FUE Hair Transplant

HBC08 · 19-01-2022 4:41pm

From my own experience with finisteride (I took it for 8 years but don't anymore)

Side effects I had but we're bearable......ball ache,sensitive nipples,man boobs,watery semen.

It did a good job on preserving my hair,I was taking roughly 1.25mg a day (one 5mg of Proscar bitten into 5 pieces)

If I was to go back on it again which I may do I'd be taking 1.25 every second day instead as a lot if research shows its very nearly as effect doing that.

I stopped because we were trying for kids and my doctor said to stop before trying and to go back on it otherwise if I wanted.

Bottom line,try it and see how you go,you might have no sides or minor sides.If you're having a really bad reaction just stop and it'll be gone out of your system.Dont take it if you're actively trying to have a kids.

mrcheez · 19-01-2022 5:45pm

Curious, how long do you need to be off it for it to be considered "safe" for having kids?

Obviously it may take a while for the success of pregnancy (unless you're a one-hit-wonder!), so would you take 3 months off? Do you lose hair in that case?

HBC08 · 19-01-2022 6:11pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118501188#Comment_118501188

I was told a couple of months and 3 to be sure, not an exact science.Also not an exact science is would you lose some of your gains or stabilised hair.My own guess would be in most cases you wouldn't (I don't think anybody,a doctor or otherwise could give a definitive answer,some cases may be more likely than others) For example I was without Finesteride for a few months when I went to the States for work,there was no difference that I noticed and I just got back on it when I could.

cookie24 · 19-01-2022 9:56pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118500429#Comment_118500429

Where i am coming from, and from chatting to people (i knows thats completely not scientific or anything), they were basically concerned about becoming dependent on it and when you stop taking it the hair will fall out.

Any truth in that would you have any idea?

The clinic is available for all these concerns and I'll chat to them but sometimes better to get the perspective of someone who has lived it

mrcheez · 19-01-2022 11:30pm

Yea from what I understand you'd need to take it for life...or as long as you want to hold onto the hair density.

Dr Nel takes it himself and has done so for years.

St. Pat · 20-01-2022 12:17am

I'm taking finasteride about a year now and have had no side effects with the exception that my semen is a bit more watery (this does seem to be a common side effect). From what I have been told is that taking finasteride may decrease fertility, and if it is the case, to come off the drug for a few months if trying for a baby and the side effects should be reversed. Finasteride blocks the hormone responsible for male pattern baldness and if you stop taking it indefinitely the hair loss pattern will probably return.

Obviously don't take my word for it and do your own research and/or seek medical advice!

St. Pat · 26-01-2022 7:53pm

https://www.goloudnow.com/podcasts/dermot-dave-65/everything-you-need-to-know-about-hair-restoration-320393

Dr Nel spoke with Dermot and Dave today and highlighted the importance of taking finasteride for a successful HT and what other clinics tend to do to keep clients. A perfect example was the second segment where a listener told his experience of a HT with another Irish clinic.

mrcheez · 26-01-2022 10:05pm

oh boy... even longer waiting times now for appointments as a result of his exposure there 🤣

zeebre12 · 28-01-2022 8:59pm

Had my consultation today in Dr Nel's Clinic. I explained that Finasteride didn't seem to be working for me as I was still shedding after 7 months. They said the reason for it not working is because I was using the wrong brand. I was assured when I start taking Proscar it will work. I thought Fibasteride just doesn't work for some people? I was told I was not the first person who was taking the generic Finasteride that had these issues.

She said having seborrheic dermatitis has nothing got to do with Finasteride not working. They said I could continue to dermaroll even having seborrheic dermatitis. But if you do a quick Google search on this it says not to. I was prescribed Loniten and Proscar to try and hold onto what I have left.

