just need an opinion on my hairline and some questions answered

[ivan19]

Hi i'm new to this forum, and i really just needed an opinion as to whether my hairline has started male pattern baldness or has just matured. I have contacted Dr Rassman from balding blog some weeks ago, but have not yet had a reply so, i really feel i need other responses in the mean time. I have always had a high forehead with a prominent windows peak, but somewhere between 16/17 the corners receeded somewhat, it is hard to say whether it would have got any worse because after becoming very focused on this i started taking propecia aged 18.

It has been just over a year since i have been taking it, and I guess i am quite dissapointed by how little regrowth I have obtained ( i have no suitable before photos however) except for a number of very fine vellus hairs, below the hairline. This brings me to my second question, with continued use of propecia and nizoral 2% every 3 days am I likely to singificantly thicken these hairs, as i believe propecia continues to show results over two years after starting use. I guess the question is as to whether I am combating male pattern baldness or trying to restore my juvenile hairline somewhat. I have no thinning in the crown what so ever, and cannot think of any relative who experienced balding at such a young age ( my dad is relatively bald at 67 but still has his hairline).

This high, receeded-looking hairline really affects my life, and compromises what should the best time of my life at starting university, I just want to have a hairline like all of my friends, and not care if my fringe gets dishevelled, and be able to have the freedom with my hair i wish i could have. I have persued hair transplant clinics in london, as until I am told otherwise, I believe it quite unlikely that i could eventually get the level of restoration i seek from the meds, but i have been told by one although there is slight temporal recession I am too young by two years, and another has said there is no loss, no leading surgeon what do what i wanted and my hair looked great already :S

attached are photos of my harline, with forehead contacted, temple regions, and closeups of corners with vellus hair.

Any constructive and sensitive responses will be much appreciated.

[ivan19]

just a few more photos, to show exactly how it is.

[Mark]

Your hair really doesn't look bad at all. It looks like that's just the hairline you have.

Frequently we see people who think that, because they don't have a hairline that looks like Alec Baldwins, they must be going bald or something. But the fact is that not many people have hairlines like that. Most of us have hairlines that are similar to yours. In fact, yours looks a lot like mine.

Just making a guess here, I'd say that your hair was probably progressing from a juvenile hairline to a mature hairline and you mistook it for MPB. I obviously can't say that with 100% certainty, but most of the time when we see posts like yours, that tends to be the case.

Unless there's something I'm missing, there doesn't appear to be any reason that you can't just enjoy your time at University like your friends.

-Mark

[ivan19]

hi mark, thanks for the reply,

when i first saw the recession i obviously didn't know that the juvenile-mature hairline transition existed and just thought mpb. I guess the difference between me and the others you mention on the forum is that my doctor looked at my mild temporal recession and diagnosed mpb and perscribed me the propecia on request, telling me it would mantain and thicken up fine vellus-like hairs on the front of the hairline, no minaturisation test was performed however.

My gp did say my loss may not get any worse anyway, but other than that they didn't seem to be familar with the maturing hairline concept. i guess the question i really need to know is can i thicken up those vellus hairs ( that i believe propecia has made more apparent) if they have not experienced typical mpb, but were part of the juvenile hairline. Can propecia regrow the intact part of the juvenile hairline that has been minaturised i wonder?

I guess that would be my only reason for wanting to continue the drug. But I guess i now also have fears that coming off propecia could accelerate any future mpb as my dht/testosterone production will have increased in response to the drug, is this fear justified?
I know i should get a minaturisation test to really confirm i had not entered mpb on taking propecia, but I am also wondering whether any preserved juvenile hairline hairs will affect this test result? also unsure whether propecia may have preserved some of the juvenile hairline, which i will lose on coming off it, making the situation worse? or is the mechanism for the juvenile hair loss different to mpb?

I hope all that makes sense, and any answers you have for me would be much appreciated. Its depressing to think i have taken a drug for so long, i may never needed to have taken. On the aesthetics of my hairline however i do feel its worse than that of 90% of the guys i see, i guess a transplant is really the only option now..

[Colt4587]

hi mark, thanks for the reply,

when i first saw the recession i obviously didn't know that the juvenile-mature hairline transition existed and just thought mpb. I guess the difference between me and the others you mention on the forum is that my doctor looked at my mild temporal recession and diagnosed mpb and perscribed me the propecia on request, telling me it would mantain and thicken up fine vellus-like hairs on the front of the hairline, no minaturisation test was performed however.

My gp did say my loss may not get any worse anyway, but other than that they didn't seem to be familar with the maturing hairline concept. i guess the question i really need to know is can i thicken up those vellus hairs ( that i believe propecia has made more apparent) if they have not experienced typical mpb, but were part of the juvenile hairline. Can propecia regrow the intact part of the juvenile hairline that has been minaturised i wonder?

