Many cases of hair loss in women share the same cause as most cases of hair loss in men: androgenetic alopecia. This hereditary condition affects over three million Americans annually. But the way women typically lose their hair – in a diffuse pattern throughout the scalp rather than in distinct areas or patches – is different than for men. And women also shed or lose hair for reasons unique to their gender, including the hormonal fluctuations that accompany pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause.
The way women lose their hair and the reasons why they do so mean that hair transplant surgery may not be a viable option for restoring their hair. That doesn’t mean that women suffering from hair loss have to live with their condition – they don’t. Plenty of effective non-surgical treatments are available. But women should know and understand why hair transplant surgery may be off the table for them.
How Women Lose Their Hair Can Make Hair Transplant Surgery Difficult
In men, androgenetic alopecia follows a familiar, predictable pattern. It starts with shedding in the front that causes the hairline to gradually recede. This progresses to more pronounced hair loss across the top of the head, and finally toward the crown. In most men with pattern baldness, hair remains relatively robust in the back and sides of the head.
Androgenetic alopecia usually progresses differently in women, however. Instead of losing hair in isolated areas, women’s hair loss tends to occur throughout the scalp.
This diffuse pattern of hair loss in women makes it a challenge to safely extract the donor hair necessary for a transplant. In hair transplant surgery for men, donor hairs are typically harvested from the back or sides of the head, which remain largely untouched by pattern baldness in other areas. But in women, potential donor hairs share space with thinning areas. That means these hairs also share the same deficiencies that caused neighboring hairs to fall out. That also means the hairs won’t likely survive and thrive if transplanted to a recipient area.
Some Hair Loss Conditions In Women Can Make A Hair Transplant A Viable Option
While only a relatively small percentage of women are good candidates for hair transplant surgery, the procedure can be effective in restoring hair in women who have certain types of hair loss issues. Specifically, women with the following conditions should explore the possibility of a hair transplant with their hair restoration physician:
- Women who have suffered hair loss due to traction alopecia.
- Women who have had previous cosmetic surgery and are concerned about hair loss around the incision sites.
- Women who have pattern baldness that manifests itself similarly to how it does in men and have a donor area unaffected by androgenetic alopecia.
- Women who experience hair loss due to trauma.
- Women with alopecia marginalis, a condition that appears very similar to traction alopecia.
Schedule an Appointment for a Hair Loss Evaluation at the Miami Hair Institute Today
For men and women alike, the first step towards addressing hair loss is arranging for a comprehensive evaluation as soon as possible. Early detection, diagnosis, and treatment provide the best chance of restoring your hair — and regaining your confidence. Schedule an appointment with the Miami Hair Institute today by calling 305.925.0222. We look forward to assisting you.