johnnie69

Interested to know what makes a person a "canidate" for trico...as I know that all arent....

what kinda side effects did you get? and afer how long?

My hair is usually dry and when I use the niz...it gets even drier.....I use am. crew shampoo/conditioner on the off days, and use the conditioner after the nizoral.......My hair isnt overly dry now, but any suggestions would be appreciated on a better routine....

Thanks for the replies guys.....I think alot of my apprehensions comes from the contradicting info I read on the various boards....You always have to consider the source, who they are affiliated with, what their motives are, is their case similar to mine, are they on meds, etc.....the list goes on....and then for surgeons.....one guy loves him, the next guy says hes ok.....I think it all comes down to realistic expectations....and for top docs, I dont necessarily think that they have bad cases published online too much....I dont think the patients come foreword as much....and when they do, they are attacked and back down...NOONE HAS ALL GOOD RESULTS.PERIOD. This is like a big maze...I think about it differently almost every day.....sometimes I think the more I read, the more confused I become.... As an aside, I have recieved most of my clear knowledge from consultants and Dr Lee.... I started using his products 15%xan, 5%min am/pm after my procedure, and since then have been emailing him back and forth on a consistent basis....On the forums, lots of info is pure bulls**t, and you gotta know what to discard.... anyway,again thank for the replies...my goals for the second is decent to moderate coverage on my crown and a nice blend with the frontal 1/3.....and a better scar....Hopefully I am bieng realistic....we'll see in a couple of weeks....

no pics yet...or maybe ever....kinda my secret, I was about a 5v and had 2800 in the frontal 1/3 (6000 hairs).... I still dont go anywhere without a hat...and I hate the balding on the crown.....My transplant is ok, it s been about 14 months.....but it doesnt blend ....sorta like it was just set there.....futher loss...maybe, I am having setrious doubts about my expectations and wheteher or not I should have started this at all... My scar wont let me below a #4 guard, and although I am more comfortable with my hair now than pre-op, like I said, still it isnt good...... I measured my "crown area and its approx 12x 12...I am scheduled for a 3000 procedure, so for me to get decent coverage and blend the front, I fear IO am still gonna be chasin after this procedure.....Im 36 and at 30, I hadnt really noticed much, then it was GONE..... Anywany, Im getting paranoid about the long wait and hiding the procedure and a summer with twp lil ones and swimming trying to mask a procedure..... Conversly, I seem to have put my life on hold till I resolve this problem...and I dont know if this next session will in fact do tha...or if I have the right doc....or for that matter, how does one ever reallt know if you choose a top name?? Im feeling stuck here...as an aside, noone knows I got a transplant....like i said im in a hat or bandana all the time....

To anyone who already had their second, interested to know exactly how you&your doc planned it out...Im goin for #2 in a few weeks, to add to the hairline and some crown work.... any feedback appreciated

To anyone who already had their second, interested to know exactly how you&your doc planned it out...Im goin for #2 in a few weeks, to add to the hairline and some crown work.... any feedback appreciated

I dont know why I am wasting my time replying to MTbaldy, but other newbies might believe what he says, so..... copied and pasted a response from Dr. Lee below: ""If you use a shampoo containing ketoconazole that can effect the biochemical environment around the follicles, then it is possible to reverse hair loss. Any other shampoo will remove DHT from the surface of the scalp, but they are of no benefit in preventing MPB because it is the DHT around the hair follicle that is causing the damage. These shampoos and conditioners cannot change the biochemical environment around the hair follicles, which is deep in the dermal layers of the scalp. Otherwise, whether you never shampoo or shampoo daily will not affect the age of onset or the rate of progression of MPB. Shampoos are designed to clean the hair and leave it manageable and looking good. If they do that for you, it's as much as you can ask for. Other than shampoos containing ketoconazole, which have been shown to reduce DHT in the scalp, shampoos really have no effect on hair growth or loss.""""

my advice....ignore mtbaldy and his claims.....and wear your hat whenever you want without worry....

lol....dude are you for real? We didnt even know how to make cars then, did we? Where is the reference to dht in his report....oh, I forgot, it was from the 1800's. Hats dont cause baldness....period.

lol at the balloons and the hat theory....

hats causing baldness is a MYTH.

