Using propecia if you're not balding?

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  • optimisticyouth
    Member
    • Jul 2013
    • 45

    Using propecia if you're not balding?

    Hey guys! Went to a hair transplant doctor today to get my hair checked out. He tugged and looked at my hair. Long story short, he said he doesn't believe I'm balding. I feel a little bit better, considering this is the second doctor who's told me this, but this doctor offered to prescribe me propecia just so I would stop worrying about my hair all the time.

    Anyway, my question is, other than the regularly discussed about side effects, what harm could taking propecia as a preemptive defense against balding bring? Could it, for example, cause hair sensitivity to dht in the long run?

    Btw, here's a bonus question. The hairs on the lower back part of my head are thick, black, and curly. The hairs everywhere else are kinda medium brown, straighter, and somewhat thinner. The doctor said it's normal for hair thickness and texture to vary across the scalp. What are you opinions on this?

    Thanks!
  • Julian P
    Member
    • May 2013
    • 34

    #2
    If you're not balding, I wouldn't understand why you want to take the risk of getting side-effects (not matter if it's a 1% chance or a 10% chance). If in time you really see you're hair receiding, and I guess you'll watch it closely, you can still consider it.

    Also, you could do a lot of fun things with the money saved from not buying these pills. Have fun with that !

    Comment

    • Valerie
      Doctor Representative
      • Jul 2013
      • 10

      #3
      Propecia

      If I was the patient, I would never want to take a pill unless it is needed. Propecia is awesome but- if it was me, I would wait until I had early signs of hair loss to start it. What about other guys in your family? Brothers, dad, uncles etc. What's their hair like?

      And yes - it is normal to have different textured hair on different areas of your scalp. For instance, you will notice everyone's hairline has finer hair than other parts of their scalp.

      Good Luck to you!
      I am a representative/patient advisor for Dr. Glenn Charles. All of my posts are my own personal opinion based on working in the industry for the past several years.
      www.charlesmedicalgroup.com valerie@charleshair.com

      Comment

      • optimisticyouth
        Member
        • Jul 2013
        • 45

        #4
        Well, as far as family history goes, only my paternal grandfather is bald. My dad passed away when he was 33 so it was far too early to tell how he was gonna end up, but everyone I know says he had a head full of curly hair and none of his brothers are balding. As far as my mothers side goes, its ridiculous. Absolutely no hair loss. We have a bunch of NW1 80 year olds.

        The reason I'm worried is because a friend began to lose his hair about a year ago which caused me to hyper analyze my hair. Eventually I began to think I was thinking on top but idk.

        The reason I wanna take fin is for the peace of mind. Knowing that I'm doing something to prevent it would take a load of my back. I'm just afraid of it backfiring and accelerating hair loss lol. I'm also aware that fin sometimes causes a shed, so I'm kinda prepared for that, I just don't want to regret my decision.

        Comment

        • Ktownmatti
          Member
          • Oct 2012
          • 81

          #5
          Jesus man... Atleast wait until you actually have SOME sign of hair loss.

          There is no need to subject yourself to risk needlessly. Absolute insanity.

          Comment

          • Thinning@30
            Senior Member
            • Mar 2010
            • 316

            #6
            It is crazy to take Propecia if you're not balding. The drug can have serious side effects (google it and read all the horror stories), not to mention the fact that it is expensive and most likely would not be covered by your insurance. Personally, I don't think it would be ethical for a doctor to prescribe Propecia if a patient was not balding or experiencing a prostate condition.

            It is great that two doctors looked at your hair and confirmed that you are not balding. I think you should break out the champagne and congratulate yourself on your good luck. If you are concerned about hair loss due to a family history, monitor your hair, and perhaps go back to the same doctors in a year and reassess. Continue monitoring on yearly or six month basis. MPB is almost always a very gradual process. If you ever do develop signs of hair loss you can always decide then whether Propecia is worth the risk.

            Comment

            • optimisticyouth
              Member
              • Jul 2013
              • 45

              #7
              Thanks guys, I appreciate all of your input. I think I may get on a very small dosage just in case. I'm think about trying .25 mg of fin twice a week like some of the posters have done on this board.

              Comment

              • optimisticyouth
                Member
                • Jul 2013
                • 45

                #8
                Here are some pics immediately after a shower. Just some disclaimers, i have a double whirl on my crown and a cowlick along the right side of my hairline. I also posted some pics of the donor area of my head for comparison. What do you guys think?
                Attached Files

                Comment

                • hellouser
                  Senior Member
                  • May 2012
                  • 4419

                  #9
                  Originally posted by optimisticyouth
                  Here are some pics immediately after a shower. Just some disclaimers, i have a double whirl on my crown and a cowlick along the right side of my hairline. I also posted some pics of the donor area of my head for comparison. What do you guys think?
                  Shave it all off and give me your follicles. Youre nowhere near the depressing point that some of us are at. You are living a life of privilege. Come the day you hit NW3 is when youre going to really start shitting bricks and hope that someone, somewhere will give a shit about your hair loss.. god forbid for your sake that it never happens to you.

