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So I’ve been on fin for about a week and a half now. For the first week I noticed that the only side effect I experienced was a lack of morning wood. I was slightly concerned about this but I still used fin because it wasn’t a big deal to me. I think it’s subsided, because now I get morning wood again but there’s a few sides I didn’t expect. I feel like my libido has exponentially increased and the morning wood I experience is much more intense than it used to be. Is this normal? Will it subside eventually?

I have seen men who claimed a reduced sex drive in the first few weeks and found that this symptom disappeared within a month.

I was an NHI client. Considering all factors, I would rate the experience as “average”. I am very close to being back to the point where I will need either more surgery, or I will have to shave my head and call it a day. Some of this was genetically predisposed, but some of it may have stemmed from the fact that the grafts did not “take” as well on the crown of my head, the place where I would need them if I have the procedure done again.

My question to you is twofold: Is there any or a better chance of the grafts “taking” in this area a second time? If so, is there a way to schedule the surgery with you without offending the doctor who did it? I think he did a fine job, but it is my understanding that you are the best – and if I do this again, I want it to be for the last time regardless.

Your question may be clear enough for you and I to understand, but for the average reader, the problem you are pointing to is the progressive nature of hair loss. The crown of the head always takes more hair per square inch than the frontal area, so as we tend to favor the front, the crown often gets less hair than it really needs. Add to this the large area the crown represents and that compounds the problem. The swirl and the absence of good layering because of the swirl, added to the very large area make the crown a ‘hair hungry’ area. If we do a hair transplant and any of it does not take, we will replace any hair that did not grow at no charge. However we sometimes find that it is not a failure to grow, but the progressive hair loss that one has. Most complaints, when they are given, are the results of further hair loss. In our medical group we have no pride that supercedes the interests of the patients, so the answer is yes, if you want me to personally look at you and we decide to do more transplants, then I would be honored to be your doctor. To deal with the progressive nature of hair loss and to hopefully put an end to recurrent surgeries, the drug Propecia would be an important additive to your treatment protocol, particularly for the crown in someone like you.

I’ve had crown surgery, having made the mistake of having three scalp reductions to reduce the size of the bald area. By bald spot was a 3 inch diameter circle before the scalp reductions and a 3 inch diameter scarred circle after the scalp reductions. I eventually had 1600 grafts put into my crown and now I am normal. When I am in bright sunlight and my hair is web, my crown appears thinner than I would like. My bald spot used to get a sun burn before the transplants were done, but since the transplants there have been no more sunburns.

I look forward to speaking with you.

No, finasteride, although it may slightly increase the amount of testosterone in your body, will not impact or cause acne.

I appreciate the level-headed, professional commentary that you provide. I have learned much from reading through pages of your comments. I had a question regarding side effects. I am not so worried about ED or sexual side effects, but more so about gynecomastia.

To set the stage: I am age 27, early N2 with diffuse loss and thinning from front to back, concentrated at the top and the crown. I have been experiencing hair loss since age 17. Body fat percentage is about 20%, and I live an active lifestyle and lift heavy. I also have extremely mild pubescent gynecomastia (bilateral), with the telling disc-shaped nodes present underneath each nipple. The right side is larger than the left. My nipples do get itchy occasionally, with the right side being more sensitive.

My current regimen: Minoxidil: about 2.5 years, OTC (USA) ketoconazole shampoo: 4 months, Finasteride: just started and ramping up to 1.25 mg dosage,

From your posts, and others, I have read that gynecomastia caused by Finasteride is very rare, with most professionals agreeing upon estimated rates between 1:250 to 1:1000 individuals.

However, I cannot find any information on whether or not having pre-existing gyne increases risk for exacerbation?

The Finasteride dose I started with is 1.25mg, and I am taking zinc 50mg as a supplement, and will soon start a DIM supplement. Is there any merit to either zinc or DIM having mild aromatase inhibitor effects?

People like you with existing breast nodules are at the same risk as people without breast nodules for gynecomastia secondary to Finasteride. I would not take any medications to prevent what is so rare, about 1:1000 risk.

So somebody who continues to take finasteride and does not stop like in the example you gave, it will often continue to provide it’s benefits in retaining hair and won’t necessarily lose its effectiveness?

Correct; however, hair has its own agenda with genetic codes for Apoptosis (cell hair suicide) which is delayed by finasteride but not always a guarantee that each hair may take its own course. Generally, finasteride slows this process down for the time you take the drug. I have had patients on finasteride for 25 years. When they stopped it along the 25-year history, they always lost hair. This tells me that finasteride works if you take it for anyone losing hair.

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-05-finasteride-prostate-cancer-death.html

With almost 300,000 person-years of follow-up and a median follow-up of 18.4 years, they found 42 deaths due to prostate cancer on the finasteride arm and 56 on placebo.

I recently hopped off Finasteride (2.5yrs) and Dutasteride (3 months) because I didn’t feel they were helping my hair at all. I figured that if I were to have any real results, I’d need surgery. I’ve been off them the last 3 months and I miss the “side effects”. My facial hair grows much quicker now and thicker. I miss when I rarely having to shave. My libido is also ANNOYINGLY high. I’m feeling way more sexual these days, especially compared to the past. Now when I see attractive strangers, I can’t help but think sexual thoughts. It’s the most annoying thing. I feel distracted! Anyways, just a rant about things some of you guys might consider “side effects.” I need to think further if I can get this mindset back with a Dr.’s help.

Interesting comments.