What are the causes of Female Hair Loss?

Hair loss in women may be caused by a variety of causes, including androgenic alopecia, or female pattern baldness; non-androgenic causes such as hair plucking or scarring on the scalp; and temporary hair loss caused by emotional triggers, medical conditions, or medications.

Androgenic Alopecia

Androgenic alopecia in women is medically referred to as female pattern hair loss. While male pattern baldness generally begins with men losing hair along the front of the hairline or in a single patch on the top of the head, female pattern hair loss may occur uniformly across their scalp. Genetics play a large role in androgenic alopecia, and this condition may affect women beginning as early as the teen years, or it may appear suddenly in later years.

Non-Androgenic Alopecia

Other factors may also contribute to hair loss in women, such as damage from scalp infections, bacteria, viruses, or fungi.  The following conditions may also be identified as causes for hair loss in women:

• Alopecia areata – An autoimmune disorder that can escalate into widespread balding.
• Loose-anagen syndrome – A condition typically affecting fair-haired women causing the hair to shed during brushing.
• Scarring alopecia – Hair loss due to excessive scarring on the scalp from injuries or surgeries.
• Trichotillomania – Idle or compulsive hair plucking that may eventually cause permanent hair loss.

Who Is A Candidate?

Anyone who has experienced hair loss, has adequate donor hair to be transplanted, and is in general good health is a candidate for this safe office procedure. Genetic hair loss is by far the most frequent reason for both men and women to seek hair transplantation. However, an increasing number of patients with hair loss from other causes (scars from accidents, burns, or cosmetic procedures—particularly facelifts) are also requesting hair transplantation as a solution to their problem.

Pre-Operative Steps

Between two to four weeks before the date of surgery, each patient will have a pre-operative visit. At this time we will work with you to

• Complete surgical consent forms
• Take a blood sample for pre-operative lab work
• Confirm the surgical treatment plan
• Discuss pre-operative and post-operative instructions
• Discuss the need to have a designated driver on the day of surgery
• Review prescription medication that you will need for pre- and post-op care
• Confirm method of payment for the procedure

The Day of Surgery

Upon arrival you will once again confirm the surgical treatment plan with our doctor before any sedation is administered. We will then provide you some medication to help you relax. This will consist of both an intramuscular and an oral sedative. As you relax or sleep, your scalp will be numbed with a local anesthetic. The numbing will be repeated as required throughout the procedure to alleviate any possible discomfort. A long lasting local anesthetic will be administered again at the end of the procedure to keep you comfortable at home as well.

The Procedure

During the process, individual follicles – typically between 1 and 4 hairs – are removed under local anaesthesia. The extraction procedure utilises a micro surgical extraction instrument, between 0.6mm and 1.0mm in diameter, to remove the follicles.The surgeon, using specialist micro surgical needles, then punctures the scalp area that is to receive the grafts. Our surgeons are experts at blending the hair in, inserting the grafts at an angle and density that matches the original hair, so it will resemble a natural and realistic hair pattern.

Intended Results

The ultimate result is to obtain healthy, natural-looking hair growth in thin, balding, or bald areas. The final density of the hair depends on several factors: the original density and texture of the donor hair, the number of hair transplantation sessions, and the number of grafts placed in each session. If necessary, additional sessions can be performed ten to twelve months after the previous session.