Will topical finasteride and minoxidil do me any good ? What norwood am I ?

[Discipline hair]

Hi guys.. what Norwood am I ? Will topical finasteride and minoxidil do me any good ?

I will be happy to recover to a Norwood 1 or 1.5. More than happy. Is it possible ? I have not been on any medication before.

 

[Mr. Slap Head]

I would just shave it honestly, unless you have a lot of money to spend on a transplant.

 

[20YearsOnFin]

I will be happy to recover to a Norwood 1

I think there's 76,000 member's on here thinking the same thing.

 

[20YearsOnFin]

Maybe have a read through the Welshman thread, if you want some inspiration.

https://www.hairlosstalk.com/intera...receding-hairline-is-this-salvageable.131041/

 

[Discipline hair]

I would just shave it honestly, unless you have a lot of money to spend on a transplant.

I have the money for a good transplant. I had actually booked my procedure with a great doctor and clinic too. But around 1 month before, I kinda postponed it. I was on oral finasteride 1 MG for around 11 days, I developed anxiety. Anxiety maybe a Nocebo, maybe over the transplant procedure. I really don't know, I want my transplant to be a one time procedure. But there are too many variables:-

1. Will I develop side effect to finasteride in future ?
2. WIll I develop tolerance to finasteride ?

I really don't want a transplant dependent on one medication. Plus, it may be more than one transplant, if I loose my native hair in future.

I don't know if I can commit to that. Plus, after a decade, I will be 46 and maybe going for a bald look will not be so bad. I don't want to have any scars.

Man.. it is all so confusing. I was so happy when I had booked my transplant. But I have not come across anyone who have retained the results for 10 years. Starting 3-4 years, it looks great. But then even transplanted hair start thinning. 3-4 years is such small time frame. I don't know if I can commit to multiple transplants. I may be wrong, but it is only what I have seen so far.

I think there's 76,000 member's on here thinking the same thing.

Wow.. have you really been on finasteride for 20 years ?? Lot of respect man. Wishing it really works for you.

Anyways, what norwood am I ?? I think a Norwood 3 ..

I see people having success with topical finasteride and minoxidil. maybe, will add derma rolling too.

Any hopes if I can reach a Norwood 2 ?

 

[losingbattle88]

I have the money for a good transplant. I had actually booked my procedure with a great doctor and clinic too. But around 1 month before, I kinda postponed it. I was on oral finasteride 1 MG for around 11 days, I developed anxiety. Anxiety maybe a Nocebo, maybe over the transplant procedure. I really don't know, I want my transplant to be a one time procedure. But there are too many variables:-

1. Will I develop side effect to finasteride in future ?
2. WIll I develop tolerance to finasteride ?

I really don't want a transplant dependent on one medication. Plus, it may be more than one transplant, if I loose my native hair in future.

I don't know if I can commit to that. Plus, after a decade, I will be 46 and maybe going for a bald look will not be so bad. I don't want to have any scars.

Man.. it is all so confusing. I was so happy when I had booked my transplant. But I have not come across anyone who have retained the results for 10 years. Starting 3-4 years, it looks great. But then even transplanted hair start thinning. 3-4 years is such small time frame. I don't know if I can commit to multiple transplants.

Wow.. have you really been on finasteride for 20 years ?? Lot of respect man. Wishing it really works for you.

Anyways, what norwood am I ?? I think a Norwood 3 ..

I see people having success with topical finasteride and minoxidil. maybe, will add derma rolling too.

Any hopes if I can reach a Norwood 2 ?

U need to be one of those super rare responders to reach that level.

 

[20YearsOnFin]

You are way past a NW3.

Treatments + 1 transplant (at least)
without treatments 2-3 transplants.

You may as well buzz it down a bit like Mr. Slaphead suggested, that would give an idea how you feel about the 'bald look'.

you could also give topicals 12 months to see how you feel and give you time to work out what you think is the best course to take.

There's little point getting one transplant unless you have a plan to address future loss, either by part stabilization through ongoing treatments, or subsequent transplants as and when they are needed.

