How do Female Hair Transplants Work if Women Have Thinning Hair All Over?

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Question:

In a hair transplant, the hair that is transplanted is genetically resistant to balding (hair taken from the back of the head). But in women, their hair thins uniformly and from what I can tell, none of their hair is resistant to baldness, as is the case with men. So how is it that female hair transplants can work?






Answer:

The type of hair loss that causes thinning hair all over the scalp is referred to as diffuse alopecia. More commonly found in women, those with diffuse alopecia are typically not good hair transplant candidates. Just as you suggested, there really is no donor area "safe zone". Typical causes of this balding condition include certain medication (such as for high blood pressure or atrial fibrillation known as A.Fib), a thyroid disorder, an iron deficiency, hormonal changes in the body, and scalp dermatitis or psoriasis.


Diffuse alopecia is not the same as androgenic alopecia or typical male or female pattern baldness. Androgenic alopecia is caused by genetics and some hair on the top of the scalp will be susceptible to DHT. DHT is found more abundantly in men than women which is why more men suffer from this type of hair loss.


It is very important therefore, for a qualified hair transplant surgeon to evaluate each prospective patient (especially females) thoroughly in person before determining whether or not they are a good hair restoration surgical candidate. Women with hair loss in particular should be tested by a dermatologist to rule out any non-genetic causes of hair loss.




Thanks http://www.hairtransplantnetwork.com/news/article.asp?CopyID=430

Rapid Hair Loss Above the Donor Strip After Hair Transplant Surgery - Help!

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Question:

The back of my head, above where the donor strip has been harvested, approximately 3 x 3 inches of my natural hair has fallen out and this area is now completely bald. Is this bad or is this normal? What should I do? My operation was in Brazil 30 days ago. I am very concerned. Please answer ASAP.






Answer:

What you are describing doesn't sound normal and could be a circulation issue due to a poor donor closure. Even if male pattern baldness was progressing to a level 6 or 7 on the norwood scale of hair loss, this typically happens gradually, not rapidly within a 30 day period. I strongly recommend contacting and meeting with your hair transplant surgeon immediately so he/she can evaluate and work to remedy any complications.




Thanks http://www.hairtransplantnetwork.com/news/article.asp?CopyID=419

Failed Hair Transplant or Natural Hair Loss Progression?

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Question:

I had hair transplant surgery 9 months ago and I have yet to really see any results. I am extremely depressed, especially since I am reading that one can usually see results after only 5 months. However, my situation may be different. I had a full head of hair except for extreme thinning hair in my balding crown. After the surgery, i was very stressed and no matter what I did, I would see four times as much hair loss in the shower than usual. It also easily came out when I combed it. This continued for about 2 weeks and now I feel as though I have about 1/4 less hair than I used to. i was told there may be hair transplant postoperative shock loss, but I was wondering what you think is going on with my case?





Answer:

Though a hair transplant isn't fully mature until approximately 12 months after surgery; most patient see significant new hair growth by 9 months. Given your description above, I am wondering if your transplanted hair did grow but that your hair loss progressed significantly these last several months.



Remember that a hair restoration procedure does nothing to stop the progression of male pattern baldness. It only surgically removes hair from one part of the scalp and replaces it in balding areas. Nonsurgical hair loss products like Propecia (finasteride) and Rogaine (minoxidil) can complement a hair transplant by preventing androgenic alopecia from continuing. Without them, loss can and will continue as dictated by your genes. In my opinion, if you are not already on these, you may want to consider them if you want to stop hair loss.



Thanks http://www.hairtransplantnetwork.com/news/article.asp?CopyID=415

Dissatisfied with my Hair Transplant at 7 Months - What Should I Do?

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Question:

I had hair transplant surgery with the hospital group on my receding hairline. After promises of a quality result, I am 7 months out and am not satisfied with the way my hair looks. Most of the hair has grown in but it is patchy and lacks hair density. am I being impatient of have I simply thrown my money away after being duped into believing the impossible was possible? What should I do?





