women’s hair transplant

Hair loss in women is a silent epidemic that effects the lives of far more women than is generally recognized by society or medicine. Approximately 40 percent of all hair loss sufferers are women, with a statistically significant percentage of women dealing with hair loss under the age of 30. Contrary to popular belief, the most common form of hair loss in women has little to do with diet or stress. Androgenetic alopecia, commonly referred to as male or female pattern baldness, is in fact usually the culprit and was only partially understood until relatively recently.

The majority of women with androgenic alopecia have diffuse thinning throughout the entire scalp. Some women may have a combination of pattern types that can actually resemble common male pattern baldness. Androgenic
alopecia in women can be caused by a variety of factors tied to the actions of hormones, including ovarian cysts, the usage of birth control pills, pregnancy and menopause. Just like in men, the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) appears to be at least partially to blame for the miniaturization of hair follicles associated in women suffering with female pattern baldness and, just like in men, heredity plays a major factor in the process. Read the Story

I had a transplant about one year ago to hide a scar from a brow lift. Unfortunately, the scar is still very visible, but what I’m most worried about is the dramatic thinning of my hair along the donor scar line and below it. In fact, right now, I have an irritation, the second one in a month, that is about an inch wide. This one burns and appears infected. My doctor thinks it was just an ingrown hair, but I’ve never had one like this ever! Could I be having thinning hair and irritations because of my hair transplant. Will it stop? Is it likely my hair will ever regrow what I’ve lost since the hair transplant?
-Susan
- – - – - – - – -

As for your donor area, it does sound like you have local infection and inflammation at the site.  This could have started, as your doctor said, with an ingrown hair and may have spread to the surrounding area.  It could also be what doctors call an “inclusion body” like a stitch that did not dissolve and is instead working it’s way towards the surface.  Read the Story

I had two bad hair transplants that have left me with very little hair in the back of my head, and with lots of bald spots that I can’t hide. I now also have much less hair in the front then I had before my two hair transplants.

To add to that, my scalp has a white zigzag like scar around the hair line, it cost over $25,000 (FUE) with supposidly one of the best hair transplant doctors.

I am a woman who always had such long full silk-like hair (all my life) the best hair really, so I was thinning a bit in the front , but now I have to worry about the loss of all the hair from the back, only not to have it grow in the front. Scarring in the front, and hair not growing in (6 months after second transplant and nothing is growing) also lost more hair due to shock loss that didn’t grow back!

I am beside myself and cry every day, drink (to forget) gained 20lbs, no more karate, gym, going out with my husband, friends, and I am avoiding friends and family etc. This is killing me!!!! I lost myself and I’m so mad. How could this happen to me, what went wrong? How can I fix this?

Please help.
Eve
- – - – - – - – - – - -

Dear Eve:

Thank you for your question.  Yours is a complex situation, and I wish that I had photography to review to be as accurate as possible in this attempt to assist you.

Specifically, I am interested in the timing of the two transplant procedures.  You mentioned that the second procedure was performed six months ago so there has not yet been an adequate amount of time that has passed to assess the final result.  Read the Story

I am a 26 year old female who had a transplant 6 weeks ago ( 1000 grafts, first transplant ) due to frontal thinning of hair. I am experiencing shock loss which I know to be normal, but I want to know is it normal to start at this time, how much hair usually comes out and how long does the shedding usually last for? – Christine
- – - – - – - -

Dear Christine,

“Transplant shock”, or thinning of pre-exisiting hair after a transplantation is as unpredictable as it is frustrating and anxiety-provoking.  It is thought that the shedding comes from the chemicals released by the inflammation associated with healing wherein the chemicals are perhaps useful in sterilizing the environment but are also noxious to the surrounding cells.  The cells of the hair follicle respond to stress by inducing the follicle to go into its resting phase, “telogen”.  Scalp hair generally grows for three years, then goes into the resting phase for three months  before reentering another growth phase.  This appearance of the resting phase usually becomes apparent as early as 3 weeks and can continue for perhaps three months.  Read the Story

I went in for a consultation and was told I would need about 200-250 grafts for a bald area that I have that is the size of a quarter on the hairline of my temple from birth.  I was quoted $3,000.  Not FUE just a regular transplant. I have never believed one should shop around for medical procedures, but everyone tells me it’s way too much.  Based on this quote the grafts would come out to $12 if I implanted 250, and $15 if I implanted $200.  My research online told me grafts normally range between $5-9.  I live in a major metropolitan city and granted the doctor is a recognized doctor, but by comparison this seems a bit much. Am I overpaying?  Please advise. -Leeanne
- – - – - – - – -

Dear Leeanne:

Thank you for your question.  There is an old adage that goes, “In life, you get what you pay for.”  This is especially true in the field of surgical hair restoration.  I have encountered many, many patients over the years that have chosen to have a transplant procedure with their primary decision making factor being “price”.  They comfort themselves into thinking that their procedure will be performed by another “qualified” physician.  And they go on to regret their decision in the end.  Read the Story

I got a hair transplant 6 1/2 months ago and I am not seeing too much results, is that normal? Is it at 12 months that I will see the full effect or longer? Do grafts sometimes not grow? I also had a lot of shock loss.  By the way, I am a 24 years old female with PCOS. Thanks! – Melissa
- – - – - – - – - – -

It is normal for hair-bearing grafts to enter a resting phase following surgical hair restoration.  The typical resting phase following a hair transplant lasts 3-4 months.  During this time the follicle does not produce any hair as it is resting and recovering from the stressful events relating to the surgical process.  Although hair begins its regrowth cycle at this 3-4 month mark, it takes several more months for full density to be achieved.  During this period the follicle recovers its ability to produce a thick and fully mature hair shaft.