I had some more questions...... """ Dr Lee, What about their claim that anything above 5% concentration serves no purpose...... Consider this: they're making arguments in both directions. Because of their claim of a 'better delivery system', they're already implying that success with minoxidil is dose dependent. That is, higher concentrations are more effective. Higher concentration formulas, when properly formulated, deliver more minoxidil to the follicles, and there is improved growth stimulation. There is not a direct correlation between concentration and positive results, but the correlation is valid. 80% of patients who take minoxidil systemically for hypertension grow hair. and that they are using a "more advanced" minox formula?.... I thought that we already put this issue to bed. You need only to analyze the ingredients to refute the claims of an 'advanced formula'. The only dubious saving grace in the form of a better delivery system is, perhaps, the retinoic acid they put in their formula. Retinoic acid does improve delivery of minoxidil by stripping away the strateum corneum, the upper dead layer of the epidermis. I still dispense retinoic acid in my practice, but for most patients I discourage its use. I have found after 10 years that the improvement gains do not over shadow the value of higher concentrations of minoxidil and do not outweigh the disadvantages of dryness, redness, flaking, increased sensitivity to sun damage, etc. The roots, barks, and herbs in their formula are not proven to reverse hair loss. Which raises the question, "Are the multiple ingredients even compatible in the same solution?" If Aminexil SP94, one of their "advanced" ingredients, works as claimed, then it may treat 'aging', but it does not address MPB. Liposomes and nanosomes are packaged as fictional devices to make improved medicinal delivery sound feasible. Because success with minoxidil is dose dependent, minoxidil should be used twice a day. On the average only 1.4% of the minoxidil you apply is absorbed into the scalp. You really need at least 2 applications of minoxidil a day for optimal results. Formulas with retinoic acid should not be used more frequently than once a day. More frequent use can heighten ones sensitivity to the peeling effect. I have had many reports of scarring from misguided too frequent use of retinoic acid. The author or authors of the articles on the web site you referenced may very well know the cause of MPB, but they hide behind and perpetrate various myths and false statements to make their product sound better than it is. For your benefit, I have attached an article I wrote of over 50 MPB myths. Be informed. Read the article, Richard Lee, M.D. Interesting.....Ill post my opinions after further analysis....lots of info here...

