Is Hair Loss The Same For Men And Women?
An important difference between male and female hair loss is that women rarely “go bald”, but often have thinning of hair over a large area of the scalp. Spreading grafts over such a large area may not provide a significant cosmetic improvement. It may be more important, for cosmetic improvement, to place grafts into a key area such as the hairline. Hair transplanting key areas can be planned with hair styling in mind-for example, so that transplanted hair can be styled to layer over other areas to improve hair density. Transplantation and planned hair styling is often a more important consideration in hair transplantation for women than it is for men.
Hair transplantation is a surgical procedure associated with some degree of discomfort and a small risk for complications. The financial cost of hair transplantation can be a substantial consideration. It is a procedure that should be undertaken with due deliberation. Hair transplantation is also a procedure with a very high rate of success in meeting the expectations of patients.
The rationale for hair restoration in women, and in men, is primarily aesthetic—how a person feels about his/her appearance and how they want others to perceive them. The aesthetic consultation with the hair restoration specialist is every bit as important as determining the reason for hair loss. The patient has aesthetic goals that they hope hair restoration can achieve. The physician helps patients refine their goals within the context of what surgical and/or nonsurgical hair restoration can accomplish.
Whether hair transplantation is a viable option for a patient with mild to moderate hair loss is a question to be answered by close consultation between the patient and the hair restoration specialist. Into that determination will go the patient’s medical history, hair loss history, family medical and hair loss history, physical examination, scalp examination and laboratory tests as indicated by other examination results.