HAIR TRANSPLANT FORUM

no one can say for sure how much density increases the risk for shock loss. it would be difficult to enroll patients in a study designed to assess this. Interested?


I think that a safe density is typically is 25 grafts per sq. cm or less. 30 per sq cm may be ok too. i think that when you go over 40 grafts per sq cm you increase the risk of shock loss. safe densities do no insure you will not have shock loss.

there is nothing wrong with starting the hair restoration process early provided you are prepared to follow through. most of my patients that start early do a little at a time so they can keep up with the loss as it occurs. i think if you are not certain you want to do hair resotration, you should postpone surgery. i think it is always best to delay as long as you are comfortable with delaying, but the longer you delay, the more difficult it is to hide the hair loss. a good rule of thumb would be as follows:

if you are in your 20s and are showing signs of being a class 5 or 6, you need consider your desire to start surgery very carefully. You may never be able to reach an illusion of full coverage.

if you are in your 20s and showing signs of a class 1 or 2, starting is more acceptable, but you may not want a very youthful hair line. a more mature hairline is a better idea.

if you are in your 30s or 40, an early start is safer provided you are not showing an advanced degree of potential loss.

scarring from FIT is minimal. You realy should not see this. what you will see is a thinning of your donor area due to removal of follicular units. certainly you can add hair back to the donor area from other sources or from HM at a later date (provided that HM becomes a reality some day).

shock loss is not very common. it does occur.

the best way to prevent it is to consider propecia and rogaine for 5 months prior to surgery. then start with smaller procedures to minimize trauma. skill is important to minimize this risk.