Answer:

Firstly, try not to overstress yourself. 7 months after hair restoration surgery is too soon to evaluate the final result. Many patients start to see significant hair growth at this point, but the hair has a lot of thickening, darkening, and maturing to do. Comparing a patient's 7 month hair transplant photos to his 12 month photos in many cases is like day and night.


On the other hand, I have found that many balding men and women who have hair surgery develop expectations that are unreasonable. The circumference of the balding area, the amount of existing natural hair, and the number of follicular unit grafts transplanted, will ultimately impact the appearance of density and fullness of your hair.


In my opinion, give your hair transplant at least 1 year to fully mature but speak to your surgeon about the kind of results you should expect. Feel free also to share your experience and photos on our hair loss forum for encouragement and support.


One full year after hair replacement surgery, you can decide on whether or not you want another to add additional hair density.



Thanks http://www.hairtransplantnetwork.com/news/article.asp?CopyID=410

Help Selecting a Quality Hair Restoration Physician for Hair Transplant Surgery -

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Question:

Falceros, you rock. Thank you for doing all of this good work. I am just about to make a decision to go ahead with the hair transplant procedure. Now its just a question of with which hair restoration physician? I have narrowed it down to 4. Dr. Keene, Dr. Limmer, Dr. Shapiro(s), *or* Dr. Epstein. Any advice?





Answer:

I''m glad to hear that I''ve been able to encourage you in your research. It''s nice to know that my hair restoration journey can help others see that restoring their hair is possible.


All 4 hair transplant surgeons you are considering are members of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians and do excellent work. Who to select is a decision that only you can make. In my opinion, you would be wise to consult with each of them, learn about their philosophies, ask questions, and look through their patient photos and choose the one that impresses you the most. All of them have slightly different approaches and philosophies and all of them are worth considering and evaluating.


I hope this helps you in your research.




Thanks http://www.hairtransplantnetwork.com/news/article.asp?CopyID=405

Concerns about Scab Removal and Hair Shedding 12 Days After Hair Transplant Surgery

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Question:

I still have a lot of scabs / crusts 12 days after hair transplant surgery. Is it safe now for me to scrub them without the danger of pulling out the hair follicle? Also, my hair loss doctor told me that my transplanted hair will begin to shed and I would see some of them fall out in the tub or on my pillow. I haven't seen any yet, is this normal?






Answer:

Every hair restoration physician has their own set of hair transplant postoperative instructions so it is important to follow then. However, at 12 days, the follicular unit grafts are secured in your scalp and would have to be surgically removed.


I have found that running my finger tips (not the nails) in a circular motion over the scabs / crusts in the shower for an extra 10 minutes two times a day help facilitate their removal. Heavy scrubbing or picking with your finger nails is not a good idea as it can cause bleeding.


Hair shedding of the grafts typically starts to occur between 2 and 4 weeks, so you should start seeing this happen gradually at any time.




Thanks http://www.hairtransplantnetwork.com/news/article.asp?CopyID=387

Reversing a Hair Transplant: Is it Possible?

Question:

I had a hair transplant twenty years ago and now I shave my head. I have approximately 120 donor scars at the back and sides of my head and 120 round hair plugs on top. This might make for the most unique scalp in the land but it's not the sort of notoriety I enjoy.

I intend to keep shaving my head in the future but yearn for a natural bald look, so Iwant my hair transplant reversed. I understand it is possible to have the hair plugs put back in the donor area and I am trying to find the right hair loss doctor to perform the surgery.

In the mean time, can you recommend the surgeon/surgeons most likely to give the best result? I live in the UK but am prepared to travel to Belgium, Turkey, or the US. I did manage to contact one of your recommended doctors and he said he could achieve a 6/10 (more or less) look of normality at the donor site and 8/10 on top where the old plugs are removed.