If it is that I was taking the generic brand which was not showing results its really disheartening as I having lost so much hair over the past 7 months.

waynescales1 · 29-01-2022 3:43pm

That’s interesting I didn’t know there was a difference. I’m using Accord Finasteride, anyone else on that?

suave.4u · 04-02-2022 2:00am

I was on propecia, but then changed to 1.25mg proscar daily after consultation with Dr Nel. TBH I don't see much difference, but he knows better I guess

zeebre12 · 04-02-2022 8:13am

Same with me. I had a consultation last Friday. When did you change to Proscar? He said I was taking the wrong Finasteride and that is why it's not working. They seemed sure that was why it was not working?

Did he say daily for you as he told me to take it Mon/Wed/Fri? Are you also taking Loniten?

suave.4u · 04-02-2022 6:11pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118579621#Comment_118579621

I was on 1mg propecia daily for a long time. Changed to proscar (taking 1.25mg daily instead of every alternate day). Also using Loniten and occasionally using regaine

zeebre12 · 04-02-2022 6:47pm

When did you switch from propecia to proscar? Did Dr Nel say to take it daily or are you just doing it yourself?

zeebre12 · 09-04-2022 1:38pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118579419#Comment_118579419

When did you switch from propecia to proscar? Did Dr Nel say to take it daily or are you just doing it yourself?

I was getting some form of Finasteride from webdoctor. Is this where you were getting yours?

Has it made any difference now or has your shedding stopped? Thanks

GenericName2 · 10-04-2022 3:55pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118547466#Comment_118547466

Any update? Sorry for the lost time.

I've been on proscar (1.25mg x 3 pw) and lonitrn (1.25mg x 7) prescribed from Dr nel for nearly 3 months now.

And I've noticed my crown has got worse.

Interestingly he said I don't need crown work just smp on it, but it def has got worse.

Is 3 months too soon to see any results? Seems like I will def need 2 hts in total now.

Edit - this vanilla shite is a joke. Buggy glitchy as you can get. Terrible business decision.

GenericName2 · 10-04-2022 3:55pm

**Admin please delete. Double post.**

zeebre12 · 10-04-2022 4:12pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118906922#Comment_118906922

I started the proper Finasteride (proscar) 3 times per week he said would work and Loniten every day since February 1st but nothing has changed. My hair is still shedding as before. I seriously don't know what to do?

The thing is I don't know I might have been taking Proscar already as I was getting some kind of Finasteride from webdoctor called Fintrid (is this some form of proscar?) It was a more darker blue circular tablet wheras the proscar I got from Dr Nel was a lighter blue and more triangular and hard to split in quarters.

Were you taking Finasteride before you went to Dr Nel? What form of Finasteride was this and where did you get it?

mrcheez · 10-04-2022 7:11pm

When you start Finasteride you will shed more initially during the first few months

https://www.pocketpills.com/blog/hair-loss/finasteride-and-shedding-why-it-happens-how-long-it-lasts-and-cycles-explained#:~:text=Because%20of%20this%2C%20the%20hair,medicine%20is%20working%20for%20you.

GenericName2 · 10-04-2022 7:15pm

I was not taking anything before.

I was hoping this would 'freeze' my hairloss but my crown is worse for sure.

He did mention that even a different type of proscar was not correct, it had to be an exact one- showed me a picture of the box- which is the one I got downstairs from him.

It all maybe too early, but I'm thinking if this is not slowing down what I have now, would it help after a ht too.

I guess I need to wait at least 6 months.

St1mpMeister · 10-04-2022 7:16pm

For SMP I highly recommend https://www.thescalpcare.com/

Alicja specialises in SMP and does amazing work. She works for Blackrock Clinic normally, but also runs this service, and half the price of what Dr Nel was quoting me, but while Dr Nel is a surgeon and does the SMP as an extra, Alicja actually does the SMP full time which matters as it's essentially an art form to get it looking natural :)

zeebre12 · 10-04-2022 8:50pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118907911#Comment_118907911

I understand this but I am shedding the same amount as I was before I started any medication. There is no extra big shed that lasts a number of weeks just the same constant shedding?

suave.4u · 11-04-2022 7:46pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118907930#Comment_118907930

Thx for sharing this.

https://www.thescalpcare.com/prices

Adding density for thinning hair- starts from €300.