I guess that would be my only reason for wanting to continue the drug. But I guess i now also have fears that coming off propecia could accelerate any future mpb as my dht/testosterone production will have increased in response to the drug, is this fear justified?
I know i should get a minaturisation test to really confirm i had not entered mpb on taking propecia, but I am also wondering whether any preserved juvenile hairline hairs will affect this test result? also unsure whether propecia may have preserved some of the juvenile hairline, which i will lose on coming off it, making the situation worse? or is the mechanism for the juvenile hair loss different to mpb?

I hope all that makes sense, and any answers you have for me would be much appreciated. Its depressing to think i have taken a drug for so long, i may never needed to have taken. On the aesthetics of my hairline however i do feel its worse than that of 90% of the guys i see, i guess a transplant is really the only option now..

I think you're jumping to conclusions, Ivan.

[oneclickwonder]

Like yourself I turned to the internet in hopes of answering my questions regarding my specific form of hair loss. Its not easy, there is a lot of conflicting material out there and A LOT of people trying to make a profit from your fears. The pervading notion that you can halt,slow down or reverse hair loss through treatment is in my opinion creating incredible anxiety within our culture and the 'aging cures' industry is benefiting hand over fist from this. Look at your situation - you are 18years old and already on Propecia, Nizoral and contemplating hair transplants. How much money will you have shelled out by the time you either a. die or b.grow comfortable enough that you don't care to continue treatment? Thousands if not more. With all that said I feel your pain - I'm just as confused as you, prone to depression and the like and I'm 32! I think you and I are alike...there is a part of us that thinks we are just over reacting, being obsessive freaks...however there is another part that thinks there may be something to our paranoia and wonder if not seeking treatment, not pre-empting our possible hair loss, is a decision we will later regret. You'll notice that in a lot of the 'marketing' surrounding hair loss you'll read something from someone who said they wish they took action earlier. This is probably true for a lot of people suffering from MPB, but isn't that just a natural human response to an unfortunate situation - regret? There is no evidence to suggest that had they started early they would have no visible signs of hair loss, that they would be mistaken for Alec Baldwin as they walked down the street - no? but it can't hurt right? well just your pocket book. Its this gray area...our indecisive selves...that the hair loss industry looks to exploit. I'm not your doctor, I've never met you in real life, but by looking at your photos I would say you have NOTHING to worry about right now! Like at all!!! Your hair looks thick and healthy, maybe you have a high hair line but so what?!?! That's not an indication that you're going to go bald anytime soon. Getting started on drugs now is crazy and furthermore nothing out there is going to regrow your hair in the way that you want if you are truly losing it. Although I can't speak from experience it appears from the images that I've seen that Propecia, Rogaine or even FUE hair transplants only do so much - you don't miraculously wind up with Baldwin hair....except for the strange case of Matthew Mcconaughey who seems to have gone from balding to Fabio inexplicably! Point being - just keep an eye on it, try to enjoy your life, don't obsess and if/when you discover real NOTICABLE thinning start on the drugs and look at your options...hopefully you'll be too old to care at that point. But hey, who am I to offer advice, I'm a guy who collected and counted the hairs off his towel this morning ;)

[ivan19]

That was just what I needed to hear today:), after just coming back from my doctor to make the decision to go off propecia (something he agreed i didn't actually need). A mature hairline is what I have, and my year+ of efforts show that propecia, minoxidil and nizoral will NOT regrow a juvenile hairline. And you know what thats fine, I'm pretty sure its not going to get any worse, it will stay the same and thats kind of ok.
Obviously we'd all like a hairline like jake gyllenhaal or alec balwin for that matter but as mark said, not all that many people do. Your quite right about it all adding up as well, aside from the big 3 I tried numerous other "potions" and supplements, there was the folligen, the 12.5% minoxidil, the grape seed extract and whatnot...i dread to think how much i have spent this year and a half or so...(thanks god i held off buying a laser comb:rolleyes:) At the end of the day its got to the point, where it didn't work, its v.unlikely to work and i should cut myself out of this now. I am blessed enough to have very thick hair, which people often remark upon, I should be happy enough with that.

At the best, at least I can hope that people in a similar position, young guys experiencing a norwood II pattern with no other loss or thinning, to leave the meds and topicals be, a mature hairline cannot be undone, and as we all know, its presence does not bode male pattern is next up.
Sorry to hear you too have been sucked into the same issues created and fueled by the hairloss industry, I think as you said its the indecisiveness of feeling that not doing something will result in your worst fear being realised, I guess you need to use that rational part of yourself to not make rash, pointless decisions. That said I do agree for anyone going bald, there is little significant n ithe way of regrowth that can be expected from any med out there at this time, and I'd hope by time I am actually affected then I'd be old to care :p.

