Baldness

[zarathustra]

Yeah, I have thinning hair and a hairline on the retreat so I know what its like.

Even with a transplant there's still a chance it'll look jacked up and there's no going back. I went for a consultation and the book they had with all their "success stories" wasn't anything to write home about.

I tried keeping it unshaven for as long as I could but when you're out at a bar/club you will be immediately branded that balding guy or that guy with the slope. Trust. Women are superficial *****es. I would hear their comments.

Better to shave it off by choice and be like: "yeah, so ****in what?"

 

[Nexus Polaris]

Avoid Propecia at all costs.

They list potential side effects on the packaging, but there was one that was not mentioned anywhere, and I had to eventually find it in an independent study some 5 or 6 years later that explained what had happened to me. My tongue swelled up not enough to cause anything serious but just enough to create a mild and permanent speech impediment that has never gone away. I would gladly sue them for the bullshìt this has caused me, but I have no way of proving they caused it. So I'm essentially fücked. And still losing my hair.

Rogaine works, but it's an expensive habit. And it doesn't do much for the front of your hair. It mostly just works on the crown.

Like you, I'll eventually be totally cue ball when mine finishes falling out. The texture on top is noticeably thinner than the sides and the back, and I've had multiple consultations with transplant places that have confirmed that. What makes matters worse is I've had long hair for years. I'm officially starting to look like Devin Townsend now.

http://www.spirit-of-metal.com/membre_groupe/photo/Devin_Townsend-12824.jpg


I'm currently in a hat phase. Fortunately, I'm a huge baseball fan, so this is actually rather convenient for me.

I'm not sure what I'm really contributing here. Sympathy, I guess. Sorry I don't really have any useful advice (other than to avoid Propecia).

also, if you're 21 and baldning, keep note that a hair transplant may not last you the rest of your life, your current set of folicles lasted 21 yrs, and those were BRAND new. your second set may not last as long.

Fortunately, that's not true. The folicles on the back of your head are programmed differently from the ones that fall out. They'll continue to grow no matter where you put them. The problem is that you might get a good transplant and look good for a few years, but the hair behind where your new transplant stops might continue to fall out. Then you've got a weird, unnatural balding pattern going.

 

[STR8UP]

Another thing to consider in the early stages of thinning is concealers.

I have used Dermmatch and it works great as long as the area isn't TOO large or too bald. It stays on well (might get a little rub off but it generally takes shampoo to get it out).

For those of you who don't know and are interested, I wear a full cap hair system. It is essentially real human hair that is tied individually into a fine lace that is attached to your scalp with medical grade adhesives. I can spike my hair at the front exposing my entire hairline and you would have to be two inches away under a bright light to MAYBE be able to see something that doesn't look like real hair growing out of my scalp. I use wax to style the hair, exposing the scalp and everything.

It definitely isn't for everyone. Someone who lacks confidence and can't get over the mental aspect of it shouldn't even try it. But if you have an open mind and want to do something that has no risks, is relatively affordable, and really works, I highly recommend giving it a shot.

I am essentially breaking new ground in this industry, so if anyone is interested send me a PM and I will point you in the right direction.

 

[Serg897]

With Propecia, Ive never had problems. With sex or otherwise. My dermatologist has told me that side effects happen in only very few cases...I think he said 1%. The tongue thing that Nexus Polaris mentioned I've NEVER heard of.

I'd honestly be curious to see these studies you cite, Nexus.

With my hair in the state it is now I may be able to keep going without shaving for another few years - Its not that my hairline is receding, its just that the hair is thinning everywhere up top. Meh. There will come a time, I suppose.