While hair loss is most often associated with men, women can also experience hereditary thinning and hair loss with age

This process is similar to hair loss that occurs in men, but the early signs often present themselves differently for women’s hair. Male hair loss patterns often start at the frontotemporal angles (near the temples) and slowly recede back towards the crown. Female pattern baldness most commonly starts at the part line near the crown. Of course, hair loss can occur anywhere throughout the scalp, but a vast majority of cases will follow this trend.

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Relocating Hair to Fill, Adjust, or Densify

Hair loss in women is more common then you may be aware. According to the American Academy of Dermatology 40% of women have visible hair loss by the time they are age 40. Most commonly noticed as general thinning of the hair this often presents itself as a widening part or a gradually diminishing ponytail. Female hair loss is often a slow process that can go undetected from day to day. While not all causes of hair loss can or should be treated, certain sources are relatively easy to address.

Which Women are Candidates for Hair Transplant Surgery?

At Sharma Skin & Hair Surgery our primary technique for treating hair loss for women is hair transplant surgery. While there are many different surgical techniques, a majority of them act to relocate hair from one part of the scalp to another. The hair transplant procedure is best used for addressing the following female hair loss issues:

Traction Alopecia – This type of hair loss is not caused by any medical condition. Over time some hairstyles, including braids, ponytails, or man buns can put enough force onto the follicle to cause it to fall out.

Female Pattern Baldness – This inherited condition is noticeable in distinct patterns of hair loss. Unlike general thinning of hair throughout the scalp, this inherited condition often starts at the forward hairline or vertex – also known as the crown.

Alopecia Marginalis – Often mistaken for traction alopecia this type of hair loss is more commonly seen in women of African American descent. This type of hair loss is often seen at the Frontotemporal regions and sweeps across the frontal hairline.

Scalp Trauma – This external cause of hair loss may include burn victims, deep scarring from physical trauma, or chemical related burns.

Scar Revision – Females who have scars or wounded areas on the scalp that are not hidden by the surrounding hair may consider micro hair transplant surgery to fill in and cover the gap. Scar revision consists of removing & re-suturing the incision using light controlled pressure.

Follicular Unit Excision (F.U.E.):

The F.U.E. hair transplant process is different in that the head must be shaved so the hair follicles can be harvested individually. Since a smaller area is harvested, a minimally-invasive surgical tool can be used to avoid the appearance of scars. This tool is a small punch that keeps the hair follicle in the scalp tissue, leaving a small dot behind. The benefit is that no scalpel is needed for the procedure. The F.U.E. method is quickly becoming the most popular choice for men requiring hair transplant surgery. The low downtime, light scaring and success rate are hard to beat.

Follicular Unit Transplant (F.U.T.):

Commonly known as “strip” transplant surgery. This method of hair transplant surgery involves taking a strip of scalp from the donor area. A scalpel is used to incise this narrow strip and hair follicles. Then, the wound is carefully closed with stitches using a three-layer closure to minimize scarring. If a small scar is present after the treatment, it is usually unnoticeable for most patients because it can be hidden with a small amount of hair growth. The harvested hair strip is placed under a microscope and divided into graft units that can be placed to recreate the hairline.

Causes of Female Pattern Hair Loss

It is estimated that as many as two-thirds of women have hair loss that occurs after menopause, although some women experience it much earlier in life. Due to the timing of the hair loss, many researchers believe that female pattern hair loss is related to hormonal changes in the body. This hereditary condition causes the hair growing phase to slow down. As the hair follicles are affected by hormones, these follicles begin to shrink. Women often find that the hair is finer and thinner, making it highly susceptible to breakage. Eventually, new hair stops growing in certain areas of the scalp. Hair loss is passed through generations. Therefore, if you have parents or close relatives with female pattern hair loss, it is likely that you may develop this condition.

REDNESS AFTER HAIR TRANSPLANT SURGERY

Nurse Cindy, who assists Dr. Sharma in every hair transplant surgery at the clinic, covers some commonly asked questions about pinkness following hair transplant surgery.

It is important to understand that irritation and redness follows any invasive procedure. The incisions made during your hair transplant may be very small in size, but we are often making over 2,000 of them in a relatively short period of time. Everyone’s healing response time is different and we want each patient to be aware of how long their downtime may be.

Hair Loss Patterns in Women

While it isn’t likely that women will go completely bald, hair loss can be significant to the point that it affects overall appearance. Keep in mind that female hair loss is different than male baldness due to the pattern in which the hair is lost. Men tend to experience hair loss starting in the front of the head, receding back with time. Women, on the other hand, experience thinning in other ways.

Female pattern hair loss is a progressive condition and can start with a bit of thinning around the part in your hair. This thinning causes the part to widen. Some women have widespread thinning that affects the entire top of the scalp. It is also possible for thinning to affect the front hairline.

Another sign of female pattern hair loss is that the thickness of your hair is shrinking. For example, you might notice that your ponytail is thinner and smaller compared to the hair thickness you’ve had in the past.

It is normal to shed between 50 – 100 hairs per day, which is why you see hair collecting in your brush over time. But if you notice the development of thinning or balding patches, it may be time to talk to Dr. Sharma about your treatment options.

When something disrupts the regular chemical balance in your body, it can lead to changes in the hair. Some common external causes that may disrupt a woman’s hormonal balance include, pregnancy, childbirth, high levels of stress, hormonal birth control, illness, and female specific conditions such as PCOS. During the childbearing years, estrogen (primarily) and progesterone play an important role in every system in the body.

It is common for women to notice a decrease in hair density 5-7 years before and throughout menopause. Because these years cause rapid changes to hormone regulation, hair loss may occur as a result. Post-menopause Estrogen production fall to their lowest throughout a females lifetime which can often be a contributing factor to thinning and recession, primarily at the crown.

Female Hair Transplant Patient 3 days post-surgery

Hair Transplant Services Aren’t Limited to the Scalp

The cause of thinning eyebrow hair can include: facial scars due to burns or injured skin, alopecia, over-plucking, and aging. These problems can be corrected by using donor hair to fill in the empty spaces.

Whether you have no eyebrow hair or your eyebrows are thinning, a hair transplant procedure can be used to restore the overall appearance of the eyebrow. Some patients choose services to repair damaged areas of the eyebrows. Other people choose to have full transplant services to design a natural appearance by restoring missing eyebrows.

Learn more about Eyebrow Hair Transplants here.

Personal Consultation for Hair Loss Treatment

If you are noticing signs of hair loss, book a consultation with Dr. Sharma today. The sooner you seek treatment, the faster you will be able to stop the loss and maintain a beautiful hairline.

Not only are women concerned about hair loss on the scalp, but eyebrows can also be affected by hair loss due to genetics or over-tweezing. The appearance of the eyebrows can also be restored using hair transplants. Learn More about Eyebrow Transplants

Dr. Sharma is available for a personal consultation to provide proven techniques that can restore the appearance of your hair. Contact our helpful staff right away to schedule an appointment.

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No Two Hair Transplants are the Same

Each hair loss case is unique. Understanding the expectations and goals of our patients allows us to give a realistic idea of your hair restoration possibilities. Using either the F.U.E. or F.U.T. technique gives us the flexibility to give you the best treatment possible for your Edmonton hair transplant.

What is Female Pattern Hair Loss?

Hair Transplants for Women in Alberta