HTinthefuture

Yes, keep us posted. I am lucky enough to be living in Ottawa, home of Rahal..so chances are that I will be going with him should I take the leap. I will be going in for a meeting sometime in the new year I think. why did you go with april? do they require a few months advance booking or just convenient for you? thanks! Rich

that is exactly the problem, if Rahal (and I am not dissing him here because he would be my first choice for HT) uses 2000 grafts to fill that in....if your hairloss becomes worse, you could be in a position where you have an unusual amount of hair only at the temples because you ran out of donor hair for the rest of the head. personally, I would wait....work on improving your self esteem through other means until you know the extent of the hairloss you will endure. To be honest, I am not one to judge, but if dissappoints me that a doc would jump at this. There are good docs out there, and your money is well spent, but whehter or not this is necessary is borderline IMO.

dude, honestly I would wait. from your pics, the majority of guys I know and seen your age (I work at a university) have more receeding that you. I dont consider what you have as hairloss, but more the gradual change and natural patterns hair takes as one grows older. You have more hair than I had or ever will have, and I didn't really think I was loosing hair until my late 20s. if you are that concerned about it, get a professional opinion. at the very least, use nizoral once and awhile, eat your veggies and be patient and see where it goes (hairline).problem is, if you get one now and you loose more hair, you will need another one, and another, and another. Like another said, you have time, some people loose faster than others so keep an eye on it. remember you are your worst critic. I was obsessed with loosing my hair too when I saw the signs (which were more apparent than yours) and I had people including hairdressers say that I had tons of hair and nice hair at that. anyway, good luck to you. and dont fret it too much, stressing about it unnecessarily could cause the very thing you are fearing.

I read trial II could take up to 3 years, but also heard all trials will be done by 2010, so who knows. also, like HT, once it goes to market, it will take 3-5 years to perfect it and to get enough surgeons on board. it will no doubt drive the prices of HT down as the reality of this comes closer though.

saw palmetto has been used for years in europe and asia for prostrate health, that is where the correlation is due to the propecia link with prostrate. there is not evidence proving or disproving it affects DHT because there is no money in it for a company to pour $$$ into researching a product that they will never be able to patent and sell due to it being a herb that anyone can buy and or grow themselves. will we ever know if it works, probably not. but if it helps, what is the harm in taking it unless it gives you really bad gas and the $hits like it did me

I think the FDA approval wording of this thing is what needs to be examined. I think it is approved for improving appearance and stimulating growth of existing hair, but never says it will grow new hair. So, if anything, take it as something that helps your existing hair but not more. on another note, it is proven by science that sunlight, and vitamin D which is produced in your skin from sunlight exposure does everything from fight cancer to improve your hair quality. not sure if that is related to the rays that come out of the comb.

I use nizoral 3 times a week, and nioxin cleansing shampoo (says it gets rid of DHT, but who knows) or a dandruff shampoo alternating inbetween, and then a moisturizing/volumizing shampoo for the rest of the days. we get 2% nizoral relatively cheap here in canada and without prescription.

You made a good point, but the fact you forget is that technology in some ways works exponentially. Ie they find a cure by one thing by accident while researching a cure for another. The longer time goes on while we are beomcing more and more technologically advanced, the more likihood of there being a cure. Just think, back in 1989 nobody even knew the word email or internet, unless you worked for nasa or the cia. I do think that there are many things that go on behind the scenes that are very political and hinder curing various diseases. dont forget, there is more money in treatment than cure. If company xyz came up with a cure for baldness, it would not be long until company abc, 123, etc follow along. thus driving the profits down etc. this cure will put all other treatments existing now in the trash, and the tons and tons of potential revenue down the drain with it. people have known fish oil fights many ailments including cancer for years (I took it as a kid), yet it recently has only started to become mainstream, why because cancer is finally starting to cost the govt's more money than they are willing to pay and it is in their best interest to help the average person empower themselves to fight it.

so true, I gave a street person a dollar the other day and he had more hair on his head than anyone I've ever seen. he looked like one of the guys from the gieco commercial . The point being I doubt he maintains a healthy lifestyle food intake wise, so it is safe to say heredity rules in this area.

thanks for the replies, I guess the question I was trying to ask was, will the transplanted hair stay put for years to come even without meds etc. I realize how these drugs can help with hair that is still being lost, but will the transplanted hair be pretty much forever or are the drugs etc required for the transplanted hairs to remain longer? I was on propecia a few years back (proscar). I did experience the side effects that are apparently very uncommmon according to reports, so I stopped after 8 months or so. whether I would be where I am not if i did not discontinue is up to speculation. are the generic versions of propecia to market yet? or is the option for cheaper still splitting proscar? little off topic, sorry. Thanks! Rich

