One photo/ one decision

[8868alex]

Chrisis -

I hear what you are saying mate and I know you've been back and forth with this. The suggestion to get a minaturisation study is good, but you are still a young man and even if you get a good feedback from this, it won't neccesarily mean you are in the clear as this could change in 5 - 10 years time. The crucial issue is then, what your plan of attack for arresting further loss will be? I'm so sorry to hear about your experience with Propecia but the bottom line is this - If a guy your age is not taking Finasteride (assuming you are a good responder), then not only do you risk shock loss, but you are leaving yourself exposed to the full expression of your genetics. You do a good job of styling and in all honesty, the person who will most notice any percieved post surgical improvement in terms of aesthetic will be you (which by the way, I believe to still be a valid reason to go ahead). If you don't have a family history of progressive hair loss and you are committed to it, then I say all the best. Perhaps Aderans, Histogen, Replicel, etc will arrive in time to help you out, should you proceed with the surgery and encounter problems on the other hand. I'm hoping this is the case.Whatever you do, get several proffessional opinions before moving forward.

As for you letting your decision be influenced in part to an online image?

"You are not you Facebook Profile Picture" (a little Tyler Durdenism, lol!.)


Seriously though, think it through!

[DepressedByHairLoss]

Originally Posted by Tracy C

The extent of my hair loss became evident to me almost two decades ago when I saw pictures from a wedding I attended. I had no idea it was as bad as it was before seeing those pictures. My life basically ended the day I saw those pictures. I cried for months/years afterwords and eventually became a hermit for almost a decade before I found help from the American Hair Loss Association.

Those last 2 sentences really hit home for me, and very accurately convey the depression and heartache that hair loss causes a person. I am living proof of that. Although I often force myself to go out, I most often need to get so drunk and/or high so that I can forget about hair loss and have a good time. I've done my best to try not to become a hermit, but there are still certain nights where I just curl up in my room, turn off the lights, and unfortunately wallow in my hair loss depression. I saw an article on here that was posted recently that talked about possible evolutionary theories of baldness and as usual, it was a cutesy article that made several joking references to baldness and used such idiotic and cutesy phrases as "empty pates" and "depilated domes" and of course had a photo of a bald guy with his eyes rolling up to his head in a comical way. Those types of articles that diminish hair loss really ****in piss me off. I wish the authors of those articles would read the emotion in those last 2 sentences that you wrote, Tracy, and then maybe they would get it through their empty dumb-ass heads that hair loss should be treated with compassion and tact, not as comedic fodder. Sorry everyone, I'm a bit off topic here, but an article that I saw here, coupled with Tracy's post, really made me want to write about something like this.

[UK_]

The only way we can get more help with hair loss is to make it into a problem that affects women - because nobody has ever given a flying **** about health problems for men or any form of male dominated death statistic.

[Follicle Death Row]

This is interesting. It's so true. Something similiar happened to me. I guess I always knew I was receding and thinning somewhat but a bad pic with some unfavourable lighting really showed me where I was headed. I also remember looking at my hair in the bathroom under the light and I could see right through my receded hairline to the back of my head more or less. That's when I thought fml I really am balding badly here. Hate getting my photo taken now but I'm too proud to hide under a hat too which I always think is a ridiculous solution anyway.

[gutted]

Originally Posted by UK_

The only way we can get more help with hair loss is to make it into a problem that affects women - because nobody has ever given a flying **** about health problems for men or any form of male dominated death statistic.

mpb does affect some women??? yet nothing good has materialised.
at least men have some partially "viable" treatments whereas women have to make do with minoxidil?.

the problem lies with the nature of the "disease" - no one knows what mpb is all about. They cant explain the disease so blame it on genetics. When you blame it on genetics the only good treatment option would be genetic therapy!

The puzzle is slowly being solved but there is waaaay more that needs to be done. Thankfully we dont need to wait until reserchers solve this puzzle.

[ccmethinning]

Originally Posted by UK_

The only way we can get more help with hair loss is to make it into a problem that affects women - because nobody has ever given a flying **** about health problems for men or any form of male dominated death statistic.

Yep, to society men are expendable and women are perishable.

The only men's health issue that gets serious attention is ED (because Viagara/Cialis/Levitra are HUGE money makers.)

[ccmethinning]

Originally Posted by chrisis

I don't know enough about what Dr Gho is doing. I'd consider it if I had more information.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xapYyuI0lVA

Video of Gho being interviewed by Spencer. Covers many of the basics.

[Tracy C]

Originally Posted by UK_

The only way we can get more help with hair loss is to make it into a problem that affects women...

You don't have to because it already does. 40% of those suffering with hair loss are in fact women. Nobody talks about it. Most women who are suffering with hair loss are hiding in some way or another - because women who are suffering with hair loss are usually treated like lepers.

[UK_]

Originally Posted by Tracy C

You don't have to because it already does. 40% of those suffering with hair loss are in fact women. Nobody talks about it. Most women who are suffering with hair loss are hiding in some way or another - because women who are suffering with hair loss are usually treated like lepers.

I am not saying it doesnt, what my previous post was addressing is the sheer disparity in healthcare attention between men and women, it's the same for charities, setting up a charity for women will receive more public/Government money than one set up for men, because women simply elicit more sympathy than men. That's just the way it is.

Take prostate cancer and breast cancer as an example, in the UK there are currently over 2000 breast cancer nurses with their own clinics, number of prostate cancer nurses? 1.

I wont go too deep into the disparity of research funds, but cancer research UK may aswel be called "Fcuk Male Cancer UK", because they received in 2001 £47,000 off the Government for prostate cancer research and a massive £1.4 million for breast cancer research.

It doesnt surprise me, the pink dot at the top of their logo makes it clear they are an institution aimed at helping women only.

http://raceforlife.cancerresearchuk.org/index.html

[mpb47]

Originally Posted by Tracy C

You don't have to because it already does. 40% of those suffering with hair loss are in fact women. Nobody talks about it. Most women who are suffering with hair loss are hiding in some way or another - because women who are suffering with hair loss are usually treated like lepers.

Who treats women with loss like lepers? Docs? or people in general?

Can't comment on Docs but I have a couple of friends with thinning problems and I have never seen anyone give them a hard time about it.