Trichogenics is a top hair transplant clinic in Greece. Led by Dr. Asi and Dr. Eric Peretz, they help people with hair loss using both surgeries and non-surgical options. At Trichogenics, skilled surgeons handle every step of the hair transplant process to ensure natural, lasting results.
Can You Get a Hair Transplant Without Finasteride?
Yes, you can get a hair transplant without finasteride as it’s not required for the surgery. Transplanted hair comes from the donor area, which is resistant to the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
This means the transplanted hair will remain in the transplanted area. However, skipping finasteride might make your natural hair keep thinning, which could affect how your results look over time. This is why, we highly encourage our patients to take the treatment, and depending on the case, it may be essential to do so.
Do You Need to Take Finasteride After a Hair Transplant?
Going into more detail, as to why taking finasteride before and after a hair surgery is always recommended. The transplanted hair is safe from DHT, but your natural hair can still thin because of androgenetic alopecia. Finasteride lowers DHT levels and helps slow male pattern baldness. Whether to take it depends on your tolerance for side effects and your long-term goals.
Why Is Finasteride Commonly Recommended Post-Transplant?
Finasteride is often recommended because it helps protect your natural hair. Lowering DHT prevents further hair loss in untreated areas. Studies show it can slow hair loss and improve overall results. If you’d rather avoid medication, there are alternative options to consider.
Risks of Avoiding Finasteride After a Hair Transplant
Not taking finasteride can come with risks that may affect how your hair transplant results look over time.
Impact on Native Hair vs. Transplanted Hair
Transplanted hair is safe from DHT because it comes from resistant hair follicles. But untreated natural hair around the transplanted areas can still thin, making your hair look uneven as time goes on.
Will Hair Look Uneven Without Finasteride?
Yes, your hair could look patchy if your natural hair continues to thin. This might require additional treatments, like another transplant or other hair loss solutions, to balance the look.
Stopping Finasteride: Short- and Long-Term Effects
If you stop taking finasteride, DHT levels will return to normal. In the short term, you might notice quicker thinning in untreated hair. Over the long term, more hair loss could happen, making further treatments necessary.
Cost Implications Without Finasteride
Skipping finasteride might save money now, but losing more hair could mean spending more on future transplants or other treatments. Preventing hair loss early can help avoid higher costs later.
Factors that Will Determine Your Eligibility
Age: The younger the patient experiencing hair loss, the longer this process will continue throughout their life. Young patients need to manage their hair loss at the root before considering a hair transplant.
Unfortunately, some clinics that don’t prioritize patient care will accept these young men (for example, those in their twenties) and avoid the conversation about finasteride, even telling them it’s unnecessary. This is a serious issue. By the time that patient reaches 40, they’ll likely experience further balding if they never took finasteride, and their donor area could be too weak for a second transplant. We see this scenario far too often in our practice.
Family History of Balding: Genetics is also a big factor, if a patient is already experiencing aggressive balding and has a family history (his dad, grandpa, and uncles are bald), he absolutely needs to address the root cause with medical treatment before even considering a hair transplant.
Why Finasteride Matters: Finasteride doesn’t just stop hair loss; it can actually improve the quality of the existing hair. This can result in a stronger donor area and potentially less bald area to cover during the transplant. To illustrate this, I’ll share a video (which you can embed in this article) of one of our patients. His results were incredible, but they weren’t solely due to a great surgery. The success came from combining the procedure with finasteride, which significantly enhanced the outcome.
Watch our video to learn about the few exceptions of those who don't need to take finasteride after a hair transplant.
Results of Hair Transplants Without Finasteride
Knowing what to expect without finasteride can help you make a better plan for your hair restoration journey.
What to Expect Without Finasteride
Transplanted hair will grow and stay healthy, but untreated natural hair may continue to thin. This could lead to patchy or uneven results, especially in areas not treated during the transplant. Future treatments or transplants might be needed to maintain balance.
Our Final Thoughts on a Hair Transplant without Finasteride
Our Hair Transplant Surgeons firmly believe that proceeding with a hair transplant without educating the patient about the risks of not following medical therapy to control hair loss is poor medical practice. There are very few exceptions (See our video above) where our surgeons might not recommend medication.
Furthermore, finasteride works in conjunction with a hair transplant to improve the donor area for a much better overall result.
Discussing Hair Loss Options with Your Doctor
Talking to a specialist is key to planning your hair restoration journey. Experts at Trichogenics can guide you through finasteride, and surgery to achieve natural, lasting results. Visit our Before and After a Hair Transplant to see pictures of our actual patients and learn more about their innovative hair restoration options.
Schedule a consultation for a hair loss evaluation and to check your eligibility for a hair transplant. We’re here to answer all your questions and design a personalized treatment plan tailored to your specific hair restoration goals.
FAQs on Hair Transplants and Finasteride
Can Hair Transplants Work Without Finasteride?
Yes, hair transplants work without finasteride. Transplanted hair is resistant to DHT and will grow without medication. However, natural hair around it may still be thin, affecting the overall results. To ensure the most positive outcome, we don't recommend avoiding Finastrade.
Do You Have to Take Finasteride After a Hair Transplant?
Can You Regrow Hair Without Finasteride?
What If I Skip Finasteride?
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