Post Hair Loss Questions and Get Answers

I was told by my hair transplant clinic  that I have to stop taking Rogaine (minoxidil) 1 month prior to surgery.   Why is this?

Thank you for your inquiry.

Many hair restoration physicians ask their patients to stop taking Rogaine (minoxidil) for a certain length of time prior to a hair transplant  procedure.  

From my findings however, the length of time will vary between hair replacement  clinics.   Some  physicians will ask their patients  to stop as late as a few days prior to surgery whereas others will ask them to stop taking Rogaine (minoxidil) 3 months prior to surgery.   Why the difference?   I’m not honestly sure.

What I can tell you however, is that the reason to stop prior to surgery is because Rogaine works by increasing circulation in the scalp (up to the hair follicles)  by drawing more blood to the scalp.   Continual use of this hair loss drug during hair restoration  surgery will increase the liklihood of excessive bleeding.   This  is a problem in itself however, in turn can cause a number of additional complications including “popping” of the grafts.   Popping refers to follicular unit grafts that come out of the recipient sites created by the hair transplant surgeon.   The  surgeon and technicians therefore, must work harder to ensure that they remain in their sites.   Failure to do so could result in poor hair growth yield or cobblestoning (a condition of scar formation which creates a slight bump under the skin)

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

Technorati Tags: hair transplant, Rogaine, minoxidil, hair restoration, hair loss drug, follicular unit grafts, hair transplant surgeon, hair growth