Female Hair Loss at 32 – Can I Have A Hair Transplant?

As a woman with thinning hair I cannot begin to tell you how much I appreciate the opportunity to ask experts questions about my situation. Here’s my story. I am 32 and for the past six years my hair has been getting thinner and thinner. I have not had children and have never taken oral contraceptives. I’ve had every possible blood test known to man and every thing appears to be normal. I have never been diagnosed with Female Pattern Baldness but I think that this is what I am going through. I would like to have a hair transplant but read on The American Hair Loss Association website that most women are not candidates. Is this true?

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Hello, I’m sorry to hear about your hairloss. I know this can be quite be distressing. First, I’m going to assume you have had all the appropriate blood tests and have been evaluated by a Board Certified Dermatologist. You say you have had numerous blood tests but not been diagnosed with Female Pattern Baldness. Have you been given a diagnosis or possible explanation for your hair loss? If you have not seen a Board Certified Dermatologist, preferably with an interest in hair loss, or Hair Restoration Physician that would be my first suggestion. A scalp biopsy would help provide a more definite diagnosis and this is necessary before discussing treatment of course. Assuming you are diagnosed with Female Pattern Baldness, then we would have several options to consider. You certainly would deserve a trial of Minoxidil 5%. Spironolactone, a diuretic with hair growth effects, could be added as well. If you are post-menopausal some doctors use finesteride, although this is only approved for use in men but has been reported to be sometimes effective in women. Finally, hair transplantion would be a consideration, and this could be used in conjunction with the above medical treatments for optimal results. In women, the main determinant of how good a candidate one is would be the donor area located in the back. If this remains thick, it can be transplanted to the thinning areas with great success. If however, as in many women(and some men), there is diffuse thinning, then you would not benefit from hair transplantation.

Gregory Pistone, MD
Member, International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons

Gregory Pistone, MD Dr. Pistone's contributions to the field of hair transplantation and excellence in patient care earned him the honor of being selected by his peers to be recognized as one of Philadelphia Magazine's "Top Plastic Surgeons." He has been featured in countless newspaper and magazine articles and has made numerous television and radio appearances answering all questions pertaining to the art and science that is hair restoration. Dr. Pistone has had a successful private practice since 1984, has served as Chief of Dermatology within the Thomas Jefferson University Health System, and is currently on the faculty of both Thomas Jefferson and Drexel University Schools' of Medicine, where he teaches physicians-in-training about hair transplantation. Dr. Pistone has a private practice and state of the art surgicenter in Marlton, New Jersey (near Philadelphia), as well as a consulting office in Center City, Philadelphia. Dr. Pistone is a member of the International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons and recommended by the American Hair Loss Association. Visit Dr. Pistone's Website:www.drpistone.com

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