I pasted the above post and emailed it to Dr Lee....Below is his response..... """It is not at all infrequent that people ask me for my opinion of hair growth products. On the www.divineskin.com. web site Spectral DNC is touted to be the "world's most effective topical hair loss treatment", despite the fact that Spectral DNC's minoxidil formula has a number of ingredients that are not proven to reverse MPB. I will comment where appropriate under some of the paragraphs extracted from the site, where there are many erroneous or unsubstantiated statements. Divineskin Paragraph: Spectral DNC?® is the world's most effective topical hair loss treatment designed for androgenic alopecia and other types of hair loss in men. Clinically proven to help re-grow hair, it is also significantly more effective then Rogaine?® or any other topical hair loss treatment currently available. Spectral DNC?® has the following active ingredients: Minoxidil 5% (clinically proven to help re-grow hair; approved by the FDA in treating male-pattern hair loss for more then 15 years. How Minoxidil works as a treatment for hair loss is not fully understood.) Aminexil SP94 (clinically proven to help re-grow hair; Aminexil is a patented molecule that is the result of over 10 years of research at L'Oreal laboratories. Research has indicated that hair loss is linked to the stiffening of the hair roots and Aminexil has been specifically developed to prevent the stiffening and premature aging of the roots.) Dr. Lee Comments: Aminexil SP94 is supposed to delay aging of the follicles, but MPB is independent of aging. If it were, MPB would always occur at a given age. Divineskin Paragraph: Retinol (has been shown to improve the absorption and effectiveness of Minoxidil; Minoxidil and Retinol is often prescribed together by dermatologists) Dr. Lee Comments: I don't routinely recommend using Retinoic acid (Retin-A) anymore. It works as a chemical peel and can cause mild irritation and flaking for the first 10 days or so. The reaction seems to be more severe on fair complexions. The addition of retinoic acid is primarily to allow for better absorption of the minoxidil. This was very important when 2% minoxidil solutions were the only concentrations available. Now that 5% and higher concentrations are available, the addition of retinoic acid is not as important. In fact, the undesirable side effects of retinoic acid use (dryness, redness, flaking, increased sensitivity to sun damage, etc.) may not counterbalance its 'benefits'. If you have a sensitive scalp, you may not want to use it. Divineskin Paragraph: Vitamin Complex (accelerates the metabolism of the hair follicle) Dr. Lee Comments: There is no scientific evidence that there are any specific nutrients and/or vitamins that will prevent or reverse MPB. Preventing or reversing MPB is much more complicated and much more difficult that correcting a nutritional deficiency due to poor intake. MPB has only one cause and no other cause. If you have MPB, then your genetic predisposition and androgens (mostly DHT) are the only cause of this form of hair loss. Divineskin Paragraph: Herbal Extracts (provides circulation and nutrition to the affected tissues) Dr. Lee Comments: This myth that poor circulation causes MPB has been used to sell hair loss products as bizarre as devices that allow you to hang upside down to potions that 'increase the blood flow to the scalp'. MPB is not caused by poor or decreased circulation. If poor circulation caused MPB, there would be no explanation for the hair loss of MPB to occur in a symmetrical pattern. Instead, balding would occur in accordance to the areas of coverage of the various arteries to the scalp, which just doesn't happen. Furthermore, hair follicles would never be successfully transplanted, if MPB were due to decreased blood supply, since the transplants are used to fill in the balding areas affected by MPB. All organs and tissues require proper circulation to maintain their health and all portions of the scalp receive large amounts of oxygenated blood. In fact, 20% of the output of the heart goes to the head, so the scalp is highly vascularized. Numerous studies have shown that the vascular supply to the balding scalp is just as good as the vascular supply to the non-balding scalp. Divineskin Paragraph: Nanosomes (microscopic capsules deliver active ingredients deeper into the tissue) Dr. Lee Comment: Although there may very well be liposomes in the formulation of Spectral DNC?® and Lipoxidil, I very much doubt that the liposomes have been customized to the delivery of minoxidil. Lipoxidil.com has been touting liposomes as a delivery system for their products for some time and now they have come up with nanosomes (multilayered very small liposomes). This can be found at http://www.lipoxidil.com/site/liposomes.php. For the past few years I have been working with a Ph.D. pharmacologist in the Bay Area, looking into liposomal delivery of topical minoxidil. As expected, the progress is painstakingly slow. In order to design and test various liposomes that will deliver the minoxidil to the hair follicles, it requires scalp biopsies (and you don't get a lot a volunteers for that). In any case, liposomal delivery of minoxidil is possible. But it would be much too expensive to be applicable in practice. A few years ago, Robert M. Hoffman from AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA presented a paper at the 2nd Intercontinental Hair Research Society Meeting in Washington, D.C. in which his group accomplished liposomal delivery of melanin to hair follicles. But the technology is so expensive that re-coloring gray hair via liposomal delivery of melanin just isn't practical. So, it's unlikely that a liposomal or nanosome delivery for minoxidil will ever be practical because of the exorbitant costs. I very much doubt that Lipoxidil uses a liposomal or nanosome delivery system. Nor have I seen any scientific studies that show that adenosine reverses hair loss regardless of how it is delivered. If you know of any scientific studies to the contrary, I'd would appreciate it, if you could let me have the references. Divineskin Paragraph: Spectral DNC?® works by combining the effectiveness of each of the active ingredients and simultaneously combating various causes of hair loss. This formula also enhances the action of each ingredient to grow normally strong and healthy hair which is not possible to achieve with any of the active ingredients alone. Spectral DNC?® produces more rapid results then Rogaine and produces effective results in users who previously did not respond to the Rogaine treatment. Spectral DNC?® can also treat hair loss on the entire scalp including the frontal areas, while Rogaine?