HRT, hair regrowth, transplants?

[Padma]

Those of you who experienced some head hair regrowth after starting HRT/AA: how long did it take to "stabilise"? That is, how long into HRT was it before it was obvious there wasn't going to be any further regrowth of hair?

I'm asking because I'm (really surprised to find myself) considering hair transplants to counter my male thinningess on top and receding fringe, and I'm wondering when is the best point in the process to be looking into this. So far, I know very little about the current state of the art in hair transplants, and how it works best for trans women. Can anyone suggest links to useful info, especially in the UK?

[Jennie]

Hi Yoxi, I have not started HRT yet so I can't be of too much help in that area but I would think a year would be plenty of time.
I think one thing that has helped my GID is that I started to take certain matters and go with it, like facial hair removal and like you I am looking into hair transplants, I am in the USA so I do not know any where you are, but I figure I can do a lot of things with out starting HRT.
I wish you luck in your quest for information and a full head of hair 
Aloha.

Jennie

[vanna]

Hi Yoxi

i am uk resident, there is not need for any waiting time for transplants vs hrt, you may become fortunate with hrt but my own experience and ofc every is different that you will get some regrowth in a 2 year period but it will never be like growing a full head of hair or anything like when you was a teenager. if folicles have been dormant for only a short time there is chance they reactivate but it is a waiting game and a risk.

it will come to personal pref but if you feel that you have thinning that is unacceptable in transition then get transplant and do no wait, btw there are a few decent transplanters in uk but it is not the uk strong point and the best grafters are in Canada, US and one particular in Bangkok. the uk works out to be verry expensive too even compared to traveling but i did come across one doctor the other month who actually seemed to have a good number of results with ts ladies

if you only need say 1 thousand grafts then it is not such a bad amount but i have seen amount of £3200 - £10,000

i will go find that link i found which in my own opinion was first time i had seen good results here, i traveled abroad for after a verry long time of research for this verry reason

again others who may of had them here will prove me wrong but that is my own experiences

[justmeinoz]

I have discussed this with my Endocrinologist, and once the hair loss finally stops then I will consider a transplant.  Doing anything before then seems like a waste, as I could still end up with bald patches.

I am currently wearing a fringe and side hairpiece which matches my hair colour perfectly, and attaches quite firmly with toupe' clips. I can take my motorcycle helmet off without having to worry about it dislodging at all.  It is also a lot cooler than a full wig too, so I will stick with that for the next year or so.

Karen.

[Colleen Ireland]

I am doing the following to try to maximize my "natural assets" (i.e. get as much regrowth as possible before considering transplants):

1.  Rogaine.  I'm on my second bottle.  It costs about $45 a bottle, which lasts about 20 days.
2.  Nizoral shampoo Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  Apparently, Nizoral helps block or destroy DHT on the scalp, and assists the Rogaine, amplifying its effects.
3.  NutriCap.  Two capsules a day.  Touted as a hair-thickening/regrowth suppliment.
4.  Saw Palmetto capsules.  Two a day, as often as I can remember, what with all the other regimens I now have.

I added the Saw Palmetto capsules when I read about MinSaw, which was a combination of Minoxidil and Saw Palmetto, with retinolic acid.  I looked for it, but it's apparently either very hard to find or unavailable at present.

I will say that having done the above for about two months, there is visible and encouraging thickening of my hair, some regrowth does seem to be occurring.  And now that I'm on HRT, I'm hoping I will get an additional boost from no longer losing hair.

[Tamaki]

I've been on finastride (propecia) for about 8 months now, even before I started HRT. My hairline had receded and I had thinning on top. The hair on top has filled in and a little in front but my hair line hasn't moved at all. I was told that I was very lucky to get what I did since in most people it just stops further hair loss. I was also told not to stop the propecia even though I'm on HRT. You can get more hair growing in for up to a year but it seems to have basically stopped for me. Taking the propecia has kept me from having to do any hair transplants of the top of my head and saved me a lot of money so it might be worth considering.

I hate wigs with a passion and my hair is a major source of my dysphoria so I'm looking into hair transplants too. I've spoken with one surgeon and he suggested around 2500 transplants and it would give me a nice feminine hairline. He wanted $9,000 USD. I'm calling another one tomorrow that wants $5,500.

There is a lot of info on the net about current hair transplant technology. Check out Hasson and Wong for transplant info (they are really expensive though). Most surgeons use basically the same technique and all else being equal what it really come down to is their artistic skill and how many transplants they do in one session. Also check out Virtual FFS fo the difference in male and female hairlines.

[StaceyC]

I'm not on HRT yet, so I can't speak to the HRT part.  But I've been using Nizoral twice a week along with daily Finasteride pills (generic version).  My main problem was receding hairline at the temples. So my intention with these two was to limit any further damage.  I also take Saw Palmetto and Biotin several days week, both over the counter.  With the regimine above over the past 8 months, I've noticed a lot more thickness of hair on the scalp and no more recession at the temples.  But I can't say that I've seen any re-growth per se at the relatively barren temples at this point.   I plan to do hair transplant later this year, now that things have stabilized.  Hope that helps.

[kate durcal]

Hi, Yoxi,

If you are considering FFS, then do wait, and do it after the FFS. FFS will bring your hair line close to your face.

Kate

[Padma]

Nay, FFS is not on my todo list, and it's not just the expense. I'm wondering whether it's a cultural thing - over here in the UK, it's not anywhere near as usual for people to have plastic surgery as it is in the US. I'm finding it uncomfortable enough considering hair transplants!

[Rock_chick]

Well i've had a lot of regrowth and if the little baby hairs that have appeared thicken and darken (which they appear to be doing) my hairline will have gone from a typically male shape to female.

[jesse]

after 2 years hrt little to no hair regroth its transplants or nothing lol
jess

[Padma]

Dammit, let me at those tablets!!! I never dreamed it would matter this much.

[Dinky_Di]

Hi Yoxi

Try this link, lots of information on procedures, doctors etc, also a forum with some very knowledgable people on transplants.

http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/home.php

[Padma]

Thanks, Dinky_Di, I'll take a wander round - there's a lot of info there!

[Dinky_Di]

My pleasure, been there, done that, and doing it again.....lol

[Samantha_Marie]

Get on propecia asap! I've gotten surprising results so far and only been on it for around 6 or 7 months

[Suzy]

The only thing I hate more than wigs is my receding hairline.   I have been on Finasteride for 3 years and hrt for 2.  I also use Minoxidil and take biotin.  A year and a half ago I had hair transplants in Guadalajara, Mexico.  What I had done took very well.  I just need my part area thicker and I will be done.  This I am going to do in May, but stateside because for a smaller operation, the savings are negligible.  My hairline has stabilized and in fact, has improved somewhat.  My crown is what is interesting.  After a year of Finasteride, I had seen little improvement.  And now in the last year, suddenly I have a crown covered with hair.  My doctor confirmed this, and said it looks like it just took longer to kick in.  Whatever, I am happy it did and looking forward to having this process finished.

[queennikki1972]

@Samatha Marie can you send me contact info of your hair surgeon..  admin@fortworth-transgender.org

Thanks,

Nikki