Last Stand for the Last Strand!

[TheSphinx]

...well it's not really that bad, but I would like for you all to have a look at the glorious hairline war taking place on my dome.

I have been lurking for about a week, having just got a prescription for Propecia from a local plastic surgeon and still being unsure if I really wanted to go down this path. He said he expected to be able to fill in the front with about 800 grafts, but I would really like to consider surgery after exhausting other resources. After reading some of the success stories, I am certain that I need to start on finasteride. soon.

However, I would like you all to take a look and give me your opinions on whether or not to go ahead with minoxidil. and nizoral. I'm guessing that it's probably in my best interest to start with the big 3 right off, but I am definitely open to your opinions.

Anyone out there with a similar pattern of baldness who has had some success?

Thanks for the input! Looking forward to putting up results as they arrive in the next several months.

 

[TheSphinx]

And here are the backside shots.

The top and crown area of my head are a little thinner than when I was younger, but the surgeon said I would not need any grafts in this area at the moment.

Sorry if the long hair makes it difficult to judge!

 

[GeminiX]

I would hold off from having a transplant until you're sure your hair-loss has been stabilised by medication, also 800 grafts will not really make a huge difference and you're likely to be disappointed with the results.

That said, while your hair has thinned, it's more than enough to not appear "bald"

 

[TheSphinx]

Thanks Gemini! As I mentioned in my first post, I really would like for a transplant to be my last option (hopefully years down the road, if at all). I don't think I realized I could get a prescription for Propecia from a dermatologist, so I just went to a local plastic surgeon for that purpose and ended up getting evaluated anyway.

Oh, I guess I should add that I am 25 and have baldness on my mother's side of the family while my father's side typically have high hairlines. If I can thicken a bit, add some around the temples or at the very least keep what I've got 'til 30 or so, I think a daily regimen would be worth the effort.

Any thoughts on adding minoxidil. at this point? I do occasionally have some very small and soft stubble-like hairs that grow on my barren temples, but these typically get rubbed off when I'm washing my face.

Best,
Sphinx

 

[Jokerman]

Propecia - 1mg daily for a year. Your density might not improve, but at least you'll maintain. Pay no attention to sheds. Some people get them, others don't. If you get one, remember that it means f*** all and your hair will either return to baseline or improve once it's over.

Don't start minoxidil until you know exactly how you're responding to finasteride (let the finasteride go for itself for at least a year). If you start them both at the same time you won't know which one is maintaining/growing your hair. minoxidil is a hassle so don't start it until you absolutely need it and know exactly how you're responding to finasteride. There's a chance (like me) you might not need it.

Nizoral every three days is essential. Start that right away along with finasteride.

 

[TheSphinx]

Sounds like a good approach. I wear my hair up for about 6-8 hours a day for work, and so my hair seems to shed a lot when I remove the hairband or when I use the shower afterward.

I think the highest shed I have had for a day so far has been around 50, maybe a few more than that. I'm also not the best about brushing my hair every day, so I know I will pick up some shed hairs from previous days if I happen to forget to brush.

In looking at the pictures it seems that sides of my hair come forward from my sideburns a good bit as well which I think adds to the perception of my receded temples.

Will I potentially lose progress by not applying minoxidil. to my hairline at this time, or will a year make little difference in the chances of cessation/regrowth of the hair in this area?

 

[GeminiX]

Shedding always seems worse when you have long hair; every time I brush (daily) I can make a hairball which would choke a bison.

 

[TheSphinx]

Haha. Some of mine I confuse for a bison.

 

[TheSphinx]

Also, from reading the site it seems unitedpharmacy and inhousepharmacy are two legitimate sites to order from?

I'm going to try and see if the Doctor will add a Proscar option to my prescription. If not I may try one of the sites above. Propecia at the pharmacy is $73 for a month currently. :thumbdown2:

 

[Jokerman]

In looking at the pictures it seems that sides of my hair come forward from my sideburns a good bit as well which I think adds to the perception of my receded temples.

Those are your temple points. They might make the recession look a bit worse, but it's probably a good thing you still got them. Some people lose them as well as their hair starts to thin and frankly I think it looks worse without them (it doesn't frame your face as well in my opinion).

Will I potentially lose progress by not applying minoxidil. to my hairline at this time, or will a year make little difference in the chances of cessation/regrowth of the hair in this area?

