how common is shock loss?

[jambri]

Another question for those who have had hair transplants:

How common is shock loss? I've read a few horror stories about shock loss. I guess the more work you have done, the more likely it is to experience this.

I guess you can tell from looking at my avatar which area I am thinking of treating! Is shock loss inevitable or can it be avoided or at least minimised? How much hair is lost due to shock, and does all the hair lost regrow?

Thanks again, I look forward to your replies!

 

[GeminiX]

I asked the exact same question to Dr. Rogers who performed my hair transplant. He said he's never really come across it, and it's certainly never been an issue for any of the procedure he's done.

It was certainly never an issue for me.

D

 

[fnlostish]

I definitely experienced hairloss after my transplant.

 

[Guest]

Shockloss is inevitable for anyone who still has some natural hair left in the recipient area. The only real exception is if the recipient area is "completely bald". In addition, terminal hair from prior transplant procedures typically does not shock out as readily as natural hair does.

I find it extremely hard to believe any hair transplant doctor would state that he/she has "never" run across it! :roll:

Shockloss can be rated on a bell curve. Approximately 25% of patients have dramatic loss at the high end of the spectrum, and then about 10% hardly even notice it at the low end.

Starting finasteride and/or minoxidil prior to the procedure can help to minimize the effects of shockloss but there is really nothing known to eliminate it as it is a result of trauma to the scalp caused by the incisions both in the recipient and even can occur in the donor zone.

 

[Thomas]

Shockloss is inevitable for anyone who still has some natural hair left in the recipient area. The only real exception is if the recipient area is "completely bald". In addition, terminal hair from prior transplant procedures typically does not shock out as readily as natural hair does.

I find it extremely hard to believe any hair transplant doctor would state that he/she has "never" run across it! :roll:

Shockloss can be rated on a bell curve. Approximately 25% of patients have dramatic loss at the high end of the spectrum, and then about 10% hardly even notice it at the low end.

Starting finasteride and/or minoxidil prior to the procedure can help to minimize the effects of shockloss but there is really nothing known to eliminate it as it is a result of trauma to the scalp caused by the incisions both in the recipient and even can occur in the donor zone.

I have had shock loss with every procedure.. I was also warned by my doctors that there would probably be some minor shock loss. Not preparing your patients about the potential for shock loss is a sure sign that the Dr. is a quack.

 

[jambri]

Did the 'shocked' hair regrow?

 

[Guest]

Some of it does and sometimes some of it does not re-grow back. Typically the stronger hairs will come back but the weak, diffused, debilitated hairs do not. There is really no way to predict it. :freaked2:

 

[GeminiX]

Now that I think about it, it was Dr. Norton (Or his rep) who said he had never really encountered it (I saw a number of hair transplant docs in the UK over the space of a couple of weeks).

I definately asked them all about shock loss though, and none of them gave me the impression it was something I need worry about.

I know many people personally who have had hair transplant work with Dr. Rogers (and a few who have had work done in London, can't remember which clinic) and none of them have had ANY noticeable shock loss either.

D

 

[CCS]

so once it has happened, how long does it take before we know if it will come back?

I have an area about 1cm2 where I used to have high density of lighter hairs and it looks like all of them were shocked out, leaving just the grafts in the area. This is 3 months post op. How long until I know if it will grow back?

I did not even want that area filled, though I did not say that. Next time I'm going to draw lines inside the hair as well as on the hairline to define the area I want filled or not, and ask her to give me fewer grafts if she runs out of room.

What do you think the odds are that a hair transplant will give me copies of my pictures? I saw my pics after the first procedure, but not this time, though I did not ask this time when I did my 3 month follow up pics. So I can't be 100% sure I have shock loss. I remember that the temple was build up, and not always out where it is, but this area is 2 inches behind the temple, where I'm pretty sure i had plenty of hair before. My own before and after pics are of the other side.

 

[LookingGood!]

I asked the exact same question to Dr. Rogers who performed my hair transplant. He said he's never really come across it, and it's certainly never been an issue for any of the procedure he's done.

It was certainly never an issue for me.

D

Well either is hasnt done many hair transplants or he wont admit it. That's incredibily hard to believe especially if he is transplanting between resident hairs. If they are eventually going to fall out then it's ok b/c they usually dont have any aesthetic value anyway. I would be careful with hair transplant MDs that are not forthright on issues like this.

It's like asking an exp'd surgeon how common is post op infections , yeah right!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[CCS]

mine could grow out 4 inches, and definitely did have cosmetic value even at 1/2 inch. They were terminal, but just a little lighter than the rest. My scalp was more visible there, but now looks plenty thinner, as only the grafts from my first procedure with Dr Keene are still growing there, and are spaced apart. I hope a decent percent of the resident ones come back. But I'm guessing I should not assume it is permenant until after the latest donor hair grows out and the resident ones don't. So I have about 6 more months before I'll know. At least is is only about 1-2 cm2 of bad shock loss. The rest of the areas she went between donor hairs I don't think I had any shock loss, and she did a lot behind both temples. So about 90% success on her part, and hopefully 100% if these hairs come back.

 

[CCS]

the 1-2 cm2 does not stand out, since it is next door to the areas where grafts were put on hairless skin. I just looked in the mirror it all looked fine. I just remember with all my hairs laying down, I could see the graft only spot above my ear, and was sure I had never had hair loss above the ear, but only at least 1 cm in front of the ear.

I can't remember how bad my temples were before Dr Keene reconstructed them.I could try to zoom in on some random pics that show me from side view years ago, though most are from front view. Looking at the pics on my myspace, it looks like I may have had a little shock loss on the other side last time and all the hair grew back. That's judging from how little hair I have in my temples, to how much I have afterwards, and I know she did not put grafts everywhere. So I think my left side had a good chance of coming back since my right side turned out so well last time. It just can get depressing looking at it on a bad hair day when I can see it easier.

 

[CCS]

I just looked in the mirror some more and parted my hair. I can't find the area I was talking about. I thought it was above the ear. Maybe it is in front? If it is in front, then it is believable that the area was hairless before the grafts. I just thought for sure it was above the ear. Definitely are a lot of light hairs in that area, though. Definitely a good idea to use topicals there, at least 2 inches back, since that area is not donor hair for a reason.

 

[Thinning fast]

How soon do you notice shockloss after a procedure?

 

[Gorpy]

Shock loss tends to be gradual. You'll start to notice a lot of shedding. At about the 2 month post op point, you are probably at your worse shock loss time period. At 3 months, you're transplanted hair starts coming in, so it is difficult to tell exactly when the shock loss hair comes back (cause it's all mixed together). But it probably comes back 2 to 3 months after it shocks out.

 

[Thinning fast]

Thanks Gorpy. I'm 2 weeks out from a 1500 FUE procedure, and when I woke up today I noticed a ton of hairs in my pillow. Damn this shockloss

 

[CCS]

I was at about 2.5 months when I was really bothered. It is about 3.5 months, and I'm not sure exactly where the spot is, but I saw it last week.

 

[LookingGood!]

2 weeks post op sounds too soon for shock loss, IMO. The grafts start to fall out at 3 weeks...bigtime! I lost some at the 2 week mark.

I am currently taking 1500 Mg of lysine 3 times a day to combat shockloss and so far its working or I am just lucky...who knows.

 

[Kansta]

i'm having my temples done (1500 hairs) can this give me shock loss on my middle bit at the front? My hairs quite long on top....

 

[CCS]

not if the Doctor just puts them on bare scalp. If the Doctor goes between hairs, that is when there is some risk to those hairs.