Corndog Posted August 30, 2022 Share Posted August 30, 2022 Hi All, Mine is probably a similar story to others in that I’ve been using the forum to search for advice and tips etc. I’m now in a position where I’d like to post to get some specific advice and formulate a plan of action. my story; I’m nearly 42 years of age and haven’t taken any medication or had any surgery previously. My family history of hair loss is mixed. I noticed my hairline starting to recede around 18 months ago and have also started to notice thinning on top and around the crown. My hair in general is quite fine but I grew it long a few years ago so this has possibly hidden the loss until it became more obvious. I currently take Saw Palmetto and Biotin once per day and also use Watermans shampoo and conditioner but I’m not seeing much change. I’m debating moving onto prescription medication namely Dutasteride 0.5mg and oral Minoxidil 2.5mg to be taken daily. I’m also considering an FUE hair transplant, I’m thinking 2,000-2,500 grafts. my questions are: Should I be taking the Dutasteride and Minoxidil straight away and is 0.5mg and 2.5mg daily the best amount Should I be heading down the FUE transplant route? Many thanks in advance for any advice received. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Melvin- Admin Posted August 30, 2022 Administrators Share Posted August 30, 2022 27 minutes ago, Corndog said: Should I be taking the Dutasteride and Minoxidil straight away and is 0.5mg and 2.5mg daily the best amount Absolutely YES. Take that and re-evaluate after a year. 1 I’m a paid admin for Hair Transplant Network. I do not receive any compensation from any clinic. My comments are not medical advice. Check out my final hair transplant and topical dutasteride journey: View my thread Topical dutasteride journey Melvin- Managing Publisher and Forum Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Coalition Hair Loss Learning Center, and the Hair Loss Q&A Blog. Follow our Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, and YouTube. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Tiger2050 Posted August 30, 2022 Regular Member Share Posted August 30, 2022 (edited) What Melvin said, you’ll likely see a significant improvement on dut/oral min and probably won’t need surgery. Check out @DrBevinBhoyrul on Twitter, he’s a dermatologist in Australia that has a lot of dut/fin and oral min results. Here’s one example: Edited August 30, 2022 by Tiger2050 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valued Contributor Gatsby Posted August 31, 2022 Valued Contributor Share Posted August 31, 2022 3 hours ago, Corndog said: Should I be heading down the FUE transplant route? Having surgery now would be the worst option to take. Once you start you will have to continue to have more surgery and at this point I don't see a need for it with your hair. Medical therapy alone could reverse your thinning. However you need to give medical therapy at least a good year. Wishing you all the best. GATSBY 'UNPLUGGED!' 15,671 (3 surgeries) Grafts FUE+BHT Dr. Sethi Eugenix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member StillAlive Posted August 31, 2022 Senior Member Share Posted August 31, 2022 Gatsby is right. Your hairline is solid and you only have mid-scalp/crown loss that is easily treatable with medication. Surgery would be a terrible idea in your case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corndog Posted August 31, 2022 Author Share Posted August 31, 2022 (edited) (See below) Edited September 1, 2022 by Corndog Incorrect post Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corndog Posted September 1, 2022 Author Share Posted September 1, 2022 On 8/30/2022 at 11:02 PM, Melvin- Moderator said: Absolutely YES. Take that and re-evaluate after a year. On 8/30/2022 at 11:25 PM, Tiger2050 said: What Melvin said, you’ll likely see a significant improvement on dut/oral min and probably won’t need surgery. Check out @DrBevinBhoyrul on Twitter, he’s a dermatologist in Australia that has a lot of dut/fin and oral min results. Here’s one example: On 8/31/2022 at 1:43 AM, Gatsby said: Having surgery now would be the worst option to take. Once you start you will have to continue to have more surgery and at this point I don't see a need for it with your hair. Medical therapy alone could reverse your thinning. However you need to give medical therapy at least a good year. Wishing you all the best. On 8/31/2022 at 7:20 AM, StillAlive said: Gatsby is right. Your hairline is solid and you only have mid-scalp/crown loss that is easily treatable with medication. Surgery would be a terrible idea in your case. Cheers all for the advice so far. I’m getting the overwhelming verdict that I should be on the medication route rather than anything more invasive. So with that in mind should I continue taking the Saw Palmetto and Biotin or is there anything else I should be taking additionally? (Vitamins etc.) With regards to the Minoxidil 2.5mg and Dutasteride 0.5mg should I take these daily straight away or should there be a ramping up process? (Will there be any side effects or things to be aware of?) Where would be the best place the get both of the medications as I think the Minoxidil will require a prescription? Thanks again everyone, I appreciate all the advice given. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corndog Posted September 2, 2022 Author Share Posted September 2, 2022 Hi Melvin, Tiger2050, StillAlive and Gatsby, am I using the forum correctly in my responses? should I just be using the topics within medication as a basis for my continued research or should I post a topic in the medication forum? Im just keen to progress and get the medication I need, once I understand what I need to buy. Thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member jr1986 Posted September 2, 2022 Regular Member Share Posted September 2, 2022 Finasteride is a less powerful 5ar inhibitor than dutasteride and most people start with fin. Given your age and hairloss I think many would say taking fin every second day or mwf would be sufficient. Also my preference was to start on a low dose and work up, my opinion is its less of a shock to the body. Most recommend reaserching first. I did a lot of reading and in the end I was no better off. There are both positive and negative accounts of finasteride. There are possible side effects, poorer sexual function, ball ache and brain fog seem to be the most reported. There's also a good chance you won't experience any sides at all. Your other option is to look into topical finasteride which may carry less side effect risks. Currently looking at this myself as I have experienced some sides on oral. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corndog Posted September 2, 2022 Author Share Posted September 2, 2022 7 minutes ago, jr1986 said: Finasteride is a less powerful 5ar inhibitor than dutasteride and most people start with fin. Given your age and hairloss I think many would say taking fin every second day or mwf would be sufficient. Also my preference was to start on a low dose and work up, my opinion is its less of a shock to the body. Most recommend reaserching first. I did a lot of reading and in the end I was no better off. There are both positive and negative accounts of finasteride. There are possible side effects, poorer sexual function, ball ache and brain fog seem to be the most reported. There's also a good chance you won't experience any sides at all. Your other option is to look into topical finasteride which may carry less side effect risks. Currently looking at this myself as I have experienced some sides on oral. Thanks jr1986. I read that Dutasteride performed better with less side effects than finasteride which is why I was going to go down that route? I also read that oral meds were better performing than topical applications but I understand you’re more likely to suffer side effects with oral meds. would you recommend any other meds (apart from biotin and saw palmetto which I’ll continue to take)?. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member jr1986 Posted September 2, 2022 Regular Member Share Posted September 2, 2022 2 minutes ago, Corndog said: Thanks jr1986. I read that Dutasteride performed better with less side effects than finasteride which is why I was going to go down that route? I also read that oral meds were better performing than topical applications but I understand you’re more likely to suffer side effects with oral meds. would you recommend any other meds (apart from biotin and saw palmetto which I’ll continue to take)?. I wasn't aware that dutasteride had less side effects but its not a drug I've read much on so you might be right. Yes seems oral is the most effective and easiest, you will just have to try and see. If you get sides that you don't like you can stop. I am not sure if you can continue with saw palmetto at the same time as an oral 5ar inhibitor. Perhaps someone else can clarify. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corndog Posted September 3, 2022 Author Share Posted September 3, 2022 Ah right I didn’t think there would be a problem other the Saw Palmetto I’ll have a look around and see if I can find anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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