Do Younger Patients Retain More Benefits from Propecia Over the Long Term?

I have been taking propecia for a year now, I am currently twenty. Propecia has worked wonders to regrow hair all over my head, including the temples. My question is, and I know results vary, but on average do young patients that use propecia long term continue to retain the majority of their hair over the long term, ten-plus years. I know that at some level it will continue to work, but what has been your experience? Do young people retain a significant amount of their hair over the long term?

It all depends upon what your rate of genetic hair loss will be and the degree of balding you may undergo. At 20 years old, it is almost impossible to determine this.

Now with that said, I just saw a 20 year old male with a full Norwood Class 5 pattern hair loss. He has miniaturization through the remaining hair and although he was not treated with finasteride prior to seeing me today, I discouraged surgery on him at this time until he had a year’s course of finasteride. His hair density was lower than average, which tells me that his long term supply of hair will be limited and when he gets the surgery, he will probably be limited to a frontal restoration only (based upon his low density). I am hoping that Propecia will help him, but I strongly recommended that he take the decision process slowly and have his parents come in with him when I see him again in a year or so.