Treatment Protocol?

[tedwuji]

Foam minoxidil does not make your hair stick at all... also, this 15% cream dries up pretty quick and does not leave any stick residue... you can order it in any concentration minox (5, 10, 15, 20%) and have it compounded with anything you want (fin, AA, hydrocortisone, progesterone, etc...) I like it with hydrocortisone because I believe it really helps the scalp itch.

With 5 years of isolated Fin response data at my disposal I am considering adding Minox to see what added benefit it provides. I may even track my progress in a new thread over the course of a year or so. I already know Fin works for me, personally because I used it alone for so long. Pretty satisfied about that.

[jamesst11]

That's cool, yeah I figured you were having a pharmacy whip that up for you... it is quite the recipe. I was just concerned about putting things in my hair in the morning because my girl complains if my hair is too sticky or "wet" because she runs her hands through it most of the time, etc.
I wanna try Minox but it seems a bit more "involved" than just quickly poppin Fin when I take my standard multivitamin everyday. Would love to thicken the density in the front by noninvasive means.

also putting things in my hair at night might mess with my skin... for example if i go to bed with a bunch of pomade in my hair then it gets all over my forehead/pillow in the night, its asking for problems and has caused them in the past. does it give you any skin irritation? I am not sure if minox would be the same.

Foam minoxidil does not make your hair stick at all... also, this 15% cream dries up pretty quick and does not leave any stick residue... you can order it in any concentration minox (5, 10, 15, 20%) and have it compounded with anything you want (fin, AA, hydrocortisone, progesterone, etc...) I like it with hydrocortisone because I believe it really helps the scalp itch.

[tedwuji]

10-Year Finasteride Study

http://www.bernsteinmedical.com/research/10-year-finasteride-study-first-to-investigate-long-term-effects-and-safety/

Anyone have any experience beyond 5 years? I am hoping my next 5 are as successful as the previous.

[tedwuji]

I get a 15% minox compounded with .1% finasteride, hydrocortisone, AA, progesterone... I get it through murray ave. apothecary. I was on 5% foam for like 3 years, so I thought it couldn't hurt to up it and have it compounded. It is a cream. My hair is pretty diffuse, so I can rub it into the scalp. It actually makes my hair look thicker when some gets into it. It honestly feels friggin great. I lightly dermaroll before applying and for the first time in a year my scalp doesn't feel like a damn war zone. I think there are a few places you can get it too. Just need to fill out an online prescription.

That's cool, yeah I figured you were having a pharmacy whip that up for you... it is quite the recipe. I was just concerned about putting things in my hair in the morning because my girl complains if my hair is too sticky or "wet" because she runs her hands through it most of the time, etc.
I wanna try Minox but it seems a bit more "involved" than just quickly poppin Fin when I take my standard multivitamin everyday. Would love to thicken the density in the front by noninvasive means.

also putting things in my hair at night might mess with my skin... for example if i go to bed with a bunch of pomade in my hair then it gets all over my forehead/pillow in the night, its asking for problems and has caused them in the past. does it give you any skin irritation? I am not sure if minox would be the same.

[jamesst11]

I myself have considered minoxidil foam for added benefit. How is the Minox working for you? Is it sticky and gross? How do you get as high as 15%? Cool

I get a 15% minox compounded with .1% finasteride, hydrocortisone, AA, progesterone... I get it through murray ave. apothecary. I was on 5% foam for like 3 years, so I thought it couldn't hurt to up it and have it compounded. It is a cream. My hair is pretty diffuse, so I can rub it into the scalp. It actually makes my hair look thicker when some gets into it. It honestly feels friggin great. I lightly dermaroll before applying and for the first time in a year my scalp doesn't feel like a damn war zone. I think there are a few places you can get it too. Just need to fill out an online prescription.

[tedwuji]

Yeah, my crown is shot...it's become SO thin after 11 months on finasteride. I wish the drug worked for me, but it just caused horrible scalp conditions and very very rapid loss. I am trying RU and 15% minox right now.

