Nape shedding?

[win200]

Is there such thing as shedding from the nape of the neck? I had a FUT procedure 5 months ago, and I've been seeing a lot of shedding from the nape area--the area below the strip. I haven't a hair cut in four months, and the long, curly growth completely covers that area. But if I pull the hair upwards, it looks like the neckline is sort of receding upwards. Dr. Gable looked at my donor area in late September, though, and said the density looked "amazing." (He wasn't my transplant doctor.)

Is this unusual, and should I be worried?

[8868alex]

I have a similar issue. From what my research tells me, this is called Retrograde Alopecia (receding neck line). The neck hair is not always permanent, hence the reason why the prospective donor zone begins a few inches above the neck to ensure that only viable hair follicles are extracted. It is a little alarming when you notice it, but I have not read anything to indicate this to be overtly concerning. Plus if you have been seen by a doctor who has examined your donor I would feel reassured by that.

[win200]

Thanks! I know the nape hair isn't always permanent, but it's just strange that since my procedure, it's just been shedding quickly. I mean, it's really blowing out. And the weird part it, the scar is sort of the dividing line; it looks fine above the scar, and thin below. It just makes me a little nervous that the shedding exposes the scar.

[8868alex]

Yea, I hear that. Best bet is to raise the issue with Dr Gable. If he has assessed your donor as good, then I imagine you are in good shape. As you say, the weaker hair is below the strip line and as long as you aren't wearing your hair too short I'm sure you will be fine.

[win200]

Thanks for the encouragement. What worries me is that the shedding is everywhere under the scar, starting immediately below. My scar comes down to about one centimeter below the top of my ears, so shedding below that is a lot of area--basically everything between the ears. If that were to shed completely for some reason, that would be disastrous; it would look incredibly weird.

[8868alex]

Dude, I'm no expert but I would imagine that it is "lateral" shedding and that it will spread that way, rather than horizontal (if that makes sense?). Again, so seen Dr Gable and try not to worry!