SERIOUS

If you have too many pimples on recipient side, or some scalp conditions, the transplant session could be cancelled / postponed. It happened before, though it is a rare occurrence, and this is sometimes even written in the pre-operative instructions of some clinics. Good question...

By the way, thanks blondie for your posts, I appreciate this logic based on facts. TC17, I would give it at least a year before assessing, finasteride takes time, like a HT... also, the synergy between finasteride and minoxidil could be interesting in your case if you still experience thinning. Follicle Girl, thanks for sharing a bit of your 19 years of experience in the field.

I can talk about my experience with it. I have been on finasteride (propecia / proscar) and Minoxidil (generic version of rogaine) for 7 years, and I'm happy with it and have good results (hair count maintenance and some regrowth). I simply use it like I would brush my teeth... part of an easy daily routine. I just wish I started earlier and saved an enormous amount of time, energy, and a whole lot of money not trying to fix the problem later. While side effects happen statistically for a minority of people only, and mostly at the onset of the treatment before subsiding, I am part of that minority and experienced them at the beginning of the propecia treatment in the form of chest pain. I managed to keep side effects away by stopping treatment for a week or two when they appeared, and then gradually coming back on propecia over a few weeks. At this point they only mildly surface once every two years or so, which means I have zero side effects except on "very rare occasions". As a matter of fact, I experienced very mild chest pain just a few weeks ago (when I took a break from omega 3's / fish oil, which may have some positive effects on hormonal balance according to recent studies). I just stopped propecia for a week to flush it out of my system, before starting again gradually, and everything seems to return to normal as usually happened in the past. My biggest advice beside researching more, would be to base your final decisions ONLY on "facts"... rather than "fear" spread by uninformed or confused people... If you need info / help I'm always available through PM dude! Best of luck

Don't worry Yomommyz, it's normal None of what you mentioned (sports, shampoo, etc) will cause you to lose hair Yomommyz. Male pattern baldness (if it's what you experience) is genetic and can be indeed slowed (or even stopped) with some treatments if you are a good responder to these treatments. But I do think you need to research more on the subject (you are on a good site for this) and see a doctor or a dermatologist (to make sure you officially have MPB) before you make any decisions about what to do with your condition. You are not alone my friend. I have been on hair loss sites since almost the beginning of internet and have seen such extreme cases as severe depression, and even suicide attempts (I hope none succeeded) that were triggered by how hair loss affected these individuals. While it's clear that you are not affected to such an extreme... I know that we cannot always understand how the simple fact of losing hair can sometimes be devastating for some people and change a whole existence. While some people just don't care about it, shave their head and move on quickly... others can be affected to the point they feel like they lose everything. Therefore, I learned that there is a HUGE responsibility when it comes to talk about hair loss and its solutions, and learned to respect these differences of reactions to hair loss. The important thing for you to know at this point is to be aware that there is "hope" in the form of treatments (and cosmetic surgeries), but that none comes without the possibility of side effects (or complications), as small of a percentage they sometimes can be.

So I asked for cheese, and you serve me an old smelly camembert... fine swim. Now in retrospect, since you "conveniently" changed your version in every single post and improvised your way through this thread (absolutely amazes me, just re-read yourself, it's scary) and avoided simple questions in every possible way, as well as just flashed some random links out of google that you could not even explain when asked for, I just can't help but arrive to the conclusion that your credibility in this matter is very low, and that your hidden purpose in this thread was just to provoke and awkwardly try to find answers to questions you still have on this matter. That's all fine... that being said, next time please try to do it in a less confusing way, and with more objectivity maybe? Objectivity, or the art of looking in many directions to get a broader perspective of a matter, can lead to much more interesting and constructive interactions. No resentment whatsoever swim, and sincerely all the best. Now swim... since you avoided every single questions I asked, can you please answer this very simple one by a very simple yes or no? Are you, or did you ever used the name john36 ? Yes? or no? Thanks

Thanks for quoting me out of the original context swim... But I would not retract a single word.

C'mon swim... make an effort... you can't just disappear behind a wall of mixed-up links that you can't even explain when you're asked for... Go ahead and explain it all to us. No links, just cheese. Also, you still didn't answer a simple question that Bill asked you. That makes 2 questions you failed to answer... hmmmmmm...

Swim36, Why don't you do just that? Before you hijack this thread even more...

