Since shock loss is often misunderstood or not explained, we’ve put together this guide to clarify what it is, why it happens, and why it’s never an aspect of hair transplant recovery that should cause stress or anxiety.
Thousands of people opt for a professional, bespoke hair transplant but are left unsure about what to expect during their recovery. Shock loss is natural shedding that is not a cause for concern and is 100% normal.
KSL Clinic’s experienced hair transplant surgeons will always work through the aftercare instructions with you carefully, both during your initial consultation and after your procedure. We remain on hand to answer any questions that arise during your hair transplant recovery.
Key Factors of Post-Hair Transplant Shock Loss You Should Know
- Shock loss is the name given to normal shedding that commonly occurs around two weeks after a hair transplant – technically, it is called recipient-site effluvium. [1]
- One of the reasons we provide comprehensive aftercare and recovery guidance is to ensure you know what to expect, are prepared for shock loss, and understand that it isn’t something to be concerned about.
- Clients may experience varying degrees of shock loss depending on their reaction to local anaesthetic and the general health of their scalp and hair. Still, in any case, the shed follicles will regrow as part of the expected recovery and regrowth process.
Shock Loss After a Hair Transplant Explained
Hair transplants are a technical and precise procedure, and shedding is simply part of the recovery. Often called shock hair loss, temporary and limited shedding does not mean that your transplant has failed or that shedding will be permanent.
During the FUE procedure, which is widely preferred as a safer, more effective and minimally invasive hair transplant approach, [2] we carefully extract small follicles or grafts with a few donor follicles selected from areas of thicker growth.
The nature of an FUE hair transplant means we use a tiny tool called a Micro Punch, which creates microscopic incisions around each donor graft. These incisions heal rapidly over a few days.
What happens next explains the role shock loss plays. Our hair doesn’t grow continuously or in a linear way over the years. Instead, it moves through several phases of growth, rest and transition. [3]
The hair will shed once the newly transplanted follicles move into the resting phase to heal and become established within your scalp. That is not the follicle rejecting the hair, but the follicle entering the necessary phase of hair growth.
Over the coming months, that follicle will re-enter the growth phase and produce new, healthy, thick hairs, which will form part of the fully healed transplant and your new appearance, using your very own donor follicles for a seamless, natural aesthetic.
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Variations in Experience of Shock Loss Post-Hair Transplant
Different clients might see varying degrees of shock loss. As a rough idea:
- Female hair transplant clients tend to see shock loss more commonly than men, particularly those seeking a transplant to restore their hair following female pattern hair loss. Around 30% to 40% of women experience shock loss. [4]
- Male hair transplant clients can also see shock loss, which impacts around 10% to 20% of all hair transplants performed.
Some people have shock loss due to their reactions to anaesthetic or trauma to the scalp during the transplant process. This means that a gentler, safer local anaesthetic and microscopic transplant technique can lower the potential for shock loss to occur and reduce the amount of shedding.
Dr Matee, our Director of Surgical Services, says, ‘Shock loss is often misunderstood, but it is a normal part of hair transplant recovery. While not everyone will see shedding, many clients will, and we take great care to clarify why and when this will happen to mitigate the chance of concerns or worries.
Most clients see this shedding at around the two-week mark, although that can vary. They will then see new follicles grow from approximately four months onward. The full recovery and regrowth also varies from one year to 18 months.’
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Hair Shedding After a Hair Transplant Mean the Procedure Has Failed?
No – shock loss is normal and temporary after a hair transplant. Provided you are following all the advice and aftercare instructions provided by your surgeon, there should be nothing to worry about, and your hair will grow back nicely in line with the typical follicle growth phases.
Of course, if you are anxious about shedding, you are welcome to contact KSL Clinic or request an assessment of your scalp and hair to ensure everything is healing properly.
Can I Avoid Shock Loss After a Hair Transplant?
Not directly, no, because follicles will naturally enter a resting phase and shed, just as healthy, thick hair will shed a few shafts every day, allowing the follicle to generate new hair in due course.
It is also likely that more extensive hair transplants covering a larger area will see at least some shock loss, whereas smaller hair transplant procedures may see very little shock loss-related shedding, if any.
However, we may recommend supplementary medications or therapies like platelet-rich plasma therapy, which can expedite the recovery process, optimise the health of your scalp and hair, and ensure that your post-transplant hair regrowth is faster and thicker.
How Likely Is It That a Transplanted Hair Follicle Will Not Grow?
Advanced FUE hair transplant techniques have a remarkably high success rate of a minimum of 90%. [5]
The skill and precision of your surgeon will impact the potential for shock loss to occur and for some follicles to fail, which is why we always recommend booking a consultation with the multi-skilled KSL Clinic team.
References and Sources
- ResearchGate: An Analysis of Risk Factors of Recipient Site Temporary Effluvium After Follicular Unit Excision
- National Library of Medicine: Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) Hair Transplant: Curves Ahead
- National Library of Medicine: Physiology Hair
- Miami Hair Institute: Do Women Have Less Shock Loss Than Men
- National Library of Medicine: Review of Factors Affecting the Growth and Survival of Follicular Grafts
