Can I Take Finasteride After A Hair Transplant?

John M

Hi, I'm John. About age 30 my hair started receding. After trying lots of products I eventually decided on a hair transplant. And now I have my hair back.

Have you taken Finasteride or Propecia? You might be wondering if it still works after a hair transplant to prevent hair loss? This article covers those points and answers some more helpful questions.

Yes, you can take Finasteride or Propecia ( the same drug with a different name) after surgery; it prevents further hair loss as it blocks dihydrotestosterone DHT, the hormone responsible for causing baldness.

Should I take Finasteride after a hair transplant?

Yes, only if your doctor prescribes it. Your hair transplant surgeon may recommend you take Finasteride before you proceed with hair transplant surgery to help with continued hair loss.

Finasteride blocks DHT, which is responsible for your hair loss. You may need to take Finasteride on a long term basis to get the best results and maintain a full head of hair.

However, once you stop taking Finasteride, DHT will be unblocked, and you can expect to experience some hair fall.

Finasteride does not suit everyone and, in a small percentage of men, can cause erectile dysfunction. ED does seem to be the main side effect, but it is only in a small percentage of men.

Discuss your concerns with your hair transplant surgeon.

Is it OK to use Minoxidil after a hair transplant?

Yes. Your hair transplant surgeon may recommend using Minoxidil post hair transplant surgery. Minoxidil is recognised to increase hair growth speed and be part of your hair transplant protocol.

Some studies show that Minoxidil quickened the growth of grafted hairs.

Something that all hair transplant patients find is hair loss from scalp shock. Minoxidil reduces the chances of shock hair loss.

Shock affects the natural hairs more than the grafts, and shock can cause permanent and temporary hair loss. With Minoxidil, patients can skip hair shock altogether.

Unlike Finasteride. Minoxidil is a topical treatment and does not block DHT. Minoxidil extends the follicle’s growing period, which negates the effects of DHT.

Minoxidil, like Finasteride, was first used for other medical purposes and was discovered to have a side effect of growing thick hair and then taken up by the hair regrowth industry.

Is Minoxidil safe to use? Yes, it’s FDA approved and perfectly safe to use as prescribed by your doctor.

However, it’s not mandatory to use Minoxidil as part of your treatment if you have other preferences.

Is transplanted hair affected by DHT?

No. DHT does not affect the hairs from the back of the head, and the hairs from this area are not sensitive to DHT, a by-product of testosterone.

Once the harvested hairs from the back of your head are grafted into place, they keep their resistance to DHT making transplants surgery one of the best ways to restore hair.

However, if you are addressing a receding hairline with surgery, you may want to take Finasteride to keep the other hairs from falling.

Finasteride will help you keep a full head of hair. However, once you stop taking Finasteride, DHT will become active again.

Top 5 Reasons to go abroad for a Hair Transplant

1. Save at least 60% on the cost

A hair transplant in Europe is at least 60% cheaper than in the UK. And most packages are all inclusive, including your accommodation and airport transfers.

2. Europe has some of the most experienced surgeons in the world

Europe has more clinics, which have been established and running for much longer than clinics in the UK. The price is also lower, making it more accessible for people.

Surgeons in Europe will have carried out hundreds, if not thousands more procedures than UK based surgeons. Because of this some UK clinics will bring in surgeons from Europe to carry out your procedure.

3. Hair restoration clinics in Europe are state or the art

Many facilities in Europe are dedicated hair restoration clinics. They only perform that type of treatment. As such all equipment, facilities, techniques and staff are specialists in hair restoration.

Hair restoration is only now becoming more popular in the UK, so many UK clinics are general cosmetic facilities that carry out various procedures.

4. Get even more value by making your transplant into a holiday

Europe is such a popular holiday destination for many reasons, the culture, history, sights, cuisine, shopping, great weather, your money goes further, it’s widely English speaking, and it’s just 2 or 3 hours away by plane.

The list goes on! So why not travel a few days earlier, grab a low cost Airbnb or hotel, take a friend or partner and enjoy the city for a few days before your transplant.

5. Hassle free process

It’s so easy to get an assessment and price. Contact the clinic, arrange an initial consultation in the UK with your surgeon, or do an online consultation by sending a few pictures and answering some basic questions.

Once you’re happy, pick a date and you’re done! The clinic will send you all the paperwork and itinerary so you know exactly what’s happening. You don’t pay until you go for treatment.

You just hop on the plane. A transfer car will meet you as you get off the plane and take you to the clinic. It’s such an easy process. Easy!

Top 5 Hair Transplant Tips

1. Know your post-op timeline – The key dates!

You need to take the upmost care in the first 7 days
You can leave the house after 7 days, but I advise you take at least 2 weeks off work.
You won’t be able to wear a hat or exercise for up to 4 weeks after.
Around 2 – 4 weeks your new hair will fall out, you’ll look a little red and sore – similar to sunburn.
Around 4 months your new hair starts growing and looking good.
By 6 months you can’t tell you’ve had a transplant.

You can get a haircut after the first month, or you can keep it short yourself with clippers until it starts to grow back.

2. Pick the right time to schedule your treatment

Good clinics will be busy, so you may have to wait 2 months to get an appointment – this is a good thing. So knowing that and knowing your post-op timeline (above) means you can plan the perfect time around your social or work calendar.

If you have important social events coming up, particularly if you know you’ll be photographed then you may plan your transplant 6 months in advance, or wait until your calendar is free.

3. Set your expectations

If your hair has receded at the front you’ll want the clinic to draw an expected hairline on your head or on pictures of you as soon as possible. They’ll then also talk about the number of grafts or hairs you’ll need and how thick the result will look.

The sooner you can establish this, the sooner you’ll know exactly what to expect. A good clinic will also take into consideration a natural looking hair line for your age and your face and head shape. Have an honest conversation and be open to their expert feedback.

4. Knowing what the journey home looks like

There’s no way around it, you’ll have to go out in public to travel home. The worst part is sitting at the airport for 2 hours or so whilst you wait for your plane.

I found it was best to embrace it. People are nice for the most part and won’t stare, and if one or two do who cares – you will never see those people again! You may even be at the airport with other transplant patients, I wasn’t the only one!

Take a travel pillow and have someone pick you up if possible, so you can exit swiftly and get back home as soon as possible. It’s natural to be self-conscious, but it’s over fast and well worth it.

Tip! Just take carry-on luggage to keep your check-in and wait time down.

5. Choosing the right clinic

Pick somewhere you can travel to and from easily
Check their reviews online, not just on their site!
Do they have a good quality website and professional looking emails?
Can you see actual case studies of previous patients online?
Do they have an address? Can you see it on Google street view?
Can you meet your surgeon for a consultation beforehand?
Do you know someone who’s been there before – first hand opinion is amazing!

John M

Hi, I'm John. About age 30 my hair started receding. After trying lots of products I eventually decided on a hair transplant. And now I have my hair back.

A Simple Way To Keep Hair Healthy And Thick

Do you want to keep your hair without surgery? I get it … surgery can be expensive and frightening. Although it’s the most effective solution when things go bad and it helped me, you still experience some discomfort and have to take some time off from work.