It’s estimated that one in every five women experience hair loss. Generally caused by hormonal changes, ageing or illness, they tend to see hair thinning over the entire scalp. Many women choose to wear hair extensions and hairpieces. Some turn to topical prescription drugs which generally only prevent any further hair loss and don’t stimulate any new growth.
The hair loss in women differs from men, who suffer from hair loss in patches, so the procedure is a little more tricky. However, hair transplant surgery can provide the answer for many women and is no longer seen as a ‘masculine only’ form of surgery.
Dispelling The Myth For Women With Hair Loss
Successful restoration surgery does depend on the exact type of hair loss a woman is experiencing. The reason is that hereditary hair loss (androgenetic alopecia) presents differently in male and female pattern baldness. In men, thinning hair is in specific areas, such as the crown or a receding hairline. In women, there tends to be a general thinning on the top of the head, which only very rarely causes complete balding.
Hair transplantation requires stable donor sites where the hair follicles are not affected by the DHT that is shrinking other follicles. With women, these donor areas can often be unstable as the hair is already thinning. This can mean removing hair follicles and transplanting them can result in hair falling out. However, many women can still benefit from the procedure.
As mini-grafts are normally the chosen surgical treatment, suitable candidates are those who have dense hair growth on the back of their head. Hair follicles can then be safely harvested from this area to be grafted into the thinning areas. Sometimes additional ‘flap and tissue expansion procedures’ can also be used to create a fuller look.
The Ideal Women Candidates For Hair Transplantation
Although some experts estimate only a small percentage of women are good candidates for hair transplantation, it’s always worth an evaluation. Over 5% of women suffering from hair loss can gain a considerable amount of benefit from these types of procedures. Among those that can achieve improvements are:
- Women suffering hair loss due to non-hormonal traction or mechanical alopecia
- Those concerned about hair loss at incision sites following any cosmetic surgery
- Those displaying a distinct pattern of baldness, hairline recession or vertex thinning
- Those who have a healthy donor area available unaffected by androgenetic alopecia
- Those suffering traumatic hair loss, including burn victims or scarring from accidents
- Women with alopecia marginalis, a condition causing hair loss at the hairline
An Integrated Approach Produces The Best Results
Many women also seek hair transplantation for aesthetic reasons. It can be a successful procedure for lowering the hairline following other cosmetic procedures like brow or facelifts. It helps to camouflage any scars and create a much fuller, softer appearance.
Additional treatments and medications are typically recommended before and after any hair transplant procedure. There is always ongoing aftercare required to preserve the results and protect the transplanted grafts. The use of these options can be beneficial even without surgery, which is well worth exploring. For suitable candidates, treating female hair loss with a personalised treatment plan can be a positive way forward.