Scar/empty spot after 14 days of FUE hair transplant of 4000 grafts. Is it experiencing shock loss? (photos)

Question

Hi.From day one it was clear to me that there is something wrong with the left side area of my donation zone (pain, itching and water drain) . Today I can see that the density on the left side of the donation area is different than the density on the right plus there is a spot that looks completely empty. Is this spot going to be bald? Is it possible that the donation area at this spot is experiencing a shock loss? Is it possible that the hair will start growing later? Please advise. Thank you.

Jae Pak, MD · Answer

4000 graft surgery is a very large number of grafts and you may be seeing shock loss and/or donor depletion.  It may take 6 to 12 months to see if the area may recover.

Christopher Kolstad, MD · Answer

Wide patches of hair loss in the donor areas are consistent with shock loss.  The way to know for sure is to wait 4-6 months for the telogen phase follicles to resume hair growth.  I would suggest communicating your concerns to your doctor.

Brian Goertz, MD (retired) · Answer

You appear to have changes consistent with over harvesting of the donor area. Shock loss can also occur from damage at time of extraction. Best to wait and see what regrowth is like in next 3-6 months. Follow up with your surgeon. Most expert full time hair transplant surgeons will not perform more than about 1800 follicular unit extractions in one sitting because of risk of over harvesting or exceeding safe donor area.

William Rassman, MD (retired) · Answer

What you are looking at is a combination of donor site depletion and some shock loss from the FUE where the grafts were removed too close to each other. You will not know what it will look like until 6-8 months from now when all of the hairs that will grow, grow

Scar/empty spot after 14 days of FUE hair transplant of 4000 grafts. Is it experiencing shock loss? (photos)

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