What's the time scale for Propecia to get back lost hair?

[Esprit]

Has anyone taken Propecia 2 years after front loss, and regained it? Does it help at all in the front of your head?

Likewise, has anyone ever taken Propecia 10 years after crown loss and found any benefits?

Be very interested to hear if anyone can answer these questions please.
I'd say majority of my frontal loss is only 2 years, but crown started going 10 years ago.

 

[Iopu]

Everyone's case is individual. Your best bet would be to get on the big 3 (finasterade, minoxidil, nizoral shampoo). And assessing your results for a year maybe. And at that point a hair transplant may be something you can consider looking into. And... as you can imagine. There would be no need for hair transplants if propecia regrew all lost hair.

 

[warner8]

6 months min they sa

 

[Esprit]

Iopu, I just meant am I too far gone to get any benefits, I've been using concealers for 5 odd years, but last couple of years, I've lost loads from front, and wondered if you can get back what was lost, and has anyone got a load back that isn't a crown. I get the crown is too far gone, but what I've lost from last couple of years at front of head, that's what's really bothering me now. I don't want to go through the misery of sides if it's a no go anyway, if you know what I mean. Have used Nizoral for years, but all that did was speed up the loss for me. The Nizorelle, that they stopped making which was 1%, was great, but since it discontinued, my loss has got far worse.

Warner, what 6 months? You mean you can only get back what was lost from 6 months ago? That's pretty lousy...

 

[Esprit]

Can anyone help me out here with these questions please?
Experienced users anyone with similar problem?

 

[TinTon]

I too would like to hear answers to this question, from people who have actually been taking finasteride.

I've not taken finasteride yet but from what I've read (and I've read a ****t ton) it varies, some say last 12 months of loss can be grown back, some say up to 5 years worth of loss can be gained back.

Others say that you can't gain back any hair that has been lost as there's no way to reverse the miniaturisation process that's already taken place and therefore when people think they are getting regrowth it's just thickening of the pre-existing hairs. Although this is a contradiction in itself because if finasteride can thicken hair shafts that have become miniaturised then that is essentially reversal of the miniaturisation process which makes the argument of not being able to gain back lost hairs a bit shaky.

There is a probably a time period whereby a hair follicle properly gives up and dies off for good, not sure how long that process takes though really.

 

[GoldenMane]

For me, about 3 months on the big three (not finasteride alone) got me significantly above baseline.

 

[Esprit]

I too would like to hear answers to this question, from people who have actually been taking finasteride.

I've not taken finasteride yet but from what I've read (and I've read a ****t ton) it varies, some say last 12 months of loss can be grown back, some say up to 5 years worth of loss can be gained back.

Others say that you can't gain back any hair that has been lost as there's no way to reverse the miniaturisation process that's already taken place and therefore when people think they are getting regrowth it's just thickening of the pre-existing hairs. Although this is a contradiction in itself because if finasteride can thicken hair shafts that have become miniaturised then that is essentially reversal of the miniaturisation process which makes the argument of not being able to gain back lost hairs a bit shaky.

There is a probably a time period whereby a hair follicle properly gives up and dies off for good, not sure how long that process takes though really.

Good points, what is the cut off period, what can you expect, best case scenario... If someone says you can go back 24 months, just from taking Propecia, I'm in. If someone says, you won't get any back only maintain, I may as well only use minoxidil.

For me, about 3 months on the big three (not finasteride alone) got me significantly above baseline.

And it got you back to what period before, in terms of growth, 6 months, a year, 2 years?

 

[PappinAce]

I too would like to hear answers to this question, from people who have actually been taking finasteride.

I've not taken finasteride yet but from what I've read (and I've read a ****t ton) it varies, some say last 12 months of loss can be grown back, some say up to 5 years worth of loss can be gained back.

Others say that you can't gain back any hair that has been lost as there's no way to reverse the miniaturisation process that's already taken place and therefore when people think they are getting regrowth it's just thickening of the pre-existing hairs. Although this is a contradiction in itself because if finasteride can thicken hair shafts that have become miniaturised then that is essentially reversal of the miniaturisation process which makes the argument of not being able to gain back lost hairs a bit shaky.

There is a probably a time period whereby a hair follicle properly gives up and dies off for good, not sure how long that process takes though really.

This sums it up. I've heard some people say finasteride reversed their hair to what it was 3-5 years ago, while others don't regrow anything. Often people will make judgments about the treatment based on their own personal experience, i.e. "this product is **** and doesn't regrow hair", when what they really mean is "it didn't work for me". Everyone's body responds differently; just try it out and see.

Maybe you can post some pictures. If you're borderline Vin Diesel bald, then obviously not much improvement is going to happen. You say you noticed it ten years ago, but the speed of hair loss is different for everyone.

 

[sportsfan12]

I think that most people gain back sixty percent of their hair. That's just an average. I also read that the maximum regrowth occurs between 18 and 24 months after taking it. Then it keeps the hair you've gained. I've only taken it for less than a year, so I really don't know.

Hoping thats the case. Im 10 months in and ita done great on my crown, but any more hairline help in the front would be awesome

 

[FBaldy]

6 months is just a rough time scale to see some perhaps noticeable results, of course this can sometimes take 3 months or even 1-2 years.

Once you lose it then it is very difficult to get it back especially on the hair line, start young ie under 18-25 and you may just come out well off and its best to start on the big 3 of big 2 (finasteride or propecia+minoxidil).