Hi all, i have been lurking her for awhile, trying to get as informed as I can in the coming year(s) before I seriously consider a HT. The question I have is, how many of you after having a HT done use or continue to use propecia or rogaine, and for how long? I am a little confused as I thought that one of the main reasons for going the HT route, is due to the fact that it is permanent and you may spend the same $$$ over the course of your lifetime on drugs and topicals that do not work for everyone. Now, if I decide to get a HT which is not a cheap thing to do, is it also suggested that I spend the rest of my life on propecial and or rogaine? This is one of the main factors that I am pondering in my consideration for a ht. While I can see the benefit of taking these drugs, to have to take them before and after a HT seems a little redundant. I guess the short of it is. If I go for a HT, is there a good chance I will still be suggested that I go on or continue drugs and or topical treatments. I really dont want to have to spend the $$$ on both and if that is going to be the case, I would rather just shave my head. Any insighful opinons or experience with this would be greatly appreciated. thanks everyone! Rich

yeah, especially when billions of dollars are going to waste in cancer research....ala, the american cancer society. read the book 'cancer gate' it is a very well published book and an eye opener. big pharma does not want a cure for cancer, they make more money treating it than they would curing it. did you know pharma companies are consistently fighting to make common vitamins like vitamin C, available only by prescription? Vitamin D has been proven to fight cancer, big pharma would take it off the shelves if it were up to them. it is all about the $$$$ unfortunately. I am sure companies that produce propecia and rogain are in a similar boat, what incentive would they actually have to cure baldness. taking a pill that 'stops' your hair from falling out, but continues to do so when you stop the pill makes more sense to them.

in 2002 someone who was heavily involved in hair multiplication research said it would be 5 years out until it is tested and proven, and another 5 years to make it mainstream. that makes it around 2012. someone else said it could be sooner.. anyway, there is hope for us

probably because he is not a ht surgeon, nor is he remotely going bald. he is a MD and they make $$$ off of drugs. like another said, who cares what he or the blob-rah says. do it if you want to, and dont regret it.

Just tuning in here. back from holidays and wedding. Yes, just got married to a beautiful woman in and out. Craven, nice to hear your story. I can relate in some ways. I have always been a little introverted and when I started loosing hair, that did not seem to want to help me in life. I did a lot of self help reading and praying and over the years, my confidence has grown to higher than it was when I had much more hair. Also, thanks for the pics, it looks as though my hairloss is heading the same way as your s in amount and pattern. Also I have similarly colored hair and texture. so seeing your results isgood news for me. Keep us posted in your progress. A few points to ponder for everyone (I tell me these things to feel better) -millions of men go through hairloss, just some deal with it differently than others. -it matters most to you. -your kids/wife will still love you even without hair (I was loosing hair when I met my wife and she married me knowing it wasnt going to stop) -tons of guys I have seen over the last few months and years who have been loosing hair, or had shaved heads were with attractive women. so not all women care about it as much as some. -try to notice how many other men are dealing with the same thing we are, instead of those guys with perfect hairlines. -we are living in a great time, where advances in medicine and ht techiniqes are getting better and better, which is great because I think I'll be due for one in a few years -there are much worse things you could be dealing with. Cancer, mental illness, loss of ability to walk, and see (a lot of diabetics go through this and would trade this for hairloss in a second). -My friend dated a woman who was born with no hair. She wore a wig. She was an attractive woman, and so was my friend. he did not care. -confidence is key. you don't have to be good looking, tall, lots of hair to be successful. actually the most successful people I know are quite the opposite because they relied on internal confidence and drive and not good looks to get somewhere. The richest guy I know is downright replusive...haha. that didn't stop him. Anyway, glad to know you did something for yourself and went for the ht. People spend all kinds of money on things that kill them, make them fat, things they throw away when it goes out of style a year later, cars that suck back gas and just cause more financial problems....but hair will never go out of style!

I am not sure of your extent of balding. but here is what I would do at 20. Put that 10k in a sound dividend high yeild investment fund. shave your head while you are still young enough to pull it off. step ahead 10 years. new drugs on the market, better HT methods and possibly a wonder treatment (maybe . go for the HT when you are totally sure of what hair you will loose, at least have a better idea, cash in some of that 10k investment which is now at 80-100k if you did it right, and have money for a HT and then some. I am 35 now, and considering a HT and have to save $$$ like mad to do so (other expenses creap into your life at this age). If I was 20 right now and loosing hair, I would put my money away somewhere safe in investments and then review your hair situation in a few years. at least then you wont have as much of the financial burden. I sure as heck didn't have $$$ for it when I was 20. But if I invested at 20 like I do now, I would be 10 years from retirement. And I am not talking get rich quick, bubble, penny stock crap. just using your noggin to invest and a little dab of patience. anway, slightly off topic, but might give you something else to think about. btw, chicks in their 30s dig guys with a bit of financial freedom. I don't know too many women who would not ignore bad hair on a guy with confidence and cash (ie life, career). I am married to a pretty hot woman and loosing my hair. I was when we met. But it is confidence, having other ambitions and personality that won her over. course an HT in the future when I know the extent of my loss wont hurt

good luck and keep us posted as to the results and progress. Like you, I am thinking of one in the future (year or two) with Rahal. He seems to do very good work.

