5th year FUE transplant and started to shed (photo)

Question

I had a 4000 graft transplant in 2020 and my hair grew out fine. I had a receding hairline and after the transplant I had a full head of hair. It was great for the first 4 years. The past year I noticed it started to shed a lot. I couldn’t see my scalp after the transplant but right now my scalp is very noticeable. I tried PRP and it helped but now it’s shedding again. Only the transplanted area is shedding. The rest of my head is not. I am going through a lot of stress lately but if it’s stressed related then shouldn’t all my hair shed and not just the transplanted area? Any advice or tips I can follow to regrow my hair?

Caner Kacmaz, MD · Answer

. Shock Loss or Telogen Effluvium (due to stress)
Stress can trigger telogen effluvium, but it usually affects the whole scalp.

If the rest of your hair is not shedding, it could mean that the transplanted grafts are more vulnerable to stress or other triggers — possibly because they’re no longer receiving optimal blood supply or have miniaturized over time.

2. Miniaturization / DHT Sensitivity
If the transplanted hairs were not fully DHT-resistant (sometimes happens with hair from the wrong donor zone), they can thin over time, especially if you’re not on DHT blockers like finasteride.

Even good grafts can be affected by systemic DHT levels over the years.

3. PRP Helped Temporarily, But Not a Long-Term Fix
PRP boosts growth factors and improves blood flow, but the effect is temporary.

If there’s an underlying issue like DHT sensitivity, PRP can’t fully prevent miniaturization.

4. No Maintenance Treatment Post-Transplant
Many surgeons recommend starting finasteride (oral or topical) or minoxidil after a transplant to maintain the results.

If you weren’t on any maintenance meds, your native (non-transplanted) hair or even some vulnerable grafts could start thinning.
 
PRP Maintenance
Since PRP worked for you, doing it every 3–6 months can help keep shedding in check.

5th year FUE transplant and started to shed (photo)

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5th year FUE transplant and started to shed (photo)

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Everything you need to know about FUE Hair Transplant

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