                  Seeing some of the young guys on this forum come in with so much paranoia makes me want to run out to research clinics and rip everyones head off for working at a snails pace to find a viable treatment for actual hair loss sufferers.

                  Thank your lucky stars you have the peace of mind to go out looking and feeling good while women check you out. The rest of us have to live a life of complete bullshit.

                  Comment

                  • BigThinker
                    Senior Member
                    • Oct 2012
                    • 1507

                    #10
                    Originally posted by optimisticyouth
                    Here are some pics immediately after a shower. Just some disclaimers, i have a double whirl on my crown and a cowlick along the right side of my hairline. I also posted some pics of the donor area of my head for comparison. What do you guys think?
                    Looks thin, but you could have naturally thin hair for all I know. You should know how your hair has been in the past and how it is now. If you do have MPB, it's diffuse thinning, so the doc can't do much with you.

                    Go see a dermatologist if you're not sure.

                    Comment

                    • optimisticyouth
                      Member
                      • Jul 2013
                      • 45

                      #11
                      Thank you guys for the prompt response!

                      Hellouser, I honestly wish you success. I've been keeping an eye on your dermaroller thread and am hopeful that you guys get positive results!

                      Bigthinker, I've always had thinish hair. Everyone from my maternal side, including my teenage sister, have full heads of hair, but thin. That's what bugs me though because if I were to be a diffuse thinner I wouldn't know until it's too late. That's why idk whether to act or not.

                      I probably have ocd or something lol

                      Comment

                      • optimisticyouth
                        Member
                        • Jul 2013
                        • 45

                        #12
                        Also hellouser, or anyone who's looking for a bit of optimism, just because you're going bald does not mean that all hope for attracting girls is gone. I have a step cousin who is 30 years old, probably somewhere between a NW4 or 5, wears thick rimmed glasses, and quite honestly is a nerdy looking fellow. Anyway, despite all this, this dude has some serious game. He's an engineer and is doing pretty well for himself, but is in no way rich or anything like that. This guy just attracts people with his personality.

                        I know it's become somewhat of a trite saying, but girls really are attracted to confidence. That's why I always say, if you don't got, fake it till you do. I'm sure if he could he would rather have a full head of hair, but it hasn't slowed him down in any way whatsoever. So everyone, try to stay optimistic about life. Good things will come.

                        Comment

                        • Tracy C
                          Senior Member
                          • Sep 2011
                          • 3083

                          #13
                          Originally posted by optimisticyouth
                          I know it's become somewhat of a trite saying, but girls really are attracted to confidence.
                          It's true. But sadly even in a forum called "The Bald Truth" there are many members who are simply not interested in truth of any kind. They want anything and everything but the truth.

                          BTW, You are not balding. You do not need Propecia. If you really want to take something that might help prevent it, take a good quality saw palmetto complex along with a good quality "hair, skin & nails" multivitamin that contains biotin.

                          Comment

                          • optimisticyouth
                            Member
                            • Jul 2013
                            • 45

                            #14
                            Thanks Tracy. I guess I'll just try to relax for a while. I'll continue to post pics to get everyone's opinion in a few months though lol.

                            Comment

                            • 35YrsAfter
                              Doctor Representative
                              • Aug 2012
                              • 1418

                              #15
                              Originally posted by optimisticyouth
                              Hey guys! Went to a hair transplant doctor today to get my hair checked out. He tugged and looked at my hair. Long story short, he said he doesn't believe I'm balding. I feel a little bit better, considering this is the second doctor who's told me this, but this doctor offered to prescribe me propecia just so I would stop worrying about my hair all the time.

                              Anyway, my question is, other than the regularly discussed about side effects, what harm could taking propecia as a preemptive defense against balding bring? Could it, for example, cause hair sensitivity to dht in the long run?

                              Btw, here's a bonus question. The hairs on the lower back part of my head are thick, black, and curly. The hairs everywhere else are kinda medium brown, straighter, and somewhat thinner. The doctor said it's normal for hair thickness and texture to vary across the scalp. What are you opinions on this?

                              Thanks!
                              I am the photographer here at Dr. Cole's office. Your hair looks fine. Let me give you an example... My wife has a low hairline and very thick hair. If I were to wet her hair and take a photo under the lighting you used, I could make her hair appear thin in a photo.

                              If you are in the Atlanta area, call us so you can stop by. We will give you a free HairCheck. This measures hair mass across specific points on your scalp. By comparing the hair mass index, we get an accurate picture of what's happening with your hair, if anything.

                              35YrsAfter also posts as CITNews and works at Dr. Cole's office
                              Cole Hair Transplant
                              1045 Powers Place
                              Alpharetta, Georgia 30009
                              Phone 678-566-1011
                              Please feel free to call or email me with any questions.
                              Last edited by 35YrsAfter; 02-22-2015, 04:22 PM.

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