Hair transplant diary (ongoing)

Hunchback wrote: »

Can I ask for someone's opinion on the following? I had the operation done a couple of months ago now. Well actually, it was the second of two operations with a third density procedure to come in 8 months time.
As part of the after care, I was given a small bottle of hair loss tonic to be used a few months after the operation. The bottle is a 30ml bottle, which is small enough. You are only supposed to use a few drops everyday, which is fine, but I know that before too long I will have used this bottle fully.

Does anybody have experience with using REGAINE or some other similar product following their operation? I am considering buying a course of Regaine maybe the one that you can get online for €69 or so. Does anybody think that this is worthwhile or a good idea? I know that it contains minoxidil. I would be grateful to hear anyones opinions on this. I just think like having spent nearly €9,000 on having my hair done, I don't mind spending a bit more for the maintenance of it to stop the hair that might otherwise fall out in the future from doing so.

I have keenly followed this thread ever since I discovered it and I have probably already read the whole thing from beginning to end twice if I'm honest and, although I have seen the pros and cons of finasteride discussed at length, and I think I am fairly well aware of the potential side effects as against the potential gains of using that product, I don't recall reading somebody who has previously had the operation done using REGAINE thereafter or some other such equivalent product, but not finasteride.

Would it be fair to say that users of Finasteride would regard products such as Regain as a bit pointless as it is not really very strong or something?

by the way I was also thinking of purchasing a batch of saw palmetto from the health shop or from a chemist or wherever I can get it, to be used once the saw palmetto dht inhibitor tablets that I was given from the clinic are totally finished. So, I was going to use that combination – dht inhibitors as well as a course of Regaine

HBC08 wrote: »

Minoxidil and finesteride do completely different things.Ideally you should use both for optimum results but many people use only one or none for many different reasons.
I've used Minoxidil since 3 weeks after op and found it really helped, don't take finesteride anymore but will start on it again when the time is right.
In my opinion Saw Palmetta isn't much good but i take it anyway on the off chance that it does something.I take it as a supplement also containing bioten,zinc and other stuff that's good for your hair,it's called Expecia.
There's a company based in kerry that has good value for Rogaine €50 for 3 months

Thanks indeed for the response and thanks indeed to the many people who responded to me by private message to my inbox, it is much appreciated. I must say by way of clarification that I went with one of the more reputable places in Ireland to have this done and they did provide me with a full suite of aftercare products and so just for the purposes of clarity, this 30ml of lotion is not the only item I have been given (well, purchased). I do have other products that I have been told to use and I've been given clear instructions on how long to use them for. I just wanted to say that to clear up in case it sounded like I went for a two-bit amateur job operation. That's not the case. Anyway thanks indeed to all for the replies, they are much appreciated.

Hair loss is a complex issue and I’ve rarely seen any complex issue mitigated with a single remedy. With that being said, I would say that taking a multi-varied approach is your best bet. As a starter you will need to consider some DHT blocker, whether that’s Finasteride or Saw Palmetto is your decision. I would say if not taking Finasteride then you really do need to throw the kitchen sink at it in terms of using everything else. Loniten is an oral minoxidil and currently showing good research results, particularly for those with hair loss at the temples. I would also say Rogaine has its place, it’s FDA approved as a treatment and can help a small amount. Issue with rogaine is just how greasy it makes your hair. I sometimes ask myself if it’s worth having hair if it’s always dirty looking! Vitamins like biotin and zinc amongst the usual vitamins a through to e have a place in maintaining healthy hair. Are they going to make much difference? Debatable. They certainly won’t do any harm and if you are deficient in these then that’s something to consider. Annual blood works should be done to see where your deficiencies are and then take it from there. Micro-needling has some good research and I suspect there will be more to come. Care must be taken not to damage the recipient area if you’ve just had a HT and I wouldn’t be doing it until the scalp had recovered.

There’s things like PRP injections and Lasercaps depending on how far you want to take things (I have never tried these so can’t comment too much). I guess it’s ultimately about giving yourself the best chance and I would be hesitant about reading comments where people outright say things don’t work. They might not have worked for them but that does not mean it won’t work for you.

iebamm2580 wrote: »

Put on Rogaine before bed and wash out in the morning thats what i do.

Yeah I tend to do the same, and have to make sure to wash pillow cases regularly and change pillows. It does say to be used twice though so are you not using it in morning?

Dellboy2007 wrote: »

Yeah I tend to do the same, and have to make sure to wash pillow cases regularly and change pillows. It does say to be used twice though so are you not using it in morning?

I dont know how to embed link,
Type in The Hairloss Show on YouTube.
One of the surgeons on this show was involved in the original Rogaine trials in the 80s,he says once a day is enough.Youll find lots of other doctors say the same .
I had the same issue with hair being greasy,I put it on before bed,I'm down to once a day but when I was using it in the mornings also I would put it on first thing and then wash it out in the shower before leaving the house.The foam version (ie the one most people on here would be familar with) is absorbed in 10 mins.
That show I mentioned is a great reputable source for all things HT related but particularly medication.