Topical minoxidil used before and after hair transplantation.

A 2% solution of topical minoxidil was applied on the recipient bald scalp of 16 patients aged 25 to 52 years with Hamilton classifications of androgenetic alopecia from III to VI. Therapy was begun 4 weeks before surgery, was interrupted for 3 weeks, and was started again and continued for 3 months. Four-millimeter donor grafts were inserted into 3.5-mm recipient sites. Follow-up utilizing macrophotography was done for 3 months on 4 grafts near a tattooed area. In 71% of the 64 grafts, partial or total hair is still growing without the shedding that usually occurs 2-4 weeks after transplantation. Topical minoxidil seems to be an adjunct for a better evolution of grafts after hair transplantation surgery.