I was in my middle twenties when I first began to worry about losing my hair. Although my hair texture was 'fine', I had plenty of it. However, as 'Male Pattern Baldness' is hereditary I knew that I was destined to lose my hair.

My father had lost most of his hair by the age of 45 and my grandfather on my mothers side was completely bald by the time he reached his 40th birthday. Call it what you like, vanity, lack of confidence, insecurity, I wasn't about to let one of my few redeeming features disappear without a fight, so in 1973 I joined a Hair transplant Clinic, I wanted to know about the surgery before committing myself. the clinic was part of a national group and they had acquired the services of one of the pioneers of the art of Hair transplant Surgery, Dr. Richard Sheil.

It was Richard who trained me as a Counsellor all those years ago whilst visiting the U.K. to train Doctors on behalf of the clinic group. In those days Hair transplant Surgery was very much in its infancy and limited to one type of procedure,'Plug Surgery'.



It was during the early part of 1978 that my fears of losing my hair were realised, I began to notice volume loss on the crown of my head. It was January of 1979 that I decided to have my hair transplanted. there is nothing more disconcerting to potential patients, than being counselled by someone who looked as though he needs his clinics 'services'. the other side of the spectrum, i.e. having the proverbial 'good head of hair' could almost alienate some guys.

From both a career and personal point of view 'putting my money where my mouth was'- proved very successful for me.

Apart from my relief at having my hair back (not to mention my confidence), the surgery helped my career enormously. After years of recommending hair transplant surgery to others I had experienced it for myself. With hindsight, my decision to have the surgery was a good one.

From then on I developed a much deeper understanding of the way hair loss can affect other peoples lives.

THE SURGERY RESOLVED MY HAIR LOSS FOR SOME TIME.
Go to Plug Surgery Document



A couple of years later I began to lose more hair. This time the hair loss was more towards my front hairline, which presented me with a new problem. Whereas before, I was able to disguise 'the plugs' with existing hair, it would be considerably more difficult to camouflage the 'dolls hair' appearance with plug surgery, especially should I continue with the plugs surgery so close to my front hairline. I had found myself with a situation I have witnessed so many times with other patients in more recent years. I was faced with a continuation of hair loss around the original 'plug' surgery site. The surgery, initially disguised by other good surrounding hair was becoming apparent. the combination of the limitations of the procedure itself at that time and the memories of the inconvenience and soreness during the lengthy healing period was enough for me to decide.

I DECIDED AGAINST FURTHER PLUG SURGERY AND RESIGNED MY JOB SOON AFTERWARDS. I COULDN'T RECOMMEND SURGERY I WOULD NO LONGER CONSIDER HAVING MYSELF!



MINOXIDIL, THE HAIR GROWTH DRUG

As fate would have it, I was living in the United States at the time when the news 'leaked' about the 'hair growth' drug MINOXIDIL (Regaine), and I had the good fortune to meet one of the Doctors involved in the original research programme.

I returned to the U.K. with prior information about the new drug.



In 1986, two years before the drug became officially available in the U.K. I was invited to discuss the new treatment on Manchester's Piccadilly Radio. I demonstrated the benefit of Minoxidil on the two scalps of the two young men who had been prescribed the treatment by my company Doctor. Unfortunately as time was to show, the drug was only partially successful. At best it promoted minimal hair re-growth in younger patients with recent hair loss. Nevertheless, Minoxidil helped in delaying the rate of my hair loss for some considerable time.

The benefits of the drug tended to wear off after 2 to 3 years of continual use.

However, after the limited success of Minoxidil, there developed a considerable resurgence of interest by the major drug companies, to find the 'long sought-after' cure for Male Pattern Baldness.



I read an article in some obscure Californian magazine about the side affects of another drug, FINASTERIDE.
The report claimed that the drug, currently being used to reduce the prostrate, significantly lowered the patients Dyhydrotestosterone levels as well. These patients, generally men over 55, began to realise that they where showing signs of hair re-growth and a cessation of hair loss.