I myself have considered minoxidil foam for added benefit. How is the Minox working for you? Is it sticky and gross? How do you get as high as 15%? Cool

[jamesst11]

Yeah my crown looks 100% normal even upon close inspection. The scalp you see might just be my hair "whorl" that ive had since childhood. I have no visible crown loss and i only know its had 10% reduction in density due to microscopic inspection by a hair surgeon (minaturization mapping).

I am glad i have not yet gotten a transplant, but my high hairline has always kinda bugged me.

Yeah, my crown is shot...it's become SO thin after 11 months on finasteride. I wish the drug worked for me, but it just caused horrible scalp conditions and very very rapid loss. I am trying RU and 15% minox right now.

[tedwuji]

It was so weird reading your post, because your hair loss is like IDENTICAL to mine, with a little more thinning in the crown. It is like looking at pictures of myself. I also want to go the transplant route, but agree with these other guys. It's just too risky. You are transplanting into still a lot of native hair. I learned my lesson the HARD way, by getting one and losing a LOT of hair because of it. An HT, like Joe and spex and other mentors say, should be like a last resort. Exhaust all your possibilities first, because one of them may work well, and then you will save a lot of time, hassle and money. I am where you are at right now. I can tell how you style your hair exactly like me too, that it can get frustrating, always worrying about it.

Yeah my crown looks 100% normal even upon close inspection. The scalp you see might just be my hair "whorl" that ive had since childhood. I have no visible crown loss and i only know its had 10% reduction in density due to microscopic inspection by a hair surgeon (minaturization mapping).

I am glad i have not yet gotten a transplant, but my high hairline has always kinda bugged me.

[tedwuji]

Great advice given to Ted' , Joe Tillman!
Hey Ted' ~ Joe certainly does KNOW what he's talking about and his advice to you is very commonsense!!
It was very good and REAL commonsense advice Joe!!

Yes, due to Joe's advice from here and thru his website i will not be getting a hair transplant this month.

I will most likely wait until I am 35 and reassess my transplant options.

[jamesst11]

Hello, my name is Adam and this is my introduction and story. I am a 32 year old guy. I first began noticing hair loss at age 25 or 26. I was nearly 27 when I started finasteride. It has halted my loss almost completely and that is after some minor reverse miniaturization during the first two years of use. My side effects have been minor to zero. I will attach a word doc with my family history and more details about my finasteride experience. I will also attach some photos of my hair. My microscopic hair mapping for miniaturization and hair bulk analysis showed 38% loss in density in the leading 3 inches of the front of my scalp. I have about 20% miniaturization on the top of my head and roughly 10% on my crown. The top and crown pretty much appear normal with no loss. The front has clearly lost density but the hairline itself is still pretty much in it's original starting place, despite the lost density. I have always had a naturally high hairline and as you can see by some of my photos I can still style my hair with wax or pomade to maintain a relatively full look. However, this is only an illusion... especially in the frontal area.

I am not sure if I should get a transplant now or wait until I lose more hair. I want some advice on my most appropriate treatment protocol. Any constructive input would be much appreciated. If a posted photo is NOT dated then assume it is recent as most photos here are.

Thank you.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]44667[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]44679[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]44680[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]44681[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]44682[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]44683[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]44684[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]44685[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]44686[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]44678[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]44676[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]44668[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]44669[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]44670[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]44671[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]44672[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]44673[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]44674[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]44675[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]44687[/ATTACH]

It was so weird reading your post, because your hair loss is like IDENTICAL to mine, with a little more thinning in the crown. It is like looking at pictures of myself. I also want to go the transplant route, but agree with these other guys. It's just too risky. You are transplanting into still a lot of native hair. I learned my lesson the HARD way, by getting one and losing a LOT of hair because of it. An HT, like Joe and spex and other mentors say, should be like a last resort. Exhaust all your possibilities first, because one of them may work well, and then you will save a lot of time, hassle and money. I am where you are at right now. I can tell how you style your hair exactly like me too, that it can get frustrating, always worrying about it.

