A transplant moves follicles, but it does not automatically protect the hair that remains around them. That is why finasteride and minoxidil often enter the discussion before surgery.
The right question is not whether every patient needs the same medication. The question is whether native hair is stable enough for the planned hairline and density.
Patients should ask how long a treatment trial needs, what side effects to watch for, and whether stopping treatment later would change the transplant strategy.
A DNA hair-health report can support this conversation by making the risk profile more specific, while medication decisions still belong with a clinician.