Since you're only 25 I think you still got time to hold off for a year. The younger you are the better you seem to respond to treatment. All in all it's your choice. If you absolutely want regrowth and aren't okay with just maintaining, it wouldn't be a bad thing to start with minoxidil right away as well.

And I absolutely agree with GeminiX! The longer your hair the worse you'll perceive your shedding.

 

[TheSphinx]

Cool. Thanks for all of the input so far!

It definitely took me a while (and here I am still fishing for confidence-boosters) to get to the point of where I went out and got a prescription. I suppose 1 less thing in my routine wouldn't be such a bad idea.

I spent the last few hours cleaning around the house and found some pictures from around the 19-20 year mark. My hair was pretty short then. I will see if I can find some way to post them up for comparison.

Documenting the changes of different diets and fitness routines was a lot of fun in the past, so I'm kind of looking forward to capturing the bi-weekly or perhaps monthly changes with finasteride.

 

[TheGrayMan2001]

Definitely get on finasteride and test it out.

Add minoxidil after 4-5 months to a year.

 

[skelll]

I would get on the BIG 3 immediately but thats just me, I am a little bit over the top to be Frank. Good luck to ya pal. I take propeica and for 2-3 wks or so I couldnt get a boner, ride it out most likely go away. Stay off the hard drugs!!!

 

[TheSphinx]

Thanks for the input, skelll. I just found a few pictures from 2004. I'll post them to give you an idea of the steady march of my hairline.

I have always had a bit of recession at the temples, but looking at these photos (19 years old) it seems I have lost a bit of ground.

Sorry about the size/resolution. I think I took these with a camcorder?

Check 'em out and let me know what you think!

 

[TheSphinx]

I'm going to attempt to get my doctor to change my prescription to Proscar tomorrow. Hopefully if I bring him some info. on the drug and explain my intent is to save some cash, he will be down for writing it.

I definitely want to hear if anyone else thinks I should pick up minoxidil. with the finasteride. and nizoral. based on these pictures. I'm in no rush to develop a hefty morning and evening hair routine, but I do have patches of tiny hairs on both temples (a lot like the fine hairs that grow on your ear) and would be thrilled to get some fill in the next year or two...or five if it takes that long.

 

[TheGrayMan2001]

If you aren't too worried about it right now, you might just wanna stick with finasteride for 6 months. At the very least it should stop your hair loss, it isn't very aggressive--you're not going NW6 in a year or anything as far as I can tell.

See how the results are in six months and then decide if you want to get on minoxidil or not.

My hairloss has pretty much stopped now at the 6 month mark but my temples are not really growing back in...they might if I give it another 6 months but I have started kirkland minoxidil at night to see if that helps any.

 

[TheSphinx]

Okay.

Attempted to sell the Doctor on a prescription for proscar to save some cash, but he said he wouldn't do it as it wasn't approved to treat hairloss.

So instead I snagged finpecia 1mg today, so I expect I will start in a couple of weeks when it arrives. I will try and keep a picture log (bi-weekly or monthly) to track my progress.

I think in the time since my last post I've done a bit of reflecting and can accept going bald if/when it arrives. I suppose I'll be satisfied taking steps to salvage it now and happily embrace whatever hair I have down the road knowing I took all of the steps I could afford at the time.

Good luck to everyone else in their follicular journeys. I'll figure out a standard space to take pics and post some baselines in a few weeks.

 

[budwardo]

your hair looks fine. cut it shorter. I took propecia and it made me tired. I loose 50 hairs while brushing. I posted here and a few people said my hair is fine. you looked better with short hair, just my opinion. I have a 9 inch scar on the top of my head. if i did not have the scar I would just buzz my head.

 

[TheSphinx]

Happy New Year ladies and fellows! May 2011 bring us a few more active follicles.

Just took my first tab - Finpecia 1mg. I'll post periodically with updates.

 

[TheSphinx]

10 Days in. Currently on 1mg Finpecia.

Hair texture seems like it has improved a bit.

Libido is still strong, no nipple tenderness nor ball ache.

Nizoral will arrive in the mail by early next week. Tried it about 5 years ago when I was younger and thought it seemed to make my hair a bit dry, but I'm expecting good things.

I will try and post pics at the end of the month.