My Doctor Wants Me To Go On The Drug Finasteride To Prevent Shock Loss

I am concerned about shock loss from having a hair transplant. A few years ago, I had taken Propecia for my hair loss and got Erectile Dysfunction when I as 35 years old, so I stopped taking it. I stayed on the drug less than a month and could not tolerate it. My hair loss continued as my doctor told me it would. I am now 48 years old. I want to have a hair transplant so what do you recommend that I do?

My answer is always to think worst case. Not everyone that has a hair transplant gets shock hair loss, but the risks are there and the drug finasteride (Propecia) is a great drug that usually prevents this complication. These are my general rules that I tell patients, but reading this list is not a substitute for checking with your doctor first:

1- For those under 30, I recommend it 100% of the time
2- For those between 30-35, I generally strongly recommend it.
3- For those between 35-40, I recommend it most of the time if this is their first hair transplant procedure
4- For those between 40-50, I do not insist on if if they had no previous procedure but generally recommend that they take if for up to a year
5- For those over 50, I tell them about it, but do not feel strongly about if it they are concerned about using the drug

If the patient has had a previous hair transplant in the past 5 years, I do not feel strongly that it is important to be on the medication if the patient does has hesitation on taking the drug. Usually the greatest risk of shock loss occurs after the first hair transplant as it creates shock to the hair and it is common in men under the age of 30 who are not on the drug finasteride.