Continuous hair shedding from last 7-8 month

[hairlosssufferer2016]

I had a hair transplant (HT) over a year back (I was Norwood 5). I have been on Minoxidil and finasteride ever since. Around 3 months after HT, my hair started shedding (50+) and they have not stopped or slowed down since then. These shedded hairs are of 1 inch or smaller in size. Sometimes when I touch my scalp I feel that these hairs may have grown back but definitely the density of hairs have gone down.

Should I assume that these meds are not working for me as it has been 1 year? Is there any other solutions for this problem. Earlier I thought the shedding happened due to shock loss but this is continuous so I'm afraid it may be TE or AGA. Any comments from your experience.

 

Thanks

[hsrp10]

Are you using any harsh shampoos such as Nizoral?

This has happened to some people including myself due to the hype on Niz as a "hairloss solution."

 

Btw is this only native hair (could be shockloss) or transplanted hairs?

The hair cycle for transplanted hair is relatively shorter initially then progressively gets longer.

[hairlosssufferer2016]

Thanks for the reply. No, I'm not using Nizoral, I'm using J&J baby shampoo since my HT.

 

I'm not sure about native or transplant hair shedding as my HT happened in the same area where some native hairs were already present. Though I think both kinds of hairs are shedding.

 

About the 'shock loss', does this not happen in early months of HT and last for some weeks. I'm shedding hairs from last 7-8 months. Another thing I noticed that shedded hairs are thinner and have no roots. I'm right now totally confused as it has been 1 year and shedding has not stopped. I can't figure out whether this HT was a good idea or not.

 

To compare, I attached my before HT picture (1st pic) and picture after 1 year (taken today).

 

Thank you

Edited October 17, 2016 by hairlosssufferer2016

[Jls008]

I am sorry to say that if this is a picture one year after your procedure, then your procedure failed. Who was your doctor and how many grafts?

[hairlosssufferer2016]

Yes. I also think that it is a failed procedure. I had my HT done by a family Dr. in India. Unfortunately, I can't name him as he is a family.I had FUT and around 1200 grafts. I am really disappointed.

@HLS2015 Thanks for the advice. I'll stop using baby shampoo right away.

Should I stop taking fin? as I do not see any changes

[Spanker]

I can see a big difference in hair mass. Your hair is wet in your afters. I'm not saying the differnece is from the transplant but it looks like the fin is working.

[hairlosssufferer2016]

No, my hairs were not wet. I have oily scalp and infact these pictures are from the day when I did shampoo.

I also want your opinion on 2nd HT. Should I consider it, especially after these results. Maybe my hairs are not good enough for HT. If yes, then how long should I wait.

 

Thanks

[starscream]

It's very hard to say if this was a failed HT without seeing immediate post-op pics showing the area that was covered and how the grafts were placed. Even though it doesn't look like a huge transformation, I think you're lucky that the less number of grafts you used for your norwood case didn't end up making your hair look pluggy. It still looks like a very natural head to my eyes. Not sure if the thickening was due to HT or fin. Do you have immediate post-op pics?

 

Regarding 2nd HT, you should talk to some recommended doctors and see what they think. You should have enough donor left, imo.

[hairlosssufferer2016]

I attached my Hair loss blog at the end. I've posted all the pics before and after the HT. You'll see that until first 3-4 months everything was in order but it is complete downhill since then. I'm following everything that my Dr. and other people have suggested but shedding is continued. I know about shock loss but can that continue for 7-8 months. I'm not sure. If you have any other suggestion please provide. I'm willing to try anything at this stage.

 

Thanks

 

Hairloss blog: hairlosssufferer2016 | Before Surgery to 5 months post op

[Bill - Seemiller]

Hair shedding is a normal part of the hair growth cycle however, excessive shedding could be a sign of hair loss. Your "after" pictures definitely look more full as far as I can tell in the pictures. Also, minoxodil (and Propecia) can cause additional hair shedding the first couple of months after use. If you feel you are losing more hair, I suggest consulting your hair transplant physician or even a dermatologist who can evaluate your scalp under magnification to see if there's miniaturization.

 

Please keep us posted.

 

Bill

[hairlosssufferer2016]

As I mentioned in my post and blog, I am taking minoxidil and fin since after one week of my HT and shedding started after 3-4 months. As you mentioned " minoxodil (and Propecia) can cause additional hair shedding the first couple of months after use." then the shedding should not continue for 7-8 months. the strange thing is I've not experienced any itching, rash or any other symptoms that were experienced by others when they have failed HT.

About the miniaturization, I did not experience any hair loss in the donor area for more than 2-3 years before my HT. However, I did experience hair loss around donor area along with my recipient area in last 7-8 months. It appears that HT has triggered everything but with the 3-4 months delay. :confused:

I shed more hairs in last 7-8 months in the recipient area than total no. of native hairs ever existed. Sometimes I feel that these hairs do come back but then when they reach around 1 inch or so, they just shed away. This gives me impression that if they just hang in there for some time then I may get my good days back.:rolleyes: But then they just like, don't want to grow more :mad:

 

Thanks