Shock loss
The temporary shedding of transplanted and surrounding hair.
Between weeks two and six after a transplant, most of the transplanted hairs fall out, and some native hairs around them may too. The follicle stays in place; only the shaft is shed. New growth begins at around three months. It is expected, it happens to almost everyone, and it is the stage at which patients panic unnecessarily.
Related terms
-
Anagen phase
The growing phase of the hair cycle.
-
Crown (vertex)
The whorl at the top and back of the head.
-
DHT (dihydrotestosterone)
The hormone that drives pattern hair loss.
-
Donor area
The band of hair at the back and sides that supplies the grafts.
-
Follicular unit
The natural grouping of one to four hairs that grow together.
-
Graft
One follicular unit, moved from the donor area to the recipient area.
