The transplanted follicles produce hair for life — they’re DHT-resistant by design. The surrounding native hair is what needs ongoing attention. The case for maintenance therapy, plainly.
The follicles moved during your procedure are taken from the back of the head — the genetically DHT-resistant donor area. Once transplanted to the front, top, or crown, those follicles retain their resistance and continue producing hair regardless of androgen levels. They’re biologically immune to pattern miniaturisation.
That’s why hair restoration results are durable. Your transplanted hair at year five looks essentially the same as it does at year one. There’s no progressive loss of the transplanted area.
The hair surrounding the transplanted area is native hair — and if your underlying pattern hair loss is androgenetic (the most common cause), the native hair continues to be susceptible to ongoing miniaturisation. Without medical therapy, you can end up with a transplanted patch that holds while the surrounding native hair recedes around it.
The fix is straightforward: finasteride reduces scalp DHT by ~70%, slowing progression and preserving the native hair. Minoxidil can supplement that effect. The combination is what’s separating long-term excellent results from results that look great at year two but compromised at year ten.
After the 12-month final-result review, we recommend annual photo submission for the first 3–5 years, then every 2 years after that. This isn’t mandatory — but it gives you a continuous photographic record of your own hair, which is useful if you ever consider a second session, and reassuring confirmation that the result is holding.
Submit through the patient portal in the same format you used at consultation: front, top-down, both profiles, back, natural lighting. Dr. Jones reviews and sends written feedback within 5 business days.
Patients who continue medical therapy and submit annual reviews tend to maintain their results for life. Patients who skip both sometimes return at year 10 looking for a second session because the surrounding hair has receded around what was originally a beautiful result.
Some patients return for additional density or to address areas not covered in the first procedure. The decision to do a second session depends on remaining donor supply, current pattern stability, and your goals. Send updated photos for an honest read.