Can You Have a Hair Transplant with Diffuse Hair Loss?
Yes, of course. However, to be accurate, we need to explain that there are two different types of diffuse hair loss. The first one is the diffuse patterned alopecia, which causes you to suffer from diffuse hair loss on the top of your head. This type of hair loss is related to genes, that is why, we consider people who suffer from this type of diffuse hair loss to be a good candidate for hair transplant procedures, to permanently solve the diffuse hair loss problem.
On the other hand, there is a second type for diffuse hair loss called the Diffused Unpatterned Alopecia, this type is much harder to treat with the hair transplant procedure. This type of hair loss can happen on any area on the scalp like on your neck or the top of your head. However, since the hair loss pattern is unclear in this type, it is hard to know where it will happen, you may experience hair loss in another area of your head after some time. Hair transplant is not very effective then, since the healthy hair follicles from the donor area, which are transplanted into the thinning area could be affected by Diffused Unpatterned Alopecia. This means that newly transplanted hair follicles will not be able to grow efficiently after some time.
As you can see, hair transplant surgery could be the remedy for diffuse hair loss, only if it was done by an experienced, and skilled surgeon; only then hair transplant can restore your hair and give you more volume and thickness than you ever had in the past.
However, keep in mind that hair transplant surgery is not a magical procedure, it could not cure your baldness completely. We encourage you to have realistic expectations about the procedure. For example, if you’re completely bald, doing a hair transplant surgery will probably improve your baldness, however, it won’t give you a completely full head of hair.
While having a minor hair loss and plenty of donor’s hair will help you to reverse many years of hair loss improving your appearance. However, it is our job to tell you what to consider before having a hair transplant:
- If your hair is genetically sensitive to DHT, it could resume falling out after a hair transplant. We mean that the hair around the transplanted areas could look thin, while the transplanted hair remains thick and healthy. To reduce the rate of new hair loss, many hair transplant surgeons recommend using finasteride, minoxidil, and other hair loss prevention treatments after the procedure.
- Hair transplant techniques, including FUE and FUT, could produce possible scarring. Of course, there is a difference in the size and shape of the scar. FUT could leave you with one large scar, while FUE may create hundreds of small, distributed scars on the back of your scalp. However, these scars could be completely invisible, if you have thick, dark hair on the back of your head.
- It is very important to choose a skilled and experienced hair transplant surgeon to ensure getting natural-looking results.
- You should also know that a hair transplant procedure does not create new hair. It actually moves your hair into a new location, that is why, as we told you if you have lost most of your hair, you would not be able to regain your original hair thickness with a transplant.
- However, it is true that a hair transplant can give you a big improvement in your hair appearance, so we advise you to consult your doctor and ask him about your hair loss, that will help you to keep your expectations realistic while solving your hair problems.
After knowing that people who suffer from diffuse hair loss could have a hair transplant to solve their problems; it is important to mention who cannot have a hair transplant surgery:
- People who don’t have any hair from birth: Because they won’t have the required hair follicles that should be transplanted in the patient’s head.
- People who are under 24 years old: Hair loss needs to take its course, wait after your 24’s birthday to get the best long-term results that you wish.
- People who have serious health complications: Heart disease, kidney or liver failure, or diabetes can make such simple surgery as hair transplant dangerous. Be sure to consult your doctor before any decision.
- People who may react to anesthesia, and people with blood-borne or hemophilia illness for obvious reasons.
Be sure to contact your doctor for any questions related to your hair loss problem and your capability to undergo a hair transplant surgery.
What causes diffuse hair loss?
You may be wondering what the reason behind the diffuse hair loss is. Nevertheless, you should know about how our body system works.
At the basic level, one should know that our body is run by hormones and other factors. So, we can say that some of these hormones decide whether we will lose hair or not.
Simply, two of the hormones decide the future we will have in terms of hair loss. The most prevalent cause of diffuse hair loss is telogen or anagen effluvium.
On the other hand, androgenetic alopecia can have a broad or specific pattern, and it can progress to total baldness.
To sum up, it will be better for you to consult a doctor to see what the exact situation is.
What are the signs of diffuse hair loss?
Excessive shedding is one of the most typical indicators of diffuse thinning as a consequence of hair loss. It’s typical to lose 50 to 100 hairs every day; however, losing more than this might indicate a massive problem. Hairline decline is another warning symptom. Regardless of the fact that diffuse thinning affects the entire head, it may be observed to have an influence on your normal hairline. Diffuse thinning is usually detected before it damages a person’s hairline, but if the problem persists, there are steps you may do to ultimately repair the hair that has been shed.
References:
https://www.forhims.com/blog/diffuse-thinning
https://sons.co.uk/blogs/journal/hair-loss-101-diffuse-thinning