good points bezane. I am no study group guru, but I did study some psychology and 1800 men for a drug like this is not a big study group. anyway, if I had to pick it would be HT over drugs for life. at least with HT the side effects are right in front of you, and they have been around for years now, and improving a lot.

yeah, I have often thought of the long term effects of the drugs, as nobody right now knows what they are since they haven't been around enough. also, add up propecia, rogaine, nizoral over 20+ years, and you might have spent less on a good HT. I have thought of that as well. My use for drugs would be to maintain as much as possible before having the $$$ and nerve to go for a HT. Not to bash the drugs either, but I have read studies and polls on other hair boards that suggest that the side effects are much more common than the % stated by the drug companies. anyway, needless to say....I did have side effects which made me decide to go off them, perhaps they would have eventually gone away. shedding seems to be a common thing, but at this point shedding would be much more noticable for me than 4 years ago. I dont' want to shed what little I have left and be one of the few % that it does not work for. Also, what about diet...there is all kinds of new info on Vitamin D etc helping with hair. It is a hormone after all. Are people balding more now and more quickly then they did 20 years ago. its all interesting stuff and there are still so many unknowns, but the bottom line is I just want to do the best thing for me. Hopefully, in 20 years time they will have cured baldness, although those who dont have to deal with it dont really consider it an illness persay. I am sure $$$ is better spent trying to cure cancer, but there is definately a ton of money to be had in curing the baldness thing.

I agree...I had the same issues, and since went off it. but thinking back I am sure It was from the fact that I read it can cause issues in this area.

I did not notice that when I was on it years back, but I did notice less sex drive and other things. also had a lot of shedding....which really was what scared me into stopping it.

thanks, I've been using nizoral for about a year now, seems to help with redness and itchy scalp, which I've had since a kid. I was on finasteride a few years back (4?) but stopped due to side effect (sex drive) but now thinking I should have stayed on. This hair loss thing sure is confusing though. My brother has tons of hair at 39, father thinned out a bit but he is 60, both grandparents on either side died with full heads of hair. One thing going for me is that I have light colored hair...it seems to cover better due to less contrast with hair and skin. Regarding the finasteride...is this something that is reccommended for the rest of your life, even after a hair transplant? thanks!

Hi there, I am new to this board. Been reading for awhile. decided to sign up. First of all, i think this board is great. It gives those like myself and others with hair issues hope and comfort. I am considering a HT within the next year or so. I am 35 and have been thinning for about 10 years. I find myself thinking more and more about my hairloss, as I loose more and more hair of course . I wouldn't say it is devastating me, but I will admit that I would be happier if I could keep it, and in this day and age, this is becoming more and more accessable and common considering advances in this area. I am heading towards a shaved head, but thinking of alternatives (if I don't like the shaved head look). I would seriously consider Dr Rahal due to his positive reviews and impressive photos, and the fact that I am also in his town helps. Does anyone else have any other useful information about the clinic and how your personal experience went, both good and bad. This is one of those things that if I want to get done, I want it done right and done with a surgeon who is one of the best available. I've read many stories about HT having to be fixed and I don't want to be one of those people. Thanks in advance, and I am looking forward to chatting with you guys. Rich

Hi there, I am new to this board. Been reading for awhile. decided to sign up. First of all, i think this board is great. It gives those like myself and others with hair issues hope and comfort. I am considering a HT within the next year or so. I am 35 and have been thinning for about 10 years. I find myself thinking more and more about my hairloss, as I loose more and more hair of course . I wouldn't say it is devastating me, but I will admit that I would be happier if I could keep it, and in this day and age, this is becoming more and more accessable and common considering advances in this area. I am heading towards a shaved head, but thinking of alternatives (if I don't like the shaved head look). I would seriously consider Dr Rahal due to his positive reviews and impressive photos, and the fact that I am also in his town helps. Does anyone else have any other useful information about the clinic and how your personal experience went, both good and bad. This is one of those things that if I want to get done, I want it done right and done with a surgeon who is one of the best available. I've read many stories about HT having to be fixed and I don't want to be one of those people. Thanks in advance, and I am looking forward to chatting with you guys. Rich