HRT, Finasteride and hair growth

[kathyk]

Here's a picture from pre transition-HRT, and another from this AM showing about one inch of hairline regrowing with very light thin hair.  I've been on HRT for 18 months, and Finasteride for 7 months.  Some of it has darkened a bit, but it still looks bad.  Any hope?  I've already planned on future transplants, but hope to get the best results possible before then.

[Riley Skye]

I would see how far you get in another 6-8 months and then get the hair transplants. It usually takes about a year or so to see maximum regrowth, also use minoxidil, it also really helps. From what I've read regrowth has everything to do with how recent your hairloss was. For me being a couple years I managed to regrow everything and I am still growing new hair.

[Lara1969]

Maybe you could switch to Dutasterid. Often you can see more regrowth and also side effects like smooth clean skin because all forms of DHT are blocked instead of Finasterid which blocks only one form of DHT.

In my personal experience Dut is far better. I hoped to get the side effect of growing boobs but without success. But I now started with Estrogen.

Lara

[kathyk]

I would see how far you get in another 6-8 months and then get the hair transplants. It usually takes about a year or so to see maximum regrowth, also use minoxidil, it also really helps. From what I've read regrowth has everything to do with how recent your hairloss was. For me being a couple years I managed to regrow everything and I am still growing new hair.

How long have you been using finasteride and minoxidil?  I've been slowly balding for 25 years, and my hairline is back to where it was about 15 years ago.

Maybe you could switch to Dutasterid. Often you can see more regrowth and also side effects like smooth clean skin because all forms of DHT are blocked instead of Finasterid which blocks only one form of DHT.

In my personal experience Dut is far better. I hoped to get the side effect of growing boobs but without success. But I now started with Estrogen.

Lara

I'm not sure what my doctor would prescribe, but she had no problem with giving me finasteride.  I'll ask her about Dutasterid.

[EmmaD]

Hi Kathy,

Have you had a hair transplant consult yet?  It may help with managing expectations a bit.  I am not saying you have major issues as I am certainly not qualified in that regard.  Just get an assessment (or 2 or 3) from the best practitioners, wherever they happen to be.  In some regards, hair replacement is like SRS and FFS - people travel from anywhere to get the treatment they want and need. 

A couple of weeks ago I sent pics off to Hasson & Wong  specifically asking about the chance of getting a female hairline.  They said they could get a satisfactory male hairline but there was just too much to do for female.  I have been balding for about as long as you and am a Norwood 7.  I went to H&W because they do fantastic work on large hair loss clients and given my amount of hair loss, there isn't an unlimited supply of donor material.  What I have got is good quality.  Donor quantity is another factor you will need to consider.  So my expectations have now been managed down a bit.

Regarding meds, I am on Fin and have been for about 2 years.  My hair regrowth equates to winding back the hair loss clock by 5 to 8 years or so, maybe more.  What I have to remind myself of is that 8 years ago, visible hair loss was obvious but the thinning process had also taken over so the hair loss process was well advanced then.  I tried minoxidil but my scalp reacted very badly.  I was advised to persevere but it just got worse so I have stopped trying that.  I expect to be on Fin forever if I want to keep what I have regrown.  I too will ask about Dut as my new goal now is to at least have some hair when not wearing a wig.

[Lara1969]

Minoxidil caused some skin irritation until I used Panthenol creme on the skin and I switched to Minoxidil foam.

Lara

[kathyk]

...Have you had a hair transplant consult yet?  ...

... A couple of weeks ago I sent pics off to Hasson & Wong 

I still have to do a couple consults.  But one of the women in my therapy group had fantastic results with surgery, and may do a little transplant work.  But she was at a level 2a or so.  I was around 5v, and if they can bring back a female hairline I'd love it.  But I'll settle for my old 25 or 30 year old male hairline.

Minoxidil caused some skin irritation until I used Panthenol creme on the skin and I switched to Minoxidil foam.

Lara

Thanks Lara.  I'm checking every option now, and I want comfort too-boot. 

[Allyda]

I have ordered Finasteride (don't remember mg), Spiro 100 mg, and my Estradiol 2mg. I know Dutasteride is better than Finn. but my supplier was out at the time. My question is, since I'll be taking Spiro, do I still need the Finasteride and/or Dutasteride? I still have my original hairline as my hair loss is a femminine type. I was checked out and told this by a dermatologist.

I plan to order the Dutasteride when I can if in fact I will still need it. I of course will ask my doctor about this too but he is admittidly unfamiliar with Transgender MTF treatment, but doing research on it so he can actually help me. Looks like my new Dr's gonna work out!

Yup that's right everyone, I'll be on my way very soon. This is the happiest I've been in years!

[kathyk]

... I still have my original hairline as my hair loss is a femminine type. ...

Yup that's right everyone, I'll be on my way very soon. This is the happiest I've been in years!

