I’ve Been Taking Finasteride for Years, So What Should My Next Step Be?
Cheers doctor. I live in the UK and there is not much information regarding hair loss as there is in America. I have been steadily going bald for the past 14 years and have been on proscar for some time. My doctor was reluctant to put me on proscar but finally gave in, bless him. Anyways, fast forward to now, I am 32 years old and have been seeing an increase in my hair loss in my temple area, hairline, and behind it. It is not that noticeable yet because nobody has really commented on the loss but I know in certain lighting it is very apparent and when I style my hair in different ways it is apparent.
What are the stages I should be taking at this point?
A. Continue with the medication or not take it anymore because I am losing hair regardless
B. Wait for my hair loss to continue until I have a more prominent bald spot and then go for a procedure
C. Go for a procedure now and try and stay on top of my balding
D. Get those micro dot tattoos on my thinning area
E. Do nothing and hope for the bestI always wondered about people who stay on top of their balding but the problem is when they start losing the hair behind their implants or their donor hair runs out, that is what is sort of preventing me from doing anything. Your comments and feedback would really be appreciated. Cheers.
There is no substitute for a good doctor to help you in this process. If you are really losing hair, then stopping Proscar (finasteride) could be a disaster that would lead to “catch-up” hair loss. I assume the Proscar you’re taking is cut into 4 or 5 pieces, and not the full table, which would be too much medication for treating hair loss.
You don’t need to necessarily wait for more prominent balding before you plan for surgery, but as hair loss is progressive, your pattern would need to be determined so that any surgery accounts for potential future balding. Having Scalp MicroPigmentation (SMP) is also a possibility, depending on the hairstyle you plan on having. I can’t really answer your questions without pictures at a minimum.
So really, your next step should be to sit down with a good doctor (you are fortunate to have both Drs. Bessam and Nilofer Farjo in the UK) and build a Master Plan with them.
Why didn’t you now recommend he add rogaine since he never used it and possibly get growth?
I am in a similar situation and tried rogaine couple years back and I grew what I thought was peach fuzz in the hairline. However, I also noticed I was losing hair on rogaine so I stopped cold turkey. I don’t think rogaine is as effective as propecia or as effective overall as people may seem. The best solution to beat the problem or contain it is use propecia and a transplant, period!
Avodart can be really helpful once Propecia fails. I did it after 7 years on Propecia and not only it stopped my hair loss again but thickened up my hairline where I was losing it.
Its a common misconception that propecia fails. Our genetic balding is progressive so when people see that their balding hasnt stopped while they are on finasteride, they automatically blame the drug saying it doesnt work anymore. Propecia is still working its just your natural balding pattern (whatever norwood you will be) progressing.
Avodart and propecia are similar drugs in the sense that they both have an effect on the mid scalp and crown but not the hairline. I hate it when pple blame finasteride for not stopping their hairline from receding and then jumping on the avodart boat. Neither drug has been effectively
proven to work in that area so why blame a drug for it being ineffective. Plus, what about the long term use of avodart and its side effects? And I would love to see avodart hair growth results?
Propecia has stopped my hair loss for about 7 years…then I started seeing it progress. I too was skeptical to get on Avodart but I did and not only my hair loss stopped again it thickened the front and corners that were thinning to the point I didn’t need Toppik anymore. I know our genes will eventually win but Avodart can help you add more years once Propecia can’t anymore.
As for side effects I had none on Propecia or Avodart.
Kevin:
How long have you been you avodart, and do you have any pictures sort of to compare the results from finasteride and avodart?
Kevin:
Also forgot to ask your age and baldness pattern before and after usage of drugs
I started seeing early frontal hair loss at age 21…began Propecia at 22 now I’m 30. Been on Avodart for 1 year, Propecia 7 years. No pics just cessation of hair loss where Propecia wasn’t able to do so anymore and thickening up that made my front look full to the point I threw out my Toppik. Awesome drug.
I was heading to a NW 3 when I started Propecia but with Avodart I’m now like a NW 2.25