal thoughts is that I don't want to start fin or dut cos of the side effects, since the chemo already had a big chance of messing up with my semen/fertility and since my hair has been looking the same for the last few years, and my suspicion that my hair loss is from dandruff comb so I kind of want to hold off on those. My plan is to go ahead and get back on 5% minox Rogaine but this time to use micro needling too and the keto shampoo (Ik this shampo is a hit or miss) and do that for a year and look at results. If still no results then I will probably get on the oral Rogaine and if by then still nothing then that's when I might consider FUE with fin or dut. What are you guys' thoughts here? Should I get started on Rogaine again but this time with micro needling or because I didn't see results the first time (without using micro needling) I should just skip and get a FUE and start fin/dut? Thanks!