For patients who undergo hair transplant surgery and continue to lose hair, they ought to consider Minoxidil as a medication to stabilise their rate of hair loss. Minoxidile is a medication that helps prevent ongoing hair loss in male pattern baldness and it will help preserve a hair transplant result for longer.
In order to understand whether can Minoxidil be used after hair transplantation, we must first tell you what Minoxidil is and what it does. Minoxidil was originally intended to treat patients with high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. Hair growth was one of its side effects. Minoxidile is now used to treat hair loss as a result of this side effect. If you want to try this hair loss treatment, you can get it as a mousse or a solution. Minoxidil is available in two different concentrations. They are 2% and 5%, respectively. These two have been shown to improve hair regrowth. However, 5 percent Minoxidile increases hair regrowth and thickness by 45 percent more than the 2 percent dose. The results of using Minoxidil will be visible after 12 months.
What is Minoxidil?
Minoxidil is an FDA-approved drug that was initially developed to treat patients who suffer from high blood pressure and hypertension. Hair growth was one of its side effects; therefore, Minoxidil is now mainly marketed and sold as a hair growth medication. It is available in two forms: foam & solution. And you can get it in different strengths, most common 2% and 5% but 10% is also available.
Why use Minoxidil after a Hair Transplant?
Most people undergo a hair transplant so that they don’t have to use Minoxidil or other drugs for the rest of their lives to control their hair loss. However, many surgeons recommend the use of Minoxidil after hair transplant, and some clinics offer hair transplant packages in Turkey that include Minoxidil. So, why do some surgeons recommend using Minoxidil after hair transplant?
Reduces the risk of shock loss
Shock loss is a term used to describe a common but temporary side effect where the patient starts to lose the non-transplanted hair a few weeks after the surgery. Many surgeons recommend Minoxidil to their patients after a hair transplant to reduce the risk of shock loss, especially in women.
Stimulates regrowth of transplanted hair
Minoxidil is a non-specific vasodilator that increases blood supply to the hair grafts. Therefore, the newly transplanted hair follicles get an increased supply of nutrients and oxygen from the blood which can potentially help them to grow faster & stronger. One medical study concluded that “Topical minoxidil may be an important adjunctive therapy during the recuperative period in patients who have undergone hair transplant surgery”. Although more research is necessary to provide more definitive details, there is enough evidence that Minoxidil will help with regrowth especially for people who are prone to genetic hair loss and have just had a hair transplant procedure.
Controls continuing hair loss
Hair transplant is aimed to restore your hair in bald or thinning areas, however it cannot stop the natural course of hair loss. Therefore, some people, especially men under 35, will have a hair transplant which never falls again. But their genetic hair loss (Male pattern Baldness) will continue. This is where the use of Minoxidil could be very helpful. For these men, It should be used on the areas which were not transplanted and may continue to fall.
In addition, for men and women, it is more likely that some existing hair might thicken up a little and some dormant follicles might start growing again.
When Can I Start Using Minoxidil After Hair Transplant?
Once the doctor is done performing a hair transplant surgery, he or she will guide the patient on the appropriate time to start using minoxidil medication. The majority of hair transplant surgeons will ask their patients to start using Minoxidil at least a week after the transplant procedure. This is to allow newly transplanted hair grafts to settle in before external factors start creeping in. The doctor should also recommend to the hair loss patient how long he or she should use the minoxidil hair loss drug. Prevention of existing hair demands that Minoxidile should be used more than the extended time. If it is meant to enhance regrowth hair, then it should be used for more than four months.
Does Minoxidil Work?
Minoxidil is available in 2 main concentrations- 2% and 5%. Both concentrations have been shown to increase hair thickness.
5% Minoxidil has been shown to increase hair regrowth and thickness greater than the 2% dose (by 45%), (1). This result is primarily seen once patients have been using Minoxidile for 1 year.
What are the Side effects of using Minoxidil after a Hair Transplant?
Although Minoxidil is sold off the counter without a prescription it does have some common side effects, so if you develop one or more of these symptoms consult your doctor. Also, before using, ask your doctor if it is safe to take with any other medications you might be taking.
Burning, irritation, skin rash, redness (more common in its solution form rather than the foam because of its higher alcohol content)
- Swelling
- Headaches
- Hair growth on other sides of the body, especially in women.
