arfy

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>My question: If I decide to hold off on persuing a hair transplant, should I start using propecia? From what I understood it is effective at slowing down the rate of hair loss. If I decide to get a hair transplant in the future, would propecia be a good preventive treatment now...(?) YES. Like you said, Propecia is best at preventing hair loss. It is not as good at regrowing hair (although it can regrow some, in some guys). Whether you get a transplant or not, it is crucial to prevent further hair loss. If you do decide to go the transplant route, you will be better off if you are not totally bald, because almost nobody has enough donor hair to cover their whole head. So maintain as much hair as you can. You might consider using Minoxidil as well, supposedly they work well together, but definitely try Propecia, and try to give it 6 months minimum. Try taking some photos, then comparing your results in 6 months or a year from now. Propecia doesn't work for every single guy, but the odds are pretty good you can at least slow down your hair loss dramatically, if not actually reverse it. As far as hair transplants, there are other places to go that are much better than MHR. Keep reading and researching.

Sometimes there is a "delayed" negative effect, for some guys. For example, the guy who just wants to touch up his hairline. 20 years from now, his transplanted hairline could look weird, incorrect for his age. This is just one example. It's important to think ahead, FAR ahead, because this surgery will impact you for the rest of your life.

It mostly thickens the wallet of Dr. Martin Unger. Plus, it combs your hair.

Shock loss can occur in other areas besides where the transplanted grafts were placed... anywhere there is hair "at risk". Propecia is a good idea, but don't wait until you start shedding to use it. You should be using it all along for prevention, as soon as you noticed a hair loss problem in the first place. There is also some information about Minoxidil helping with transplants, preventing shock fallout, helping improve your results in general. The suggestion is to start it several months before your surgery. Of course you would stop using it immediately before your surgery, and for a few weeks while you heal, and then resume using it. Read this, and if interested discuss with your doctor, especially if you have a surgery coming up: http://www.ishrs.org/sciarticle-Minoxidil.html

It's basically impossible to split the Proscar tablet evenly, so you can't get an exact dose on a daily basis. However, a "weekly" dosage will still be the same, and that seems to be what counts... the "long term" usage. Finasteride stays in your system long enough that small fluctuations in dosage shouldn't matter, missing a day will not be a terrible problem (although try not to skip) etc. Dividing the tablets is a small hassle but it is worth it for many guys like me, where money is an issue. If I lived in a household with females present, I would think twice about using Proscar, as you should try to eliminate the possibility that a pregnant female would be exposed to the drug. Splitting the tablets does create a small amount of powder residue. As far as I know, you can expect the same results from Proscar and Propecia, although it is impossible to divide Proscar 5 ways. So most guys who use Proscar are getting roughly 1.25mg dosage each day, slightly more than what you get with Propecia. I don't know if that is enough to make any kind of difference, I doubt it though.

Beware of guys who urge you to "do it!" and to "take control of your hair loss!"

He might not want a linear donor scar from a strip excision. I think that is reasonable.

Propecia (Finasteride) has the best track record so far. According to the tests, 86% of users stopped or dramatically slowed their hair loss. Something like 60% regrew some hair. Side effects were seen in something like 2% of users. I just learned that Tagamet has a higher incidence of sexual side effects than Propecia does. I think the side effects issue has scared guys away unneccessarily. After 5 years, guys on Propecia had maintained their progress: http://www.ishrs.org/sciarticle.html Nothing else on the market has these success rates. Of course, not every guy responds, and a few guys will get side effects. Whether you think the risks are worth the potential rewards, is a personal decision you need to make.

Good question. I wish he was recommended.

Start by doing online consultations... send them your pics, and follow up with phone calls. Use that to narrow the field. You are going to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a hair transplant, and it's going to last you your entire life. Spending a couple hundred bucks on airfare for a consultation is insignificant.

You should plan your surgery with the expectation you will become totally bald. That way, if it does happen, you didn't get screwed by having cosmetic surgery. That's why hairline touch-ups are a bad idea. If the guy does keep losing hair, he's in big trouble. If you truly need a transplant in the first place, odds are very high you are destined for total baldness. I stand by my statement, a hair transplant is really for bald guys to "get a little something on a bare scalp".