[Artista]

Great advice given to Ted' , Joe Tillman!
Hey Ted' ~ Joe certainly does KNOW what he's talking about and his advice to you is very commonsense!!
It was very good and REAL commonsense advice Joe!!

[tedwuji]

I'm answering after Ted sent me his photos as well as a very detailed background on what he's done to fight his hair loss as well as family history.

Well, here is my thought. Don't get any surgery. Your hairline looks great. It is natural and frames your face well. Nothing can imitate nature as well as nature. You are taking a gamble with any surgery. Besides, being 32 you look like you are 25 as is. The top looks very full and given your age I'd be surprised if you even hit a NW3A much less a 5A as long as you maintain your medical regimen. In your email to me you asked if it were ok to go ahead and get a lower, dense pack NW2 hairline. Your hairline is already a NW2 and to make it any more aggressive right now is not only messing with perfection, it's just downright greedy

I would avoid any more consultations, and avoid the forums. Just move on and if you see things progressing THEN you can come back and start talking about options.

Ah... great reply, Joe. Your advice is directly inline with what IAHRS surgeon Dr. Robert Haber told me. Which was to wait because there's not enough loss.

I admit to some hair greed, but being 32 and a half (25% the way thru my 30s) i am feeling a bit safe in any approach i may take because of such a good response to finasteride. My loss since 2010 when i started the drug has been figuratively or maybe literally 0. Truly halted and in combination with my age makes me feel greedy and "brave". Thanks again for the reply!

PS your website rocks and was easy to use!

[JoeTillman]

I'm answering after Ted sent me his photos as well as a very detailed background on what he's done to fight his hair loss as well as family history.

Well, here is my thought. Don't get any surgery. Your hairline looks great. It is natural and frames your face well. Nothing can imitate nature as well as nature. You are taking a gamble with any surgery. Besides, being 32 you look like you are 25 as is. The top looks very full and given your age I'd be surprised if you even hit a NW3A much less a 5A as long as you maintain your medical regimen. In your email to me you asked if it were ok to go ahead and get a lower, dense pack NW2 hairline. Your hairline is already a NW2 and to make it any more aggressive right now is not only messing with perfection, it's just downright greedy

I would avoid any more consultations, and avoid the forums. Just move on and if you see things progressing THEN you can come back and start talking about options.

[Artista]

Im glad that you know a bit about Pilofocus and Dr. Wesley's Phase Testings which is ongoing of course.
HOPEFULLY, his 'new science' turns out to be verified as a 'game-changer'
Until that time,,lets ALL of us live our lives as positive as we all can!!
No reason not too.
I wish my hair looked like yours Ted' ,,lol,,but true.

[tedwuji]

HELLO Tedwuji !
Im here-lol.

Ted' your hair looks GREAT now!
Good for you!!
I too have been on Finasteride. I have been using that med' since Aug. 2013
'My side effects have been minor to zero' as well!

Now that you are 32 years old, you are starting to have proper and GOOD foresight now, the ability to predict the consequences of your actions.
That being said, you would not ALLOW hairloss to ruin your emotions and your life-which is great.
To your point,,,
It doesn't seem like you really need to have hair transplantation as yet but that is really up to you ..
If you would like, set up a consultation with Dr. Carlos Wesley, ("Pilofocus").
He is there in New York City, Manhattan!

He is VERY SINCERE and would not fool you into thinking that it was seriously needed .
He would give you very good objective advice.
(I have been the second patient of his Pilofocus 3rd phase testings~ last Nov. 2015)

Cheers !

Yeah thanks for the reply bro.... i would love to get a scarless procedure like PiloFocus with some possible regen... assuming it all pans out that way!