Safe to use Minoxidil in Crown Area Immediately Post Op?

[Dude,Where'sMyHair]

Is it really safe to use Minoxidil 5% in the crown area and mid-scalp areas (i.e., areas where no work was performed) immediately after surgery?

Or is diffusion of the Minoxidil down to the recipient area a concern and reason to avoid Minoxidil use after surgery? If so, how long?

[Mark]

Is it really safe to use Minoxidil 5% in the crown area and mid-scalp areas (i.e., areas where no work was performed) immediately after surgery?

Or is diffusion of the Minoxidil down to the recipient area a concern and reason to avoid Minoxidil use after surgery? If so, how long?

We typically tell patients not to use any products on their hair for around a week post-surgery to be safe. You've got to remember, those hairs need to heal into the scalp to grow and anything that's done in that short period of healing time that's detrimental to the healing process will affect the growth of the follicles permanently.

Now, that's what we tell people when it comes to stuff like hair-spray and gels and other styling products which don't normally irritate the scalp. Minoxidil can irritate the scalp so that's something to consider.

Dr. Rassman has addressed this question in this blog post. (http://www.baldingblog.com/2008/11/25/using-minoxidil-and-nizoral-before-a-hair-transplant/) He advises waiting about a week after surgery to use minoxidil.

-Mark

[Dude,Where'sMyHair]

Waiting a week also includes use of Minoxidil (Rogaine Foam) in the non-grafted areas (i.e., crown and mid-scalp areas)?

[Mark]

Waiting a week also includes use of Minoxidil (Rogaine Foam) in the non-grafted areas (i.e., crown and mid-scalp areas)?

Ideally you should stop using it entirely. You shouldn't see any negative effects from stopping for a week, and it's better to be safe than sorry. If that Rogaine migrates from where you apply it into a transplanted region it could be bad news.

But really, this should be a question that you ask your doctor, as they will know your exact circumstances much better than I or Dr. Rassman would.

-Mark