RioIndy

6 Month Update:

I think I am fairly happy with the result on the front 👍, I feel like I can go around without a hat 🧢.

Though the crown / vertex area has seen minimal improvement 😕.  Hoping that still manifests improvements over the next few months.

Also been on the topical medication (listed above) for like almost 1 month now.

Ok I ended up finally giving into the medication route.  Went with a topical foam of 3 compounds:  Finasteride (0.25%) + Monoxadil (~5%) + Bimatoprost (0.02%)

How long before I should expect it to help with the existing hairs to get thicker and longer?

Very expensive though at $300 (CAD) for 220ml.  I might consider switching to just Oral Finasteride + Foam Monoxadil simply because I believe it it much cheaper, but then I will want to see if I am one who has side effects from Oral Finasteride (like lower libido / ED).   

On 4/28/2024 at 2:15 AM, dba said:

I Vape... what's any thoughts of vaping or smoking being detrimental for surgery

I followed their instructions pretty religiously before and after the procedure. So I believe stopped vaping like 1 or 2 weeks ahead of the procedure and 1 or 2 weeks after (I don't recall exactly). I also cut out most sugar beforehand and whatever else they said. 

That was 5 months ago and I am back to a normal routine now and I think my progress is decent? (I just posted pics of my progress here).

I am only now going to start with a topical Monoxidil + Finasteride + Bimatoprost, as I worry about the existing hairs in my vertex / crown area getting worse (I probably should have been using these meds the whole time according to people here and many doctors, though my HT doctor did not recommend it 🤷‍♂️, I will start taking it now)

5 Months Progress (May):

Overall I think it is "ok" but my "vertex / crown" is feeling like it's not making much progress and the hair there are very fine and short. 

The frontal-temporal portion I just hope for a bit more density.

What could I reasonably expect from here?

3 Months Progress photos (March, and by far the worst looking, which I now know is the "Ugly Duckling phase":

1 Month Progress (January):  Shock-loss and shedding has started in by this point.

During and immediately after the transplant  (Norwood 3 / 4 - 4,100 grafts done with FUE):

Just before the transplant:

Hello there.  I am wondering if I should give in an take medication to help with my transplant, that I was hesitant to take before. 

I am at the 5 month mark since I got the transplant (Norwood 3 / 4 - 4,100 grafts done).

And overall I think it is "ok" but my "vertex / crown" is feeling like it's not making much progress and the hair there are very fine and short. 

The frontal-temporal portion I just hope for a bit more density.

I am considering going with a topical cream of 3 compounds: Finasteride (~2.5%) + Monoxadil (~5%) + Bimatoprost (0.03%) / Latanoprost (0.1%).

Attached is my hair today.  What could I reasonably expect from here?

Thanks any observations / feedback / recommendations 🙏😊

(I will post below for the progress pics along the way.)