Dr Lam's Hair Restoration Forum

Dr. Lam

I'm 24 & have been losing my hair since I was 18 or so. I would say it was very minimal until around my 22nd birthday then my hair-loss seemed to really increase. I have THICK! hair except for my hairline, the rest of my hair still grows very fast. No balding in the back at all or anything I can see anyway. The top of my hair is still very thick but has thinned some what but that seems normal to me. I just feel my hairline has receded at an abnormal rate.

With all that being said would it be too early for me to attempt hair restoration at my age?

thanks for the question. in general, i am not excited to perform a transplant in someone as young as you because i do not know where the hair loss will progress to. i would be worried that i would create a beautifully low hairline then you come back to me in 20 years and all you have is this unnatural ring in the front of your head because you have depleted your donor hair and lost hair on top. i saw a 26 year old gentleman who is getting significant loss and who went to a neighborhood "chain" who operated on him at 22. i am now forced to do another transplant to mask the result with a very difficult proposition of how am i going to have enough hair to protect him for the next 20 years. i know that sounds grim but i just want you to stay safe.

there is no "perfect age" for hair restoration. in general, i prefer at least late twenties but in general 30s and beyond is the time that i start to feel very comfortable. by 40, i am extremely comfortable (in general). i just want to make sure that you have enough donor hair.

the best thing to do at your age is to consult an ETHICAL physician. if you are in dallas, i would be more than happy to see you in consultation. the big thing is to try to start on propecia and rogaine to minimize further loss and regain some hairline. typically 20 year olds are great candidates for these products to restore hair because you have not lost too much yet and you would benefit from their effects. propecia is a prescription. i can get you started after a consultation. or you can get it from your family physician.

best,
sml

Right I understand & that was what I thought. Thanks for answering.

I've tried to use minoxidil but its a bit hard to stay on the regiment. I've heard of propecia but their site states "There is not sufficient evidence that PROPECIA works for receding hairlines at the temples", which would you recommend?

I live in Texas but I can't make the trip to Dallas for a consul but you are the first Doc i've seen or heard of that I would even think about hair restoration with just based of what I've watched & read about you, & as I'm sure you know I've looked ALL OVER the internet for a cure HAHA! so I've seen & heard about many Doctors.

One last question. I've heard about minoxidil & Saw Palmetto (pill form) working well , any thoughts? I know this is not ment to be a consul forum so I will not ask anything else.

thanks again for your time & help.

first, the information about propecia is totally outdated. it totally works on the hairline and temples.
second, saw palmetto is difficult for me to endorse. i can cite studies both ways. one saying it does nothing and is only intended for the prostate (which i think most people would agree it works on). one from an alternative med journal that says it does work. i really do not endorse it because it is unclear what it does or if it does anything.
hope that helps. thanks for the kind words.
best,
sml