NW

There is always more than 1 way to proceed..especially when you have a lot of turf to cover. its up to you !! My favorite is the 2 HT route with the majority of grafts on HT #1, this seems more common lately. HT1- 2500 HT2- 1500-2000 Good Luck ! NW

Homer, You "are" missing something - your premise is married guys should feel fine bald...I am married..and I still dont want to be a baldy, and I dont want to be overweight etc...I prefer to stay as attractive as possible for my wife, I feel she deserves a trim husband with hair. Does keeping yourself up...stop with marriage ?, not for me. Not that all people feel this way, for some "bald is beautiful", no problem ! to each his own. NW

Nirvana, I see a better improvement on you than I would expect to see for only 600 grafts. However most "strip removal" docs now days would not do a session so small ? its wasnt a Bosley or MHR by chance was it ? I would look into one of about a dozen top notch docs, If you go for a 2nd HT. Good Luck NW

Matthew, Partner your looking at the short story rather than the whole question here.... I am "not" disagreeing with the premise that genetics determines MPB. I Agree...." I AGREE " Like Vocor said, The question is simply what role does weight lifting play in "accelerating" your MPB. Genetics makes you a MPB candidate to begin with...we know that much already ? Does weight lifting raise your testosterone and DHT levels enough to accelerate the inevitable ?..or in other words will I reach NW7 "faster" if I am pressing heavy weights since it raises my testosterone/DHT levels ? (after all steroids accelerate hairloss often) In my case it seems I lost hair faster after starting some intense weight routines...but also it could be coincidental ? I cant say for sure....this was "before" I started Propecia...now I still do the weights but also take Propecia...and things have been great, like Teddw has mentioned above. "My" problem is solved. but my curiosity still lingers. __________________________________________ Nothing is fully clear on the relationship between the following variables: (if so please show me a study) Lets say you "already know" you are prone to MPB...K ? Now- Since weight lifting raises t-level's/DHT level's Wouldnt you lose hair faster ? Has anyone seen a medical study on this ?? not speculation but a bona-fide medical study ?? I would find it interesting reading NW

Teddw Thanks man !, I am choosing your route as well !! NW

SouthCarolina, Awsome man, I wish ya the best & nothing like natural again !! NW

Nirvana, Hey your improvement is very nice ! I can see a definate widening of your hairline and some density improvement over the "before" pic. I am a fan of 2 HT sessions for exactly the reasons you bring up..it looks "better" but not quite there yet. I have had 2 HT's and if I did it all over again I would still plan on 2, it gives you time to asess then finish up. BTW 600 is a very small session. I am babbling here a bit, but another 2,000 would give you an excellent improvement in density, I think the hairline itself is good...just a bit more "fill in". All the best to ya !! NW

Vocor, Thats cool ! the study. I agree genetics is the 1st hurdle with MPB, but we must know what accelerates or retards the inevitable. I am sure science wants the same answers. Clearly (thank god) Propecia slows the process. Cheers ! NW

This is a confusing issue to say the least !!! Vocor I agree Propecia can lead to weight gain, luckily in your case its in the form of muscle !! other guys (less atheletic ones) are not as lucky - it goes around the gut..stick with the Gym brudda !! I too noticed the ability to hold onto a bit more muscle mass. Other people for arguments sake will say "due to the feminizing properties of the drug you retain more weight,,females do have a higher body fat %" I say weight is weight, use it for muscle or use for fat. Added Testosterone doesnt seem to be feminizing to me ??? oh well !! Study 1 I would love to see a study that shows an exact relationship between...lifting weights while on Propecia and the results vs without Propecia and the results. Would the guy on Propecia have bigger gains ? or lesser ? _____________________________ Study 2 Take 2 identical twin males Twin 1 lifts weights regularly Twin 2 is sedentary Is the hair loss comparable over 10 years ? or would the weight lifting twin have accelerated hairloss ? I see a lot of bald weightlifters....I mean a lot of em !! sure some probably take steroids...but I would love further studies on this topic. I mean Doc's ruled out wearing Hats as a possible hairloss accelerator..lets see the weightroom studies. Perhaps there would be absolutely "zero" impact on hairloss when weight training ?? who knows..I had hairloss and lift and see so many others..but it could be just coincidental to ??? Oh well..life continues anyways !! lol. NW

Matthew, Thats awsome !! & good luck !! Come back an do HT - and remember us regular guys here !!! My point is mainly that I have heard from both Doc and Trainers that Weightlifting "Can" raise levels of DHT & Testosterone...a body's reaction to increased load. If these levels are higher than perhaps they may impact hairloss properties if you have MPB in your family ?. But I have no opinion because nobody can answer this question with certainty ?...it is one I have been trying to hunt down for a few years. I will just stick with Propecia anyways. NW

I lift, bit feel the DHT cirulating in my system is curtailed largely because I take Propecia. I would like to see a doctor respond to the issue in depth...it would be great reading. 1) Does Propecia limit my weight training ability ? DHT is part of the anabolic steroid function for guys that actually use them. Hence if Propecia works against the effects of DHT....does it also work against my bodies ability to produce muscle mass ? At my gym there are some men who cycle steroids and then also take Propecia at certain intervels ?..I dont believe this to be healthy and in fact seems each cancels one another out. I only take Propecia, because like a lot of you guys I want my hair to stick around, and I keep my weight and condition in check while also taking Propecia. This issue is one that I have read several mixed comments on from Physicians and Trainers..your answer seems to be based on who you ask ?? even amongst the professionals. 2) Can weight training alone cause bodily functions to produce more DHT ? Interesting stuff - with no real concensus. NW [This message was edited by NW on May 15, 2003 at 08:34 AM.]

Your opinions are typically so strong you really ought to go to school and learn something. I have heard from several Physicians that weight lifting can raise "dht & testosterone" levels...I am not saying you are right or wrong...just at least give the thought a chance.... "My opinion"

Dear Jenn, We talked about Dr Redmond awhile ago, I am very pleased to hear the trip was worthwile & that you have at a minimum a place to begin. Dr Redmond had a forum spot on thebaldtruth.com, however I dont think Spence sponsors the site anymore ?? Arfy Do you know if Spence has dropped the on-line forum for good ?? Jenn - keep us posted, your success for females will help several others down the road & I know how happy anyone is when they get their hair back. All the best to yaz !!!! NW

Harry here is a pic from the "former King of Alleys".. Note I "do" like some natural recession and "do not" support low squared temples. But I needed "some" help !!!!!! NW

Looks good man ! I think if you went for a 2nd HT you could easliy drop the alley recession "just slightly", but the hair looks excellent anyways !..you must be excited, you have far better hair in front and will only grow nicer/stronger with time. Keep truckin on! NW

Vocor, I believe you caught your crown MPB just in time...lucky Dawg !!! it looks pretty damn good. NW

Pic, Excellent post! even mildly entertaining at some points. Here is some "food for thought" A- some guys that have verifiably never had a HT, actually look as though "they have"...lol There is some really crummy looking "God given" hair out there....(sorry Lord !) B- some guys that "have" had HT work are nearly impossible to point out. doesnt that blow you away at times...?? NW

Hello friends, Re: Propecia I have been on Propecia for 3-4 years now, I had started at the 1mg dose per day, worked out excellent. I then thought I would go with the old school wisdom of taking the "lowest effective dose"..so I went to .5mg daily...same good results. So 6 months ago I went to .25mg daily...well that was too low and I noticed subtle signs of thinning and have recently went back to .5mg daily. Unfortunately it took a couple months to kick back in at the .5mg dose and finally I see signs of healthier growth - especially in the crown. I am wondering if anyone else has experimented with lower doses and had any similiar experiences ? I think for the majority of people Mereck has it about right at 1mg daily. I welcome anyone elses experiences ?..I hafta say this reaffirms "for me" that the drug helps MPB immensly. NW

Hello friends, Re: Propecia I have been on Propecia for 3-4 years now, I had started at the 1mg dose per day, worked out excellent. I then thought I would go with the old school wisdom of taking the "lowest effective dose"..so I went to .5mg daily...same good results. So 6 months ago I went to .25mg daily...well that was too low and I noticed subtle signs of thinning and have recently went back to .5mg daily. Unfortunately it took a couple months to kick back in at the .5mg dose and finally I see signs of healthier growth - especially in the crown. I am wondering if anyone else has experimented with lower doses and had any similiar experiences ? I think for the majority of people Mereck has it about right at 1mg daily. I welcome anyone elses experiences ?..I hafta say this reaffirms "for me" that the drug helps MPB immensly. NW

Mathew, The ht's lookin good, you definately realized some nice fill. NW

Gris, I cant wait to see the 6-8 month pics- the name Griswald is then updated to "Grizzly Adams" !!, Avodart: I am also quite happy you are keeping up up to date on Avodart. Thanks !!! NW

Texasnw, I agree w/you for guys with extreme hairloss, absolutely leave the crown alone, however I think there are many men who are older with less severe loss, and these guys can use a crown dusting of FU's. A 30 year old NW6-NW7 has very different options than a 45-50 year old NW3 ??. Even though I say err on the side of Caution, I am very satisfied to Not have the small round patch in back. I spent 450 grafts on a very small area (coupled w/Propecia use), and I do get great satisfaction in growing my hair long and not seeing the bare spot. Case by case...in my opinion. NW

Mel, The new hair may just add to more "leading Man" roles in Hollywood, but then with a law degree..you have something to fallback on. BTW I really liked Braveheart

Definately seeing the "in person" patients route holds the most merit, it shows far more than pics. Good Luck NW

Fabe, Honestly in 5 years of reading on ht and having 2 myself, I have never even heard of Dr Pistone ? That is not necessarily a bad thing, but he is definately "not" a "household" name in HT. Is there any reason you have your heart set on him ? Do you know him well ? Good Luck !