Physician Answered Q & As

What Are My Chances of Having Shock Loss After a Hair Transplant?

What are the chances of having “shock loss” resulting from a hair transplant procedure?

Thank you for your question. Personally, I have not seen any significant post-surgical hair loss for the last 4-5 years. The reasons are many. First and foremost is the creation of precise angles of the recipient sites, while fallowing the exact direction of hair growth. Secondly, the use of very small needles and cut to size blades, that minimize the size of the sites created, hence the extent of tissue and possible follicular injury if there is native hair remaining. Lastly, the use of finesteride diminishes the DHT by 70% hence protecting the native and transplanted hair from any post-surgical increase in circulating DHT. Lastly, the use of minoxidil 5% acts synergistically to further protect the native miniaturized hair and possibly stimulate the growth of the transplanted hair. Furthermore, the growth of the transplanted hair with its increased caliber is of greater contribution to the hair mass and volume than the native thinner caliber miniaturized hairs. I do recall one patient about 6 years ago that had some shock loss post-surgically. With finesteride, minoxidil 5%, reassurance and time he recovered. The patient got his smile back in about four months post-procedure as his transplant commenced to mushroom.


Comments

Find A Surgeon

The International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons is a consumer organization that selectively screens skilled and ethical hair transplant surgeons. The IAHRS does not offer an open membership policy to doctors practicing hair transplatation, and is the only group that recognizes that all surgeons are not equal in their skill and technique. Its elite membership seeks to represent the best in the discipline, the true leaders in the field of surgical hair restoration.