Martin M

I'd go with Thana's advice. While option D may be both ballsy and noble, you may regret disclosing that information and labeling yourself. There's a useful thread in another section, something to the effect of "Who Knows About Your HT?" The overwhelming conclusion everyone's agreed upon in that discussion is that telling one or two people is really just as good as telling 50.

Re: a dermatologist though, many offices accept walk-ins that pay out of pocket. If you can squeeze enough pennies for a visit, then maybe you can get a big prescription that'll last you 6 months or so and you don't have to keep going back to the doc.

DONVON, Althought I can't comment personally on the efficacy of Propecia or other medical therapies sold online, I wouldn've advise it. In the event that the drug is not the real deal (or just simply doesn't work), then you've wasted valuable money, and maybe even more importantly, time. Usually, the faster you get on Propecia to stabilize your loss, the better. If you waste a year waiting on an internet drug that doesn't work, then you might've lost native hair that you can't get back. I'd be pleasantly surprised, though, if anyone on this forum can verify a website that sells legit Proscar/Propecia.

Jet, If you're goal is just to keep the hair you have, Proscar/Propecia is your best (and in my opinion your only) option. It's the only FDA approved medication to accomplish this. Also, I think there's some kind of guarantee/money back policy on the Propecia website, so you can check that out. -Martin

In my experience with Nanogen, the question is really just a matter of the amount of application. If you're like me, and you use a whole lot to mask your hair loss, then the locking mist will help, but not eliminate the fibers from coming off when you run your hand through your hair. I hear that any styling spray will do just as good a job as the mist, but I haven't tested this myself. IMO, though, the mist is definately an improvement from just dousing your head with nanogen and walking out of the house.

DONVON, If you have health insurance, you should be able to see a dermatologist, who can prescribe you the necessary meds. -Martin

Bill, Yes I did them through the Hair Transplant Network - sending the forms via the website to Feller, H&W, and some others. I'm beginning to think that there must've been some technical error, because I sent out to a lot of docs, but haven't heard back from anyone. Will resend and follow up with some phone calls. Thanks for the advice.

I took some good advice from some regulars on this forum, and have filled out some consultations forms and sent in some photos for some HT Docs to see. It's been around a week or two, and I haven't heard back from anyone. I was just curious as to how long I should be waiting for clinics to respond - I understand that doctors are busy and are performing procedures on a daily basis - should I be following up with a phone call or something? Any advice appreciated.

I took some good advice from some regulars on this forum, and have filled out some consultations forms and sent in some photos for some HT Docs to see. It's been around a week or two, and I haven't heard back from anyone. I was just curious as to how long I should be waiting for clinics to respond - I understand that doctors are busy and are performing procedures on a daily basis - should I be following up with a phone call or something? Any advice appreciated.

Orangehair, Great post - as a young guy myself on Rogaine/Propecia, I've been told time and time again that I need to STAY on the meds. Dr. Dorin even told me personally that stopping only one of the medications is enough to rev up your hair loss again.

Thanks Bill and Rick, I'm wondering if it would be safe to switch from Propecia to Proscar immediately and safely. I'm going on two months with Propecia - does anyone think it wise or not a good idea to just switch to Proscar on my third month? Could this reduce the efficacy of the medication or be a potentially dangerous move?

Andre, Independent practices like Dr. Feller's are generally held in higher esteem on this forum than major clinics like MHR or Bosely, and not without reason I think. I recently had a free consultation with Dr. Dorin of True and Dorin - the staff are great, and the doctor was very helpful and professional. And like True and Dorin, most of NYC doctors do FREE consultations ... so it couldn't hurt to try them also.

Thanks LL, This is something I'm subtly aware of, but psychologically I find it really difficult to "lather up" my hair like I used to when I didn't have to worry about seeing hundreds of hairs in my hands. Due to this trauma I often relegate myself to just mixing the shampoo in water and pouring it over my head a couple times =(

Does anyone know how much cheaper Proscar is than Propecia? I'm paying $80 a month for Propecia refills and am curious about any cheaper, and equally effective alternatives. Any advice/suggestions greatly appreciated. ~Martin

Any suggestions?

Does anyone know the most effective way to remove concealers delicately? When I wash them out, I sometimes lose a lot of native hairs. Also, should I be lathering when I wash my hair? This might be a silly question, but I find it difficult to treat my hair gently in these situations. Any suggestions greatly appreciated. ~Martin

ezduzit, Any pre or post op photos that you could share?

Also, you mentioned that your hair line is still in good shape. You might want to look into some concealers (i.e. Toppik, Nanogen, Dermatch) to fill in the thin areas and give your hair a fuller look. That should buy you some time. ~Martin

Wire, To the best of my knowledge, I've heard that most people who experience sexual side effects with Propecia go back to normal once they get off the drug. But you should definately check with your Doc on that. ~Martin

Hi Unknown, I'm 20 and I'm going through the same thing you are. I recently got on Rogaine and Propecia which, medically speaking, is the best thing that can be done right now to combat your hair loss. Send me a PM if you want to discuss. ~Martin

Thanks Stimpy! Any additional experiences are also appreciated.

I've been on Propecia/Rogaine for about a month now and have also been experiencing significant shedding. It's said that the shedding is an indication that the medication is working.

Any takers?

Thanks Badger, You must've been one of the lucky ones. Can anyone who has experienced excessive shedding comment?

Thank you Bill, I do plan on staying on the meds for around a year, as at this point I feel I haven't much to lose and might as well see what happens. I am, however, also interested in what I might expect regarding the post-shedding period. Is it true that the more shedding one experiences, the better the results? Or do some people experience shedding to stop their hair loss, but never grow these hairs back? I understand that there are no sure answers here, but personal experiences are much appreciated ... just trying to set the right expectations. -Thanks again all