Left Side of Scalp Is Different From My Right Side

Dr Rassman,

I am a 26 y/o asian male who started experience significant hairloss in the last couple years. My right temple is receeding and there is slight thinning on the top of the crown. I started taking propecia about 3 months ago. It has been effective in the crown area but not for my frontal hairloss. The odd part is that I do not lose any hair at my left temple (or the left side of my head in general) but I am experiencing significant hairloss in my right temple. I would also like to mention that i have straight hair on the left side of my head, while the right side of my head is more wavy hair. I also notice some dandruff and bulbs in between my hairs on the right side of my head. My hair loss is causing me much emotional distress and i am almost afraid to even touch the right side of my head b/c i am afraid of losing more hair. It depresses me just looking in the mirror b/c my hairline is nothing close to straight. it appears as if i have my hair combed over when in actuality it is standing straight up. I know you mentioned that you recommend being on propecia for 8 months prior to getting a hair transplant. I really would like to get a hair transplant to fix my hairline. If i stay on propecia for 8 months, will I experience any shock loss? I am concerned b/c although there is noticable recession of the right temple, it is not drastic. I appreciate your help, and I do not know what I would do without your blog!

You should be evaluated by an honest and competent doctor. Depending upon the hair loss and what it looks like, a good doctor can usually predict what will happen to you and build a Master Plan around that. Transplants may be in your future, but there is no substitute for a good doctor/patient relationship. Since we seem to be bonding, you can send me photos (good ones) and I will give you an opinion (which will not be posted here without your permission, so do not worry about that).

Timing is everything. Yes, you might be able to get a hair transplant provided that you are on Propecia. There is often a difference between the two sides, one side being more advanced than the other. If you let nature takes its course, the retarded side will catch up, but the key here is to not let it catch up. Stop it with Propecia and eventually (timing is everything) fix both sides of the frontal hairline.