If I Have FUE Surgery, Do I Need to Keep Using My Hair Meds?

I am considering surgery – FUE. I have been on propecia for 3 years now and it’s difficult to tell the effect it’s had. I mean it could be working, I haven’t seen any more hair loss really. It may have stabilised the hair loss. Or has the hair loss could have simply gone into some kind of rest bite!? If I go for FUE, would you recommend I stay on propecia – I would rather be safe than sorry! Although it does cost a lot, I currently purchase my medication for £62 per month.

On another note, about a year ago I started minoxidil to improve the density of my hair. I think it’s had some kind of small positive effect, not much though. But here’s the issue I have. If I decide on a FUE, do I have to continue on minoxidil – because I cannot afford to both this and propecia.

You need to continue Propecia and minoxidil to see their benefits. As soon as you stop one or the other (or both), the benefits from that medication will be gone. In other words, you’ll see hair loss. The transplanted hair won’t be the issue, as it is permanent if taken from the donor area, but it is the remaining hair around the transplant area that will be unprotected. Propecia also helps protect from shock loss following transplant surgery.

Some patients choose to use generic finasteride in 5mg (prostate medication) and cut it to smaller pieces. Propecia is 1mg finasteride and not available (at least in the US) as a generic. The 5mg generic will be a lot cheaper than the 1mg name brand. You just need to find a doctor to prescribe this to you. Or if the 1mg generic is available in your country, that might be a way to save money. Also, your doctor should be able to show you some analysis from before you started Propecia and compare it to today to find out if there are real results. Hopefully your doctor has such information for you.