Rogaine after FUE procedure - Yes or No ?

[shakermaker]

10 days ago I underwent a FUE Hair Transplant to combat my receding hairline. I got approximately 1900 grafts.
I was advised by the surgeon to use Rogaine on my recipient area once a day (before bed) for 6 months starting 3 weeks after the procedure.
Obviously in theory the Rogaine will kickstart the growth of my transplanted hair, but I have read a few horror stories online with regards shedding, both at the beginning and end of use.
My question is, is there any great deal of difference between using the Rogaine and just letting nature take it's course naturally?
I understand i will experience some shedding around 4 weeks at my recipient area anyway but to be honest I'd like to keep this to a minimum if i can help it!
Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Bigmac]

Imo if you already use Rogaine it's a good thing to re apply when your doctor advises otherwise I would not use it if you don't depend on it.
I never used it after any of my HT's and the growth was fine.
Good luck.

Bm.

 

[shakermaker]

Nope I've never used it before as other than my hairline I have pretty thick hair everywhere else.
Thanks for your reply much appreciated!

 

[lfaich_81]

I would say its a complete waste of time using it, as with most off the shelf hair lotions and potions.

 

[Boberto]

I also found it a waste of time / money.
Would not bother with it again either due to shed concerns.

 

[Nightowl]

I would say no.

 

[FutureFue]

http://www.avacor.com/blog/hair-regrowth/improving-the-outcome-of-hair-transplantation-with-minoxidil/

 

[shakermaker]

Thanks for all your responses. Can I just say that I don't doubt that if i were to use minoxidil from 3 weeks post-transplant onwards until 6 months, that I'd see great results and possibly my implanted hairs would come through quicker. I think that would probably be the case.

My issue is that when I stop using it that i fear it would have an adverse effect on my existing 'non-transplanted' hair and that I would be left with thinner hair as a result.

I've just seen too many cases online where people with thinning hair get great results using it but if they stop they end up with complete bald patches as a result of the hair becoming dependant on the minoxidil.

I didn't need minoxidil before my transplant as the only problem area I had was the hairline, so I don't want to have to rely on it as a result of using it for this 6 month post-transplant phase.

If my transplanted hair takes longer to come through without the minoxidil then so be it. As long as the results are what they should be in 12 months time then that's all that matters to me.

 

[FutureFue]

Shakermaker I can certainly appreciate your concerns about starting it.

For anyone else who is undecided, here is the study referenced above in more detail, makes for some interesting reading on the use of medical therapy as an adjunct to hair transplantation.

http://www.dravram.com/ARTICLES/potential_role_of_minoxidil.pdf

 

[Coopman]

Any hair that has regrown through stimulation from Rogaine application will be lost within 3months of the last application.

Any hair that has thickened will also return to its pre application condition.

Any hair that would naturally have dissapeared because of mpb, but has been maintained by Rogaine will also dissapear within3mths of last application of Rogaine.

 

[shakermaker]

Coopman wrote:

Any hair that has regrown through stimulation from Rogaine application will be lost within 3months of the last application.

Any hair that has thickened will also return to its pre application condition.

Any hair that would naturally have dissapeared because of mpb, but has been maintained by Rogaine will also dissapear within3mths of last application of Rogaine.

Yeah that's what should happen.....
But from what I've seen doesn't always, hence my decision to play it safe.

 

[Bigmac]

FutureFue wrote:

Shakermaker I can certainly appreciate your concerns about starting it.

For anyone else who is undecided, here is the study referenced above in more detail, makes for some interesting reading on the use of medical therapy as an adjunct to hair transplantation.

http://www.dravram.com/ARTICLES/potential_role_of_minoxidil.pdf

Thanks for sharing the link, interesting reading.