Hair Transplant In Women

Causes of hair loss in women

Androgenetic Alopecia: The most common cause of hair loss in women is androgenetic alopecia, or hair loss due to genetic predisposition. 

In everyday life, around 100/150 hair loss is considered normal.

Reactive hair loss: Unlike androgenetic alopecia, reactive hair loss occurs in response to an external factor which can be stress, illness, fatigue, pregnancy, breastfeeding, medication, diet and head trauma.

Hormonal problems: Hormonal imbalance is one of the factors that cause hair loss in women. Estrogens are hormones that play a vital role in hair health and beauty while androgen is not a hair-friendly hormone. In women, excessive secretion of androgen hormones can lead to hair loss.

Fatigue: Intense stress experienced for certain reasons can affect every cell in the body, including hair follicles. During times of intense stress, the body begins to secrete more androgen hormones. The increase in androgen hormone in the body prevents the growth of hair follicles and can cause hair loss problems. In addition to alopecia (hair loss), it also causes other scalp problems (dermatitis, eczema, etc.).

Iron deficiency: Iron deficiency is a major cause of hair loss in women. Iron in the human body is needed to supply the necessary proteins to cells.

Hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism: The thyroid is involved in the production of the necessary proteins, in the control of the use of oxygen in the tissues and in the regulation of the body’s metabolism in general. In any thyroid disorder, the hair follicles are affected. In case of hypothyroidism, anemia can occur.

Vitamin B12 Deficiency: Lack of Vitamin B12 due to lack of energy in the body negatively affects fatigue and hair follicles.

Excessive and unwanted weight loss: Sudden weight loss due to a strict diet also has a negative effect on the hair.

Menopause: During the period of menopause the female body undergoes numerous transformations. One of these transformations is the decrease in estrogen hormones and the increase in androgen hormones, which causes hair loss in the upper part of the head.

Other causes of hair loss in women:

Telogen effluvium

Anagen effluvium

Alopecia areata

Diffuse alopecia

Congenital disorders of the hair structure

Primary cicatricial alopecia

Secondary cicatricial alopecia

Trichotillomania

Traction alopecia

Scalp infections

The problems that occur in the hair follicles in men and women with androgenetic alopecia are the same. The terminal period (dense and colorful) begins with a rapid narrowing of the hair follicles. The miniaturization continues with the transformation of thick hair into fine hair leading to hair loss.

Male hair loss is very rare in females, while rashes are completely evident in males. While the diagnosis can be made easily in men, in women it is a bit more complicated due to many reasons.

Stages of hair loss in women:

The “Ludwing” scale is used to measure the progress of baldness in women. Female androgenetic alopecia manifests itself differently in women, unlike male pattern baldness, it is more evenly distributed on the head.

The Ludwing scale divides the progress of female baldness into 3 degrees

Grade 1: This is the hair loss seen at the beginning of the cycle and can easily be covered up with a good hairdo. Hair transplant is not necessary. The naturalness of the front hairline is preserved.

Grade 2: There is significant loss in the middle of the head and a decrease in hair volume. The front hairline maintains its naturalness. If the donor area is available, a hair transplant may be considered.

Grade 3: The affected area begins to take a circular shape and is much more extensive, recalling male androgenetic alopecia in its most advanced stages. At this stage the hair is so thin that it makes the scalp visible to the naked eye.

With the exception of the first type, hair transplantation can be performed in the other two types if the lateral areas of the person and the donor area are suitable.

People suffering from hair loss should see their dermatologist as soon as possible.

The main treatments recommended for women;

Hair transplant: Hair transplant can be a permanent solution.

In women, the reason for hair loss should be investigated before the transplant and after the treatment. Hair transplantation can therefore be performed on scattered areas.

The most common technique applied in women is the DHI technique without haircut. With this technique, grafts taken from the open window of the donor area are transferred to the area to be implanted. There is no image discomfort after hair transplantation.

Minoxidil 2% Spray: This is the only drug applied and scientifically approved. Hair loss can be prevented and slowed by applying it to the scalp at the dose prescribed by the doctor.

PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma): PRP treatment is a treatment method applied to the scalp by subcutaneous injection, always at the dose and time interval prescribed by the doctor. The procedure is done by drawing blood from the patient, then passing it through a centrifuge to separate the platelet-rich plasma and applying it by injection into the scalp.

Hair Mesotherapy: Mesotherapy is the application of mesotherapy drugs under the skin with special devices at the dose and time interval determined by the doctor. It is a widely used treatment method to prevent hair loss.

Healthy and conscious diet: Foods rich in proteins A, E, C, B6 offer serious benefits in preventing hair loss.

Hair transplant for women:

In women, hair transplantation is usually applied by the DHI method without cutting the hair. The procedure is the same identical to that applied to men.

Since the haircut creates a psychological trauma in the woman, a window will open in the nape of the neck which will be covered by the surrounding hair.

(DHI hair transplant details are mentioned more extensively with its own title)