Hair transplant for women: All you need to know!
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Some may worry when looking at their combs full of hair, however, often this worry is unnecessary. It is normal to lose some hair, on average women lose between 50 and 100 hairs per day, and on days when the hair is washed even up to 250! However, in certain cases, especially in women after their fifties, the hair thickness and density greatly decrease, leading to the hair being less voluminous and the scalp being visible. In these cases, there indeed is hair loss. Fortunately, just like men, there are also options for women!
A hair transplant can be an excellent solution for women with hair loss, provided that they are a good candidate Thanks to medical developments, hair transplantation techniques are less invasive than before and give more beautiful and natural results. In the old days, there used to be a taboo around a hair transplant for women, fortunately, that is no longer the case and it has been normalized. It is therefore no coincidence that more and more women have undergone hair transplants in recent years.
What does hair loss look like in women
Women can also suffer from hair loss, however, in order to get a better understanding of hair loss in women, it is useful to first look at what hair loss in men entails. In men, hair loss is typically characterized by 'male pattern baldness' (MPB) where typically the hairline retracts and/or balding forms at the crown. The severity of this type of hair loss can be scored according to the Norwood scale. With MPB, hair loss occurs because the hairs on the top of the head have receptors that are sensitive to the hormone Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the more DHT binds to these receptors, the more thinning and hair loss occurs (if there is a genetic predisposition for this). The hairs on the back and sides of the head are not sensitive to the hormone DHT and can therefore be transplanted to the top of the head and not fall out. Because hair loss in men is a well-understood topic, it is easy to diagnose MPB.
When we talk about hair loss in women, we are usually talking about ''female pattern baldness'' (FPB). With FPB, the hairs become thinner and grow back less quickly, which leads to easier breaking and the hair being less voluminous. On the contrary to MPB, which is characterized by a hairline that recedes, with FPB the hairs fall out at the parting on top of the head. It is also more common in women for the hair to fall out evenly over the entire head. However, the latter can cause a problem when it comes to a hair transplant because hair loss on the sides and the back of the head indicate that the donor hair follicles are not resistant to the hormone DHT, so once transplanted they may fall out, rendering the hair transplant useless. Hair loss in women is generally a more complex phenomenon to diagnose and understand as multiple hormones and enzymes play a role herein.
There are mainly three types of hair loss in women, these are listed below
Diffuse hair loss: The hair falls out evenly over the entire head. This form of hair loss is not suitable for a hair transplant.
Patterned hair loss: For example female pattern hair loss (FPB: female pattern baldness) where the hairs on the sides and the back of the head are intact. This form of hair loss is suitable for a hair transplant.
Localized hair loss: For example bald spots on the head as the result of injury, stress or mechanical stress where the hair is pulled hard (e.g. certain hairstyles such as braided hair, dreadlocks, etc.). This form of hair loss is usually suitable for a hair transplant.
Female pattern hair loss (FFB) can be scored according to the Ludwig scale. This scale goes from 0 to 3.
0: There is no significant hair loss or thinning of the hair.
1: There is noticeable thinning of the hair on the top of the head.
2: There is obvious hair loss and the scalp becomes visible.
3: Severe hair loss where the scalp is clearly visible.
What causes hair loss in women?
Although it is easy to determine the cause of hair loss in men, it is more difficult to diagnose in women.
Some reasons for hair loss in women can include:
Genetic: Some women have a genetic predisposition to hair loss.
Menopause: Up to 2/3 of women experience hair loss after menopause. The menopause brings hormonal changes which can cause hair loss to occur.
Pregnancy: During the early pregnancy or prenatal period, hair loss may occur or hairs may become thinner and more brittle. This is due to a change in the amount of estrogen and progesterone in the body.
Illnesses: Illnesses such as cancer, high blood pressure, arthritis and depression have been shown to cause hair loss.
Hormonal disorders: Hormonal disorders can cause changes in hormone levels which in turn may lead to hair loss. A brain tumor can also be the cause of altered hormone levels.
Medication: Certain medications used for birth control, mood, and hormone regulation can cause hair loss as a side effect.
Stress: Stress is known to be a common cause of hair loss.
Mechanical stress: For example, certain hairstyles cause a lot of strain on the hairs (e.g. braids, dreadlocks etc.) and may lead to the hairs falling out.
As we can see, it is more difficult to pinpoint the cause of hair loss in women. Although the degree and pattern of hair loss in two different women may look exactly the same, the underlying reason can be completely different.
Am I a suitable candidate for a female hair transplant?
The following cases are often suitable candidates for a female hair transplant:
Patterned hair loss: For example female patterned hair loss where there is no hair loss on the sides and back of the head.
Localized hair loss: As a result of injury or surgery (scars), or as a result of mechanical stress, for example hair styles which cause allot of strain on the hairs (dreadlocks, braids etc.).
Hair transplant as cosmetic filling: Lowering the hairline, covering scars, etc.
How does a hair transplant work in women?
Just like men, women can also be treated via the FUE (Sapphire), FUE-CT, DHI and FUT techniques. See the corresponding blogs for more information.
''Does my hair need to be shaven for a female hair transplant? ''
In a hair transplant for women, it is taken into account that the hair does not need to be shaven. Below it is illustrated how FUE/DHI treatments for women look like.
Start your female hair transplant
Before you can undergo a hair transplant, it is important to consult a specialist in advance. As this blog has shown, hair loss in women can have numerous reasons. To identify the actual cause of your hair loss and to determine whether you are a suitable candidate, a specialist will be the most qualified to assess your hair loss and offer you a treatment plan.
At Mediqle we help you with this and make the process as pleasant and easy as possible. It's quick, simple, and easy: After contacting us, your healthcare coach will ask you to answer a few questions and to send us a few photos of your hair, so that a specialist can examine in detail whether you are a suitable candidate for a hair transplant. If so, the specialist will tell you based on your desired result exactly which treatment suits you best, how many grafts you will need and what it will cost. In some cases, however, it is difficult to determine this remotely, in these cases it is further examined by blood tests, microscopic techniques and various other determinations.
After it has been determined that you are a suitable candidate, and you are excited about your treatment plan you will be ready to go and everything will be arranged for you from the comfort of your home. In the meantime, you can enrich yourself about hair transplants through one of our other blogs or our homepage!
Do you want to take the right step towards your hair transplant? Your Mediqle healthcare coach will help you on your way. Well-organized and completely free from start to finish!
At Mediqle we work together with only the best clinics/hospitals, both at home and abroad, and offer a lowest price guarantee. Therefore you are assured that you are not paying too much for the proper care. The Mediqle service is completely FREE for you from start to finish for contracted clinics and hospitals.
Would you like more information about hair transplants, the pros and cons of all treatments, how to start your medical journey and how to save money with our handy tips? See our hair transplant page, and perhaps we can help you too! #Mediqle
