African American Female Hair Loss – Considering a Hair Transplant

I am a 44 yr old African American female. I have researched several doctors and institutions that claim they can help me but after viewing the work they have done on others I am skeptical. I have been balding on the sides of my temples for about ten years now. It has gotten worse. I have worn my hair in braids for several years and have dyed and fried my hair with chemicals and hair coloring. I am sure that has damaged my hair, but I have not used chemicals in over 12 years.  I have used topical solutions, including Rogaine for Men and hair growth products for women. I see some hair regrowth only at the edge of my temples, but not where it should be. I want a hair transplant, I just don’t know who to trust and who can help me. I live in the Maryland/ Washington, DC area but I am certainly willing to travel to get a specialist to help me.
Thanks,
RS

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Dear RS,

From your description you are suffering from traction alopecia. This condition is quite common among African American women and arises because of the fashion of tight braiding. The tight braids produce a repetitive stress on the hair follicle and over a period of time actually destroy the follicles. Unfortunately topical treatment such as Minoxidil (Rogaine) and others rarely produces any recovery.

We have successfully treated many women with this problem in our practice, below is a very good representation of what can be accomplished.

--Result: 1405 As a result of traction alopecia, Dr. Dorin treated both temporal and frontal hairline recession with 2,357 hairs: 455 singles, 948 twos, and 2 three hair follicular units. A total of 1,405 follicular units were transplanted.--

Large areas of temporal recession can usually be restored in one to tow treatments depending on the size of the defect. The transplanted hair begins to grow starting 3- 4 months after the hair transplantation procedure and once growing the hair will continue to grow unless it too is subjected to repetitive braiding.

If you would like to discuss treatment further, please email me, Dr. True, (drtrue@hairlossdoctors.com) or my partner, Dr. Dorin, (drdorin@hairlossdoctors.com). Sending pictures for review would be very helpful.

I want to reassure you that there is a high probability that you can have this problem successfully treated.

Sincerely,

Dr. Robert True M.D., MPH
Member, International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons
Member, American Hair Loss Association
Diplomate of the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery
True & Dorin Medical Group, P.C
New York City, USA

Robert H. True, MD Robert H. True, MD is senior partner of the True & Dorin Medical Group P.C. Dr. True ad Dr. Dorin’s private practice is located in Manhattan and is devoted solely to surgical hair restoration and medical therapy. They also maintain satellite consult offices in Long Island, NY, Duchess County, NY, New Jersey, and Boston where he personally provides complimentary consultations and treatment follow-up for prospective and established patients. Dr. True has a rich medical background. He received his medical degree from McGill University Faculty of Medicine and pursued postgraduate training at the University of Illinois, the Mayo clinic and Johns Hopkins. Before devoting himself full time to hair restoration, he had a distinguished career as the Director of Emergency Medicine for St. Francis, a major suburban Chicago hospital, and as a decorated Clinical Director with the US Public Health Service Commission Corps. Dr. True is a member of the International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons and recommended by the American Hair Loss Association. Visit Dr. True's Website: www.truedorin.com

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