I have done hours of research on this site and could probably do more but I thought it wise to ask since it is possible i might miss something.





Answer:

In looking at your hair transplant photos, I first want to say that I’m sorry that this has happened to you. Clearly this is a case of very old work.

Regarding hair transplant repair, there are certainly options, but there is no way to reverse a hair transplant completely and make it look like a “virgin” scalp. This is most likely why our recommended surgeon is working with you on developing realistic expectations by giving you a 6/10 and 8/10 ratio, which is still a dramatic improvement. Keep in mind that removal of the old hair plugs will leave scarring. They can be redistributed to the donor sites and in the right hands will most likely improve your overall appearance. But it won’t be perfect. But getting an evaluation in person with an elite surgeon is extremely important.

In my opinion, I strongly suggest contacting a few elite physician members of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians as many of them specialize in repair work. In the UK, I would recommend an in person consultation with Dr. Bessam Farjo or Dr. Nilofer Farjo of the Farjo clinic.

It would be wise to research and consult with several physicians to see what they can do for your case.




Thanks http://www.hairtransplantnetwork.com/news/article.asp?CopyID=391

How Long Does a Hair Transplant Take?

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Question:

I want to know how much time a hair transplant will take?






Answer:

The surgical aspect of the hair transplant procedure takes approximately 8 to 10 hours, but you won't see the final result from a single procedure for about a year. The procedure is a process that involves the surgery, healing time including suture/staple removal, shedding of the transplanted hair, a waiting period of about 3 to 5 months, and gradual hair growth for the next 6-10 months. Depending on your hair restoration goals and level of baldness, you may need more than one procedure. Be sure to discuss long term goals and the number of required surgeries with your hair loss doctor before getting in the chair.




Thanks http://www.hairtransplantnetwork.com

Did My Hair Transplant Fail? I'm 12 weeks out from Hair Transplant Surgery with No New Growth

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Question:

It has been 12 weeks approximately since I had my hair transplant but yet there are no symptoms of hair regrowth at the transplanted site. Moreover I had 1200 grafts. Is it possible that the grafts just won't grow? Are there any signs I can look for that will indicate transplanted hair growth under the skin or problems such as hardening of the skin, or a change in scalp color?




Answer:

I speak with many hair transplant patients who seem to think that transplanted hair growth will be in full swing after 3 months, but this is a misconception. Though hair regrowth may start between 3 to 5 months post-surgery, implanted hair starts to grow as thin, fine, and colorless and slowly thickens and matures over time, up to approximately 12 to 18 months.

The hair will also grow at different rates. As you begin to see some "pop" through the scalp, others won't come through for another few weeks or even months. One "sign" of new sprouts to come to look for (though this doesn't happen to everyone) is pimples forming in the recipient area. Though they may be painful and red, this is an ingrown hair and a sign of hair growth to come. To help control the pimples, you may want to dampen a wash cloth with warm water and let it soak on the affected area. This will help soften your scalp and help the hair penetrate through the scalp. Pimples typically form a good month before any visual signs of growing.

Rest assured, as long as you selected a quality hair restoration physician to perform your transplant, you growth yield should be very high. I can't tell you what type of cosmetic improvement you will have since I don't know your degree of hair loss or how wide of an area these grafts have been placed.


Thanks http://www.hairtransplantnetwork.com

When Can I Brush my Hair Normally After Hair Replacement Surgery?

Question:

I just had a hair transplant a few weeks ago. When can I brush my hair normally? I'd like to give it a thorough brush if possible.





Answer:

The first two weeks after a hair replacement surgery are critical in terms of healing and securing of the follicular unit grafts in the scalp. Anytime after that, you are safe to brush your hair normally. Because the scalp can remain sensitive for a few months, be careful not to brush too hard as this may further irritate it.

Remember that in a few days to a few weeks, the transplanted hair will start to shed and this is perfectly normal. After that, it's the waiting game for hair regrowth.




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