tymman

Hmmm! that's a thought! Jet- It's not good to wash the scalp too much. You will end up drying it out. There's a balance for the scalp. Trouble is most people don't really know what it is. I find the more times I wash in a day - the more dry my scalp gets, and that can't be too healthy for hair. I sweat like a pig in july! my skin (all over is OILY) but the times I wash more than once a day with shampoo, I get very dry and flakey.

Seems I heard something like that a few weeks ago!!

Hey guys!! I'm almost 2 months post op. I saw nearly 80% of the transplants shed, I FREAKED OUT!! I see that the ones that never shed are still growing at the same rate as the original hair. Out of the ones that shed - maybe 20% are starting to sprout. I mean I can see stublle popping up in various spots of the recipient area. I have been using Minoxidil ALL OVER. I also take Propecia and a multivitamin. I don't expect to see more than this for another two months or four or ever how long it takes, I just feel confident that when it comes I'll be happier than a fat kid with tripple chocolate cake!!! . I think it's gonna be a matter of patience. We are still stuck in the frame of mind that it should have started by now. When you really think of it- who really knows how long it will take? Who can look at us and judge how fast our bodies recover from a major procedure lik HT? How many of know EXACTLY how long it will take for our healthy hair to grow? My point is this, we have no choice but to relax and be patient. When any of us see some substantial growth we should post pics right away. By the way hasn't anyone else heard that stress can cause more hair loss??? hmmmmm?? Other than that- relax and live.

IF Saw Palmetto works then it would be approved by the USFDA and recommended by MOST doctors to treat hair loss. FACT IS - neither statement is true. By stopping the Propecia, you WILL experience loss of the hairs that have benefitted from Propecia. The two are not the same , they are not interchangable, and they don't produce the same results!!!!!!! I did the same thing (almost exactly!!) that you are doing. I thought natural vitamins would be better for me.. WRONG!!!!! The resulting hair loss was SEVERE!! Contact some hairloss docs recommended on this site and ask them that sasme question. I doubt any of them will give Saw much credibility.

Jet - there's no window of when it would be more effective, That I've ever heard of! I apply it once a day. AFTER a shower at night. When you sleep the dirt and sweat from the day is really getting the chance to settle in. I shower before bed, take 20 minutes to apply the Minox and wait another 10-15(to give it time to dry and settle) before I lay my head down for the night. I hope that was a typo! You're washing it off and waisting your time. Then I will shower again in the morning before I go to work, I don't wash my hair with shampoo in the morning. Just to let some warm water run down my scalp (no real scientific benefit to hair loss). Basically I only use at night, I figure my body is resting and rebuilding, thats when I want to give the time for the Minox to work.

Stick with the meds. The problem you are describing sounds like shock loss, also sounds like what happens when some people try new meds. they say it causes a little shedding but that it evetually grows back.

I'm not a doc but that sounds alot like shock loss. Have you considered Finasteride(Propecia\Proscar) and Minoxidil?? Maybe they just need a jump start to get going again.

http://hair-restoration-info.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f...6060861/m/7861074841

Cass - looking good so far!! I hope I have that much growth in the next few weeks!

