Is Female Hair
Transplant Permanent?
When someone talks about “hair transplants,” your mind only goes to hair
transplants in men and not women. It is more common for men to do hair transplants
than women. But women the hair transplant procedure is on the rise among women
too. But despite the advances in the procedure, many people are still
apprehensive about the transplant. When they think about hair transplants, they
might envision the patchy and noticeable hair plugs of years past. But that’s
not how they look after the surgery. Hair transplants have come a long way,
especially in the last decade or so. The hair transplant results are visibly long-lasting and it is considered to be
permanent.
Hair transplantation is also known as hair restoration. It is an
outpatient procedure that uses micrografting technology. Taking hair follicles from
donor areas and putting them on your scalp that is thinning, is how a hair
transplant is done. The procedure can be done in many ways. But every procedure
is time-consuming and involves a healing and recovery process. Women who have
already experienced significant thinning of the hair from the crown of their heads
are good candidates for a hair transplant.
The main concern for women regarding hair transplant is whether the
procedure has a long-term effect? But hair transplant has shown good results
and the hair growth is considered to be permanent. In the procedure when your
hair follicles are grafted from your donor area into areas where your hair is
thinning, it takes some time to heal. In fact, it’s normal if your hair falls
out for the first three months after the procedure, it does not mean that the
procedure has failed.
Healing usually takes somewhere between 6 to 12 months. But after the
healing process, the transplanted hair begins to grow that fills out the bald
patches on women’s scalp. This transplanted hair will grow naturally like your
other hair and will continue to do so as you get older.
However, like any other natural hair that might stop growing, the transplanted
hair will also stop growing. Like the rest of the hair follicles, the
transplanted ones too have a lifespan. At some point, as you get older, they
may stop producing as much hair as they used to. And, once the hair follicles
are moved, they are permanent. After this, there’s no way to return them to
their previous position.
Do you need another hair transplant procedure?
Another concern women might have is how many times they might need to go
through the hair transplant procedure. This depends from person to person some
might need to go through it more than once and some don’t need another
transplant. So, it’s entirely possible that your first hair transplantation
procedure won’t be your last.
There are some women who will be informed by their doctor that they need
multiple sessions of hair transplant surgery to achieve the hair growth they
desire. While other women might be pleased with the results just after their
first hair transplant, once it has completely healed. If they want, they can later
decide to try to fill out other thinning patches they have on their head.
Types of procedures
Currently, there are two types of hair transplantation procedures that are performed by doctors.
FUE
(Follicular Unit Extraction):
FUE is the most sophisticated method for grafting women’s hair. In this
technical method, a unique tool is used which is less than 1 mm to remove hair
from the donor area. Then the hair is transplanted to the area where there is
less hair. After hair transfer, hair grows back to normal. In this method, hair
can be implanted in groups of 1 to 4. But it depends on the thickness and
number of donor locations. This method has a comparatively fast recovery time,
and it is not required to stay overnight after the surgery. In FUE the patient
receives local anaesthesia and is fully awake throughout the procedure.
FUT
(Follicular Unit Transplant)
In the FUT method, the pieces of skin are taken from the back of the
head and surgeons can implant them in the thinning hair area. The wound from
where the skin is taken is then sutured, but it leaves a visible linear scar.
But this scar won’t be seen because usually the gap is closed and full hair
covers it.
This method is preferred by most women as it does not require you to
shave your head in the donor area. However, the result is the same for both
methods. Recovery time for FUT is more than FUE which is about five weeks.
Both methods of
hair transplants in women are considered to be permanent.
When does the hair start to grow?
Once the hair transplant procedure is performed
by the doctor, it takes some time before you can see the final results. As the area
where hair has been transplanted starts to heal, you might lose even more of
your hair for the first few months. But you should remember to not fret over
the loss of your hair as this is normal and it is to be expected.
Once the skin and scar where the hair transplant has been done are fully
healed, you will see follicles of your own hair beginning to make an
appearance. The hair will start to grow and the texture and length will be the
same as the rest of your natural hair. The hair growth that comes after the
hair transplant which is performed by a micrograft can be cut, styled, and dyed
according to your likeness.
What to expect in the long term?
In the long term, you should expect your hair transplant to hold up. As
you age it is entirely possible that the hair follicles will start to thin, but
they will like your other non-transplanted hair will produce at least some hair
for the rest of your life.
When women lose hair there, they are not concerned with the receding
hairline as it happens with men. Even after the procedure if your hair thinning
continues, the chances of you losing as much hair as before the procedure and
according to your former pattern of natural hair loss. You should discuss with
your doctor, at length, about the possibility of your hair growth not being
what you expected it to be. Make a plan to make sure that your hair doesn’t
appear to be patchy or grow unnatural in the coming years after you have done a
hair transplant.
When should you
talk to a doctor?
If you feel self-conscious about hair loss and before going the route of
hair transplant you should speak with your doctor. There might be some medical
conditions and medications that are the causes of your hair loss. Your doctor
needs to rule out other factors before you are considered a candidate for a
hair transplant.
There is no such
process that will make you vet doctors who will perform
hair transplantation. But it is important to do your homework and research as
what doctor will be best according to you to perform this procedure. You should
look for a healthcare professional who has a specialization in hair
transplantation. These specialists may include dermatologists, cosmetic
surgeons, and plastic surgeons. You should ask for proof from them that their
hair transplant has been successful. Make sure to discuss the method and
process of your hair transplant with the doctor you have chosen before booking
your appointment.
Conclusion
Hair transplants are an option for women whose hair has been visibly
thinning. Once you do a hair transplant the results are considered permanent as
you cannot undo them. However, the possibility of your transplanted hair looking
the same after it heals looking like that for the rest of your life is very
less.
To achieve the desired results, it is essential to find an experienced provider who understands how to create a natural-looking, sustainable hair transplant design. So, do your research thoroughly and choose a good doctor.
References:
https://www.healthline.com/health/cosmetic-surgery/is-hair-transplant-permanent#permanence