Although some frontal transplants can look v. good and realistic that i have seen.. I guess i thought because my requirements would be minimal my result would also be v. likely to be good.
I think a transplant is something i can't quite rule out, having those corners filled in will give me that decent hairline that will make a world of difference to me, but as i mentioned they won't take me at this age so I know i need to move on and forget about it for now, who knows in a few years i may feel its not the be all and end all of everything:p
But thanks very much for the advice, I'm going off the drug as of today, leave them for people who actually need them! and see how I hold up.

[ohno]

Hi i'm new to this forum, and i really just needed an opinion as to whether my hairline has started male pattern baldness or has just matured. I have contacted Dr Rassman from balding blog some weeks ago, but have not yet had a reply so, i really feel i need other responses in the mean time. I have always had a high forehead with a prominent windows peak, but somewhere between 16/17 the corners receeded somewhat, it is hard to say whether it would have got any worse because after becoming very focused on this i started taking propecia aged 18.

It has been just over a year since i have been taking it, and I guess i am quite dissapointed by how little regrowth I have obtained ( i have no suitable before photos however) except for a number of very fine vellus hairs, below the hairline. This brings me to my second question, with continued use of propecia and nizoral 2% every 3 days am I likely to singificantly thicken these hairs, as i believe propecia continues to show results over two years after starting use. I guess the question is as to whether I am combating male pattern baldness or trying to restore my juvenile hairline somewhat. I have no thinning in the crown what so ever, and cannot think of any relative who experienced balding at such a young age ( my dad is relatively bald at 67 but still has his hairline).

This high, receeded-looking hairline really affects my life, and compromises what should the best time of my life at starting university, I just want to have a hairline like all of my friends, and not care if my fringe gets dishevelled, and be able to have the freedom with my hair i wish i could have. I have persued hair transplant clinics in london, as until I am told otherwise, I believe it quite unlikely that i could eventually get the level of restoration i seek from the meds, but i have been told by one although there is slight temporal recession I am too young by two years, and another has said there is no loss, no leading surgeon what do what i wanted and my hair looked great already :S

attached are photos of my harline, with forehead contacted, temple regions, and closeups of corners with vellus hair.

Any constructive and sensitive responses will be much appreciated.

Your hairline is EXACTLY like mine.

Just wanted to say,your hair style really rocks.

[ivan19]

Hey ohno thanks for the compliment, but i would never wear my hair like that up in real life, was just for the purposes of the pictures, coz i feel too ashmamed of my hairline :(

Its very reassuring to know i'm not balding, and to be free of propecia and minoxidil but it doesn't change my great displeasure with my hairline, which is why i'm definately going for transplants now.

I've got some transplant related questions now to put to mark in particular. I've got some pictures with the areas of the temporal corners that i want filled in, as an estimate could you tell me how many grafts this would be, and roughly how much I'm looking at to pay, FUE and FUT (strip method)?

In addition, although its not essential at all, I've also felt I have very weak temporal triangles (the hair on the sides of the forehead) I wonder if transplants can be used to strengthen them up a bit? Like I said not important at all really, as I would be more than thrilled just having my temporal corners restored.

I've also included a photo of the back of my head, I reckon I've got good donor hair for this, but I was just wondering which method strip or FUE would be best for my specific and minimal requirements? I know FUE leaves only tiny scars scattered around the back of the head, but If i only need a tiny strip wouldn't that method be equally fine, not to mention significantally cheaper?

I'm going to book some consultations with reputable surgeons in the uk once my exams are over, after having it for fours years and feeling the same this is quite overdue!

Any constructive responses will be much appreciated :)

[ivan19]

hey anything more people would like to add?
I don't think I am going to get a transplant for a long time now, maybe never.
Been off propecia for nearly a year and my hairs the same.
Looks like its just a mature albeit slighty high hairline :)...

[8str9]

No, you have a great head of hair. See? You did all that worrying for nothing.

[sjam]

ivan, my hair is just like yours. i just turned to this forum to see what people have to say about MPB, because ive always had a fairly large forehead and i felt that im starting to lose some hair. (im 18 years old, so similar boat as you were).
sadly with me, MPB runs in both sides of the family and i will eventually encounter it. with that said, there is no way i plan on taking any of the pills or using the creams because i doubt it works.
ive heard fish oil helps with MPB in case your wondering and just having a good diet.