 

[Nebula74]

i dont actually think its thattttttt bad, not worse than a nw3.5, with drugs u may get some thickening + regrowth to help it look presentable but u have to not be a pussy and do your research on the following drugs and consider whether it is worth the risk of side effects to keep your hair:
finasteride 1mg (if u dont get sides from that then try dutasteride)
dutasteride - 0.5mg
ru58841
oral minoxidil - 5mg
topical minoxidil
microneedling 1.5mm
these are the best known treatments for treating hair loss that are easily available, there is not really much outside of them that have proven efficacy.

if you are a minoxidil responder, which there is a 33% chance of u being then u have a chance of getting back to norwood 2, maybe even 1 if you respond to oral min.

if not, u can get transplant after 1 year on finasteride / dutasteride if they stop your loss

if u get side effects then its game over may as well shave it

anyway do your research and see if the potential side effects are worth it to you, no one can tell u whether you will get side effects or not, and if others tell you they haven't its an individual experience

thats it, i posted this message so u dont have to waste to much time on this forum and get treating your hair loss fast.

 

[Nebula74]

also this might sound weird but the fact u are 36 means your hair loss isnt super agressive so u stand a good chance of responding to meds, i wish my hair loss was like that

 

[Discipline hair]

Maybe have a read through the Welshman thread, if you want some inspiration.

https://www.hairlosstalk.com/intera...receding-hairline-is-this-salvageable.131041/

Wow.. the guy went from I think Norwood 3 plus to Norwood 2. It gives me hope.

also this might sound weird but the fact u are 36 means your hair loss isnt super aggressive so u stand a good chance of responding to meds, i wish my hair loss was like that

I started loosing hair when I was 17 or 18. By the time I was 20, I was already Norwood 1.5 - 2. Then hair loss became slow. Till 4-5 years back, I used to look good with small combovers. Did'nt look bald. But now it is almost impossible to hide bald spots. I am 36 now.

I had a friend who was on medication the same time. He was a Norwood 1 when he started meds. Despite meds, he reached Norwood 5 plus within a year. He had advised me not to take any meds, as after some time it will hasten the hairloss. It was his opinion. That's why I never took meds. Also, I became very busy in my job. Had I started meds 10 years back, I may or may not have maintained my hair.


But now I see so many success stories on reddit and some forums (like this one). I am still apprehensive of starting oral finasteride
If a topical finasteride and minoxidil combo, plus may be dermaroller get me back to my combover days , I will be satisfied.


Thanks for the reply guys. Means a lot.


Edit : Just one more doubt guys. If I stop meds after let's say an year due to any issue, will only the new hair fall. or my existing hair at the back also fall.

 

[losingbattle88]

Wow.. the guy went from I think Norwood 3 plus to Norwood 2. It gives me hope.


I started loosing hair when I was 17 or 18. By the time I was 20, I was already Norwood 1.5 - 2. Then hair loss became slow. Till 4-5 years back, I used to look good with small combovers. Did'nt look bald. But now it is almost impossible to hide bald spots. I am 36 now.

I had a friend who was on medication the same time. He was a Norwood 1 when he started meds. Despite meds, he reached Norwood 5 plus within a year. He had advised me not to take any meds, as after some time it will hasten the hairloss. It was his opinion. That's why I never took meds. Also, I became very busy in my job. Had I started meds 10 years back, I may or may not have maintained my hair.


But now I see so many success stories on reddit and some forums (like this one). I am still apprehensive of starting oral finasteride
If a topical finasteride and minoxidil combo, plus may be dermaroller get me back to my combover days , I will be satisfied.


Thanks for the reply guys. Means a lot.


Edit : Just one more doubt guys. If I stop meds after let's say an year due to any issue, will only the new hair fall. or my existing hair at the back also fall.

Your friend was on oral finasteride and yet became NW5 after a year really??

 

[Discipline hair]

Your friend was on oral finasteride and yet became NW5 after a year really??

No.. I am quoting an incident almost 13-14 years back. He was using prescribed medications, including topical minoxidil and a few more. Some tablets (may be vitamins and stuff). I really don't remember the names. I don't think he used finasteride. Despite being on prescribed meds, he lost his hair in a very short time frame. Based on his experiences, he had advised me to just accept the balding, as no meds are likely to help anyway. That's the reason I had not used meds till now.

But I keep seeing guys posting good results now with meds on internet. I guess over the years, people may have learnt to use them better. And now that I am no longer able to hide my bald spots, am trying to research on internet about them.

 

[losingbattle88]

No.. I am quoting an incident almost 13-14 years back. He was using prescribed medications, including topical minoxidil and a few more. Some tablets (may be vitamins and stuff). I really don't remember the names. I don't think he used finasteride. Despite being on prescribed meds, he lost his hair in a very short time frame. Based on his experiences, he had advised me to just accept the balding, as no meds are likely to help anyway. That's the reason I had not used meds till now.

