quote:

Originally posted by JohnV:
Buddy of mine recently started using Hims, and its made a big difference for him. I started balding around 18 or 19 years old, so my hair is too far gone to do anything. Even if I did a transplant, it would have to be very aggressive and require many trips to Turkey to get it done, haha. I just shave it. My wife doesn't care, my friends dont care, I dont care.

I was in Instanbul last year. Hair transplant bill boards there still rival our Lawfirm billboards here in the US.

I know someone who just recently returned from hair transplant trip. He seemed happy. I haven't seen the results after a few months healing and regrowth.

For real answers, the cheapest route would be generic rogaine.
https://www.costco.com/p/-/kir...k/11501138?langId=-1

This is probably BS but worth a try.
https://www.amazon.com/Acceler...y/dp/B0DGQX1FS7?th=1

Propecia was linked to sexual dysfunction …

A buddy just had plugs put in - $14,000.

I’m 52, took propecia years ago and was getting sick of taking it - I remember having a few pills left and was debating about refilling it. My brother in law, a Dermatologist, sent me an article from the “Journal of Sexual Dysfunction” - I remember reading about 1/2 the article, started sweating, got up and threw the remaining pills away, and then finished the article.

That was at least 15 years ago, I’m 52 now, and don’t really care at this point - still have hair by chance. When I threw the pills away in my 30’s, I didn’t really care either.

MDS

I did finesteride for years at different levels, finally ran out of them and didn’t renew my prescription a year or so ago. No side effects that I noticed. Just recently my wife mentioned that I was looking a little thin up top so I ordered some minoxidil foam off the jungle website and I’ve been using it for a couple of weeks. No noticeable differences yet, I’ll give it a couple of months before seeking out alternatives.

Here's a thought:

One my cousins went through this about 10-15 years ago and he was just a few years younger than you at the time. He found a hair transplant surgeon that was a small practice, as opposed to the big-branded organizations. He did this because he could meet directly with the surgeon, not a marketing rep, for the consultation, and see that surgeon's actual work, not just glossy photos done by who knows who.

The job the surgeon did was truly phenomenal. If I didn't know, I would have never known it, even on close inspection. According to my cousin, this is why it looks so good:

1. The surgeon was not just technically excellent, he also had an artist's eye for correct placement, so the look came out balanced and natural. (I agree with this).

2. The surgeon used a lot of individual grafts until he got well past the hair line. It was not an assembly-line job. (I think it took most of a day to do it.)

3. The surgeon was also realistic in what he projected could be done. He didn't try to give my cousin the hair line of a 20 year old, or give crazy promises. What he ended up with is a very solid-looking hairline that is receded in the corners (think Cary Grant's or Rock Hudson's hairlines).

Maybe much like you, I don't think he was going to be bald. His hair was fairly full on top and in "the middle" as it moved toward his front hairline. The transplant more or less filled out that middle and thickened it, if that makes sense.

After the surgery, the doctor did put him on an oral prescription, but I don't know which one it was.

But, now more than a decade later, it still looks great. I really would not know it was a transplant.

Here's the kicker, the price he paid was no more, and maybe less than, the "McTransplant" places. And yes, it was here in the USA.

If you are interested, I will see if I can get the surgeon's name and contact information for you.


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quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
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Ok, I saved that photo for when the time comes and I need to buy a shaver for the scalp. Eventually I’ll be living rural and by then this will come in handy. No more haircuts to pay for!

Finasteride had been liked to erection trouble. I figure in that equation loss of hair is a better route to go.

I can't help you with recommendations for treatment but I can tell you I believe I've saved over $10K buzz cutting my own head for the last 30 years

quote:

Originally posted by Prefontaine:

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
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Ok, I saved that photo for when the time comes and I need to buy a shaver for the scalp. Eventually I’ll be living rural and by then this will come in handy. No more haircuts to pay for!

I had previously used a Remington Balder Pro. A few bucks less than the Philips Norelco, it did a great job, but the first time I needed to re-charge the battery, the recharge thingy did not work. Remington gave me an unbelievable amount of grief about replace / repair / exchange, so I returned it to Amazon for a refund. I bought the Philips Norelco for a little more $$, but they have a five year warranty an a great reputation for dealing with warranty problems painlessly. I find that the shave is about the same.

I would suggest that you avoid the Remington product, just based on the hoops that they want you to jump through if there's a warranty problem.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
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My bathroom doesn't have a USB port in it.

I guess my phone will have to share.

"Shampoos" were mentioned, but I am surprised nobody brought up Thymuskin; stuff works:

https://thymuskinusa.com/

quote:

Originally posted by 229DAK:

My bathroom doesn't have a USB port in it.

I guess my phone will have to share.

1. Instructions say not to charge after each use. Do not charge until the "Low Battery" indicator comes on.
   
   
2. You get a LOT of use out of a full charge. If you use the device every other day, a single charge should last well over a month.

Not a big deal (for me, anyway) to take the shaver to a convenient location when charge is required.

I have a friend who went overseas to get a hair treatment/plugs, as it was cheaper than here in the states and he took a picture of the people on the plane as he was seated in the back. I think everyone was coming back to the states from the same place he went to. Everyone had a hat on their head and not one woman or child in the large cabin. I don't fault anyone for doing it but sometimes it brings more attention to you initially.

I get it being younger and going bald, it's not easy but it seems shaving your head is pretty common and has been an "IN" thing to do. I was losing my hair in a couple areas on my head for years but I always had a flat top haircut that was short and so the areas were shaved close anyways. I finally went ahead and started shaving my head a couple years ago and within the last few months, I have been using a Skull Shaver Pitbull Silver. I even have fun with being bald and when I was working, a good friend of mine bought me a black hair piece off of Amazon. We would do our pre-plan inspections and I would wear it and do the usual/comedic acts of moving it like I am being stealthy about it. One cashier noticed it and when she saw it sticking out from under my ball cap, she quickly looked away. Before I left the store, I looked at her, removed my hat/hair piece and scratched my head and we all had a good laugh.

It's funny about the "grow a beard/mustache" videos when you lose your hair, as that is what I have been doing but only because I wasn't able to have one because of my career. A lot of guys I work/worked with are shaving their heads as you can try a bunch of products to try and save your hair but what are the costs, long term effects (both good and bad) and monetary investment.

I guess what I am saying is if you are going bald, it's not so bad to embrace it. When I first started shaving my head, a guy/worker at a store I frequent joked "nice hair cut" as he was bald too. I use the same line now. It's almost like a brotherhood so to speak.

I got over it. I'm bald. Now that I'm used to it, I see it as more convenient. One less thing to worry about.