What fundamental difference separates temporary Shock Loss from permanent True Graft Failure regarding the follicular unit?

Shock Loss means the follicle is resting and will regrow; True Graft Failure means the follicle is dead and will never produce hair

The defining characteristic that separates temporary shedding from permanent loss is the viability of the follicle itself. In the case of shock loss, the trauma forces the living follicle into a temporary resting state (dormancy), analogous to a temporary shutdown, but the biological machinery necessary for regrowth remains functional. If the surgeon observes a specific site by the six-month mark or later showing absolutely no signs of life, it indicates True Graft Failure, meaning the transplanted follicular unit did not survive the implantation process and is permanently non-viable. The return of new hair growth is the definitive proof that the event was merely shock loss.