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Types of hair loss that need treatment

Androgenetic Alopecia / Pattern hair loss

The most common reason for hair loss is androgenetic alopecia, or pattern hair loss. Up to 80% of men and 40% of females will experience significant hair loss and stunted hair growth from this condition. It is a condition that is understood to be hereditary (passed down from parent to child in the genes) and related to the male hormone, di-hydro-testosterone or DHT.

This pattern of hair loss is progressive and the main feature of it is thinning of the shafts of the hair (i.e. each strand of hair appears thinner and limper) due to damage to the hair follicle (some refer to this as the hair root) – this phenomenon is called ‘miniaturisation’.

The condition is called ‘pattern’ hair loss because, in the large majority of those afflicted, it follows a ‘pattern’ of hair thinning. In men, it usually starts from the hairline or crown and spreads to involve the rest of the scalp. Hair growth also becomes difficult around the affected area.

In women, it starts from the centre parting and spreads outwards to involve a larger area of the scalp. In women, especially, a prominent amount of shedding can occur as part of this type of hair loss.

Involutional Alopecia

Involutional Alopecia is a type of hair loss that occurs as part of the natural aging process. It is when the hair spends more time in the resting phase (telogen) or the shedding phase (catagen) instead of the growth phase (anagen).

Hair is constantly in the growth phase. However, with age, hair’s growth becomes less frequent and the shedding or resting phase intervals are longer.

Alopecia Areata

Alopecia Areata is an auto-immune disease that affects more than six million Americans. The skin disease causes hair loss on the scalp, face, and the body. While it can be a hereditary disease, it is also a polygenic disease. This means that both parent’s genes should be responsible for passing it to the offspring. Because of that, scientists believe that Alopecia areata is not purely hereditary and can be environmental as well.

There are three types of Alopecia areata. There’s Alopecia areata patchy; Alopecia areata totalis which is total baldness in the scalp; and Alopecia Areata Universalis where baldness extends from the scalp to the face and body.

Receding Hairline

While a receding hairline is more common with men than women, both genders are affected. This is the first sign of pattern hair loss and can be caused by a number of factors such as age, hormonal changes, heredity, medications and illnesses, or an unhealthy lifestyle.

Telogen Effluvium

Other reasons for hair loss include telogen effluvium, where shedding of hair is the main feature and does not follow any particular pattern, this type of hair loss is often seen around 3-6 months after a sudden stressful event such as childbirth, major surgery or severe emotional stress.

If the shedding is severe, it can reveal more areas of the scalp, causing the appearance of balding.

If telogen effluvium persists for more than 6 months, hair restoration practitioners deem this as ‘chronic telogen effluvium’ and further investigations such as blood tests are warranted.

FAQs

1. Will I experience pain before and after the hair transplant surgery?

Local anaesthesia will be applied for 5 – 10 minutes to numb the area of harvesting. There will be a slight discomfort during this period, but you’ll experience painless excision and extraction

The second round of smaller local anaesthetic injections will be needed to prepare the recipient, or the bald area, for the implantation of follicular grafts. You’ll be uncomfortable during this period, too. After this, your scalp will feel numb for up to 18 hours.

Patients normally take mild painkillers for 1 – 2 days after the treatment. Prolonged pain is uncommon, so it’s best to consult your hair transplant doctor if you’re experiencing continuous pain.

2. Does the transplant procedure leave scars?

The donor area skin heals very well.

But the FUE is not a scarless procedure. Tiny spots of 0.8mm hypopigmented marks can be seen when you look closely at the area or when you shave your head.

It would be advisable to keep your hair from 2 to 5 mm in length at the donor area to hide the scars.

3. Can the patient go back to work right after the surgical procedure?

It’s not advisable to go back to work right after your hair transplant unless your work is sedentary.

You’ll be wearing a bandage on the donor are to keep it free from bacteria and to ensure quick healing. The bandage will be removed a day after the procedure. Your hair and scalp will be washed in the clinic by our team to ensure that no grafts will be removed or damaged.

4. How many days to fully recover?

After a week, the donor area may have grown out enough to cover up the punch marks from the FUE procedure. During this time, the scabs would have formed, which indicates the healing process. These scabs will drop off after a week.

It’s also advised that you avoid any heavy physical activity for the first 2 – 3 days after the hair transplant procedure. You should also avoid steam rooms, saunas, and chlorinated pools for 1 to 2 months after the procedure.

5. How long will it take to see results after a hair transplant?

You’ll see hair shafts that are detached from the implanted roots in the first 1 to 4 months. This is completely normal since the hair follicles undergo a cycle of shedding and growing. From 4 to 6 months, you’ll expect stronger transplanted hair that come out from your scalp. You will see 80% of positive results in the ninth month, but it will take up to a year to see full results.

Some hair restoration doctors claim there will be further improvement up to 18 months.

6. What are the most important factors to consider when thinking of a hair transplant?

The most important is your level of “comfortability” with the clinic and the team that will handle your treatment. The doctor must be able to answer all of your questions about the treatment.

Hair transplant is considered to be a permanent solution, but you might not be a good candidate for this treatment.

You may opt for medications or undergo Regenera Activa procedure to prevent further hair loss and optimize the condition of your existing hair.

The general hair restoration procedure that involves the hairline requires more discussion from your doctor. The hairline must be appropriate to your age and should look really natural. For general hair restoration procedures involving the hairline, your doctor will discuss your expectations with you. Because the procedure is a permanent surgical treatment, the hairline

Hair transplantation or hair restoration surgery is a medical procedure that must be performed by a trained doctor and a team.

7. Will my transplanted hair drop/ fall out?

Yes, but don’t panic!

The natural growth cycles of your hair are:

• Anagen or growth phase
• Catagen or regression
• Telogen or resting phases

The newly transplanted hair will fall after a month or two after the procedure. This is a type of “shock loss” but it’s temporary. The healthy follicles are alive and will produce new hairs within 3 to 4 months.

The stages of hair transplant journey will require you to have more patience, but rest assured, you will see results a year after the hair transplant surgery.