Shock loss occurring after 3 month post FUE. Is this normal?

Question

The first and second procedures I had were both FUT. the first transplant I had pretty bad shockloss. The second procedure hardly any. Now 4 years later I had a FUE transplant. Now after the first three weeks I had some expected shock loss that was pretty bad expecally in the frontal area. That then calmed down significantly. Now three months post op my transplanted hair is coming through but shockloss has hit me again it seems for the last week. Is this normal? Thank you

Anil R. Shah, MD · Answer

Hello,Shock loss is due to the loss of normal hair whether it is from donor site or recipient area.  It can occur with both FUE and strip procedures.  Usually if it occurs it will take place in the recipient area.  
Shock loss from hair transplant can occur due to the following:
Anesthesia-  excessively long procedures taking longer than 12 hours can induce shock loss more likely.  the repeated use of lidocaine, marcaine, and perhaps most importantly epinephrine can affect nourishment of the hairTraumatic harvest-  In strip surgery, traumatic harvest can induce shock loss.  Recipient area trauma- during the incision making process the hairs are either crushed or cut and damaged during the process.Ways to minimize shock loss are as follows:
Improve recipient bed and donor area environment.  Make your recipient environment improved by addition of growth factors and/or PRP to help reduce incidence of shock loss to native hairs.Use of Rogaine and Propecia- can help miniaturized hair become more stable and less likely to fall out during procedure9xRobotArtas-  The latest version of the robot can make recipient sites and can determine angle of existing hair and help ensure that the angle will not damage existing hair.  Especially helpful in patients where you are transplanting hair to create densityMinimize anesthesia time and procedure time- We limit number of grafts to a safe number per session.  Extended anesthesia periods and harvest times can cause patients to have a higher chance of shock loss.  The 9x Robot harvests between 1000-1500 grafts per hour making it superior to previous additions and traditional FUE approaches.Best, 
Anil Shah

Jae Pak, MD · Answer

Some people may experience shock hair loss days to weeks after surgery.  It does not usually occur after 3 months.

David Deutsch, MD · Answer

Transient Telogen Effluvium ("shock loss") is not uncommon in the first three months post procedure.This hair should all eventually grow back over the next few months.Finasteride and/or Minoxidil may help expedite the growth.

Ilhan Serdaroglu, MD · Answer

Transplanted graft’s hair starts to shedding in the first week of surgery and may go on untill 4-6 th weeks after surgery. İt is not surprising to lost approx. %70-80 of all transplanted hair shafts in first month when you are washing, gently rubbing or touching the head. İt is shock loss and not permanent. Even your native hair may affected with that post traumatic transient hair loss…New hair at transplant and donor area starts to grow at 3-4 th month after surgery .

William Rassman, MD (retired) · Answer

Shock loss is loss of your native hair and the only prevention for this is the use of the drug finasteride, see below

Shock loss occurring after 3 month post FUE. Is this normal?

Answers (5)

More FUE Hair Transplant Questions

Should my donor and recipient area look red 2 weeks after a FUE hair transplant? (Photos)

10 days post-op. Looking for hair concealer/fibre recommendations. (Photos)

Curly and hard hair 1 year post op FUE.

Can vomiting with high blood pressure felt in the head adversely affect my hair transplant results or growth?

I need the real 4-1-1 on you guessed it: CIGARS! Does an occasional cigar (1 per week) cause hair loss?

Cryotherapy question post-op HT FUE

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS