It is natural for people to lose hair after transplant because in the hair growth cycle shedding occurs. Transplant surgery is always stressful for the scalp and its surrounding areas that occur because of the extraction and insertion of each follicle during surgery. There are many reasons for hair loss after a transplant such as:
- Shock loss:
Hair loss from scalp due to shock is called shock loss. Before surgery, our body is not adaptive to incisions and cuts. This sudden injury might be a cause of shock for follicles leading to its shedding. This is normal after every transplant as the body is not used to it. It is quite beneficial too because the shedding makes room for the new one to come but it depends upon a person’s health and growth rate of hairs.
- Graft rejection:
Sometimes it occurs that donor follicles taken from a person’s own body act as a foreign substance and the body develops resistance against it and rejects that transplant causing shedding. The body will start producing antibodies that damage the follicle. There are other reasons for graft rejection such as donor hair qualities and texture does not synchronize with the previously growing rate of scalp.
- inexperienced surgeon:
It might happen due to the careless handling of donor follicles during surgery. In some clinics where a surgeon is not experienced and skillful enough to extract hair from the non-permanent zone and position them in appropriate recipient space then it ultimately leads to unhealthy outcomes and hair loss as inexperienced surgeons would not know proper areas for transplantation. That’s why it is advisable to search for a skillful and experienced surgeon.
- No post-operative care:
After surgery, it is very important to take care of your scar and prevent it from infection. But if you don’t follow the doctor’s prescription then the scar may be filled with pus and there are high chances of infection at that area that retards the growth of new hairs and causes shedding from the scalp. Once an infection develops, it can delay the process of growth and stabilization of the follicle.
When the process of shedding will stop?
Shedding is temporary after transplant that starts from about 2 to 3 weeks and remains till old hair is replaced by new ones. It completely stops after 9 to 12 months of surgery but this may vary in different situations.
How to prevent hair loss after transplant
- Medicines:
To prevent shedding, take proper medicines like minoxidil that increase the blood supply of the scalp for the quick growth. It is foam-like and effective for treating shock loss. These medicines also increase the quality of scalp and prevent it from drying, scabbing that you would feel after surgery.
- Use mild shampoos:
Do not use shampoos that are made up of harsh chemicals that damage and dry your scalp and cause shedding. You can use baby shampoos that are mild and non-toxic. Do not excessively touch your scalp with hands which would help in stabilizing your follicles after surgery and prevent shedding.
- Scheduling your surgery at right time:
You would have to schedule your surgery at that time of the year if you wish for least chances of infection. At that time the weather would not be too harsh for your scalp. Prevention from infection leads to more growth.
Summary:
Shedding is natural and important after transplant that helps in the growth of new hairs by removing the old ones. It stops after 9 to 12 months of surgery except for the shedding caused due to infection, mishandling of follicles, minimal care after surgery, and graft rejection. You have to take preventive measures to stop shedding.
