Surgery without medication?

[Usexpat]

Hello Folks, great forum.

 

I am 46 and about 15 years ago had an FUT transplant in Florida. I felt it was very successful. If memory serves the place was called MHR in Orlando. 2500 grafts I think.

 

After that I took propecia and that also was fantastic. It absolutely stopped the falling out. Previously it fell out on the morning paper or my desk.

 

Okay, fast forward to the present day. I have been diagnosed with kidney disease and due to that I don't take any meds unless absolutely necessary. For that reason I no longer take propecia. I'd say I've been off it for 7-8 years

 

You know what's coming now. My hair started falling out again and now I am at the point of looking at further surgery.

 

I would like to ask, how many folks get surgery and then take no medicine? Is this common?

 

I fully realize the reasons for the medication and having experienced the benefits myself it's hard to argue with the suggestion. But due to my diagnosis and not wanting to take chances I feel it's best to not take meds. I also had side effects from it so that nails it

 

I've had a phone interview with a highly recommended surgeons office (name gotten from here) and will be speaking with other highly recommended Dr from here located in Spain

 

I fully realize every patient is different and every case is as well. I am thinning on the crown and front areas and only God knows how far it's going to go eventually. I am just seeing if its a fools errand to stem the tide with HT without follow up medication

 

I've been voraciously reading posts and now the question to answer is FUT or FUE. Impressive results with both

 

Cheers. Peter

[hadenough2014]

Hi Peter - sorry to hear about your kidney disease. What was your Norwood status before the first surgery and what do you think it is now as you have started losing hair again? Lastly, what do you think your max Norwood status would be when you are age 70 (based on family history). I think all of these things play into a decision about another HT, including whether or not your kidney disease could be affecting your hair loss and could affect your donor area and expected success of a HT (have you asked a doc about that?).

 

I think going without medicine is possible for people like me who have their first HT at NW5 and would probably max out at NW6 based on my family history. Nonetheless, even I may consider continuing Propecia indefinitely (if I have no sides) once my hair grows in to avoid getting to NW6. IMHO, Medicine is clearly necessary for maintenance purposes for people who have HT at NW4 or less...unless they just expect to keep having HTs and plan on that in the future.

[Usexpat]

Hello. Thanks for the reply

 

According to family history I should die with a full head of hair and continue to have it grow after death. No real hair loss on either side. Dad is 78 and has a decent head of hair. mothers father had a full head in his early 90s. Didn't know my dads father

 

Brother thinning but quite a bit less thinning than me

 

I don't know my Norwood. At the time of my first surgery I had moderate thinning to the front but no bald areas. (This was 15years ago). Now I am again thinning in the front (possibly most that is left is from the previous HT. Also now thinning on my double crown

 

Cheers. Peter

[hadenough2014]

According to family history I should die with a full head of hair and continue to have it grow after death.

 

 

LOL. Very funny. I still might first check on how the kidney disease may or may not affect your physiology before you consider diving into a HT. If a doc says there should be no effect, sounds like you could be a good candidate for a round 2. Lots of great improvements in the past 15 years...study this site and pick a great doc/clinic for what you want to achieve.

[Usexpat]

I had an excellent result from the first round.

 

Looking at Drs now just concerned with not taking meds really. In speaking with the clinic I've spoken to you could hear how much they felt needs were needed.

 

Peter