What does mean, any idea?

St1mpMeister · 11-04-2022 9:52pm

SMP can be used to give the impression of thicker hair by essentially darkening the scalp under sections of "whispy" hair (similar to how hair fibres work). The scalp is dotted to make it look like hundreds of blade 0 hair follicles. It's pretty uncanny and even up close you can't really tell unless you're specifically looking for them.

It works well if you have fine hair that you currently brush over balding spots. Otherwise what most do is shave their head and then SMP can be used to make it look like your bald spots are just shaved hair.

SameOleJay · 17-04-2022 8:45pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118496728#Comment_118496728

Do you take finasteride? I had an awful experience and am avoiding it but considering a transplant.

I'm far down the line in my hair loss (Norwood 5) and very aware it'll be far from a full head of hair but do want to go that route. I'm expecting multiple operations as the little of what's left sheds after the first.

My biggest concern going the cheaper route is places taking hair from outside a safe donor site which will only be lost down the line. I don't pay much attention to short term before and afters for that reason. This is why I'm erring on the side of an expensive treatment.

elgicko · 18-04-2022 12:06pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118940316#Comment_118940316

Hi there, I don't take anything. In my case I had a lot of hair on back and sides and my donor hair was good.

When the doctor extracts hair, each follicle of hair can contain 1, 2, 3, 4 or even 5 strands (who knew!!). I got a lot of multiple strands, which helped a lot.

Hair style as well helps, covers a lot.

I am no expert, my advice would be to go to DHI for a free consultation and take it from there.

I have no affiliation with them, I am basing off my own experience, it is coming up on 10 years as well since I have had any contact with them, so can't speak for what it is like now.

Best of luck!

mistaken_for_strangers · 25-05-2022 5:40pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118907911#Comment_118907911

Hi MrCheez, thanks for posting about your experience with finasteride. I'm considering starting it myself and am trying not to read too many online forums because I believe the amount of scaremongering vs the reality of daily use of the drug is out of proportion. I've got about 14 months worth of supply by using webdoctor.ie and cutting the supplied tab into 4 and taking three times a week. Works out at 28 euro for the prescription and I think the same again for a renewal of the prescription (bit annoying but overall it's cheap if it works). I've yet to start though, maybe I'll wait to get bloods.

In terms of your experience - do you mind me asking your age? I'm late 40s so I think my experience would be different to that of a younger man, i.e. the potential (temporary) sexual side effects wouldn't bother me as much, as long as they were temporary obviously. What, if any side effects did you have and how did you stop yourself obsessing about the smallest thing possibly being caused by it and freaking out? Maybe you hadn't read as many forums as I have or maybe it's not your personality type? My main concerns would be insomnia, gyno and brain fog - of those the gyno would be the one that would stop me using it while the other two I'd be tempted to push through and see if they go away as many users report.

You mentioned you'd got a consultation with the doc about a possible hair transplant but he was so happy with your progress on fin that he postponed it. Did you yourself notice visible and quantifiable improvements? I'm assuming here that you're probably checking your hairline regularly enough given that you were considering a transplant so, after being on finasteride for a while did you see improvements or was it only when the doc told you he saw them?

What are you plans now given that finasteride is something you need to keep taking, are you content enough to continue taking it?

Finally, when do you take it? Any regimen or just whenever? Thanks!

mrcheez · 25-05-2022 5:57pm

Hi there.. I didn't really get any side effects of note, but (as I've been told by doctors) the thing is that if you do get side effects you can stop taking Finasteride (or can lower the dosage) and there are no long-term effects to worry about, and the symptoms should fade away after a short while.

So it's worth trying... and if you notice anything untoward you can simply stop.

Regarding postponing my surgery, I had decided during Covid to try growing out my hair to cover the thinning crown area as I'd read about Gareth Bale's topknot idea!

my idea was that I could do that, and then get SMP to "darken" the crown and make any thinning areas almost unnoticeable through the longer hair.