"A nice guy, a good job, a low profile clinic, none of this will cut it. You must demand the top of the line or not proceed in my opinion". EXACTLY! Don't bother with "pretty good", because those hair transplants are usually still detectable. What's the point of spending thousands of dollars on a cosmetic surgery that everyone can spot? "If he says he uses 'magnification' you need to ask how? Does he really use microscopes?" YES! Microscopes, not 'magnifying loops'. Also, seeing lots of photos is okay, but it is much better to see patients in person. Preferrably guys who had a similar amount of hair loss as you, similar hair quality etc. Not just one or two guys who work in the office, either.

It's not too late to get on Proscar, although it would have been far better to have been using it all along. I would do it, if you still have any natural hair you can save. Even if you don't, it might help maintain the "temple points" (in front of your ears). The temple points help make your transplant look better. When somebody still has a hairline, but no temple points left, it is a sure sign of a transplant or a hairpiece.

You look like a 2 to me, although the Norwood scale certainly isn't perfect. http://www.hairtransplantnetwork.com/Online_Consult/index.asp Honestly, I would KILL to have hair like yours, and I would not go for a transplant at this time if I were you. Try to maintain with Propecia, and maybe Minoxidil if you want. Are you doing that? Have you stopped the progression? You still have good density in the frontal forelock, and it has only receded in the temples. Personally, I think your hair looks great, and the only reason a guy like you would get a transplant is because you are shooting for "perfection"... DON'T DO IT. Hair transplants are for bald guys to get a little bit of coverage on their bare scalps, they should not be used to try to make a good head of hair "perfect". You can always get surgical later on down the road. You are not bald enough yet. If I were you I would WAIT, use preventative meds like Propecia, and hopefully you will never actually need a transplant.

That's not a bad "problem" to have. You weren't bitten by a radioactive spider, by any chance?

I think it is because of the glut of TV infomercials for crappy clinics that make it sound like a hair transplant is the right decision for everyone. I was watching the new MHR commercial, and they said 90% of guys are good candidates, and the average guy only needs one procedure. That is UTTER BULLSH*T. Ryan, when a guy gets a good transplant, it will give him a mature and recessed hairline. I'm willing to bet a good transplanted hairline would be MORE mature and MORE recessed than the hairline you currently have right now. The only way to "improve" on what you have would be to lower your hairline with grafts, which would be a MISTAKE. Look at Pat's story on the home page here. Look at his hairline, mature and recessed. If you lower your hairline to "high school" level, you will be setting yourself up for disaster. It will look bizarre when you get older. As your hair continues to thin, you will have drawn a "transplanted line in the sand" that is too low, and will be impossible to fill in adequately. It is partly an issue of being too young, because a guy in his twenties usually won't settle for a hairline that looks good on a 40 or 50 year old guy (look at Pat's hairline for reference). The other issue is that you really need to be pretty bald, in order to really benefit from a surgery. The typical estimate is "Norwood 3 and up", and I might go as far as saying "Norwood4 and up". You sound like a Norwood2 at most. If you really need to see someone, go see Dr. Bernstein in New York. He will probably turn you down for surgery though. Why... because he doesn't want to make any money? Of course not!!! Dr. Bernstein wants as much business as possible, just like every other doctor out there. But through experience, people have learned that some guys make good surgical candidates and some guys do not. You are not currently a good candidate, you are not bald enough yet. What a bummer, no surgery for you, huh! Stay on Propecia, there is a very good chance that it will allow you stay at your current levels for a long time, if not actually reverse things a little. Propecia works best at prevention, and it can sometimes reverse things if the hair loss is "recent". So your odds on Propecia are excellent. Nobody is saying you can "never" get a transplant, just that now is not the right time. You will be far better off by saving the hair you still have, and if you are lucky you will NEVER get to the point where you need a hair transplant. Good luck.

