Do You Need Finasteride After Hair Transplant? Expert Advice

Medically reviewed by Dr. Bilal Khan M.B.B.S.
Written by Our Editorial Team
Last updated

Undergoing a hair transplant is a significant decision, and understanding the post-operative care, including medication regimen, is crucial. One medication often discussed in this context is finasteride. But, do you need to take finasteride after a hair transplant? Let's explore this in detail.

Do You Need to Take Finasteride After Hair Transplant?

Whether you need to take finasteride after a hair transplant depends on your specific circumstances and tolerance to the medication. While finasteride won't affect the growth of the transplanted hair, it can help prevent future hair loss and regrow thinning hairs. Some doctors advise patients to continue using finasteride for a year or more post-surgery to maintain the results and boost hair density.

How Does Finasteride Work?

Finasteride is primarily used to combat hair thinning and loss caused by a hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This hormone is converted from testosterone and can cause your hair to thin and fall out. Finasteride works by preventing the production of DHT.

Treatment with finasteride resulted in significant improvements from baseline in scalp hair based on global photographic assessment and hair counts at week 48. Visible increases in superior/frontal scalp hair post-transplant were recorded for 94% of post-transplant patients.

Benefits and Side Effects of Finasteride

While finasteride can offer significant benefits in preventing hair loss and promoting hair growth, it is not without potential side effects. These may include low mood and sexual dysfunction, although these are relatively rare. It's crucial to discuss these potential side effects with your doctor before starting finasteride.

Finasteride and Hair Transplant Timeline

After a hair transplant, you might notice some initial hair loss as finasteride "resets" the hair development cycle, but this is only temporary. The benefits of finasteride typically begin to show from 3 to 4 months, with hair loss slowing down and in some cases, hair regrowth occurring. It's important to note that while the transplanted hair follicles can shed and grow new hair, excessive hair loss should be discussed with your doctor.

Conclusion

So, do you need to take finasteride after a hair transplant? The answer is, it depends. While finasteride can significantly help in preventing future hair loss and promoting hair regrowth, it's not a one-size-fits-all solution. The decision to use finasteride should be based on a thorough discussion with your doctor, taking into consideration your specific case, tolerance to the medication, and potential side effects. It's essential to make an informed decision to maintain the results of your hair transplant effectively.

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Read more:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16188178/#:~:text=Finasteride%20treatment%20was%20generally%20well,transplant%20and%20increases%20hair%20density.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513329/#:~:text=Finasteride%20is%20available%20as%20a,assess%20the%20benefit%20of%20treatment.&text=Androgenic%20alopecia%20(male%20pattern%20baldness)%3A%201%20mg%20once%20daily.

Dr. Bilal Khan M.B.B.S. graduated from the Jinnah Sindh University in Karachi. He'll take the official medical licensing program in the US (USMLE) in September 2023. Bilal has a passion for research and has extensively fact-check and medically review articles under his name to make sure you have the most accurate information.