For many researching surgical hair restoration, the mere words “shock loss” strikes fear and panic. The thought of looking even balder after surgery is enough to deter many hair loss sufferers from the procedure. However, shock loss for the most part is temporary and resolves on its own, but depletion is a permanent condition. In this article, we will discuss the differences between the two.
What Is Donor Depletion? Donor depletion refers to the donor site of a patient that has been severely compromised by over-harvesting a large number of follicular units for transplantation. Generally, donor depletion occurs with Follicular Unit Excision (FUE) more often than it does with strip surgery, this is because FUE requires a larger area for donor harvesting. Unfortunately, the occurrence of donor depletion continues to grow each year, this is due to mega-sessions being performed on less than ideal candidates. Donor depletion leaves the donor site of patients looking moth-eaten and patchy. What Is Shock Loss? Telogen Effluvium commonly referred to as "shock loss" is a form of short-term hair loss that occurs from stress, trauma or a surgical procedure. Shock loss generally resolves on its own without treatment within three to six months. Hair follicles have three phases of life, the anagen (growth) phase, catagen (transitional) phase and the telogen (resting) phase. When trauma occurs a massive amount of hair follicles enter the telogen (resting) phase all at once, this creates a temporary appearance of thinning/balding. The hair loss may appear patchy over the donor site. How Can You Tell The Difference Between The Two Visibly speaking it is difficult to detect a difference between donor depletion and donor shock loss. However, there are some subtle clues that can help an individual determine if he is suffering from either condition. The first determining factor should be how many follicular unit grafts were removed during the surgical procedure. Anything over 3,000 grafts in one sitting is extremely risky and can lead to donor depletion. Another factor to consider is the time frame between surgery and the thinning appearance. If the thinning appearance occurred suddenly after surgery, it is likely to be shock loss. However, if the thinning appearance has lasted longer than six months with no visible changes each month, it is likely to be donor depletion. Conclusion Unfortunately, only time can truly tell the difference between shock loss and donor depletion. However, choosing a qualified and accredited hair transplant surgeon can ensure that donor depletion does not occur. A skilled, experienced and talented surgeon understands the importance of donor management. The longevity of the result depends on the master plan and strategy employed by the surgeon. Therefore, it is imperative and crucial to choose a qualified pre-screened hair restoration surgeon.
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