Before and After Minoxidil

[chrisis]

August 2011:



I started taking minoxidil earlier this year.

MASSOOVE SHED!!!!

And now:



Bottom line: minoxidil is your first line of defence against hair loss.

[JJacobs152]

Def some improvement in the frontal area. How is your crown looking? I'm thinking of ordering Dr. Klein's 15% Minoxidil spray which is mixed in with a few other components like Vitamin A, Corticosteroids, etc etc. I've been on Minox for almost a year, with about a break for one month. Just had a massive shed phase a few weeks ago, where I think I moved up a Norwood.

[chrisis]

My crown is fine, never had any trouble so far - touch norwood.

Yeah, I'm not sure the pictures fully convey it, but I know it's made a massive difference on my hairline. I would say it's revived the last few years of decline and helped prevent any further loss. I'm still seeking a hair transplant early next year, despite this.

[konfusion]

really glad that it has worked for you, my experience was a total disaster, to begin with I never had itch before minox even though I had a very oily scalp with acne, even after having been off it for the last 6-7 months itching is still there. I guess not everyone is a good candidate for minox and you should be happy that it has worked for you. are you supplementing minox with anything? fin?

[JJacobs152]

My crown is fine, never had any trouble so far - touch norwood.

Yeah, I'm not sure the pictures fully convey it, but I know it's made a massive difference on my hairline. I would say it's revived the last few years of decline and helped prevent any further loss. I'm still seeking a hair transplant early next year, despite this.

Nice, have you decided who you're going to go with? Coming stateside or stay locally? I was also thinking of getting it done around the same time, but I feel I should consider giving fin a shot. However, it's quite pain-staking when I look in the mirror and I see the "bridge" from the front of my hair slowly fading away.

[JJacobs152]

Actually, I think besides the people who've undergone HT, you and I probably post the most pictures of our hair, lol. Do you really think you need to go under the knife? Yes yes, you obviously know you hair structure/density/texture/growth/etc etc better, but you're probably at the most a NW 1.5.

Why not wait to see if go past NW2 or 3, and then go under? By the way, how old are you?

[chrisis]

I'm probably going to be getting it done in Europe. FUE in Amerca/Canada is a bridge I can't cross financially and FUT is too much of a compromise. Although my hair loss isn't as bad as others, I have my heart set on getting a full hairline back now, and I'm not going to be happy if I don't go for it. I think with a good transplant and continuing minoxidil, I should be set for a good decade or more, by which time there will surely be more options. If not, I'd just top up more FUE, probably using one of those new robotic machines by 2022.

[chrisis]

really glad that it has worked for you, my experience was a total disaster, to begin with I never had itch before minox even though I had a very oily scalp with acne, even after having been off it for the last 6-7 months itching is still there. I guess not everyone is a good candidate for minox and you should be happy that it has worked for you. are you supplementing minox with anything? fin?

Thanks Nah I tried finasteride and got bad and lingering side effects. Naturally I try to tell people to be careful when taking that drug now. I know it can mess you up, perhaps permanently.

[JJacobs152]

How much does a FUE procedure in Europe cost these days? I was looking up some costs here in the states, and it's crazy. With the number of grafts I've been recommended, and FUE costing around $10/graft we're looking just shy of $20,000. That unfortunately doesn't include tax, transportation, and misc costs. I laughed when I saw one surgeon charging $30/FUE graft as a VIP treatment.

[chrisis]

For top surgeons in Europe, they're charging the same for FUE as top US/Canadian are charging for FUT.

[AGL]

Chrisis

Based on ur pics I would say u dont need a transplant. Maybe one day but in my opinion not anytime soon. Keep on the monix as long as it's working for you. It can buy u time and there is so much in the works. As Spencer says, once your cut your cut. There is an emotional aspect to losing ur hair and there is also one after an HT. I am/was a Norwood 6 and I've had 2 HT, one just a few wks back and sometimes, very recently I question myself and asked why did I ever start this, I should have shaved my head and moved on, but like many I couldn't. I feel like for me as a Norwood 6, and after 2 procedures I'm still chasing, it's exhausting emotionally. I'm thinking now I need a third and I'm just 2 wks post-op. Your no where near a Norwood 6, u look great. Keep doing what your doing and wait because there is a lot on the horizon where u maybe able to avoid getting cut. My 2 cents, for what it's worth.

[win200]

Chris,

I'm sure you know this, but don't go near a HT until you've nearly completely stabilized any shedding. I had a NW1-2 hairline with some actiev shedding and I went under the knife. It ended up jumpstarting some increased shedding throughout the scalp--nothing perilous, mind you, but I've had to go on minoxidil and Propecia to try to stabilize it. If you're in your 20s/early 30s and have active shedding, a HT can really cause things to go haywire.

[Ramazan]

You seem to have gotten great results with Rogaine. You can definitely tell there is a big difference... Btw. I have gotten some really good results too, but still, after being on Rogaine for almost two years, I experience shedding whenever I apply the stuff to my scalp... Do you experience this too? Like hairs on your fingers whenever you rub it onto your scalp and such? I also experience shedding after the stuff has dried out on my scalp... I always go through my hair with my hand whenever the Rogaine has dried out and always lose around 20 hairs :S

[gutted]

You seem to have gotten great results with Rogaine. You can definitely tell there is a big difference... Btw. I have gotten some really good results too, but still, after being on Rogaine for almost two years, I experience shedding whenever I apply the stuff to my scalp... Do you experience this too? Like hairs on your fingers whenever you rub it onto your scalp and such? I also experience shedding after the stuff has dried out on my scalp... I always go through my hair with my hand whenever the Rogaine has dried out and always lose around 20 hairs :S

im beginning to think these type of reports are due to inconsistency in not applying to the affected area properly hence the minoxidil not reaching the follicle in a timeley & consistent fashion.(it could also be other factors though such as the strength of the minxodil may not be enough to combat your mpb)

do you have long hair?

[Ramazan]

im beginning to think these type of reports are due to inconsistency in not applying to the affected area properly hence the minoxidil not reaching the follicle in a timeley & consistent fashion.(it could also be other factors though such as the strength of the minxodil may not be enough to combat your mpb)

do you have long hair?

Medium. It's not long. But yeah I am finding it difficult to apply with this length. Hmm inconsistency may also be an issue...