Is it normal to have shock loss immediately after hair transplant? And would the native hair grow back for sure? (Photo)

Question

2 days ago I had FUE hair transplant. During the surgery I noticed my frontal hair has gone I asked the Doctor and he told me that I just can't see it right now. After washing my hair I can see for sure that I lost my frontal hair. What happened I read shock loss happens after a month not during the surgery

David Deutsch, MD · Answer

It is a little unusual to have "shock" loss so soon after a procedure.More likely is you lost hair fibers that were transacted during the procedure-a "haircut"! These hairs will grow back.

Anil R. Shah, MD · Answer

Yes, it's normal but rare, Less than 5 percent of patients experience shock loss. 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

Shock loss can happen after surgery.  There is no rule or time line of when it may happen.  If you are concerned, it is best to follow up with your doctor.

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.Some times your native hair may affected from that loss as in your case .But dont worry hair at native and transplant/recipient area starts to grow at 3-4 th month after surgery .

Baubac Hayatdavoudi, MD · Answer

It is common to have some temporary shockloss after a procedure. Not to worry, it should come back in the coming weeks.

William Rassman, MD (retired) · Answer

Shock loss in young men under 30, rarely reverses so that is why I ask my young patients to take finasteride to prevent it

Is it normal to have shock loss immediately after hair transplant? And would the native hair grow back for sure? (Photo)

Answers (6)

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