® (pure Minoxidil) has only been shown effective on the crown of the scalp. Dr. Lee Comments: It is not clear how any topical medicine can speed up the hair growth cycle. These treatments require 'the norm of 4 to 6 months' to see significant results. Here's why: What we are trying to do is to replace thin or fine hair shafts by thicker ones. In order for that to happen, the follicle producing the fine hair shaft has to shift into the telogen phase, which lasts ~100 days, shed the fine shaft, and start growing an observable thicker shaft. That requires 4 to 6 months, regardless of the treatment. Furthermore, it is not true that frontal loss does not respond to minoxidil. What the literature says is that Rogaine is for growing hair at the vertex. That doesn't mean it won't promote hair growth in the frontal areas. It does, but it is not as effective as it is at the vertex. So, Upjohn did not include statistics for frontal hair growth to the FDA and the myth persists that topical minoxidil "does not grow hair in the front hairline area". Divineskin Paragraph: Aminexil is the only other clinically proven medication that has been shown to be effective in the treatment of hair loss. Research at L'Oreal laboratories has discovered that hair loss in men and women is linked to the accelerated aging of the roots characterized by the stiffening of hair roots. This causes the roots to become rigid and compresses the blood vessels that nourish and stimulate them. The roots weaken, and the hair falls out prematurely (alopecia). In men, the stiffening of roots gradually spreads; the roots produce hair that is increasingly fine and has an ever shorter life span. Aminexil is a genuine anti-hair loss innovation and fights against the stiffening of hair roots, closely linked to their premature aging. Thus, Aminexil preserves the vital functions of the roots and helps to reduce hair loss. Aminexil is protected by an international patent and guarantees effectiveness verified by dermatologists. Dr. Lee Comments: As convincing as it may sound, aging is not the pathogenesis of MPB. I assume this paragraph is referring to hair follicles when it uses the term "roots". There is no scientific term that is called "stiffening of hair roots and as I explained above poor circulation is not the cause of MPB. Blood vessels are not "compressed" by "hair roots". Divineskin Paragraph: Through extensive research and testing, dermatologists found that coupling retinol (a vitamin-A derived substance) with Minoxidil produced dramatically better results than just using Minoxidil alone. Retinol helps control the proper functioning of the sebaceous glands. The sebaceous glands produce sebum on the scalp. Sebum contains DHT (DHT which is produced from testosterone is the androgen thought to be most responsible for male pattern baldness) which is then reabsorbed into the hair follicles to do further damage. Proper moderation of the sebaceous glands and their production of sebum can help control skin scalp DHT levels and when combined with Minoxidil further helps prevent androgen related hair loss. Dr. Lee Comments: This paragraph mistakenly blames DHT from sebum as a cause of hair loss. DHT is found in the sebum in a high concentration because DHT is soluble in fatty solutions. Sebum production is under the control of androgens, of which the most active is DHT. So, MPB, which is also initiated by DHT, occurs in the areas of the scalp where there is also increased sebum production, but it's not the sebum or DHT from sebum that causes the hair loss. The sebaceous glands are superficial to the hair follicles. Divineskin Paragraph: The Vitamin Complex is rich in Biotin and Mineral Salts and provides energy and accelerates the metabolism of the hair follicle. Physical and emotional stresses contribute to hair loss by causing hormonal disturbances as well as a lack of vitamins and mineral salts. In this state, the entire metabolism speeds up, activating the production of hormones which stimulate the sebaceous glands, causing a build up of grease on the scalp which "suffocates" the roots, weakening the hair and causing it to fall out. These factors can be the cause of hair loss and can significantly accelerate hereditary hair loss. Spectral DNC?® targets this problem with a unique vitamin complex from the finest raw ingredients. Dr. Lee Comments: The idea that suffocated roots or plugged hair follicles cause hair loss is a long held myth perpetuated by the many companies exploiting hair loss myths in order to sell bogus hair products. The hair follicle is deep in the dermis of the scalp. Not even scrub brushes and abrasive cleansers will 'clean out the hair follicles'. So, if any company is claiming that their product unplugs follicles, you can be assured that the claims for the product are fraudulent. It's more likely that they're implying that their product will clear the opening on to the skin through which the hair shaft grows. Which is fine, but what they don't tell you is that the follicles don't get obstructed and that 'plugged pores', whatever they define that to be, has nothing to do with MPB. In regards to the 'dirty scalp theory' of MPB, there is no credible rationale to it at all. If this 'theory' had any credibility, you would expect a decreasing incidence of MPB in today's population as compared to past centuries, since it has become routine for many people to bathe/shampoo on a daily basis as compared to earlier times, when bathing would be a weekly or even a monthly event. But, there is no evidence to suggest that the incidence of MPB is declining despite the fact that we are 'unplugging our pores'. Divineskin Paragraph: Ivy, Hops and Capsicum Herbal Extracts penetrate deep into the scalp next to the roots, speeding up the circulation and the nutrition of the affected tissues, recovering the weakened hair strands. This formula promotes better circulation to the scalp, addresses damaging free radicals with potent antioxidants, helps to block DHT and fights harmful bacteria. This dramatically boosts the effectiveness of Minoxidil and Aminexil SP94 and promotes hair that is healthy and strong. Dr. Lee Comments: There is no scientific evidence that any herbal mixture reverses hair loss, and I don't think these herbal remedies are worth trying. As for 'any herb or natural product for MPB', we have a Catch-22 situation. In fact, there may be some very beneficial herbs and natural products. You may obtain useful information at www.NaturalDatabase.com. However, these 'herbs and natural products' are never prescribed in Western academic medicine, because they have never been tested or approved by the FDA. It costs in the hundreds of millions of dollars to obtain an FDA approval for a new drug. The FDA will not grant an exclusive patent for 'herbs and natural products'. The pharmaceutical company cannot recapture the cost of its research and development. As a result, we have no well-designed studies to prove the value of or to establish the optimal doses for "any herb or natural product for MPB". Richard Lee, M.D."""