Paul80 You will certainly be able to find a doctor who is willing to take your money. Does that make it the "right decision"? You can find a doctor who will give you breasts, too. YOU ARE NOT BALD ENOUGH YET FOR A HAIR TRANSPLANT, as Dr. Bernstein told you. That must be a terrible dissapointment! Get the cobwebs off your brain and start listening and learning. Your hair transplant might look great for a few years. 5 years from now you might be in a terrible mess, because you wouldn't listen. Your insecurity is going to make an ass of you. I expect to read more posts from you in the future... "I wouldn't listen.. Now what do I do?" I hope it is a learning experience. Smart people try to learn BEFORE they drive off a cliff, but to each his own I guess. Good luck.

Sure, the technology has advanced. But what about their ethics and morals? How about their skill and common sense? Their "artistic ability"? Their honesty (or lack of honesty) with the patients? Do you think someone's ethics and morals can suddenly change, just because the surgical technique has changed?

This is getting off-topic... Look, lots of girls worry about their weight, want to look skinny etc. However, only a certain percentage will resort to sticking their fingers down their throat after they eat, to make themselves vomit up a meal. And an even smaller percentage will do that relentlessly, even when they weigh 90 pounds. That's the difference between "Body Dysmorphic Disorder" and wanting to look thin. Maybe you guys don't realize it, but people who complain about sh*tty looking transplants, or overly-large donor scars, are sometimes accused of exaggerating their concerns. Many of you have lucked out and gone to quality surgeons, however there are other guys who have gotten poor results. When they complain, the clinic tries to tell them "You look fine! It's all in your head!" That's what this thread is about.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> It has only been in Canada now for 4 years or so. It boasts some pretty amazing results. Not true, this type of thing has been around since the early 90s at least. I think it is a bunch of bullsh*t, very expensive BS at that. It's a total scam in my opinion. Propecia stops hair loss in over 80% of the guys who use it. Propecia is 1mg Finasteride, and Proscar is 5mg Finasteride. Some guys buy Proscar and split the tablets, to save money. Side effects are something like 2% of users of Propecia. I think those are odds worth trying, since the side effects are transitory. I think you should discuss this with a dermatologist, and not the shady clinic you have been going to. Here's one piece of proof that this clinic is totally full of sh*t: they claim you can use "ETG" for a year, then they will "ween you off it". BALONEY. You think there is such a thing as a "permanent treatment" for hair loss, that you do NOT have to continue? That you can just do a treatment for a little while, and it will "cure" you? Keep dreaming!!!

If you truly look better and nobody has noticed, THANK GOD. You came out on top! I can't think of a better measure of success, than "nobody notices", especially if you are happy with the outcome. Of course, maybe people are just respecting your privacy, which is still a whole lot better than staring, pointing, and asking "what happened to YOU?"

Avoid any of these doctors at PHTC also known as Cleveland Hair Clinic in Rosemont Illinois: http://www.chicagobody.com/hair/staff/ These doctors are part of a "hair mill" where the patient is hustled through, the same way McDonalds' makes hamburgers. Also, don't go to any clinic that advertises on TV, for the same reasons.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>the more hair the patient keeps in the donor area the more transplants they can do on them - so the more money they make. The donor hair is supposed to be "permanent" so Propecia will not be a factor on those hairs. Your analogy has it backwards... the BALDER a patient gets, the more money a hair transplant doctor can make on transplanting grafts. In fact when Propecia first came out, HT doctors mostly said it wouldn't work. But the evidence was overwhelming that it does work, it just doesn't work for every single guy. Plus doctors realized that the more hair a patient could retain with Propecia, the better his transplant would look. And good-looking transplants are good for business.

