My Doctor Wants Me to Stop Minoxidil While Recovering From Surgery

Doctor,

My doctor wants me off minoxidil while recovering from a surgery. Wants me off all nonessential drugs.. It could be up to a month.. How long off before it triggers catchup loss..

Wonder if I start it again in say 3 weeks if I can minimize any problems.

Thanks

I generally tell patients that use minoxidil to continue doing so as normal up to the date of surgery, and then discontinue it for 2 weeks following the surgery. I do not believe that this approach will trigger withdrawal hair loss.

Of course, I don’t know what kind of surgical procedure you’re having and you should talk to your doctor about your concern. Ultimately, it would be best to follow your doctor’s post-surgical instructions.