Improving the Outcome of Hair Transplantation with Minoxidil

During the second half of the 20th century, advances in surgical techniques have led to significant improvements in the cosmetic appearance of hair transplants. Still, it often takes several months for grafted follicles to begin growing new hair and some patients require multiple surgeries to reach their desired cosmetic outcome.

Over the last 20 years a growing number of physicians have begun suggesting the use of minoxidil to improve the results of these procedures.

Minoxidil as an Adjunct to Hair Transplantation

A roundtable group of 11 international hair transplant physicians in 2002 reached a consensus that using hair regrowth medications like minoxidil after surgery “can increase hair density, speed regrowth in transplanted follicles, and complement the surgical result by slowing down or stopping further hair loss.”1

They also suggested that using minoxidil prior to surgery could make transplanting easier by enlarging miniaturized suboptimal follicles, although most recommended suspending treatment for a few days before and one to three weeks after the procedure to reduce the risk of bleeding and allow graft sites to heal.

These observations were based on the physicians’ own experiences with patients, but are also supported by at least three published clinical studies.

Published Studies

A pilot study in 1987 suggested that some patients who used minoxidil (3% topical solution) after hair transplant surgery demonstrated hair growth within several weeks (rather than the usual time of several months), without experiencing the shedding that occurred in untreated patients in the weeks following transplantation.2

Another study, in which patients applied 2% topical minoxidil solution to the balding area of their scalp for four weeks before surgery, discontinued use for 3 weeks after surgery, then resumed treatment for an additional 3 months, concluded that “minoxidil seems to be an adjunct for a better evolution of grafts after hair transplantation surgery.”3

Finally, a double-blind trial involving 12 patients with male pattern baldness found that using 2% minoxidil for 6 weeks before and 17 weeks after surgery significantly decreased the shedding of grafted hair in the weeks after surgery.4

A review in 2008 concluded that minoxidil is “highly effective at helping to maintain existing hair, thereby creating more perceived density from the procedure” and that continuing treatment “will often help increase the density of transplanted hair, slow down the rate of loss of existing hair, and increase the caliber of existing and transplanted hair.” 5

Conclusions

Hair transplantation can be a very effective method for dealing with hair loss resulting from androgenetic alopecia, but it carries a hefty price tag. Using current hair transplantation methods, several thousand grafts can be required to cover the affected areas, with costs ranging from $3-12 per graft.

After investing so much time and money, it could make a lot of sense to spend a little bit of time each day using minoxidil to improve the results of your hair transplant and protect your investment for the future.

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1. Avram MR, Cole JP, Gandelman M, Haber R, Knudsen R, Leavitt MT, Leonard RT Jr, Puig CJ, Rose PT, Vogel JE, Ziering CL; Roundtable Consensus Meeting of The 9th Annual Meeting of The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery. The potential role of minoxidil in the hair transplantation setting. Dermatol Surg. 2002 Oct;28(10):894-900; discussion 900. Link to PubMed

2. Kassimir JJ. Use of topical minoxidil as a possible adjunct to hair transplant surgery. A pilot study. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1987 Mar;16(3 Pt 2):685-7. Link to PubMed

3. Bouhanna P. Topical minoxidil used before and after hair transplantation. J Dermatol Surg Oncol. 1989 Jan;15(1):50-3. Link to PubMed

4. Roenigk HH, Berman MD. Topical 2% minoxidil with hair transplantation. Face. 1993;4:213-6.

5. Avram MR, Rogers NE. Hair transplantation for men. J Cosmet Laser Ther. 2008 Sep;10(3):154-60. Link to PubMed

6. Sandoval A. Minoxidil 5% following hair transplantation for increased growth. Abstract of presentation at European Society of Hair Restoration Surgery, June 2002. London, England