Female Hair Loss

Women experience baldness frequently in different patterns than men. However, female hair loss can often be treated with the same techniques and with excellent results.

Nutrition, hormonal imbalance and trauma from hair styling are more likely to be factors for hair loss in women. Medical evaluation by your regular doctor is advisable prior to exploring a medical hair transplant.

Women who have hair loss in the Ludwig's pattern usually maintain a good hairline. The hair behind the hairline gets sparse. Usually the female hair loss occurs at times of hormonal change such as contraception, childbirth, or menopause. It is uncommon for women to thin beyond the Ludwig's class II and very rare for complete baldness to occur.

Before and after one transplant of 1277 follicular units: 2,218 hairs

Often the instances of female hair loss occurs in the early twenties and does not worsen over time. The hair on the back of the head retains its original density and can be used to create hair transplants. Transplants are placed throughout areas of thinning hair. One or more procedures over time can produce considerable thickening of the hair.
It is less common for women to go bald in a pattern similar to men. Most often the hair loss (woman) occurs either in the temple resulting in a "male shaped" hairline or the hair thins in a triangle pattern in the center of the front. Both conditions are usually repairable as sufficient donor supply remains on the back of the scalp. Feminine hairlines can be recreated.

Hair loss for a woman can occur in different patterns.

• Gradual thinning throughout the top of the head behind the hairline (see Ludwig's classification shown above).
• Androgenic alopecia which follows the same patterns of male balding.
• Angular alopecia in which hair is lost on the sides only.
• Diffuse alopecia (DA) in which the hair thins throughout the entire scalp.

Patient before and after a treatment of 1019 follicular units*

	1789 new hairs added

Women who have DA (Diffuse Alopecia, as described below) are not suitable candidates for hair transplantation. There is not sufficient donor hair to accomplish meaningful restoration. Fortunately, most women with hair loss fall into the other two groups and are candidates for hair transplantation.

Women can also permanently lose hair from repeated use of tight braids (Traction Alopecia) or styling agents (relaxers). Both can be treated successfully with transplants.

The scars from face or brow lifts can also be hidden with transplants.

Below is an example of hair loss due to traction alopecia and how the balding pattern can be successfully restored with hair transplantation:

 Before treatment

After one 1405 follicular unit hair transplant: 2,357 hairs added*

*This is a typical result but results may vary.