Tue 16 Sep 2008
Does Using Rogaine (Minoxidil) After Hair Transplant Surgery Arouse Early Hair Growth?
Category: FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) , FUT (Follicular Unit Transplant) , Hair Transplant Surgery , Non Surgical Treatments , Rogaine (Minoxidil) , TopicalsThis question was posed by a hair loss sufferer seeking hair loss help on our hair restoration forum and answered by Dr. Michael Beehner of Saratoga Springs, NY who is one of our recommended hair restoration physicians. His professional answer is below.
Can Rogaine (minoxidil) help jump start transplanted hair growth after hair restoration surgery?
One thing you have to keep in mind is that Rogaine (minoxidil) is probably the strongest blood pressure drug in the world. If put on too soon, while all these fresh open sites are present on the scalp from hair transplant surgery, the potential for the hair loss drug on the skin being absorbed into the system and dropping the blood pressure is a real risk. A person who is older or who has low blood pressure to start with would be at risk for fainting or passing out. For that reason, I wait till around the 4th day to restart it.
The other reason I wait those few days is that the physical act of applying the hair loss treatment might disrupt some of the grafts’ physical positioning in their sites.
We don’t fully understand all the ways minoxidil works to help hair growth (and prevent hair loss), but it is considered a “growth factor” for hair, and I do use it for 3-4 weeks before and after surgery in situations in which I am more concerned about the outcome of the surgery or worried about shock loss (such as in my female hair loss patients). If a person has had a lot of past scalp surgery – scalp reductions and multiple hair transplants – I will start if a month before surgery and then re-start it on the 4th post op day and have the patient take it another month. The evidence that this helps is so far anecdotal and not based on a good scientific study that I know of.
Mike Beehner, M.D.
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Bill – aka Falceros
Associate Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network and the Hair Loss Learning Center
View my Hair Loss Weblog
Technorati Tags: hair loss, hair loss help, Rogaine, minoxidil, transplanted hair, hair restoration, hair transplant, hair loss, hair loss treatment, hair growth, shock loss, female hair loss, hair transplants
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September 16th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Hi,
Thank you for an incredibly informative site. I have experienced hair loss at a fairly young age and have tried various methods and products over the last few years. I have written a detailed article on my experiences and successes with these products (including Rogaine) as well as alternative options that I’ve considered using. I’m having great success with my current approach.
March 5th, 2010 at 4:21 am
hello dr:
my dr suggest use Minoxidil 5% for 8 monnth after hair restoration surgery, i have multiple hair transplants , i strat it 10 days after transplant
i use Minoxidil 5% all situations my head ( front & back) my dr suggest about it, i want know is it true?
for 8 month? & all part head? do you accept it?
when i cut use Minoxidil i have hair loss again?
thanks for reply me dr
with best regards
March 5th, 2010 at 9:52 pm
Alireza,
Once you start using Minoxidil, you must remain committed to daily application in order to maintain any benefits.
Sometimes it’s recommended to patients who wish to speed up the growth rate of transplanted hair, in which case long-term use might not be necessary, but I would check with your doctor about the specifics. Misuse of Rogaine can be irritating to a healing scalp immediately following a hair transplant.
Best,
Anthony (youngsuccess)