If I Don’t Want to Use Minoxidil for Life, Should I Even Bother Starting It?

I am female and decided to have an FUE transplant of 1200 grafts just to fill the front centre. I have some existing native hairs there but it was just getting very thin and more and more difficult to conceal.

I am now due to start the minoxidil foam 2%. I was advised i should use the foam once a day in the evening for at least 6 months. I do not wish to use minoxidil for life and would stop after the 6 months. My question is whether i should use it at all if i plan to stop..? is it necessary to use after surgery? Will it cause more hair loss if I stop after 6 months?

Many thanks

You must use minoxidil for life to maintain any benefits you may see from it. If you do not plan to stick with a minoxidil treatment beyond just 6 months, I don’t really see a point in starting it. If you do start and then stop after 6 months, you will lose any hair that regrew from the medication… though it’s not likely you would’ve seen much regrowth after only 6 months anyway.

Follicular unit extraction (FUE) to the middle of the head for increased density may have a negligible impact. A reasonable alternative to your surgical plan might be Scalp MicroPigmentation (SMP), as it is less expensive and the results are instantaneous. See an example female patient here — Bride-to-Be Received SMP Before Her Wedding to Cover Her Thinning Scalp.