Cody - Young - Kevtom, People are saying you're young because we know MPB is progressive. Our point of view is this - you get a HT and your donor area/capability diminshes (you don't have as much to give for future HT). Right now there are two drugs approved by the USFDA for treating MPB. Finasteride (Propecia/Proscar) and Minoxidil. When you do more research on MPB you will find that it is caused by DHT. Finasteride reduces the production of DHT while Minoxidil stimulates hair to grow. I had a 2 inch bald spot on my crown at 22, I feel your PAIN!! If Propecia was around at the time, then I would have started it and never stopped. The Minoxidil usually cases some shedding when you first start using, I didn't know it was natural and stopped it, the resulting permanent loss was intense. I went through the next 4 years trying ever snake oil out there. I even wasted $4000 on this laser light treatment which didn't regorw any new hair. Bottom line is - I am encouraging you to try the medicinal approach first. At the very least this will stabilize your hair loss and minimize the amount of donor hair you will have to use for HT. Think of it this way - if right now you have a 2 inch bald spot and it will take 1000 grafts (NOT HAIRS) to fill it, and you only have 4000 possible grafts for use for the rest of your life, do you really want to waste that thousand right now??? You probably said yes (I would have said yes at 22) - Now here's the heart breaker MPB is PROGRESSIVE. So you get the HT in your 2 inch bald spot and use up 1000 of your 4000 grafts and in 2 years you now have an outer ring around where the original 2 inches was, and guess what it will take another 2000 grafts to cover it. Now add in the fact that your temples are almost completely bald, your hair line is an inch further back, and your mid scalp is getting thinner... What are you gonna do then??? I am not trying to tell you what to do, only trying to paint a real life picture for you, my real life picture! It scared the HELL out of me! I have only heard of the Follicular Unit grafting for the last 4 years, I don't know if was around when my balding started. I would have done it back then but I WOULD HAVE REGRETTED IT!! Technology is advancing rapidly, remember it was 1998/99 when Propecia was approved by the FDA. I hear alot of talk about cell regeneration testing and see someone talking about a newer more proficient way of doing HT's. Please consider the medicinal approach! Give it a year to start working for you. You never know what else is gonna come out in the next year or two and it would be a shame to waste any of your donor area right now. I don't really know what you mean by a hair system, is it a hair peice?? It doesn't sound to exciting to me, sounds like your are doing more long term damage to your scalp. Last thing - do alot of research on this site, READ READ READ!! Go do some consults, get the advise from doctors who do ONLY HT's.

No one can tell the work of a good HT! but you are only 19 and the MPB WILL progress. I think you need to do more research on this forum and consult some HT docs that are recommended here. At the very least get on Propecia and Minoxidil. You won't want to use a hair system after a HT anyway, the HT needs to heal and then it takes 3-4 months before they grow in. After a year it should be further grown and looking pretty good. I shaved my head 10 days post op to match the HT and existing hair, it isn't so bad!

My doc told me not to take any vitamin E for 2 weeks before the HT. I would suggest putting yourself on a healthy balanced diet and keep it after the HT. Give your body the chance to make the most out of this!!!

kamer - Is it you who had the HT and is experiencignthe problem?? first I'd like to know what your doc said about it. I've also heard people on this forum talking about something similar, the hair grows for a while after HT but then begins to fall out. This is the sheeding phase of HT and is a good thing (although it plays tricks with your mind).

Kansas- DITTO what CASS just said. This sight will help you decide which way to go. Read about all the ones in your area. use the FIND button at the top of the topic page to find specific information on any docs you are considering. And do MANY MANY consults!!!!!!! Good docs are not trying to push you into this. I had a consult with MHR in San Diego, I didn't like their approach or their prices. I do recommend for you to consider traveling for your HT. But first - READ READ READ!!!!!!

Sounds super outrageous to me. I went to MHR for my first consult , they quoted me the same price range for the same amoount of grafts as you talk about. I had my HT by Dr Deyarman in San Diego. 2000+ @ $7000. It seems the norm is around $3 per single graft.

Brav- PLEASE keep us posted on your Dr visit!! There are a few of us who are in the second month and feel / see the same results you are describing!!! I have noticed a few thin colorless hairs sprouting up in the temple area. My HT looked like I would have a THICK hair line again (which is what I was aiming for), but since the shedding it looks like I'm back to where I started before HT. http://hair-restoration-info.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f...6060861/m/7861074841 PLEASE KEEP US POSTED !!!

Thinking..- I didn't have a problem with shaving or keeping it shaved for a while. I guess it's all a matter of preferrence. I look younger with a shaved head so I don't get to bothered by it. It seems that shaving isn't really neccessary but easier on the doctor, I personally don't mind doing everything to facilitate the doc doing the best procedure possible. http://hair-restoration-info.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f...6060861/m/7861074841

Don't forget - if you are only thinning and don't really have any bare spots, then consider using Propecia to reduce your DHT levels & Minoxidil to stimulate growth. Be aware that once you begin these products, you MUST continue using them INDEFINITELY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Most hairloss sufferers have benefitted from the combination of the two products with great success. Most HT patients CONTINUE to use Pro/Min for added benefit and to slow/stop further hair loss. Rember hairloss is progressive(the rest of your life!!). There is NO one answer or treatment for hairloss, ONLY ways to slow it down. And IF you decide on a HT, diddo what Mahair said - plus - do SEVERAL consultations. Hopefully you will find a doctor recommended on this site.

