Should I Try Every Non-Surgical Treatment Before Going for a Hair Transplant at the Hairline?

Hello Dr. Rassman. I am in my early thirties and thinking of getting a transplant done. I have been on finasteride for quite some time with decent results. However, in the last few years my hair loss picked up in the front hair line but has slowed down up to this date. Should an individual, like myself, try ALL the available non surgery options like avodart, minoxodil, nizorol etc before going the hair transplant route?

Most of my hair loss im the frontal area. I still have decent coverage but I am thinning. Would I be at risk for severe shock loss even though I am on finasteride? Thank you.

Medications do not usually work to regrow hair in the frontal hairline, but hair transplant surgery generally address this area well. Whether you are ready or should undergo hair transplant surgery is between you and your doctor, and part of the Master Plan. Each and every patient is different, with different goals and expectations. There is no right answer to your question.

Many patients come to me and worry about shock hair loss, but this is part of the individual risk versus the benefit… as we discuss in the Master Plan. Most men in their 30’s with long term finasteride (Propecia) use and who are not rapidly losing hair, do not usually have shock loss. An ethical doctor would not recommend surgery to a patient if they feel the risk of shock loss is significant. I know I am a broken record on this, but this is why choosing a doctor and having a good Master Plan is very important.