Losing Native Hair After a Hair Transplant

What if I lose more “native” hair after a hair transplant?

“Native” hair is defined as any natural hair that you have or had that wasn’t transplanted.

Before even considering a hair transplant, I believe it is extremely important to consider hair loss medication: Propecia (finasteride) and/or Rogaine (minoxodil).   This may help you prevent future native hair loss.   You can read more about what to consider before a hair transplant here.   Additionally, because future loss is probable and possible, subsequent hair transplant surgeries may be necessary.

A  hair transplant doctor will place hair in the areas where you’ve lost native hair.     An ethical hair transplant doctor in most cases will advise trying hair loss medication first to attempt to prevent future loss.   Understand also that hair transplantation is not a hair loss cure, which means that you MIGHT lose more native hair even after hair transplant surgery.  

There has been some discussion on our hair restoration discussion  forum some time ago about a “stand-alone” hair transplant (HT).   It was the general consensus that though this is possible for some hair loss types, this is not necessarily possible.   I would say the greatest chance for a stand-alone HT are diffuse thinners or those who are already bald who get megasessions, so even if they lose the rest of their native hair, they will be left with a thinner, but still very natural looking head of hair.

Let’s say a 30 year old man has a receeded hairline and has been on finasteride for a year but the medication is only “sort-of” working for him.   He decides (with an ethical hair transplant doctor) to lower the hairline slightly (while remaining conservative) because they are both concerned about future hair  loss and he gets the work done.   1 year later he looks great.   2 years later, however, he loses more native hair behind the transplanted work and now he is left with a ridge of hair in the hairline.  

So in summation: losing native hair after a hair transplant is possible which is why planning for the long term  with a hair loss doctor is critical to insure proper and ethical use of the finite donor supply.  

Bill
Associate Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network and the Hair Loss Learning Center
View my Hair Loss Weblog

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