SERIOUS

Wait, wait... I'm not done lol Seriously PLP, I would stop paranoia, and look at the "facts". I'm not trying to defend this clinic, but I'm aware of their strip extraction method. FACT: Their laborious extraction method and their dedication to it is the ONLY factor in their ability to consistently get higher amount of grafts. That's it. This is a fact. Now you come here with all these funny assumptions and it makes me laugh.

Splitting grafts can be useful if not enough 1's are present for the hairline, otherwise it's absolutely useless. Period. Now what you say implies that they would boost the final count by splitting these grafts and ultimately make more bucks, which is absolutely and utterly ridiculous for anyone that know this clinic. That's all.

PLP, maybe you can ask Bill if he thinks H&W split his grafts... Trust me, H&W would not ruin their reputation by splitting grafts to boost the final count! Have you seen many doctors spending more than an hour just to extract a single strip? They are able to get a high graft count because of their unique ability to maximize strip extraction... NOT because of some illegal tricks.

PGP, with a strip surgery you have absolutely no control over the amount of follicular groupings (1'2'3'4's) you will get. You get what's inside the strip. But there is more 2's and 3's naturally present on the scalp, so the amount of 1's will always be much lower. 1's will be used to subtle and fine work such as the first rows of a hairline, or sometimes but more rarely, coupled together in a same incision to create 2's (to add volume) when the work is strictly in the crown and vertex.

hairhead! I just realized you posted a similar question in another thread and that I answered already. Sorry, didn't mean to be redundant Anecdotal fact: I expressed endless worries to a HT doctor and then to a dermatologist before going on finasteride... they both were really really patient and listened to me. At one point, they stopped me, and just said: just take it. 6 years on the stuff and feelin' real good.

Yes, it happens. Actually, in most cases they subside, your body gets used to it. What were my sides? The "beginning" of gynecomastia (excess development of breast tissue). How long to subside? The pain, 3 weeks to a month after I stopped. The bit of excess in breast tissue: 6 months. I'm fit, not fat. The pectoral is now normal. *Note: Just stopping, and starting again, was completely useless... the problem came back right away.* I started finasteride again with a "gradual" dosage, which made all the difference. That's why I put the emphasis on "gradual", very low dosage, fewer times a week, and slowly going back to a normal and consistent dosage after a while. This site is a mess. No relevance, but lots of fear and hype. Oh... I almost got hit by a car this morning when I crossed the street... I KNEW IT! Damn propecia... best of luck

Hey dude, after I mentioned "guarantee"... at the end of that "same" sentence, I wrote "joking". So before you say something is ridiculous, learn to read a whole sentence. Maybe it's your tinnitus. I've seen that method helping countless of people, doesn't mean it can help everybody. That being said, from what I have seen over many years, it helped the majority of people who tried it. Hence my desire to share it. And I agree with Blondie from your tinnitus thread, if you consider propeciahelp.com a reliable and scientific source to help you out, then good luck. You'll need effexor, not propecia.

Bigbill, what do you mean when you say it wasn't helping? No regrowth? Because the main reason you take finasteride is to "keep" what you have, slow the progression of MPB, and "maybe", experience a bit of regrowth... I think at 23 years old, with a scar already, and probably the need to have more and more surgeries as you get older, and the possibility to deplete your donor supply, I would get back on proscar TOMORROW just take it every morning and make it an easy routine and never stop... in 20 years, at 43... maybe you will look back and think: wow... good thing I did take that little pill... good luck

Have you been exposed to excessive noise / sound level in the past? Like from your head / ear phones, or at work? Tinnitus are often caused by excessive sound level. With mp3's and cd players, sound level is sometimes difficult to control, particularly in noisy environment such as in the subway or public transportation, since the high ambient noise will make you want to boost the level, and that's exactly when many people damage their ears. As a matter of fact, Apple / Ipods had to low down their maximum volume threshold on their devices, because it exceeded the secure level as to avoid ear damage. I had tinnitus in the past. They lasted a few years, at different intensities. They have now disappeared. But I'm now very careful, and bring earplugs with me when I go to concerts or in a noisy environment, just in case I feel the sound level exceeds what is acceptable. Honestly, I don't think finasteride has anything to do with this. But the good news is, unlike damage to your ears in the form of loss of hearing (which is not reversible), tinnitus are unpredictable and can diminish and disappear (as it gradually happened in my case). First I would go see a audiologist to go through all the tests and find out if you have a loss of hearing as well, and learn about hearing problems in general and how to prevent them. I would go back to the audiologist once every year to make a real follow up of your condition, and see how things progress. Also, if you listen to music or anything, turning down the volume and limiting listening time will be the best thing you can do to prevent aggravation and help healing. Best of luck

Really? I agree with you that it sounds interesting, but until it goes through a rigorous testing process, it "will" actually remain anecdotal and experimental. That's it

LMS, Like many of us, you probably spent many years researching the hair loss problems and its solutions. Maybe our lack of over-excitement resides in the fact that we're looking for true and consistent results, rather than reacting to the first steps of experimentation with this technique. In other words, we have seen other promising treatments fail. From my humble opinion, it does'nt seem like a technique that's going to revolutionize the whole field. But who knows... I'll be very happy if it does produce amazing and consistent results. Until then, I'll keep my objectivity and will remain calm.

