Question:

- When should I start seeing the results of Propecia’s use on those smaller hairs at my hairline (the only place where I am losing hair)?

- Assuming Propecia cannot grow back the hair already completely lost at the hairline, I would like to consider a minor hair transplant sometime this fall to help recreate my hairline. What are your thoughts on that, considering I will always keep the highest level of commitment to keeping my hair for the rest of my life?

- As you know, my hairline is extremely important to me (probably more important than any other feature on my body) and is of the utmost concern. Couple that with the gray hair factor at my early-mid 20s and this is something I really feel is in my best interest for the future.

Answer:

At your age I would still recommend using Propecia for at least one full year before contemplating surgery. We saw you May 21 so I would say doing surgery this fall would be too early. It does take a full year to 18 months to see the full effect of the Propecia. At 6 months you may see stoppage of loss and/or decreased shedding but in no way will you see the full effect. Propecia’s strength is not in restoring the hairline to its former thickness but it can really help the hairline. As we discussed when you were in my office, you are too young to put permanent hair in the relatively small areas of loss. I know they are big areas to you but it would be ideal to see the full effect of Propecia before thinking of surgery. You can also use minoxidil (Rogaine) in these areas.

-Bradley Wolf, MD
http://www.wolfhair.com
IAHRS Recommended Hair Transplant Surgeon