Did My Testosterone Injections Cause My Transplanted Hair to Fall Out? (Revisited)
Doctor,
I had a hair transplant in July 2009. The physician completely re-constructed my anterior hairline. There was no hair growing there before he transplanted some. In September of 2009 I began monthly injections of 1ml of testosterone. I noticed my hair really filling in from the transplant until about 6 months ago. Since then I have noticed a definite thinning of my hair including the reconstructed frontal hairline which was exclusively transplanted hair. Is it possible that the testosterone treatments have caused the transplanted hair to fall out? I have been taking 1mg of Propecia religiously since the transplant, but it doesn’t seem to be making a difference. Thank you.
It is possible that the testosterone impacted the transplanted hair and almost certainly may have impacted the native hair that is present. If the hair transplants are falling out due to the testosterone injections, it might even suggest that the hairs used in the transplant didn’t come from the donor area (permanent zone in the back of the scalp). You need to discuss this with your surgeon, as he has the insights into your case and I only know what you told me above.
I realize you indicated that you’re not in the Los Angeles area, but if you make it out this way I would be happy to examine you.
The use of testosterone supplements is on the rise. The medical profession does not understand what this hormone does for men if they have a normal testosterone level but somehow, the male audience seems to think it has value (I do realize the body building community seems to see the value – at least in their marketing.). Certainly for the half of the population that has genetic balding, added testosterone will probably accelerate the hair loss picture for that individual. For this reason, I revisited this older post from a few years ago.
The medical profession is pretty clear on what additional testosterone does for you – that’s why anabolic steroids are banned in sports (steroids mostly being analogues of testosterone or other androgenic compounds). So it’s not that taking testosterone when you have a ‘normal’ level is misunderstood – it’s just nobody seems to explain to men that artificial androgens come with a host of side effects – not least of which is due to bio feedback loops introducing testosterone stops the body producing testosterone!
As bodybuilders know when they come off a cycle of testosterone they are massively inhibited and take all sorts of ancillary drugs to restore some semblance of normal function.
That said testosterone shouldn’t Impact transplanted hairs as taken from a place on the scalp not sensitive to DHT shouldn’t change their inherent behaviour. This seems like a pretty basic concept of hair transplant surgery.