The number of grafts is determined by the size of the balding area (moderate) plus the thickness of each hair (fine, medium or coarse).  IF it were fine, it would be a stretch to recommend 2500 grafts but for fine hair that would be ok, but for medium and coarse hair, adjustments downward is appropriate. The key is to get the best result possible without wasting the donor supply in the case you will need it in the future. Here is a patient who followed my instructions in defining the quality and quantity of his donor supply: https://baldingblog.com/creating-a-personalized-master-plan-for-present-and-future-balding-photos/

If I had side effects on dutasteride, would it take longer for them to go away after quitting use due to dutasteride’s long half-life?

Yes, most probably! We know the half life is in weeks (half life in the blood) but the half life in the body’s tissues are much longer (I don’t know those numbers) but it is suggested that it may take several months for your body’s tissues to get rid of dutasteride.

I am 20 years old about to turn 21 and I’ve noticed these past few years how my hairline is starting to “recede”, however, contrary to what many people here post, I don’t notice excessive hair shedding (when I shower the amount of hair looks normal, I don’t notice hairs in my pillow etc.)

Could this be a sign of just a “Maturing” hairline? Or could it be receding just that hair shed is not very noticeable in early stages?

Usually, balding starts with either recession of the frontal hairline, thinning of the crown or excess hair shedding. Men in their late teens (some up to the age of 29) will evolve, losing their rounded juvenile hairline into a V-Shaped mature hairline without shedding a single hair.

Been lurking on this board for some time as I’ve noticed a lot more shed over the past few months/year and my hairline seems to be moving further back, slowly but surely, causing me to monitor. I’ve also noticed more and more of my scalp visible when my hair is wet.  I’m also now in my mid 30s, so not exactly panicking as I know I’ve been blessed with a ton of hair and great hairline until recent times.  I’m not sure who I can talk to, to get an honest unbiased opinion in my particular case. I feel like calling keeps, for hims, etc will result in a bias “yes start treatment” response. I just want to know is my hair loss normal? Hairline receding or just maturing?

Through my research, though it seems side effects are blown out of proportion (esp on reddit), my doctor said everyone he’s prescribed finasteride to has come back for renewals, and those who had sides saw them go away when stopping fin. I have a prescription for both Proscar 5mg (to quarter) and Propecia 1mg but hesitating. I have read that some doctors just don’t recommend due to risks associated. I just am not sure if I want to start a lifetime of hormone altering at this point, when I could just own baldhood if that’s where life takes me. And hereditary evidence suggests it will.

I’m wondering if a dermatologist would give the best opinion? I’ve seen it come up here and there when reading, seems like they wouldn’t hold a bias one way or another.

A consultation with a good doctor who cares about you and is knowledgeable about hair loss is what you need to find. Some dermatologists fit that mold and a few hair restoration surgeons fit that mold especially if they don’t try to sell you a surgery. Read here:  https://baldingblog.com/go-why-do-we-need-a-master-plan/

 

https://news.uci.edu/2022/06/30/uci-led-team-discovers-signaling-molecule-that-potently-stimulates-hair-growth/

My finasteride pills that I received are 5mg each and are shaped weird and are awfully small . How could I cut these into 1mg pills or say 0.5. I could cut it into 4s then Halves to get 0.6 but I am not all too sure?

Finasteride 5mg is the generic Proscar, but you can purchase generic 1 mg finasteride pills. If you wanted to go down to .25mg (1/4 dose), then I would suggest that rather than cut the pills, take one 1mg pill ever 4 days. In my opinion, the key to low dosing is to target the weekly summary dose.

I believe that the real cure will be a genetic one with Crisper; however, we haven’t yet identified all of the hair loss genes so it will be some time to get where we need to be.