Go for Propecia , Minoxidil or Hair Transplant?

[Constantine]

Hi,
I am a 36years old male who suffer quite massive hair thinning at my top scalp area and also some thinning at crown area...Now my hair barely can cover my top scalp..
I havent try any oral or topical medication.
Thus need advice from the forumers here..
Should I try taking propecia, apply minoxidil or go straight fro hair transplant?
I am confused on my decision now...need help pls...! Thks!

[747 Pilot]

Constantine,

What you need to do is have a consultation with one of the IAHRS recommended Doctors on this website. They will give you the professional advice that you need to make an informed decision about your hair. Good luck to you.

[Constantine]

Hi,
I am a 36years old male who suffer quite massive hair thinning at my top scalp area and also some thinning at crown area...Now my hair barely can cover my top scalp..
I havent try any oral or topical medication.
Thus need advice from the forumers here..
Should I try taking propecia, apply minoxidil or go straight fro hair transplant?
I am confused on my decision now...need help pls...! Thks!

Anyone can give me his views or advice on this?
I have been suffering from MPB for abt 6years...
Should I try out propecia / Minoxidil 1st before thinking about hair transplant?
Is hair transplant really a permanent and faster solution to hairloss?
Does taking propecia or applying minoxidil cause massive shedding during initial treatment phase?

[bighosedragger]

Constantine, why wouldn't you try both if you are thinning as bad as you say you are? Both meds are FDA approved for hair loss. Any of the side effects that you might get from the meds go away once you stop taking them. I also encourage you to see one of the Drs. that are recommended on this site. My main reason for recommending one of these Drs. is because they have more knowledge with both hair loss and the medication prescribed to slow the thinning process. In my opinion that will be the best way to make the right decision and the proper route for you to take! I wish you the best of luck and remember.....do your research!

[Constantine]

Constantine, why wouldn't you try both if you are thinning as bad as you say you are? Both meds are FDA approved for hair loss. Any of the side effects that you might get from the meds go away once you stop taking them. I also encourage you to see one of the Drs. that are recommended on this site. My main reason for recommending one of these Drs. is because they have more knowledge with both hair loss and the medication prescribed to slow the thinning process. In my opinion that will be the best way to make the right decision and the proper route for you to take! I wish you the best of luck and remember.....do your research!

Fyi, I came from an asian country...not a local here...just wanna know how effective is propecia and minoxidil? Cos hair transplant seem to be the faster treatment to hairloss...But I am worried about how successful is the HT surgery? Will my present hair follicles at my recipent area subject to risk of damage during the implanting process?

[SpencerKobren]

Medication Is Key | Audio response

[ThomasW]

Fyi, I came from an asian country...not a local here...just wanna know how effective is propecia and minoxidil? Cos hair transplant seem to be the faster treatment to hairloss...But I am worried about how successful is the HT surgery? Will my present hair follicles at my recipent area subject to risk of damage during the implanting process?

Hey Constantine, propecia(finasteride) definately works for most men as Spencer mentioned. Minoxodil doesn't have quite as high of a success rate but it works very well for some. If I was in your position I would probably start the "Big 3". Which is the use of finasteride, available as propecia or proscar(proscar having a generic alternative now in the US), Minoxodil, and Nizoral shampoo.(I'm not 100% sure what Nizoral does, please correct me if i'm wrong. Though from what I have read from here and other sites, it's a very mild DHT inhibitor and is an anti-dandruff which helps prevent hairs from becoming damaged by flaking.)

Possibly wait 9-12 months for any regrowth if there is any, and then choose to have a HT sugery.

I'm no doctor but I can only assume that if you cut into an area that could have possibly had regrowth with finasteride or minox, that hidden(miniaturized) follicle would become permanantly damaged and just replaced by the newly transplanted hair. I'm actually curious to know how that process would work. If anyone has some factual evidence on this I would greatly appreciate it.

[Constantine]

Hey Constantine, propecia(finasteride) definately works for most men as Spencer mentioned. Minoxodil doesn't have quite as high of a success rate but it works very well for some. If I was in your position I would probably start the "Big 3". Which is the use of finasteride, available as propecia or proscar(proscar having a generic alternative now in the US), Minoxodil, and Nizoral shampoo.(I'm not 100% sure what Nizoral does, please correct me if i'm wrong. Though from what I have read from here and other sites, it's a very mild DHT inhibitor and is an anti-dandruff which helps prevent hairs from becoming damaged by flaking.)

Possibly wait 9-12 months for any regrowth if there is any, and then choose to have a HT sugery.

I'm no doctor but I can only assume that if you cut into an area that could have possibly had regrowth with finasteride or minox, that hidden(miniaturized) follicle would become permanantly damaged and just replaced by the newly transplanted hair. I'm actually curious to know how that process would work. If anyone has some factual evidence on this I would greatly appreciate it.

Thks Thomas for your advice...
So you have been taking the BIG 3 ? How long have u been taking them?
And how is your results so far? Btw, do you experience side effects on the propecia which reduce sex drive? And also does topical minoxidil has any side effects? Anyone can give me more advice or their opinions here? Thks!

