Question:
Hello all. I have been taking propecia to suppliment spiro for the last two
months. Yesterday, my electrologist mentioned that the hair on my face seems to
be coming back at an alarming rate. I'm having thermolysis done and have had
about 85 hours so far.The setting she is using is about as high as she can get
without scarring. I was wondering if propecia might contribute to hair growth
on the face as well as MPB. I have read about DHT blockage that finesteride is
supposed to accomplish, but I was also wondering if there might be another
mechanism in place here that I am not aware of. I'm hoping that the increase in
hair growth might be the " Last Hurrah", but I really don't believe it. Thanks
Valarie
Answer:
I saw a laser dermatologist in La Jolla a few months ago, who came highly
recommended (by two other dermatologists actually). It was for a consultation
re. electrolysis scarring also (I hadn't heard the term "orange peel", but
that is a perfect description). She said that she could get rid of "some" of
the scars, maybe all, but the best plan would be to get the lasering done,
wait at least nine months, and then if the scarring is improved but still
noticeable and I'm not satisfied, get another lasering. She said that the
results of two laser procedure could be additive. She seemed sincere, but I
wondered whether she was just preparing me for a total payment of $6,000 (she
charges $3,000 to do the whole face).
Did Dr. Dover mention anything about two passes? I've also heard some people
say that the face looks great after lasering but may "settle" after a few
months, i.e., wrinkles, pitted areas, lines, etc. may return in a lesser
form. I'm sure that the thought of doing it again isn't all that appealing
after the first one, I'm just curious about whether it is standard to expect a
double treatment for deeper blemishes.
I'm sorry to hear that all of the blemishes are not gone from your face after
the painful procedure. Your skin sure looked clear and smooth (albeit tender)
in that photo you posted a week after the procedure. I wish I could have seen
you in person before the lasering, and then again a couple of months from now
for comparison to my condition so that I could get my expectations in line
(I'm kind of freaked out about the scarring, it's certainly not horrible, you
can't see it from about 6-8 feet away but any closer, especially in "shadow"
or side lighting, it is definitely noticeable). I couldn't see any scarring
in any of the before photos I have seen of you. I'm guessing that that also
means that the result of my lasering I've tentatively planned for a few months
from now, will not be complete eradication of the scars (I think that I'm in
denial that there is nothing or no combination of things that can be done to
erase the mistakes of a couple of months of electrolysis that I just had done
a year ago, and I was still of the mind that I could pay to have it made
perfect).
By the way, I'll be seeing Dr. Apfelberg at the end of next month, 8 days
after my second round w/ Dr. O. Given that I will have just had jaw/chin and
upper lip work (among other procedures) I don't know whether it's the best
time for a consult, but he couldn't see me the day I arrive in S.F.
By the way, I've read your comments on recovering from lasering, re. wanting
to have it done close to home. I've also heard that the after care for this
procedure is a very important part of the overall result, and it seems like it
would be difficult to provide that care from a hotel room. I believe that,
yet I want the best person possible to do the work. If you were me, living in
San Diego, would you get the work done by Apfelberg in Atherton and then:
- Stay in a hotel for a couple of days, then fly home.
- Try to fly home immediately after the surgery (or maybe a red eye flight
that night to minimize the staring/shocking of other travelers).
- Drive to Atherton, and then drive back afterwards (about 425 miles for me).
Or, do you feel that any traveling in the next several days after surgery and
being away from home while recovering from this would be a fiasco, and that I
should just go with the most highly recommended surgeon in the San Diego area?
