Help! - Shock Loss - Did not use Propecia prior to HT -

[john148]

Hi, I am a 27 yr old male. I am learning about Shock loss and very concerned, any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

I just 2 days ago had a hair transplant of 3,000 grafts which seemed to go very well. I was told my donor hair was excellent. I had around 2,500 placed in the front half and 500 to reinforce my crown which is still in pretty good shape.

 

I still have most of my hair so most of the transplants went in between existing hairs. My existing hairs have not 'overly thinned' but are thinner in the front than they were 5 - 10 years ago.

 

I was not aware until after the procedure that it was a good idea to take Propecia prior to having a Hair Transplant.

 

The doctor was highly recommended from many sources so I trust him but I do have 4 big questions. (He also seemed to do a great job, but will have to wait and see!)

 

 

 

 

1. How beneficial would it have been to take Propecia prior to my HT?

 

2. I started taking Propecia the day after the surgery, will this help to prevent shock loss?

 

3. I used Rogaine for at least a year prior to the surgery, will that help prevent shock loss?

 

4. Is hair lost to Shock Lost gone forever? Meaning will I lose perfectly good original hair?

 

 

Any feedback would be really great.

[TakingThePlunge]

john148,

 

In most instances, shock loss is not permanent. Healthy and robust native hairs that become shocked should grow back between 3 and 4 months post-op along with your transplanted hair. Some hairs that were very weak and about to be lost permanently may not return.

 

Rogaine may help. Starting Propecia before surgery is usually recommended but you've got nothing to lose by starting now.

 

Happy growing!

[aaron1234]

Propecia before surgery could help with permanent shock loss of the miniaturized hairs, but the temporary shock loss hairs (not miniaturized) will definitely come back regardless.

[john148]

Thanks for the quick response guys.

 

Do you know what exactly constitutes a 'miniaturized hair'? Are they literally just very very thin hairs in comparison to your normal hair?

 

If that is the case I do not no think I had too many of them.

 

Just for my understanding, it sounds like Propecia taken before surgery basically just strengthens these weak hairs enough to allow them to survive. Is that the case? And that is only if the Propecia is effective in my case.

 

Thanks again guys. Like I said my surgery went great and I really like my Doctor (he is out of the office this weekend and do not want to call his emergency number).

 

I just started reading about Shock Loss and thought oh no I could have just lost X number of hairs that I worked so hard to add!