Shock Loss Questions

Is shock loss bad? I keep reading about it as if it is some dreaded event. What exactly is it, why does it occur, and how is it prevented?
— N.A.

Shock loss can occur in the native hair and the recipient area. Hairs falls out as a result of trauma associated with hair transplant surgery. However, there are in actuality, two types of shock loss. The first type of shock loss is temporary and usually occurs (if it will occur) several weeks after the procedure. In temporary shock loss, any hair that sheds as a result of the procedure begins to grow back at roughly the same time that the newly transplanted hair begins to grow. This is the only type of shock loss that our patients will occasionally experience and usually it is minor. The second type of shock loss is permanent. This is usually caused by damage to the native hair as a direct result of an ill-prepared recipient site. More specifically, permanent shock loss occurs when the physician cannot match the angle and direction of the native hair accurately. In many clinics, there is little preparatory work performed at the recipient site. At Hasson & Wong, we have for many years prepared the recipient site to ensure accurate insertion of grafts to help prevent shock loss and so that graft growth mimics nature. This requires shaving of the target recipient area to better visualize the true angle and direction of the native hair. This allows us to make our incisions parallel to existing hair. If the incisions are not parallel then they will transect (cut across) the neighbouring hair, thus causing permanent damage and eventual death of existing hairs in the recipient area. This is, in our opinion, the number one cause of permanent shock loss which we’ve seen in some patients of other clinics. Because we endeavour to protect the native hair, our patients do not experience permanent shock loss.

Temporary shock loss is not a great concern and certainly not a dreaded event. To safeguard yourself against permanent shock loss, do research before choosing a clinic. Choose a clinic that pays close attention to recipient site preparation — one which shaves the recipient area as part of that preparation and has a track record of low incidents of permanent shock loss (check the hair transplant forums).

— Victor Hasson, MD

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