Dr Feller & Spex Consultation in London

[chrisis]

Just a note for Spex and Dr Feller to say thanks for their advice today at the consultations in London.

I loved Dr Feller's first remark, "you're just a kid!", but beneath the "illusion" created by the way I style my hair, I was recommended 2000 grafts in the front.

I was impressed by the fact I didn't feel pressured or like they were pushing me into making any kind of decision. These are two very ethical guys that do need to make a "sale", because their work sells itself.

I took my Dad down as well and he had the same impression. He was also impressed by Spex's hair to the extent he had doubts it was actually a transplant at all. I assured him the proof was all online!

Now I have much thinking to do before I decide on any course of action.

Thank you again.

[Folly]

Hey Chrisis,

I had a consultation today with Dr.Feller/Spex as well at 6pm. I actually saw you leaving the room with your dad. I was the dude outside trying to fill out the questionnaire. Glad to hear you had a good consultation.

The doc recommended 1,000 grafts to my hairline. Maybe a bit more if i wanted to take care of future balding areas too. Interestingly, he immediately looked at my donor hair and said i wasn't a candidate for FUE, due to my fine hair texture. He said the follicles would be too sensitive to trauma from FUE. Something my last HT surgeon didn't seem to pick up on. Then i told Dr. Feller about my failed FUE surgery last year and he wasn't surprised i had a bad outcome. So strip it is. He said i was a good candidate for strip as i have a lax scalp and don't have advanced hair loss in my family. Think i'll be going to NYC at the end of this year to get the work done. Unfortunately i've had to come off the propecia due to persistent libido problems, so i'm a little worried about future loss. Hope i get back to a normal libido soon. Have your sides worn off yet ?

Anyway, Dr. Feller was very informative and funny. Made me feel very comfortable, made a lot of jokes and answered all my questions. Spex was awesome too, as usual. So i second your praise for Dr. Feller/Spex.

[chrisis]

Hey Folly,

Yeah spex mentioned you were the next client! I would've said hi but I wasn't 100% sure - your hair looks really good but I figure you're in the same position as me.

If I do surgery I'll be going later on this year too. My plan is to get it done over autumn/winter, so it's starting to look good by summer 2013.

Would be good to keep in touch with you

[chrisis]

Oh I didn't respond to the side effects question...

No the side effects still haven't worn off. When did you quit? It was suggested to give Clarityn/loratadine a try, and that seemed to help but maybe it was just a good spell. I have good and bad days, but mostly bad.

A guy in the chat on Sunday night said to give it 9 months....

Are you gonna get any tests run? This is happening way too often, especially to us younger guys, for us to be in some apparently insignificant minority. I get so angry at people who pretend there's not a big problem here. There really is and the sooner it's exposed, the better. Matter of time imo.

[Folly]

Yeah spex mentioned you were the next client! I would've said hi but I wasn't 100% sure

Nah, you should have mate. Your dad gave me a smile and a fatherly nod, almost like saying, "You'll be alright kid". Maybe he sensed i was nervous or something.

Would be good to keep in touch with you

Yeah mate, defo. Let me know your plans and i'll do likewise.

No the side effects still haven't worn off. When did you quit?

Let me give you a quick roundup on my propecia experiece. I started in mid december 2011. I was taking 1mg/daily for about 3 months. Was i worried about side effect ? Yes, a little bit but ony at the beggining. When i got passed the 2nd month without any sides, i was really confident and stopped thinking about sides. Around the end of the third month, i noticed a COMPLETE lack of nightime erections and then slowly over the course of 2 weeks or so, noticed a complete drop in libido and really poor orgasms. And i mean no libido whatsoever. I used to go apeshit at the sight of a girl in heels and nowadays, i'm just not interested (sorry if that's too much info.).

Anyway, the sides for me kicked in at a point when i wasn't even thinking or worried about side effects, which leads me to believe this wasn't a phsycosomatic problem and was definitely due to propecia. After 3 months, i dropped down to 0.25mg in an attempt to elimiate the sides. I used that for another 2 months but without any improvement. I've stopped all propecia for about 4 weeks now. My orgasms are back to normal, starting to get nightime erections again (although not rock hard, but close enough), but still have a VERY low libido.

Are you gonna get any tests run? This is happening way too often, especially to us younger guys, for us to be in some apparently insignificant minority.

I had my blood tested when i started having the libido problem and i found something interesting. Not sure how much you know about 'Prolactin', but it's the number 1 libido killer in men. I had two of these measurement in the past. The normal range is between 70 - 390 miU/L. Pre-propecia i had two measurements of prolactin, about 6 months apart. One came back at 109 and the other at 184 miU/L. So both within the normal range. After 4 months on propecia, my prolactin level is now 396 miU/L, so just out of the range. I've actually read somewhere that propecia can increase prolactin levels, but i can't find the article right now. I'm pretty sure that's what is causing my libido issue, so i'll give it some time and see if it comes back down. I'm going to see a uroligst soon to see if i'm correct in my assumption. Might be worth you checking your prolactin levels too. My other hormones were all normal.