Don't add anything more to regrow hair.  The spiro and E along with Finasteride may fix things in your case.  And since Dutasteride can have some negative effects on the prostate it's not worth adding it when it may not be necessary.

K

[Riley Skye]

I've been on finasteride for a year this Friday and I was on minoxidil from last December to about may. Right now my hairline has recovered since I graduated high school 4.5 years ago and it is a lot thicker. Since mine was very recent, 3-4 from when I started I had excellent growth as the follicles were still there and dormant. Having lost your hair so many years ago you most likely will not grow it back like I did, they're normal head hairs for me. Considering your situation definitely get a consultation for a possible hair transplant but to warn you it will be very expensive to get the transplants.

[kathyk]

... definitely get a consultation for a possible hair transplant but to warn you it will be very expensive to get the transplants.

A girl I know read that she could buy a nice sports car for less.

[Lara1969]

Here in Europe I paid 4,60Euro per graft at one of the leading experts. It was more expensive because I did not wanted that he cuts my hair besides just the small donor hair area. It seems to me he did a great work but I paid 12000Euro for 2200 grafts.

Together with taking Minixidil and Dutasterid my hairline looks now muuuuuuch better. During FFS in March my hairline will be moved approx. 1cm to the front abd I will never wear a wig again. Yes!

Lara

[Lara1969]

My only AA is Durasteride as in most cases the testosterone level drops after starting with estrogen. I will add Progesterone to my regime. P interups the DHT synthesis very efficient. Maybe I will stop taking Dut than. P cream used o the scalp is a very effcient way to stimulate hair regrowth.

Lara

[kathyk]

...Maybe I will stop taking Dut than. P cream used o the scalp is a very effcient way to stimulate hair regrowth.

I was on Medroxyprogesterone pills and they caused a little hair loss because pills required first pass breakdown in the liver.  That breakdown changed enzymes that effected esterogen and can increase testosterone levels.  I guess the creams are natural micronized progesterone and since they're absorbed through the skin they have far less effect on the liver, and so few enzyme changes.  I can't get creams or any other form of progesterone through my health plan, so I'm following other options.

[Lara1969]

In my personal opinion bio-identical Progesterone is necessary to lower the DHT. These progestins can have adverse effects and I would avoid them like hell. As far as I remember the study was made while taking oral micronized Progesterone which should be a very safe way to take Progesterone because it is not processed like Estrogen in the liver. I never read about liver damage ore any liver danger from oral taken bio-identical Progesterons. The Progestins may be different because they are just chemicals with one interaction at one sort of rezeptors in the body which is similar to Progesteron. It is known that other rezeptors are interacting much different to Progestins. I think they are just pkain cheaper or the pharma industry is earning more money with these chemicals because Progesteron is free of any patents.

Topical Progesterone should work like oral taken and there is much evidence that it works great on the scalp. Progesterone cream is cheap here but I need a prescription.

Lara

[Antonia J]

A girl I know read that she could buy a nice sports car for less.

I had 2700 hair follicle grafts this last Monday to create a feminine hairline. My starting point was a hairline very similar to Tom Hanks. The cost for the grafts was $9,200 USD. I saw one of the two board certified hair surgeons in Michigan. He has experience working with Mtf patients.

Oh, I have been on finasteride for 10 months, and E for almost 4 months.

[{Alice}]

I take finasteride for 6 months and I see a difference. I do not know yet make me a haircut worthy of the name but my hairdresser told me that in 2 or 3 months, it will be something nice. I think I'll definitely need a transplant and I saved for it. Now, I said that it's worth to wait a little longer.

[kathyk]

II saw one of the two board certified hair surgeons in Michigan. He has experience working with Mtf patients.

Where did you have the surgery, and who was the doctor?  I'm in

I think I'll definitely need a transplant and I saved for it. Now, I said that it's worth to wait a little longer.\

You look great with only 5 months HRT.   After you've grown out your hair a bit more you may not need to do nearly as much as you think you need now. 

[Lara1969]

You look great after 5 months oft HRT! Amazing. Did you tried out hair extensions? I discussing this with my hairdresser.

Lara

[LizMarie]

For those with serious hair loss, you might want to consider Matristem ACell + PRP treatment.

ACell is, to put it very simply, a stem cell activator. Originally designed to minimize (and in some cases) prevent surgical scarring, hair restoration surgeons discovered that sites where they removed hair, when treated with ACell, not only had minimal scarring but often had new hair growth.

This has expanded now to a full set of treatments without hair transplants in many cases, that restores hair to much denser quantities than existed previously.

In my own case, I am a type 6 hair loss candidate (yes, horribly horribly bad!) and am hoping that I can generate enough new hair on top to then make transplants worthwhile, which right now they are not.

In Google (or Bing or your favorite search engine) search for Matristem ACell hair restoration to find more articles about the technique.