Hey,

So as I'm a bit late in starting HRT I've already got some signs of a receeding hairline.  Like near my temples there's about an inch/half an inch receeding bit that I'm very unhappy and aware of when trying to wear my hair in traditional feminine styles. 

I'm wondering.. does HRT help with this, or will I need a hair transplant?  If the latter, should I wait until on HRT to do it, or ok to do it beforehand?

Thanks

Apologies if in wrong forum!

Hi

There is some evidence that follicles which are dormant can begin producing hair once HRT, specifically anti-androgens, are started. 

My experience is that some regrowth does occur but that it may be insufficient on its own, or only be very fine hair.

I've been on HRT for 9 months, and have just 10 days ago had a hair transplant.  Not a particularly comfortable procedure. The surgeon strongly recommends that I start taking a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor so that I preserve my pre-transplant hairline.   Even after SRS the body produces low levels of testosterone, so you would need to take the 5-alpha reductase inhibitor pretty much permanently to minimise additional male pattern baldness.

It's all a lot of fun....

Julia

If receding is slight and recent, then perhaps wait 1 year on an effective HRT until a decision is taken about transplant.

As i said in the other thread - you wont have any re-growth. Dead follicles keep dead. HRT can turn vellus hair (thin hair) into terminal hair - thats your main hair. But its a very long procedure. After 1-2 years you will see the vellus hair will grow up. In my case its a 1-2cm at the forehead. But the changing process will take many years to have usefull, thick, long hair for styling. I think around 10 years.

Galaxy partially correct - dead follicles are dead follicles.  However, they may not be dead and for some, they come out of dormancy to start producing hair.  For others, they do not.

You can see my pictures on the before and after thread that I had significant regrowth.  However, it was not enough for me to avoid transplants......

Hugs,

Jen

No its correct. You only can activate sleeping follicels (there are 5 phases). Thats no re-growth in medical view. Minoxidil can speed up these process. Re-growth means you will get new hair and thats not right.

I had the classic m shaped hairline and all of my hair came back thankfully so I'm guessing I caught it just in time. Now my scalp is pretty thick, like how it used to be.

Quote from: galaxy on December 28, 2014, 07:38:18 PM
No its correct. You only can activate sleeping follicels (there are 5 phases). Thats no re-growth in medical view. Minoxidil can speed up these process. Re-growth means you will get new hair and thats not right.

I started going bald when I was 23.  At 50, I was bald from ear to ear.  Now, I only need a hair transplant on the front of the forehead. I have a lot of hair where I have not had hair for years. 

I'm not a medical doctor.  I don't know what we want to call that.  I just want the hair.

Hugs,

Jen

You dont see sleeping follicles 

I also have any "re-growth" in my forehead as i said. But it never will become a female hairline and turning the thin vellus hair from re-growth will take years to become thick terminal hair. Maybe in 5 years i will have first results for a bit styling.

Quote from: galaxy on December 28, 2014, 08:05:15 PM
You dont see sleeping follicles 

I also have any "re-growth" in my forehead as i said. But it never will become a female hairline and turning the thin vellus hair from re-growth will take years to become thick terminal hair. Maybe in 5 years i will have first results for a bit styling.

It was in March of 2010 that I noticed the first of the thin hairs comming back.  It was last week that I had my first girl haircut with hair thick enough to actually call hair. 

Jen

I'm using E2, finasteride, CPA and minoxidil 5% ...

Left: june 2014 / Right: december 2014 (6 month of using finasteride and minoxidil 5%)

Yes it seems its a LONG slow process.... Im doing OK though, I was totally bald, Norwood 6 at least at 45, started in my early 20's...

I've seen the bald area close up a lot and Im also seeing a lot of hair up top growing that hasnt been there in 15-20 years   It started real short but its amazing me and its now between an inch and 2 inches with decent thickness and color ON TOP

All of that is from 8 months HRT... Low dose pills ramped up fairly quick to full dose, then added gel and patches... Finally IM injections... Spiro and Dutas for 7 months now... Also P cycled from the start.... Also 5% minoxydil...

It started slow and really seemed to take off as the E was raised I think I read that the Dutas takes a LONG time to be fully effective too... It was after starting spiro that the regrowth started but Ive recently tapered that down to low dosage and seen no stopping it

Im planning on FFS in late February with Dr Speigel... He will do a scalp advancement that should help... Then he said I gotta wait 6 months minimum to do hair transplants... I was resigned to never being able to restore my hair... Now Im getting optimistic I might have my own hair someday... Thats gonna be a few years from now if at all though

Its even closing up in the back and I just hope it keeps growing