Anyway, i only kept taking the propecia because i had read that the body usually goes back to normal after a while, but it had been around 6 months and my body didn't adjust. Dr. Feller actually told me yesterday that i was right to stop it. I REALLY wanted to take the medicine and save my hair, but it's not worth it. If you still have a high libido but are having ED, at least you can take viagra and still maintian a normal sexual life. Whereas not having a libido or any kind of sex drive is just f#cking scary. It's like your brain chemistry has been changed or something. But i'm confident it will get back to normal eventually. For me and you. I emphathize with you though mate. It's only when it happens to you, that you can truly understand what you are sacrificing. Sexual gratification is the greatest experience a person can have in life......replacing that with some extra hair on your head is madness.

I'm seeing a derm on Harley street who was telling me about a topical version of propecia that is mixed into minoxidil. I'll probably talk to him about that soon as i'm guessing the sexual side effects are non-existant. The only problem is, he said it's very expensise. And if a doc on Harley street is saying somethings expensive......you better believe it !!! I'll find out and let you know.

[clandestine]

chrisis; considering your situation regarding propecia side effects, and provided you do eventually get a hair transplant, do you plan on taking any alternative medication in an effort to slow the progression of your hair loss post transplant?

Regards,
clandestine

[chrisis]

Yeah mate, defo. Let me know your plans and i'll do likewise.

Will do!

Let me give you a quick roundup on my propecia experiece.

Your experience sounds almost identical to mine, right down to the details and timing. I find that very interesting, bearing in mind we're a similar age and have similar balding. Are we both just incredibly unlucky? I very much doubt it.

I had my blood tested when i started having the libido problem and i found something interesting. Not sure how much you know about 'Prolactin', but it's the number 1 libido killer in men.

Interesting! If it is down to prolactin, then is there anything we can do to get back into normal range? Or maybe it just takes time?

Dr. Feller actually told me yesterday that i was right to stop it. I REALLY wanted to take the medicine and save my hair, but it's not worth it

.

Yes, Dr Feller told me he was dubious about Propecia. I was surprised, but it was extremely validating and reassuring to hear that from one of the world's foremost experts on hair loss, after some of the abuse I've suffered on these forums. He told me I was right to quit it too.

It's only when it happens to you, that you can truly understand what you are sacrificing. Sexual gratification is the greatest experience a person can have in life......replacing that with some extra hair on your head is madness.

100% agree.

I'll find out and let you know

Yes, please do. It sounds very interesting.

If you want to chat away from the forum then my email address is: 19chris83@gmail.com. You can either email or add me on Facebook, if you have it

[rugger31]

Hi mate are you looking at strip or FUE glad your consult went well.

[chrisis]

chrisis; considering your situation regarding propecia side effects, and provided you do eventually get a hair transplant, do you plan on taking any alternative medication in an effort to slow the progression of your hair loss post transplant?

Hi clandestine,

I'd continue with minoxidil, and consider something along the lines of what folly is suggesting, depending upon cost and ease of application. I'm not sure what exists otherwise, apart from saw palmetto which I'd be wary of taking after my finasteride issues.

[chrisis]

Hi mate are you looking at strip or FUE glad your consult went well.

Strip FUT. Thanks

FUE sounds awesome, but for jobs above 1000 grafts it seems impractical and too expensive.

[Folly]

Interesting! If it is down to prolactin, then is there anything we can do to get back into normal range? Or maybe it just takes time?

I've read that there is quite a safe drug called 'Dostinex', that is used to lower prolactin very effectively. From my brief investigation, it seems quite safe. However, i won't be putting any more drugs into my body for a while. If my libido doesn't improve within 6 months or so, i'll take action. I'll be seeing a urologist in the meantime to get some pathology and other checks done. I'll see what they suggest.

If you want to chat away from the forum then my email address is: 19chris83@gmail.com. You can either email or add me on Facebook, if you have it

Sorry, i still haven't set up a FB account (yet), but i'll save your email address. I just rang my derm and he is away for the next six weeks at a conference, so i'll see him when he gets back. A HT rep once told me they also do propecia injections directly into the scalp. They have to be repeated monthly, but it's not something i would ever consider. I had anesthesia injections into my scalp during my FUE surgery last year, which was not a nice experience.....OUCH !!!. Ain't going through that monthly

[spreadlocks]

Hello Folly and Chrisis. I really glad you guys had good experiences with Spex and the Doc. If I can ever help with answering and questions feel free to hit me up at any time.

