2500 grafts with dr rahal

[sirius67]

8 months update

 

Last month i used minoxidil foam, only one time a day,and some times, once every other day .

the result = no more swollen eyelids but when i take a shower i lose about 20-30 hairs , mostly from my middle scalp . I went back to two times per day, but i still lose a lot in the showers. The transplanted area looks the same , thank god. Today i did order a bottle of minoxidil with azelaic acid , and i gonna try only at night and foam in the morning

[sirius67]

may 8

[headbangerguy]

nice update bro

[Slickers]

Awesome Sirius. You've gone from a slightly balding look to looking like you should be in a shampoo commercial in the space of 8 months. This is surely all that is good about HTs

 

[Levrais]

Good stuff!

[Mickey85]

8 months update

 

Last month i used minoxidil foam, only one time a day,and some times, once every other day .

the result = no more swollen eyelids but when i take a shower i lose about 20-30 hairs , mostly from my middle scalp . I went back to two times per day, but i still lose a lot in the showers. The transplanted area looks the same , thank god. Today i did order a bottle of minoxidil with azelaic acid , and i gonna try only at night and foam in the morning

 

Which brand of Minoxidil with Azelaic acid did you purchase? Does the Azelaic acid inhibihit DHT? Hair looks great in the update by the way!

[Spanker]

This is one of the biggest changes I've seen as far as taking what had become an average looking guy to looking like he could be on tv. Big big change.

[savehair]

amazing results, congratulations man!

[Sean]

Sirius, you look great at 8 months bud. You definitely look like a movie star. Very very happy for you. I know you may have been skeptical at the beginning, but I can see the excitement in your photos and the forum. Your result looks outstanding and really compliments your face well, it's just perfect.

 

I am also interested in where you are getting the minoxidil with azelaic acid from? If you can pm me about it, that would be great. I am using the Rogaine foam once a night. Especially, since I cover my head from the front in my transplant recipient zone to all the way to the crown. So, twice a day was too much and my wife agreed. I tried it in the beginning and I don't see a difference when using it once at night now. I might give the product you are trying a shot to see if the Azelaic acid version has a better effect.

 

And thanks for the tips about your exercise/workout method a few posts back. I am trying hard to bulk up with lean mass. I think I have genetically high metabolism since I have a hard time gaining weight even with 5 decent size meals. Recently, I changed my 1-1.5 hour to at least a 2 hour workout routine. Same thing, 2 muscle groups daily, with legs every 5 days. For supplementation I added Optimum Nutrition Protein to my diet and mix it with unflavored almond milk 3x a day (might increase to 4). I haven't added other supplements for muscle building yet due to fears as some mentioned they may cause hair shed, so i'll have to research more on that. But I guess i'll wait and see if any drastic changes in lean muscle mass occur in next 3 months. Thanks again for the tips.

 

Thanks for the awesome hair updates as well.

[HARIRI]

Sean, me too I got pissed off with applying minoxidil twice a day onto my scalp. Its just when you decide to apply once, the strength should be 10% to match 5% twice a day. Azelaic acid is just a DHT blocker but doesn't work as Minoxidil in activating shafts to regrow. There are few companies unfortunately selling Minoxidil 10% with Azelaic Acid, they do have as well minoxidil 5% with Azelaic Acid if you don't feel comfortable to increase the strength. Unfortunately some were shut down like Dr. Lee Xandrox and MOPLC minoxidil, while some have issues with FDA like Perfect Image solutions. I think the only one left in the market that has high strength Minoxidil PLUS Azelaic Acid is Minoxidil Max company.. I hope Sirus share with us about which brand he chosed.

 

Dr. Bernstien whom I believe one of the best Hair loss researchers stated an interesting point on his website "Once a day topical use of Rogaine seems to be almost as effective as using it twice a day. The reason is, that although minoxidil has a relatively short half-life of several hours when given orally, when topically applied, it has a half-life of 22 hours in the skin. This suggests that once a day dosing is a reasonable option. It is important to realize that Pfizer, the company that now makes Rogaine, specifically states that it will be less effective if used only once a day".

Edited May 17, 2012 by HARIRI

[HARIRI]

This is the whole article from Dr. Bernstien website about Minoxidil if anyone interested:-

 

Rogaine, the brand name for minoxidil, was the first FDA approved medication for the treatment of hair loss. Rogaine is a topical solution that is applied directly to the scalp. It can now be purchased without a prescription and in generic formulations in concentrations of 5% (for men) and 2% (for women).

 

Rogaine was developed from the oral blood pressure medication minoxidil (Loniten). Minoxidil taken orally has potential serious side effects on the heart and circulatory system and is used only when other blood pressure medications have been unsuccessful. It was observed that patients who were taking minoxidil began growing body hair and it was reasoned that applying minoxidil directly to a bald scalp might cause hair to grow in this area as well. Studies showed that this was indeed the case, although the growth was generally modest.

 

The original studies on Rogaine were performed on the crown, so there is a misconception that it only works in this area. Although minoxidil usually works best in the crown, it also works to a lesser degree in other areas, such as the front of the scalp, as long as there is some fine (miniaturized) hair in the area. It does not work when the area is totally bald. The greatest benefit from the medication is seen from 5 months to 2 years, with a gradual decrease in effectiveness after that. Those using minoxidil long-term will continue to lose hair, but at a somewhat slower rate.

 

Minoxidil increases the duration of the hair follicle growth cycle (called anagen). This improves the quality of the hair by increasing the diameter and length of fine (miniaturized) hair. It can also induce a new anagen cycle to begin. Minoxidil is a direct stimulator of follicular growth (via VEGF and prostaglandin synthetase1) and also stimulates the proliferation of dermal papilla cells2. Unlike finasteride, its effects are not related to androgens. The simultaneous use of minoxidil and finasteride, which directly inhibits the formation of DHT, may have some synergistic benefit in the treatment of hair loss, although finasteride is significantly more effective.