I believe 100% inhibition is not possible, even with dutasteride. The genesis of medical treatment involves the use of naturally derived unprocessed chemicals to cause pharmacological effects. You're right on the money Mmhce, nice to hear from someone that can keep his cool and base his argument only on "facts". But I wish Dr. Lee could substantiate his claims with some practical "in vivo" proofs... but that's in my dreams

DHT (dihydrotestosterone) is not a gene at all. It's an active metabolite. ------------------------------------------- John, I mean Swim36, I mean Swim... please just re-read my previous post. It's all in there. I'm not trying to "prove" anything like you say. I don't have to... It's already proved, and the information is out there, accessible to all, and reviewed by scientific organizations. Your whole speech is based on the absence of DHT, when in reality DHT is still present all over your blood stream / organs / and body tissues, even AFTER finasteride has done its job. Yes it is lowered to various extents, but not absent at all. For instance, there is "more or less" 36-40% DHT still present in the scalp after finasteride is metabolized (in the scalp of a new patient), and though there is no study to corroborate this (and I doubt there will be any soon), this percentage of DHT presence in the scalp should gradually augment after a while, even with consistent finasteride use. Fortunately for us hair loss sufferers, finasteride is quite a safe drug, and it works for a "majority" of people. It's prescribed by 100% of top HT doctors I know, and most of them will hesitate or even refuse to perform surgery on certain people if they don't start finasteride PRIOR to surgery (I'm talking about people with a low to medium degree of hairloss, and to advanced diffuse thinning cases). But like with any treatments there is risks involved (as small as they can be) and I respect the fact that some people (including yourself) think that these risks are not worthy for them. From your logic, it seems that anything that inhibits something in your body is not designed by nature and should be therefore avoided. Most medications work by either inhibiting, augmenting, or transforming subtle components of our complex body structure. Even the food you eat inhibits, augments or transforms subtle components of your body structure. In that sense... what seems to be your logic, "completely fails to be logical".

Well spotted Bill

Hi Mo-Osaki, I'm a bit surprised, because as far as I know Dr. Armani was not performing Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) back in 2002. Or was he? Can you specify which method he used? And what you mean by "taking out grafts"? (was he using a scalpel to extract a strip, or a tool to extract individual follicular groups). How much were you charged for 800 grafts? Also, how long did the extraction of the hair last? (half an hour? half a day?) and how long did the whole procedure last? Finally, was the last name of that other doctor (that was taking out grafts as well, as you say) Rahal? Thanks Mo-Osaki (note: This is a double post, since Mo-Osaki posted the same message on 2 different threads).

Hi Mo-Osaki, I'm a bit surprised, because as far as I know Dr. Armani was not performing Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) back in 2002. Or was he? Can you specify which method he used? And what you mean by "taking out grafts"? (was he using a scalpel to extract a strip, or a tool to extract individual follicular groups). How much were you charged for 800 grafts? Also, how long did the extraction of the hair last? (half an hour? half a day?) and how long did the whole procedure last? Finally, was the last name of that other doctor (that was taking out grafts as well, as you say) Rahal? Thanks Mo-Osaki

Swim... 3 posts about me? Dude, you swim all over me. Stop that, you'll make me blush. By the way, finasteride doesn't "block" DHT as you say... Finasteride will selectively inhibit the type 2 isoenzyme of 5a-reductase only. It will not eliminate (or block) DHT at all, it will only reduce it to some extent, which varies from person to person, and varies with time, considering the tolerance effect we develop with any medication. So please at least get your facts straight before elaborating into semi-pop-science speeches. Did I recommend propecia to Joe in his situation? I did not. Didn't I say that every treatments have risks? (as small as sometimes they can be): I did. There is no perfect science. You have a heart condition? well you have some medications for it, and they also have risks... Are those risks worthy for you? You decide, not me. So go ahead, swallow your uncontrolled dose of saw palmetto, be a happy dude, walk in the street, and smile to people. No problem with that... There's always going to be people falling into fuzzy nebulous improvised conspiracy theories. And those that prefer to stick to facts and scrutinize every single evidences, while keeping an eye opened. I'm sure you're a cool guy swim... we just chose different camps.

I have a preference for Dr. Hasson, but I think both are at the height of the hair transplant industry at the moment. We can talk about hairlines and temples refinement preferences, or the fact they chose not to adopt what I call "the wall of hair" effect, also the fact they chose not to perform FUE yet, etc, etc, then they have some serious competition among a few top docs... But when it comes to 4000-5000 and more grafts AND high percentage of growth HT's, they have no competition. That's their niche. More grafts harvesting means higher chances of filling the crown. And they artistically fill these crowns like no others. They not only inspire people, they also inspire most HT doctors. I hate to look like a fan or a cheerleader in general, so I just express my conclusions after years of research and experiments.

Hey Nida and Larry, with all respect, 66 percent of people in the official propecia studies (reviewed by most worldwide health organizations including the FDA in the U.S.) had hair REGROWTH (that is two thirds (2/3) of the people, that means a whole lot of people). Here are the official numbers: In the clinical study of 535 men taking PROPECIA, 99% had visible results (growth or no further hair loss) after 2 years ? ? ? ? ? ??? 66% had visible re-growth of hair ? ? ? ? ? ??? 33% had no further hair loss ? ? ? ? ? ??? 1% had a visible decrease of hair On a longer term, after 5 years: 48% had hair re-growth (still HALF of people), plus 42% no further hair loss... Why are you spreading false information docs? Just need some internet exposure? On a minority of people... Enough said.