@Folly. It's really interesting what Dr. Feller said about you and FUE. Such a shame you didn't know this before though man. IS there anything you can do about this as far as compensation from your previous doc? At least you don't need many grafts. If there is one thing I am 100% sure about as far as my whole HT experience it is that my FUT scar is pretty amazingly thin and virtually unnoticeable.

To both of you guys, I am really sorry to hear about your finestride side effects. Damn. It's strange as I personally thought that I would be a candidate to have sexual side effects from fin. When I was about 22 or 23 I was (Incorrectly) prescribed ant depressants even though I wasn't depressed (Very bad NHS GP). I started taking them and my sex drive was annihilated. Completely destroyed. I just gave them up and within a few months it returned to normal. Due to this I thought that I would definitely have bad side effects from propecia but even with that underlying anxiety I never got any at all.
I really hope this works out for you guys.

[Folly]

If I can ever help with answering and questions feel free to hit me up at any time.

Cheers mate. You're a legend !!

@Folly. It's really interesting what Dr. Feller said about you and FUE. Such a shame you didn't know this before though man. IS there anything you can do about this as far as compensation from your previous doc?

Well, i have had about 40-50% growth, but i was told by mt HT surgeon before my surgery to expect 90% growth. I had a virgin scalp and followed all post op instruction AND MORE. I was taking protein, minoxidil, biotin, vitamins, excercising....all that good stuff. Dr. Feller said it is very unlikely that i am one of those people who doesn't grow well from a HT, because i've had a reasoable amount of growth....it's just very patchy. Now, every HT surgeon/rep i have met has voiced considerable worry/anger about the fact that i only had one tech working on me for about 16-17 hours. It wasn't even that big a case (1,250 grafts). Dr.Feller told me that he has 6-8 techs working on such cases and the patient is back in his hotel room by lunch time. I turned up at the clinic at 8 am and left THE NEXT DAY at 2 in the morning !!! Madness. If i knew what i know now about HT, i would have left the clinic when i found out that only 1 tech was working on me. So in my opinion and in the opinion of every HT surgeon i have met, THIS is the reason for my poor results.

I'm going to ask my HT surgeon to estimate what growth i've had and then i would like to be refunded for what didn't grow, so it can go towards my repair. I'll let you know the outcome.

At least you don't need many grafts. If there is one thing I am 100% sure about as far as my whole HT experience it is that my FUT scar is pretty amazingly thin and virtually unnoticeable.

Your scar makes me feel very confident about strip surgery. Really looking forward to seeing your hair in 2-3 months. We're gonna have to get you an afro comb bro !!

[Jairus]

Hi Chris,

Sorry to hijack this thread but Im in a similar position to yourself with regards to contemplating a HT without propecia usage. I am comfortable with needing more than one procedure in the future, as without propecia I know I will continue to lose hair. Just wanted to ask you your opinions on the above as you seem to be a fairly knowledgeable guy on here

Thanks
J

[morelocks]

Hi Guys, thanks for sharing your experiences and I'm sorry to hear about your negative experiences with propecia.

I'm am extremely concerned that you guys are thinking of going ahead with a procedure without taking propecia.

I went on propecia age 26 with no side effects. Reading about it (such as this thread) and just generally taking a drug daily made me scared so I came of it at the age of 27 and went in for a procedure convinced like you guys I wouldn't lose anymore if I was on other meds. 6 months later transplanted hair grew but I lost in other areas. Like a fool went i for another procedure after 8 months and 8 months later in the same position. Then went in for a third one and 8 months later in the same position. I realised I was screwed for life and went on propecia again and had one more procedure to fix me and no loss since. I am fixed for now and I'm writing this to you nearly three years since my last procedure. Let me tell you there isn't 3-4hoirs that go by on any day where I dnt wonder about the future and how screwed I am if this stops working.

I want kids, they say you need to come of it when you are trying for kids so what will I do then?

My hair loss was really slow and steady until 27 then it became rapid

I'm pretty sure even spex mentions that a good percentage of this results are propecia and not ht

Another thing I want to point out is the expense and time out of work. For three of the procedures I stayed in another country for 8 weeks post procedure pretending to everyone I was on holiday living the high life (no one in the world knows iv had this done). I'm lucky that I am financially secure to be able to do this. Makes me worry how different it would have been if it wasn't for the money iv saved and the job I do which allows me to disappear when I need to

I dnt think my words will make much of a difference and you will probably both get it done anyway but I do think you are creating for yourselves bigger problems and although I dnt post often I just felt it necessary to share my experience with you

Good luck