Male in early 20's, Am I going bald? If so, what are some options for my forehead?

Question

Don't sugar coat the answer. I have a very big forehead (no doubt) and I have always had a high hairline and a genetic cowlick. Is my hairline maturing or am I balding? I have no history of balding on any side of my family. I checked up to three generations. If I am balding, what cosmetic surgeries are available for me to reduce the size of my forehead?

Levent Acar, MD · Answer

For hair transplant surgery you are still young, and we can't know how will be the hairloss on the futur.If you have high hair line, and if it's disturb you, you can do hair transplant in few years.Minoxidil it works well but you have to know the start and stop process of this treatment

Arbella Sarkis, MD · Answer

Greetings Dominic1234,
Appears to be male pattern hair loss. Nonetheless, I strongly recommend you should have a formal evaluation.
Finasteride is generally the initial go to medication for most practitioners. However, it can occasionally have some form of sexual dysfunction side effects in a little more than 15% of male patients. Of which, in a subset, may persist. 
Therefore, I prefer to avoid Propecia/Finasteride until I've tried other methods to address the likely major culprit DHT.  
In my opinion, your're too young to be considering hair transplants. Doing so at your age would likely leave you chasing your hairline with more transplants in the future.
Hair loss and prevention of it can be complex. The first course of action I recommend is to seek out a good Integrative Medicine physician (IMP) who also practices Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT). IMP's that also practice BHRT will have a good knowledge of remedies that will work for you. 
Your IMP will check your hormones, other possible contributing factors and then likely initially try to push up your good hormones while pushing down your bad hormones absent actually using hormones to do so. The goal being, to at least stop hair loss. 
While the IMP is working on your hormones and possible other issues, I recommend trying PRP Hair Regeneration. Additional over the counter topicals are generally included in most protocols. 
Existing hair in the treatment area will become richer and fuller while hair you haven't seen in a couple years may largely regenerate. Hair you haven't seen for 3 to 5 years may regenerate, but to a widely variable degree.  Hair loss greater than 5 years is like unrecoverable.
This is a regenerative medicine procedure. Regenerating hair takes a degree of waiting for things to happen. Within 6 months or so you should realize meaningful positive results. Approximately 20% of patients don't receive a meaningful benefit of hair regeneration. However, nearly everyone does realize the stop of hair loss and benefits to existing hair is generally very good. 
After the initial course of treatments, you will require maintenance a treatment every 6 months to 1 year. Every individual is different and with BHRT therapy, the maintenance treatments can usually be stretched out further. Generally, much further because the bad hormones are managed. 
There are many protocols for PRP hair regeneration. Do your research in identifying a practitioner with a solid protocol. I have and many other physicians have answered questions on the subject herein RealSelf. I recommend familiarizing yourself and then seek out the physician with a solid protocol.
Don't wait too long. As time quickly passes, so too does your opportunity to regenerate your hair. 
I wish you the best in locating a solution that works for you.
Warmly,
Arbella Sarkis, MD

Michael Meshkin, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

In order to give proper recommendations, it is best for you to be evaluated by Hair Restoration specialist. During the evaluation they can find the cause for your hair loss, future progression and give you all the treatment options. That being said, You seem to have genetic  male pattern hair loss class 2. It usually goes back seven generation, and your donor hair looks nice and dense. You may be a good candidate for hair transplant to lower your hair line, however you need to be evaluated first.

Sara Wasserbauer, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

This is a common question, and the genetics of hair loss mean that you can have male pattern hair loss without a family history - ug, right?  SO here 's is a good way to get an early idea if it is a mature hairline or MPHL; look in a mirror and wrinkle your brow as if you are "surprised."  Really make those forehead wrinkles.  Now, look at the corners - a mature hairline starts about 1cm above where the muscle stops.  Much more than that is likely MPHL.
A good hair doctor will also be able to look at you and tell, and they will have devices like dermatoscopes (basically a magnifier) to see if there is miniaturization - another hallmark of male pattern hair loss.  So between those two measure you should be able to get a good idea.
Good Luck!

William Rassman, MD (retired) · Answer

The degree of thinning that you may be experiencing would suggest that you should see a doctor who most likely will get Bulk Measurements of your hair to determine the degree of the thinning that you may be presently having. If the diagnosis is early genetic hair loss (the most common cause of hair loss in young men and you are probably following your father's balding problem), then the best treatment would be the drug finasteride which is highly effective in men of your age and may not only stop the hair loss but possibly reverse it. If you are developing a more advanced balding pattern the best test to get is the HAIRCHECK instrument test which will determine the Bulk Measurements of your hair and this will show, over a one-year time frame, how effective the treatment will be. Once you know this information, then you and your doctor need to develop a MASTER PLAN which will define what you need

Male in early 20's, Am I going bald? If so, what are some options for my forehead?

Answers (5)

Answer: Genetic hair loss or mature hairline?

Answer: Genetic hair loss or mature hairline?

Answer: Early 20s with hair loss

Answer: Early 20s with hair loss

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Male in early 20's, Am I going bald? If so, what are some options for my forehead?

Answers (5)

Answer: Genetic hair loss or mature hairline?

Answer: Genetic hair loss or mature hairline?

Answer: Early 20s with hair loss

Answer: Early 20s with hair loss

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Hair Loss Treatment

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.