 

Using Minoxidil

 

Minoxidil should be applied to the scalp twice a day. The medication only works if it is in direct contact with the scalp (not the hair) and only works in areas where it is applied. Therefore, it is important to use the medication in the front part of the scalp if this is an area of thinning.

 

The 5% formulation is twice as effective as the 2% solution, but contains propylene glycol, a compound that can irritate the scalp and can make the hair feel sticky and difficult to manage. If this is a problem, one should consider using the 5% solution at bedtime and the 2% solution (which is alcohol based and less sticky) in the morning. When using minoxidil, it may take 6-12 months before any results are seen. The majority of patients who see an effect from minoxidil experience a delay, or decrease, in the rate of hair loss. The drug also serves to thicken already existing hair, but most patients who do have results, grow only short, thin fuzz. It will not grow any new hair on a bald scalp.

 

Rogaine Foam is a new form of 5% Minoxidil in a glycerin and alcohol base. The foam technology is a convenient way of delivering minoxidil to the scalp without the sticky and often irritating effects of propylene glycol, the delivery compound used in the original 5% solution. When released from the canister, the new product seems like a shaving foam, but it rapidly “melts” when it reaches skin temperature. Applying Rogaine as a foam allows convenient application to the scalp without dripping or running down the forehead or neck, and without leaving a sticky residue in the hair.

 

Once a day topical use of Rogaine (topical minoxidil 2% and 5%) seems to be almost as effective as using it twice a day. The reason is, that although minoxidil has a relatively short half-life of several hours when given orally, when topically applied, it has a half-life of 22 hours in the skin. This suggests that once a day dosing is a reasonable option. It is important to realize that Pfizer, the company that now makes Rogaine, specifically states that it will be less effective if used only once a day.

 

If minoxidil is discontinued, the effects of the drug wear off within three months and the previous pattern of hair loss resumes. When minoxidil is restarted, one generally does not regain the hair that was lost, so it is best not to stop and start the mediation, but to use it regularly.

 

Minoxidil has been prescribed (off-label) in conjunction with other medications, such as topical retinoic acid (Retin-A), to enhance its penetration into the skin and thus increase its effectiveness. This combination of medications, however, can greatly increase the absorption of minoxidil into the bloodstream and may increase the risk of potential side effects, including changes in blood pressure and severe scalp irritation that has led to scarring.

 

Use in Women

 

Only the 2% concentration of minoxidil is approved for use in women. Women are generally more sensitive to the side effects of minoxidil in decreasing blood pressure (hypotension) and may get light-headed from the medication. Women also have an increased risk of developing allergic skin reactions (contact dermatitis).

 

An annoying local reaction that women sometimes get from topical minoxidil is the development of facial hair. Although the facial hair slowly resolves when the medication is discontinued, at times the hair may need to be removed. Carefully trying to avoid the medication dripping down onto the temples and forehead seems to reduce, but not totally prevent, this problem. There is a significantly greater incidence of these side effects if the 5% solution is used.

[sirius67]

Thank you guys !

 

i searched on google and i found this product , lipogaine . i dont know how good it is but i'll give it a try. On amazon the price is 24.95

Unfortunately its take time to see if its a good stuff or not .

i will post again in few weeks

Sean , ill send you a pm tomorrow

[HARIRI]

Oh Lipogaine... Its Minoxidil Max as well.. The same brand but with different name, check their website. Which strength did you take? Minoxidil 5% or 10%? For your info, Lipogaine is the female version of Minoxidil Max, the male version is Dual-Gen :-P

[sirius67]

Oh Lipogaine... Its Minoxidil Max as well.. The same brand but with different name, check their website. Which strength did you take? Minoxidil 5% or 10%? For your info, Lipogaine is the female version of Minoxidil Max, the male version is Dual-Gen :-P

 

for men only , 5%

[HARIRI]

Sirus sorry, my mistake. Yeah Lipogaine may be formulated by same mother company but its different than Minoxidil Max which is only minoxidil and azelaic acid. But Lipogaine is more impressive it contains safe minoxidil dose 5% plus azelaic acid 5% (DHT blocker) plus saw palmetto (great DHT blocker), retinol as well along with Biotin. Great choice buddy. Im down with it and will order some from Amazon tonight, thanks for en-lighting us buddy. Here is a great review about it.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bgaby8dGco

[sirius67]

HARIRI,

thank you man, very good info !

i hope its gonna work for us .

[sirius67]

may 21

[mattj]

I think someone said your transplant has knocked 10 years off you. I have to disagree. I'm gonna say more like 20 years.

[Slickers]

may 21

 

 

Show off! ha. Looking good fella. What a fantastic transformation :eek:

[PupDaddy]

sirius,

 

I am gobsmacked by your transformation! I showed your before and latest pics to my girlfriend. She didn't believe it was the same person. And how Dr. Rahal managed to get this kind of transformative result from just 2,500 grafts is utterly amazing. You must be thrilled. Congrats!

[Icecreamman]

Awesome man!

[Gandolf]

 

I think someone said your transplant has knocked 10 years off you. I have to disagree. I'm gonna say more like 20 years.

He doesn't just look younger, he looks 10x more attractive too.

[Levrais]

Do you have a pic from 10 years ago so we can see if it took that many years off? lol. This is a fantastic result!

[HARIRI]

Looking great and attractive. I wish that my 2500 grafts yield well as they yielded perfectly with you. Guess you are more lucky than I do as we had same amount of grafts added to hairline.

[chrisdav]

Great transformation Sirius.

 

Definitely money well spent.