There was a comment about Body Dysmorphic Disorder in another thread, and someone asked what it was. Body Dysmorphic Disorder is why a girl might become anorexic, for example. Her ribs might be protruding, she might look skeletal, but when she looks at herself in the mirror she sees "fatness". Here's a few clues about "Body Dysmorphic Disorder" as it pertains to the world of commercial hair transplantation, though. You will notice that whenever a hair transplant patient gets accused of having "BDD", they are always told that's their problem AFTER a doctor has taken their money and performed a surgery, and not BEFORE getting TURNED DOWN for a surgery. Hmmm...I wonder why THAT is? Why couldn't the clinic make that diagnosis BEFORE they performed their unsatisfactory surgery? Why do these hair transplant patients who supposedly have "Body Dysmorphic Disorder" suddenly develop this problem out of the clear blue sky, only AFTER spending thousands of dollars on an unsatisfactory hair transplant? Could it be a bit of fast-talking psychological mumbo-jumbo used as a "smoke screen" to try to get the patient to shift the blame off of the consultant at the clinic, or the doctor who did the surgery, and place the blame for bad results on the patient himself? A similar line of bullsh*t used as a smokescreen is that the patient has "unrealistic expectations". Maybe it was "unrealistic" for the patient to "expect" that his results wouldn't look "crappy"??? By saying the patient has "unrealistic expectations", the clinic tries to shift the blame for the unhappiness off of their own shoulders, and back onto the patient's shoulders. It's a little bit of psychological trickery that is sometimes needed to "complete the con", often seen at clinics that specialize in high volume instead of high quality. I suspect the "body dysmorphic disorder" line is a modern twist on that old trick. If you look in the mirror and see plugginess or an unnatural hair line, it is because your clinic did a poor job with your surgery. It is not because you are delusional. It is not unrealistic to expect a non-pluggy natural looking result. If you still get told you have "unrealistic expectations", ask your clinic or your consultant WHO exactly was responsible for creating those false expectations in the first place? Who was negligent in dispelling false expectations? Who was supposed to educate the patient on all of the realities of hair transplantation, and FAILED to fulfill their responsibility? I would like to propose there is a psychological disorder seen in commercial hair transplant professionals, usually manifesting only when the patient is unhappy with their hair transplant: "Don't Blame Me" syndrome, also known as "Your Fault" disorder. It is characterized by rapid "shirking" motions, averting the eyes, fast talking, and spontaneous blame-shifting. [This message was edited by arfy on December 28, 2002 at 09:17 PM.]

There was a comment about Body Dysmorphic Disorder in another thread, and someone asked what it was. Body Dysmorphic Disorder is why a girl might become anorexic, for example. Her ribs might be protruding, she might look skeletal, but when she looks at herself in the mirror she sees "fatness". Here's a few clues about "Body Dysmorphic Disorder" as it pertains to the world of commercial hair transplantation, though. You will notice that whenever a hair transplant patient gets accused of having "BDD", they are always told that's their problem AFTER a doctor has taken their money and performed a surgery, and not BEFORE getting TURNED DOWN for a surgery. Hmmm...I wonder why THAT is? Why couldn't the clinic make that diagnosis BEFORE they performed their unsatisfactory surgery? Why do these hair transplant patients who supposedly have "Body Dysmorphic Disorder" suddenly develop this problem out of the clear blue sky, only AFTER spending thousands of dollars on an unsatisfactory hair transplant? Could it be a bit of fast-talking psychological mumbo-jumbo used as a "smoke screen" to try to get the patient to shift the blame off of the consultant at the clinic, or the doctor who did the surgery, and place the blame for bad results on the patient himself? A similar line of bullsh*t used as a smokescreen is that the patient has "unrealistic expectations". Maybe it was "unrealistic" for the patient to "expect" that his results wouldn't look "crappy"??? By saying the patient has "unrealistic expectations", the clinic tries to shift the blame for the unhappiness off of their own shoulders, and back onto the patient's shoulders. It's a little bit of psychological trickery that is sometimes needed to "complete the con", often seen at clinics that specialize in high volume instead of high quality. I suspect the "body dysmorphic disorder" line is a modern twist on that old trick. If you look in the mirror and see plugginess or an unnatural hair line, it is because your clinic did a poor job with your surgery. It is not because you are delusional. It is not unrealistic to expect a non-pluggy natural looking result. If you still get told you have "unrealistic expectations", ask your clinic or your consultant WHO exactly was responsible for creating those false expectations in the first place? Who was negligent in dispelling false expectations? Who was supposed to educate the patient on all of the realities of hair transplantation, and FAILED to fulfill their responsibility? I would like to propose there is a psychological disorder seen in commercial hair transplant professionals, usually manifesting only when the patient is unhappy with their hair transplant: "Don't Blame Me" syndrome, also known as "Your Fault" disorder. It is characterized by rapid "shirking" motions, averting the eyes, fast talking, and spontaneous blame-shifting. [This message was edited by arfy on December 28, 2002 at 09:17 PM.]