I discussed this idea with Dr Nel when I had my annual check up with him (to renew my Finasteride prescription) and he thought it was a good idea and actually noted that my hair had gotten thicker as a result of a year on Finasteride.

I'm still in the process of growing out the hair and can get most of it tied up now and it actually completely obscures the thinning crown... but even when the hair is down now, it obscures the crown.. as long as it doesn't get wet :)

When the hair is tied up it obscures the crown even when wet... I wear it tied up when jogging and getting sweaty.

mistaken_for_strangers · 25-05-2022 6:05pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119113476#Comment_119113476

Thanks for the quick reply, appreciate it. Yeah I think I'll give it a go and see how I get along with it, if I start experiencing anything scary I'll stop. Interesting idea regarding the Gareth Bale approach, had not heard of that before. Would you consider your hairloss as noticeable before starting finasteride and growing it longer? I think people would attribute mine to age rather than a predisposition to balding, but still I've noticed a visible thinning in the crown area and if taking finasteride stops that or, even better, reverses it a little then I'm willing to give it a go.

mrcheez · 25-05-2022 6:12pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119113493#Comment_119113493

It's hard to say... when I comb my hair I still do get a fair few hairs each day caught in it.. but then to look at my hair it seems quite thick. I wouldn't say it's an alarming amount falling out, but it's possible that new hair is growing faster as I don't notice any particular lack of density.

The longer hair definitely is worth trying if you can and then couple it with SMP to disguise the visible scalp underneath.

Does it look thicker than 2 years ago? Absolutely. I was considering getting surgery for the thinning front, but now not so sure that's required any longer either... fingers crossed.

zeebre12 · 26-05-2022 6:19am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118907927#Comment_118907927

What really p#sses m

zeebre12 · 26-05-2022 6:52am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118906922#Comment_118906922

Hi..have you made any progress or has anything changed? I'm still the same and I don't know what to do. My hair is still shedding as bad as before. When I shampoo my hair my hand is full of hairs. It is 4 months now since my consultation with Dr Nel and nothing has changed at all. Why does he only say to take his version of Proscar M/W/F when I could take it everyday. I was taking another form of Proscar daily before I went for the consultation with him (he said this was not the right Proscar) and I told him I had no side effects from it but he says to just take it M/W/F? I seriously don't know what to do? Should I ask him can I start taking it daily to see if it make any difference? He said his version of Proscar would work in controlling my hairloss.

HBC08 · 26-05-2022 10:11am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119115288#Comment_119115288

There's no real difference in the the types of finisteride, although it seems this Dr prefers one brand over another.

He shouldn't have told you any form of finesteride would work in controlling your hairloss as he would have no way of knowing that before you were taking it.Some people are excellent responders and some people's hairloss continues,most would be somewhere in the middle.

I wouldn't get caught up in the taking 1mg every second day versus everyday,there's a not much difference in outcome and it might cause sides.Maybe you could combine finesteride with oral minoxidil

mrcheez · 26-05-2022 11:13am

I've noticed some forms of medication are more effective over their generic counterpart despite same ingredients, so he might have a point alright.

waynescales1 · 26-05-2022 4:42pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119115891#Comment_119115891

Anyone taking 3mg+ a week of finasteride and is still experiencing hair loss is pretty much finished. Increase to 7mg per week as a last effort, but really if a full dose of finasteride isn't arresting your hair loss, no concoction of currently available treatments will save you.

HGVRHKYY · 26-05-2022 6:02pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119118050#Comment_119118050

Thats not necessarily true, some people who don't respond to fin may experience positive results with dutasteride

waynescales1 · 26-05-2022 6:05pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119118384#Comment_119118384

Correct, when I said finasteride I meant oral DHT blockers in general. Apologies. Might be something worth trying actually, switching from Fin to Dutasteride.

zeebre12 · 26-05-2022 6:43pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119118398#Comment_119118398

Does anyone know how you can get dutasteride in Ireland?