Swim: Hey swim, I think you're swimming a bit too far, as usual. The incidence of side effects that would "worsen" after stopping use must certainly be much below 0,1%. No official studies for these numbers, but since the official numbers for side effects "on" meds are around 2% (though debatable to a certain extent), trust me they should be "that" low for "worsening" after stopping. (who's going to want to pay for a study with such an incredibly low incidence anyway). So yes, he is pushing very far... Like I would be pushing very far to worry about making a woman that is sterile pregnant while using a double condom and her using a contraceptive pill.

Joe, you're pushing very far. The real percentage of such cases must be "extremely" low, but not completely impossible. There is a risk with any treatments. Also, the psychological response to a symptom should not be dismissed. As an example; someone experiences erectile dysfunction at the onset of a treatment (not uncommon), panics, and stops the drug. Then focus (or obsess) on the possibility of suffering from that symptom again, only to trigger a psychological version of that same symptom. Common occurrence... ask any sexologist. Sounds like you're developing a "mature hairline", and it's perfectly normal. The opposite would be abnormal, unless you're a woman. I would definitely wait, or maybe use a bit of minoxidil on the hairline if you "really" want to use something (Minoxidil should be less of a focus point for your OCD). My reasoning is that the positive effect of a medication should "at least" be superior to the negative effect, whether this negative effect is real or imaginary. In that sense, I don't think you're ready to embark on finasteride. Since there is a very small history of hairloss in your family, chance is really on your side. Good luck

No bleeding, No worry... (particularly at 3.5 weeks... but you can also contact your clinic if you want to be reassured)

I heard that Dr. Hasson and Dr. Wong are actually the same person.

Finasteride will inhibit 5ar, one of the main cause of follicle miniaturization, and will prevent hair loss in the process. Minoxidil will make your hair grow, and regrow, and will help hair to become stronger in the process, but does not act as a 5ar inhibitor. Therefore, as strong as minoxidil can be, it cannot overcome miniaturization (MPB) alone, and even if it's growth power is intact, miniaturization should slowly / gradually win the fight in the end. The synergy between the two is quite interesting...

I would apply minoxidil wherever you notice thinning hair, and would get a proscar prescription today. I would never stop minox since you know it's working (you wouldn't believe the hair shedding you would experience if you stop it, trust me...) Minox will help hair growth and thickening, but will not stop MPB alone (follicle miniaturization). Finasteride will slow / stop MPB at the root. They complement each other. I think that for a start, 1/4 proscar (1.25mg) every other day would do wonder. The "it" factor will be consistency... so try not to miss a dose or an application... and consider yourself lucky to start meds at this point I'm happy to tell you that you're about to save yourself an incredible amount of energy and money, not trying to reconstruct what would have been destroyed otherwise, if the meds work as they should... Good luck

MPB is unpredictable. You could end up like your father... or maybe like your grand-grand-grand-grand-grand father that looked like a bowling ball and that you never saw because photographic devices didn't exist. Since you're not satisfied with your hairline as it is now at 21, I would monitor your MPB progression very closely. Yes I would go to a dermatologist and get a second and a third opinion from other derms / docs if you realize the guy doesn't know much about MPB specifically. Nowadays with the internet and access to information, ordinary folks are sometimes more aware about some health matters than some docs that got a diploma 25 years ago. As for treatments, let's keep in mind that we're the first generation in history to have access to treatments that actually work at slowing (even stopping) MPB for a majority of people. In that sense, we're very lucky. The most important factor with meds is consistency. Just take it or apply it once a day, it becomes an easy routine like brushing your teeth. You could consider finasteride every other day for a start. Minoxidil, even at the temple, can help a great deal also. But I would suggest to continue your research to make a wise decision. Good luck

One advice though (and you have no idea how important is that advice...), don't stop minoxidil even if you think it loses efficacy. I would say the same about finasteride. You never really understand how much these meds help... until you stop. Unless, of course, you like clogged drain pipes and plumber bills. And waxing your scalp to make it shine...

Randy, do you have MPB running in your family? By the way, the last thing you want to hear is these "you're gonna be o.k." answers from friends, family and doctors. Refuse these answers and get the facts straight. The earlier you start meds, the better the results. Proven fact. The amount of time, hair, money, emotions, opportunities, you can save by starting meds at the first signs of MPB is tremendous. Huge. In my opinion, I think you passed the stage of mature hairline to early MPB damages. Good luck