Congrats Dedom... looking REAL good I have a few questions regarding your experience with Kelocote Spraygel, since I noticed you used it on your scar... 1- For how long have you used it? 2- What are your feelings concerning its use? To what degree do you think it helped? 3- From your experience, would you recommend the spray, or the gel version? 4- Is Kelocote recommended for scars that are surrounded by hair such as on the scalp, and with a tricophytic closure? 5- Did you have any problems using it, such as hair stuck in the product (it's made of silicone), or even hair loss due to its use? Thanks Dedom

I would not change anything and reassess in 6 months. Sounds like completely normal... Finasteride probably have nothing to do with this

Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying to EVERYBODY that has adverse effects with finasteride... JUST SKIP A DAY when you have sides coming back (after a withdrawal period if necessary, with gradual dosage when restarting) For some reason, some people think it's coincidental and that method does'nt work... but it-just-does-work. Maybe I should patent that method, write a book, and guarantee the results... and make tons of money in the process (joking) Some will keep using finasteride and start to use all these supplements to deal with the side effects of finasteride, while in fact they just mess even more with the fragile balance of their hormonal system. The human body is quite phenomenal and complex. We should trust its unique ability to re-establish its hormonal balance naturally after these kind of events.

I was too... watery semen usually stays for very long as a side effect according to some doctors. So it's better to get used to it, and is not a sign of danger or anything. No big deal, at least you keep your hair.

I would stop for 3 weeks, and re-start with a gradual dosage (i.e. few times a week, very low dosage, upgrading gradually to normal dosage after 1 month). Then, if you experience side effects in the future, just skip a day, or two. I've seen this gradual dosage method working countless of times. Initial problems with finasteride happen often. Don't worry, your body should get used to it.

Jotronic, (or anyone / doctors) from your point of view, do you think that scalp exercises performed sometimes "after" a strip hair transplant (let's say after a few months) would be beneficial as to help the scar stay stable and not stretch (by keeping the scalp flexible thus eliminating tension)? Or do you think scalp exercises are only useful prior to a transplant?

Interesting enough to wait and follow its progress, like many other new developments, but I would'nt spend 200$ on it as it is. Particularly after seeing the result pics that are not convincing at all, and their claims about laser...

Yes there is still a chance for this to happen, but probably to a lesser degree than you would like, and they probably are the first hair that will disappear when MPB will start it's job again -gradually- in a relative future. Hair in the crown are "usually" more stable on meds. If you look at improving hair caliber, minoxidil will help for sure, so in your specific case, I would add it if you can be consistent with it. Finasteride and minox usually give the most dramatic results in the first 3 years, then they tend to be stable and maintain.

Sure, or even better, burn them (joking) P.S. I would'nt pluck them...

Great news. That means finasteride stopped the progression of your hairloss, and that's HUGE. You should'nt hope for much regrowth, but maintenance is already a big thing, considering that a few years ago (before finasteride), even keeping the hair you have would have been impossible. That being said, you might want to add generic minoxidil if you're able to be consistent with it, since finasteride and minox are proven to give better results as a "combo" than one or the other alone. Good luck

In my opinion, to date, dr. Robert Jones did not produce consistent results like the H&W or Rahal clinics. If you want an artistic approach and optimal growth from a strip mega-session, I would not go there.

Sounds like paranoia...

I had adverse effects at first when I started finasteride. I developed what was considered the beginning of gynecomastia after less than a week. I have been on it for more than 6 years now and I'm all fine, no problems. Your body gets used and the sides should disappear after a while. My 2 suggestions: 1- Start again after stopping for a while, but with a gradual dosage. 2- In the future if you experience what you think is an adverse, just skip a day of medication. Buy a pill cutter (5$ at any pharmacy) Start finasteride again with a lower dosage, and few times a week. i.e. cut propecia into 4 pieces (0.25mg) and take that 1/4 pill every 3 days for the first 2 weeks. Then gradually upgrade to 1/2 propecia every 3 days.... then 1/2 propecia every 2 days, then a full propecia every 2 days, and eventually a full dose every day if you feel you need it and that you're ready. That seems complicated, but trust me, it should cancel chances of adverse effects, and after a month and a half you're back on track. Again, if you ever feel adverse effects after that, just skip a day! You will be surprise how fast the body will get back on track, just by skipping a day of medication. (But keep in mind that "stability" of dosage is important, since playing with dosages can create a hormonal fluctuation that can trigger shedding phases which means hairloss for a while. But skipping a day or 2 from time to time is not a problem). Hope this helps Best of luck

Hi Os, Can you tell us who was the doctor? That way we might be able to help you more.