Can an FUE Hair Transplant Be Performed on an Afro-Caribbean Man With Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia (CCCA) ?

My boyfriend has a form of CCCA (Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia) as well as mild Follicutis Keloidalis on the nape of his neck. I am looking to get him the FUE procedure done (Follicle unit extraction) and wanted to know if you guys can deal with or specialize in Afro-caribbean scalps and hair types. I can send photos of his scalp if needed.
Kind regards,
Leeanne
- - - - - - - - - -

Dear Leeanne:

Thank you for your letter and question. The diagnosis of a scarring alopecia, such as CCCA, will require that there is evidence that the process is not active before surgical intervention may be considered. There is no correct answer as to when surgery may be performed but there should probably be a minimum of one year during which there is no active inflammation. The dermatologist that is following your friend should be able to assist in this determination. There is also a risk that the condition can be reactivated by surgery in the involved areas. Occasionally a “test session” can be performed to see if this is a possibility. CCCA, also called “hot comb” alopecia, has been linked to physical and chemical trauma of the scalp by certain hair-care practices. I will assume that if this is the cause of your friend’s hair loss, these practices have been discontinued. Read more

Female Hair loss at 24 Years Old - Is a Hair Transplant Right For Me?

I am a 24 year old African American female. I noticed approximately 3 years ago that my hair was thinning at my temples (more so on the left than right). Approximately 2 years ago I notice that my hair line (top-middle) is receding and has now gotten to the point were it is noticeable to others (it is still pretty minor, but has progressively gotten worse). I initially thought that the thinning around my temples was due to traction alopecia and immediately changed my hair styling routine. I didn’t expect the thinning to get better but, as it continues to progress I am more convinced that this is genetic (even though no females in my family this problem). I was recently informed by a dermatologist that my loss is not consistent with female pattern hair loss and that Rogaine probably would not help.

If my hair loss is not of female pattern loss, can it still be considered genetic? And, as I’ve described my loss, do you think I could be a candidate for a hair transplant?

Please know that this has caused and is causing severe emotional distress and I need to know if there is anything I can do about it.

Thank you.
A. Smith
- - - - - - - -

Hair loss at a young age can be very devastating for anyone.  This is especially true for women who never expect hair loss to be a problem for them. Read more

Can a Hair Transplant Be Performed on an African American?

Can a hair transplant be performed on an African American? Every video or before and after photo I see has a Caucasian guy with minimal hair loss. He will have hair around the side and maybe slight balding around the crown. An African American male cannot hide their balding issue, or better yet doesn’t have the hair to spare for a hair transplant while maintaining a short hair cut. Has a successful hair transplant ever been performed on African American male to continue the growth of hair where it was lost mainly around the middle or back of the crown?
Thank you,
Mark
- - - - - - -

Mark:

Thank you for your question.  Yes, hair restoration surgery can be successfully performed on African Americans and /or people of other ethnic origins.  The African American patient in particular requires careful pre-operative assessment in several areas.  Does the patient have a tendency to develop hypertrophic and/or keloid, (heavy, thick) scarring? Read more

Are African American Men Good Hair Transplant Candidates?

Is having a hair transplant a good option for an African American man? I have been losing my hair for the past 2 years and I am not comfortable doing the shaved head thing. I just don’t think I have a good shaped head although I do wear my hair very short. Thanks.
- - - - - - - - - - - -

Unfortunately it is difficult to give a yes or no answer to this question since a lot depends on whether you have had a problem with “shaving bumps” which would indicate the new grafts might also curl back and cause ingrown hairs and scars. Other factors such as the density of the donor area and the hair style you would want afterwards are key factors. The best results would be in someone with dense hair in the donor area, limited bald spot on the crown and minimal recession in front so that a short “natural” hair style one to two inches long would be able to cover the balding area even with some mild scarring. Read more

Can An African American Have a Successful Hair Transplant?

I was wondering if it is possible for an African American to have a successful hair transplant? I do not know anyone who has ever had it performed, and I don’t see too many good photos on the internet.
- - - - - - - - -

Thank you for your question. Not only is it possible for an African American to have a successful hair transplant, often times the result will look thicker than a similar number hairs transplanted into a Caucasian. The reasons for this are that in the African American patient there is less contrast between the hair color and skin color and the curl produced by the hair covers more scalp than straight hair.

When seeking a physician to perform this surgery it is helpful to ask about his or her experience with African American patients. Although the procedure is essentially the same as the surgery performed in patients with straight hair there are some differences that require special attention in the graft dissection and implantation phases of the surgery. Read more