Options: 25 Norwood 2, Diffuse With Halted Loss

[623]

Hi All,

Looking for some guidance. I'm 25 now and have been on finasteride for 4 years with great success. I believe it stopped my diffuse thinning and regrew some hair to where I'm a Norwood 2 with general thinning, especially at vertex.

However, I still think about my hair constantly and it stresses me out to where it affects my relationships and job. I understand I am very lucky compared to most on this site (and can't recommend finasteride enough). I also think I have BDD (body dysmorphic disorder) so don't really know what is real and what is in my head. On top of that I have naturally fine, blonde hair so maybe seeing my scalp is normal...

Basically, I feel that my hair loss has been pretty much halted by finasteride. I'd like to regrow some hair at hairline corners (still have temples) and thicken up the back. Minoxidil seems like the best bet but I am concerned about ruining what I have, side effects and the lifestyle change.

Are there any alternatives and who should I see about that? A hair transplant surgeon seems obvious but I'm worried they'd think I'm crazy.

PS if anyone wants to talk to me about my experience with finasteride, just PM me. I've helped out a few of my friends already.

 

[DKC]

I understand how you feel, I'm pretty much at the same point as you, I'm 23 with NW2 but thinning all on the top of the head.

I think that a hair transplant is still out the picture at the moment, I had a online consultation and it pretty much said come back when I'm 30+, they don't want to operate on people who are too young. When I am old enough I'm pretty sure I want a small 1500ish FUE the lower my hairline and fill in slightly, not that fussed about vertex as its the front that is my problem.

I feel that my hair loss has halted but I'm not happy with what I have, I have thick hair at the side and back and thinning on the top which makes it super obvious it is thin and that affects me. I've been dealing with it since about 19 so I'm starting to get better and handling anxiety but it would be really great if I could thicken the top up.

At the moment I'm attempting to grow my hair a few inches out, the top is at 3 inches atm so my aim is to grow it to about 5-6 and I think that would provide some better coverage.

Have you tried Stemoxydine? Also, maybe look into some natural hormone regulators like ashwangandha, I started taking it about 2 months ago and its helped me, I notice I am quite calm whereas before, I could quite easily have a temper. Some websites also say it helps with hairloss.

 

[623]

I haven't, I am trying to avoid things that could also have adverse effects as that would be far worse. I think I am going to go to a hair transplant guy and just see what the options are as well as see someone for BDD. If I comb my hair correctly it's really not noticeable at all but I'd love to just have the vertex not be see-through when I let my hair sit naturally.

I think if I have pretty much stopped the loss, there may be an option for a small transplant. Of course that could haunt me down the road so it's tough...

So happy that Finasteride worked so well but it's a bummer that there aren't really any options to recover besides minoxidil and/or hair transplant. minoxidil I think is a serious commitment and may not work for a long time and a hair transplant has all it's issues as well.

Perhaps I can try minoxidil for a few years until it's time for a hair transplant...