BACKGROUND: Over the last decade surgical management of hair loss has become an 
increasingly popular and satisfying procedure for both men and women, as 
innovations in donor harvesting, graft size, and hairline design have resulted 
in consistently natural-appearing hair restoration.
OBJECTIVE: In addition, a better understanding of the regulation of the 
hair-growth cycle has led to advances in the pharmacologic treatment of 
androgenetic alopecia.
METHODS: Currently there are two U.S. Food and Drug Administration 
(FDA)-approved agents that promote hair regrowth: over-the-counter topical 
minoxidil solution for men and women and prescription oral finasteride tablets 
for men. In October 2001, a group of 11 international experts on hair loss and 
hair transplantation convened to review the physiology and effects of 
pharmacologic treatments of hair loss and to discuss the value of administering 
topical minoxidil therapy as an adjunct to hair transplantation.
RESULTS: This article presents the key findings and consensus points among the 
participants, including their current use of pharmacologic treatments, 
strategies for optimal results both pre- and postsurgery, and the importance of 
realistic patient expectations and compliance.
CONCLUSIONS: Based on the surgeons' clinical experience, the use of approved 
hair regrowth agents in hair transplant patients with viable but suboptimally 
functioning follicles in the region to be transplanted can increase hair 
density, speed regrowth in transplanted follicles, and complement the surgical 
result by slowing down or stopping further hair loss.