Effect of minoxidil on hair transplantation in alopecia androgenetica.

Forty patients suffering from androgenetic alopecia were given 3 to 4 sittings of hair transplantation at an interval of 4 to 6 weeks each. Only patients of type III, type III(vertex) and type IV baldness were operated. Twenty patients, six of type III, six of type III(vertex) and eight of type IV baldness were advised to use minoxidil 2% locally at the recipient area in the dose of 1 ml applied twice daily. Twenty patients of similar types of baldness were advised to just shampoo their hair daily without using topical minoxidil. Percentage of response was compared between the two groups. Minoxidil did not play any role in the percentage of hair survival before and after transplantation in androgenetic alopecia. However in 60percent grafts of patients who had used topical minoxidil, there was no initial postoperative hair shedding.