dhuge67

I have my physical and fitness test next week and if I pass both of those (which I should easily), then next Summer I'll be in Quantico, Virginia for the Marines PLC program. If I get through that, I will return to PSU for my senior year and graduate as a second lieutenant and then go to TBS (officer school) for 6 months. I'm pretty excited about it. Ironically, I'll have to shave my head for a while. The only thing i'm a little bit concerned about (hair-wise) is not being able to take Propecia while I'm at PLC next Summer... In any case...I'm excited about this opportunity.

You're about my age (I'm 21) but considerably further along in the balding process. I'd say that you'd want to start near the mid-to crown area going for maximum coverage. I'd check out Hasson & Wong if I were you and see about getting a mega session of 3,000+ follicular units. At your point, I wouldn't even mess with Propecia, but I'm not sure what others will say about that. You are a Norwood-6 or 7 and I'd definitely say that H&W have the best record with those types. Get as much done per session as you can, with an open playing field like that - it'd be ridiculous to cut your head for anything less than 3,000 grafts (if you could get 5,000 at once that'd be awesome), I think.

At least you can hardly detect the scar on a very short buzz cut. I need to do a better job of shaving that shit! For my second procedure, I want to focus on the highlighted area: BTW, I just got through a ridiculous shed. Hopefully it was the Propecia kicking in at 6.5 months...

At least you can hardly detect the scar on a very short buzz cut. I need to do a better job of shaving that shit! For my second procedure, I want to focus on the highlighted area: BTW, I just got through a ridiculous shed. Hopefully it was the Propecia kicking in at 6.5 months...

You and I have kind of been Dr. Zorba'd. haha jk It's not too bad but it will give you an idea of how low-density the standard follicular unit transplantation can be. You and I both had Pistone do our first transplants and while I don't think it's bad work, it just wont be dense - which is why I am shaving my head down to a #3 (on a beard trimmer) until I get another procedure. I had about 100 more FU's over the same area and I'm definitely not happy with the "dusting" of hair that covers that area. I'll need about the same amount over the same area, again, to achieve my desired density. I'm gonna wait another 5 months and then I'll get evaluated by someone like Dr. Feller and then see what's what. All in all, you'll be better off in a year than you are currently (I know I'm already less bald looking, for sure). Just get ultra refined results next time - it's what I'm looking to do.

how do you know it's nto bad? What happened to just eating very good and not taking chances with more of this hormone, or less of that? You're playing with your body and future here! I rather trust mother nature than some company trying to make a fortune selling hormones. You might be right about that...however, mother nature also says that 60% of men have gyno...

Well that sorta rocks the boat! Although, as you do more research, anyone would realize that more testosterone is not always better. It could very well lead to more estrogen (higher bodily levels) through a process called aromatization. "Estrogen can cause an increase in body fat, a reduction of muscle mass, and even a decrease in strength, not to mention making you want to cry at the end of every episode of Grey's Anatomy. It can even cause one of the most embarrassing conditions known to man: gynecomastia, or male breasts." You can take anti-estrogen and testosterone support supplements, namely ones that contain resveratrol (found in Wine, grapes). I don't see how THAT could be a bad thing...

So then a product like this ( http://www.t-nation.com/readTopic.do?id=1054351 ) would be okay to take simultaneously with Propecia?

Okay, but how does that make sense? I think it might be mental, with Creatine, more than anything. If you read posts from people at t-nation.com you'll find them saying how "laughable" it is that creatine could cause or accelerate hair loss. Seems ridiculous to me too, since it is not working on a hormonal level.

Well then I obviously won't touch the stuff. Thanks for clearing it up. What about Creatine? It seems people in the bodybuilding community see it as very safe and claim that it has no effect on MPB. Is this true, also?

Could we get a doctor to shed some light on this?

So opinions seem pretty mixed. But, if working out raises t-levels but does not effect hair loss, then t-boosters would not be harmful or counteract Propecia, it would seem... I don't know if I should chance it...

And lifting weights also raises t-levels - which means that working out is also counteractive to Propecia? Jesus... Working out is a big deal to me:

In other words, it would lower the effectiveness of Propecia?

NO2 is proven to do ABSOLUTELY nothing. It's a placebo effect, if anything, and at most - it stimulates a release of insulin. It does not raise blood-NO2 levels. Check out t-nation's article about it.

Can you be taking both at once? Is there an issue with elevated testosterone levels and the effectiveness of Propecia? I really hope that I can use both, because I know that both drugs are very safe on their own but i'm not sure what happens when combined. Thanks

Sounds like a plan. I'm not rushing back. I'll definitely wait a year at least. My next procedure is either going to be FUE in the hairline or another strip for larger surface area coverage (I'm thinking from the halfway point on my head - a bit in front of the midscalp - and forward to the hairline). Then, I'd have maybe one strip left in me and if I go that route, I'd probably be conceding my crown if/when it would thin/fall out. I think my options are becoming more clear. 1) Have pretty good hair now until maybe my 30's and then have a bald crown from there on out in hopes that maybe someday there are better advances in restoration. 2) A more wait and see approach with FUE now in the hairline to conserve strips for further down the road.

I shaved down tonight...this will show you what I am thinking about FUEing. Then Now This image also makes me think...Propecia may be working.

First of all, posts here may make me look obsessed or overly concerned about my hair. However, this is a forum dedicated to such a thing, so I pour out my "hair-feelings" here and really never think about it or talk to anyone about it except for my own parents. I'm a college student, I work for a large computer company as a campus rep, and I'm training to become a Marine Corps Officer...so back off (L'Anonyme) about the "unhealthy obsession" thing, please. I'm just trying to figure out what to do and asking the people who might know.

Also.... 1) How is recovery compared to FUT? 2) Does it hurt? Is it comparable or much less of an ordeal than FUT? 3) What would it cost to get about 1,000 follicular units with an FUE procedure? Thanks

Since I may be doing a "micro session" in 6 months time to fill in my hairline, I've been thinking that FUE would be the better way to go, so as not to waste scalp laxity/area with a strip procedure for maybe 800 units or so... Would Dr. Feller be a good option for this? What doctors in the north east could do this well? Geography is a limiting variable for me, as money is an issue (since I'm 21 and in college, etc). Thanks for the comments, in advance!

It's cool - I've just seen some big differences in people's results from month 6 to month 12.

Thanks Joe - will do.

Troy, you've made some encouraging and welcomed comments but you do like to pound the drum on the whole "not much changes after 4 months" thing. From the looks of most other people's transplants, there are huge differences from 6-12-14 months.

Okay, 6 months post-op today. I'm having some shedding, I think it is...oddly enough. Maybe just more hair loss, I don't know. It's itchy up there and some stuff is falling - not huge numbers but definitely more than usual. I'm using Nizoral 1%, daily Propecia, and MSM...I wonder what's going on?