But I keep seeing guys posting good results now with meds on internet. I guess over the years, people may have learnt to use them better. And now that I am no longer able to hide my bald spots, am trying to research on internet about them.

So none of his prescribed medications included finasteride then? Lol.

 

[Discipline hair]

So none of his prescribed medications included finasteride then? Lol.

yes.. The incident is nearly 13-14 years back. He did'nt take finasteride. I had heard of the term 'finasteride', maybe 7-8 years back. That time, I tried to research on it. A long list of possible side effects. I say, why bother. Few more years down the line, My baldness goes up a number in the Norwood scale. I am now out of my comfort zone, as unable to do combovers to hide the bald spots in front. I am now bothered. That's why this post. I know I am not experienced on hair care, so just looking for advices.

But still I will be starting with topical finasteride and minoxidil, as of now, plus derma rolling once a week. I don't even know how to use a derma roller. So, looking up Youtube videos. on how to use a derma roller.

As of now my plan for a transplant is on hold. My doctor has made it clear that if I want my transplant to be successful, I will have to be on finasteride for as long as I want to keep my hair. I have no doubt. He is a good doctor. But I am not comfortable with multiple procedures. Had it been one procedure, I would have just got done with it. But getting a procedure every 4-6 years or so, I am unable to commit myself for that. 4-6 years is such a short time.

Hair transplant has really improved over the years. But the improvement is in natural looking hairline, temple creation, more experienced doctor and technicians, better graft survival, better tools to extract from donor area. The improvement is limited in terms of saving the native hair and preventing the transplanted hair from thinning out.

 

[Optimistic]

I have the money for a good transplant. I had actually booked my procedure with a great doctor and clinic too. But around 1 month before, I kinda postponed it. I was on oral finasteride 1 MG for around 11 days, I developed anxiety. Anxiety maybe a Nocebo, maybe over the transplant procedure. I really don't know, I want my transplant to be a one time procedure. But there are too many variables:-

1. Will I develop side effect to finasteride in future ?
2. WIll I develop tolerance to finasteride ?

I really don't want a transplant dependent on one medication. Plus, it may be more than one transplant, if I loose my native hair in future.

I don't know if I can commit to that. Plus, after a decade, I will be 46 and maybe going for a bald look will not be so bad. I don't want to have any scars.

Man.. it is all so confusing. I was so happy when I had booked my transplant. But I have not come across anyone who have retained the results for 10 years. Starting 3-4 years, it looks great. But then even transplanted hair start thinning. 3-4 years is such small time frame. I don't know if I can commit to multiple transplants. I may be wrong, but it is only what I have seen so far.

Wow.. have you really been on finasteride for 20 years ?? Lot of respect man. Wishing it really works for you.

Anyways, what norwood am I ?? I think a Norwood 3 ..

I see people having success with topical finasteride and minoxidil. maybe, will add derma rolling too.

Any hopes if I can reach a Norwood 2 ?

I've been on oral Finasteride for almost 20 years. It appears to have not been working as well as it was during the past 18 months and I switched my brand in November. I'm also on topical Finasteride and Minoxidil, plus I use Nizoral twice a week, so I'm using the whole lot.

Im thinking that I'll need to go for a transplant soon as I'm not seeing the imorovement/maintenance that I was over the 20 years. I'm 49.

 

[Nebula74]

yes.. The incident is nearly 13-14 years back. He did'nt take finasteride. I had heard of the term 'finasteride', maybe 7-8 years back. That time, I tried to research on it. A long list of possible side effects. I say, why bother. Few more years down the line, My baldness goes up a number in the Norwood scale. I am now out of my comfort zone, as unable to do combovers to hide the bald spots in front. I am now bothered. That's why this post. I know I am not experienced on hair care, so just looking for advices.

your friend got scammed because topical minoxidil isn't a prescription drug and only has a 1/3 chance of working because it needs a certain enzyme in the scalp to activate it, and vitamins are a sham, so chances are he just went bald naturally then blamed it on the medications

 

[jazz1]

This would be your best bet for the regime…..

Finasteride or topical
minoxidil
ketaconazole or Regenepure DR
derma roller
divine herbal hair oils
folligen cream
multi vitamin garden of life

I been on Topical Finasteride for years, check the thread below should you want a legit compound pharmacy to purchase.

https://www.hairlosstalk.com/interact/threads/topical-minoxidil-finasteride-mixture-check-here.126633/