After further research, scientists had recognised that an enzyme in the blood, 5 Alpha Reductase' , converted the male hormone 'Testerone' into another male hormone called Dyhydrotestosterone (DHT), and it was DHT that was 'attacking' the hair on the top scalp. Their research linked in with another, very interesting discovery.

It was discovered that an indigenous tribe of South American Indians, located in a region of Chile, had no history of hair loss whatsoever. They also, unlike the rest of us, had no content of Dyhydrotestosterone (DHT) in their blood. This pointed directly to DHT being the culprit. The male hormone (DHT) was the predominant factor in hair loss, not as many had originally thought, lack of blood supply. As one Doctor acquaintance used to tell me, "If I stabbed you on the crown area of your head, you'll bleed just as badly as if I stabbed you in the front of your head".

Finasteride was also shown not to be 'dose-related', in other words, whether you swallow the amount prescribed for prostrate problems - 5mgs daily, or the amount prescribed for hair loss - 1 mg per day, the results where the same. Assuming that the tiny amounts of the drug would not have any detrimental side affects, my company Doctor prescribed the lower strength for me towards the end of 19921 commenced using small doses of the drug with a topical solution of 4% Minoxidil.



By September 19931 had been using Finasteride for about 12 months. Sufficient time to have monitored my own results, and those of others, prescribed the treatment by the Doctor for their hair loss and thinning hair problems.

The drug had been partially effective.

Within a couple of months of commencing treatment I began to notice that my hair had literally stopped falling out. Added to that, I experienced minor, short growth along one side of my front hairline. Throughout the remainder of my scalp, the very short and translucent 'velus hair' had re-pigmented (turned dark again), but remained short.

Unfortunately, that's as good as it got.

My conclusion would seem to tally with other people who had commenced treatment since. The main benefit had been that we all experienced a cessation of hair loss but with very insignificant new growth. One can assume, that if used by someone who had lust started losing his hair, the problem could be stopped in its tracks and held there for as long as use of the drug is continued.

At the end of September 1993 I opted for the 'newly introduced' Hair Transplant 'Micro' Surgery to replace the areas where the hair was 'too far-gone' for anything, other than surgery, to work. I continued using the Finasteride tablets along with 4% Minoxidil.
Go to Micro Surgery Document



In 1994 I was present at the International Hair Transplant Conference in Toronto, when I learned that one of the Doctors was about to announce the 'news' of the 'NEW' drug FINASTERIDE to the other Hair Transplant Surgeons.

It suddenly dawned on me, there I was slap bang in the middle of an International Hair Transplant Conference, surrounded by some of the biggest 'names' in the profession, most of whom knew little or nothing about the drug,- and I had 2 years personal experience of it!

Two months after the 1994 conference, my case history, and results etc, were published in the Hair Transplant Forum International. The monthly 'in-house' publication is distributed World-wide to the many hundreds of members of the International Society for Hair Restoration Surgery. The journal informs the members of all that is happening in Hair Transplant Surgery, improved techniques, new technology, improved instrumentation etc - it's all there.
Go to Minoxidil / Finasteride Combination Document



In March 1997, the forthcoming availability of the so called 'new drug,' was reported in a respected British newspaper, The Daily Mail. Their headline was "Pill to get your hair back may affect your libido". The newspaper reported that after a 12 month clinical trial conducted on some 1,500 men, only 2% of them had a problem with their sex-drive.

I wrote an article about the possible long-term effects of the drug and submitted it to Hair Transplant forum International. My argument being, that it took 5 years for the problem to hit me!

In April 1994 my article "SEX, DRUGS & ROCKNROLL" was published in the Hair Transplant forum International

Although tongue-in-cheek, the article is funny. Funny, that is when it happens to someone else!

I am presently re-writing the article for public understanding as the original was geared at Doctors. I am also considering changing
the title to. "Is it Hello to Hair and Goodbye to Her?"
Go to Magazine article Document

' There can be no substitute for good Hair Transplant 'Miro' Surgery! '