Just curious, Robert, but have you ever just tried it once daily? To me, your application may serve as maintaining what you got, but I have doubts as to whether it could provide regrowth....just seems like a megadose to me.... I question whether or not you would even notice a difference if you stopped with the 2x daily.. anyway, Ill post what Dr lee has to say when he responds to my email....he is usually pretty fast at doing so....

I hope that this post isnt breakin the forum rules, but I was on hairlosshelp and pasted the below...... " super nice Minoxidil solution you may wish to try is Spectral DNC. It's been on the market for about 6 months or so. It's 5% Minoxidil, plus a variety of other ingredients, with very low PG and alcohol content. The stuff is super clean, dries in 10 minutes or so, and leaves your hair looking like you used nothing whatsover after application. If anything, you hair looks a bit better. The manufacturers website is www.divineskin.com and good place to purchase is www.skin-etc.com. Also, I've read good reports about Lipoxidil's NanSal Minoxidil solution, althrough I've never tried it, www.lipoxidil.com " I called them, and spoke at lenght with the rep.....the interesting thing to me is that it provides a cosmetic ADVANTAGE when applied, as opposed to the greasy feel of standard minox. I currently use 5% minox in the am, and 15% xzndron in pm (both from dr lee)....but I am considering a switch.....anyone have any experience or comments.... Also, the rep told me that the stronger solutio....15%, basically had no advantage....Im still a little unclear on this, but... I'm gonna email Dr. Lee with a link to the page and ask him about the product and also about the advantage of 15% vs. 5 %...Ill post the results... I know youre not supposed to post links, but I dont know of any other way to reference the product and to have anyone access/reasearch.... Let me know what you think Thanx

