When we think about hair loss, we usually picture a man with a receding hairline or a bald spot on the crown of his head. Rarely do we think of the millions of women experiencing hair loss, many of whom feel they must struggle in silence without a solution.
The idea of losing your hair can be intensely emotional, even painful, but it does not have to be permanent. There are many remedies available and the number of women turning to hair restoration procedures is on the rise. Hair transplantation surgery can offer profound cosmetic improvement for women with thinning hair or a high hairline. The first step is to visit us at Cooley Hair Center for a consultation. Dr. Jerry Cooley utilizes the latest techniques for follicular unit transplantation and follicular unit extraction to achieve beautiful, natural-looking results for female hair transplant patients.
Understanding Female Pattern Balding
Many women experience some degree of hair loss during their lifetime, typically as a result of aging, illness or hormonal changes after menopause. While men tend to lose hair in defined patches, women are more likely to experience diffuse hair loss all over the scalp. Women are also more likely to retain their frontal hairline, while men frequently struggle with a hairline that thins and recedes. Female pattern balding often begins as a widening part that can progress to overall thinning if treatment is not sought. For the best chance of successful treatment for female pattern balding, make an appointment with a hair restoration specialist at the first sign of hair loss.
Hair Restoration for Women
Hair loss in women can be treated medically or surgically. Clinical-strength hair care products can help nourish the scalp, prevent shedding and strengthen existing hair. Minoxidil, commonly prescribed in the form of Rogaine, is FDA-approved for the topical treatment of female pattern hair loss. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is a newer option that can activate dormant follicles for a noticeable improvement in hair density. These products and treatments can minimize ongoing hair loss, but they cannot regrow hair or significantly change the appearance of thinning areas. Hair transplant surgery is the most transformative hair restoration option for women.
Female Hair Transplant Surgery
During hair transplant surgery, healthy follicles are harvested from active areas of the scalp and relocated to thinning areas. The procedure redistributes the hair to provide a more uniform density throughout, filling in bald spots and rebuilding a high or thinning hairline. Modern hair transplantation techniques are more effective and more natural-looking than older methods, offering patients fullness without the conspicuous “pluggy” look. At Cooley Hair Center, Dr. Cooley offers two types of hair transplant surgery:
Follicular Unit Transplantation
Follicular unit transplantation (FUT) is performed by extracting a thin, ellipse-shaped section of hair-bearing scalp. Healthy follicles are isolated from the graft and transplanted into the thinning areas of the scalp, and the donor site is sutured closed. FUT leaves a thin, linear scar, but it is easily concealed by the surrounding hair after the procedure.
Follicular Unit Extraction
Follicular unit extraction (FUE) is performed by extracting individual healthy hair follicles one by one with a small punch device. They are transferred one at a time to the thinning areas of the scalp. FUE usually requires trimming the hair in the donor region, but it leaves no linear scar and most of the surrounding hair remains intact to conceal the harvested areas once the length regrows.
Who Is a Candidate for Female Hair Transplant Surgery?
Hair transplant surgery can dramatically enhance your appearance and your confidence, but it’s not the right choice for everyone. Your candidacy for FUT or FUE will depend on the kind of hair loss you’re experiencing and whether you have enough donor hair to supply the thinning areas. Because female pattern balding is often dispersed throughout the scalp, rather than appearing in concentrated areas, some women do not have adequate donor sites. Their potential donor areas are thinning just like everywhere else.
You may be a candidate for female hair transplant surgery if you have sufficient donor hair and:
- You were born with a high hairline
- Your hairline is thinning or receding
- Your part is widening
- Your hair is thinning on the crown of your head
- You have mechanical or traction alopecia
- You have had plastic surgery and are concerned about hair loss around the incision sites
Hair Restoration for Her at Cooley Hair Center
At Cooley Hair Center, we recognize that women experiencing hair loss can require a different approach to men. Dr. Cooley is dedicated to offering the latest advancements in hair restoration and helping every patient find a solution that fits their individual needs. To learn more about our practice and book an appointment, call us today at 704-542-1601. We can walk you through the options available to you and help you decide on your next step.
