Is It Acceptable To Transplant Hair Into Areas of The Scalp That Are Only Thinning?

Do the majority of hair transplant doctors consider it appropriate to transplant hair into thinning areas, e.g., front, mid-section, and/or crown, as opposed to transplanting hair only into bald areas? What are the risks and considerations (e.g., shock loss)? - Robert
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Robert,

Thank you for taking the time to write! I am not sure I can speak for the majority of hair transplant surgeons, but through my training and experience with many of the top surgeons out there, the short answer to your question is; it is a judgement call.

The chief concern, as you identified, is whether you will do more harm to the existing hair, than good! If the existing hair is close to complete loss, I believe many surgeons would choose to help that patient by restoring a conservative area of hair/hairline.

If the hair in the area seems to be salvageable, some surgeons would feel more comfortable trying medical therapy alone for 6-12 months, while others would simply exercise caution during the transplant. Too many grafts at once with the latter approach can exacerbate shock loss, especially if the patient has fine or miniaturized hair to begin with.

If you believe you are in this latter category, it is always best to go with the hair surgeon who levels with you about the risk of shock loss; you will be replacing the hair with permanent hair, so you will have a net benefit, but the risk of significant shedding with more limited re-growth does exist. Read more

Looking To Get a Hair Transplant, But Don’t Want A Scar - Is FUE The Best Way To Go?

I am 25 years old and I have been loosing my hair since the age of 17. Currently I’m in a Norwood 3A stage and I am taking Propecia. I used to use Rogaine and when I stopped I noticed a rapid loss. I have been looking to get hair transplants but I do not want a scar in the back of my head.

My question is: Would you recommend the FUE technique? Or maybe another technique that is know to have better lasting results? Also, how do I find an honest hair transplant doctor that I can trust and that does top notch work? - Shawn
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Shawn:

Thank you for submitting your question.  I will attempt to answer each component of your question individually.

First let me state that the “A”, (or anterior) pattern of hair loss only represents about three percent of patients with genetic hair loss.  “A” patterns are some of my favorite patterns to transplant because with strong mid-scalp and crown hair, the results can be dramatic and therefore very rewarding for the patient.  However with that said, as a young man you must assume that there will be progression in your pattern of genetic hair loss to a 4A, 5A, or even to a Norwood-Hamilton 6 classification.  Read more