Wallrus83 · 08-06-2022 11:39am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118499169#Comment_118499169

Hi, Just wondering if you went ahead with MHR for the transplant and if so how did it go? How much work and what was the price if you did.

Asking because I have received a quote of 5500 from MHR, I have previously had 2 small procedures with Ailesbury but have decided not to go with them again. Also I had a consultation with Dr Andre Nel and received a quote of 14K for a mix of FUT and FUE. I have one further consultation arranged with Premier Hair Restoration at the end of June, provisionally they have quoted me 8K. As you can see the quotes are quite different and I am interested to know more about MHR.

Wallrus83 · 08-06-2022 12:21pm

Hi,

I have previously had 2 small procedures done with Ailesbury on the crown of my head, the transplanted hair from those procedures remains but the rest of my hair has thinned badly over the last 2 years and as a result I am looking into the option of a 3rd larger procedure. I have decided not to go with Ailesbury as I received no real advice on how to look after my existing hair and feel they never really spent much time analyzing the condition of my hair before the procedures. Overall I feel like they were just interested in a short term solution and sale.

For my 3rd procedure I am considering the following options and have had consultations with 2 out of the 3, details below,

Option 1 - MHR (Grafton ST)

30 minute consultation ( No charge)

I have received a quote of 5500 for 6000 hairs (FUE) Frontal hairline Zone A, B ,C

Head must be fully shaved and medication is a personal choice - Not really pushing it - They have their own herbal DHT blocker also.

1 day procedure

Option 2 - Dr Andre Nel HSW (Swords)

2 hour consultation (200 Euro)

I have received a a quote of 11K for the frontal area (FUT & FUE) and 14K for Frontal plus mid scalp/lateral (FUT & FUE)

Head to be fully shaved - 20% premium if I decide not to shave

Medication is a must and I need to start on a mix of Finasteride and Minoxidil ASAP if I wish to proceed, The quote and method will be reviewed after 3 - 6 months

2 day procedure - Day one is an evening session, 3 -4 hours - Day 2 is a full day

Option 3 - Premier Hair Restoration (Rathmines)

Consultation booked for end of June - (100 Euro)

Provisional quote of 8K mentioned.

As you can see the price and the advice varies quite a bit, this is my last chance so I want to get it right, DR Andre is expensive but so far his set up seems the most professional and results driven. He was very clear with his advice on medication and how it is essential for a successful HT.

Just wondering if anyone has any advice on any of the 3 above or others?

HBC08 · 08-06-2022 12:46pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119173498#Comment_119173498

I've posted on here before about Ailesbury as I had a consultation there,the only clinic I've ever heard of world wide who actively discourages the use of finesteride,major red flag there.Also they could show me a grand total of one result from a previous patient, Mickley mouse stuff.They also quoted in hairs not grafts which is an inaccurate method and is disingenuous.

Whether to go on medication or not is a personal choice but if as you say the hair is continuing to fall out you need to start thinking about it.The hair will continue to fall out otherwise and once it's gone nothing will bring it back.Herbal DhT blockers will not work to any great extent if at all.

Anything I've heard about Dr Nel has been positive in the way he goes about things and if I was forced to do it in ireland I'd go to him.The fact that he also practices FUT is another good sign,most of the hair mills in Turkey for example wouldn't be able to and don't offer it.However he's a nobody in the HT world and you can get well renowned internationally recognised surgeons for the same or less than he's charging.Thats what I did and that's what I'd be doing again if I had to.

To sum up,

Only real Option in ireland is Dr Nel (we're obviously writing off Blackrock here)

If you're investing that much consider more established names abroad.

Hope this helps,the HT world is an absolute minefield.

waynescales1 · 08-06-2022 1:06pm

€5,500 for 6,000 "hairs" is extremely cheap for Ireland and I would be asking a lot of questions about how the procedure is performed. Also the fact that they've quoted you for "hairs" rather than "grafts" is odd. As far as I'm aware it's not possible to know how many hairs a specified number of grafts will yield until after the surgery has been performed, although I suppose rough estimates are possible.