I hope that this post isnt breakin the forum rules, but I was on hairlosshelp and pasted the below...... " super nice Minoxidil solution you may wish to try is Spectral DNC. It's been on the market for about 6 months or so. It's 5% Minoxidil, plus a variety of other ingredients, with very low PG and alcohol content. The stuff is super clean, dries in 10 minutes or so, and leaves your hair looking like you used nothing whatsover after application. If anything, you hair looks a bit better. The manufacturers website is www.divineskin.com and good place to purchase is www.skin-etc.com. Also, I've read good reports about Lipoxidil's NanSal Minoxidil solution, althrough I've never tried it, www.lipoxidil.com " I called them, and spoke at lenght with the rep.....the interesting thing to me is that it provides a cosmetic ADVANTAGE when applied, as opposed to the greasy feel of standard minox. I currently use 5% minox in the am, and 15% xzndron in pm (both from dr lee)....but I am considering a switch.....anyone have any experience or comments.... Also, the rep told me that the stronger solutio....15%, basically had no advantage....Im still a little unclear on this, but... I'm gonna email Dr. Lee with a link to the page and ask him about the product and also about the advantage of 15% vs. 5 %...Ill post the results... I know youre not supposed to post links, but I dont know of any other way to reference the product and to have anyone access/reasearch.... Let me know what you think Thanx

anyone have success combatting dry hair....and if so, what did you use? thanks guys....

anyone have success combatting dry hair....and if so, what did you use? thanks guys....

where is the pic?

Might just be me, but I think you spoke out of turn there B, and spoke for everyone at that.... Noone wants to see results like that....And Embarassed deserves to be, IMHO, compensated AND repaired..... That docs a$$ is on the block, I say let those involved handle it.... Yes, we as potential patients have a right to see how it all unfolds and make our judgements accordingly, and also to assist Embarassed if he asks, but ultimately, I think it should be between them. Kinda put Pat on the spot there too, didnt ya?

I was lookin at my dad today and noticed how thin his donor area is. I currently use 15%minox, 5% minox am/pm and am thinkin about adding spiro soon..... anyway, does anyone know if treatment topically to the areas which are resistant to MPB will help to stop the thinning process that occurs in all of us over time? In other words, should one treat the donor area with topicals?

I was lookin at my dad today and noticed how thin his donor area is. I currently use 15%minox, 5% minox am/pm and am thinkin about adding spiro soon..... anyway, does anyone know if treatment topically to the areas which are resistant to MPB will help to stop the thinning process that occurs in all of us over time? In other words, should one treat the donor area with topicals?

that was pasted from the site by the way

I was considering Propecia myself....I'm 36. I did some reasearch and actually went to an endocrinologist, who advised me not to take it..Which in itself, is no big deal, cause one isnt supposed to drink and smoke etc... One of the side effects listed was gynecomastia....bitch tits....I dont want any of that, nore a limp d@$k!! I copied and pasted this from a discussion forum on gynecomastia..... As an aside, I dont care either way who takes propecia or not....and if you do, I ope that you dont get any side effects. But I do know that it is a life commitment, so for a man 20 yuears old, that is potentially 60 years of hormone interference as your body progresses through changes with age. I welcome comments....I would LOVE to reap the rewards of Propecia, but to me, the risk is greater. PASTED BELOW: propecia contains Finasteride. Finasteride lowers the potent male hormone dihydrotestosterone. Dihydrotestosterone is required for erections and libido. So as you can imagine that isn't good Hypogonadism is termed as a deficiency of testosterone and/or its metabolites. Dihydrotestosterone is a metabolite of testosterone. In other words Finasteride can and does cause hypogonadism. Finasteride is used as a treatment for prostate cancer. to chemically castrate men- instead of physical castration. I know of a number of men who have developed hypogonadim as a result of taking propecia. According to Eurgene Shippen one of the worlds leading authorities on hypogonadism and male hormones- propecia and other drugs containing small amounts of Finasteride can in a minority of men cause a form of hypogonadism that is very difficult to treat. Here is one such person who has ended up with hypogonadism as a result of the use of propecia (story is on the testosterone deficiency Centre); http://www.androids.org.uk/stories.html Here is his website and a link to other men who have suffered as a consequence of using finasteride based products; See the affects of propecia below http://www.propeciasideeffects.com/ and view the comments of one top hormone doctor here http://www.gynecomastia.org/cgi-bin/gyne_yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=1;action=di splay;num=1139738214 P.S Do not touch propecia or any product containing finasteride with a barge pole- avoid like the plague and use at your peril. Holy freakin' sh*t!!! And to think propecia is marketed for hair loss in male pattern baldness....with those side efffects....