How Long Does the Hair Loss Treatment Propecia (Finasteride) Work?

This question, from our hair loss social community and discussion forums, was answered by Coalition hair transplant surgeon Dr. Michael Beehner:

How long does finasteride work to slow hair loss and regrow hair?

The classical teaching I have heard in lectures on Propecia (finasteride) is that for most patients there is an increase in “hair mass” (determined by hair shaft diameter and length of hair, the latter factor obviously dependent on how long a patient lets the hair get before cutting it) for around 4-5 years, and then there is a very gradual downhill loss of hair mass over the next several years and onward into the future.

Staying on Propecia, even after those 4-5 years, is still beneficial, since going off the drug would bring a much steeper curve of hair loss. Obviously, this is not true for every patient, but I have pretty much seen this in the most of the hair restoration patients I have treated.

Mike Beehner, M.D.
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David
Editorial Assistant and Forum Co-Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Coalition Hair Loss Learning Center, and the Hair Loss Q & A Blog.
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