Am I definitely going bald?

[LT56]

Scottishlad, don't panic. There's a number of potential treatments in the pipeline. And currently, we have finasteride (although you'll have to make a decision on whether you want to risk the potential side effects; personally I haven't had any and I've been on it since 1999) and also Dr. Gho's hair stemcell transplantation (a form of hiar multiplication, which I will likely be getting in September). In the pipeline are Dr. Gho's Hair Stemcell Injection (similar to hair stemcell transplantation, but MUCH less invasive), Histogen (like you mentioned), Aderans and Replicell.
I'm just telling you all this because I don't want you to go through the hellish panic I went through at age 29. The's hope, lots of hope.

[Scottishlad]

Scottishlad, don't panic. There's a number of potential treatments in the pipeline. And currently, we have finasteride (although you'll have to make a decision on whether you want to risk the potential side effects; personally I haven't had any and I've been on it since 1999) and also Dr. Gho's hair stemcell transplantation (a form of hiar multiplication, which I will likely be getting in September). In the pipeline are Dr. Gho's Hair Stemcell Injection (similar to hair stemcell transplantation, but MUCH less invasive), Histogen (like you mentioned), Aderans and Replicell.
I'm just telling you all this because I don't want you to go through the hellish panic I went through at age 29. The's hope, lots of hope.

All that sounds promising. Personally I am not sure I want to risk finasteride. How long do you think before these treatments are readily available and how successful do you think they will be?

[LT56]

All that sounds promising. Personally I am not sure I want to risk finasteride. How long do you think before these treatments are readily available and how successful do you think they will be?

The others guys in this forum would be able to tell you better. I think Histogen is about 3 years away and it has something like an improvement in the mid-thirty-percent area, from what I remember. I think there is the possibility of it being compounding over multiple treatments, though. As per Aderans and Replicel, remember that research projects, especially ones requiring regulation by government, tend to stretch way past projected dates, so the dates the companies give out for those two treatments are probably optimistic. I keep telling a lot of young guys the same thing: if I were you, I would pay attention to my studies so you can get a good job and get knowlegeable about investing, because some of these treatments will be expensive when they come out. It will at least give you a sense of control and comfort if you have a "hair fund" that you can use for when these treatments are out.

[Scottishlad]

The others guys in this forum would be able to tell you better. I think Histogen is about 3 years away and it has something like an improvement in the mid-thirty-percent area, from what I remember. I think there is the possibility of it being compounding over multiple treatments, though. As per Aderans and Replicel, remember that research projects, especially ones requiring regulation by government, tend to stretch way past projected dates, so the dates the companies give out for those two treatments are probably optimistic. I keep telling a lot of young guys the same thing: if I were you, I would pay attention to my studies so you can get a good job and get knowlegeable about investing, because some of these treatments will be expensive when they come out. It will at least give you a sense of control and comfort if you have a "hair fund" that you can use for when these treatments are out.

I actually do have a bit of money saved away. I was thinking about a potential hair transplant in the future but maybe another treatment may become available. I really do hope so!

[user1991]

I know this may be a bit off topic but was wondering if finasteride has a possibility of making hair loss worse?

[drybone]

I know this may be a bit off topic but was wondering if finasteride has a possibility of making hair loss worse?

I think the stats show about 1 per hundred Double check.

4% have noticeable side effects so something as drastic as making the hair loss worse would have to be due to some allergic reaction. The medication itself cannot induce permanent hair loss.

[Scottishlad]

I think the stats show about 1 per hundred Double check.

4% have noticeable side effects so something as drastic as making the hair loss worse would have to be due to some allergic reaction. The medication itself cannot induce permanent hair loss.

I still think 4% is quite risky. That's every 1 out of 25.

[BigThinker]

I still think 4% is quite risky. That's every 1 out of 25.

Then you are the most risk averse person ever.

Also, if you're not on finasteride to begin with, you have a 1 out of 1 chance of your hair loss worsening. So....

[LT56]

I actually do have a bit of money saved away. I was thinking about a potential hair transplant in the future but maybe another treatment may become available. I really do hope so!

Yeah, I would keep saving and investing. For example, the hair multiplication procedure I'm going for in the fall is $12,000 including airfare. I think you'll be ok. We have good treatments now and very good ones coming.