If I were to suffer shock loss after a FUE transplant, would Minoxidil have to be used forever to prevent loss?

Question

This isn’t a pre or post op question. I’m a 24 yr old male who wants to get a FUE hair transplant in the future. I am not losing hair, I just have a high hairline. I heard some people suffer shock loss in the recipient area. If that were to happen to me and I used minoxidil to speed up regrowth, would I have to use minoxidil forever or else the hairs will fall again? Since I have no pre existing hair loss, my hair should stay even after I stop the minoxidil correct?

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

its best to be on finasteride and rogain before transplant and be getting PRP/acell treatments before, during and after. I suggest at home LED therapy as well. topical growth factors can help as well.I suggest a formal consultation as there are a combination of treatments that can be done to improve har loss.  Oral finesteride has very little to no side effects in the majority of people; PRP/platelet-rich plasma + stem cells like A Cell help regrow hair and slow down the thinning process; rogaine and restorsea spray should be used daily; oral viviscal helps keep nutrients high in the follicles as well.  Transplantation is a last resort but works early in the aging process as well.  A formal consultation and combination treatment is needed.  Best, Dr. Emer.

Michael Vories, MD · Answer

Shock loss can mean two things- loss of the transplanted hair and loss of the native hair. Shock loss of the transplanted hair should be expected, and happens about two weeks after the procedure. This is temporary and the permanent growth begins around the third month. Shock loss of the native hair rarely happens in hairline cases because the native hair maintains it blood supply behind the transplanted area. There is no need for minoxidil for the procedure, although minoxidil can be useful for maintaining the native hair from typical male hair loss progression.

Arslan Musbeh, MD · Answer

Hello, Thank you for your question. The shock loss for the transplanted hair is expected after the surgery (2-3 weeks post-op). For the existing hair on the recipient area, the patent can experience the shock loss at 3-4 months post operation. The reason is related to the blood supply. This shock loss is temporary. We recommend to take the finasteride after the surgery to fortify the existing grafts.

William Rassman, MD (retired) · Answer

According to your history, you have no balding now just want to lower the hairline. If that is confirmed with a trichoscope and a HAIRCHECK instrument, you will not need to take any medication for the FUE to lower the hairline. If you do have unseen genetic balding picked up by these tests, then the single best drug to prevent shock loss is finasteride.

If I were to suffer shock loss after a FUE transplant, would Minoxidil have to be used forever to prevent loss?

Answers (4)

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