How Common Is Shock Loss in Female Hair Transplant Patients?

The following response to a question from the Hair Restoration Social Community and Discussion Forums, was written by forum member “Gillenator”.

I am a 32 year old woman with bald temples and a receding frontal hairline with what appears to be miniaturization but otherwise thick hair. I’m having trouble finding stats about the percentage of women with hair transplants who experience shock loss. does anyone know where I find this, or even find anecdotal evidence?

Also, is it better to get a hair transplant while I’m somewhat youngish? Would that reduce the risk of shock loss at all? Do hairs miniaturize again after having a successful fue?

My experience over the past four decades has been that most women who experience various forms of alopecia do not speak openly about it and probably one of the primary reasons why you are having a challenging time finding more stats regarding things like shock loss and the like.

It sounds to me that you are experiencing both a recessionary form of AA and also a diffused thinning pattern. Most female hair loss is diffused pattern typically as seen on the Ludwig Scale (chart). A fair percentage of women who have an overall thinning pattern may have the thinning or evidence of miniaturization in their donor zones. If so, then the hair is DHT receptive and can be lost in the future even if it is transplanted to a different area such as the frontal zone. And being young in age won’t have a bearing on shock loss. Shock is always a result of how one responds to the level of trauma induced by the surgery itself.

Whether female or male, all diffused thinners are more susceptible to shock loss and most hair restoration surgeons tend to take a more conservative approach with performing smaller sized procedures to reduce the overall level of trauma to the scalp.

Are you by chance using Rogaine for women?

Gillenator
Supporting Hair Restoration Physicians: Dr. Glenn Charles, Boca Raton, FL – Dr. Jerry Cooley, Charlotte, NC – Dr. Jim Harris, Denver, CO – Dr. Robert True & Dr. Robert Dorin, New York, NY
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David
Editorial Assistant and Forum Co-Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Coalition Hair Loss Learning Center, and the Hair Loss Q & A Blog.

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