In this FAQ, you will find answers to commonly asked medical questions about the surgery, controversial issues, and subjects you might not have even considered. If you have a question that still has not been answered, please contact us today to have your specific questions answered directly. For your convenience, FAQ section is divided into several parts.
Do women have problems with balding?
Women experience hair loss, too, and it is quite common, although not as common as in men.
How can I find out about female hair loss?
Some women have genetically determined hair loss, while others may experience hair loss from surgery or injury. Depending on their type of hair loss, women may or may not make excellent candidates for surgery. For more information on candidacy you should consult a NHI physician.
What causes hair loss in women?
Some women have genetically determined hair loss or hair loss from a series of medical conditions or genetic inheritance. Others may experience hair loss from surgery, or injury. Still others experience hair loss from wearing very tight hairstyles that exert constant pull on the hair.
Because some hair loss in women can be caused by underlying medical conditions, it is important that women with undiagnosed hair loss be evaluated by their own physicians. If clinically appropriate, the following disease processes should be considered: anemia, thyroid disease, connective tissue disease, gynecological conditions and emotional stress. It is also important to review the use of medications that can cause hair loss, such as oral contraceptives, beta-blockers, Vitamin A, thyroid drugs, coumadin and prednisone. The following laboratory tests are often useful if underlying problems are suspected: CBC, Chem Screen, ANA, T4, TSH, STS, Androstenedione, DHEA-Sulfate, Total and Free Testosterone.
Why are some women not candidates for hair restoration surgery?
Hair transplantation involves the movement of hair from an area of greater density and fullness in the back of your scalp to an area of hair loss in the front, top or crown. Women who have generalized thinning (Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia) have hair that is thin all over the head, and it may not be beneficial to transplant hair that has been weakened by the balding process. When hair is transplanted into a part of the scalp that is thin, but not completely bald, there is a risk that some of the hair that is weak will not regrow in its new location. There is also the possibility that the hair in the recipient area is more fragile and some or all of the original hair in this area may be lost. This process is called "telogen effluvium" and when it occurs, it is usually reversible in a 3-6 month time frame when the hair that has been lost has been weakened by balding. Also, when the donor area continues to thin, then the transplanted hair will also thin over time, since it came from the same area. In hair transplantation, as in all surgical procedures, it is important to balance the potential gain against the possible risks when making a decision to go forward with the treatment.
