If you are considering a hair transplant, you probably have heard about finasteride, a medication used to combat hair loss.
You might wonder how finasteride is related to a hair transplant, whether a hair transplant is possible without finasteride, or how you should view the relationship between finasteride and a hair transplant.
In this blog, I will cover the two main questions many people have regarding finasteride and hair transplants and how they should be viewed together.
Before we start and dive in, let me introduce myself quickly.
I am James, and I co-founded one of Turkey’s premium hair transplant clinics, so I’ve often dealt with this question.
I will share the knowledge usually reserved for our patients in this blog.
Let’s kick off with our first topic.
Understanding the cause of hair loss
Before opting for a hair transplant, it’s paramount that you understand the cause of your hair loss.
I won’t dive deeply into hair loss since it would distract us too much from our current topic.
However, the foundation of any treatment is understanding the cause first and then considering the options at hand.
This is important because of two reasons.
If the cause is unknown, finasteride might not be the right solution to the hair loss problem.
Secondly, if the cause is unknown, a hair transplant might be too early.
So, this is the foundation.
Understanding the status of your hair loss
Once you’ve clarified the cause of your hair loss, you want to know its stage.
I’ve prepared a blog post closely related to this topic, which you might find interesting.
The Related Blog is: “Should I Consider a hair transplant for thinning hair.“
These two blogs complete each other, so you should also read this Blog.
Returning to our topic, you need to understand your hair loss status.
This will give you critical insights into your current situation, what you should do regarding medication, and whether it’s the right time for a hair transplant.
Understanding the working of Finasteride: brief explanation
You probably already know what Finasteride is, but let’s touch on it quickly since it is one of the key topics in this article.
Finasteride is a medication to treat the enlargement of the prostate gland.
The medication suppresses the body’s production of a male hormone known to cause hair loss.
Let’s continue with our next topic.
Understanding the difference between existing hair and transplanted hair
This might be the most essential part of this article, which I will cover next.
It is critical to distinguish between existing and transplanted hair.
Let me explain why.
Transplanted hairs are not sensitive to the male hormone, causing hair loss.
Existing hairs, in other words, the scalp’s original hairs, are sensitive to hair loss.
This means that Finasteride can only affect the existing hair and has no effect on the transplanted hair.
Let’s answer the main question since we have the correct basic understanding.
You decide
A Hair transplant without Finasteride is possible.
The transplanted hairs do not rely on Finasteride to grow or to stay alive.
Finasteride only affects existing hair.
Here’s what I share with our patients if they ask about Finasteride.
You have to be aware of the side effects, which is, for most male patients, a reason not to take Finasteride.
It’s a decision the patient will have to weigh off.
We’ve had patients who take Finasteride and patients who don’t.
The experiences of patients taking Finasteride are diverse.
Some were very happy, and others didn’t believe it had much effect, which is why they ultimately opted for hair restoration at our clinic.
Finasteride can be taken after a hair transplant procedure if a person still has original hair and doesn’t suffer from severe side effects.
It certainly wont effect the hair transplant negatively and might help to preserve the existing hair which is a win.
Hair Transplant Consultation
If you are considering a hair transplant and would like to know your options, feel free to contact us.
We offer a complimentary hair transplant analysis service.
Our Professional Medical Consultants are here to help you and offer you with their guidance and support.