Although the majority of patients begin their regrowth cycle around the 3-4 month mark, there are some patients who are fortunate to see earlier growth and there are those who see a much latter regrowth.  These variations are simply related to the normal variations of all human characteristics such as height, weight, IQ, etc.  Extremes which deviate from the average are much less common, but they do occur.  Read the Story

I had a hair transplant done October 08. I had stress hair loss on the upper back portion of my head from consistently wearing  bobby pins in the same spot day and night for years. I found a surgeon through a referral from a friend, we decided on 1000 grafts. On the morning of surgery, I asked for some grafts to be put in the front as it was thinner than it had been when I was younger, I am 49 yrs.old. In all, he put 1200 grafts in the problem area and 375 in the frontal area. Each micrograft was to yield 1 – 3 hairs. The large area is coming in and I can see new growth in the front, but the front is so much thinner than it was prior to surgery, I can’t even conceal it! Needless to say I am very distressed. I contacted the doctor’s office and they said it could be shock and it should grow back. Can I expect it to grow back? Should I be using any product to help the growth? Sincerely, Joyce
- – - – - – - – - – -

Dear Joyce:

Thank you for your letter.  Based on your explanation of the surgery and the number of grafts, I would have to agree with the answer you received from the doctor’s office. The fact that the frontal area is thinner than it was prior to surgery suggests that you have shock loss. Read the Story

My daughter is currently 16 years old.  She started experiencing hair loss when she hit puberty (approximately 11 years old) as well as fairly serious acne.  She has had numerous blood tests to check for various hormonal issues, but to date, no definitive diagnosis — everything appears within normal range.  Oral contraceptives have greatly improved the acne but have not helped at all with the hair loss.  Her hair loss has now stabilized (does not appear to be getting any thinner); however her hair is very thin on top (you can clearly see through to her scalp and there is no way to do a “comb over” — just not enough hair).  The hair on sides and back is fine (normally thick).

My question is:  Is she old enough to consider a hair transplant?  I’ve read that it is generally preferred to be 25 years or older (???), however I am concerned that female hair loss is a serious social burden that will be especially difficult through the remainder of her high school and college career.  I’d really like to be able to help her now.
Thanks,
Janet
- – - – - -

Dear Janet:

Thank you for your letter. Hair loss can be difficult to deal with at any age but it can be particularly hard for a young woman. Before addressing the possibility of surgery there are some other issues that should be mentioned. Read the Story

I have been suffering from AGA-female pattern baldness  since I was 17. The hair at the back of my head was comparatively  thicker compared to that on the crown. I’m 26 now and 3 months into my hair transplant (1697 grafts). I’m already regretting it since I have undergone severe shock loss these 3 months. After reading your article on shock loss I’m really concerned as to what should I expect since my shock loss is still continuing. Also, I’m wondering, will the hair on the donor site grow back?- Susan
- – - – - – - – - -

Susan:

Thank you for your questions.

First of all do not be alarmed or overly concerned with the “transplant induced shedding”, (also known as shock loss) of your natural non-transplanted hair that has occurred with your procedure.  Although this is not a common problem, it can and does occur when transplanting into hair bearing scalp.  If the transplant patient has “bald” scalp to begin with, there is no hair to “shock out” with the transplant procedure.

The “shocked” hair will start to reestablish itself and grow along with the hairs from the transplanted follicles.  This process typically BEGINS about two months post transplant.  So at three months post transplant, you are STARTING to grow the hairs from both the transplanted as well as your native non-transplanted follicles. Read the Story

I have always had a wavy hairline which goes far up onto my scalp. Recently, I have begun losing far more hair than considered normal. I am wondering whether there are any treatments available to possibly lower, and straighten my hairline and stop the hair loss as well.
Thank you,
Sherry
- – - – - – - – - – - -
Hi Sherry,

Thanks for your question. There is an enormous amount of variety in both male and female hairlines. You said that your hairline goes far up onto your scalp. I am assuming that what you are talking about is a receding hairline. You also said that your hairline is wavy & I assume that you mean that it is irregular-looking. You also said that recently you have begun to lose “far more hair than is considered normal.”
Hair loss can be very upsetting & sometimes devastating for the hair-loss sufferer. The first priority is to find out why you are losing hair. In females there can be many reasons for hair loss, such as genetic female-pattern hair loss, hormonal disorders, skin disorders and iron deficiency, so it is essential to visit a physician who is knowledgeable about the causes and treatment of hair loss. Read the Story