Hair Transplants For Women Seeing Tremendous Growth
The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery recently released the results of its member survey. The results were clear: hair restoration surgeries have increased by 85 percent since 2004, and men are not the only people seeking a fuller head of hair. Approximately 13 percent of this increase covers hair transplants in women.
Female Pattern Baldness
You’ve probably heard of male pattern baldness. Did you know that women can also suffer from this condition? With women, the baldness is often linked to family genetics, but it can also be due to changes in hormone levels as you age. There are also cases of balding linked to skin disease, malnutrition, certain medications (beta blockers and chemotherapy, for example), and tight hairstyles like braids or buns.
Unlike men who usually see the first signs of balding at the front of the scalp, women tend to lose hair at the crown and where the center part in the hair naturally occurs. Rarely does female pattern baldness result in full bald patches, but the hair thins to a point where the skin is clearly visible through the remaining hair.
Hair Restoration Options for Women
Hair restoration procedures differ for women. While men can use medications like Propecia, Minoxidil is the only treatment approved by the FDA for treating female pattern baldness. It is only effective, however, in approximately 20 to 25 percent of the women who use it. It is also a treatment that must be used permanently. If you stop treatments, the hair loss resumes.
For some women, lowering the hairline is enough to restore a fuller hairline. This procedure is especially useful for women who have a high forehead or who have lost hair at the temples from tight hairstyles. If that seems to be your situation, hairline advancement may be your best option. During this procedure, an incision is made along the hairline, the skin is pulled to a lower position on the scalp, and the incision is closed. If there is a lack of laxity in the skin, skin expanders are used to gently stretch the skin so that the hairline advancement can take place. These expanders are inserted under the skin and are slowly inflated over a span of six to eight weeks. After that step, the hairline advancement surgery takes place.
Finally, follicular unit grafting is useful in transplanting healthy hair follicles in areas where the hair is thinning. During this hair transplant surgery, healthy hair follicles are harvested from the back or side of the head, dissected by the hair transplant surgeon, and then transplanted to the area experiencing female pattern balding. It often takes more than one hair transplant to see the optimal results. There is also a lot of patience required as it can take upwards of 12 to 18 months for final results to be achieved.
Read a more detailed account of follicular unit grafting at Dr. Sheldon Kabaker’s Aesthetic Facial Plastic Surgery and Hair Transplantation website. The Oakland hair restoration surgeon is board certified in facial plastic surgery and has more than 14 years of experience in hair transplantation procedures. To discuss possible solutions to your female pattern baldness, schedule a consultation with Dr. Kabaker. You can reach his California hair restoration clinic by calling 800-914-HAIR.