Zerro- I have not seen any shock in the original hair areas(mid scalp, around my crown). I have a very distinct widows peak and NONE of that has shocked. I do still see some normal hair loss,,ie,, thinning hairs from the midscalp/crown areas, but to a lesser degree than before my HT. I mean to say: in the shower before HT, I would see 10-15 thinning hairs in my crown or temple/midscalp-ish area coming out with shampoo. Now I see maybe 2-3 in those areas. I -THINK- the Propecia is working to lessen the effect of DHT. Been taking Propecia for 3 months straight. I also have been using Minoxidil - before HT my "outer ring" on my crown was superthin or bare (barely there), now I do see lots of longer thin hairs. I'm also in good shape, healthy, eat pretty good, and take a multivit/mineral, and excersise almost daily. I too am a normally fast healer. When I returned to my doctors office at 10days post op, He must have said ten times or more how amazed he was at my quick healing. Ken & Zerro - The hairs that shed were some what flat, they could not stand up and would always rest on the scalp. Everyone of those shedd, about 80% of the HT. the ones that were standing up have continued to grow. I want to know from both of you if this is close to what you're experiencing???

Fabe - I can still get some more work done in the middle if needed. I do have enough donor hair to get at least one more HT. I'm not too worried. Jacob - sorry bor I'm a little dense,,.. are you saying your temples shed to bare scalp and did not grow back?? I saw another post where Ken was talking about the shedding effect getting him worried.. I just wanted some more specific info.

Yo KEN!!!! I am going through the same EXACT thing. http://hair-restoration-info.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f...6060861/m/7861074841 I know what you mean about a full looking hair line. I thought they were supposed to shed and leave some stubble. I shed at the 16-17 day post op mark. I FREAKED OUT I contacted my doctor and he says, some may leave stubble some may shed at at point under the skin and give the appearance of bare scalp. He also told me that by the time I started to see the shedding, my skin had healed enough to hold in the follicles. I also contacted a couple of guys here on the forum, they described the same type of shedding as I have experienced. I am going to post some current pics within the next couple days.. But I can't even start worrying too much about it yet. I just figure I won't see much until everthing starts to grow.

Whatever you feel most comfortable with!! I personally can not see doing 6 different procedures for one total amount of transplants. But like I said whatever floats your boat, you are the one who has to sit through it. Either way - GOOD LUCK BRO!!!!

someone - Hair that has benefited from Rogaine WILL fall out SOON!!! Plenty of people on this site will atest to that FACT!! I personally don't like the idea of using Minoxidil, but the benefits far out weigh the draw backs! I'm sure your doctor is more than qualified to make a diagnosis, but if you still have any doubts as to what you should believe - GET A SECOND OPINION.!!!!! Please understand that Rogaine/Minoxidil vs Propecia is two VERY different substances that have the same (basic) intention - to give you more hair. Propecia will help reduce the DHT production, Minoxidil/Rogaine will stimulate hair to grow. Using them both will give you "double coverage", replacing one with the other is asking for heart break!! You don't see it yet but you will. Use the FIND feature at the top of each page, read my postings on stopping treatments in favor for another. Others on this site have been through it also!! Check it out. But regardless - GOOD LUCK BRO!!

Ken- I went to a number one 7 days post op. the transplants were shorter than that! But the rest being short did give me a more even look. Go for what will make you feel more comfortable. Dont worry about the scar, do what I did... Tell anyone who asks - I was attacked by a gang called the DHT's and they tried to scalp me!! http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/showthread.php?t= Jacob- when your HT shed, were left with mostly bare scalp or was there at least some prickly hairs poking out of the scalp??

TKERR22- I started it one week post. Had some irritation in the HT and donor areas. Doc said wait a couple more weeks to allow for more healing.