Would recommend people also try castor oil its a long shot but a new one...

 

[Esprit]

Thanks for your replies guys, Just to clarify, it's how far back does it get you with hair, to what your hair was like 1 or 2 years back or not that far, and not, how long before you see any growth. That's not what I meant.

Castor Oil?? Another one of those, makes it thicker and grow faster, but not lost hair, I'll wager

 

[PappinAce]

Thanks for your replies guys, Just to clarify, it's how far back does it get you with hair, to what your hair was like 1 or 2 years back or not that far, and not, how long before you see any growth. That's not what I meant.

Like with most treatments, this will differ for everybody. Some people don't grow back any of their lost hair. Others report growing it back to the state that it was in up to 5-6 years before treatment!

 

[Esprit]

I've left it far too late without a doubt, but still toying with the idea, of doing it, as I think it'll be better than having to put minoxidil in twice a day, plus, having to wash the concealers out every night.

 

[sportsfan12]

I've left it far too late without a doubt, but still toying with the idea, of doing it, as I think it'll be better than having to put minoxidil in twice a day, plus, having to wash the concealers out every night.

Ive seen people get quite some regrowth despite having been thinning for a while.

Not saying do it or don't, but always an option!

 

[Esprit]

Ive seen people get quite some regrowth despite having been thinning for a while.

Not saying do it or don't, but always an option!

Thanks for that, I think I probably will. The depression won't get any better about looking in the mirror.. so last chance saloon. hair transplant doctors are of the impression that doing my diffuse will make the existing hair fall out. It's a lose lose situation when you hear that. Have to try it now

 

[oye_rg]

In my personal experience, miniaturisation is reversible with the Big 3 if you are a responder.

Also miniaturisation is a spectrum, i.e. there are various stages of miniaturisation and the process of miniaturisation takes years and years. Reversal takes as long or is quicker in my experience.

So lets say for sake of argument hair range from 1 to 5. 5 being perfect hair with no miniaturisation and 1 being hair barely an mm or two long and very difficult to spot unless you are looking up close in a shaving mirror, but still pigmented. Less than 1 is say peach fuzz or slick bald. 2 is say, like an eyelash.

1 will go to 2, 2 to 3 and so on. It takes much longer and harder to go from 1 to 2 than from 4 to 5.

I would say I went from 1 to 2 in about 6 months and 2 to 3 in another 3-4 months. Noticable change took the first 6 months. For about 4 months it seemed nothing would happen so I would recommend everyone to not be impatient and give it time.

I had diffuse thinning which happened over at least a decade during which time I ignored it. Eventually I turned completely bald cosmetically except the horseshoe on sides and lower back. All I had was very little miniature hair which could not be normally seen (level 1). Now about 10 months into treatment it is getting thicker every month and I am at NW3/4 at the moment. The crown still shows through but the way it is going it will cover up in another few months time. However the temples are stubborn. I can see v small miniaturised hair in the temple area going about half a cm below my hairline which were not there when I started but they are at level 1 (on my imaginary scale above). All I had was blonde vellus on my temples (my normal hair colour is black). Few are on level 2. It is so slow it is difficult for me to say there is any hope and even if there is it will take years and years. Everywhere else on the scalp they have come up from 1 to say 3 in these 10 months but on temples they have come from 0 to 1 and are sticking at 1 forever. I am not giving hope though and will give it another year or so and go for hair transplant in the temples if nothing happens.

 

[Esprit]

In my personal experience, miniaturisation is reversible with the Big 3 if you are a responder.

Also miniaturisation is a spectrum, i.e. there are various stages of miniaturisation and the process of miniaturisation takes years and years. Reversal takes as long or is quicker in my experience.

So lets say for sake of argument hair range from 1 to 5. 5 being perfect hair with no miniaturisation and 1 being hair barely an mm or two long and very difficult to spot unless you are looking up close in a shaving mirror, but still pigmented. Less than 1 is say peach fuzz or slick bald. 2 is say, like an eyelash.

1 will go to 2, 2 to 3 and so on. It takes much longer and harder to go from 1 to 2 than from 4 to 5.

I would say I went from 1 to 2 in about 6 months and 2 to 3 in another 3-4 months. Noticable change took the first 6 months. For about 4 months it seemed nothing would happen so I would recommend everyone to not be impatient and give it time.

I had diffuse thinning which happened over at least a decade during which time I ignored it. Eventually I turned completely bald cosmetically except the horseshoe on sides and lower back. All I had was very little miniature hair which could not be normally seen (level 1). Now about 10 months into treatment it is getting thicker every month and I am at NW3/4 at the moment. The crown still shows through but the way it is going it will cover up in another few months time. However the temples are stubborn. I can see v small miniaturised hair in the temple area going about half a cm below my hairline which were not there when I started but they are at level 1 (on my imaginary scale above). All I had was blonde vellus on my temples (my normal hair colour is black). Few are on level 2. It is so slow it is difficult for me to say there is any hope and even if there is it will take years and years. Everywhere else on the scalp they have come up from 1 to say 3 in these 10 months but on temples they have come from 0 to 1 and are sticking at 1 forever. I am not giving hope though and will give it another year or so and go for hair transplant in the temples if nothing happens.

Thanks for this, very interesting stuff. From horseshoe to hair is impressive stuff, no matter how thick or thin.

And is your daily regime strict still, and do you use any concealers now, and if you don't mind me asking, how old are you? I won't ask for pics as it's personal stuff, but it's encouraging to read stuff like this