[Delphi]

Spencer Kobren usually suggests that you start with one treatment at a time to see if you are benefiting from it or not. I guess if you start all three at once you don't know which is working for you and you could be taking unnecessary medication indefinitely.From what I have read Nizirol shampoo should not be used everyday and has a negligible if any effect on hair loss.

[Constantine]

Spencer Kobren usually suggests that you start with one treatment at a time to see if you are benefiting from it or not. I guess if you start all three at once you don't know which is working for you and you could be taking unnecessary medication indefinitely.From what I have read Nizirol shampoo should not be used everyday and has a negligible if any effect on hair loss.

So which treatment should I start 1st?
Propecia or Minoxidil?
1mg Propecia or 5% minoxidil?

[ThomasW]

Thks Thomas for your advice...
So you have been taking the BIG 3 ? How long have u been taking them?
And how is your results so far? Btw, do you experience side effects on the propecia which reduce sex drive? And also does topical minoxidil has any side effects? Anyone can give me more advice or their opinions here? Thks!

I have been using minoxodil for about a month, and nizoral for just over a week. There are no side effects from minox other than possible irritation of the scalp, but the nizoral will help with that. Propecia's negative effects are very rare but it is possible to have a lower sex drive or testicular pain. These side effects are often temporary.

As for results, I have experienced an increase in shedding which recently started slowing down. I'm starting to see little hairs sprouting up all over the top of my scalp and even at my hairline now, just after a month. So minox is definately working for me. I have a scheduled appointment with a local dermatologist next week who will hopefully be able to give me a prescription for proscar.

Also, someone else mentioned not to use nizoral every day. This is correct, the bottle clearly says not to use it more than once every 3-4 days. I use it every monday and friday. That way I am less likely to miss a day and it just makes it easier.

[Constantine]

I have been using minoxodil for about a month, and nizoral for just over a week. There are no side effects from minox other than possible irritation of the scalp, but the nizoral will help with that. Propecia's negative effects are very rare but it is possible to have a lower sex drive or testicular pain. These side effects are often temporary.

As for results, I have experienced an increase in shedding which recently started slowing down. I'm starting to see little hairs sprouting up all over the top of my scalp and even at my hairline now, just after a month. So minox is definately working for me. I have a scheduled appointment with a local dermatologist next week who will hopefully be able to give me a prescription for proscar.

Also, someone else mentioned not to use nizoral every day. This is correct, the bottle clearly says not to use it more than once every 3-4 days. I use it every monday and friday. That way I am less likely to miss a day and it just makes it easier.

So applying minoxidil will normally cause a increase in shedding during initial phase as you mentioned...When you mentioned increase in shedding is about how many hairs drop? This symptom normally will last for how long?
Does propecia cause increase in shedding too?
Btw, propecia is recommended to consume at day or night time?
And how many times you apply your minoxidil ?
Thks!

[ThomasW]

So applying minoxidil will normally cause a increase in shedding during initial phase as you mentioned...When you mentioned increase in shedding is about how many hairs drop? This symptom normally will last for how long?
Does propecia cause increase in shedding too?
Btw, propecia is recommended to consume at day or night time?
And how many times you apply your minoxidil ?
Thks!

Not always, but usually minoxodil will cause some temporary shedding. Most of the time this just means its working, the weaker hair follices that have started to miniaturize are being pushed out and being replaced by stronger hairs. The shedding phase can last anywhere from 2 weeks to a couple of months, depending on how your using it. The shedding phase(this is just my personal opinion) will last a shorter period of time if you use it twice a day every day. I use minox twice a day currently, once in the morning after I shower and let my hair dry, and then again before I go to bed.

Propecia can also cause shedding but I think its less common. It would be consumed once a day, I'm not sure the time of day you take it really matters as long as your ingesting it every 24 hours. If you go to a doctor for a prescription I am sure he would give you all the small details you would need to know.

[Constantine]

Not always, but usually minoxodil will cause some temporary shedding. Most of the time this just means its working, the weaker hair follices that have started to miniaturize are being pushed out and being replaced by stronger hairs. The shedding phase can last anywhere from 2 weeks to a couple of months, depending on how your using it. The shedding phase(this is just my personal opinion) will last a shorter period of time if you use it twice a day every day. I use minox twice a day currently, once in the morning after I shower and let my hair dry, and then again before I go to bed.

Propecia can also cause shedding but I think its less common. It would be consumed once a day, I'm not sure the time of day you take it really matters as long as your ingesting it every 24 hours. If you go to a doctor for a prescription I am sure he would give you all the small details you would need to know.

So if i develop side effect from taking propecia or minoxidil, i can just stop it anytime right?
Will my hair condition go back to the status before consuming propecia or make me lose even more hair if i stop taking propecia halfway..?
The side effect of propecia is just sexdrive reduction ?
Will it cause difficulty in erection?

[Spex]

Best med IMHO is Propecia (Proscar 5mg) all the very best. Shedding can occur along with some sides but often calm down once body has some time to get used tot he new drug. Sides more than often happy to guy waiting for them ;-)