NJ Hair Transplant: Do Women Have Less Shock Loss Than Men?

There are a lot of ways in which women and men are different, including hair loss conditions. Therefore, the fact that men and women react differently to hair transplant surgery in their own unique ways should not come as a shock to anyone. In particular, the occurrence known as “shock loss,” which refers to the transient loss of some hair follicles in and around the donor and transplant locations after having a hair transplant surgery performed on them. Women are more prone to undergo shock loss than males are, despite the fact that this phenomenon is more of an exception for hair transplant patients than it is the norm in this patient population. In this blog we will explore whether women do have less shock loss than men and what can affect the amount of shock loss a hair transplant patient has; let’s get right into it.

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What Exactly Does It Mean To Have Shock Loss After A Hair Transplant?

A hair transplant is going to create a lot of disruption to the donor and recipient areas of your scalp, regardless of how competent and exact your hair transplant expert is. All of this stress on the scalp can interfere with regular hair growth, which can lead to the loss of normally healthy hairs from either the donor site or the site of the transplant. This can happen at any location and for any reason.

For instance, when performing a procedure known as follicular unit extraction or also called the FUE method, we remove follicular units one at a time. Donor hairs are extracted using a punch instrument with a diameter of one millimeter, and the technique is aided with a head positioning device to reduce movement during the extraction process. The extraction of donor hairs has the potential to have an effect on the follicles that are located in close proximity. Because of this trauma, those nearby follicles have a chance of falling out following the treatment.

It is also possible for the recipient area, which is getting hair grafts transplanted, to experience shock loss. The process of producing the sites for the grafts, which involves making incisions in the scalp, might have an effect on nearby follicles, causing them to enter a resting period and, eventually, to shed their hair which is known as shock loss.

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What Contributes To Shock Loss After A Hair Transplant?

After a hair transplant, a person may experience a variety of different causes of shock loss. Some cases are unavoidable, such as:

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Surgical removal of the graft can ultimately cut off or temporarily stop the blood supply.
The procedure involves the implantation of the hair follicle into a “new” environment which can disrupt the natural growth process of the hair.
Symptoms of inflammation and swelling can also shock the scalp.

On the other hand, inexperienced surgeons can sometimes cause unexpectedly rapid hair loss after performing the procedure. The following are some potential causes for this:

Stress to the blood vessels that deliver blood to both the donor and the recipient areas can cause dramatic hair loss.
Traumatic effects to the hair follicles on the scalp; usually by the punching tool.
The inappropriate use of tumescent anesthesia.
A dense clustering of individual hair grafts.
A situation of over harvesting in the donor area.
During the FUT, the skin tension in the donor location can cause extreme shock loss for some people.

The primary cause of this condition is a decreased blood flow to the surgical sites, which may occur as a consequence of overharvesting, thick packing, anesthesia errors, or strain caused by sutures. These surgical errors have more than just one repercussion, and that repercussion is shock loss. There is a risk that the donor region of the patient will sustain damage that is irreversible. In addition to this, patients run the risk of the recipient site developing necrosis. For this reason choosing experienced specialists in hair restoration such as our very own in NJ is crucial for a successful procedure.

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Why Is This Condition More Common In Women?

The fact that women normally lose their hair in a different manner than males is the fundamental reason why shock loss affects women more frequently than it does men. Androgenetic alopecia, the most prevalent cause of hair loss in both men and women, expresses itself in ways that are quite unique from one another depending on the gender of the person.

Androgenetic alopecia, which affects men, has a pattern that is quite predictable and common, and usually begins with hair loss in the hairline at the front of the scalp. This ultimately results in a loss of hair that is more noticeable at the top of the head and closer to the crown.

Androgenetic alopecia progresses differently in females than it does in males. Women’s hair loss typically takes place all over the scalp, resulting in thinning hair that is more difficult to identify than a receding hairline or bald spot on the top of the head. This is because women’s hair loss does not take place in specific parts of the scalp like it does with men’s hair loss.

Because of this, the process of hair transplantation and extraction in men is typically restricted to particular sections of the scalp. The donor area is normally located in the back or sides of the head, and the recipient area is typically located on the top of the head or along the hairline. Because the majority of the work is being done in these secluded places, there is a decreased risk of shock loss occurring in other parts of the scalp because the majority of those areas will be left untouched.

But because women typically have hair loss across the entirety of the scalp, it is likely that the expert will be conducting their treatment across the entirety of the scalp as well. This indicates that there are a greater number of follicles that have the potential to be affected by the extraction and transplantation procedures.

How Can I Prevent Sudden Hair Loss After Getting A Hair Transplant?

There is no way to avoid experiencing sudden hair loss. Because of the nature of the procedure, there is a possibility of this happening. On your end, it is essential that you take good care of your health in order to avoid putting additional strain on your body. This may be accomplished by avoiding activities that could compromise your health. In addition to this, you need to make certain that the surgical sites are clean and that you are following all of the aftercare guidelines.

Although it is impossible to prevent shock loss, it is possible to take steps to encourage development after it has occurred. Platelet-rich plasma, often known as PRP, injections are one method of accomplishing this goal. Not only do the growth proteins in the concentrate assist in the healing process, but they also aid to boost the blood supply to the follicles, which in turn provides the follicles with oxygen and nutrition. This can make for more rapid expansion of hair growth. Other than that, you should pay attention to:

Utilize hair care products that are mild and gentle for the scalp.
Try not to over-style your hair too much.
Try to avoid hot tools as much as possible.
Try to manage stress to not trigger another telogen effluvium.

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Is Shock Loss Normal After A Hair Transplant?

Shock loss is a condition that is only transient in almost all situations, and this is true for both men and women. The vast majority of healthy hair that is lost as a result of shock loss will regenerate in a couple of months after your surgery, looking exactly the same as it did before.

It is possible for transplanted hairs, as opposed to the healthy hair that surrounds them, to “fall out” in the first few weeks after surgery. This is not considered “shock loss.” This is quite normal. Within a period of around three to four months, the hairs will begin to regrow and recycle.

Shock loss is seen in females more commonly, after almost 30–40% of all procedures, but in men it can occur anywhere from 10–20% of the time. Your hair transplant surgeon should address the likelihood of shock loss with you prior to doing the treatment, as is the case with other risks that are associated with a surgical procedure. However, you should bear in mind that even if you do get post-operative shock loss, it is highly likely to be transient and there is no reason to be alarmed about it.

Learn More About The Women And Men Hair Transplant Process In NJ

We encourage you to book a consultation at the Nova Medical Hair Transplant in NJ in order to get answers to any questions you may have regarding hair transplant surgery and to find out whether or not this treatment could be the answer to your problems with hair loss. Our specialists have years of experience in the field of hair restoration surgery, which has earned them a reputation on a global scale. You can get in touch with us through our website or by calling our office to receive a personalized evaluation and treatment plan.

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