16 Months Post 4000 Graft - Finasteride Dosage too low? Hair too thin in some areas?

[ChrisSFL]

Hi everyone,

I previously posted about my hair transplant done at the Anatomica Clinic in the Dominican Republic in June of 2022. I will copy and paste my previous post to provide reference under this new post.

In June of 2022 I had my hair transplant. Nine months out I had a video consultation with the Dr. who advised against Rogaine (she claimed the transplants might fall out) and said I could use Finasteride in the areas in which the transplant was lagging and/or the areas in which my thinning hair was continuing to minimize. 

I did some research and found an research article that stated Finasteride can be used at .005% (I know it is generally used at .05%). I decided to start with .005% and slowly wean myself up (I suffered from ED for almost 2 decades and don't want to take any chances).

Upon starting the Finasteride my balding spots (the areas that were thinning were the typical spots you see in balding patients - the left and right front and the "crown") began disappearing, the hair was filling in and I knew the combination of Rogaine and Finasteride was working.

I have since increased to .0075% but am curious on your thoughts if this is (despite it seeming to work) too low of a dose?

Additionally I have yet to see much growth in the crown region and the clinic states this can take up to 18 months to start to develop (I am now 16 months out). 

Did I wait too long to start Rogaine or Finasteride? The clinic didn't recommend it which is why I didn't start until the nine month period (when they changed their mind and said due to the lagging areas it could help).

What do you think about the hair transplant? Good? Bad? Horrible?

It will be quite obvious (in the photos below) when I started the Finasteride. But I still see "gaps" in my hair, meaning some of it is very thin - or "see through".

The area where the "normal hair" meets the "transplanted hair" is also quite visible and I find that a lot of my hair is not growing back in that area. Is this normal? Will this area recover?

Can anyone make a recommendation on the best shampoos, conditioners, supplements, or ways to wash and dry your hair to minimize hair loss? I know this is a separate topic but I want to minimize making so many posts.

 

Please read this also - This will provide some clarity as to why I chose to go to the Anatomica Clinic in the DR and what my experience was like - It will provide some context - 

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Hi everyone,

In June of 2022 I had a hair transplant (FUE) at the Anatomica Clinic in the Dominican Republic.

This clinic is (apparently) an extension of the one that is currently in Istanbul.

I did NOT KNOW this was a "tech clinic" until I arrived. But outside of the tech's talking throughout my entire procedure (which my wife and I relayed to the patient coordinator - "Nami Turk" and doctor after my procedure) I found the clinic, doctor, and staff to be very very caring and personable.

I'm 41, my hair started thinning around 35. My twin brother lost his hair before his 30's.

After having my head shaved, being checked by the nurse, etc. only then did I realize the doctor is not going to perform the procedure. It was going to be her "medical team" - all trained by her...

At this point I figured - based on what i had seen online (reviews), on instagram, and based on what i had seen in person - the people were very nice, friendly, the clinic was spotless, and i met and spoke with several people that were there for a FUE from the U.S (mostly New York).

Had I not had a very recent international trip prior to June 2022 I would have happily flown to Turkey... but the DR is 2 1/2 hours from me (I'm in South Florida) and I figured I could make this work.

I had previously contacted several centers in Turkey as well as Mexico...as the years went on my options were dwindling...some doctors/clinics wrote me back and said that i would need two surgeries or it was "too late"...

So with time running out, working a full time job, and my hair thinning rapidly I figured to do it.

I paid $4200 for 4000 grafts 

However, this included my wife and I staying 3 nights at an all inclusive resort on the beach. Transportation to and from the airport, to and from the hotel, PRP, blood analysis, meds, etc...

All of this went exactly as planned...

My biggest gripe was not knowing the doctor would perform the entire procedure (she provided oversight and did all of the incisions) and the "team" that did the procedure were talkative throughout the procedure and a little rude.... but otherwise the clinic - front office staff, nurse, and doctor were very very nice.

The procedure was long....almost 7 hours....

Here are some photos from before the procedure and monthly shots since then.

I am concerned that i still have so many spots that have not grown. The clinic has advised that it can take up to 18 months for the hair to grow on the crown....

All the photos I added are in order from - 

Hair before FUE

Post Op

Post Washing period

Then every month or so...

Most recent being last week.

As you can see, I still have patches in the areas where I was balding before... 

I waited cut my hair (the top) with clippers (a number 4) for the first time in Feb of this year (8 months post surgery). Prior to that, i had my hair cut with a scissors only.

Everyone tells me my hair looks great and I have "so much more hair" but although that may be true in some cases I am hoping the other areas will grow in.

My surgeon did NOT recommend Rogaine. and I'm contemplating starting to use it anyway in those areas...

Anyway, overall despite the somewhat rude technicians the doctor, staff, clinic and pricing was fine.

But all of that means nothing unless I get the results I want. 

Any input is appreciated. 

Thanks guys!

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PHOTOS - PLEASE READ-

I cannot label each photo so each photo you see is about a month or so apart (you will see 3-4 or more photos from the same "photo shoot" - if that is the case they were taken the same month or at the same time).

This way you see the Transplant in chronological order.

When you get to the photos where I am wearing a GRAY shirt and my hair has grown quite a bit (This is August of this year, ten months after my surgery and ONE month after starting the Finasteride at .005%)

At the very end (I should have put these first but began uploading and cannot redo) I will post a few photos of my hair prior to the transplant.

Thanks everyone! Your input is very much appreciated!

Chris

 

 

Edited October 9, 2023 by ChrisSFL
Hit Submit by accident. Needed to upload more photos.

[Hairwolf]

Doesn’t look that bad overall and imo looks pretty good when styled up. Your donor looks thick and this has given you good coverage, considering your starting point. A touch up in the areas you highlighted could work really well here- at a clinic with more Dr involvement of course.

[BaldReaper]

Looks fine

[ChrisSFL]

On 10/9/2023 at 10:21 AM, streethawk said:

Doesn’t look that bad overall and imo looks pretty good when styled up. Your donor looks thick and this has given you good coverage, considering your starting point. A touch up in the areas you highlighted could work really well here- at a clinic with more Dr involvement of course.

 

Thanks so much Streethawk. 

[ChrisSFL]

On 10/9/2023 at 1:33 PM, BaldV said:

Looks fine

Thanks BaldV!

[Baldingman01]

bro medical therapy is a must. Any clinic that is telling you not to take FIN or MIN is doing you a disservice. Please do your own research and get on meds to preserve your hair. 

[ChrisSFL]

22 hours ago, Baldingman01 said:

bro medical therapy is a must. Any clinic that is telling you not to take FIN or MIN is doing you a disservice. Please do your own research and get on meds to preserve your hair. 

Thank you. That's exactly what I'm doing now. Unfortunately I didn't start MIN until about two months out and FIN until 11 months out (after having a video chat with the Dr.) I worry that I waited too long and that's why a lot of my transplants did not "take". I am also using a REALLY low dose of FIN due to a concern of getting ED or other side effects (I suffered from ED for almost twenty years). I'm currently on .0075 FIN when the usual is .05 but (as stated above) I did read a research article stating .005 long term use will yield the same or similar results. Now I'm working my way as high as I can go (I started at .005 now at .0075 and will then go to .01 or to .025). I'm worried I missed my window to get these transplants growing (not just "my hair"). 

Interested to see what you and others have to say about the Finasteride dosage.

 

Thanks again.

[ChrisSFL]

Here is the article re Finasteride Dosing.

https://perfecthairhealth.com/topical-finasteride-the-best-dosage-for-maximizing-regrowth-and-minimizing-side-effects/